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Have a Request or Query?
Enquiries - Email us or use our contact form to get in touch.
At Entebbe Palm Hotel we support local produce - All fruit and vegetables used in our restaurant are locally sourced.
The Hotel uses energy efficient light bulbs throughout the hotel to save energy and reduce electricity costs.
There is a backup Generator on the premesis for incase of power failures. | slim_pajama |
ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muʿāwiya ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Talib ; was an Alid leader who led a rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate at Kufa and later Persia during the Third Fitna.
Descent and rise to the imamate
Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya was a great-grandson of Ali's brother, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. Following the death of Ali's grandson Abu Hashim in 703, the leadership of the Alid cause was vacant, and several candidates vied for it: one party claimed that Abu Hashim had transferred his rights to the Abbasid Muhammad ibn Ali, while another faction wanted to proclaim Abdallah ibn Amr al-Kindi as the next imam. The latter, however, proved unsatisfactory, and Abdallah ibn Mu'awiya was chosen instead.
Abdallah claimed not only the imamate, but maintained that, according to K.V. Zetterstéen, both the godhead and the prophetic office were united in him, because the spirit of God had been transferred from the one Imam to the other and had finally come to him. Consequently, his followers embraced the concept of reincarnation and rejected the resurrection of the dead.
Rebellion and death
In October 744, Abdallah and his followers rebelled in Kufa, and joined by other Alid sympathizers especially Zaydis, took control of the city and expelled its governor. The reaction of the governor of Iraq, Abdallah ibn Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, however, was swift, and he marched on Kufa. Most of the citizens deserted the Alid cause, but the Zaydi contingent fought with enough determination to allow Abdallah to withdraw from Kufa, first to al-Mada'in and thence to Jibal.
Despite his defeat at Kufa, volunteers opposed to the Umayyad regime continued to flock to his banner, including remnants of the Kharijites defeated by Marwan II and some Abbasid followers. Taking advantage of the turmoils of the Third Fitna and the burgeoning Abbasid Revolution in Khurasan, which debilitated the Umayyad government, he managed to extend his control over large parts of Persia, including most of Jibal, Ahwaz, Fars and Kerman. He established his residence first at Isfahan and then at Istakhr.
Finally, Marwan II dispatched an army under Amir ibn Dubara against Abdallah. The Alid's forces were utterly defeated at Marw al-Shadhan in 747, and his rule over Persia collapsed. Abdallah himself managed to flee to Khurasan, where the Abbasid leader Abu Muslim executed him.
Some of his followers refused to believe his death, and believed that he would return as the mahdi, forming the sect known as the Janahiyya. Others, the so-called Harithites, believed that he was reincarnated in the person of Ishaq ibn Zayd ibn al-Harith al-Ansari.
References
Category:747 deaths
Category:Iraq under the Umayyad Caliphate
Category:Medieval Persia
Category:Mahdiism
Category:Alids
Category:Arab rebels
Category:8th-century executions by the Abbasid Caliphate
Category:Year of birth unknown
Category:Rebellions against the Umayyad Caliphate
Category:Kufa
Category:Third Fitna | wikipedia |
Wrestling The Angry Music Gamer Nerd and The Diva
A/N: Well this Monday night on RAW it finally happened... the so-called "People Power" led by John Laurinitis came to an abrupt and epic conclusion. Goodbye and good riddance. This fic, however, is an idea that wanted out of my head. It centers around AJ and a chance meeting with a WWE Superfan (another guest appearence by yours truly) after which there is romance and craziness in the air. I've done a bit of clever thinking and came up with the following: the primeses of this fic.
My character in this fic, as stated above, is just a regular Superfan until he meets AJ in a chance meeting (and by "chance" I mean a complete twist of fate) and the pair connect and begin to talk and everything. They realize very quickly that they have a few things in common, they are both "nerds", gamers and certifiably insane. Anyway back to the clever part, I am a reviewer on Youtube (I review albums, books and stuff) and, in a completely unintentional way, I implemented some of my reviews in conversations between the characters in this fic. Not sure if it works or not so a review would be appreciated. ENJOY!
The Angry Music Gamer Nerd and the Diva
Chapter One: Chance of a Lifetime
I switched off my laptop and set the gray computer on the wood table in front of me and checked my watch, 7:30. "I need to get going if I'm going to make it back in time for Raw." I picked up my computer and bag and walked out of the studio. It had become a barren wasteland after the recording career I'd always dreamed I'd have came crashing down, now I rented the space for my back up career as a writer. The studio offered isolation and peace for me to get my work done.
Lately I'd been distracted from my work by the phenomenon called Raw. I'd followed the company sporadically for years growing up but now at eighteen I was obssessed. Frantically I made my way from the studio through the relatively quiet Orlando streets to my simple home. I hit the door at exactly 8:00. No sooner than I tuned into my weekly Raw viewing, complete with the action figure replicants of the night's matches, I caught sight of the greatest announcement in my
"Attention WWEUniverse, the ultimate meet and greet opportunity has come. All of your favorite WWE Superstars and Divas will be at the AmWay Center tonight. For one night only, get up close and personal with your favorite wrestlers." The macho voiced ad kept playing as I dashed out of the door. This was going to be the greatest night of my life.
I had long since been wrapped up in the publicized break up of Daniel Bryan and his former girlfriend AJ. Even though my friends and even my mother condemned her for being crazy, I was entranced by how hot she looked in the ring. Tonight I was going to make my appreciation known to AJ.
A/N: Plenty more to come. Please read and review!
End file.
| fanfiction |
Mummy Two-Bit Floozy
_Author's Note: You know who I miss a lot? Kitty. And humor, because humor is the best. So here's this._
_I thought it'd be fun to do a story more towards the beginning of their relationship; someday I want to do one on their meeting in a liquor store, but that just hasn't happened yet. So here it is! When Kitty met Izzy!_
_And, because I can never help it, this is slightly AU. I mean, it wouldn't HAVE to be. It's possible Daniels would forget an incident like this, but it's generally kinda/sorta AU._
_Disclaimer: The characters of _The Mummy_ and _The Mummy Returns_ are the property of Universal Studios__. _
* * *
**Two-Bit Floozy**
It was six in the morning when Beni crept back into his apartment, holding his breath and scurrying like that damned mouse that kept twittering in the wall above his bed. It was six in the morning and the room was already bright yellow with sunlight, and he was cursing every creaking floorboard under his feet. He froze in the middle of the room and cautiously removed his sandals, setting them off to the side as quietly as possible before take the last few steps over to the bed.
He knew the mattress was going to whine and creak if he sat down on the bed, so he got undressed where he stood and slipped into the rumpled blankets with painstaking care, biting back a curse when the springs sung under his slight weight. He cast a nervous glance at the other side of the unmade bed, and that's when he noticed. Kitty wasn't even there.
He frowned at the pile of blankets and lopsided pillows in confusion, pushing and pulling at them until he was certain that he was alone in the bed. His brow furrowed up even more. He reached down and picked up his pants, found his pocket watch, and checked the time again. Six in the morning - just a little after six. And he was the only one here.
Where the hell was Kitty?
He would have expected her to be home by now. She liked to stay out late drinking and picking men's pockets while they eyed up her cleavage, but she was usually home by three or so. Beni had meant to be home hours ago, but he'd drank too much before he went to see his favorite prostitute and ended up sleeping off his vodka for much longer than he'd anticipated. Here he'd made every effort to slip into the room without Kitty noticing, and she hadn't even bothered to come home at all.
He sat there, brooding and perturbed, annoyed over all the trouble he'd gone through to creep around an empty room. With a whiny groan, he reached over the side of the bed and retrieved his pants again, fishing out a cigarette and a match.
Kitty had been inexplicably living with him for a few days now, and he didn't particularly mind. She was pretty in a cheap, easy kind of way - the kind of woman who wore too much make-up and too little clothing - and, as his taste in the opposite sex had never been much in the way of class, he might even say he was pleased to have her at his disposal. He liked her white-blonde hair and thought it was funny that she called him "baby," and even though he knew he'd likely be bored with her before the week was out, he was reasonably sure he could rid himself of her when the time came.
He sat on the bed, smoking impatiently, wondering where she could possibly be. It wasn't that he _wanted_ her to come back, necessarily. He could move past the loss of a bimbo like Kitty fairly quickly, even if she _was_ fun. But he didn't like the thought of her spending the night with some other man when her shit kept piling up in his apartment, and...well...he should be the one to end it, if it was ending. She was staying at his apartment and he was letting her keep all of her stupid clothes here, so obviously, it was up to him. And he didn't like the thought of some floozy bitch using his apartment for storage space while she went out and screwed other men.
Beni was almost too angry at the thought of how he was being duped to hear the sound of a key in the lock.
Shit, she had a key, too? Where had she dug up a key? Had he given her one?
The door swung open and bounced back against the wall, causing a Brooklyn-colored voice to whisper just a little too loudly, "Oh, shit!"
Kitty hurried in a moment later, her high heels clicking across the floor, and Beni watched her with a scowl as she struggled to close the door quietly and lock it again.
"Where were you?" he demanded around his cigarette.
She let out a little yelp and dropped her clutch, whirling around to stare it him with wide, dark eyes. She had make-up smeared under her eyes and her hair was a mess, and the shell of her dress looked disastrously wrinkled under its sheer, beaded overlay. She gave him a broad smile that might have been dazzling if it wasn't so nervous, and shrugged nonchalantly.
"Nowheres, just out."
Beni's eyes narrowed and he took a drag off of his cigarette. "It is six in the morning."
"Is it?"
Her eyes were so big and innocent, and her face was screwed up into a thoughtful little frown, and he seriously couldn't tell if she was playing dumb or actually that oblivious.
"Yes," he said impatiently. "Where were you all night?"
Kitty let out a sigh, that thoughtful frown still on her face as if she legitimately couldn't remember how she'd spent her evening. She pulled her shoes off of her feet and hmm'd.
"Some hotel or somethin'. Some guys was goin' to a party and they asked me along."
Beni glared at her. "And the party got over just now?"
She giggled. "Are you kiddin'? There was so much booze I think everybody passed out before midnight - "
"And you, too?"
"Nah, I know how to handle my liquor."
He raised his eyebrows skeptically and snubbed out the last of his cigarette, reaching down for his pants to get another.
"Hey, light me up one, wouldja, baby?"
He looked up at her emphatically. "No."
She frowned in confusion. "Why not?"
"You were out with a man all night," he said, striking the match against the wall and lighting up his cigarette. "I can tell."
Kitty snorted, pulling her dress up over her head and tossing it onto the floor. Beni tried to maintain a hold on his aggravation when she propped her foot up on the bed beside him to unsnap her garters and peel off her stockings.
"C'mon, baby, it wasn't _all_ night."
Beni's eyes widened, but she just looked at him, nonchalant and confused.
"Well it wasn't!"
He crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her in disbelief for a full minute, not even noticing the ash collecting on the end of the burning, unsmoked cigarette in his hand.
"What the hell difference would it make if you were out all night or spent five minutes with him? Fucking is fucking!"
Kitty frowned, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout, and she twisted her arms behind her to unhook her bra.
"Don't do that," he said, a lot whinier than he meant to.
"Why not?"
"It's distracting. I am angry with you."
Kitty raised her eyebrows quizzically. "So I'm s'posed to leave it on? It reeks like bourbon. I spilled a whole thing of it down my dress on accident - "
"I don't care."
Kitty put her hands on her hips and stared at him. "What's your problem, anyways?"
Beni gaped at her. "What's my _problem?_ You loaf in my apartment and leave your shit all over, and then you fuck some other man, and you want to know what my _problem_ is?"
"Well I ain't leavin' it on."
She reached around to unlatch the bra again, but a knock on the door startled her. She met Beni's eyes in confusion, but he just held up a finger to his lips and she froze where she stood. The knock came again, and then a voice:
"Goddamnit, you miserable blighter, I know you're in there - "
Kitty frowned at the door and turned to Beni again, but he just held his breath and said nothing.
"If you think for one bloody second I forgot about that twenty-five pounds, you got another thing comin' - "
Beni rolled his eyes and let out a whining groan before he could stop himself. He tried to bite it back, but it was too late; his paper-thin walls had betrayed him.
"C'mon, Beni, I can hear your wheezin' breath and I want my bloody goddamned twenty-five pounds!"
With a defeated sigh, he nodded emphatically at the door, and Kitty stared at him in confusion. "You want me to answer it?"
He nodded, and then let out a sudden yelp, having forgotten the burning cigarette in his hand. Irritably, he snubbed the last burning bit of it on the nightstand before his fingers could get any more singed.
"Should I put somethin' on?"
Beni just stared at her. "What? Yes."
She let out a groan and picked up her disheveled dress from the floor. "Fine, but I'm takin' this awful stinkin' bra off."
"I don't care," he snapped, too irritated with her to really enjoy the few seconds she stood there topless before tossing her dress back on.
"Beni! I hear voices in there! Open up, you dastardly son of a - "
The voice outside stopped abruptly as Kitty threw open the door, her wrinkled dress flung over her body and her bra in her hand. Beni heard her breathe a little gasp, and then whirl around to stare at him on the bed.
"Baby, there's a colored man in the hallway!"
Beni rolled his eyes. "I know that."
"Hello there."
Kitty turned back to their uninvited guest and flashed him a smile. "Hiya."
Casually, Izzy edged his way into the room, glancing at Beni with a confused but smarmy grin.
"And here I'd thought you must 'a moved on me, looker such as this playin' doorman for ya."
Beni just glared at him, reaching down for yet another cigarette. "What the hell are you doing here so early in the morning?"
Izzy shrugged, still eyeing up Kitty, much to her amusement. "I was in the neighborhood."
"At six-thirty in the morning?"
Izzy nodded his head absently, offering Kitty a grin and a handshake. "Izzy Buttons, darling."
She giggled. "Kitty Warsawszki. Are you a friend 'a Beni's?"
Beni started to mutter "nope" but Izzy quickly cut in, loud and obnoxious as ever:
"Oh, we're the best 'a mates, are Beni and me."
"I don't have your money and that game was fixed anyway. So goodbye, Izzy."
Izzy pulled his most innocent face, holding up his hands plaintively. "Now, now, no need to be rushin' off for - "
"It's six-thirty in the morning."
"Well we're all up and at 'em anyway, aren't we?" he said, giving Kitty another grin.
She giggled, and then turned on Beni with a half-sincere pout. "Now I wished I'd 'a known you was havin' a friend come by. Here I'm all a mess and now that's his first impression."
"Now, now, darling, whatever your condition you're a dazzler, anyone can see," Izzy assured her, putting a casual hand on her arm. She giggled again and flashed him a smile.
"I like this one, baby," she said. "And here I was startin' to think you didn't have no friends."
Beni just shot Izzy a glare. "I don't."
Izzy sniffed. "What's got you so sore, mate? You're a regular ol' wet blanket, even with the likes 'a this ravishin' specimen here."
Beni let out a groan and stared at him testily. "It is much too early in the morning to try to figure out your bullshit English."
"I think his accent's a gas!" Kitty said. "So adorable, I think I could listen all day. Where'd you learn to talk like that?"
Izzy smiled as charmingly as his gold teeth would allow. "I was born talkin' this way, love."
"I never heard no colored fella talk like you."
"Well I'm from England, darling - "
"They got colored folks over there?" she asked, eyes wide as saucers. She turned and stared at Beni in shock. "Did you know that? There's colored folks in England!"
Beni just let out a groan and lit his third cigarette, taking a long drag. He eyed Izzy darkly. "Well, it is _very early_ and I am _very tired_ - "
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," Izzy said, turning a leering eye to Kitty again. "Well, darling, it seems our illustrious host is kicking us out. Is there any place I might walk you to?"
She just giggled. "Oh, honey, that's sweet, but I'm stayin' here - "
Izzy's brow furrowed up in confusion. He stared at her for a minute before he laughed in understanding. "Ohh, you mean in this building. Well, I'd hap'ly walk you down the hall, even - "
"She's staying here," Beni spat. "Do you not see the women's clothes all over the damned floor?"
Izzy just raised his eyebrows. "Well how am I to know what you do in your spare time? But really, darling, you're staying _here_, with the slithery likes 'a him?"
For some reason, Kitty found this hilarious. When she was finally able to quiet her laughter, she said, "Ah, now, he ain't so slithery..." But she started laughing again when she saw the scowl on Beni's face. "I mean, he's a_ little_ slithery..."
He met her amused eyes with a glare. "Shouldn't you be taking a bath?"
Kitty yawned, pouting at the bed. "Ah, I was gonna do that after sleepin' a little - "
"You are not getting into my bed still stinking like some other man."
She let out a sigh, staring at him incredulously. "Are you still on that?"
"Are you trying to be funny? Is that a joke?"
Izzy sidled up a little closer, the most obnoxious grin Beni had ever seen on his stupid face. "What's this about, now?"
Beni gave him a pointed look. "None of your business - "
But Kitty was louder. "Oh, he's all bent outta shape 'cause I was out with this drunk Southern fella, but did he even ask me how much I took off the lousy son of a bitch?"
Without thinking, Beni almost told her that it didn't matter what she'd taken off of him...before he realized the stupidity of his words and snapped his mouth shut. He sat up, intrigued, and didn't even mind the smug smile on her face as she trotted over to where she'd dropped her clutch and picked it up. She opened it up and happily fished out a fat wad of American bills, holding them in Beni's face with an air of triumph. Greedily, he snatched it out of her hands counted through it in a matter of seconds.
"You took all of this off of one man?"
She shrugged. "He was a tourist. Got all his money on him all the time."
Beni couldn't stop staring at all of the money in his hand, but Kitty was already distracted. "Shit, I think I will take a bath. This stinkin' bourbon on me's makin' me sick."
She found a towel somewhere on the floor and drifted out of the room, and Beni met Izzy's greedy eyes with a groan.
"Seems you got that money you owe me now, mate."
Beni's hands tightened around the wad of cash. "This is _Kitty's_ money. I would not dare to give you any - "
"Oh, bullshit, you Scroogey wanker! Hand it over!"
"No. It is not mine to give - "
"Oh, like that's ever stopped you before! You just don't want to pay me!"
Beni glared back at him, an overly pious look on his face. "Right is right. Besides, don't you have some alley you are late to pass out in?"
Izzy met his gaze evenly. "I ain't goin' nowhere til I get my bloody twenty-five pounds."
"I don't have twenty-five pounds."
"You're a liar and your mother's a whore. That's got to be over five hundred clams there - "
"In American dollars," Beni reminded stiffly. "I still do not have any English pounds."
"Well I ain't picky."
Beni eyed him. "Well I am. How do I know if I hand you twenty-five American dollars that you are not getting the same as one hundred English pounds, eh?"
Izzy opened his mouth to retort, but the sound of heavy knocking interrupted him. He turned to Beni in wide-eyed confusion, and muttered just barely above a whisper, "She ain't done already is she?"
Beni shook his head, watching the door fearfully. The knocking came again, and then a harsh American voice:
"C'mon, ya two-bit floozy! I know yer in there and I know you got my goddamn money! Open up!"
Izzy gulped, edging a little closer to the window. Beni just froze and tried to hold his breath.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, you hear me? If you don't open up by the count 'a five, I'm bustin' the damn door in!"
Izzy met Beni's eyes across the room again.
"One..."
Breathing a curse, Beni pulled himself out of bed and found his pants.
"Two..."
Because if he was going to have to deal with this bastard either way, he'd rather do it without losing a door.
"Three..."
He hurriedly stuffed the money under his pillow and lunged for the door before the man on the other side could lose his patience and break it open, anyway. He threw open the door and met the grim blue eyes of a short, dark American.
"Who the hell're you?" the American demanded.
Beni offered him a wide, nervous smile. "No one. Just a, uh, humble - "
"I don't care," the American cut in testily. "I'm lookin' for a little blonde gal, got big doe eyes and a New York accent. Seen her?"
Beni shook his head solemnly. "There could be no woman living here, barat'm. I am a priest, a servant of the Lord, sworn to a life of quiet chastity - "
The American's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "If you're a priest, why ain't you at church on a Sunday mornin'?"
"I, uh, I am a Jewish priest, of course. We worship on Saturdays - "
"Whatever," the American spat. "I'm lookin' for this gal and for some goddamn reason she had this address. Left it on my bedside table with a tube 'a lipstick. Was about the only goddamn thing she left the room without."
Beni just continued to grin nervously. "This must be some kind of misunderstanding..."
"Well she had your address," the American said, his voice somehow managing to get gruffer. "And she's bound to be comin' this way if she had it."
Beni did his best to hide a crack in his smile, but Izzy jumped in just then:
"Well not if she lost the address, mate."
The American looked past Beni in confusion, noticing Izzy lurking by the window for the first time. He glared at Izzy in a dark and almost violent kind of way before turning his attention back to Beni.
"Look, you see her, you tell her Dave Daniels is reportin' her to the police. I don't care how backwards this sorry godforsaken excuse of a country is, they're gonna find her. I'll make sure 'a that."
Beni just nodded his head, doing his best to subtly usher the American out of his apartment without him noticing. "Of course, of course, sir. I will report her to the police myself. It is my godly duty to - "
"Fine," Dave sniffed, adjusting his hat on his head. He looked about the apartment one last time and strode out.
Beni called, "God bless you!" down the hall before quickly shutting the door and locking it. He let out an uneasy sigh of relief and met Izzy's eyes again.
"That was a close one, mate," Izzy said. "And I'd say you definitely owe me that money now - you and Kitty both."
Beni rolled his eyes and started to tell him he could go to hell, but there was another knock on the door - this one lighter. With a sigh, he turned and opened the door, and Kitty slipped back in with her dress in her hand and a towel about her body.
"Phew! Sorry I took so long; I remembered it was my day to wash my hair, and that always takes forever it seems like - "
But Beni could only glare at her. "You just missed your good friend Mr. Dave Daniels."
Kitty frowned in confusion. "Who?"
"The blighter you took all that cash from, darling."
Her face lit with realization briefly before her brows settled in a puzzled frown. "Well how'd he wind up here?"
"You left my address on his bedside table," Beni said impatiently.
Kitty's eyes widened. "Shit, did I? Ah, and my lipstick, too, I bet! I put it with my lipstick so I wouldn't forget but I was in such a rush 'cause his snorin' really made me jumpy. I kept thinkin' he was wakin' up..."
"He is reporting you to the police," Beni said.
But Kitty just blew a raspberry.
"He has my address."
"Well surely the police know where you live by now," she said with a little giggle, and just then noticed Izzy across the room. "Ah, honey, you still here?"
Izzy shot Beni a smug look before turning back to Kitty happily. "Ah, yes, love. You see, Beni owes me a bit of money and I couldn't help but notice you just came into a bit 'a wealth there."
Kitty grinned, walking across the room and taking him by the arm. "Oh, jeeze, I hope I didn't just get you wet!"
"No trouble, darling."
"Good," she continued to walk casually back towards the door, and Izzy followed along beside her, captivated by her infectious smile and the beads of water that dotted her skin. "It was just _so_ nice to meet you, Izzy! Just so nice! Do you come by a lot?"
Izzy grinned. "Well, I certainly can, darling, now that you live here."
"Oh, I do hope you come by again soon! But I gotta tell ya, I'm just beat and if I don't take a nap I'm gonna pass out where I stand, ya know?"
Izzy nodded. "Oh, of course. But about that money - "
Kitty just frowned and opened the door. "Oh, I can't think about money when I'm this tired."
"Yes, but - "
She stopped him with a kiss and gently pushed him out into the hallway. Before Izzy could think to protest, she slammed the door shut and locked it again, turning to Beni with a sigh.
"I'm beat. Are you still sore at me?"
Beni remembered the money under his pillow, still marveling a little at how easily she'd lured Izzy and his stupid demands about money out of the apartment. He looked up at her and shook his head, and she smiled.
"Good. Scootch over."
He gave her a look and whined, "But this is my side of the bed - "
Kitty raised her eyebrows and pulled off her towel. "I said scootch."
"Yep."
He watched her as she slipped into bed beside him, suddenly not so tired as he was before now that she lay there so perfect and naked. He slid closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. She let out a weary sigh and closed her eyes, but he could see the little smile in the corner of her mouth.
"Baby, I'm _so tired."_
"That's alright."
She snorted. "You know, _some of us_ was out workin' hard last night to bring home money, 'stead 'a spendin' it on tramps."
Beni just stared at her, wide-eyed and innocent. "I do not know what you are talking about."
She giggled. "You smell like cheap perfume."
Beni frowned, sniffing at his armpits to see if he could catch a whiff of incriminating evidence.
"I don't mind," she said quietly, taking hold of his hand and pressing it between her breasts. "Talk to me in French, and I won't mind at all..."
**end.**
End file.
| fanfiction |
triggered star formation is the process by which star formation is initiated or accelerated through compression of a clump in a molecular cloud by a shock front @xcite .
although a basic understanding of the process of triggered star formation exists , only recently have numerical models becoming sophisticated enough to yield detailed comparisons with observations .
comparison of hydrodynamic shock induced star formation models to observations of potential triggered star formation regions is complicated by the fact that such regions can be very chaotic .
shocks , outflows , and core rotation all have kinematic signatures which may overwhelm the signatures associated with the triggering mechanism @xcite .
in order to alleviate this confusion somewhat , we choose to observe regions of potential small scale triggering .
these regions typically involve one core in a cometary cloud , and a well defined shock front geometry .
several numerical studies of shock triggered collapse have been undertaken recently ( * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* hereafter vc ) .
these studies have found that shocks with velocities less than 45 km s@xmath4 can cause cores to collapse , but fast shocks ( @xmath5 km s@xmath4 ) tend to destroy the principal cooling molecules , leading ultimately to the destruction of the cloud
. these models also yield an appreciable number of binary and multiple star systems , which are common in our galaxy , yet difficult to form by spontaneous , isolated star formation .
the vc models tend to reproduce characteristics of observed cometary clouds thought to be small scale triggered star formation regions @xcite .
this comparison between the models and the observations will be explored further in a forthcoming paper . in order to perform a detailed study of sites of triggered star formation , which can be compared to models
, we conducted a survey of bright rimmed clouds identified by ( * ? ? ?
* hereafter , sfo ) . these are all molecular clouds which border expanding hii regions . at the boundary between the ionized gas within the stromgren sphere , and the molecular cloud
is an ionization front , which shows up as the bright rim identified by sfo .
embedded near the rim , and just within the molecular cloud in each of these sources is an iras source .
the fact that the ionization front is collecting gas into a ridge or core in many of these sources makes them excellent candidates for the globule squeezing or collect and collapse mode of triggered star formation @xcite .
these clouds are also divided into three morphological types , shown schematically in figure [ schematic ] .
the first is type a , which has a moderately curved rim , and looks much like a shield in three dimensions .
the second is type b , which has a more tightly curved rim near the head of the cloud , but which tends to broaden near the tail .
type b is also known as an elephant trunk morphology .
the third is type c which has a very tightly curved rim and a well defined tail .
type c is often called a cometary cloud .
the shock induced collapse models of vc as well as observations of the expanding ionization front of the orion ob 1 association @xcite suggest that these morphological types of bright rimmed clouds may actually be a time evolution sequence with clouds evolving from type a through type b to type c.
potential triggered star formation regions have been selected from the catalog of bright - rimmed clouds with associated iras point sources by sfo .
each of these sources is associated with an hii region and is suspected to be forming stars via triggering . in all of these sources the geometry of the incoming shock region is obvious , as the shock emanates from the interface of the cloud and hii region .
since there are three different morphologies , or bright rim cloud types , we decided to chose at least two of each type .
we also chose nearby sources , both to get the best possible resolution , and because most bok globules that have been studied have been nearby objects .
the bright rimmed clouds we observed have distances between 190 and 1900 pc , and include two type a bright rimmed clouds ( sfo 16 and sfo 18 ) , three type b bright rimmed clouds ( sfo 4 , sfo 13 , and sfo 25 ) , and two type c bright rimmed clouds ( sfo 20 and sfo 37 ) .
we can not hope to resolve the cores of the more distant sources with single dish millimeter or submillimeter observations , however we do resolve the structure of the swept up molecular gas cloud surrounding the core , which is greatly affected by the impacting ionization front .
the embedded iras sources in the selected bright rimmed clouds have infrared luminosities which range from 5 to 1300 @xmath6 , though all but one of the sources have a luminosity less that 110 @xmath6 .
these luminosities tend to be typical of low or intermediate mass star formation .
finally all but one of the bright rimmed clouds were chosen to have the iras colors of their embedded iras point source be consistent with young stellar objects ( ysos ) according to the color criteria presented in @xcite .
there are two exceptions to this rule .
the first , sfo 4 , was chosen because it is exceptionally nearby ( 190 pc ) .
the second , sfo 13 , was chosen because it is thought to be a region of cluster formation @xcite .
although sfo 4 and sfo 13 do not meet the iras color criteria of @xcite for inclusion in the population of ysos , they do meet the criteria of @xcite for embedded star forming regions .
digitized sky survey observations of the bright rimmed clouds are shown in figure [ sfo_dss ] . in
most of the optical images the bright rim is clearly visible , enclosed within the rim is the molecular cloud .
several of the sources show high extinction on one side of the rim indicating the presence of the molecular cloud .
we have drawn in an arrow indicating the direction of propagation of the ionization front from the ionizing source creating the hii region . in order to compare potential triggered star formation regions with quiescent star formation regions , we also observed bok globules with embedded iras sources in their cores from the @xcite catalog of small , optically selected molecular clouds .
we chose bok globules with properties that are similar to our bright rimmed clouds .
they lie at distances between 250 and 2500 pc from us .
they are believed to contain one star forming core with an embedded iras source , and their luminosities between 3 and 930 @xmath6 .
observations of these sources allow for detailed comparisons between the observed properties of triggered and spontaneous star formation regions , and will allow us to isolate those observed properties unique to triggered star formation .
the three bok globules we have observed are b335 , cb 3 , and cb 224 .
the source list is summarized in table [ sources ] .
one can not obtain a complete picture of the physical conditions in a star forming cloud by observing one molecular line .
it is only by combining observations of several molecular line transitions , sensitive to various physical conditions , that one can approach an accurate physical representation of the star forming cloud . as a result we chose several molecular transitions , in both the millimeter and submillimeter wave bands , in order to probe the conditions we felt
would provide us with a basis for comparing bright rimmed clouds with bok globules .
the transitions we observed are summarized in table [ transitions ] .
co has traditionally been the main tracer of molecular clouds .
it has a fairly high abundance and a low critical density , making it a very useful tracer of molecular gas .
our observations of co were driven by the fact that both the co ( ) and the co ( ) emission are good tracers of molecular outflows .
hco@xmath1is a good tracer of moderate density ( @xmath7 ) .
we observe the millimeter hco@xmath1 ( ) line to trace the morphology of the molecular gas swept up by the ionization front .
the submillimeter hco@xmath1 ( ) and hco@xmath1 ( ) trace the denser clumps within the swept up gas .
hco@xmath1emission in all three tracers tends to be optically thick in the cores , making it a good tracer of infall as discussed in
[ infall ] .
n@xmath3h@xmath1 has been shown to be a good tracer of the dense core material as it can only form in well - shielded regions @xcite .
n@xmath3h@xmath1 also remains relatively undepleated in cores @xcite , making it especially useful in probing the densest regions of star forming clouds .
the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) transition has seven well measured hyperfine components resulting from the interaction of the molecular electric field gradient and the electric quadrupole moments of the nitrogen nuclei @xcite .
these components can be used to determine the optical depth of n@xmath3h@xmath1 from which we can derive the column density of n@xmath3h@xmath1 . from this measurement
we can infer the density of star forming cores . in [ results ] we will discuss our observations of each source in a systematic way .
this section describes the order in which various observations will be described and also points out various features which we look for in these sources . for each source we present figures illustrating the line profiles at the iras source position , an integrated intensity map of each tracer which we mapped , a map of the centroid velocity of the hco@xmath1 ( ) transition , and a map of the molecular outflow if one is detected .
our rationale for presenting these figures is discussed below .
we begin by presenting the central line profiles of all the observed molecular transitions .
these profiles are taken at the position of the iras source .
there are several features in the line profiles which are of interest to us .
the co lines often have broad low intensity features called wings .
these wings , which are especially prominent in the co ( ) transition , are usually the result of an outflow from the forming protostellar object
. these outflows are often bipolar and are thought to arise from megnetohydrodynamic winds driven by infall and interaction with the forming star s surrounding disk ( see @xcite and references therein ) .
the shape of the line profile can also be of interest .
the hco@xmath1 transitions often have profiles which deviate significantly from gaussian shapes at line center .
this is due to the high optical depth which results in self - absorption near the line center .
often this results in a profile with two distinct peaks .
when this is indeed the result of self - absorption , the lower abundance h@xmath2co@xmath1 lines are often still optically thin and tends to show their greatest intensity at a velocity between the twin peaks of their self - absorbed isotopomer hco@xmath1 .
the relative size of each peak often indicates the kinematics of the gas within the beam .
when the gas is collapsing to a point within the beam , the red - shifted gas is preferentially self - absorbed leaving a more intense blue - shifted peak and an overall blue - asymmetry with respect to the h@xmath2co@xmath1 line .
the reverse is true for gas expanding from a point within a beam @xcite .
the integrated intensity maps provide a look at the two - dimensional morphology of the molecular cloud and cores as seen by the different tracers we mapped over the region surrounding the iras sources .
the co integrated intensity map gives a global look at the molecular gas in the region .
one thing to note in the bright rimmed clouds we observe is that the boundary between the molecular cloud and the ionized gas is very sharp and well traced by the co. the hco@xmath1tends to trace denser regions , but is also excited by shocks @xcite . as a result hco@xmath1 ( ) tends to trace both the star forming cores as well as the rim of the ionization front .
the higher level hco@xmath1 transitions tend to trace the dense gas .
we overlay the n@xmath3h@xmath1 half - power contour on the integrated intensity map of a higher level hco@xmath1 transition in order to show the correspondence between the dense gas traced by n@xmath3h@xmath1 and that traced by hco@xmath1 .
there is often good agreement between the two tracers . following the integrated intensity maps we present hco@xmath1 ( ) centroid velocity maps for most of the sources .
centroid velocity maps have been shown to be very effective in disentangling the underlying velocity fields in regions of complex kinematics @xcite .
often there is a velocity gradient which may correspond to rotation of the cloud or be a result of acceleration of the molecular gas due to the rocket effect which arises at the molecular cloud boundary .
the kinematic signature suggested by the hco@xmath1 is often interesting when compared to the integrated intensity maps of the co outflows , which we present next for many of the sources we observe .
often the bipolar outflow we detect in co is perpendicular to the velocity gradient we detect in hco@xmath1 .
this is evidence that we may be detecting rotation along the direction predicted in current models of star formation .
we do not have the angular resolution , however , to probe this rotation down to the small scales of the star forming core .
we performed observations at the five college radio astronomy observatory ( fcrao ) 14 m telescope over the 19992000 and 20002001 observing seasons using the second quabbin observatory imaging array ( sequoia ) 16-beam array receiver , and the focal plane array autocorrelation spectrometers ( faas ) which consists of 16 autocorrelating spectrometers .
a summary of the observed molecular line transitions is shown in table [ transitions ] .
the c@xmath0o , hco@xmath1 , h@xmath2co@xmath1 , and n@xmath3h@xmath1 transitions were observed using the frequency - switched mode , while co was observed by position switching to a region that was reasonably clear of co emission , though some co contamination was found and considered acceptable in the offset positions as long as it was well separated in velocity from the line of interest .
the hco@xmath1and h@xmath2co@xmath1 were frequency folded and 3@xmath8 order baselines were removed , while for the n@xmath3h@xmath1 data a 4@xmath9 order baseline was used .
a 2@xmath10 order baseline was subtracted from the position - switched co data .
hco@xmath1 and n@xmath3h@xmath1were mapped with half - beam spacing , while co and h@xmath2co@xmath1 were mapped with full - beam spacing .
the extent of the region mapped varies depending on the spatial extent of the source s emission .
we also performed submillimeter observations in april and december 2000 and in april 2001 with the 10 m heinrich hertz telescope ( hht ) .
co , hco@xmath1 , and h@xmath2co@xmath1 observations were conducted using the facility 230 ghz sis receiver , while hco@xmath1 and h@xmath2co@xmath1 observations were conducted using the facility dual polarization 345 ghz sis receiver .
several backends were used simultaneously , including a 1 ghz wide ( @xmath11 mhz resolution ) acousto - optical spectrometer ( aos ) , and three filterbanks with 1 mhz , 250 khz , and 62.5 khz resolutions .
the results presented in this paper were processed using the 250 khz filterbank .
all observations were position - switched , and second order baselines were removed .
h@xmath2co@xmath1 observations were made of the star forming core at the iras source position , while hco@xmath1 and co observations were made using the on - the - fly ( otf ) mapping technique .
observations of @xmath12 regions in otf mode were combined into maps of various spatial extents depending on the source .
we observed b335 in may of 1996 at the caltech submillimeter observatory ( cso ) .
hco@xmath1 ( )
mapping was performed using the otf mapping technique .
the otf data was gridded into 49 positions with a spacing of 10 .
h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) was observed at the iras source position .
all observations were carried out with low - noise sis waveguide receivers and a 1000 channel , 50 mhz wide acousto - optical spectrometer . the main beam efficiency at 345 ghz is @xmath13 .
calibration of observations was done by the chopper wheel technique .
sfo 4 is a bright rimmed cloud with a type b morphology on the edge of the hii region s185 ( @xmath14 cas ) ( sfo ) .
iras source 00560 + 6037 is embedded within sfo 4 .
this iras source has been classified by sfo as having iras colors consistent with hot cirrus sources , and not a forming or newly formed star ( sfo ) .
however according to the criteria of @xcite sfo 4 fits the iras color profile of an embedded star forming region .
sfo 4 is nearby ( 190 pc ) , and has no known associated outflows or hh objects . figure [ sfoiv_xiii_profiles]a shows the spectra of our observations towards the iras source in sfo 4 . although h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) was not detected , our observations limit the integrated intensity of that transition to less that 0.037 k km s@xmath4 . based on this limit , and the integrated intensity measurement of hco@xmath1 ( ) , and an assumed c/@xmath2c abundance ratio of 64 we derive an upper limit to the column density of hco@xmath1 to be @xmath15 @xmath16 .
the line profiles appear fairly gaussian , in all the observed transitions , with nearly identical centroid velocities .
none of the isotopic lines of either co or hco@xmath1 were detected .
figure [ sfoiv_itty ] shows the hco@xmath1 and co integrated intensity maps . neither the co ( ) map , nor the hco@xmath1 maps show much structure . in the co ( )
map and the hco@xmath1 ( ) map the cloud core surrounding the embedded iras source is visible , but no gas traces the ionization front or the elephant trunk morphology seen in the dss image in figure [ sfo_dss ] .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) map shows only one point whose integrated intensity is above 1.0 k , the three sigma threshold for the map .
this source is unusually weak compared to the other sources in the sample , which is unfortunate as it is also the most nearby source in the sample .
sfo 13 is classified as a type b bright rimmed cloud by sfo .
figure [ sfo_dss ] shows the elephant trunk morphology characteristic of type b clouds .
the initially cometary head of the cloud broadens into a wider structure as one follows the cloud away from the ionizing source .
sfo 13 borders the hii region ic1848 , and lies at a distance of 1.9 kpc from us , making it the most distant sfo source in the sample .
a recent near - infrared survey reveals @xmath17 point sources whose spectral energy distributions are consistent with pre - main - sequence stars @xcite .
@xmath18 band observations by @xcite also confirm the presence an embedded stellar cluster in this molecular cloud .
these sources are distributed preferentially towards the hii region with respect to the iras source , and are probably older than the iras source indicating that this cloud may be an example of small scale sequential star formation .
the millimeter and submillimeter line profiles for sfo 13 , shown in figure [ sfoiv_xiii_profiles]b , are all fairly gaussian and also peak at approximately the same velocity .
this is not entirely unexpected as the average infall region for individual cores in a star formation region is smaller than the fcrao beamwidth , which is 0.5 pc at this distance , and the hht beamwidth , of 0.3 pc , making it difficult to detect infall .
the co ( ) line strength is almost twice as much as that of co ( ) . this intensity difference may be due to excitation effects , but may also be the result of the small angular size of the core .
since the co ( ) transition is observed with a much smaller beam than the co ( ) transition , the beam dilution is much greater for the lower transition and can have significant effects on the intensities observed with such distant sources . the hco@xmath1 and c@xmath0oline profiles are all fairly gaussian .
n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) was not detected in this source , down to an rms level of 0.017 k km s@xmath4 .
although the spatial resolution of our observations are not good enough to trace individual infall regions , the overall gas morphology is resolved by the beam .
figure [ sfoxiii_itty ] shows integrated intensity maps of various transitions and isotopes of co and hco@xmath1 . the co ( ) shows a distinct head , located at the iras source position upon which the map is centered .
lower intensity co ( ) emission continues from the core and spreads out to the north - east of the image , similar to the elephant trunk morphology seen in the optical ( figure [ sfo_dss ] ) .
this is also consistent with the fact that the ionizing source is located to the south - west of the core .
the region mapped in co ( ) shows a similar morphology to the co ( ) emission , however the core position is much more intense than the surrounding gas .
the c@xmath0o ( ) map shows emission mostly north of the hco@xmath1 core , with very little north - east extension .
this indicates that the large column density molecular gas may not correspond exactly with the star forming core in this source .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxiii_itty ] ) shows a more cometary morphology than the digitized sky survey image in figure [ sfo_dss ] .
the dense gas appears to be preferentially located along a ridge near the southern edge of the cloud .
this could be a result of the preexisting density structure of the molecular cloud which was swept up by the ionization front or an effect of the geometry of the expanding hii region .
however , these observations can not determine how the gas was swept into that ridge .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map only shows significant emission at the position of the star forming core . the hco@xmath1 ( ) centroid map ( figure [ sfoxiii_centroid ] ) does not show a very coherent structure
, however there is a significant velocity gradient across the tail in the hco@xmath1 ( ) map along the northwest - southeast direction .
the co ( ) line profiles show distinct wings , which seem to form two lobes of an outflow ( figure [ sfoxiii_outflow ] ) .
this outflow has not previously been observed , although sfo found line wings indicative of an outflow in their co ( ) observation of this source .
sfo 16 , also known as l1634 and rno40 , is classified as a type a bright rimmed cloud by sfo , as it is a broad ionization front , with no tail .
sfo 16 borders barnard s loop , and is at a distance of 400 pc .
the embedded iras source 051730555 has a spectral energy distribution in the iras bands consistent with an embedded yso ( sfo ) .
@xcite describes this object as a purely nebulous elongated very red source typical of herbig - haro objects .
emission lines which @xcite detects in this source include h@xmath19 , h@xmath20 , h@xmath14 , [ nii ] , [ sii ] , [ oi ] , [ ni ] , [ oiii ] , and hei . figure [ sfoxvi_xviii_profiles]a shows the central line profiles towards the iras source 051730555 .
the vertical line indicates the best fit velocity of the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) hyperfine ensemble .
both the co ( ) and the co ( ) lines show wings .
these wings often indicate the presence of outflows .
the c@xmath0o ( ) line , however appears to have a fairly gaussian shape .
the hco@xmath1 line profiles , shown in figure [ sfoxvi_xviii_profiles]a , are a bit more enigmatic .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) and h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) lines seem fairly well centered on the @xmath21 , but the hco@xmath1 ( ) shows a pronounced asymmetry .
this asymmetric profile is not shared by the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) line , indicating that the asymmetry observed in the hco@xmath1 line is probably the result of a radiative transfer effect , and not an effect of the superposition of clouds along the line of sight .
line asymmetries can be produced by infall @xcite , however this produces a line which has greater emission blue - shifted from line center , and our example is red - shifted from line center .
it is possible that the hco@xmath1 ( ) profile is caused by an outflow .
another possibility is that this red - asymmetric profile is due to infall in a region where the shock heating has inverted the excitation temperature profile of the infalling gas , so that is has a higher excitation temperature far from the core and a lower excitation temperature near the core .
this hypothesis will be fully explored in [ infall ] .
the co and hco@xmath1 integrated intensity maps are shown in figure [ sfoxvi_itty ] .
although classified as a type a cloud by sfo , the co ( ) seems to show a well defined tail moving off to the south - west , however the ionization source is located directly to the east of the core .
the c@xmath0o ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxvi_itty ] ) shows the molecular core surrounding the iras source , and no evidence of the outflow lobes .
it does appear that there is a tail traced by the c@xmath0o elongated to the west of the core .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity image in figure [ sfoxvi_itty ] is more indicative of a type a morphology that the co integrated intensity maps .
the majority of the gas traced by the hco@xmath1 emission is in a fairly broad regions which is densest around the iras core , but shows another possible core 300 north of the iras core .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map highlights the location of the core .
figure [ sfoxvi_centroid ] shows the centroid velocity of the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission in the dense regions of the source .
this centroid was calculated over the line core velocities , and do not include contributions from line wings if they are present . on average
there appears to be a north - south velocity gradient which could indicate rotation of the cloud . in both the co ( ) and
co ( ) integrated intensity maps , lobes indicative of a bipolar outflow are evident . figure [ sfoxvi_outflow ] shows an integrated intensity map of the co ( ) line wings .
this figure shows that there is an outflow , with the blue shifted lobe on the west side of the core and the red shifted lobe to the east of the core .
previous studies by @xcite and @xcite indicate the presence of this outflow and a second outflow , which we do not detect , aligned in the northwest - southeast direction .
the axis of rotation , derived from the hco@xmath1 centroid map , is aligned east - west , matching the alignment of outflow we detect .
this alignment is predicted by current star formation theories that posit that outflows are located along the polar direction of a rotating protostar , in order to shed some angular momentum before material can fall into the protostar .
sfo 18 , also known as b35a , is also a type a bright rimmed cloud .
it borders the hii region @xmath22 ori at a distance of about 400 pc .
the embedded iras source 05417 + 0907 has a spectral energy distribution consistent with an embedded yso .
@xcite have detected an outflow in co ( ) which extends in the northwest - southeast direction around the embedded iras source .
our line profiles shown in figure [ sfoxvi_xviii_profiles]b show bright , extensive wings on the co ( ) line , when compared to its c@xmath0o counterpart .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) and hco@xmath1 ( ) line profiles both show a significant blue asymmetry when compared to their h@xmath2co@xmath1 isotopic counterparts .
this may indicate that the gas is infalling around the core or cores @xcite .
the co integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxviii_itty ] ) shows the broad ionization front with a core at its apex , typical of type a sources .
the co emission cuts off fairly abruptly on the western edge of the cloud , where the ionization front is located .
the ionizing source is located directly to the west of the core . besides the increased emission at the core
, one can see a general increase in co ( ) emission adjacent to the ionization front which is probably due to an increase in column density as gas gets swept up by the ionization front , a factor which ultimately enhances the density and leads to self - gravitating clumps @xcite .
the c@xmath0o ( ) better traces the high column density gas around the core and shows what may be another core to the northeast of the first .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission better traces the dense ridge , as seen in the integrated intensity map in figure [ sfoxviii_itty ] , and the core in which the iras source is embedded .
this ridge of dense gas is consistent with the type a morphological classification by .
higher resolution hco@xmath1 ( ) observations of the core show several emission peaks , indicating that there may be several low mass stars forming simultaneously in that region .
this is consistent with models of shock driven collapse @xcite in which multiple stars can be formed .
further evidence supporting a region of infall is seen in figure [ sfoxviii_centroid ] where we see that the entire core region has blue shifted hco@xmath1 ( ) centroid velocities relative to the rest of the cloud where emission is strong enough to accurately measure a centroid .
this match between the core emission and the region of possible infall is further evidence of a collapsing , star forming , core @xcite .
figure [ sfoxviii_outflow ] shows the integrated intensity map of the co ( ) line wings , and we see the outflow in the same direction as detected by @xcite .
sfo 20 is a type c bright rimmed cloud .
the long tail is visible in the optical image ( figure [ sfo_dss ] ) pointing northwards , away from the hii region ic434 , which is approximately 400 parsecs from us .
the infrared spectral energy distribution of this source is consistent with an embedded yso .
@xcite discovered and mapped an outflow around the embedded iras source in sfo 20 using the nro 45 m telescope in the co ( ) transition . the co ( ) and co ( ) line profiles shown in figure [ sfoxx_xxv_profiles]a show a blue asymmetry and wings on the transition .
the hco@xmath1 line profiles are all fairly gaussian , and fairly well centered on the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) @xmath21 .
there is no clear evidence of infall from the hco@xmath1 transitions .
the co ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxx_itty ] ) shows the type c morphology , with a strong core and evidence of a tail trailing off to the north . the co ( ) emission also traces the core , though the emission peak does not match the hco@xmath1 ( ) core position exactly . the c@xmath0o ( ) emission is also peaked on the core and relatively absent in the tail .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission is mainly centered on the core with some emission tracing the tail . while many of the previous sources had substantial emission outside of the core region
, this one does not . under the assumption that the type c morphology is the most temporally evolved morphology , the ionization front may have long since passed this region and it is surrounded by ionized gas . as the core gas collapses the tail
can be eaten away as it becomes less and less shielded .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) traces only the core material .
analysis of the hco@xmath1 ( ) centroid velocity , shown in figure [ sfoxx_centroid ] indicates a small , but statistically significant gradient across the core . this gradient may indicate the cloud s rotation . as an outflow
has already been detected in this source by @xcite we chose to look at the co ( ) wing integrated intensity in order to try to verify the existing observation .
figure [ sfoxx_outflow ] shows that the line wings do show two lobes of emission , with the red lobe being predominantly northeast of the core and the blue lobe predominantly southwest of the core , similar to previous results .
the cloud rotation shown in figure [ sfoxx_centroid ] is perpendicular to the outflow , which is a prediction of current theories of star formation .
sfo 25 , also known as hh124 @xcite , is a type b cloud located at a distance of 780 pc .
embedded within is the iras source 06382 + 1017 , whose spectral energy distribution is consistent with an embedded yso .
sfo 25 is associated with the hii region ngc 2264 .
figure [ sfo_dss ] shows a moderately curved rim arching northwards away from the ionizing source .
however , although there is no tail visible in the optical , there is also no point at which the structure begins to broaden away from the ionizing source as there is for the other type b sources , sfo 4 and sfo 13 . as we shall see below , this source bears many similarities with type c cometary clouds as well .
the co ( ) and co ( ) profiles show a wide ( 5 ) , slightly asymmetric line ( figure [ sfoxx_xxv_profiles]b ) . the co ( ) profile shows line wings , which may indicate the presence of an outflow .
the hco@xmath1 line profiles show some asymmetry as well , mostly in the form of a redshifted tail .
the co ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxxv_itty ] ) shows a low level of co emission throughout the region , which may be the result of contamination from nearby diffuse clouds which lie at nearly the same velocity of sfo 25 .
the c@xmath0o ( ) traces the higher column density gas which forms the sfo 25 core and shows a molecular gas tail to the north .
this morphology is more typical of a type c cometary cloud than a type b source .
the co ( ) emission peaks strongly at the iras source position .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxxv_itty ] ) shows strongly peaked emission around the core with much weaker emission along the tail to the north of the source , which looks more typical of a type c source than a type b source .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission is also strongly peaked at the iras source position .
we detected no coherent velocity structure in the hco@xmath1 ( ) velocity centroid observations .
however the co ( ) line wings show evidence of an outflow oriented in the north - south direction ( figure [ sfoxxv_outflow ] ) , though unrelated emission near the same velocity makes it hard to separate the outflow emission from emission due to other sources .
sfo 37 , also known as gn 21.38.9 , is a type c cloud ( sfo ) .
it s cometary structure is quite striking in the optical ( figure [ sfo_dss ] ) .
sfo 37 is associated with the hii region ic1396 located at a distance of 750 pc .
embedded within is the iras source 21388 + 5622 whose spectral energy distribution is consistent with an embedded yso .
an investigation of this region by @xcite revealed h@xmath19 and [ sii ] emission on the northeast side of the molecular emission core .
this emission is consistent with an ionization front driven by the strong uv field of a neighboring o6 star .
the co ( ) and co ( ) line profiles ( figure [ sfoxxxvii_bcccxxxv_profiles]a ) shows a fairly gaussian shape centered at a line of sight velocity of approximately 1 .
a second component is visible at a line of sight velocity of approximately 7 .
@xcite speculate that this second component may be a remnant of the low density gas shell in which the core formed , however we find this to be unlikely ; the second component s spatial distribution appears unrelated to that of the main component , and the low density gas surrounding the sfo 37 core has most likely been ionized .
both the hco@xmath1 and h@xmath2co@xmath1 profiles in figure [ sfoxxxvii_bcccxxxv_profiles]a appear fairly gaussian and share approximately the same centroid velocity . as is the case for many of these bright rimmed clouds ,
there is little or no indication of infall , despite the presence of a previously detected outflow @xcite .
the integrated intensity map of the co ( ) emission shows the cometary cloud structure stretching from the center of the plot down to the southwest .
there also appears to be a spur of gas 120 south of the core extending west out of the tail of the cometary cloud ( figure [ sfoxxxvii_itty ] ) .
the co ( ) integrated intensity map also shows a cometary structure running northwest - southeast .
although we detected no outflow , the higher resolution survey of @xcite detected a bipolar outflow with a 20 separation between the red and blue lobes and a north - south orientation .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ sfoxxxvii_itty ] ) shows emission from the iras core , as well as an extension to the southeast .
there is a centroid velocity gradient of the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission along the length of the cometary cloud ( figure [ sfoxxxvii_centroid ] ) .
this velocity gradient may be due to the interaction of the ionization front and the cometary cloud .
recent near - infrared observations of this source have also shown several point sources which may be pre - main - sequence stars which lie on a line extending from the embedded iras source in the opposite direction as the tail @xcite .
these young stars , and their extremely regular arrangement along the line which bisects the ionization front , which would be the line along which the dense core would travel in a radiation driven cometary globule @xcite , make this source an excellent candidate for small scale sequential star formation @xcite . the hco@xmath1 ( ) map shows evidence of some fragmentation of the tail of the cometary cloud into what could potentially seed the cores of new sequentially driven star formation .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) and hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity maps pick up the dense gas surrounding the central iras source .
the second core , located approximately 100 behind the iras source , has a lower excitation temperature than the core surrounding the iras source , which may indicate that it is much less dense .
once the ionization front moves past the iras source , it could continue on to this second core , inducing star formation once again .
the iras source would become another young star in the line of young stars which originated in this sequential star forming region .
the dark cloud b335 has been well studied .
the embedded iras source 19345 + 0727 appears to be a protostellar core which is the source of a bipolar outflow which is oriented in the east - west direction on the plane of the sky .
the central source shows an elongation in the far - infrared and submillimeter continuum in the north - south direction , orthogonal to the outflow @xcite .
the high visual extinction and lack of near - infrared emission @xcite indicates that it may be a class 0 source .
@xcite provide evidence for protostellar collapse in b335 using h@xmath3co and cs observations .
subsequently , @xcite improved upon the infall models for b335 by including rotation and confirmed the earlier suggestion of infall .
b335 is one of the best studied infall candidates , which is why we chose to observe it and compare it with the bright rimmed clouds .
the b335 line profiles ( figure [ sfoxxxvii_bcccxxxv_profiles]b ) are very narrow compared to the other sources we ve observed .
the optically thin lines show a velocity width of only about 1 .
this comparably narrow line width is more typical of nearby isolated star forming regions than the large line widths we see in the bright rimmed clouds .
this is probably due to the fact that bright rimmed clouds are on average more distant and larger than many of the bok globules observed in millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths . as a result of the relationship between cloud size and velocity dispersion
@xcite we expect the bright rimmed clouds to have generally larger line widths than smaller clouds such as b335 or cb 224 . the hco@xmath1 ( ) profile shows a large self - absorption trough , however the centroid is not blue shifted , as one would expect for infall , but red - shifted .
this is a result of the core rotation @xcite and the large beam of fcrao .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) line profile also shows self absorption , which results in a double - peaked spectrum .
this spectrum , however , shows a considerable blue - shifted centroid relative to its isotopic counterpart .
the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) and h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) show single peaks right at the point where the hco@xmath1 lines are most self - absorbed , indicating that there is a high optical depth of hco@xmath1 at those velocities , and not that there are two different molecular cloud structures with slightly differing velocities in that direction .
the c@xmath0o ( ) and n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) emission is confined to the core , which does not seem to be resolved by our beam ( figure [ b_itty ] ) .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission is resolved by the fcrao beam , and seems to peak at the position of the iras core .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) centroid map ( figure [ b_centroid ] ) does not indicate any coherent structure across the cloud . the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission is elongated in the east - west direction , along the outflow ( figure [ b_itty ] ) .
the centroid velocity of hco@xmath1 ( ) has a coherent gradient running north - south indicating that b335 may be rotating around the axis defined by its outflow @xcite .
cb 3 @xcite , also known as l 594 @xcite , is a bok globule located approximately 2500 pc from us @xcite .
embedded within it is the iras source 00259 + 5625 , which has an extremely high luminosity ( 930 @xmath23 ) and appears to be a source of isolated intermediate- or high- mass star formation , not typically associated with bok globules ( see @xcite and references therein ) . because this source is so distant and has such a high luminosity iras source it is not typically studied as a source of low - mass star formation , but it may be a good counterpart for the more distant bright rimmed clouds , such as sfo 13 , sfo 25 , or sfo 37 .
the cb 3 co central line profiles ( figure [ cb_lbn_profiles]a ) are more complex than many of the bright rimmed cloud s line profiles .
both the co ( ) and co ( ) profiles show a component near the n@xmath3h@xmath1 line center velocity , and a second component red shifted by a couple of from the first .
the c@xmath0o ( ) line does not show two components , but does have a significant red shifted tail .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) central line profile is blue - shifted relative to both the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) line as well as the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) line , which could indicate infall in the core .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) line shows less self - absorption on the red - shifted side of the line , but still has a centroid velocity which is slightly blue relative to the n@xmath3h@xmath1 profile .
the co ( ) integrated intensity map ( figure [ lbn_itty ] ) shows a ridge of gas running northeast southwest , but no peak at the core , however the co ( )
map clearly shows the core , which is displaced from the ( 0,0 ) position , but remains consistent with the error position of the iras source .
the c@xmath0o ( ) also highlights the position of the dense core along the low - density molecular gas ridge .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map shows the gas core , with some extension along the ridge , however the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission is centered only on the core position .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission does not show a linear velocity gradient , but does have some structure ( figure [ lbn_centroid ] ) .
the co ( ) line wing map ( figure [ lbn_outflow ] ) shows a bipolar structure with the blue - shifted line wing to the south of the core and the red - shifted wing to the north .
this indicates the probable presence of a bipolar outflow in this core .
our detection of this outflow is consistent with the outflow detected by @xcite .
cb 224 @xcite is a bok globule located at a distance of approximately 450 pc , and it s embedded iras source , 20355 + 6343 , has a luminosity of 3.9 @xmath23 @xcite .
this is very comparable to many of the sfo sources discussed above , making cb 224 a good isolated source to compare with the potentially triggered sfo sources .
cb 224 , however , has very weak molecular emission lines .
the co ( ) central line profile shows evidence of a blue - shifted wing , which is not present in the c@xmath0o ( ) profile .
this may indicate the presence of an outflow ( figure [ cb_lbn_profiles]b ) .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) line profile is blue - shifted relative to both the n@xmath3h@xmath1 emission , and the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) emission profile . the hco@xmath1 ( ) profile shows a knee right where the h@xmath2co@xmath1 emission peaks indicating a fairly classical self - absorption profile typical of infall regions . the hco@xmath1 ( ) profile shows some evidence of a slight centroid blue - shift relative to the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) line and the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) line , but it is not as convincing an infall signature as the lower energy transition .
the co ( ) integrated intensity map shows molecular emission is fairly ubiquitous around this source ( figure [ cbccxxiv_itty ] ) , however there are two co peaks , one north and one south of the iras core .
the hco@xmath1 ( ) integrated intensity map clearly highlights the core gas surrounding the iras source at the center of the map .
there is a gradient running northeast southwest in the hco@xmath1 ( ) centroid velocity which could indicate rotation in the core ( figure [ cbccxxiv_centroid ] ) .
of the seven bright rimmed clouds observed and the three bok globules , all the sources show evidence of a very dense core with the exception of sfo 4 , which is unusual in that it appears to be a fairly diffuse cloud .
@xcite has shown that the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) transition can be a good probe of the properties of star forming cores . while co , hco@xmath1 , and other molecules have a tendency to freeze on to grains in the low temperature , high density environment of cores , n@xmath3h@xmath1 remains relatively undepleted @xcite in dark cloud cores , making it a good probe of the density profile .
n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) also has several fine structure lines @xcite which can be used to derive the excitation temperature of the n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) line .
we use the `` hyperfine structure ( hfs ) method '' in class @xcite to derive these properties from the n@xmath3h@xmath1 emission , using the component separations observed by @xcite .
the excitation temperature and the optical depth derived from the hyperfine line ratios can be used to derive the column density of gas within the telescope beam , which can be related to the gas mass in the beam , assuming a relative abundance ratio between n@xmath3h@xmath1 and molecular hydrogen @xcite .
we have performed this analysis for the objects in our sample , and the results are shown in table [ coretable ] .
the column densities of n@xmath3h@xmath1 fall within the same range of column densities observed in the cores of dark clouds @xcite . the mass of the core can also be derived by comparing the emission of hco@xmath1 ( ) to h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) , under the assumption that the h@xmath2co@xmath1 emission is optically thin .
the optical depth can be derived from assuming an abundance ratio between the c and @xmath2c isotopes , and comparing the ratio of h@xmath2co@xmath1 emission to hco@xmath1 emission .
then the excitation temperature is derived by assuming a filling factor of unity , and the excitation temperature and optical depth are used to derive the column density of gas .
the results of this analysis are presented in table [ hcoptable ] .
it is encouraging to see that even though n@xmath3h@xmath1 and hco@xmath1 do not trace exactly the same gas they produce fairly comparable results for the overall core mass .
these clouds tend to have cores with masses on the order of tens of solar masses .
outflows appear to be fairly ubiquitous in our sample .
we detected outflows in nearly all the sources we surveyed .
this is to be expected , since a star is forming and the cloud must dissipate its angular momentum in order to collapse .
however , in the case of shock triggered regions , the ionization front does dissipate some of the angular momentum of the collapsing cloud @xcite , though the ionization front would probably not have a noticeable effect on the scale of the accretion disk .
we have analyzed the energy in the detected outflows and present the results in table [ outflowtable ] .
we derived the mass of the lobes by averaging the integrated intensity of the line - wing emission over the spatial extend of the lobe .
we then derived a column density from this integrated intensity assuming that the emission is optically thin and an excitation temperature of 30k .
the momentum ( @xmath24 ) and kinetic energy ( ke ) of an outflow can be derived by computing @xmath25 along the spatially averaged spectrum of the outflow lobe . unless the outflow is along the line of sight , this method underestimates these quantities by a factor of @xmath26 where @xmath27 is the inclination of the outflow relative to the plane of the sky . as this method tends to underestimate the momentum and kinetic energy of the outflow , and since these estimates have fairly large uncertainties we chose not to integrate over the averaged spectrum , but instead to calculate the momentum to be @xmath28 and kinetic energy to be @xmath29 where @xmath30 is the total mass of the outflow lobe , and @xmath31 is the maximum measured velocity of the outflow lobe relative to the line center .
this assumes that all the material in the flow is moving at the maximum observed velocity , and that the lower velocities are the result of projection effects .
this technique results in upper limit estimates of the flow s momentum and energy @xcite .
the dynamical age ( @xmath32 ) of the flow is found by calculating the distance from the core to the edge of the outflow lobe and dividing by @xmath31 , while the kinetic luminosity ( @xmath33 ) is derived by deviding the kinetic energy of the lobe by the dynamical age of the flow .
the dynamical ages and kinetic luminosities of these outflows tend to agree with those of previously observed outflow sources @xcite .
the outflow ages all tend to be greater than @xmath34 years , which may indicate that the embedded objects are class i sources rather than class 0 sources , which typically have outflow ages less than @xmath34 years @xcite .
we compare the mechanical luminosity and force needed to accelerate the outflow to the luminosity and radiant pressure of the iras source driving the outflow in figure [ outflow ] .
we find that the bright rimmed clouds occupy similar regions in the two plots indicating that they are probably driven by similar processes as the other outflows around forming stars that have been observed to date .
we find that the embedded iras source has sufficient energy to drive the outflows we observe , but that the radiant pressure of the iras source is not sufficient to accelerate the outflows to the velocities we observe .
this confirms similar observations of @xcite .
although several outflows were detected , and the presence of outflows implies infalling gas , there were few line asymmetries indicative of infall in the bright rimmed clouds .
@xcite have defined a parameter to quantify the line asymmetry in terms of the line center velocity of an optically thick line , the line center velocity of an optically thin line , and the width of the optically thin line .
the asymmetry ( @xmath35 ) is then defined as @xmath36 @xcite find the line center velocities of both the thick and thin lines by fitting a gaussian to the lines , however this does not yield a very robust estimator of the asymmetry in my opinion . as the optical depth increases
, the thick line does immediately separate into two distinguishable components . at moderate optical depths a knee forms in the line profile as
the peak becomes blue - shifted .
a gaussian fit to this type of profile is very inaccurate , however the centroid of this profile is well determined .
therefore we use the centroid velocity of the thick line when calculating the line asymmetry .
we tabulate our line asymmetry values in table [ deltavtable ] .
the millimeter asymmetry is derived from observations of the hco@xmath1 ( ) optically thick line and the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) optically thin line .
the submillimeter asymmetry value is derived from the observations of the hco@xmath1 ( ) optically thick line and the h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) optically thin line .
@xcite suggest that a @xmath35 between 0.25 and 0.25 be considered symmetric .
all the bright rimmed clouds , with the exception of sfo 18 , show no significant asymmetry in their central line profiles according to this criterion .
previous studies of class 0 and class i sources performed using the millimeter cs ( ) transition @xcite and the submillimter hco@xmath1 ( ) transition @xcite show preferentially blue asymmetric line profiles , thought to be the result of infall in these star forming cores .
@xcite quantify the overall predilection of the observed sources to have blue asymmetric line profiles in terms of a parameter they call the `` blue excess '' which is defines as@xmath37 where @xmath38 is the number of sources with @xmath39 , @xmath40 is the number of sources with @xmath41 , and @xmath42 is the total number of sources .
@xcite find a blue excess of 0.28 for the class 0 and class
i sources they observe , and an overall blue excess of 0.31 for all the sources in the literature .
the bright rimmed clouds have a blue excess of 0.2 measured in both the millimeter and submillimeter transitions , however that is measured with a sample of only 6 sources .
a scatter plot , comparing the asymmetry of the bright rimmed clouds and bok globules we observed with those observed by @xcite and @xcite is shown in figure [ deltav ] .
we see that the bright rimmed clouds show asymmetry values comparable to those of other star forming regions .
the bright rimmed clouds , however , do not show as wide a deviation of asymmetry values , and tend to have @xmath35s which are closer to 0 than typical star formation regions , whose @xmath35s tend to be negative .
a wider survey of bright rimmed clouds is required to determine if they indeed have significantly less blue excess than other ysos .
why do we not detect infall in more bright rimmed clouds ?
does the incoming shock front produce conditions that alter the shape of the emergent line profile ?
an isolated bok globule usually has an excitation temperature profile which drops from a value on the order of 2050k at the core center to 10k at the edge of the core .
bright rimmed clouds , however , are stripped of their molecular envelopes and heated by uv flux from o stars .
this may be expected to flatten or in some cases invert the temperature profile , so that the cloud core center may still have a physical temperature around 20k , but the edge of the cloud core may have a physical temperature of several hundred k. since the gas throughout the core is fairly excited , it would eliminate the self - absorption which characterizes the blue line asymmetry typically associated with infall .
this inversion of the excitation temperature gradient could even lead to absorption of the blue - shifted gas by denser , yet less excited gas closer to the core .
figure [ lteinfall ] illustrates the effect of inverting the temperature gradient on a free - falling infall region . the model presented in that figure is a collapsing region , with a peak density of @xmath43 which drops down to a density of @xmath44 near the edge of the beam .
the infall region is confined to an area which is roughly 50% of the beam size .
we assume a free - fall collapse models , with infall velocities increasing towards the center of the collapsing sphere .
the only difference between the model which generates the double peaked solid line and the single peaked dashed line is the temperature gradient across the infalling region .
the solid line is the result of a linear temperature gradient which peaks in the center at 40 k and drops off towards the edge of our beam to 10 k. the dashed line also is a linear temperature gradient , but the temperature increases from 40 k at the center of the sphere to 300 k at the outer edge .
the approximates more closely the behavior of infalling gas clouds under the influence of wind - triggered collapse as modeled by vc .
our model shows that heating of the envelope of a collapsing cloud can lessen or remove entirely the blue - asymmetric line signature of a collapsing molecular cloud . in order to test the assumption that the ionization front may be raising the excitation temperature near the edge of the cloud ,
we have smoothed the hco@xmath1 ( ) map to the same resolution as the hco@xmath1 ( ) in both a bright rimmed cloud ( sfo 25 ) and a bok globule ( cb 3 ) which we observed .
we assume thermodynamic equilibrium between these transitions , as well as a low optical depth in order to derive the excitation temperature across the core .
sfo 25 has fairly gaussian lines , centered at the same velocity as their isotopic counterparts , indicating that the hco@xmath1 emission for this source may be optically thin . in cb 3 , as in all the bok globules we observed , we know the hco@xmath1 emission is not optically thin , however this would tend to wash out the excitation temperature to the cloud core , so in regions where the emission is optically thick we can consider the derived excitation temperature to be a lower limit . towards the edge of the cb 3 core the hco@xmath1emission does become optically thin making this a good assumption . in the case of sfo 25
we derive the excitation temperature along a line which cuts through both the ionization front and the star forming core , and plot that excitation temperature profile in figure [ texprofiles]a .
the center ( 0 ) offset represents the star forming core position , and the ionization front is in the negative direction . figure [ texprofiles]b shows the excitation temperature profile around the core of cb 3 , however we averaged annuli around the central core in order to derive the plotted values , rather than take a cut straight across in order to maximize our signal to noise ratio . in the case of sfo 25 , the excitation temperature peaks near the edge of the cloud core , while in cb 3 the excitation temperature peaks near the center .
although it is likely that the cores of these bright rimmed clouds are collapsing in a similar manner to other class 0 or class i sources , the heating due to the nearby hii region may dampen their spectral line infall signature .
our observations constitute the first detailed millimeter and submillimeter multitransition study of bright rimmed clouds . among the 7 bright rimmed clouds we observe ,
6 seem to share traits similar with other low to intermediate mass star forming regions .
our analysis of these bright rimmed clouds has yielded the principal results that follow . 1 . new fcrao co ( ) , c@xmath0o ( ) , hco@xmath1 ( ) , h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) , and n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) observations along with new hht co ( ) , hco@xmath1 ( ) , hco@xmath1 ( ) , h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) , and h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) observations of 7 bright rimmed clouds and 3 bok globules were presented .
these observations constitute the most detailed millimeter and submillimeter study of bright rimmed clouds to date .
2 . the millimeter co and hco@xmath1 emission tends to terminate abruptly at the ionization front . as a result , the overall morphology of the co and hco@xmath1 millimeter integrated intensity maps are similar with the optical morphologies identified by sfo .
3 . the millimeter hco@xmath1 tends to show the dense swept up ridge behind the ionization front , as well as the star forming core around the embedded iras source . in some of the bright rimmed clouds the hco@xmath1 ( ) emission also traces other overdense clumps which may later be triggered to collapse by the ionization front , resulting in sequential star formation .
the millimeter and submillimeter hco@xmath1 lines from many of the bright rimmed clouds appear nearly gaussian , with little evidence of infall asymmetry .
the only exceptions to this are sfo 18 , which shows significant blue asymmetry , and sfo 16 which shows a slight red asymmetry relative to optically thin tracers .
the core masses derived for the bright rimmed clouds using both n@xmath3h@xmath1 and hco@xmath1 are typical for low and intermediate mass star formation regions . the n@xmath3h@xmath1 and hco@xmath1 results also tend to agree to within an order of magnitude .
the overall blue excess of the sample of bright rimmed clouds is slightly less than that of the class 0 and class i sources observed by @xcite and @xcite , though the small number of bright rimmed clouds we observed does not make this difference statistically significant . a larger survey of bright rimmed clouds is required to determine if this is a significant finding .
we do however make a case for the fact that the heating of the collapsing cloud by the adjacent hii region could dampen the infall signature , lowering the blue excess of bright rimmed clouds . 7 .
we observed outflows around 5 of the 7 bright rimmed clouds , including new detections of outflows around sfo 13 and sfo 25 .
these outflows appear to have similar properties to other outflows detected in millimeter and submillimeter emission .
we do not see direct evidence of triggering in these sources
. we can not determine if star formation was induced in these clouds or if we are seeing the collapse of pre - existing clumps .
we do know that the environment has a profound effect on these regions .
although we have found similarities and differences between bok globules and bright rimmed clouds , a detailed understanding of the effects of an ionization front on star formation can only be achieved by theoretically modeling this process , and then comparing that model to observations . in a forthcoming paper
we will compare these observations with models of shock driven collapse derived by vc .
in addition to bright rimmed clouds , these models could explain the effect of outflows and other environmental effects on star formation .
development of the techniques and models which will help us understand star formation in complex environments is in progress .
we gratefully acknowledge the staff of the hht for their excellent support .
in particular we wish to thank harold butner for his assistance with setting up our otf observations at the hht and mark heyer for his many helpful comments . c. h. de vries and g. narayanan are supported by the fcrao under the national science foundation grant ast 01 - 00793 .
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australia , 15 , 91 saraceno , p. , andr , p. , ceccarelli , c. , griffin , m. , & molinari , s. 1996 , , 309 , 827 snell , r. l. , & loren , r. b. 1977 , 211 , 122 sugitani , k. fukui , y , mizuno , a. , & ohashi , n. 1989 , , 342 , l87 sugitani , k. , fukui , y. , & ogura , k. 1991 , , 77 , 59 sugitani , k. , tamura , m. , & ogura , l. 1995 , , 455 , l39 sugitani , k. , tamura , m. , & ogura , k. 1999 , in star formation 1999 , ed . t. nakamoto ( nobeyama , japan : nobeyama radio observatory ) , 358 tomita , y. , saito , t. , & ohtani , h. 1979 , , 31 , 407 turner , b. e. 1995 , , 449 , 635 vanhala , h. a. t. , & cameron , a. g. w. 1998 , , 508 , 291 walker , c. k. , lada , c. j. , young , e. t. , & margulis , m. 1988 , , 332 , 335 walker , c. k. , narayanan , g. , & boss , a. p. 1994 , 431 , 767 walsh , j. r. , ogura , k. , & reipurth , b. 1992 , , 257 , 110 zhou , s. 1992 , , 394 , 204 zhou , s. 1995 , , 442 , 685 zhou , s. , evans , n. j. , kmpe , c. , & walmsley , c. m. 1993 , , 404 , 232 lrrccllc sfo 4 & 00h 59 m 04.1s & 605332 & 190 & b & s185 & 00560 + 6037 & 5.2 + sfo 13 & 03h 01 m 00.7s & 604020 & 1900 & b & ic1848 & 02570 + 6028 & 1300 + sfo 16 & 05h 19 m 48.9s & 055205 & 400 & a & barnard s loop & 051730555 & 16 + sfo 18 & 05h 44 m 29.8s & 090854 & 400 & a & @xmath22 ori & 05417 + 0907 & 18 + sfo 20 & 05h 38 m 04.9s & 014509 & 400 & c & ic434 & 053550146 & 9.8 + sfo 25 & 06h 41 m 03.3s & 101501 & 780 & b & ngc2264 & 06382 + 1017 & 100 + sfo 37 & 21h 40 m 29.0s & 563558 & 750 & c & ic1396 & 21388 + 5622 & 110 + b335 & 19h 37 m 01.4s & 073402 & 250 & bok & none & 19345 + 0727 & 2.6 +
cb 3 & 00h 28 m 46.0s & 564206 & 2500 & bok & none & 00259 + 5625 & 930
+ cb 224 & 20h 36 m 17.2s & 635315 & 450 & bok & none & 20355 + 6343 & 3.9 + llccc h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) & fcrao & 86.754330 & 0.068 & 56 + hco@xmath1 ( ) & fcrao & 89.188523 & 0.066 & 54 + n@xmath3h@xmath1 ( ) & fcrao & 93.173777 & 0.063 & 52 + co ( ) & fcrao & 115.271203 & 0.203 & 46 + co ( ) & hht & 230.538471 & 0.325 & 32 + h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) & hht & 260.557619 & 0.288 & 29 + hco@xmath1 ( ) & hht & 267.557625 & 0.280 & 28 + h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) & hht & 346.998531 & 0.216 & 22 + hco@xmath1 ( ) & hht & 356.734281 & 0.210 & 21 + h@xmath2co@xmath1 ( ) & cso & 346.998531 & 0.042 & 22 + hco@xmath1 ( ) & cso & 356.734281 & 0.040 & 21 + lcccccc sfo 13 & & & & & & + sfo 16 & 5.4 ( 1.0 ) & 8.190 ( 0.002 ) & 0.589 ( 0.017 ) & 2.3 ( 0.9 ) & @xmath45 & 12 + sfo 18 & 4.2 ( 0.2 ) & 11.912 ( 0.015 ) & 0.964 ( 0.038 ) & 4.1 ( 0.6 ) & @xmath46 & 25 + sfo 20 & & 13.007 ( 0.036 ) & 0.589 ( 0.093 ) & 0.6 ( 0.2 ) & @xmath47 & 3 + sfo 25 & 5.0 ( 1.3 ) & 7.287 ( 0.025 ) & 1.832 ( 0.082 ) & 0.8 ( 0.5 ) & @xmath45 & 50 + sfo 37 & & 0.829 ( 0.103 ) & 1.499 ( 0.503 ) & 0.3 ( 0.2 ) & @xmath48 & 13 + b335 & 3.6 ( 0.2 ) & 8.362 ( 0.005 ) & 0.376 ( 0.017 ) & 11 ( 2 ) & @xmath49 & 8 + cb 3 & 5.2 ( 8.6 ) & -38.843 ( 0.104 ) & 1.789 ( 0.367 ) & 0.459 ( 1.603 ) & @xmath50 & 270 + cb 224 & 8.0 ( 6.4 ) & -2.729 ( 0.007 ) & 0.450 ( 0.020 ) & 0.785 ( 0.946 ) & @xmath51 & 8 + lcccccc sfo 4 & 0.221 ( 0.023 ) & @xmath52 & 3.0 & & @xmath53 & @xmath54 + sfo 13 & 0.464 ( 0.020 ) & 0.012 ( 0.014 ) & 4.0 & 4.2 & @xmath55 & 54 + sfo 16 & 0.717 ( 0.007 ) & 0.234 ( 0.007 ) & 2.0 & 4.3 & @xmath56 & 28 + sfo 18 & 0.980 ( 0.007 ) & 0.272 ( 0.006 ) & 2.0 & 4.9 & @xmath56 & 27 + sfo 20 & 0.841 ( 0.013 ) & 0.082 ( 0.008 ) & 1.5 & 4.6 & @xmath57 & 6 + sfo 25 & 1.241 ( 0.015 ) & 0.071 ( 0.012 ) & 5.0 & 5.5 & @xmath58 & 55 + sfo 37 & 0.436 ( 0.014 ) & 0.047 ( 0.006 ) & 3.0 & 3.7 & @xmath59 & 34 + b335 & 0.786 ( 0.012 ) & 0.280 ( 0.017 ) & 1.0 & 4.4 & @xmath60 & 6 + cb 3 & 0.222 ( 0.043 ) & 0.017 ( 0.019 ) & 2.5 & 3.2 & @xmath61 & 185 + cb 224 & 0.664 ( 0.018 ) & 0.302 ( 0.011 ) & 0.8 & 4.2 & @xmath60 & 21 + lcccccccc sfo 13 rl & 8.9 & 75 & 310 & 8.4 & 80000 & @xmath62 & @xmath63 & 0.6 + sfo 16 bl & 0.3 & 2.4 & 10 & 8.2 & 35000 & @xmath64 & @xmath65 & @xmath66 + sfo 16 rl & 0.4 & 2.3 & 6.7 & 5.8 & 49000 & @xmath67 & @xmath68 & @xmath69 + sfo 18 bl & 0.5 & 2.4 & 6.0 & 4.9 & 39000 & @xmath70 & @xmath71 & @xmath72 +
sfo 18 rl & 0.4 & 2.4 & 7.4 & 6.1 & 37000 & @xmath73 & @xmath74 & @xmath75 + sfo 20 bl & 0.01 & 0.03 & 0.04 & 3.0 & 25000 & @xmath76 & @xmath77 & @xmath78 + sfo 20 rl & 0.01 & 0.02 & 0.02 & 2.0 & 38000 & @xmath79 & @xmath80 & @xmath81 + sfo 25 rl & 2.3 & 24 & 130 & 10.7 & 24000 & @xmath82 & @xmath83 & 0.88 + cb 3 bl & 7.0 & 22 & 36 & 3.2 & 130000 & @xmath84 & @xmath85 & @xmath86 + cb 3 rl & 3.2 & 9.0 & 13 & 2.8 & 150000 & @xmath87 & @xmath88 & @xmath89 + lcc sfo 13 & @xmath90 & @xmath91 + sfo 16 & @xmath92 & @xmath93 + sfo 18 & @xmath94 & @xmath95 + sfo 20 & @xmath96 & @xmath97 + sfo 25 & @xmath98 & @xmath99 + sfo 37 & @xmath100 & @xmath101 + b 335 & @xmath102 & @xmath103 + cb 3 & @xmath104 & @xmath105 + cb 224 & @xmath106 & @xmath107 + | arxiv |
Have a question, thought, or concern?
If you have a question to ask or thought to share, stop by Dr. Lopez's office or send him an email. Website concerns may be directed to Travis Hairfield through the "Feedback" link at the bottom of the page. | slim_pajama |
Reheating of the early universe and the inflaton field
I've recently been reading [this](https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/db275/TEACHING/INFLATION/Reheating.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwiV6KuDxrLOAhUlLsAKHdkZDi4QFggbMAA&usg=AFQjCNHHNklZL01d6PYUTQHLjBmoHEyVyg&sig2=4aGogr7zrTz1-oaoMpBzSA) set of introductory notes on the physics of reheating of the early universe. In it the author briefly mentions that, at the end of inflation, the inflaton field can be treated as a condensate of inflaton particles with zero momentum and oscillating at frequency $\omega =m$.
My question is, what is the reasoning why one can treat the inflaton field as a condensate of inflaton quanta at zero momentum? Is it simply because the inflaton field is oscillating around the minimum of its potential and so the momentum of each field mode is subdominant, such that each mode is oscillating at approximately the same frequency at (approximately) zero momentum and in this sense can be considered as a condensate of inflaton quanta in the zero momentum state?
In Equation 2.3 the author proves that a scalar field in a quadratic potential behaves like dust. Dust doesn't exert any pressure. The pressure, and thus the momenta, is negligible compared to its density. That's how he gets to 2.4, in page 4
Pressureless dust is the way a matter dominated universe is modeled in GR also. Just a lot of particles but no pressure resisting compression. A perfect fluid with rho and p is called dust when p is zero. Radiation is totally different, significant pressure, and momentum.
As we can see from eq.(3.1) **(i.e., the Fourier expansion of the field)** of the article mentioned, the classical inflaton field (zeroth mode of the inflaton field $\phi\_0(t)$) can be similarly written as a series of zero momentum modes.
| stackexchange/physics |
Ranma 1. Pain: Prologue
Pain Prologue:
Revision: 1
Legal Note: I own nothing. Rumiko takahashi is the one who made the characters and owns them. This is not to be sold for profit and is purely for the enjoyment of my readers.
------------------------------
::Nerima Ward, Tokyo::
I stare out into the inky blackness that is the night sky. The cold bites at my fingertips letting me know im alive. The pain wells up within my soul as memories come flooding back. Memories of pain suppressed. I feel my vision torn as if a wounded animal had scratched out my eyes. As I strugle to focus the image im forced to watch helplessly unable to change.
~~~Flashback~~~
I look across the table. Trapped within my own memory. I hear the words of scorn leave my mouth and cry out at myself for saying them. I know I hurt her when I said them. Instead of the long forgotten feeling of a blunt force trauma to my head she has the look of a wounded animal cross her face. Tears fall from her face as she leaves the room.
~~~
I look up from the furo. Stareing straight into her eyes. At that moment my entire soul cried out for anything to help me. For someone to love and comfort me for who I am. She stares straight into my eyes burning a hole into the wretched mass that I call a soul. Her anger evident as she begins to shout. I feel the pain of my heart breaking at that moment.
~~~
The utter blackness that confronts me next is like strikeing a solid concrete wall. Then I hear the sounds that torment my soul when i go to sleep. *meraow**Meow**HISSS* I feel thier hatred towards me. I also feel thier hunger. They tore into me without abandon. The claws rending my skin and sending me into cowering fear and pain. I can hear my father up above the wooden trap door. He is lauphing.
~~~
The poles stick out of the springs like spikes on a battlefield. As I jump onto one and my father another I cant help thinking about what it would look like to impale the fat balding man onto one of them. Just like that man from transylvania did. Vlad! Yes that was the name. Vlad the impaler.
We leap at each other and exchange blows. I break through his defenses and tag him with a hit sending him into the spring below us. Landing ontop of a pole I taunt him for his incompetence. A black and white shape bursts from the spring and knocks me towards the ground. I feel the hard impact of water on my back and a strange sensation all over my body. Surfaceing I notice a few changes. Feeling the mass on my chest as if bowls of jello were stuck to my body. A rub against two hard nubs sending pleasureable sensations through my whole body that I know is normal. I look down and a high pitched scream echos out. The pain reaches a chreshendo and the memory blurs.
~~~Flashback~~~
I look down at my hands. They are covered in blood. Its texture smooth as silk as it coats my hands. Feeling the cool blood against my skin i look further down and notice the blareingly obvious transformation had taken place. The curse that had long been the bane of my existance became all to obvious. I look away from my cursed body and stare at what is around me. Bodies litter the street. Each one sinking into a hellish red pool of thier own blood. Rivers of it flow and mix near my feet. The utter carnage that surrounds me female body is unaturaly quiet. The utter calm in the area shows that it has been some time since they died. The blood long since turning cold. Even now it soaked into the ground. Staining it forever red as to mark thier passage from this world. Thier bodies cast erie red and blue shaddows in the night. The sound of sirens and someone yelling awaken me from my stupor. Moveing to shield my eyes from the light shineing down my optic nerves someone yells at me. I hear a gunshot and feel the pain as it not only passes through my body but also through my soul.The sudden red flow over my eyes i recognize is comeing from the blood flying from my body. I collapse to the ground as warm blood oozes from my own wounds.
They are all dead. That final gunshot the utter exclamation point of the horrible event. In that moment my life begins to flash infront of my eyes. Images of people and places who not only caused me pain but pleasure. A realization hit my as I lie face down in the cold blood soaked ground. I enjoyed the death of those people. I had become my worse fear. In the end after all I had done to protect them I had been the one to kill them. I sat thier as the paramedics wheeled away those twisted and mutilated corpses now known as my victims. I felt a needle stab my neck and the world faded to black. My thoughts slowed to a crawl as blessed unconsiousness embraced me for what i hoped was the last time.
To make any sense of it you would have to go back ten years. Back to when the pain started.
2. Pain: Chapter One
Pain Chapter 1
Revision: 1
Legal Note: See prologue
Pain.
The word has so many meanings i cant even begin to describe them all. To many pain exemplifies a state of being whereby the body relates to the mind the status of its function. This can be simplified into the short form of "Pain lets you know how fucked up you are." It also lets you know that you are fucked up but not to the point of death.
That being said pain would be sweat honey flavored ambrosia compared to what im going through right now.
Agony would best describe this feeling. Hell, that dosent even do it justice. Someone needs to come up with a stronger word for it before i make some really badly thought up word.
To understand what im talking about i guess i should explain the situation.
My father, who shall henceforth be known as 'The Idiot', found this really old martial arts training manual. It was labled the Neko-Ken. It describes a technique of such power and speed as to make the person useing it invinceable. So the idiot decides that i have to learn this stupid technique.
Since my first memories as an infant ive been raised to be the best martial artits possible. Now bear in mind that at the time of this training i was only 6. Yes thats right. Learing invinceable martial arts techniqes at 6 years old tends to unnerve people. Specialy when they hear what other things ive had to put up with for training. But this just happens to be the worst highlight of the entire training adventure.
To train in the neko-ken the victim, i mean student, is bound from head to toe in fish sausages. Why fish sausages? Well theres no real restriction as to what to use other than it sould be edible to cats. Now the second part of the training to to get a bunch of cats, in this case over 50, and starve them for 4 days. The final part of the training is to throw the victim, i mean student into the pit of cats and lock it up for a day. To complete the training one must survive until such time as one can get out of the pit under thier own power. The manual doesnt say anything about repeating the procedure in case someone doesnt learn it but the idiot did it anyway.
Yes thats correct. I wasant subjected to this just once. No he did it at least 6 times. I lost count then because i was barely sane at arround the 6th time he put me in. I had to be restrained with ropes to keep me from kicking the idiot in the head.
Sometime after the 6th time in the pit i blacked out. By this time the cuts and bites of the cats were begining to become infected as i had very little medical attention, like just washing them off then back in the pit, and i was also halucenateing.
I woke up later in the lap of a very nice old lady. She wasnt supprised about it but merely led me inside to get bandaged up. She kindly disinfected my wounds and never said a word.
The idiot came by later and took me away from the nice lady in hers and mine sleep. I awoke the next morning for the ritual beating/Training session. Natualy a wounded child was no match for a drunk fat bastard of a martial artist and i didnt get any breakfast for a week.
From that time forward ive had an intense fear of cats. It preaty much goes like this. I see cat. I freak. If cats still there i freak some more. Repeat previous step for about a minuite and if the cat still hasnt left i go insane. At least i think i go insane. I black out and when i wake up i tend to either have been asleep for a while or in the lap of the nice old lady. What disturbs me is the bloodstains. I usualy always have some large patch of dried blood on my clothes when i wake.
For some reason the idiot never read the back of the manual.
'The only person who would teach this technique is a complete moron because it has been banned. Furthermore it makes the student go into homicidal rages against anyone and anything they can even minimaly construe as a threat. A butterfly flying at them wrong could provoke the student to slaugter everything in sight.'
Im not sure why but i think ive done something very bad. The idiot seems more afraid than usual. Usualy he has about 200-300 people out for his blood because of petty theft and or fraud, but now somethings diffrent. He keeps talking about 'Escapeing to china'. He thinks there might be some good training grounds there as well.
Now if only blood washed off the hands easier....
3. Pain: Chapter Two
Pain Chapter 2
Legal Notes: I do not own ranma 1/2 or any affiliated material. Takahasi-Sama owns them and i bow to her superior skills.
Oh, Hello. Just washing my hands here. Wash wash wash. Some people tell me that blood never gets out of your hands. They are increadibly wrong about that. It just takes a superior application of force as well as steel wool.
Why am i talking about this with you? Oh no reason. Just gotta wash my hands again. Dam Neko-Ken. Sometimes i really wish that this was all a dream and that none of whats happened has happened. But... *Sigh* ... The world doesnt work that easily.
For awhile takeing me to china seemed like a good thing. Unlike japan with a cat every dam corner china doesnt have such densities. That was until i saw a really BIG Cat. When i woke up i was in the familiar pain that usualy followed one of two things. Either being beaten half to death, or falling off a really large building. Judgeing by the iron chains around my wrists with these funny round iron gloves that completely covered my hands and imobilized the fingers within. Also the iron bar gag in my moth kept it open and effectively muffled any protests i might had had. I was inside a very sturdy looking cage and the chains binding me were very tight and i found only the smallest twitches were available to my restrained body. I was also completely naked and very hungry.
I lay there for awhile in a meditative trance focused on healing. I found this exceedingly difficult due to some strange things occuring with my Ki. I was paitent enough to figure them out and fix the problems to regain healing ability but some other things were too far beyond my simple mastery.
After what seemed like hours but was more like minuites, I heard someone enter the room. They came right up to my cage and stared down at me. Considering the tight collar and bindings i was unable to look up to see them but i felt thier gaze travel over me. The sharp poke with a stick was ment to rouse me from any type of slumber but effectively woke me from my meditation. Struggleing to look up was futile so i just sat there. There was really nothing i could do to stop my captors but i had a suspicion that whatever they wished to do to me i probably deserved.
I felt the sharp jab of the stick a second before i passed out.
I awoke next still bound but this time i was bound to a dowl suspended between two upright poles. I was in a diffrent room and hanging upside down. I found i could move more but beyond moveing my head and my body would seem to lock up for about half an hour for no immediate reason.
Around an hour after i woke someone entered the room and came up to me. Seeing my wakefulness they spoke quick chinese to me. I blinked stupidly at the very small midget lady on a knarled cane who seemed to hop around instead of walk. Speaking again in more insistant tones i didnt move or make a sound because i really didnt know what they were saying.
"Do you understand me boy?"
Now were getting somewhere. The lady FINALY spoke japanese. I tried to speak but with the dam iron bar forceing my jaw and tounge into unatural positions gaged me preaty effectively. Seeing the rise out of me that was not unexpected she nodded and continued to speak.
"You have done a very bad thing son in law." I quirked my head to the side as a rumble from my abused throat escaped with a "Gruh?"
"You defeated my great grandaughter in combat. But you didnt just defeat her. You murdered her. If not for the condition we soon found out you had we would have killed you on the spot. However most of the council STILL wants to kill you even after they found out that you suffered from the neko ken. I was under the impression that that particular technique was BANNED from being taught but someone obviously taught you. Others call for trial by combat against a matriarch to deal punishment. Considering it was my great grandaughter you killed i have the right to fight you."
At around the time she said i had killed it suddenly clicked in my mind. The mysterious blood on my hands when i woke from the neko-ken. Why The idiot got even more edgy. Why i was tied up like a dangerous animal. I had killed. And this was not the first time. Stragely i did not feel remorse for my victims. I would find out later that this was a sideffect of the neko-ken's splitting of my psyche. All trauma/emotional pain was sent to the neko personality to be delt with later. The lady continued to talk to me for awhile but i didnt listen. I began a long introspection of myself and that consumed nearly all my brain power. The endless beatings by my father destroying most of my braincells after awhile.
End file.
| fanfiction |
Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome IFIS is a complication that may occur during cataract extraction in certain patients. This syndrome is characterized by a flaccid iris which billows in response to ordinary intraocular fluid currents, a propensity for this floppy iris to prolapse towards the area of cataract extraction during surgery, and progressive intraoperative pupil constriction despite standard procedures to prevent this.
IFIS has been associated with tamsulosin e.g., Flomax, a medication widely prescribed for urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH. Tamsulosin is a selective alpha blocker that works by relaxing the bladder and prostatic smooth muscle. As such, it also relaxes the iris dilator muscle by binding to its postsynaptic nerve endings. Various alpha-blockers are associated with IFIS, but tamsulosin has a stronger association than the others.
A joint statement of two ophthalmologic societies states that the other major class of drugs to treat BPH 5-alpha reductase inhibitors do not appear to cause IFIS to any significant degree. 5-ARIs include finasteride, a medication typically used as first line therapy for BPH and androgenic alopecia. The medication is also associated with cataract formation.
IFIS may also be associated with other causes of small pupil like synechiae, pseudoexfoliation and other medications used for conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure. IFIS does not usually cause significant changes in postoperative outcomes. Patients may experience more pain, a longer recovery period, and less improvement in visual acuity than a patient with an uncomplicated cataract removal.
The severity of the condition is not linked to the duration of tamsulosin intake.
References
External links
Category:Disorders of iris and ciliary body
Category:Syndromes affecting the eyes | wikipedia |
Gundam Seed, Gundam UC MSGI: Infinity News at 10
**Disclaimer: I do not own Mobile Suit Gundam 0079, Mobile Suit Gundam: SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Mobile Suit Gundam AGE, Martian Successor Nadesico, Mass Effect, or Halo. The Gundam series is owned by Sunrise, Nadesico by Xebec, Halo by 343 Studios and Microsoft, and Mass Effect by Bioware.**
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hello and welcome to Infinity News at 10. I'm your host, Marcus Anderson, with today's international headlines."
**Bloody Valentines Memorial**
"With the first anniversary of the Bloody Valentines Incident fast approaching, PLANT Idol Lacus Clyne, the daughter of current Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne, has announced her plans to hold a formal memorial in remembrance of the tragedy. The nuclear strike killed a total of 243,721 people and is largely considered to be the true starting point of the Bloody Valentines War that is named after it. While the Bloody Valentines Incident is the main focus, Ms. Clyne stresses that the memorial is intended as a tribute to all those who have died in the war, military and civilian, on both sides. The exact details of the event are currently unknown."
**Corruption in the Atlantic Federation**
"Criticism of the Atlantic Federation's Government continues as allegations of corruption are raised at an alarming rate. This has been ongoing since last June, when an anonymous source posted documents online implicating several top government officials of collaboration with the anti-coordinator group Blue Cosmos. In particular, the documents indicate that these officials, including the Vice President of the Atlantic Federation, aided the terror group in the smuggling of nuclear weaponry on board the Carrier _Roosevelt_, where it was later used to destroy Junius Seven. Calls for the implicated parties to step down from office have not yet been met."
**The Red Comet's Absence**
A celebration this weekend held in honor of ZAFT Ace Char Aznable was notably missing the Red Comet himself. The now Famous Ace made a name for himself during the early weeks of the war, first taking out the Federation Carrier _Roosevelt_ in the immediate aftermath of the Bloody Valentines Tragedy, and then sinking a total of five of the Federations Ericson-Class Battleships during the Battle of Loum. Commander Aznable just recently returned to space after serving in the Pacific Theater, and was due to return to Zeon for the celebration. No comment has been made from official sources in regards to his whereabouts."
**The Pacific Front Heats Up**
"We now have conformation that ZAFT has successfully captured the Human Reform League's Kaohsiung Spaceport and its attached Mass Driver. This assault was ZAFT's first offensive operation this year, and marks the end of the stalemate that has been ongoing since the Earth Federation abandoned the Resource Satellite Nova last year. Speculation on ZAFT's next target remains a hotly debated subject, with suggestions ranging from the HRL's nearby Orbital Elevator, to the AEU's Victoria Base, and even the Federation's JOSH-A Headquarters."
**Skirmish near Riah**
"In our last story for tonight, a skirmish broke out in the vicinity of the Riah Republic, formerly known as Side 6, between an Earth Federation Task Force and ZAFT. Sources from both Riah and ZAFT confirm that a small force of Federation ships was engaged and destroyed by ZAFT Admiral Dozle Zabi earlier this week. The ultimate goal of the task force, along with rumors that the force included a new class of Federation warship and mobile suits, remain unconfirmed."
"This is Marcus Anderson for Infinity News, Signing off."
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**Hello everyone. As I mentioned in the big revision to MSGI Chapter 1, I've spent a lot of time world building these past few months, so I thought I would give you all a taste of events outside the main story since it is unlikely that I will get Chapter 2 out before I have College again.**
**I was inspired to write this by a similar feature on the Red Alert 3: Paradox wiki, where they had a standard new report from the Allies main broadcasting company that contained a number of details about each of the new factions being added to the game.**
**I personally like how this turned out, especially how each story kind of flows into the next. I can't make any guarantees about Chapter 2 at this point. I have an older version partially written, but that only has a few scenes, some of which no longer fit into the stories canon. My only hope is that this semester won't be too intensive, and I can work out a good compromise between College work and this story.**
End file.
| fanfiction |
after the recombination of protons and electrons in the primordial plasma , the `` dark age '' begins and continues until the first object is formed through the gravitational instability in dark matter halos .
the universe dawns by the lights from the first stars and astrophysical processes start to play important roles in the intergalactic medium ( igm ) . .
among others , wouthuysen field ( wf ) effect due to the lyman alpha ( ly-@xmath1 ) radiation emitted from the primordial stars is expected to be the first important process for igm , which couples the spin temperature of neutral hydrogen to the color temperature of ly-@xmath1 radiation @xcite . in the typical environments of igm , color temperature of ly-@xmath1 radiation field couples with kinetic temperature of igm because of the large ly-@xmath1 scattering rate .
therefore , the spin temperature also couples to kinetic temperature .
the second astrophysical process which is related to the thermal history of igm after the wf effect is x - ray heating @xcite .
the x - rays are thought to be emitted from such sources as galaxies and x - ray binaries @xcite , and kinetic temperature of igm increases dramatically @xcite . finally , the `` epoch of reionization ( eor ) '' @xcite follows these processes when the gas density of igm decreases enough so that recombination process becomes inefficient .
this is the epoch when neutral hydrogens start to be ionized by uv radiation photons from early galaxies @xcite .
the redshifted 21 cm line from neutral hydrogen due to the hyperfine transition is suitable for studying thermal and ionized states of igm as well as the first objects in the dark age and eor @xcite .
one of the statistical methods to subtract the information about the physical state of igm at those epochs from 21 cm line is the power spectrum analysis of brightness temperature @xcite .
on - going radio interferometers , such as low frequency array ( lofar ) @xcite , murchison wide field array ( mwa ) @xcite and probing the epoch of reionization ( paper ) @xcite , have started observation and serve as a `` prototype '' of future high - sensitivity experiments .
although the sensitivities of the on - going experiments are inefficient to form images of the distribution of neutral hydrogen using the redshifted 21 cm line from the cosmic dawn and eor , the power spectrum of the 21 cm signal would be detected @xcite .
in particular , it is expected that the 21 cm power spectrum for each redshift ( @xmath2 ) can be measured by the square kilometre array ( ska ) with high accuracy @xcite . in our previous work @xcite
, we gave an interpretation to the time evolution of the 21 cm power spectrum and we find that the size of skewness is sensitive to the epoch when x - ray heating becomes effective
. other work also reports the impact of spin temperature fluctuations on the skewness @xcite and there is a work which focuses on the redshift distortion as the indicator of the epoch where x - ray heating is effective@xcite .
herein we extend these previous works by considering the the bispectrum to investigate the dependence of the skewness on scales because skewness is an integral of the bispectrum with respect to the wave number ( see appendix a ) . in a different work @xcite
we have already estimated errors from the thermal noise of detectors in estimating the bispectrum and we found that the 21 cm bispectrum would be detectable at large scales at @xmath3 even by the current detectors on , such as , the mwa and paper . furthermore , the 21 cm bispectrum would be detectable even at small scales with the ska @xcite , and therefore the study of the bispectrum is timely and well motivated . some previous works studied the 21 cm bispectrum @xcite .
these works , however , mainly focus on the bispectrum as a measurement of primordial non - gaussianity in matter fluctuations . in our study , we instead focus on non - gaussianity in 21 cm fluctuations induced by astrophysical effects , whose size is expected to be larger than that in matter fluctuations .
( for other probes of non - gaussianity such ans minkowski functionals , see @xcite . )
a fundamental quantity of 21 cm line is the brightness temperature , which is described as the spin temperature offsetting from cmb temperature , given by ( see , e.g , @xcite ) @xmath4 .
\label{eq : brightness}\end{aligned}\ ] ] here , @xmath5 and @xmath6 respectively represent gas spin temperature and cmb temperature , @xmath7 is the optical depth at the 21 cm rest frame frequency @xmath8 , @xmath9 is neutral fraction of the hydrogen gas , @xmath10 is the evolved matter overdensity , @xmath11 is the hubble parameter and @xmath12 is the comoving gradient of the gas velocity along the ling of sight .
all quantities are evaluated at redshift @xmath13 .
let us focus on the spatial distribution of the brightness temperature .
the spatial fluctuation of the brightness temperature can be defined as @xmath14 where @xmath15 is the mean brightness temperature obtained from brightness temperature map and @xmath16 expresses the ensemble average . from this definition
, we have the power spectrum of @xmath17 defined as @xmath18 if the statistics of the brightness temperature fluctuations is pure gaussian , the statistical information of the brightness temperature should be completely characterized by the power spectrum , and in the above expression for the brightness temperature given by eq .
( [ eq : brightness ] ) , if both of the spin temperature and the neutral fraction are completely homogeneous , the statistics of the brightness temperature fluctuations completely follows that of the density fluctuations @xmath19 .
however , in the era of cd and eor , it is expected that the spin temperature and the neutral fraction should be spatially inhomogeneous and the statistics of the spatial fluctuations of those quantities would be highly non - gaussian due to the various astrophysical effects .
accordingly , the statistics of the brightness temperature fluctuations would deviate from the pure gaussian and it should be important to investigate the non - gaussian feature of the brightness temperature fluctuations .
although such a non - gaussian feature can be investigated through the skewness of the one - point distribution functions as done in our previous work @xcite , the scale - dependent feature has been integrated out in the skewness . on the other hand , the higher order correlation functions in fourier space such as a bispectrum and a trispectrum
characterize the non - gaussian features and also have the scale - dependent information . here
, in order to see the non - gaussian feature of the brightness temperature fluctuations @xmath17 , we focus on the bispectrum of @xmath17 which is given by @xmath20 in order to characterize the shape of the bispectrum in @xmath21-space , we use an isosceles ansatz which is defined as @xmath22 ( @xmath23 ) . for examples , in case with @xmath24 the shape of the bispectrum is often called as `` _ squeezed type _ '' or `` _ local type _ '' , in case with @xmath25 it is called as `` _ equilateral type _ '' , and in case with @xmath26 it is called as `` _ folded type _ '' . note that we relax the configuration condition because we calculate the bispectrum from the grid point .
we regard the length within the range of @xmath27 of side of the triangle we desire as the that of triangle . in this paper
, we calculate the bispectrum of the brightness temperature fluctuations ( 21 cm bispectrum ) by making use of 21cmfast @xcite .
this code is based on a semi - analytic model of star / galaxy formation and reionization , and makes maps of matter density , velocity , spin temperature , ionized fraction and brightness temperature at the designated redshifts .
we perform simulations in a @xmath28 comoving box with @xmath29 grids , which corresponds to 0.66 cmpc resolution or @xmath30 12.7(14.1 ) arcsec at 80 ( 127 ) mhz ( @xmath31 = 17 ( 10 ) ) and @xmath32 field of view at 80 ( 127 ) mhz ( @xmath31 = 17 ( 10 ) ) , from @xmath33 to @xmath34 adopting the following parameter set , @xmath35 . here
, @xmath36 is the ionizing efficiency , @xmath37 is the number of x - ray photons emitted by source per solar mass , @xmath38 is the minimum virial temperature of halos which produce ionizing photons , and @xmath39 is the mean free path of ionizing photons through the igm . in our calculation , we also ignore , for simplicity , the gradient of peculiar velocity whose contribution to the brightness temperature is relatively small ( a few % ) @xcite .
we perform 10 realizations of simulations with different initial condition of density fluctuations and obtain brightness temperature maps .
then we evaluate the average bispectrum as @xmath40 & = & \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n}abs[b(k)]_{i } \nonumber \\ & = & \frac{1}{n}\sum^{n}_{i}({\rm re}[b(k)]^{2}+{\rm im}[b(k)]^{2})_{i=1}^{1/2}. \label{eq : calc_average_abs}\end{aligned}\ ] ] here , @xmath41 is the number of realizations and @xmath21 is the absolute value of @xmath42 .
in this section , we summarize our result for the 21 cm bispectrum . first , in order to see the scale - dependence of the 21 cm bispectrum , we focus on the equilateral shape ,
that is , @xmath25 case for the isosceles ansatz discussed in the previous section .
we plot the equilateral type bispectrum as a function of wave number @xmath21 with 1-@xmath43 sample variance for several redshifts ( @xmath44 and @xmath45 ) in fig.[fig : bispectrum_abs ] . here
, we use the normalized bispectrum which is given by @xmath46 $ ] .
@xmath47 is a typical redshift during eor , and @xmath48 and @xmath49 are expected to be a transition time from cd to eor , while @xmath50 is a typical time during cd . as you can see , the variance is relatively small and the cosmic variance is not so serious for the field size and wavenumbers we chose . from this figure , we can find that , except for the case with @xmath51 , the normalized bispectrum is almost scale - invariant for the equilateral shape . on the other hand , for @xmath51 ,
the normalised bispectrum has a scale - dependence as @xmath52 .
such difference is expected to depend on what component gives a dominant contribution to the 21 cm bispectrum . as we will discuss this issue later , dominant component of the 21 cm bispectrum at @xmath0=20
is matter fluctuations whereas dominant components of the 21 cm bispectrum at other redshifts are not matter fluctuations , but spin temperature and neutral fraction fluctuations . since the bispectrum of dark matter fluctuations has scale dependence ( larger at smaller scales due to the nonlinear gravitational growth ) , the 21 cm bispectrum traces this scale dependence .
27 ( red ) , 20 ( cyan ) , 15 ( green ) , 10 ( purple ) . the shaded region associated with each line represents 1-@xmath43 sample variance estimated from 10 realizations . ] next , we show a comparison of bispectra of equilateral ( @xmath25 ) , folded ( @xmath26 ) and squeezed ( @xmath53 ) types in fig .
[ fig : bispectrum_squeezed ] . here
, the bispectra are plotted as functions of @xmath54 for several redshifts . from this figure
, we can see that the scales and shapes which mostly contribute to the skewness since skewness is the integral of bispectra ( see appendix a ) .
especially , smaller scales contributes to the skewness at @xmath55 although the bispectrum is nearly scale invariant at other redshifts .
we also find that the squeezed type bispectra at @xmath0=15 , 27 turn upwards at @xmath56 .
the squeezed - type bispectra brings information on smaller scales and matter fluctuations are dominant at smaller scales .
thus , contribution from matter fluctuations results in these upwards at squeezed type of bispectra .
next , we consider redshift evolution of 21 cm bispectrum .
before we show redshift evolution of the 21 cm bispectrum , as reference , we show redshift evolution of temperatures in our model in fig.[fig : xh_ts ] .
we also show ionized evolution and the bispectra as functions of redshift for several @xmath1 in fig .
[ fig : bispectrum_triangle3 ] : the equilateral shape ( @xmath25 ) , the folded shape ( @xmath26 ) and the squeezed shape ( @xmath53 ) with @xmath57 . for the equilateral and folded cases
, we can see two peaks located at around @xmath51 and @xmath58 .
these peaks can also be seen in the power spectrum of the brightness temperature fluctuations , @xmath59 , with @xmath60 ( see , e.g. , our previous paper @xcite ) . on the other hand , in case with the squeezed shape , three peaks appear at around @xmath61 , @xmath62 , and @xmath58 .
this feature is similar to that of the power spectrum with @xmath63 @xcite . for the squeezed type ,
we take the parameter @xmath1 to be @xmath64 and this means @xmath65 . hence
, the squeezed - type 21 cm bispectrum is expected to be described in terms of not only the power spectrum with larger two wave number ( @xmath66 and @xmath67 in our case ) but also that with smaller one wave number ( @xmath54 in our case ) and also it would have the information about the correlation between the long and short wavelength modes in fourier space or local non - linearity in real space .
the dip at @xmath68 for the @xmath69 case results in mode coupling between long and short wavelengths .
as we show later in fig.[fig : bispectrum_component_equilateral ] , the 21 cm bispectrum of equilateral type at large scale(@xmath70 ) also shows a dip at @xmath68 as similar as the power spectrum as function of redshift and the @xmath69 traces this feature .
therefore , we can conclude that the squeezed type bispectrum has information both on large scale and small scale .
we will also investigate what physics cause such a correlation between the long and short wavelength modes in the 21 cm bispectrum in later subsection . and take @xmath25 ( equilateral : red solid line ) , @xmath26 ( folded : green dashed line ) and @xmath53 ( squeezed : blue dotted line ) for the isosceles ansatz . ] as we saw in eq .
( [ eq : brightness ] ) , the fluctuations in the brightness temperature are contributed not only from the matte density field , but also from the fluctuations of the spin temperature and neutral fraction , aside from the gradient of peculiar velocity which we neglect here . in this section ,
we decompose the bispectrum into the contributions from these components . we can rewrite eq .
( [ eq : brightness ] ) as , @xmath71 where @xmath72 is the average brightness temperature and evaluated as , @xmath73 with @xmath74 being the volume average of @xmath9 . here
we characterize the contribution of the spin temperature @xmath75 by a new variable @xmath76 @xcite . by using this parameter
, we can take into account a non - linear relation between the spin and brightness temperatures linearly .
the volume average of @xmath77 is represented by @xmath78 .
note that when @xmath79 , we have , @xmath80 using eq .
( [ eq : brightness_component ] ) , we can decompose the brightness temperature bispectrum into auto- and cross - correlation of @xmath81 and @xmath82 : @xmath83 .
\label{eq : bispectrum_component}\end{aligned}\ ] ] in the above equation , the cross correlation terms and the higher order terms come from the fact that the brightness temperature is expressed as eq .
( [ eq : brightness_component ] ) and they should appear even if the statistics of @xmath84 and @xmath82 are completely gaussian . in this sense , the first three terms in the above expression , which are the auto - bispectra of @xmath81 and @xmath82 , should be corresponding to the intrinsic non - gaussian features of these components and we focus on these auto - bispectra below . in fig .
[ fig : bispectrum_component_equilateral ] , we plot the brightness temperature bispectrum and the above auto - bispectra terms for equilateral type as functions of redshift ( upper panels ) . from this figure
, we can see that the total bispectra are mostly contributed from the auto - bispectra of the matter density field , the fluctuations of the spin temperature and the neutral fraction , which are expressed as the first three terms in eq .
( [ eq : bispectrum_component ] ) , for all redshifts . for comparison , the evolution of power spectra is also shown ( lower panels ) and we find that the behavior of each component is very similar between bispectrum and power spectrum .
such a correspondence is highly non trivial , since the bispectrum and power spectrum reflect different aspects of the statistical properties of the fluctuations as we have mentioned .
let us try to interpret the behavior of bispectra , comparing that of power spectra which was detailed in our previous work @xcite .
first , fluctuations in neutral hydrogen fraction appear when reionization begins and become dominant as reionization proceeds ( @xmath85 ) .
the dip at @xmath86 corresponds to the redshift when the average spin temperature becomes equal to the cmb temperature and the average brightness temperature @xmath87 vanishes .
this dip appears in the contribution of matter fluctuations for the same reason .
thus , this dip is independent of the properties of fluctuations and this is why both the power spectra and bispectra from @xmath88 and @xmath19 have a dip at the same redshift .
note that we can also see the dip at @xmath89 in the 21 cm bispectrum at @xmath70 .
it would be due to sample variance coming from calculation of ionized bubbles because evolutions of ionized bubbles are different among other realizations .
on the other hand , the spin temperature fluctuations are negligible at low redshifts ( @xmath90 ) , because spin temperature is much higher than cmb temperature everywhere , that is , @xmath91 is very close to unity and independent of @xmath5 .
however they substantially contribute at higher redshifts ( @xmath92 ) and have two peaks at @xmath93 and @xmath94 at large scales while the higher - redshift peak is much less noticeable at small scales .
the dip at @xmath95 is induced by the onset of x - ray heating . at higher redshifts ( @xmath96 ) ,
the spin temperature in dense region is lower than the average due to the wf effect , which couples the spin temperature to the kinetic temperature which is much lower than the cmb temperature . as a consequence , the probability distribution function ( pdf ) of spin temperature
is negatively skewed at this epoch .
contrastingly , at lower redshifts ( @xmath97 ) , x - ray heating becomes effective for our parameter set and the spin temperature in dense region rises rapidly so that the skewness of the pdf changes its sign .
thus , at the onset of x - ray heating ( @xmath95 ) , the pdf becomes close to gaussian with relatively small width , that is , the the skewness vanishes and the variance has a local minimum .
thus , in @xcite , it was suggested that the sign of skewness can be an indicator of the effectiveness of x - ray heating .
the skewness and the variance have minima that coincide in redshift , similarly , it is natural that the dips in the bispectrum and the power spectrum are coincident with each other . before eor ,
the bispectrum , as well as the power spectrum , is mostly dominated by spin temperature fluctuations at large scales and will be a good probe of astrophysical effects such as the wf effect and x - ray heating .
on the other hand , at small scales , the matter fluctuations are dominant and the bispectrum is of cosmological interest because it is induced by gravitational nonlinearity and , possibly , primordial non - gaussianity ( see , e.g. , @xcite ) .
next , we focus on the shape dependence of the total bispectrum and its components . fixing @xmath98 , we plot contours of the bispectra in @xmath99-@xmath100 plain in top of fig . [
fig : bispectrum_component_free ] . note that we do not use the normalised bispectrum , @xmath101 , but the unnormalized bispectrum , @xmath102 , here .
we can see in what configuration of triangle the bispectra are strong . here
it should be noted that the triangle condition is not satisfied in the blank region and that the contours are symmetric with respect to a line @xmath103 . at @xmath104 when eor has proceeded to some extent(@xmath105 ) , the total bispectrum is strong at folded and squeezed types .
the contribution from neutral hydrogen fraction fluctuations is dominant at these configurations , while matter fluctuation is dominant at equilateral type . at @xmath106
, the dominant contribution comes from the spin temperature fluctuations and it is largest at squeezed type .
the situation is similar at @xmath107 . at @xmath108 , both squeezed and folded type of the total bispectrum are strong .
the contributions from matter and spin temperature fluctuations are comparable at these configurations , while the former is dominant at equilateral type .
we also show the contour for @xmath109 in bottom of fig.[fig : bispectrum_component_free ] . compared with the case of @xmath110 ,
contributions from both matter and spin temperature fluctuations are significant at @xmath108 . on the other hand , we find that the contribution from fluctuations of neutral hydrogen fraction at @xmath104 is clear compared with the case of @xmath110 .
this helps us to subtract the information on neutral hydrogen and it is better to see larger scales if we would like to know the information on neutral hydrogen fluctuations .
in this paper , we investigated the 21 cm bispectrum as a method to measure non - gaussianity of brightness temperature field .
first , we have shown the scale - dependence of the 21 cm bispectrum for the equilateral - shape " at some redshifts .
we found that the normalised 21 cm bispectrum seems not to have any characteristic scale in @xmath111 for each redshift .
for @xmath112 , the normalised bispectrum is almost scale - invariant , while for @xmath51 it has a scale - dependence as @xmath113 .
we have also shown the redshift evolution of the 21 cm bispectrum with fixed @xmath21 for three types of the shape in @xmath21-space .
we found that the redshift evolution of the 21 cm bispectrum for the equilateral and folded shapes basically traces that of the 21 cm power spectrum , but in case with the squeezed shape , we could see a different behavior and it can be understood by considering the coupling between the large- and small - scale modes .
then , we studied the 21 cm bispectra by decomposing it into the contributions from the matter density field , the fluctuations in the spin temperature and the neutral fraction . from the redshift evolution
, we found the dominant component at each redshift and scale .
we also show the shape dependence of each component and compared it with that of total 21 cm bispectrum .
the shape dependence of each component looks similar to each other , but a slight difference also exists .
hence , by future precise observation it is expected that we would obtain the information about the non - gaussian feature of these components separately .
as far as the matter bispectrum is concerned , there have been a lot of works which discuss the shape - dependence by using the second order perturbation theory and also numerical n - body simulation .
although most of the works focus on the matter bispectrum at the lower redshift ( @xmath114 ) or higher redshift ( @xmath115 in the dark age ) ( e.g. , @xcite ) , we can find that the shape of the matter bispectrum in our result is basically consistent with these previous works by extrapolation . by using the second order perturbation theory ,
the matter bispectrum can be expressed as @xmath116 with @xmath117 being the matter power spectrum . for @xmath118 ,
the matter power spectrum behaves as @xmath119 .
based on this fact and the isosceles ansatz ( @xmath120 ) , we have @xmath121 , and hence the unnormalised matter bispectrum becomes larger as @xmath1 increases is the largest in the squeezed shape @xcite . based on the above discussion about the matter bispectrum ,
let us revisit the behavior of the 21 cm bispectrum as shown in fig .
[ fig : bispectrum_abs ] .
as we have mentioned , in contrast to other redshifts , for @xmath51 the normalised 21 cm bispectrum has a scale - dependence as @xmath122 in the equilateral shape . from fig .
[ fig : bispectrum_component_equilateral ] , we find that at @xmath51 the matter contribution relatively dominates over the 21 cm bispectrum , and hence the behavior of the 21 cm bispectrum is expected to trace that of the matter bispectrum at this redshift .
based on the expression obtained from the second order perturbation theory , the scale - dependence of the normalised matter bispectrum can be estimated as @xmath123 . hence , the behavior of the matter bispectrum could explain that of the 21 cm bispectrum at @xmath51 .
note that the zeldovich approximation is used to solve density evolution in 21cmfast .
this approximation is imperfect to calculate the bispectrum and it is desirable to use n - body simulations to estimate the bispectrum accurately .
however , at scales less than @xmath124 at @xmath125 , density evolution with the zeldovich approximation coincides with that obtained by n - body simulations@xcite . naively , the spatial distributions of the spin temperature and neutral fraction should be considered as tracers of matter density field , that is , they could be treated equally with those of the halos and galaxies .
based on this consideration , the simplest way to express the spatial distributions of the spin temperature and neutral fraction is introducing a bias parameter , such as @xmath126 ( @xmath127 and @xmath9 ) . if such a bias parameter is scale - independent , the behaviors of the bispectra of the spin temperature and neutral fraction are completely the same as that of the matter density field .
however , we can see slight differences between these components in fig .
[ fig : bispectrum_component_free ] and also [ fig : bispectrum_abs ] .
hence , we expect that the bias parameter should have non - trivial scale - dependence due to the non - linear or non - local transfer from the matter density field to the spin temperature and neutral fraction .
we need to investigate this issue more deeply in future work . here , we briefly discuss the cross correlation higher order terms in eq.([eq : bispectrum_component ] ) .
although we only plot auto correlation term in fig.[fig : bispectrum_component_equilateral ] , neglected cross correlation and higher order terms are of the same order as the auto correlation terms .
we show the ratio between the sum of three component terms and total 21 cm bispectrum as function of redshift in fig.[fig : fraction ] .
as you can see from this figure , this ratio is not unity since we do not include the cross correlation and higher order terms , and hence , in practice , these terms can not be neglected .
however , in our study , we focus on only auto correlation terms in order to study contribution from each component .
although we expect that what cross correlation terms are effective at each epoch from fig.[fig : bispectrum_component_free ] ( e.g. cross correlation between fluctuations neutral hydrogen fraction and matter density might become effective at the eor ( @xmath128 ) ) , detailed study is our future work .
the detectability of bispectrum is of critical interest . in our previous work @xcite , we estimated the signal - to - noise ratio of bispectrum , developing a formalism to calculate the bispectrum contributed from thermal noise .
we find that the ska1 has enough sensitivity for both equilateral and isosceles(@xmath129 with k=0.06 @xmath130 ) triangles for @xmath131 at @xmath0=8 - 17 , while lofar will have sensitivity for the peaks of the bispectrum as a function of redshift .
actually , galactic and extragalactic foreground will be a serious obstacle just as in the case of power spectrum and should be studied in detail .
there are some other approaches to measure non - gaussianities in the brightness temperature field .
for example , some studies focus on topological structure of brightness temperature field such as minkowski functionals @xcite .
this method is complementary to higher order statistics .
in this section , we derive the relation between bispectrum and skewness .
when we define the fluctuation of brightness temperature @xmath132 as @xmath133 , the skewness of brightness temperature is defined by @xmath134 here @xmath41 is the number of pixel .
the definition of three - point correlation function for brightness temperature @xmath135 is expressed by @xmath136 .
we can connect this three - point correlation function with ensemble average of @xmath137 such as @xmath138 .
we know the relation between correlation function and bispectrum from wiener - khintchine relation described by @xmath139 therefore , @xmath140 can be expressed with bispectrum by @xmath141 by using equation([eq : wk ] ) and ( [ eq : wk2 ] ) , we can derive the relation between skewness and bispectrum as , @xmath142
we would like to thank k. hasegawa and d. nitta for useful comments .
this work is supported by grant - in - aid from the ministry of education , culture , sports , science and technology ( mext ) of japan , nos .
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Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Mysteries 1. Chapter 1
Niall Brigant and Bill Compton both stared at the motionless body lying on the floor. Bill was recently bitten and sliced with silver but the worst was about to come. With all his strength he carried Sookie and suddenly blood tears were running down his cheeks. "We're too late." Bill whispered sadly. Niall looked at his great-granddaughter who limped in the vampire's arms. He put his hand on Bill's shoulder to teleport to Sookie's house but before he did he looked over his shoulder. The faeries are just pieces of flesh on the blood stained floor now he thought. There will be a terrible war soon but all he wanted right now was to keep his great granddaughter safe and alive. And in a second they were gone.
…...
"How is she?" Eric asked anxiously after Dr. Ludwig assessed Sookie. He stood watching his lover while Dr. Ludwig was about to finish. She was recently washed and bandaged but she still had bruises and marks all over her. He would have killed those fucking fairies himself if he could have. He held his anger back with great effort and tried to sense Sookie. _Nothing…_
"She won't make it. There's nothing I can do." Dr. Ludwig shook her head and closed her eyes.
The news hit him like he was staked in the heart. Desperation, anger, depression took over as Eric pleaded. "There must be something! Please! I cannot lose her…" There was so much emotion his voice shook.
"I told you, Vampire! I can't. She is…dying." Eric wanted to kill that damn doctor but that wouldn't help anything instead he knelt down and cried. Dr. Ludwig left the room sullenly just as Pam entered.
Pam immediately stopped when she saw Eric crying and kneeling on the floor caressing Sookie's face. She was clean and bandaged but she looked like hell. "Master…" she whispered but her voice broke as she felt her tears run down her cheeks. She could feel her Maker's heartbreak and helplessness. The only person he has ever truly loved was now fading away fast and there was nothing he could ever do about it…unless. Pam shouted excitedly. "Master! You can save her! She still has that spark!" But Eric didn't move. He was still crying as if Pam was never there. "Master! Please…You cannot let her die! You can turn her!" She cried out once more but this time she was determined not to let her Maker's only happiness die. She would do anything for him.
"I cannot…" Eric whispered weakly.
"What…what do you mean?"
"I…promised her."
"BULLSHIT! Eric, this is Sookie we are talking about…your Lover…your blood-bonded…your…love."
"I know that!" Eric stood up in vampire speed and roared. "But I can't! She will never forgive me and despise me for an eternity! There is NOTHING I can do. Do you understand?"
Pam always understood Eric's frustration and he sometimes took it out on her but not this one. He couldn't care less about promises especially to humans. Why now? "What the FUCK Eric?" He stared at her for a while before turning around to Sookie. How could he just give up? Pam suddenly knew just what to do. "If you won't…I will." She walked towards Sookie but Eric threw her across the room.
"Don't touch her." Eric hissed and flashed his fangs at her. "As your maker, I command you never to turn my Sookie! She is mine."
"Not for long. She'll be gone in what…2 minutes? And then…you'll have nothing Eric. How does it feel to let your love slip away knowing you could have done something to save her?" Pam spat back but Eric didn't respond. "You could have given her eternity. You could have had eternity with her." Pam was disgusted at how her Maker was acting. He has gotten soft and almost…dare she say it? Human.
Eric stared at Sookie for a long time and cried once more. He begged the gods over and over again for his lover until he thought he was talking to himself. How he wished to see her smile…that giggle…those eyes that shone with warmth and tenderness…once more. There were so many things he wanted to say. It was unjust, it was too soon. She was still too young and she had dreams. Eric knew at that moment that he would have done everything for that to come true. He held her hand tightly which was still warm. He brushed some of Sookie's hair off her beautiful face and kissed her cheek. "I will always love you. Goodbye my Lover."
Niall Brigant and Bill Compton both stared at the motionless body lying on the floor. Bill was recently bitten and sliced with silver but the worst was about to come. With all his strength he carried Sookie and suddenly blood tears were running down his cheeks. "We're too late." Bill whispered sadly. Niall looked at his great-granddaughter who limped in the vampire's arms. He put his hand on Bill's shoulder to teleport to Sookie's house but before he did he looked over his shoulder. The faeries are just pieces of flesh on the blood stained floor now he thought. There will be a terrible war soon but all he wanted right now was to keep his great granddaughter safe and alive. And in a second they were gone.
…...
"How is she?" Eric asked anxiously after Dr. Ludwig assessed Sookie. He stood watching his lover while Dr. Ludwig was about to finish. She was recently washed and bandaged but she still had bruises and marks all over her. He would have killed those fucking fairies himself if he could have. He held his anger back with great effort and tried to sense Sookie. _Nothing…_
"She won't make it. There's nothing I can do." Dr. Ludwig shook her head and closed her eyes.
The news hit him like he was staked in the heart. Desperation, anger, depression took over as Eric pleaded. "There must be something! Please! I cannot lose her…" There was so much emotion his voice shook.
"I told you, Vampire! I can't. She is…dying." Eric wanted to kill that damn doctor but that wouldn't help anything instead he knelt down and cried. Dr. Ludwig left the room sullenly just as Pam entered.
Pam immediately stopped when she saw Eric crying and kneeling on the floor caressing Sookie's face. She was clean and bandaged but she looked like hell. "Master…" she whispered but her voice broke as she felt her tears run down her cheeks. She could feel her Maker's heartbreak and helplessness. The only person he has ever truly loved was now fading away fast and there was nothing he could ever do about it…unless. Pam shouted excitedly. "Master! You can save her! She still has that spark!" But Eric didn't move. He was still crying as if Pam was never there. "Master! Please…You cannot let her die! You can turn her!" She cried out once more but this time she was determined not to let her Maker's only happiness die. She would do anything for him.
"I cannot…" Eric whispered weakly.
"What…what do you mean?"
"I…promised her."
"BULLSHIT! Eric, this is Sookie we are talking about…your Lover…your blood-bonded…your…love."
"I know that!" Eric stood up in vampire speed and roared. "But I can't! She will never forgive me and despise me for an eternity! There is NOTHING I can do. Do you understand?"
Pam always understood Eric's frustration and he sometimes took it out on her but not this one. He couldn't care less about promises especially to humans. Why now? "What the FUCK Eric?" He stared at her for a while before turning around to Sookie. How could he just give up? Pam suddenly knew just what to do. "If you won't…I will." She walked towards Sookie but Eric threw her across the room.
"Don't touch her." Eric hissed and flashed his fangs at her. "As your maker, I command you never to turn my Sookie! She is mine."
"Not for long. She'll be gone in what…2 minutes? And then…you'll have nothing Eric. How does it feel to let your love slip away knowing you could have done something to save her?" Pam spat back but Eric didn't respond. "You could have given her eternity. You could have had eternity with her." Pam was disgusted at how her Maker was acting. He has gotten soft and almost…dare she say it? Human.
Eric stared at Sookie for a long time and cried once more. He begged the gods over and over again for his lover until he thought he was talking to himself. How he wished to see her smile…that giggle…those eyes that shone with warmth and tenderness…once more. There were so many things he wanted to say. It was unjust, it was too soon. She was still too young and she had dreams. Eric knew at that moment that he would have done everything for that to come true. He held her hand tightly which was still warm. He brushed some of Sookie's hair off her beautiful face and kissed her cheek. "I will always love you. Goodbye my Lover."
Niall Brigant and Bill Compton both stared at the motionless body lying on the floor. Bill was recently bitten and sliced with silver but the worst was about to come. With all his strength he carried Sookie and suddenly blood tears were running down his cheeks. "We're too late." Bill whispered sadly. Niall looked at his great-granddaughter who limped in the vampire's arms. He put his hand on Bill's shoulder to teleport to Sookie's house but before he did he looked over his shoulder. The faeries are just pieces of flesh on the blood stained floor now he thought. There will be a terrible war soon but all he wanted right now was to keep his great granddaughter safe and alive. And in a second they were gone.
…...
"How is she?" Eric asked anxiously after Dr. Ludwig assessed Sookie. He stood watching his lover while Dr. Ludwig was about to finish. She was recently washed and bandaged but she still had bruises and marks all over her. He would have killed those fucking fairies himself if he could have. He held his anger back with great effort and tried to sense Sookie. _Nothing…_
"She won't make it. There's nothing I can do." Dr. Ludwig shook her head and closed her eyes.
The news hit him like he was staked in the heart. Desperation, anger, depression took over as Eric pleaded. "There must be something! Please! I cannot lose her…" There was so much emotion his voice shook.
"I told you, Vampire! I can't. She is…dying." Eric wanted to kill that damn doctor but that wouldn't help anything instead he knelt down and cried. Dr. Ludwig left the room sullenly just as Pam entered.
Pam immediately stopped when she saw Eric crying and kneeling on the floor caressing Sookie's face. She was clean and bandaged but she looked like hell. "Master…" she whispered but her voice broke as she felt her tears run down her cheeks. She could feel her Maker's heartbreak and helplessness. The only person he has ever truly loved was now fading away fast and there was nothing he could ever do about it…unless. Pam shouted excitedly. "Master! You can save her! She still has that spark!" But Eric didn't move. He was still crying as if Pam was never there. "Master! Please…You cannot let her die! You can turn her!" She cried out once more but this time she was determined not to let her Maker's only happiness die. She would do anything for him.
"I cannot…" Eric whispered weakly.
"What…what do you mean?"
"I…promised her."
"BULLSHIT! Eric, this is Sookie we are talking about…your Lover…your blood-bonded…your…love."
"I know that!" Eric stood up in vampire speed and roared. "But I can't! She will never forgive me and despise me for an eternity! There is NOTHING I can do. Do you understand?"
Pam always understood Eric's frustration and he sometimes took it out on her but not this one. He couldn't care less about promises especially to humans. Why now? "What the FUCK Eric?" He stared at her for a while before turning around to Sookie. How could he just give up? Pam suddenly knew just what to do. "If you won't…I will." She walked towards Sookie but Eric threw her across the room.
"Don't touch her." Eric hissed and flashed his fangs at her. "As your maker, I command you never to turn my Sookie! She is mine."
"Not for long. She'll be gone in what…2 minutes? And then…you'll have nothing Eric. How does it feel to let your love slip away knowing you could have done something to save her?" Pam spat back but Eric didn't respond. "You could have given her eternity. You could have had eternity with her." Pam was disgusted at how her Maker was acting. He has gotten soft and almost…dare she say it? Human.
Eric stared at Sookie for a long time and cried once more. He begged the gods over and over again for his lover until he thought he was talking to himself. How he wished to see her smile…that giggle…those eyes that shone with warmth and tenderness…once more. There were so many things he wanted to say. It was unjust, it was too soon. She was still too young and she had dreams. Eric knew at that moment that he would have done everything for that to come true. He held her hand tightly which was still warm. He brushed some of Sookie's hair off her beautiful face and kissed her cheek. "I will always love you. Goodbye my Lover."
**Three days later, Sookie Stackhouse woke up.**
2. Chapter 2
**Before we start, I'd like to thank my new awesome Beta, Breathesgirl.**
**Thanks to all who reviewed. I love you guys. :)**
**Anyway, I decided to change Chapter Two, since I felt like it didn't really show the real transition of a vampire.**
**So, this is a very different version of Chapter Two. Hope you guys like it.**
* * *
><p>Eric slowly opened his eyes and felt the wave of dread wash over him. It was the third and final day of Sookie's transition. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. He had never been this nervous before. If his heart were still beating, it would have stopped by now.<p>
Checking his watch he saw that he had at least an hour until she woke up.
Right now they were underground in a coffin in the cemetery near Sookie's house. They were facing each other with Sookie's head and hands resting softly against his chest while his arms were wrapped around her protectively. He sighed and held her closer to him, probably for the last time.
He was sniffing her golden hair, which was brighter than before, when he sensed something was very off. Sniffing again, he smelled that very same euphoric scent that was partly fae and was very Sookie. Eric groaned and fought every urge to bite her.
When a human transitions to a vampire almost everything changes about them, even their scent, so how could it be that Sookie still smelled like her part fae, part human self?
He hadn't had any information about fae turning into vampires. He asked all his investigators and his child, Pam, to read every book and ask every vampire they knew if they knew anything about faeries turning into vamps. So far nothing had been helpful which only meant that whatever might happen tonight would be a surprise.
He didn't like it. Everything he had done in the past had a plan and he would always be prepared for anything. Anything. That is until he met Sookie Stackhouse.
The moment he saw her, standing in a sea of vermin, wearing that delectable white dress that hugged every delicious curve of her body, he was entranced by her, Bill Compton be damned.
Every plan he had to have her was always futile, she was unpredictable. When he thought he had her, she would always push him away. No woman had ever refused him when he seduced them and he had never put so much effort into doing so, until her.
Who knew that all it would take for her to yield to him was for her to see the vulnerable side of him, the other Eric. He smiled wistfully at the memory.
It was the rush of his emotions that pushed him to 'just go with the flow', as humans say, but it wasn't what he was used to. It was his love for her that pushed him to save her. _Keep telling yourself that Northman, it might help you rest in the morning._
He knew he acted for selfish reasons. There was no doubt Sookie would hate this. She would despise him and probably kill herself after killing him. It…scared him.
Her change could not be reversed. He did not have the heart to let her die, it was the same as murder. He was determined to let her see the good side of becoming a vampire: the endless possibilities of traveling, seeing the world like she always wanted, meeting the people she always gushed about and so much more, even if it meant Sookie doing all these things without him.
He had to be sure to let her see this before she chose to leave him.
Closing his eyes once again, he felt a single tear fall on his cheek before going into downtime, playing all the memories he had with Sookie.
He felt her move in his arms and heard the growl that erupted from her throat before she was on top of him.
"Sookie!" He commanded her attention after he had his hand on her throat to stop whatever she was planning on doing. She moved her hands to grab him but he was older, stronger and faster. In a flash, he pinned her underneath him and held both of her wrists above her head.
Luckily he got a coffin that was larger than most. It could fit two people, even then they were still in a very tight space. Sookie needed blood, fast. Without thinking about it he placed his wrist in front of her mouth. She bit savagely and growled happily.
Eric watched her drink his blood in awe. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. He couldn't will his erection away no matter how much he tried. Not now, Northman!
The scent of her arousal wasn't helping either.
He took a deep breath and steadied himself. Sookie needed emotional stability right now, not a quick fuck in a coffin, no matter how turned on he was.
Sookie started rubbing her hips against his and Eric felt his restraint slowly crack. He groaned and she smiled devilishly at his reaction. A different kind of hunger overpowered her and Sookie bit his wrist again when his wound healed then continued to suck hard.
He jerked his wrist away and she snarled at him. A few drops had fallen on her cheeks and mouth and Eric bent his head low to lick it all off leisurely.
"Sookie? Are you there?" His voice was low and husky. Every part of him was vibrating with tension. She replied by trying to bite his cheek for more blood. "I'm guessing that's a 'no' then?"
She was whimpering now.
_Damn it Sookie!_
She pushed her chest against him and wrapped her legs around his waist, trying to get as much friction as she could. Sookie definitely was not making it easy on him. He took a deep breath and tried his best to not give in to her. Now is not the time, Northman…now is not the—
"Eric…please.." He opened his eyes and locked eyes with her. In a split second he saw his Sookie. "…please!" She half screamed, half moaned.
_Fuck it._
Eric kissed her fiercely while still holding her wrists above her head. He let one hand trail over her curves and palmed her delicious ass toward his hardness. She moaned at the friction he caused and bit his bottom lip.
_Stop!_
The rational part of Eric yelled for him to stop but Sookie felt so right. She moaned and started kissing his neck. He lost control for a fraction of a second and Sookie took that started kissing his neck. He lost control for a fraction of a second and Sookie took that opportunity to free her hands and ripped Eric's shirt in half.
He lifted Sookie's dress above her stomach and cupped her sex. Eric groaned when he felt how wet she was.
_She needs help, not a quick fuck._
He cleared his head and slipped two fingers into her. Sookie threw her head back and whimpered. She in turn rubbed Eric through his jeans and was about to rip them off when…
_This is about her and her needs…this is not about your dick._
Eric grabbed both of Sookie's wrists and lifted them above her head once again. She growled in irritation and screamed.
He had never felt so out of control. He should have stopped right then and there but for the undead life of him he could not get hold of himself. The last time he felt this conflicted and had so much difficulty controlling himself was when he was just a new born vampire.
Eric shook his head. This was vampire Sookie: she needed release in order to fill her hunger and to stop squirming beneath him which wasn't helping him maintain his focus.
He continued to pleasure her using his fingers. When she had her release she gave out a very 'vampiric' roar.
Slowly, Eric watched in complete awe as she began to look like her old self.
The only problem was the flash of pure white hot rage he felt through their bond.
* * *
><p><strong>So, did you guys like it? *Fingers crossed*<strong>
End file.
| fanfiction |
Mass Effect Mind Over Matter
"Maybe we could talk later."
Shepard blinked in surprise.
She finally gets back onto the ship from their failure mission to obtain the Prothean data as well as witness the fall of the Asari home planet to seek the comfort of her lover, Kaidan, only to be tossed aside. He didn't even look at her, his gaze directed to the large window to look outside into the void of nothingness. Stunned silence on her part was the only thing in the room as Kaidan did not meet her eyes. At a loss for words, she simply turned around and quickly fled the room to the elevator, jamming the button repeatedly to her cabin.
"I don't want any visitors, EDI; make sure no one gets in here." Her voice sounded shaky and she prayed EDI wouldn't say something that would cause her to break down.
"Understood Shepard, logging you out."
Shepard sighed in relief.
The door quietly shut, locks clicking into place as she moved towards her fish tank to feed them. A small part of her shouldn't be surprised; he does have a lot of things on his mind right now involving his students and family back on Earth; yet a small part argued back against her. She was saving humanity, for fucks sake, he couldn't help be the support she needs when she is carrying the existence of the galaxy on her shoulders?
_Apparently not,_ she sighed as she fell back onto her bed, the weight of her problems crushing her still as she fell into a restless sleep.
* * *
__Sorry for the shortness of this story, just trying to warm back up into everything. I haven't written anything in a while now. Feedback would be amazing, and please let me know if I should even continue with this little story!
End file.
| fanfiction |
Only valence shell electrons participate in bonding then how is Cr in H2CrO4 forming 6 covalent bonds although it has only 1 valence electron?
The structure of $\ce{H2CrO4}$ is as follows:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3ypbum.jpg)
Shell configuration of chromium is 2,8,13,1 i.e. it has only 1 valence electron and only valence electron participate in bonding but Chromium in the above structure is forming 6 covalent bonds i.e. it is sharing 6 electrons. How's that possible ? How can it share 6 electrons when it only has 1 valence electron.
The same is the case for $\ce{Mn}$ in $\ce{H2MnO4}$ where it has only 2 valence electrons but is forming 6 covalent bonds and for $\ce{Mo}$ in $\ce{H2MoO4}$ where it has only 1 valence electron but forming 6 covalent bonds.
The electronic configuration of $\ce{Cr}$ is: $[\ce{Ar}]4s^2 3d^4$. Because of very little energy difference between 4s- and 3d- orbitals, it can lose 6 of it's valence electrons and thus form 6 covalent bonds.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Home Kansas News Home Economics Sell by? Use by? What's a shopper to do? Sorting through the meaning of food date labels.
Sell by? Use by? What's a shopper to do? Sorting through the meaning of food date labels.
People are getting savvy about checking food labels for fat, calories and fiber, but labels such as "sell by" and "use by" can leave us guessing about whether to keep or toss food.
"The current system of food product dating in the U.S. can be confusing, and is not necessarily related to food safety," says Londa Nwadike, extension food safety specialist for the University of Missouri and Kansas State University.
Shoppers sometimes shy away from buying a product because the "sell by" or "use by" date is close. Or they buy a product that they don't use right away, only to notice later that the "sell by" date has come and gone. If unsure whether it's safe to eat, the food is thrown away – sometimes unnecessarily, says Nwadike.
She gave tips to keep shoppers safe and cut food waste to a minimum.
1) Infant formula is the only food product on which expiration dates are federally regulated. Don't buy or use baby formula after its "use by" date, for both safety and nutritional reasons.
· "Sell by" date: Tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before that date.
· "Best if used by (or before)" date: Recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
· "Use by" date: The last date recommended by the manufacturer for the use of the product while at peak quality.
These dates generally refer to food quality, rather than safety, Nwadike said. However, they can give a general idea of how long the food has been in the market.
3) Many canned foods are required to have a packing code that enables manufacturers to rotate their stock and locate their products in the event of a recall. These codes are not meant for consumers to interpret as use-by dates (unless they are clearly marked as a "use by" date).
· If perishable, take the food home immediately after purchase and refrigerate it at 40 F or below within two hours. Freeze it if you can't use it within recommended safe refrigerated storage times. Once a perishable product is frozen, microbial growth stops, so it will be as safe as it was when it went into the freezer.
· Do not leave perishable foods at room temperature more than two hours. If you know that a carton of milk has been sitting on the counter more than three hours, throw it out regardless of the date on the container.
· If the product has a use-by date on the package, follow that date to determine when to use it.
· Follow the handling and preparation instructions on the product label.
· Avoid cross-contamination and ensure proper sanitation.
· If the product shows visible mold, has off odors, the can is bulging or has other signs of spoilage, this may indicate that dangerous microorganisms are present. With such products, use the "If in doubt, throw it out" rule.
5) Be extra cautious with food to be consumed by vulnerable people such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems.
For USDA information on product dating, go to http://1.usa.gov/MWVr7D.
For more MU Extension resources on safe storage and handling of food, go to http://missourifamilies.org/foodsafety and http://extension.missouri.edu/preservation.
Story by Mary Lou Peter, K-State Research and Extension, [email protected]. | slim_pajama |
Cowboys Fail to End Losing Streak, Fall to Bears 31-24
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is chased by Chicago Bears' Aaron Lynch (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Chicago. Chicago won 31-24. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Jerry Jones might not be in a position to keep Jason Garrett as Dallas Cowboys head coach anymore.
Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Chicago Bears was the latest disappointment in a Cowboys season that has gone wrong but still has the potential to lead to a playoff appearance.
And, based on Jones' postgame comments, any change won't come before the Cowboys host the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 15.
"Everybody that is in here (the locker room) that's healthy and everybody that's healthy that's coaching will be coaching," Jones said. "Everybody there is in here that will be playing and we just gotta play better. That's it."
Jones has made only one in-season coaching change in his tenure as owner and general manager and, at times, Thursday's game was reminiscent of Wade Phillips' final game on Nov. 7, 2010, a 45-7 defeat to the Green Bay Packers.
The day after that loss Garrett was installed as interim head coach and has had the job ever since.
Thursday's loss was the Cowboys' third straight and as disheartening as any they have had because of what was on the line.
"Chicago took it to us. We won't be going anywhere until we win a football game," Jones said. "They played us well enough tonight to deserve to win the football game. We did all the things you can do that cause you to lose football games in the game."
After the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Buffalo Bills, Jones said he would not make a coaching change and professed faith that Garrett was the right coach to change the team's fortunes. Jones was envisioning the Cowboys running the table, winning the NFC East and becoming a threat to compete for a Super Bowl.
Given the performance Thursday, even Jones' confidence has to be shaken with his team 6-7 with three games to play.
For the second straight game, the Cowboys' offense opened with a first-possession touchdown. For the second straight game, things went downhill after that.
Similar to their loss to the Bills in which the defense allowed 26 straight points, the Cowboys were scorched again, giving up 24 unanswered points to the Bears.
SOURCE: ESPN, Todd Archer
postgame
Wade Phillips
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700 Volunteers Shovel Snow from Lambeau Field Ahead of Playoff Game Against Seahawks | slim_pajama |
If you are an Energy Corridor Commuter using METRO's Addicks Park & Ride bus service from downtown to get to work, you qualify for METRO'S Emergency Ride Home Program.
Color in the heat of summer? You may scoff at the idea but "FlameProof for Texas" will make a believer out of you.
Congratulations to Klotz Associates for 25 Years of Service!
Klotz Associates was recently honored for providing "professional and innovative engineering services" for the past 25 years in Harris County and throughout the state of Texas.
Zumba: A Fun Way to Get Fit in the Energy Corridor!
Bored with traditional work out routines? Zumba Fit is just for you!
CLEAR is expanding its network to cover hundreds of square miles in the Houston area with super fast Internet.
A new prototype bus shelter has been recently installed along the 75 Connector!
Coming soon! TxDOT is in the process of awarding the bid to landscape along IH-10. | slim_pajama |
I Like is a song by American artist Montell Jordan and Slick Rick that appeared both on Montell's second album, More... and the Nutty Professor soundtrack. Co-produced by Derick D Man McElveen and James Earl Jones, I Like became a hit in both the US, where it peaked at 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the UK, where it peaked at 24 on the UK Singles Chart. I Like was also Slick Rick's first single since his release from prison.
Single track listing
A-Side
I Like LP Version- 4:44
I Like Radio Edit- 4:10
B-Side
I Like TV track- 4:44
I Like A Cappella- 4:44
Come Around- 3:55 Dos of Soul
Charts
References
External links
Category:1996 singles
Category:Montell Jordan songs
Category:Slick Rick songs
Category:Songs written by Montell Jordan
Category:Songs written by Slick Rick | wikipedia |
once the patient survives the phase of critical illness , he / she may experience numerous complications succeeding intensive care unit ( icu ) discharge .
the residual problems can manifest as weakness , fatigue , breathlessness , anxiety , depression , posttraumatic reactions , and reduced cognitive function which collectively limits activities of daily living and subsequently leads to physical deconditioning .
there is growing evidence that icu survivors experience long - term physical , neurocognitive , and mental health complications directly associated with their experience during icu stay .
this broad spectrum of complications can altogether affect the physical , mental , and social wellbeing of the patient thereby affecting their quality of life .
health - related quality of life ( hrqol ) is made up of physical , psychological , and social domains which interact with each other and patient 's perception .
short form 36 ( sf-36 ) is the most widely used scale to assess the quality of life in critically ill patients .
as the aftermath of critical illness , complications continues even at home , the quality of life may be compromised which necessitates the need for a hospital based and home - based exercise program after icu discharge .
therefore , this study proposes a strong need to explore the effect of patient - specific home - based exercise on their quality of life of after being discharged from a critical care setting .
the objective of the study is to determine the effect of individualized home - based exercise on the quality of life post - icu discharge .
the objective of the study is to determine the effect of individualized home - based exercise on the quality of life post - icu discharge .
a total of 144 subjects were screened , and 35 subjects were recruited in this study from medical intensive care units who were invasively mechanically ventilated for 24 h and admitted for more than 48 h in the icu in a tertiary care hospital between february 2014 and february 2015 .
patients with musculoskeletal trauma , neurological deficits , psychological / psychiatric disorders , malignancies , organophosphorus poisoning or substance abuse and having a history of icu admission in the past 6 months were excluded from the study .
the license agreement was obtained from quality metric , optum insight company for using sf-36 version 2 ( sf-36 v 2 ; license no .
all the eligible subjects were explained the procedure , and a written informed consent was obtained , from the patients who fulfilled the criteria and were willing to participate in the study .
the participants in study group followed the medical intervention prescribed by the physician and individualized home - based exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist .
the participants of control group followed the medical intervention prescribed by the physician without any formal exercise prescription .
demographic data and detailed history of their comorbidities and intensive care unit stay were noted down .
sf-36 v 2 questionnaire was administered within 48 h of icu discharge . during the hospital
sf-36 v 2 was again administered in both groups at the time of discharge from the hospital setting .
participants in the study group received the routine physiotherapy in the hospital and underwent 4 weeks of home - based training post discharge . before discharging from the hospital
, these participants received an exercise information sheet and were familiarized with the prescribed exercises .
this sheet contained a pictorial representation of the all the prescribed exercises with instructions in participant 's preferred language .
respiratory exercises comprised deep breathing exercises , thoracic expansion exercises , incentive spirometer ( if available ) , pursed lip breathing , and forced expiratory maneuvers .
mobility exercises mainly included active assisted or active exercises performed on the bed , dynamic quadriceps , sitting out of bed , spot marching , and ambulation .
ambulation was done twice a day based on perceived rate of exertion ( 1113 on borgs scale ) .
hence , a combination of respiratory and mobility exercise lasted for 3040 min a session performed 5 days a week . to improve the adherence even the caregivers / bystanders of the participants
were explained about the exercises which were to be performed by the participants at home .
the quality of life using sf-36 v 2 was assessed telephonically after 4 weeks postdischarge from the hospital in both groups .
whitney u - test was used to analyze the change in the quality of life between study and control group .
wilcoxon 's signed rank test was performed to analyze the difference in the quality of life within the groups .
graphical representations were used to show the differences . the level of statistical significance was set at p 0.05 .
whitney u - test was used to analyze the change in the quality of life between study and control group .
wilcoxon 's signed rank test was performed to analyze the difference in the quality of life within the groups .
graphical representations were used to show the differences . the level of statistical significance was set at p 0.05 .
a total of 144 subjects were screened , and 35 subjects were recruited in this study [ figure 1 ] .
the mean standard deviation age of the subjects in this study was 54.50 10 years .
baseline characteristics of the patients enrolled in the study and their clinical diagnosis are presented in tables 1 and 2 .
baseline characteristics of the patients enrolled in the study clinical diagnosis of patients enrolled in the study when median change in scores of domains of physical component between groups was analyzed [ figure 2 ] there was a statistical significant difference seen in physical function ( p = 0.003 ) , role physical ( p = 0.001 ) , bodily pain ( p = 0.004 ) , general health ( p = 0.017 ) , and physical component summary ( pcs ) ( p = 0.003 ) in the study group [ table 3 ] .
median change in scores of domains of physical component between groups when median change in scores of domains of mental component between groups was analyzed [ figure 3 ] there was a statistical significant difference seen in mental health ( p = 0.008 ) , role emotional ( p = 0.001 ) , social function ( p = 0 .
008 ) , vitality ( p = 0.003 ) , and mental component summary ( mcs ) score ( p = 0.006 ) in the study group [ table 4 ] .
our study showed significant improvement in both physical and mental component in the study group compared to control group after 4 weeks of hospital discharge .
the possible reason for these improvements could be because of spontaneous recovery over the period of 4 weeks .
another probable reason could be that subjects of the control group were benefited with the routine physiotherapy provided in the icu and the wards .
furthermore , patients in the control group might have performed the exercises without the exercise information sheet .
hence with a maturity of time , a marked improvement in the physical and mental function would have occurred in the control group from their baseline status . at baseline ,
the median change in the scores from icu discharge to hospital discharge was 2.99 ( 2.204.57 ) and 1.83 ( 1.054.06 ) , in study and control group , respectively , suggesting a similar trend of change in the qol during the hospital stay .
there was an improvement in the physical component and all its domains in the study group as compared to control group over a period of 4 weeks .
the individually tailored and telephonically monitored exercises performed by the patients of the study group after hospital discharge might have had positive effects on their cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems .
, similar results were found in a double - blinded randomized controlled trial where unsupervised , patient - directed home - based exercises for 6 weeks with printed rehabilitation manual and three follow - up phone calls were given to patients in the intervention group in this study .
improvements only in the physical component were noted in this study at the end of 6 months .
the change in the mcs score before randomization was similar for both groups , i.e. , 3.27 ( 1.816.55 ) and 2.91 ( 1.296.04 ) for study and control group , respectively .
we found significant improvements in the mental component and all its domains after 4 weeks of home - based exercises in the study group .
physiologically , exercises increase the release of endorphins which in turn improves circulation and has an impact on a hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis which collectively improves the physiological reactivity to stress .
hence , this could have improved the scores of mcs which corresponds to the anxiety and depression status ( r = 0.88 ) of the participants in the study group .
another reason for this improvement could be the better physical functional status of the patients in the study group . better functional status might have led to increment in the social participation and reduction in episodes of frustration , anxiety , and depression further improving their social and mental wellbeing .
on critical care survivors , in which graded individualized exercise program was given for 8 weeks with five follow - up phone calls to the study group and usual care to the control group .
they did not find statistically significant differences in 6-min walk test or hrqol at 8 or 26 weeks after discharge .
similarly , in a single blinded study by cuthbertson et al . , manual - based physical rehabilitation program was given for 6 weeks to subjects in the study group .
no improvement in pcs or mcs score was seen after 3 and 12 months probably because there were no measures taken to improve adherence to the exercise program which might have impaired the quality of an effective intervention . even though all the participants of the study group were telephonically followed up every week and logbook
was provided , only 12 out of 15 participants performed the exercises consistently over a period of 4 weeks after hospital discharge .
therefore , the adherence in our study population was 80% . however , there was no difference between the group which adhered to the exercise and the group which did not adhere to the exercise at baseline
. our results from this study would be useful for providing individualized rehabilitation sheet to patients postdischarge for a better understanding of the exercises so as to improve their functional status thereby improving their quality of life .
individualized home - based program can be beneficial and cost - effective for individuals who reside in rural areas as it eliminates the need to attend an outpatient clinic located in the tertiary hospital where they were treated .
one limitation of this study was a long - term follow - up for 6 or 12 months was not done as the study was time bound .
at baseline , the median change in the scores from icu discharge to hospital discharge was 2.99 ( 2.204.57 ) and 1.83 ( 1.054.06 ) , in study and control group , respectively , suggesting a similar trend of change in the qol during the hospital stay .
there was an improvement in the physical component and all its domains in the study group as compared to control group over a period of 4 weeks .
the individually tailored and telephonically monitored exercises performed by the patients of the study group after hospital discharge might have had positive effects on their cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems .
, similar results were found in a double - blinded randomized controlled trial where unsupervised , patient - directed home - based exercises for 6 weeks with printed rehabilitation manual and three follow - up phone calls were given to patients in the intervention group in this study .
improvements only in the physical component were noted in this study at the end of 6 months .
the change in the mcs score before randomization was similar for both groups , i.e. , 3.27 ( 1.816.55 ) and 2.91 ( 1.296.04 ) for study and control group , respectively .
we found significant improvements in the mental component and all its domains after 4 weeks of home - based exercises in the study group .
physiologically , exercises increase the release of endorphins which in turn improves circulation and has an impact on a hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis which collectively improves the physiological reactivity to stress .
hence , this could have improved the scores of mcs which corresponds to the anxiety and depression status ( r = 0.88 ) of the participants in the study group .
another reason for this improvement could be the better physical functional status of the patients in the study group .
better functional status might have led to increment in the social participation and reduction in episodes of frustration , anxiety , and depression further improving their social and mental wellbeing .
on critical care survivors , in which graded individualized exercise program was given for 8 weeks with five follow - up phone calls to the study group and usual care to the control group .
they did not find statistically significant differences in 6-min walk test or hrqol at 8 or 26 weeks after discharge .
, manual - based physical rehabilitation program was given for 6 weeks to subjects in the study group .
no improvement in pcs or mcs score was seen after 3 and 12 months probably because there were no measures taken to improve adherence to the exercise program which might have impaired the quality of an effective intervention . even though all the participants of the study group were telephonically followed up every week and logbook
was provided , only 12 out of 15 participants performed the exercises consistently over a period of 4 weeks after hospital discharge .
therefore , the adherence in our study population was 80% . however , there was no difference between the group which adhered to the exercise and the group which did not adhere to the exercise at baseline
. our results from this study would be useful for providing individualized rehabilitation sheet to patients postdischarge for a better understanding of the exercises so as to improve their functional status thereby improving their quality of life .
individualized home - based program can be beneficial and cost - effective for individuals who reside in rural areas as it eliminates the need to attend an outpatient clinic located in the tertiary hospital where they were treated .
one limitation of this study was a long - term follow - up for 6 or 12 months was not done as the study was time bound .
from our present study , we can conclude , 4 weeks of home - based exercises is effective in improving the physical and mental components of health - related quality of life of icu survivors . | pubmed |
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I high appreciate this post. It's hard to find the good from the bad sometimes but I think you've nailed it! | slim_pajama |
Deriving Non-linear acoustic wave models, equilibrium state assumption
The standard derivation in obtaining a single wave equation involves making use of the heat equation with a Taylor expansion of the equation of state, then differentiating this equation and the continuity equation with respect to time, and combining with the divergence of the NS equation.
From the literature I have found, it tends to be assumed an equilibrium state of:
1. $u\_0=0$ (vanishing equilibrium velocity)
2. $\partial\_t \rho\_0 =0$(no time dependence on the equilibrium density)
(which together, by the continuity => vanishing spatial dependence on the equilibrium velocity as well).
Probably a stupid question but, if assuming a non-vanishing equilibrium velocity, (and of course under the same assumptions corresponding to used to derive the specific model), do we expect to obtain the same wave equation as we would if vanishing equilibrium velocity was assumed?
Many thanks
No, you would not get the same equation. The same is true for the linear wave equation; if you account for moving media (with the exception of uniformly moving media, which is just a coordinate transformation) you get a significantly more complicated equation than the wave equation. Including nonlinearity just makes everything a lot more complicated.
What you can say is that the resulting equation will be the original nonlinear wave equation with additional terms that account for the moving media. We can say this because everything we are doing is a perturbation, and we can incorporate higher-order terms as a series, hence the inclusion of additional terms.
I hope this is helpful!
| stackexchange/physics |
as the instrumentation for millimeter - wave telescopes improves , it becomes progressively more straightforward to study individual molecular clouds in other galaxies .
recent studies of local group galaxies have surveyed large numbers of molecular clouds in the large magellanic cloud @xcite , the small magellanic cloud @xcite , m33 @xcite , and a bevy of local group dwarf galaxies ( e.g. * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
these recent studies explore the nature of star formation on galactic scales by studying the properties of giant molecular clouds ( gmcs , @xmath1 ) throughout their host galaxies .
such gmcs contain the majority of the molecular mass in the milky way s ism and are responsible for most of the star formation in the galaxy @xcite .
the andromeda galaxy ( m31 ) is the second largest disk galaxy in the local group , after the milky way , and it subtends over 2 deg@xmath2 on the sky .
its proximity ( 770 kpc , * ? ? ?
* ) makes it an excellent target for studying extragalactic molecular clouds .
numerous surveys of co emission have been conducted over a portion of m31 and a comprehensive list of the 24 co studies published up to 1999 is given in @xcite .
this extensive list of surveys can be supplemented with a few major studies that have occurred since then .
@xcite used the bima millimeter interferometer to study a @xmath3 field in the outer region of the galaxy ( @xmath4 kpc ) and find 6 molecular complexes similar to those found in the milky way .
an extensive survey covering the entirety of the star - forming disk of m31 has been completed using the iram 30-m by ( * ? ? ?
* see also references therein ) .
finally , @xcite used the plateau de burre interferometer to examine the properties of molecular clouds in 9 fields . using the gaussclumps @xcite algorithm
, they decompose the emission into 30 individual molecular clouds .
previous high - resolution observations of co in m31 indicate that a large fraction of the molecular gas is found in gmcs .
identifying individual gmcs requires a telescope beam with a projected size @xmath5 pc , the typical size of a gmc in the milky way @xcite , which requires an angular resolution of @xmath6 at the distance of m31 .
there have been seven observational campaigns that observed co @xmath7 emission from m31 at sufficient resolution to distinguish molecular clouds : @xcite . with the exception of @xcite ,
all of these studies have found gmcs with properties similar to those found in the inner milky way and @xcite have argued that the differences observed by @xcite can be attributed to observational errors .
indeed , @xcite presented the first direct observations of gmcs in any external galaxy using interferometric observations .
subsequent studies with interferometers and single - dish telescopes confirmed that most co emission in m31 comes from gmcs and that the gmcs properties were similar to those found in the milky way @xcite .
although the molecular gas in m31 has been extensively studied , there remains a gap connecting the large - scale , single - dish observations and the small - scale , interferometer observations . to address this gap ,
we completed co(@xmath8 ) observations of a large ( 20 kpc@xmath9 region ) along a spiral arm of m31 with high resolution ( @xmath10 pc ) .
we then followed up on these observations using a more extended configuration of the interferometer yielding data with a resolution of @xmath11 pc .
this paper presents the observational data of the both the survey and the follow - up observations ( [ obs ] ) . using only the follow - up data , we present the first results , namely a confirmation of previous studies that find gmcs in m31 are similar to those in the milky way ( [ analysis],[larson - sec ] ) .
notably , this paper utilizes the techniques described in @xcite to correct the observational biases that plague extragalactic co observations , thereby placing derived cloud properties on a common scale that can be rigorously compared with gmc data from other galaxies .
the follow - up observations are also used to examine the velocity gradients and angular momentum of the gmcs , which are then compared to the remainder of gas in the galaxy for insight into the gmc formation problem ( [ spang ] ) .
we conclude the paper by examining the larger galactic environment of m31 to explore connections between the gmcs and the larger ism ( [ environment ] ) .
subsequent work will explore the star formation properties of these gmcs and the formation of such clouds along the spiral arm using the data from the spiral arm survey .
we observed @xmath12co(@xmath8 ) emission from m31 during the spring and fall observing seasons of 2002 with the d and c configurations of the bima millimeter interferometer @xcite .
the observations consisted of an 81-field mosaic using the most compact ( d ) configuration with follow - up observations on seven sub - regions , covering 30 fields at higher resolution ( c array ) .
the d - array survey spans a projected length of 6.7 kpc along a spiral arm in the galaxy .
three of the seven follow - up , c - array fields targeted regions with known co emission from the d - array survey , and the remaining four fields targeted regions with strong co emission in the single - dish observations of @xcite over a range of galactocentric distances .
the locations of the fields are indicated in figure [ fields - m31 ] .
the d - array observations were completed in september and october 2002 over the course of four nights . each night
roughly 20 pointings of the mosaic were observed . during the observations , the fields
were observed for 46 seconds each , making two passes through the mosaic before returning to the phase calibrator ( 0102 + 504 , 2.6 jy ) every 30 minutes .
this cycle was continued through the night , accumulating @xmath13 hours of integration time on m31 per night ( 18 minutes per field ) .
the correlator was configured to span 200 mhz at 500 khz ( 1.3 km s@xmath14 ) resolution , easily encompassing the whole range of velocities expected from the m31 s rotation curve for this region @xcite . at the latitude of the hat creek radio observatory , m31 transits near zenith and can not be observed for 40 minutes a night .
this time was used to perform flux calibrations using saturn and uranus .
over the course of the observations , the derived flux of the phase calibrator was stable to 10% .
the relative flux calibration of the data may be better than this level owing to the intrinsic variability of the phase calibrator .
the data were reduced and inverted using the miriad software package @xcite , following the calibration procedures of the bima survey of nearby galaxies @xcite .
the four nights of @xmath15 data were combined using a linear mosaicing technique .
the inversion used natural weighting , and gridding in the @xmath15 plane was chosen to produce maps with @xmath16 pixels and @xmath17 km s@xmath14 channel width .
the dirty maps were deconvolved with a steer - dewey - ito deconvolution algorithm optimized for mosaics ( mossdi2 in the miriad software package ) .
each plane of the final image was cleaned to the 1.5@xmath18 significance level .
the final resolution of the survey is @xmath6 , with negligible variation over the map .
the mosaic is corrected for the gain of the primary beam .
three regions within the d - array survey containing emission were observed with the more extended c - array configuration . in total , 26 fields were observed on five nights from october to december 2002 .
the c - array observations used the same observing strategy as the low - resolution survey , observing each field for 46 seconds and making two or three passes ( depending on the size of the mosaic ) through the mosaic before observing the phase calibrator every 24 minutes .
the correlator configuration and choice of calibrators were the same as for the survey .
the follow - up observations used a subset of the d - array pointing centers to facilitate merging the two data sets .
these data were combined with the d - array observations in the @xmath15 plane and inverted using uniform weighting .
the data were cleaned using the same steer - dewey - ito deconvolution algorithm as for the d - array map .
the final resolution of the combined data is @xmath19 with a 2.03 km s@xmath14 channel width .
the images are corrected for the gain of the primary beam .
prior to the d - array survey , four fields of m31 were observed using the c array ( spring 2002 ) .
these observations targeted single fields known to contain bright co emission from @xcite over a range of galactocentric distance .
the fields were chosen to span a variety of regions in the galaxy ( different spiral arms and galactocentric radii ) in an attempt to reveal any biases seen by focusing on one region of the galaxy .
the observations used 0136 + 478 as a phase calibrator and mars to establish the flux scale of the phase calibrator .
since the observations consisted exclusively of c - array data , they were inverted using natural weighting .
the final synthesized beam size for these observations is @xmath20 .
the observations produced one survey data cube and 7 high - resolution data cubes for analysis .
the properties of these data sets are summarized in table [ m31-obsprops ] .
since space constraints prohibit a full presentation of all the observational data , an excerpt from the center of field a is shown in figure [ data - example ] to illustrate typical quality of the data .
the remainder of the paper emphasizes the high - resolution data ( fields a - g in table [ m31-obsprops ] ) .
we defer presentation and analysis of the survey data to a subsequent paper .
ccccccc survey & d & 00 41 48.1 , + 41 19 02 & @xmath21 & @xmath22 & 0.27 & 0.35 + a & c , d & 00 42 26.5 , + 41 28 45 & @xmath23 & @xmath24 & 0.64 & 0.35 + b & c , d & 00 42 12.3 , + 41 25 33 & @xmath25 & @xmath26 & 0.54 & 0.12 + c & c , d & 00 42 02.4 , + 41 22 13 & @xmath27 & @xmath28 & 0.76 & 0.17 + d & c & 00 43 01.8 , + 41 37 00 & @xmath29 & @xmath30 & 0.48 & 0.42 + e & c & 00 43 56.8 , + 41 26 12 & @xmath31 & @xmath30 & 0.94 & 0.23 + f & c & 00 44 44.3 , + 41 28 07 & @xmath32 & @xmath30 & 0.92 & 0.15 + g & c & 00 43 33.9 , + 41 09 58 & @xmath33 & @xmath30 & 1.38 & 0.19 +
for data cubes a g in table [ m31-obsprops ] , we identified the emission using a dynamic thresholding technique .
for every pixel in the cube , we first estimated the rms value for the noise using the method of @xcite ; this method accounts for gain variations in both position and frequency .
we first estimate the noise at every position by measuring the standard deviation of the data values using iterative rejection of high signal pixels ( @xmath34 ) .
we generate a noise map by smoothing the resulting pixel estimates with a boxcar kernel of the same size as the synthesized beam .
then , we estimate the relative changes of the noise across the bandpass by estimating @xmath18 in each channel map and normalizing to the mean value of @xmath35 across the bandpass . we generate a cube of noise estimates by scaling the error map by the fractional change from the mean appropriate for that velocity . performing a pixel - wise division of the data cube by the cube of noise estimates
yields a data set in significance units .
we identify co emission in the data cubes by searching for contiguous regions of high significance in position - position - velocity space using a two - tiered thresholding scheme ( e.g. * ? ? ?
the core pixels in the mask are identified as pairs of pixels in adjacent velocity channels with @xmath36 .
the mask is then expanded in position and velocity space to include all pixels with @xmath37 that are connected by high significance pixels to the @xmath38 core of the mask .
this masking process has been used in previous extragalactic , interferometric studies and has been shown to successfully identify emission with minimal inclusion of noise @xcite .
eliminating noise from the emission under consideration is key to the methods used to determine cloud properties ( see [ cloudprops ] ) .
the identification and analysis of gmcs in m31 may be complicated by the relatively high inclination of the galaxy : @xmath39 @xcite .
the situation is similar , in part , to observing gmcs in the outer regions of the milky way ( @xmath40 ! ) , and the spatial resolution ( @xmath11 pc ) is comparable to what is found using small telescopes ( e.g. the cfa 1.2-m ) to observe distant ( @xmath41 kpc ) gmcs in the milky way @xcite . while study of gmcs has been conducted in the milky way with such data , the inclination being @xmath42 and not @xmath43 helps the situation significantly .
the foreground and background spiral arms in m31 are separated from the arm under consideration by @xmath44 in projection .
thus , spatial information is useful for separating the emission into gmcs .
the clouds in the interarm region are likely too faint to be recovered by the deconvolution algorithm ( [ fluxrec ] ) .
we conclude that the primary concern in decomposition is the blending of gmcs within the same spiral arm .
@xcite estimate that the width of the spiral arms in the plane of the galaxy for this region is @xmath45 pc with a vertical thickness of 150 pc .
there could be multiple , distinct clouds in the spiral arm along the same line of sight , so we make a simple estimate of how many gmcs are likely to be along a line of sight through the spiral arm .
we model the arm as a cylinder with elliptical cross - section having major and minor axes of 500 pc and 150 pc respectively . for a viewing angle 77@xmath46 away from the minor axis of the cylinder , the path length through the cylinder is @xmath47 pc .
we assume that the gmcs are distributed uniformly in the cylindrical volume with volume density @xmath48 and geometric cross - section @xmath49 .
the mean number of clouds intersected by a line - of - sight through the arm is then @xmath50 .
we estimate @xmath48 by counting the number of clouds ( @xmath51 ) in some trial volume along the arm @xmath52 where @xmath53,@xmath54 and @xmath55 represent the length , width ( major axis ) and height ( minor axis ) of the volume of the arm respectively . by assuming a surface density through a typical gmc of @xmath56 and comparing this to the observed surface density in the single - dish map @xmath57
, we can estimate the area filling fraction of gmcs in the arm when viewed from above the galaxy:@xmath58 . since
@xmath59 is also given by @xmath60 , we can express @xmath61 significant confusion will occur for @xmath62 .
for this condition to be met with @xmath63 pc and @xmath64 pc , @xmath65 .
the data of @xcite show @xmath66 for this region requiring gmcs in m31 to have @xmath67 for significant blending to occur .
we regard this possibility as unlikely since gmcs in other , less confused regions of m31 are found to have comparable properties to local group clouds @xcite where @xmath68 @xcite .
unfortunately , one of the aims of the paper is to assess how similar clouds in m31 are to those in other galaxies ; so we can not reject the possibility that the clouds could be significantly blended along the line of sight although this would imply significantly larger sizes and lower column densities than is typical for gmcs in other galaxies .
we conclude this discussion of inclination effects by noting that we will assume that gmc properties are independent of viewing angle , as is common in studies of gmcs in the milky way and beyond ( e.g. * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
as a result , the reported properties of gmcs do not need any correction for the high inclination of the galaxy . we identify emission in the data cubes from the high - resolution data ( fields a - g in table [ m31-obsprops ] ) using the signal - identification method described in [ m31-masking ] .
maps of the high - resolution data fields appear in figures [ m31-cfield1 ] and [ m31-cfield2 ] .
this emission was partitioned into individual molecular clouds using the segmentation algorithm described in ( * ? ? ?
* rl06 ) to separate blended emission .
the segmentation algorithm is a modified watershed algorithm , related to the original clumpfind @xcite .
however , the adopted algorithm has been optimized to identify gmcs in a wide variety of observational data : the algorithm is significantly more robust to the presence of noise and does not over - segment gmcs as the original clumpfind is known to do @xcite .
the rl06 algorithm establishes its parameters from physical scales in the data ( e.g. parsecs , km s@xmath14 ) as opposed to observationally determined scales ( beam and channel widths ) to minimize biases in comparing catalogs with different observational properties . for the high - resolution data , the algorithm identifies 67 molecular clouds in the seven cubes .
cccccccc 1 & @xmath69 & 55 & 34 & 4.07 & 17.0 & 0.07 & @xmath70 + 2 & @xmath71 & 42 & 24 & 4.43 & 15.1 & 0.04 & @xmath72 + 3 & @xmath73 & 72 & 52 & 6.29 & 14.9 & 0.12 & @xmath74 + 4 & @xmath75 & 78 & 50 & 4.86 & 14.8 & 0.02 & @xmath76 + 5 & @xmath77 & 63 & 47 & 3.38 & 14.6 & 0.03 & @xmath78 + 6 & @xmath79 & 33 & 43 & 4.44 & 13.3 & 0.10 & @xmath80 + 7 & @xmath81 & 33 & 28 & 2.35 & 13.2 & 0.05 & @xmath82 + 8 & @xmath83 & 25 & 32 & 5.45 & 12.6 & 0.11 & @xmath84 + 9 & @xmath85 & 31 & 19 & 2.86 & 12.3 & 0.03 & @xmath86 + 10 & @xmath87 & 34 & 33 & 4.38 & 11.9 & 0.06 & @xmath88 + 11 & @xmath89 & 15 & 24 & 2.38 & 11.5 & 0.06 & @xmath90 + 12 & @xmath91 & 61 & 92 & 4.24 & 11.3 & 0.03 & @xmath92 + 13 & @xmath93 & 26 & 27 & 4.07 & 11.3 & 0.08 & @xmath94 + 14 & @xmath95 & 26 & 30 & 4.88 & 11.2 & 0.18 & @xmath96 + 15 & @xmath97 & 26 & 47 & 2.95 & 10.7 & 0.03 & @xmath98 + 16 & @xmath99 & 26 & 19 & 3.09 & 10.6 & 0.02 & @xmath100 + 17 & @xmath101 & 42 & 42 & 4.41 & 10.6 & 0.06 & @xmath102 + 18 & @xmath103 & 40 & 30 & 5.54 & 10.3 & 0.06 & @xmath104 + 19 & @xmath105 & 38 & 40 & 3.99 & 10.3 & 0.08 & @xmath106 + 20 & @xmath107 & 21 & 21 & 4.40 & 9.9 & 0.11 & @xmath108 + 21 & @xmath109 & 31 & 19 & 2.75 & 9.8 & 0.03 & @xmath110 + 22 & @xmath111 & 27 & 25 & 5.39 & 9.7 & 0.08 & @xmath112 + 23 & @xmath113 & 44 & 34 & 6.19 & 9.7 & 0.17 & @xmath114 + 24 & @xmath115 & 24 & 24 & 5.89 & 9.3 & 0.11 & @xmath116 + 25 & @xmath117 & 45 & 35 & 4.67 & 9.2 & 0.11 & @xmath118 + 26 & @xmath119 & 8 & & 4.64 & 8.8 & 0.16 & @xmath120 + 27 & @xmath121 & 22 & 28 & 4.13 & 8.7 & 0.09 & @xmath122 + 28 & @xmath123 & 10 & & 2.62 & 8.4 & 0.01 & @xmath102 + 29 & @xmath124 & 29 & & 6.53 & 8.2 & 0.21 & @xmath125 + 30 & @xmath126 & 3 & & 1.56 & 8.1 & 0.05 & @xmath127 + 31 & @xmath128 & 17 & 37 & 4.70 & 8.0 & 0.13 & @xmath129 + 32 & @xmath130 & 23 & 42 & 4.51 & 7.8 & 0.07 & @xmath131 + 33 & @xmath132 & 38 & 27 & 7.03 & 7.7 & 0.14 & @xmath133 + 34 & @xmath134 & 15 & & 2.38 & 7.6 & 0.04 & @xmath135 + 35 & @xmath136 & 12 & 29 & 3.15 & 7.5 & 0.05 & @xmath127 + 36 & @xmath137 & 14 & & 3.93 & 7.4 & 0.09 & @xmath138 + 37 & @xmath139 & 17 & 19 & 5.26 & 7.2 & 0.18 & @xmath140 + 38 & @xmath141 & 12 & 31 & 2.67 & 7.1 & 0.04 & @xmath142 + 39 & @xmath143 & 37 & 55 & 2.64 & 6.9 & 0.02 & @xmath144 + 40 & @xmath145 & 3 & & 1.50 & 6.7 & 0.07 & @xmath146 + 41 & @xmath147 & 2 & & 2.42 & 6.7 & 0.06 & @xmath148 + 42 & @xmath149 & 33 & 60 & 2.97 & 6.6 & 0.04 & @xmath84 + 43 & @xmath150 & 6 & & 3.62 & 6.6 & 0.05 & @xmath151 + 44 & @xmath152 & 12 & & 3.65 & 6.5 & 0.06 & @xmath153 + 45 & @xmath154 & 9 & 25 & 3.42 & 6.4 & 0.04 & @xmath155 + 46 & @xmath156 & 5 & & 1.58 & 6.3 & 0.02 & @xmath157 + 47 & @xmath158 & 16 & 35 & 2.08 & 6.3 & 0.04 & @xmath159 + 48 & @xmath160 & 8 & & 3.51 & 6.1 & 0.12 & @xmath161 + 49 & @xmath162 & 10 & & 2.97 & 6.1 & 0.11 & @xmath110 + 50 & @xmath163 & 3 & & 1.74 & 6.1 & 0.06 & @xmath164 + 51 & @xmath165 & 5 & 12 & 2.16 & 6.1 & 0.06 & @xmath166 + 52 & @xmath167 & 6 & & 2.24 & 6.1 & 0.05 & @xmath168 + 53 & @xmath169 & 2 & & 1.70 & 6.0 & 0.06 & @xmath170 + 54 & @xmath171 & 10 & & 6.27 & 5.9 & 0.15 & @xmath172 + 55 & @xmath173 & 8 & & 5.00 & 5.9 & 0.14 & @xmath142 + 56 & @xmath174 & 6 & 16 & 2.14 & 5.8 & 0.05 & @xmath175 + 57 & @xmath176 & 3 & & 1.49 & 5.5 & 0.00 & @xmath177 + 58 & @xmath178 & 3 & & 2.60 & 5.2 & 0.08 & @xmath179 + 59 & @xmath180 & 4 & & 2.38 & 5.1 & 0.04 & @xmath181 + 60 & @xmath182 & 2 & & 1.79 & 5.1 & 0.04 & @xmath183 + 61 & @xmath184 & 1 & & 0.99 & 5.1 & 0.01 & @xmath185 + 62 & @xmath186 & 4 & & 2.42 & 4.9 & 0.11 & @xmath187 + 63 & @xmath188 & 1 & & 0.98 & 4.8 & 0.04 & @xmath189 + 64 & @xmath190 & 3 & & 1.28 & 4.6 & 0.02 & @xmath191 + 65 & @xmath192 & 14 & 22 & 3.11 & 4.6 & 0.04 & @xmath193 + 66 & @xmath194 & 3 & & 0.65 & 4.5 & 0.01 & @xmath151 + 67 & @xmath195 & 4 & & 2.58 & 4.2 & 0.12 & @xmath196 + for each of these clouds , we measure three macroscopic properties : mass , radius ( @xmath197 ) , line width ( @xmath198 ) .
these macroscopic properties are defined using moments of the intensity distribution ( see rl06 for details ) .
the mass of the gmcs is determined by scaling the zeroth moment ( sum ) of the intensity distribution by a constant co - to - h@xmath199 conversion factor of @xmath200 @xcite . assuming a mean particle mass of 1.36@xmath201 @xcite gives a mass from the integrated flux over the cloud : @xmath202 the calculation uses a flux value @xmath203 that is extrapolated from the brightness threshold ( @xmath204 ) to 0 @xmath205 using variation in @xmath206 as a function of threshold @xcite .
rl06 demonstrate that this extrapolation practically eliminates bias in the data due to low sensitivity , though incomplete flux recovery interferometer may still affect the resulting mass estimates ( [ fluxrec ] ) .
an demonstration of the extrapolation method used in this paper is shown in figure [ extrapfig ] . in a similar fashion to the molecular mass
, we use the moments of the emission distribution to measure the sizes and line widths of the resulting molecular clouds . following rl06 ,
the size is defined as the second moment of the emission distribution along the major and minor axes of the cloud : @xmath207 and @xmath208 respectively . like the total flux , the values of these moments are extrapolated to the 0 k km s@xmath14 pc@xmath2 intensity level to minimize the effects of the brightness threshold giving @xmath209 and @xmath210 ( see rl06 for details ) .
we estimate the deconvolved size of the major and minor axes by subtracting the width of the beam in quadrature .
the size of the cloud is the geometric mean of the `` deconvolved '' major- and minor - axis sizes : @xmath211^{1/2 } \label{rdefn}\ ] ] the radius of the cloud is estimated by scaling @xmath212 up by a factor of 1.91 ( * ? ? ?
@xcite note that this radius estimate is insensitive to inclination and projection effects .
the rms velocity dispersion is calculated as the second moment of the emission distribution in velocity space . again
, the velocity dispersion is extrapolated to to the the 0 k km s@xmath14 pc@xmath2 intensity level to give the corrected velocity dispersion @xmath213 .
the properties of the molecular clouds in the high - resolution data are summarized in table [ m31-cloudprops ] .
the clouds are divided into two groups : ` high signal - to - noise clouds ' with @xmath214 where the macroscopic properties can be accurately recovered ( see [ fluxrec ] ) and ` low signal - to - noise clouds ' ( @xmath215 ) where the derived properties are suspect .
since interferometers do not measure the total power of observed emission , they must rely upon single dish observations for accurate measurements of the co flux . in the absence of such single - dish data ,
deconvolution algorithms can be used to extrapolate into the unsampled short - spacing area of the @xmath216 plane @xcite .
the accuracy of such extrapolations depends primarily on the signal - to - noise ratio of the data and to a lesser degree on the observational strategy and the structure of the object being observed .
since this work uses flux information to calculate cloud masses as well as in the moments that determine the cloud properties , flux loss affects all stages of this analysis .
we use the data from iram 30-m survey of m31 @xcite to quantify the amount of flux lost in each of the the observations .
we report the fraction of flux in the bima maps relative to that found in the iram map in table [ m31-obsprops ] as the column labeled @xmath217 .
the fractions recovered range from 12% to 42% .
the relatively low fraction of flux recovered is a product of two factors that affect interferometric observations : spatial filtering of gmcs ( studied in * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ) and the non - linear recovery of signal in the low signal - to - noise regime ( explored in * ? ? ?
the work of @xcite found that , because of their clumpy structure , spatial filtering did not hinder the accurate measurement of gmc shapes , fluxes and properties .
however , their simulations were conducted in the high signal - to - noise regime . in the low signal - to - noise regime
, @xcite found that even relatively compact simulated sources suffered from significant flux loss , owing to the inability for the deconvolution algorithms to isolate low - amplitude signal .
these two effects ( spatial filtering of gmc emission and low signal - to - noise ) were studied together in rl06 who simulated bima c , d , and c+d observations of milky way gmcs ( orion , rosette , w3/4/5 ) as if those gmcs were located in m31 .
their work showed that accurate recovery of cloud properties required signal - to - noise ratios of @xmath218 for less than a 20% loss in all the cloud properties . for clouds with lower significance ,
the flux loss is more severe .
however , the dominant source of flux loss comes from clouds not detected in the observations at all , i.e. those with @xmath219 , the minimum amplitude to which the deconvolution algorithm operates . for these clouds
, the deconvolution algorithm does not identify a significant local maximum for cleaning and the cloud contributes zero flux to the deconvolved map .
such low mass clouds likely comprise most of the missing flux not seen in the interferometer data .
when clouds are detected , cloud properties estimated from the observations should be relatively accurate , particularly if @xmath220 .
in general , we only consider the properties of clouds in the study if this sensitivity condition is met ; exceptions to this criterion will be noted . for the high - resolution data , 19 gmcs meet the signal - to - noise criterion ( the ` high signal - to - noise clouds ' in table [ m31-cloudprops ] ) .
we emphasize that for these m31 data interferometer observations act as a filter that preferentially detects gmcs , but the properties of those clouds are well - measured .
upon measuring a set of gmc properties for clouds in another galaxy , the immediate question is whether these clouds are similar to those found in the milky way .
ideally , the well - resolved clouds in the milky way would be analyzed using the methods of rl06 so that the results are directly comparable . however , since measuring cloud properties in the inner galaxy requires establishing a single distance by resolving the kinematic distance ambiguity , a detailed re - analysis has not been completed to date . the next best solution is to compare the results to an existing catalog . for comparison
, we use the catalog of ( * ? ? ?
* s87 ) to define the population of gmcs in the inner milky way .
the work of s87 used similar methods to calculate cloud properties though their work adopts a fundamentally different procedure for segmenting gmcs .
in addition , their cloud properties are not corrected for the effects of sensitivity as are the properties derived in this study .
consequently , there may be systematic differences between their catalog and the present study .
in general , the fluxes , line widths and radii of the s87 clouds will be smaller than would be derived using the methods of rl06 ; however , using interferometer data to observe the extragalactic clouds will reduce the fluxes , line widths and radii by a similar amount ( rl06 ) .
we have rescaled the catalog of s87 to a different galactocentric solar radius : @xmath221 kpc to @xmath222 kpc and the co - to - h@xmath199 conversion factor adopted in this study .
we also recalculated cloud sizes using the definition of rl06 .
finally , it is noteworthy that the method of rl06 reports , in addition to unbiased values for the cloud properties , appropriate uncertainties for those properties facilitating a statistically based comparison of cloud properties in m31 to those in the milky way .
@xcite first demonstrated that there were power - law scalings among the properties of molecular gas clouds .
that gmcs followed these scalings became well established in a series of surveys and catalogs of the co emitting gas in the inner milky way ( * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
* ; * ? ? ?
although there are several algebraically equivalent forms for expressing these relations , the most physically relevant relationships are generally agreed to be : @xmath223 and @xmath224 for the inner milky way ,
@xmath225 km s@xmath14 and @xmath226 ( s87 ) .
the first relationship is the size - line width relationship and results from the supersonic turbulent motions in the gmcs , as first suggested by @xcite .
the constant @xmath227 in equation [ virial ] is the virial parameter @xcite and since @xmath228 in the inner milky way the clouds are frequently interpreted as being self - gravitating . in figure [ larson ] , we plot these two relationships for the 19 clouds in m31 with sufficient signal to noise that their properties can be well - recovered in interferometric observations . we compare the relationships to those found in the catalog of s87 . in both the size - line width relationship and the value of the virial parameter ,
there is reasonably good agreement between the gmcs in m31 and the inner milky way gmcs of s87 .
fitting the relationship for the 19 clouds in m31 that meet the sensitivity criterion ( [ fluxrec ] ) using the method of @xcite gives a size - line width relationship of @xmath229 for reference , a fit to the catalog of s87 using the same fitting method , albeit without uncertainties in the cloud properties , gives @xmath230 thus , the size - line width relationship for the molecular clouds is indistinguishable from the clouds found in the inner milky way .
the similarity between size - line width relationship for clouds in m31 and the inner milky way has been reported on several occasions by other authors @xcite , though no previous study has reported an independent fit for the clouds in m31 with well characterized uncertainties in the cloud properties .
the virial parameter for clouds in m31 is constant as a function of luminous mass .
the uncertainty - weighted , mean value of the virial parameter for clouds in m31 is @xmath231 . for the sample of s87 , @xmath232 .
the difference between the virial parameters is not statistically significant .
moreover , any flux loss will affect the luminous mass estimates more than the virial estimate ( rl06 ) , so our measurement of the virial parameter is at worst an upper limit .
it is unlikely that the true virial parameters of m31 cloud population differs significantly from the milky way , provided the co - to - h@xmath199 conversion factor is the same for both systems .
alternatively , by assuming that the molecular clouds cataloged in this study are in the same dynamical state as are clouds in the inner milky way , we can justify our choice of co - to - h@xmath199 conversion factor .
again , the similarity of the virial parameter has been noted by several authors in previous studies @xcite . in particular ,
the latter two studies find no systematic variation in the virial parameter for clouds over a large range of galactocentric radius in m31 .
in addition to macroscopic properties like line width , radius and mass , interferometric observations of extragalactic gmcs can be used to measure the velocity gradients and angular momenta of the clouds .
* rpeb ) analyzed the velocity gradients of gmcs in m33 to critically evaluate cloud formation theories . in this section
, we analyze the velocity gradients for gmcs in m31 and compare our results to those of rpeb and the analysis of the velocity gradients in gmcs in the inner milky way by @xcite .
we determine the velocity gradient by a least - squares fit of a plane to the velocity centroid surface @xmath233 the velocity centroid measured as a function of position across the cloud .
the velocity centroid and its uncertainty are determined from the first moment of velocity weighted by brightness .
the coefficients of the fit determine the magnitude ( @xmath234 ) and position angle ( @xmath235 ) of the velocity gradient for the molecular cloud ( see * ? ? ? * for details ) .
the results of the fits are listed in table [ m31-cloudprops ] . for purposes of this analysis
, we have included all clouds , since the velocity gradient is less affected by the interferometric effects which bias the macroscopic properties ( [ fluxrec ] ) .
the velocity gradient is derived from line centroids and the first moments ( centroids ) are much less sensitive to the low surface brightness wings of the line than are the second moments .
we do exclude all measurements of the velocity gradient where the uncertainty is larger than 0.15 km s@xmath14 pc@xmath14 .
this upper limit was chosen from the maximum uncertainty for clouds with high signal - to - noise ( @xmath236 ) , including a total of 44 clouds in this portion of the analysis .
uncertainties in the derived parameters are determined from the errors in the least - squares parameters given the uncertainty in the centroid .
the magnitude of the velocity gradients range between 0 and 0.2 km s@xmath14 pc@xmath14 , in good agreement with both the values and distribution found for clouds in m33 ( rpeb ) and the milky way @xcite .
we compare the magnitude of the velocity gradient to the velocity gradient that would be expected from the orbital motion of the gas in the galactic potential , ignoring streaming motions in the spiral arms .
the local galactic velocity is estimated from the tangent plane to a surface defined by the line of sight projection of the galactic rotation velocity .
we use the rotation curve of @xcite which is a compilation of previous co and studies using updated orientation information . on average ,
the rotation gradient of gmcs exceeds the circular galactic gradient by a factor of 3.0 .
we measured the difference between the position angle of the gradient and that of the local galactic gradient expected from circular rotation for each of the clouds . while suggesting a slight alignment with the galaxy , the distribution of this difference is not significantly different from a random distribution according to a two - sided ks test ( * ? ? ?
* @xmath237 ) .
this is similar to the work of @xcite who found a random distribution of position angles in the milky way gmcs but different from rpeb who found significant alignment of the gradients with the galactic rotation .
this analysis has assumed the decomposed data represent discrete clouds with independent velocity fields , and the factor of three difference between the magnitudes of the cloud and local galactic gradients supports that model . however , it is also possible that we are inappropriately decomposing a continuous gas flow into clouds and the large velocity gradients result from the change in the gas flowing into the density wave . in the presence of the radial motions that such a flow implies ,
the local galactic velocity gradient will change in magnitude by a factor of , at most , @xmath238 and in position angle by @xmath239 where @xmath240 and @xmath241 are the radial and azimuthal components of the gas flow . for gas in m31 , @xmath242 @xcite so these changes will not be significant and the factor of three excess of cloud gradient magnitude over the local rotational gradient implies discontinuous velocity fields .
moreover , any changes should be systematic in nature , and the large range of position angles actually observed implies we are measuring the velocity gradients of discrete objects .
while the magnitudes of the velocity gradients of the clouds are larger than the local rotation in the galaxy , the implied angular momentum of the gmcs is significantly smaller than that of an equivalent mass of atomic gas orbiting in the galactic gravitational potential at the gmc s position .
the specific angular momentum for a cloud of gas with velocity gradient magnitude @xmath234 is @xmath243 where @xmath244 for a wide range of density distributions undergoing uniform rotation @xcite .
if the velocity gradient arises solely from the turbulent motions in the cloud , @xmath245 is likely 23 times smaller @xcite .
it is unlikely that the high galactic inclination affects the results .
the near - random distribution of the position angles implies that the cloud angular momentum vectors are similarly close to random which would require scaling the angular momentum up by a factor of @xmath246 on average ( rpeb ) . a turbulent origin for the velocity gradients would not necessitate any correction .
since any correction would be small , we make no correction for the orientation of the clouds . for the clouds in the velocity gradient analysis ,
the mean angular momentum is @xmath247 pc km s@xmath14 for a solid body rotator and 23 times smaller for the angular momentum of turbulent flows , comparable to the results for other systems ( rpeb , * ? ? ?
we compare this to the angular momentum of progenitor material for the gmcs .
the angular momentum of the gas in the galactic potential is given by rpeb ( equivalent to * ? ? ?
* ) @xmath248 where @xmath249 is a form factor equal to 1/4 for a contraction of a uniform circular disk of material of radius @xmath250 .
the length , @xmath250 , is the range of galactocentric radii over which material is accumulated to form a gmc .
the minimum value of @xmath250 is set by the mass of the gmc under consideration and the surface density of gas that could comprise the progenitor material : @xmath251 .
we take @xmath252 @xcite , including their estimates of both atomic and molecular material since small molecular clouds seen in co may be progenitor material for the larger gmcs . from the measured masses of gmcs and locations of gmcs , we calculate @xmath250 and the galactic shear from the rotation curve of @xcite . the mean value of @xmath253 for the clouds in the sample . on a cloud by cloud basis ,
the angular momentum of the galactic material is only a factor of 1.7 larger than the that of the gmcs , significantly smaller than the difference found in m33 where @xmath254 .
the smaller margin is primarily due to the lower shear in m31 , reducing @xmath255 by a factor of 4 compared to that found for the clouds in m33 whereas the velocity gradients are comparable in the two systems .
similarly , the cloud properties and gradients for clouds in the milky way are comparable to the clouds in m31 @xcite , but the shear is much larger in the inner milky way compared to the 11-kpc arm of m31 .
consequently , the discrepancy between the angular momentum of progenitor material and the resulting gmcs is also larger in the inner milky way than it is in m31 ( see * ? ? ?
the angular momentum defect for the m31 clouds is likely significant : the factor of 1.7 difference should be regarded as a minimum value since attributing the velocity gradients to turbulence or accumulating the progenitor material from a larger range of galactocentric radius will appreciably increase the margin .
these results suggest a broad similarity between gmcs in m31 and the other disk galaxies in the local group .
the primary goal of studying the velocity structure within the gmcs is to relate their angular momentum to that of the ism as a whole to evaluate formation mechanisms .
the angular momentum defect between gmcs and the ism is common among the studied systems ( * ? ? ?
* rpeb ) and suggests the importance of braking in molecular cloud formation .
@xcite study the role of magnetic effects at removing angular momentum from forming clouds and conclude that magnetic effects can reduce the angular momentum to observed values .
their unmagnetized simulations show no significant reduction in cloud angular momentum , although the density enhancements that represent proto - gmcs show @xmath256 , similar to the observed _ minimum _ value found in m31 .
the relatively low - shear environment does not necessarily require magnetic braking to produce the observed cloud angular momenta , though our measurement of @xmath257 likely significantly underestimates the true value .
with respect to their macroscopic properties and velocity gradients , gmcs in the 11-kpc , star - forming arm in m31 appears indistinguishable from the molecular clouds in the inner milky way .
as our knowledge of gmcs in other galaxies grows , it becomes more apparent that such detailed agreement in the properties of gmcs is not universal and may actually represent exceptional cases @xcite .
given the differences measured among extragalactic cloud populations , the most pressing question is : what physical mechanisms regulate the observed differences in gmcs properties ? these mechanisms must couple the gmcs to the ism on much larger scales , and future studies will examine the nature of this coupling in more detail .
the similarity between gmcs in m31 and the milky way offers a useful point of reference for studying the relationship between the galactic ism and gmcs . finding environmental properties that vary significantly between the two systems while gmc properties remain the same would imply those properties are irrelevant to the regulation of molecular cloud properties .
several features of the galactic environment are thought to play a role in regulating the structure of the cold ism and the properties of gmcs .
here , we review several of these features and note the degree of similarity to the local milky way : * _ interstellar radiation field _ the interstellar radiation field in m31 has been previously noted to be poor in the ultraviolet relative to the milky way @xcite , though the m31 field may be significantly enhanced in the star - forming spiral arm imaged in the co observations .
indeed , work by @xcite study [ ] emission in the star forming arms at @xmath258 kpc and note that the far ultraviolet field is consistent with being 100 times the local interstellar value ( i.e. @xmath259 ) around molecular clouds .
thus , the observed fuv deficiency likely does not characterize the molecule rich region of the galaxy and the radiation environment is similar to clouds in the milky way . *
_ metallicity _ the gas phase metallicity from regions in m31 at @xmath260 kpc is approximately [ o / h]-[o / h]@xmath261=0.0 dex with significant scatter , up to @xmath262 0.2 dex @xcite .
the region shows no signs of being significantly enriched or depleted relative to the solar neighborhood . *
_ dynamics _ the toomre @xmath0 parameter is frequently used to evaluate the stability of galactic disks with respect to the formation of self - gravitating structures .
the parameter is defined as @xmath263 where @xmath264 is the epicyclic frequency , @xmath265 is the one - dimensional gas velocity dispersion and @xmath266 the surface density of the gas in the disk .
most star - forming regions of galactic disks show @xmath267 @xcite and this region of m31 is no exception . for the rotation curve of @xcite , @xmath268 .
we take @xmath269 @xcite .
finally , we take @xmath270 from @xcite . combining these data
give @xmath271 , well within the range of values observed in most galaxies and approximately the same value found in the solar neighborhood . * _ midplane density _
we can also compare the midplane particle density of this region in m31 to the solar neighborhood .
the mean particle density is important for regulating thermal structure of the ism and the formation of the cold medium @xcite .
adopting a gas scale height of 340 pc for this region of m31 @xcite gives @xmath272 in the spiral arm region , but falling to @xmath273 outside the arm .
these densities are smaller than that found in the solar neighborhood ( @xmath274 , * ? ? ?
the properties of the ism in this region of m31 appear , at least superficially , similar to those found in the solar neighborhood .
hence , the derived similarity of molecular clouds in the two galaxies is not surprising .
the only property that appears like it may be significantly different between the two environments is the midplane particle density in the neutral medium .
if the difference is significant , the constancy of the gmc properties suggests that the particle density may be important in regulating the fraction of material found in the cold , neutral ism but perhaps not the properties of individual gmcs . while this environmental similarity does not isolate any irrelevant physical processes , noting the similarity in both clouds and environments illustrates that similar galactic environments do indeed produce similar gmcs
this paper has presented bima millimeter interferometer observations of @xmath12co(@xmath8 ) emission from giant molecular clouds ( gmcs ) along a spiral arm at @xmath275 kpc in m31 .
the observations were conducted in two parts : a low - resolution survey using the compact ( d ) configuration of the array and a high - resolution , follow - up study using a more extended ( c ) configuration of the array .
all data from the study were segmented and analyzed with the analysis algorithms of @xcite , which correct the observational biases imprinted on the data by having relatively low signal - to - noise and marginally resolving the gmcs .
the c - array follow - up spans 7.4 kpc@xmath276 finding 67 clouds .
we report the following conclusions : \1 .
the gmc population is very similar to that found in the inner milky way .
both the size - line width relationship and distribution of virial parameters are statistically indistinguishable from those derived from the population of clouds in the inner milky way .
this confirms the work of several authors @xcite while using techniques that correct for the biases imprinted by using interferometric observations .
we measured the velocity gradients and angular momenta across the gmcs . like the milky way and m33
, there is significantly more angular momentum in possible progenitor material than in the resulting gmcs , though the discrepancy is smallest in m31 owing to the relatively low galactic shear at large galactocentric radii .
all three systems suggest braking mechanisms act during the process of cloud formation to dissipate angular momentum .
\3 . the galactic environment in m31 where the gmcs are found is similar in most respects that of the solar neighborhood and inner milky way .
that gmcs in both environments are similar is consistent with the idea that the galactic environment regulates gmc properties . in systems where the galactic environment differs significantly from those studied here ,
the gmc properties are found to be different ( e.g. , * ? ? ?
this work was supported by a nasa gsrp fellowship and an nsf postdoctoral fellowship ( ast-0502605 ) .
i am extremely grateful to rainer beck , leo blitz , michel gulin , adam leroy , chris mckee , eve ostriker and an anonymous referee for carefully reading the manuscript and offering in - depth commentary .
kartik sheth kindly discussed his current and future work on m31 , allowing me to read a preprint of a forthcoming paper .
this work made extensive use of the nasa extragalactic database , the nasa abstract data service , and the mast archive .
the molecular line observations used the bima millimeter array which was supported , in part , by nsf grant ast-0228963 to the radio astronomy laboratory at u.c .
berkeley . , k. , vogel , s. n. , wilson , c. d. , & dame , t. m. 2000 , in the interstellar medium in m31 and m33 .
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we - heraeus seminar , 22 - 25 may 2000 , bad honnef , germany . edited by elly m. berkhuijsen , rainer beck , and rene a. m. walterbos .
shaker , aachen , 2000 , p. 37
- 40 , 3740 , w. j. , thornton , d. d. , plambeck , r. l. , wright , m. c. h. , lugten , j. , urry , l. , fleming , m. , hoffman , w. , hudson , j. , lum , w. t. , forster , j. .
r. , thatte , n. , zhang , x. , zivanovic , s. , snyder , l. , crutcher , r. , lo , k. y. , wakker , b. , stupar , m. , sault , r. , miao , y. , rao , r. , wan , k. , dickel , h. r. , blitz , l. , vogel , s. n. , mundy , l. , erickson , w. , teuben , p. j. , morgan , j. , helfer , t. , looney , l. , de gues , e. , grossman , a. , howe , j. e. , pound , m. , & regan , m. 1996 , , 108 , 93 | arxiv |
free energy and entropy
my understanding of free energy and entropy is that as entropy of a system increases its free energy decreases. As sun has free energy and this energy is being converted to useful work, and its entropy is increasing. Its entropy will continue to increase till its material is exhausted to cease free energy production.
Can permanent magnets be a source of free energy? The question arises because magnets are permanent dipoles that lose their orientation very slowly to become disordered and increase its entropy.
I would comment this but I have no rep points. Here is a link that will explain it: <http://2ndlaw.oxy.edu/gibbs.html>
The main point is that free energy also is dependent on enthalpy, not just entropy.
So a large increase in entropy would decrease the activation energy. Together with the change in enthalpy, they decide the spontaneity of the reaction. If the expression for the Gibbs free energy is negative at a given temperature, the reaction is spontaneous, meaning that it occurs.
A large entropy is beneficial to a system, in that it lowers the total energy of the system. So a large increase in entropy would decrease the activation energy. Together with the change in enthalpy, they decide the spontaneity of the reaction. If the expression for the Gibbs free energy is negative at a given temperature, the reaction is spontaneous, meaning that it occurs.
However, just because a reaction occurs, it doesn't mean that the reaction is significantly noticeable. The conformational change of diamond to graphite has a negative ΔG, but I have yet to see any diamonds turn to carbon. This is because the reaction rate is so slow, that it would take forever (in our perspective) to see it happen.
| stackexchange/physics |
Ring chain tautomerization of hydroxyacetone
My chemistry textbook says that hydroxypropane-2-one and 1,2-epoxy-2-hydroxypropane are ring chain tautomers, but it did not mention the steps for conversion of one into the other. I tried to figure them out but got stuck.
My attempt:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DRpBg.jpg)
At first, even though this is not related to the question, I want to say that you're confused between double-headed arrow between the two resonance forms and double harpoon in reversible reactions. (The harpoons should be written as below.)
Your incomplete mechanism has two errors:
* The hydrogen atom bonded to carbon is far less reactive than the one bonded to oxygen.
* The positive carbon, which is bonded to oxygen, a very electronegative element, is very, very unstable, which is not likely to happen.
This is the right mechanism for the reaction:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/F6OH1.png)
Step 1: Oxygen is a good nucleophile, so it is most likely to take the most acidic hydrogen.
Step 2: Then, the negative charged oxygen will attack the electrophile carbon atom, forming epoxy ring.
Starting from the aldehyde,
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/qU9QX.png)
The double bond of the aldehyde breaks, allowing the oxygen to bond with the H in the alcohol. The alcohol subsequently breaks the O-H and forms a ketone.
Note that this molecule is stabilised due to hydrogen bonding; therefore it may be prudent to add a base or acid to encourage tautomerization.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
How does an electromagnetic wave really look?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PB8Q6.png)
In the physical reality, where is the electric field and magnetic field? Do they go up to infinity from the x-axis?
The picture uses vectors to depict the magnitude and direction of the field but we know that a vector can describe a property at just one point. What about other points?
In other words, I am asking what happens if I keep a super tiny compass at the points A, B, C in the above diagram.
\*looking for good reference to understand electromagnetic waves (with derivations) with lot of illustrations
Your plane wave picture shows the electric and magnetic fields of the wave at one instant in time. As at any x and t the plane wave fields are constant over the whole y-z plane you will measure the same magnetic field there if you compass needle is fast enough. You should not forget that the magnetic field (like the electric) oscillates also in time according to $B=B\_0\exp{(i\omega t)}$, where $\omega$ is the angular frequency of the wave. Therefore, at any point, the direction of the magnetic field also changes with this frequency which is usually so fast that it cannot be measured with a tiny magnetic needle.
In the idealized picture you're showing, you have a plane wave (and you're viewing one point on it). That means that the fields extend infinitely in $y $ and $z $. The wave will keep going in $x $ until it hits something.
If you have an actual beam of light, it does not extend infinitely in $y,z $, but if it is wide enough, you can approximate it as a plane wave when considering points near the center of the beam. At the edges, things won't be so simple. Real light beams have divergence and other properties that you don't have to worry about with plane waves.
The field you are describing is one possible solution to Maxwell's equations - a plane wave. It's a highly useful solution because all nonevanescent (propagating) fields in freespace / homogeneous mediums can be built from a superposition of plane waves.
But real solutions don't have to (and indeed never do) look like this particular solution. Real waves are superpositions of different plane waves; in particular, a superposition involving a spread of directions of constituent plane waves decreases swiftly with transverse distance from the center of the disturbance. Indeed, once we include a spread of directions *and* frequencies in the plane wave superposition, the disturbance at any time can have a truly compact support *i.e.* is precisely zero at any point that cannot be reached from the source travelling at less than light speed for the time since the disturbance began, and thus comply with special relativity.
Another, much more realistic propagating solution to Maxwell's equations is a spherical wave.
$$\mathbf{E}\left(r,\,\theta,\,\phi,\,t\right)=A\frac{\sin\theta}{r}\left[\cos\left(kr-\omega t\right)-\frac{\sin\left(kr-\omega t\right)}{kr}\right]\hat{\boldsymbol{\phi}}$$
$$$$
$$\mathbf{B}\left(r,\,\theta,\,\phi,\,t\right)=\frac{2A\cos\theta}{r^{2}\omega}\left[\sin\left(kr-\omega t\right)+\frac{\cos\left(kr-\omega t\right)}{kr}\right]\hat{\mathbf{r}}+\frac{A\sin\theta}{r^{3}\omega}\left[\left(\frac{1}{k}-kr^{2}\right)\cos\left(kr-\omega t\right)+r\sin\left(kr-\omega t\right)\right]\hat{\boldsymbol{\theta}} $$
where $(r,\,\theta,\,\phi)$ are the spherical polar co-ordinates.
As $r\to\infty$ such a wave looks exactly like a plane wave with amplitude varying like $1/r$ over regions subtending angles at the source.
| stackexchange/physics |
Dreams of the Blue Morpho is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the thirteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the first of the Travelling Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Old-time radio with psychic phenomena, supernatural beings and energies.
Plot
Mojo is playing piano at Senior Frog's in Costa Rica. He needs Jack to help him out with a problem his new friend Amy has been having all her life but which seems to be getting worse. A sinister light hovers close to her from time to time and it doesn't seem to like her boyfriends. In order to lure it out, Jack suggests that he and Amy pretend to be involved and before he knows it he's up to his neck in Candomblé and the Orishas once again.
Notes & Themes
This is one of several stories involving Candomblé and the Orishas, albeit in a fairly tangential way.
Quotes
Jack: Jane said to me, 'Jack you don't belong in the present. You should have been living in the 1920s or 1930s.' I guess I missed my time, born too late...
Credits
Jack Flanders - Robert Lorick
Mojo - Dave Adams
Amy - Shelly Westonberg
Nina - Ana Munoz
Felix - Bill Blechingberg
Narrator - Kirby Airs
Producer/Director/Engineer - Tom Lopez
Writer - Meatball Fulton
Music - Tim Clark
Illustration/Graphics - Jaye Oliver
Voices recorded at BackPocket Studios, NYC.
Post production/mixing at Froggy Acres, Fort Miller, New York
Special thanks to John Romkey and to all the friends who helped fund this series. Also a hug and thanks to Jamie Sams.
Travelling Jack
Every Travelling Jack adventure begins with a phone call from Mojo, asking for Jack's help. Usually the call wakes Jack up. During the call, Mojo drops more and more hints as to where in the world he is. None of the adventures involve the Invisible Realms, as such.
Dreams of the Blue Morpho 2002
Somewhere Next Door to Reality 2002
Do That in Real Life? 2003
The Eye of Van Gogh 2003
References
External links
ZBS Foundation
Whirlitzer of Wisdom fansite
Category:American radio dramas
Category:ZBS | wikipedia |
the presence of cosmic rays , cr , their sources and their acceleration is presently an open problem in high - energy astrophysics .
cosmic rays are able to be accelerated because cr are charged particles . unfortunately for the same reason cr charges suffer of relic ( large scale ) galactic and extragalactic magnetic field bending .
such a random walk in the magnetic field forest make smooth and homogeneous their arrival direction .
incidentally the same presence of such large scale magnetic fields test the absence in cr of any detectable magnetic monopole particle trace , the so called parker bound ; we know of such far magnetic fields presence by the consequent faraday rotation of far polarized radio - sources . therefore cr are smeared and do not offer any cr astronomy .
the rarest ultra high energy cosmic rays , uhecr , above tens eev , were expected to be less bent and to correlate with their nearby ( super - galactic ) sources because of their rigidity and straight directionality .
this hope rose few years ago and it faded quite soon .
no super - galactic imprint in uhecr maps has been found yet . indeed , an additional variable generate confusion and smearing : the uhecr composition has been observed as heavy nuclei ( auger ) or light nuclei or protons ( hires - ta ) .
therefore cr are smeared . for a comparable reason the smeared cr while hitting the earth atmosphere mimic the mess by producing a diffused rain of secondaries pions @xmath9 , kaons @xmath10 and muons @xmath11 , whose final traces in underground detectors are also smeared neutrinos : the so called atmospheric neutrinos . therefore any eventual neutrino astronomy is drowned in such a smooth sea of atmospheric neutrino noise .
neutrinos have their own identities , or flavors : they do not behave at same way . in effect , the slow decay of muons respect to the @xmath9 one or the @xmath10 one , makes above few tens - hundred gev the atmospheric @xmath3 flux more rare respect to the @xmath2 flux nearly by an order of magnitude .
this implies a muon - rich signal at tevs ( long track traces ) respect to rarer @xmath3 showers observed in deep core inside icecube as small cascade showers .
therefore as soon as icecube highest energy events have shown ruling cascades ( mostly originated by @xmath3 or @xmath4 charged current , cc , interaction ) , then the atmospheric neutrino flux @xcite @xcite , has been overcome by a new neutrino sky , mostly of extraterrestrial and astrophysical nature .
originally the icecube attention was for the search of uhe neutrinos at eev gzk cosmological edges @xcite , but recent results are at lower pev energy windows .
tau eev neutrinos @xmath4 , @xmath12 might hit the earth , produce and eev @xmath13 lepton whose escape and decay in flight becoming observable ( and searchable ) as an horizontal fluorescence @xmath13 airshower @xcite ; this probable event has not been observed yet @xcite .
neutrino oscillation @xcite and mixing @xcite from far galactic or extragalactic distance may overshadow most atmospheric neutrino flavor composition ruled by a final flavor ratio at tev : @xmath14 , into a more
democratic " flavor composition above 30 tev , as the observed one , approximately of @xmath15 , also assuming the mild additional presence of neutral current cascades @xcite , @xcite . these signals might be born by a huge agn flaring jets or by more abundant grb precessing jets in competition with more conventional snrs - microjets sources possibly origin of cr at lower ( pevs ) energy edge .
these extra - terrestrial events may be both of galactic and extragalactic nature .
the cr and uhecr neutral parasite secondaries , @xmath7 , x , radio synchrotron signals suggest the agn , bl lac hypothesis for uhe @xmath1 .
the one - shoot grb model is not well correlated up to our days with any observed uhe neutrino in icecube . some rare precursor event a few hour before the @xmath7 burst might be correlated , but they call for a long life precessing gamma jet model @xcite often ignored respect to the ( still ) popular one shoot fireball model .
more common agn , galactic cluster , star forming clusters or extragalactic ir sources are the possible birth place of uhe neutrinos .
therefore we need a better view of the cr and possibly their related inner probe made by uhe neutrinos .
uhecr were expected to produce ( by scattering on bbr photons ) an observable rate of photo - pions and eev neutrino ( the cosmogenic neutrinos ) .
this scattering on relic photons lead to an opacity , the so - called gzk cut off in uhecr spectra , that is still experimentally unsettled because it might be in debt also of an intrinsic acceleration limit and/or to a changing mass composition role .
therefore the pev neutrinos are not clearly related to such gzk eev uhecr .
these uhecr cut off in gzk opacity , @xcite , the consequent cosmo - genic neutrinos are possibly better observable soon as tau airshower @xcite at eev ( also so called earth - skimming neutrinos @xcite ) in auger @xcite , @xcite , hires , ta or ashra array telescopes ; such a tau airshower signal has not been yet revealed , although the time seem already mature , at least in ashra @xcite experiment tuned to pev energies .
the tau airshower astronomy is a secondary tail of the @xcite double bang proposal , that might be observable also in icecube by ellipsoidal or separate pevs future events .
however , in conclusion , the severe @xmath7 bbr opacity to photons above galactic distances at pev ( 10 kpc ) , suggest pev neutrino of extragalactic origin .
let us remind that the recent icecube spectrum near pev is tailed and cut @xcite to avoid any ( enhanced and also expected ) resonant @xmath16 event at @xmath17 pev @xcite
. therefore the novel extraterrestrial signal at pev @xcite and below is fine - tuned to be suppressed at higher energies . as we mentioned in the introduction
the contained events are mostly cascade showers whose angular resolution is poor : thus , any correlation with sources or other mass distribution become difficult .
the absence of high angular resolution for cascades and the rareness ( 7 ) of contained @xmath2 events makes the ability to radically improve such contained uhe neutrino astronomy critical .
the high energy muon @xmath18 , @xmath19 are the most penetrating muons ( up to eev energy where @xmath13 , @xmath20 become the winning leptons ) and they may be originated well outside the same icecube volume .
their larger size detection simply amplify the @xmath2 neutrino volume and their presence : the energy losses of the muons is ( within tevs - pevs energy ) reasonable foreseen , growing proportionally to the muon energy , therefore linking their emission photon number to their energy and its @xmath18 length to the logarithmic energy growth ; these distances are leading to a larger volume and a wider rate of crossing muon neutrino events .
the muon distance in the water or ice may be described @xcite within ( tev - pev ) by this simple phenomenological law : @xmath21\ ] ] where @xmath22 km .
these large distances above tens tev or pev energy makes the effective detector for uhe @xmath2 an order of magnitude larger than the other contained flavors ( cascade - shower , bounded spherical events ) .
the most recent declination distribution spectra shown in moriond @xcite for the recent @xmath23 icecube events is allowing us to extrapolate the expected crossing tev muon number at each declination by simple approximations ( based on geometry and muon lenght ) .
the volume and the rate is proportional to the _ allowed muon track distance outside _ the icecube detector .
the earth distribution around the detector , the earth opacity , the allowed muon distance in above formula around the @xmath24 tev energy will cross almost @xmath25 km : one might imagine to multiply simply this number for the observed @xmath26 event reaching @xmath27 expected signals .
this first value is quite over - estimated because the geometry is not equally spread around icecube : the mass above the detector is only @xmath28 km depth .
moreover the observed angular distribution event rate has to been more carefully considered leading to smaller estimate . rounding ( to unity ) each zenith width spectra , from downward to upward as in figure
, we found as shown in figure below an amplified number of crossing @xmath18 events ( respectively from downward to upward versus : @xmath29 , @xmath29 , @xmath30 , @xmath31 , @xmath26 , @xmath26 , @xmath31 , @xmath32 , @xmath33 , @xmath29 ) , for each zenith arrival , for a total of nearly @xmath8 ( but a wide error margin below or about @xmath34 ) .
let us try with present numbers an an early statistical forecast .
let us estimate for present ( approximated ) @xmath8 forecast crossing uhe muons events , each of them occupying a tiny solid angle of area @xmath35 ( for a muon resolution angle @xmath36 ) , @xmath37 sr respect the whole @xmath38 of the sky , is @xmath39@xmath40 .
this ratio , @xmath41 is very small indeed : @xmath42 the last enhanced approximation takes place because we considered ( again as a zero order approximation ) at @xmath43 tev energy , a partial neutrino opacity to the earth reducing the whole observable sky from @xmath44 to nearly @xmath45 .
therefore the probability to overlap with any other different neutrino event may be estimated .
it is more convenient to first estimate the probability @xmath46 _ not to observe _ any overlapping ( doublet , triplet or poker ) in the sky ; this value being : @xmath47;\ ] ] this product sequence might be estimated either imagining an average quadratic expression or , in equivalent way , considering first @xmath48 , secondly by making the exponent product sequence as a sum of each @xmath49 term ( @xmath50 ) ; because of the tiny value of the upper bound ( @xmath51 ) each logarithmic element maybe approximated to @xmath52 . in this way
the whole exponent sum becomes : @xmath53 this value assuming our ( tentative ) estimate of muon crossing in three years is : @xmath54 therefore the probability to _ not _ find pairs is large , and the consequent probability to observe at least a doublet ( or more ) is @xmath55 , being 13% low but not extremely low . the probability to discover at least two pairs could be smaller and we estimated it , once again assuming as a first approach the product of the same probability to observe at once twice of such an event : @xmath56^{2}= 1.77\%}$ ] . to be more correct one may estimate the same probability to observe at least two pairs as certainty ( 1 ) minus the probability of no pair ( @xmath57 ) or just one pair ( @xmath58 ) .
the result ( comparable to the previous one ) is : @xmath59 @xmath60\ ] ] this result in such a first forecast may be also written as follows : @xmath61^{2 } = 1.97\%\ ] ] therefore the finding of two or more pairs may reduce the probability to be a chance ( or viceversa it may confirm the @xmath1 self - correlation ) at a small percent .
three pairs as we may expect reduce this probability at nearly below @xmath62 ; the same presence of just one triplet may also reduce the probability to be a chances as small as @xmath63 . a quadruplet or more
multiplets might drive the neutrino astronomy even to a potential test of flavor ratio estimates , a revolution now , beyond to our most optimistic dreams .
their total large ( nearly @xmath8 ) number and they track narrow beam may dig in the sky map correlations and multiplet clustering along known sources . ]
the discover of the highest energy neutrino astronomy require a high resolution probe .
recent @xmath0 icecube highest energetic events are mostly @xmath64 cascade showers with poor arrival angle @xmath65 , while @xmath31 muon tracks directions for contained events point to a much narrow angle as @xmath66 , but they are rare ; therefore muon track solid angle is more than two order of magnitude smaller and sharper by solid angle than cascade ones .
the present spread shower signals in icecube maps are not useful to address clearly to any smoking gun sources , nor to test large scale anisotropy . clustering along a source , possibly along galactic regions ( in analogy to the observed cen - a uhecr multiplet events in auger maps or to the argo - milagro anisotropy sky at tevs cr ) , might favor also the presence of uhecr radioactive decay in flight , bent by magnetic fields @xcite , whose decay secondaries could be @xmath7 and also tevs - pev neutrinos . however
the need for sharp neutrino maps is compelling .
the abundant muon crossing at highest ( tens tev ) tracks , tagged by their huge energy release , are self selected as extraterrestrial and they are a very rich key to discover by a sharp view the highest energy neutrino sky
. a rare doublet may be not yet convincing ; but two or above doublets and/or rare triplet within the expected @xmath67 events may make the steps into neutrino astronomy .
very recent presentation @xcite , see fig .
[ crossing ] did show the preliminary crossing muons spectra ( but not their map yet ) corresponding to upgoing and horizontal crossing muons .
their rate for two years is nearly @xmath68 events , consistent with our recent @xcite and here reconfirmed estimate . ) . ]
the author wish to thank prof .
filippo cesi for his useful comments and help .
this article is devoted to the memory of dr .
ameglio moshe fargion , ( 2 - 06 - 1913 22 - 04 - 2011 ) , assistent prof . in industrial chemistry 1936 - 1938 , whose life was devoted to science , work , respect and justice .
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fiz . , pisma red.*4 * ( 1966)144 _ | arxiv |
What are the limits of analytical chemistry?
As I understand it, the branch of chemistry dealing with identifying substances present in a sample is called "analytical chemistry". This branch looks vast and complicated, with [lots and lots of individual techniques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chemical_analysis_methods) applicable in specific circumstances. I'm hardly even a beginner in chemistry, so it's very difficult to get a good grasp of what can be done with current technology.
So, *in general*, how well can one identify the substances in a completely unknown sample? Does one need to have at least a vague idea of what's in it?
Differently put, let's say I give you a container with a mixture of ten *randomly chosen* chemicals from the entire CAS Registry, and suppose they didn't react with each other. How difficult would it be to identify all ten of them?
The trouble with your question is the use of the phrase *in general*. Most analytical chemistry is directed towards specific goals and isn't about trying to find what is in a sample *in general*.
This means that the range of techniques applied are highly dependent on the problem you want to solve. If you want to detect, for example, pesticide residues in foodstuffs you probably already know the list of things you want to detect and the range of techniques appropriate to identifying them. If you seek the active ingredient of a herbal remedy, a different range of techniques apply. Sometimes you want to verify that a pure substance you have made is what you think it is, this involves a different range of techniques again.
One common thread in much analytical chemistry is separation: if you seek to identify something in a mixture you want to separate the mixture into its different components. So a variety of types of chromatography may be used in the bulk or on a micro scale. Identifying very small amounts of contaminants in food (e.g. pesticides) probably involves some form of extraction into a solvent followed by separation using analytical chromatography (gas or high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)). Where the range of compounds is not known in advance this can be supplemented by mass spectroscopy (the chromatography separates the components, the mass spectrograph helps identify the fragments of the molecules in each component).
If you don't know what you are looking for in advance, it isn't easy to elect the right separation technique and a great deal of experimentation is likely to be required.
Another consideration is that some things are much easier to detect than others. Chromatographic and detection tools like the electron capture detector can identify organohalides to below parts per trillion levels. Atomic emission spectroscopy can identify some metals easily and at low levels. Other techniques can help identify structure; NMR is (sometimes) good at identifying structures, but usually needs pure compounds in relatively large quantities. X-ray techniques can be useful for minerals. Some compounds have very distinct features in their IR spectra or their UV absorption. And so on.
The bottom line is there are no *general* techniques. There are a wide range of tools to apply depending on the circumstances and the problem you are trying to solve. Almost everything starts with separation. Then, for simple problems, you may be able to apply a single known technique to find out what you want. For harder problems, a rage of tools may be required but the tools will be fairly specific to the problem.
I would prefer questions that are more specific, rather than broad. Nevertheless.
It depends. I think you would first need to separate the compounds from each other.You could try chromatography (I believe that some exotic chromatographs can even separate enantiomers). You could then try to use NMR to determine its connectivity. You could also use atomic emission spectroscopy along with mass spectroscopy.
How much of the sample you have is important as well. Many of the analytical tools destroy the sample. In addition, not knowing how many compounds are present in a mixture makes the process more difficult since you wouldn't be able to tell whether the separation process was effective.
Regardless, it would be awfully expensive to do so.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
an 83-year - old female patient was admitted with left knee pain and no history of disease . she had osteoarthritis in both knees and underwent bilateral tka .
the left knee was replaced 23 years ago and the right was replaced 7 years ago .
the radiograph showed severe femorotibial compartment narrowing in the left knee , indicating severe wearing of the polyethylene insert .
radiolucency extended to the tibial shaft and advanced osteolytic lesion was also visible ( fig .
the knee joint was opened though the previous skin incision using a medial parapatellar retinacular approach .
after radical synovectomy of the thick inflamed , hypertrophic synovium , sufficient joint space was secured to perform surgery without using any revision approach . inside the joint capsule ,
severe wearing of the polyethylene insert , metal backed patellar component , and tibial tray was observed and the surrounding synovium became black due to global metallosis ( fig .
after removing the worn prosthesis , all the bones and soft tissue infiltrated by metallosis were debrided and bone preparation using morcellized bone allograft was done .
subsequently , a constrained prosthesis ( sigma tc3 ; depuy synthes , west chester , pa , usa ) with a 22.5 mm thickness polyethylene was inserted .
neutral alignment of the axis and insall - salvati ( is ) ratio of 0.81 ( fig .
3 ) ( normal between 0.8 and 1.2)5,6 ) were confirmed on postoperative radiographs . until 10 days postoperatively ,
the patient was on her ordinary course of recovery and rehabilitation without any abnormal sign of derangement .
but , she slipped backward with her left foot still placed on the floor during first ambulation trial , and she could not have her left knee extended afterwards .
we checked radiographs of both knees and there was no sign of prosthesis dislocation or fracture , but the is ratio was 0.51 ( fig .
ultrasound was performed to assess the patellar tendon , which showed discontinuity of the patellar tendon at its tibial insertion , implying a patellar tendon rupture ( fig .
the patient had another operation for reconstruction of the patellar tendon 2 days after the accident .
the same incision was made along the previous incision scar on the left knee , through which we confirmed the patellar tendon was ruptured at distal 1/3 of its length .
after minimal debridement , the free ends of tendon were sutured together by 4 nonabsorbable sutures ( fiberwire ; arthrex inc . ,
then , we used tibialis anterior allograft tendon of 240 mm length and 15 mm width to augment the patellar tendon .
an approximately 3 mm diameter bone tunnel was penetrated at tibial tuberosity in the medial to lateral direction using a 2.8 mm drill bit .
two ends of the allograft tendon were sutured to the patellar tendon and lateral and medial patellar retinacula by nonabsorbable ethibond 2 - 0 suture with the knee in full extension .
after reconstruction , the tension of the left knee and radiography were examined ( fig . 7 ) .
the patient wore a cylindrical splint with the knee in full extension and remained non - weight bearing for 6 weeks . at the last follow - up , 12 months after the patellar tendon reconstruction , the patient could extend the left knee with her own muscle power leaving 10 of extension lag from 100 flexion position .
in our patient , the initial radiography did not reveal a thin patellar fracture or a patellar avulsion fracture , the mechanical axis was not malaligned , and the implants were in their right position .
but , considering her trauma mechanism with sudden hyperflexion injury of the knee and following inability of knee extension , we suspected extensor mechanism disruption .
the ultrasound exam showed discontinuity of the patellar tendon and thus an acute patellar tendon rupture was diagnosed .
in tka patients , a patellar tendon rupture can occur intraoperatively , immediately postoperatively , or even thereafter .
excessive tension on the patellar tendon during exposure of a stiff or ankylosed knee can cause avulsion of the tendon from the tibia . the knee prosthesis design and operative technique also play a role in the rupture of the patellar tendon .
some authors reported that malalignment of the component may place excessive stress on the extensor mechanism2 ) . in our case
, we suspect the poor quality of patellar tendon that was inflamed by the phagocytic activity and osteolysis following metallosis was the main reason of the acute patellar tendon rupture8 ) .
there are many options to reconstruct the ruptured patellar tendon : direct primary repair alone by suturing , stapling , or wiring the tendon to the tibial tuberosity ; primary repair combined with biologic or synthetic graft augmentation ( e.g. , gracillis tendon , free fascia lata graft , plantaris tendon , semitendinosus tendon , and medial gastrocnemius rotational muscle flap ) ; and allograft tissue augmentation with extensor mechanism or achilles tendon .
patellotibial fusion , knee arthrodesis , and even above - the - knee amputation are salvage techniques that may be considered if a surgical repair is not possible or if an extensor mechanism reconstruction fails2 ) . since our patient presented with an acute patellar tendon rupture , the first treatment of choice was primary repair by suturing .
primary repair is the best option in acute cases if the tendon tissue is long and durable enough for repair .
rand et al.9 ) reported that direct repair of patellar tendon rupture after tka had variable results in 18 knees : 25% of the patients had successful outcome and the best result was obtained with staple fixation .
however , in our case , the patellar was so thin that we could not perform staple fixation during tkar to prevent a patellar fracture .
the fixation method in the distal place was the tibial tuberosity bone tunnel and the proximal place was suture fixation to the patellar tendon and lateral and medial patellar retinacula .
semitendinosus tendon , gracillis tendon , free fascia lata graft , and gastrocnemius rotational flap are commonly used for autograft2 ) . in our patient who was 83 years old and had tka on the right knee and tkar on the left knee ,
autograft was not an option considering the risk of donor site morbidity in elderly tkar female with poor tissue holding strength .
a synthetic graft can be an alternative in such a case because it can be used without the risk of donor site morbidity in tkar patients with increased risk of infection and poor tissue holding strength .
dacron , gore - tex polypropylene and other artificial ligaments such as leeds - keio ligament can be used as synthetic graft .
the loading force after operation can be transferred mainly through the synthetic graft early , and this force is gradually transferred through the biologically adhered graft or healed tendon . in the patient with poor strength of tissue , we could not ascertain the effectiveness of synthetic graft .
allogarft is the best choice for reconstruction in the patient with poor quality host tissue .
the advantages of allograft are unlimited supply , various tissue types , absence of donor site morbidity , and superior strength compared to autograft . on the other hand ,
. however , disease transmission is rare and can be controlled , and immune reaction can be minimized by using deep fresh frozen allograft2 ) . regarding the tensioning of the patellar tendon , one should be careful not to apply excessive or insufficient tension to the repaired or reconstructed patellar tendon to avoid patellar baja or alta and a patellar fracture .
in 2005 , burnett et al.10 ) presented a study that directly compared the results of reconstruction with extensor mechanism allograft and postoperative rehabilitation using two different techniques .
the authors surmised that tensioning of the extensor mechanism allograft in full extension is a critical determinant of success and yields a higher rate of clinical success in terms of restoration of full active extension and better walking status without any adverse impact on flexion .
thus , we fixed the allograft in full extension position under maximum tension and used c - arm to prevent patellar baja .
patellar tendon rupture after tka , especially after tkar , is difficult to be treated with good results and causes confusion in the selection of reconstruction methods .
exact identification of the cause of rupture and appropriate reconstruction planning using proper augmentation methods , fixation techniques and rehabilitation protocols are crucial for overcoming the unexpected complication and obtaining good surgical outcome . in our patient ,
prior to the occurrence of the rupture , damage to the patellar tendon tissue was suspected due to the inflammatory reaction and osteolysis following metallosis .
therefore , we chose to repair the patellar tendon with an augmentative tibialis anterior tendon allograft that was considered sufficiently strong to hold the whole repair construct .
we suggest that the surgeon should pay extraordinary attention to severe wear or osteolysis during tkar to prevent patellar tendon rupture . | pubmed |
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the most common approach to determine the lowest - energy crystal structure is based on variants of microscopic density functional theory , which specifies atoms with their electronic shells and attempts to optimize their spatial arrangement @xcite .
due to computational complexity , this is a variational approach that can effectively treat only periodic arrangements of atoms . near the melting transition , application of this method
becomes difficult since atoms in a liquid lack spatial periodicity .
in that regime , methods combining density functional theory with molecular dynamics are applied , but only with limited success @xcite .
periodic _ approximants _ to quasicrystals have also been studied by density functional theory @xcite ; application of this method , however , requires a very large number of atoms to be explicitly considered and optimized for the approximants energies to provide a good estimate for quasicrystals , even away from the melting transition .
another , semi - microscopic , approach is based on the peierls instability - type arguments . there , one studies the features in the electronic susceptibility and attempts to use its anomalies as a predictor of stable phases .
this approach is problematic in the case of 3d alloys , as can be easily seen .
we would like to have an unbiased predictor of an ordered state ; therefore , the only starting point possible is free electron fermi sea coupled to featureless ( constant ) ionic density . in 1d ,
electronic susceptibility diverges at @xmath94 at @xmath96 , which leads to a density instability at this wavevector ; this is the origin of charge density waves in many quasi-1d materials .
in contrast , in 3d , free electron susceptibility is maximized at zero momentum and at @xmath94 only has infinite first derivative ( the cause of friedel oscillations of electron mediated interaction @xcite ) .
however , this is insufficient to cause instability in ionic density theory would predict that the instability should occur at zero wavevector , i.e. , at uniform density .
moreover , the ( quadratic ) term in the gl theory that is proportional to the electronic susceptibility only includes a single density modulation , and thus can not discern between orderings that contain multiple wave vectors .
a way to go beyond the quadratic energy approximation is to include the ionic modulation non - perturbatively in electron dispersion @xcite .
it has been argued this way that for a given crystal structure , the electronic energy is minimized when the fermi surface just crosses " the brillouin zone boundary .
this naturally corresponds to crystal - specific optimal @xmath2 ratios , and thus appears to be consistent with the empirical hume - rothery rules .
application of this approach to discriminate between energies of different crystalline and quasicrystalline states is , however , problematic , as it presupposes the knowledge of the amplitude of the periodic lattice ( pseudo-)potential , which is different for different crystals .
since the energies of various states are typically rather similar , the uncertainty in the potential makes such approach unreliable .
integration of electronic degrees of freedom leads to the following corrections to the ionic free energy functional : f^(2 ) & = & - d_1 d_2 _ _ k_1,q_1 , k_2,q_2v_q_1 _
q_1 c^_k_1+q_1ck_1|__1 v_q_2 _
q_2 c^_k_2+q_2ck_2|__2_conn + & = & d_1 d_2 g_p(_2 - _ 1 ) g_p - q(_1 - _ 2 ) = _ _ n , p g_p(_n ) g_p - q(_n ) , + f^(3 ) & = & - _ _ n , p g_p(_n ) g_p - q_1(_n)g_p - q_1 - q_2(_n ) , + f^(4 ) & = & _ _ n , k g_p(_n ) g_p - q_1(_n)g_p - q_1 - q_2(_n ) g_p - q_1 - q_2 - q_3(_n ) . here , @xmath97 .
as one can see , the new terms in the ginzburg - landau functional have the form similar to those already contained in @xmath15 ( eq . ( [ eq : wc ] ) ) .
the second order term @xmath98 only serves to redefine @xmath0 and hence will be of no interest to us .
the prefactor of the cubic term becomes a function of @xmath0 .
we find by numerical integration that the electronic contribution to this term is non - singular in the limit of zero temperature , and thus it does not introduce any qualitatively new features relative to those already in @xmath15 .
the 4th order correction @xmath99 can diverge if certain geometric conditions are satisfied ( see figure 1 of the main text ) .
thus we concentrate here on this term only . the first type of 4th order term that we will consider is self - interaction .
self - interaction is generated by box diagrams with momentum transfers @xmath100 ( type a ) and @xmath101 ( type b ) .
the combinatorial multiplicities of these diagrams can be calculated as follows . at every vertex of the box diagram we can place @xmath102 . for a type
, there the sign pattern has to be such that same signs are adjacent , while for b interlaced .
there are 4 ways to place two adjacent + + in 4 boxes .
hence a type has multiplicity 4 . for b type
, there are only two distinct ways to arrange : @xmath104 , and multiplicity is 2 .
therefore , the self - interaction goes as @xmath105 there are two types of mutual interaction diagrams : those that contain only two pairs of @xmath13 ( coplanar " diagrams ) , and those that contain four distinct @xmath37 s ( non - coplanar " diagrams ) .
coplanar diagrams depend only on one angle between @xmath106 and @xmath107 ( for @xmath108 we get self - interaction ) .
there are three distinct contributions to @xmath109 , which come from the following arrangements or momenta around the box diagram : @xmath110 ( type v@xmath111 ) , @xmath112 ( type v@xmath113 ) , and @xmath114 ( type d ) .
their combinatorial multiplicities are as follows : v@xmath111 + v@xmath113 : 4 ways to place @xmath106 , 2 ways to place @xmath115 next to it ( pbc ) , 2 way to place @xmath116 : total 16 .
hence there are 8 diagrams of each type .
d : 4 ways to place @xmath106 , 2 ways to place @xmath116 .
total multiplicity is 8 .
therefore , the mutual interaction term is & _ i < j(8v_1 + 8v_2 + 8d)|_q_i|^2|_q_j|^2 + & = _ ij(4v_1 + 4v_2 + 4d)|_q_i|^2|_q_j|^2 . notice , that in the limit @xmath117 , @xmath118 , and @xmath119 . hence ,
going back to the original notation in terms of @xmath42 , we find that the full 4th order gl term is @xmath120 where @xmath121 and @xmath122 ( it can be shown explicitly that the limit @xmath123 is continuous at finite temperature ) .
the interaction functions can be obtained by a mixture of analytical and numerical integration .
the frequency summations could be performed with the help of contour integration , \{v_1,v_2 } & = & _ k + + & & - - + - , and d & = & _ k + + & & + + .
the numerical integration over momenta has to be done with care due to singular denominators .
we found that numerical integration performs the best using the above forms of @xmath109 after introducing regularization @xmath124 , with @xmath125 using matlab 3d integration routine . for details and checks
see @xcite . in 3d
, there is a possibility of a non - coplanar interaction diagrams .
they obtain if there are non - trivial @xmath126 that add up to 0 .
such diagrams exist for example for fcc lattice , which has reciprocal bcc .
there are 8 bcc reciprocal vectors , which can be split into two distinct quadruplets ( tetrahedra ) .
each has total @xmath127 multiplicity . in the case of fcc , by symmetry all diagram have the same value and each has the same look identical to @xmath128 above .
lets name it @xmath129 .
then , in eq .
( [ eq : f ] ) @xmath130 .
the relative magnitude of coplanar and non - coplanar terms is obviously important . in figure [ fig : vert1 ] we plotted @xmath131 and in figure [ fig : vert2 ]
we have considered the following variational states ( @xmath59 is the number of @xmath13 pairs , see figure [ fig : shell ] ) : * smectic or stripe : @xmath79 . *
columnar : @xmath133 . 1 neighbor at optimal anlge @xmath8 * rhombohedral : @xmath134 .
2 neighbors at optimal angle @xmath8 * bcc lattice ( fcc reciprocal ) : @xmath135 .
4 neighbors with @xmath136 , 1 with @xmath43 ; + * fcc lattice ( bcc reciprocal ) : @xmath137 .
3 neighbors with @xmath138 * iqc : @xmath135 .
5 neighbors with @xmath139 * edge - icosahedral ( momenta are the edges of icosahedron favored by cubic interaction which we neglect ) : @xmath140 .
4 neighbors with @xmath141 , 4 neighbors with @xmath142 , 4 neighbors with @xmath143 , and 2 neighbors with @xmath144 . in the energy
there are non - coplanar terms present ; we did not include this contribution since the energy of this states is relatively too high ( due to many suboptimal angles @xmath70 ) and the non - coplanar contribution is weighted by small factor @xmath145 .
* decagonal ( same as iqc , but with one vector pair missing ) : @xmath146 .
4 neighbors at icosahedral angles @xmath77 . *
dodecahedral in momentum space : @xmath147 .
3 neighbors with @xmath148 , 6 neighbors with @xmath149 . * hexagonal : @xmath134 .
2 neighbors at @xmath150 .
here we show that splitting of one bragg peak into a pair is unfavorable .
this is an immediate consequence of @xmath42 being smooth as @xmath123 , as is the case for electron - mediated and local interactions .
indeed , assume that there is an energetically favorable ( possibly multi-@xmath73 ) configurations with a spot at @xmath151 with amplitude @xmath152 . now , suppose we split it into two at @xmath153 and @xmath154 , both approximately equal to @xmath151 . to keep the interaction with the other momentum components unchanged ( we assumed it to be optimal ) , we need @xmath155 .
that keeps the second order ( r ) and the interaction with distant @xmath91 components intact .
however , instead of the original self - interaction we now have @xmath156 .
hence , the energy goes up , and splitting is not favored for @xmath157 . indeed , the crystallization simulations starting from random initial conditions show the extinction behavior : large bragg peak suppresses its smaller neighbors , leaving in the end only a small number of spots that correspond to a ( q)crystal .
to explore the stability of iqc state with respect to distortions away from perfect icosahedron , let us expand the interaction energy in the vicinity of the iqc : for the sake of argument will neglect the fact that the amplitudes of the order parameter can also react to distortions this will only further lower the energy of distorted state . then , defining @xmath159 , now we can define convenient coordinates for the bragg peaks on the sphere , and explore whether the energy can be lowered by a distortion .
both the first and second derivate terms define quadratic forms with non - negative eigenvalues ( due to the nonlinear dependence of @xmath161 on local coordinates , even the first order term produces quadratic form upon expansion ) . out of 12 total eigenvalues ,
the quadratic form of @xmath162 has only 4 non - zeros ; in contrast @xmath163 has only 3 zero modes that correspond to rigid global rotations . when put together , for @xmath164 negative stiffness modes
emerge , signifying distortive instability of icosahedron .
the strongest instability occurs at the largest possible quasimomenta @xmath165 ( see mathematica code attached to @xcite ) . at the critical point @xmath166 ,
four zero modes simultaneously appear , forming a flat zero - frequency band as a function of quasimomentum on icosahedron .
hence , the conclusion is that even if @xmath42 reaches the minimum at non - icosahedral anlge , the iqc remains ( at least ) locally stable for @xmath167 ( tensile strain " between bragg peaks ) , and even for compressive strain " it remain stable until a critical value of negative @xmath168 is reached . | arxiv |
opium dependence is one of the most challenging health problems in the developing world as well as iran . over many decades
, opium has been the most frequently abused substance in iran and more than 2 million people use opiates .
the adverse consequences of opium use were clearly described as physical , mental , and psychiatric disorders . among several health problems due to opium dependence , there are some reports indicating unusual pathologic findings such as abdominal pain , anemia , and kidney impairment in opium addicts .
, lead will be accumulated in blood , soft - tissues and bone , and may cause several signs and symptoms such as anemia , renal failure , hearing loss , impaired immune system , and decline of neurocognitive function .
the first report of the presence of lead in opium backed to 1973 due to ingestion of home - made opium . in recent times , few case - report studies have reported lead poisoning as a consequence of opium addiction in iran .
studied blood lead level ( bll ) in 22 orally opium addicted patients with 22 healthy controls .
they concluded that addicted patients have an elevated bll compared with healthy controls . in another study , hayatbakhsh abbasi et al .
they failed to find any significant relationship between opium consumption and serum level of lead , but the concentration of lead in dependent group was higher than controls .
the existence of lead was approved in 10 opium samples in kerman province with a mean concentration of 1.88 0.35 ppm . however , these studies have limited value due to the low sample size and comparing just one form of opium consumption ( inhalation or ingestion ) with a healthy population .
the high frequency of opium dependence in iran and potential severity of lead exposure , prompted us to examine bll in three groups , consisting of two forms of opium dependence ( ingestion and inhalation ) in comparison to healthy individuals and to investigate its association with anemia .
in this cross - sectional study , we studied 86 opium dependent patients who were referred to five large detoxification centers in tehran city . between january 2009 and february 2010 ,
all referral opium - dependent patients were examined and participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled .
eligibility criteria included diagnosis of opium dependence based on diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder - iv criteria for at least 6 months , age more than 18 years and consenting to participate .
persons working in mines or manufacturing industries with lead exposure , such as battery factories , foundries , wire factories or working with batteries , solder , ammunitions , paint , car radiators , cable , wires , and ceramic with lead glazes were excluded . using a simple random sampling by microsoft excel software , 46 patients
control group was selected among healthy participants from five premarriage consultation centers in tehran city near the detoxification centers .
participants who had no history of opium dependence and lead exposure with negative urine morphine test were included in the control group .
for the measurement of bll , 5 ml of blood was obtained from the antecubital vein and was collected in heparinized lead - free tubes .
hemoglobin and hematocrit of the participants were assessed using a coulter act diff hematology analyzer ( beckman - coulter , high wycombe , uk ) .
all descriptive statistics are presented as means and standard deviations ( sds ) for quantitative variables , and as relative frequencies and percentages for categorical variables .
multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the mean of bll and other hematologic factors in three groups ( oral opium dependent , inhalational opium dependent and healthy individuals ) . a post - hoc ( lsd )
anemia was defined as a definition of the world health organization ( who ) ( hemoglobin 12 g / dl for women , 13 g / dl for men ) .
considering the presence of anemia as the dependent variable , the independent ( predictor ) variables were entered in the model , starting from the age of participants and followed by the bll and opium dependence .
the level of significance was set at p < 0.05 and all tests were two - tailed .
the analysis of data was performed by the predictive analytic software ( pasw statistics 18 ) for windows .
the design of the study was approved in ethics committee of vice chancellor for research , tehran university of medical sciences ( project no . 105 ) .
all descriptive statistics are presented as means and standard deviations ( sds ) for quantitative variables , and as relative frequencies and percentages for categorical variables .
multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the mean of bll and other hematologic factors in three groups ( oral opium dependent , inhalational opium dependent and healthy individuals ) . a post - hoc ( lsd )
anemia was defined as a definition of the world health organization ( who ) ( hemoglobin 12 g / dl for women , 13 g / dl for men ) .
considering the presence of anemia as the dependent variable , the independent ( predictor ) variables were entered in the model , starting from the age of participants and followed by the bll and opium dependence .
the level of significance was set at p < 0.05 and all tests were two - tailed .
the analysis of data was performed by the predictive analytic software ( pasw statistics 18 ) for windows .
the design of the study was approved in ethics committee of vice chancellor for research , tehran university of medical sciences ( project no .
the study population consisted of 46 patients who were inhalational opium dependents , 40 oral opium dependents and 47 healthy individuals .
the mean age of all participants was 33.5 ( sd = 16.51 ) with a range of 22 - 84 years . using analysis of variance
, there was no statistically significant difference between three groups regarding to age ( p = 0.67 ) . in the healthy control group ,
there was a statistically significant difference between bll in these three groups ( p < 0.001 ) .
the post - hoc analysis showed a statistically significant difference between oral opium dependent group with inhalational group and healthy participants ( p < 0.001 ) .
however , the mean difference of bll between healthy group and inhalational group was not significantly different ( p = 0.23 ) [ table 1 ] .
mean of lead level in inhalational and oral opium dependents in comparison to the healthy group although the mean of bll was higher in anemic group ( 8.98 [ sd = 4.88 ] as compared to non - anemic group 7.79 [ sd = 4.64 ] ) , this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.216 ) . using who definition , anemia was recognized in 35 ( 26.1% ) participants . among them , 20 participants were in inhalational group and 15 were oral opium - dependents .
chi - squared analysis showed a statistically significant difference in these groups ( p < 0.001 ) [ table 2 ] .
frequency of anemia in in inhalational and oral opium dependents in comparison to the healthy group binary logistic regression analysis showed that age and opium dependence was significant predictors of anemia .
the overall model was significant at the < 0.001 level according to the model chi - square statistic and explained 40% of the variation of the anemia [ table 3 ] .
the study population consisted of 46 patients who were inhalational opium dependents , 40 oral opium dependents and 47 healthy individuals .
the mean age of all participants was 33.5 ( sd = 16.51 ) with a range of 22 - 84 years . using analysis of variance
, there was no statistically significant difference between three groups regarding to age ( p = 0.67 ) .
in the healthy control group , the mean of bll was 6.05 ( sd = 1.83 ) .
there was a statistically significant difference between bll in these three groups ( p < 0.001 ) .
the post - hoc analysis showed a statistically significant difference between oral opium dependent group with inhalational group and healthy participants ( p < 0.001 ) .
however , the mean difference of bll between healthy group and inhalational group was not significantly different ( p = 0.23 ) [ table 1 ] .
mean of lead level in inhalational and oral opium dependents in comparison to the healthy group although the mean of bll was higher in anemic group ( 8.98 [ sd = 4.88 ] as compared to non - anemic group 7.79 [ sd = 4.64 ] ) , this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.216 ) .
using who definition , anemia was recognized in 35 ( 26.1% ) participants . among them , 20 participants were in inhalational group and 15 were oral opium - dependents .
chi - squared analysis showed a statistically significant difference in these groups ( p < 0.001 ) [ table 2 ] .
frequency of anemia in in inhalational and oral opium dependents in comparison to the healthy group binary logistic regression analysis showed that age and opium dependence was significant predictors of anemia .
the overall model was significant at the < 0.001 level according to the model chi - square statistic and explained 40% of the variation of the anemia [ table 3 ] .
the aim of this study was to compare the bll in two groups of opium dependents in comparison to healthy control group and its association with anemia .
the results of our study showed that the bll was higher in opium dependent participants in comparison to the healthy group .
this is in line with the results of salehi et al . and amiri et al . who reported a higher level of bll in opium dependent group
some authors suggest it is due to contamination of opium with lead during its processing . on the other hand ,
iran is one of the key neighbors of afghanistan - the major producer of opium in the world - and iran is one of the main routes of world - wide opium transit .
this make opportunity for drug producers and sellers to add some other substances such as lead to increase its weight for more profit .
although these explanations make a sense about the source of lead in opium , but the exact source of lead in opium is still unknown . in our study ,
the bll in inhalational group was higher , but not statistically significant different from healthy control group .
previous studies show that the heat of smoking opium can affect the amount of lead absorbed in the blood . in oral form of opioid consumption ,
the lead is not much affected and the blood absorption of lead can be higher in this method . among adults ,
greater absorption of lead can be achieved via lead ingestion during a period of fasting .
rabinowitz et al . have reported that 35% of lead will be absorbed in fasting period , in comparison to lower amounts ( 8.2% ) if ingested with food . in another study ,
maddaloni et al . found a great difference in lead absorption between fasting ( 26.1% ) and after eating ( 2.5% ) . in iran ,
lead is easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system and into the blood , bone and soft - tissues .
higher level of bll is associated with several clinical manifestations such as nausea , vomiting , constipation , abdominal pain , extremity pains , headache , paraesthesia , muscle weakness as well as anemia . in our study , anemia was present in 35 opium dependent patients ( 20 participants in inhalational group and 15 in oral opium dependent group ) .
the results of this study are in line with previous ones that showed a particularly noticeable increase in prevalence of anemia in the oldest subjects .
some authors suggest that improper feeding , lack of self - care , inadequate diet would cause anemia in opium dependent group . lead absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is also increased in malnutrition and iron deficiency states .
lead will produce anemia by two mechanisms : impairment in heme biosynthesis , and increased rate of red blood cell destruction .
a recent study proposed that low level of lead can induce phosphatidylserine exposure and erythrophagocytosis that may act as a mechanism underlying lead - associated anemia .
this may be due to the low frequency of anemia in our sample that reduced the power of study to investigate the role of lead in producing anemia .
more research , particularly with large sample size , is warranted to direct the causation between bll and anemia .
the results of this cross - sectional study confirmed the higher level of bll in opium dependents , especially in oral form of consumption .
opium addiction is one of the most prevalent forms of addiction in iran and there is a large population of opioid users who are potentially at risk of lead toxicity
. the higher level of bll in opium dependents is a warning to policy makers and health care workers about the possibility of lead poisoning in these patients .
this needs a systematic effort to combat the opium smuggling - illegal opium importation and sale - to mitigate health risks by ensuring product quality ; and reduce opium use by expanding rehabilitation centers .
bhd contributed in the conception of the work , conducting the study , data collection , revising the draft , approval of the final version of the manuscript , and agreed for all aspects of the work .
nt contributed in the conception of the work , revising the draft , approval of the final version of the manuscript , and agreed for all aspects of the work .
nj contributed in the conception of the work , data analysis , drafting and revising the draft , approval of the final version of the manuscript , and agreed for all aspects of the work . | pubmed |
Music from Mars is a 1955 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos. The film starred Josef Kemr.
References
External links
Category:1955 films
Category:Czechoslovak films
Category:Czech-language films
Category:Films directed by Ján Kadár
Category:Czech films | wikipedia |
FADE IN:
1 INT. DERELICT HOUSE - DAY <> 1
A POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH, clasped between finger and thumb: a
crude, crime scene flash picture of a MAN'S BODY lying on a
decaying wooden floor, a BLOODY MESS where his head should
be.
The image in the photo starts to FADE as we SUPER TITLES. The
hand holding the photo suddenly FANS it in a rapid FLAPPING
motion, then holds it still. The image fades more, and again
the picture is FANNED.
As TITLES END the image fades to nothing. The hand holding
the photo FLAPS it again, then places it at the front of a
POLAROID CAMERA.
The camera SUCKS the blank picture up, then the FLASH BURSTS.
The Polaroid camera is lowered, revealing the sweaty, heavy-
breathing face of LEONARD (mid-30's). There are droplets of
blood across his face. Leonard stares, satisfied, at
something on the ground in front of him. There is WET BLOOD
on his BLUE SHIRT and BEIGE SUIT. His hand opens and catches
a HANDGUN which leaps up into his grasp.
Still staring, he crouches down and pulls a BODY off the
floor by the wet hair of its BLOODY HEAD. He slowly inserts
the barrel of the gun into the bloody mess where the mouth
should be.
Leonard FLINCHES. A DEAFENING ROAR as wet red leaps off his
face and suit and head, with a SPASM, reassembles itself
into the face of TEDDY (40's, moustache) and we-
CUT TO:
2 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 2
Close on Leonard's eyes. He rolls them to one side, then
turns his head.
LEONARD (V.O.)
So where are you?
Leonard lifts his head. He is lying on a queen-sized bed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
You're in some motel room.
CUT TO:
2.
3 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 3
A late model Jaguar bumps across some railroad tracks and
approaches a large, clearly abandoned DERELICT BUILDING.
Leonard is driving. He wears a BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT (no
blood). Next to him is TEDDY. Leonard stops the car next to a
PICKUP TRUCK sitting Outside the derelict building. Leonard
kills the engine, staring at the pickup.
LEONARD
Looks like somebody's home.
Teddy looks from Leonard to the pickup and back.
TEDDY
That thing's been here for years.
Leonard gets out of the Jaguar and moves to the pickup. He
inspects it with a methodical, practiced eye. Teddy follows.
LEONARD
I think you're wrong. These tracks aren't *
more than a few days old.
Leonard opens the door of the pickup and searches the
interior. On the dirty vinyl of the passenger seat he finds *
six BULLETS. Leonard picks two of them up and studies them. *
He drops them onto the dashboard then SHUTS the door. *
LEONARD (cont'd)
Let's take a look inside.
Leonard walks towards the house, patting his jacket pockets.
Teddy leans on the pickup, uneasy, watching Leonard.
4 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 4
Leonard stands in the dimly-lit, decaying former hallway. He
pulls a stack of POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS out of his pocket and
leafs through them as Teddy starts walking towards him.
Leonard finds a photo showing Teddy with a shit-eating grin
standing in front of the pickup truck. On the broad white
strip beneath the photo is handwritten:
"TEDDY GAMMELL TEL. 555 0134"
Leonard flips the photo over. On the white strip on the back,
in the same small handwriting.
(CONTINUED)
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3.
4 CONTINUED: 4
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIS LIES"
"HE IS THE ONE"
"KILL HIM"
LEONARD (V.0.) *
I've finally found him. How long have I *
been looking? *
Leonard stuffs the Polaroids back into his pocket, reaches
around to the back of his waistband and draws a HANDGUN,
keeping it out of Teddy's line of sight. Teddy enters, wary.
TEDDY
Find anything? Didn't think so, let's go,
yeah?
Leonard neither replies nor turns around. Teddy, worried,
affects a casual air, shrugging dismissively,
TEDDY (cont'd)
Fuck this.
Teddy turns and heads for the door. Leonard LEAPS on him,
pistol-whipping him furiously as he shouts:
LEONARD
YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID! YOU BEG
FORGIVENESS, THEN YOU PAY!
Teddy is down. Leonard DRAGS him back, deeper into the dark
house. Leonard is in a frenzy. He dumps Teddy at the end of
the hall and stands over him. Teddy SPITS BLOOD.
TEDDY
You don't have a clue, you freak.
Leonard crouches down and grabs Teddy by the lapels.
LEONARD
Beg my forgiveness! Beg my wife's
forgiveness before I blow your brains
out!
TEDDY
Leonard, you don't have a clue what's
going on. You don't even know my name.
LEONARD
(triumphant smile)
Teddy!
(CONTINUED)
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3A.
4 CONTINUED: (2) 4
TEDDY
You read it off your fucking photo. You
don't know me, you don't even know who
you are.
(CONTINUED)
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4.
4 CONTINUED: (2) 4
LEONARD
I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm from San
Francisco and I'm -
TEDDY
(bloody grin)
That's who you were, you don't know who
you are.
LEONARD
Shut your mouth!
TEDDY
Lemme take you down in the basement and
show you what you've become.
Teddy gestures towards the basement door, in pain, but
enjoying Leonard's growing anxiety.
TEDDY (cont'd)
(intimate)
C'mon, Lenny - we'll take a look down
there together. Then you'll know. You'll
know what you really are.
Leonard glances fearfully at the door, then looks at Teddy.
He THRUSTS the barrel of his gun into Teddy's mouth and WE
ARE AT THE SHOT FROM THE END OF THE OPENING SEQUENCE. Teddy
panics, shaking his head, trying to talk around the metal,
but GAGS just as Leonard pulls the trigger. A SHOT rings out
as we -
CUT TO:
5 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 5
Leonard lies on the queen-sized bed. He lifts his head.
LEONARD (V.O.)
So you're in some motel room...
He gets up, surveys the room as if for the first time. He
wears BOXERS and a PLAID WORK SHIRT.
LEONARD (cont'd)
... you don't know how long you've been
there, or how you got there...
There is a room key on the dresser. The plastic tag
identifies it as the key to ROOM 21. Leonard opens drawers in
the room.
(CONTINUED)
5.
5 CONTINUED: 5
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just some anonymous motel room. Won't
tell you anything. Nothing in the
drawers, but you look anyway.
He reaches for the bedside table drawer.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Nothing except the Gideon Bible.
He opens the drawer to find a Gideon Bible.
CUT TO:
6 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 6
E.C.U. of fingers rifling bills in a wallet. Leonard counts
out some money and hands it to the fat, sweaty middle-aged
man behind the counter. (BURT). Burt takes the money,
spotting something over Leonard's shoulder.
BURT
That guy's here already.
Burt TAPS the POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH of Teddy which is sitting
on the counter. Leonard picks up the photo and turns to see
Teddy APPROACHING the glass door of the office. Leonard
watches carefully as Teddy shambles up to the office door. A
BELL CHIIIES as Teddy enters and breaks into his shit-eating
grin. Leonard slips the photo into his pocket.
TEDDY
Lenny!
Leonard nods in apparent recognition, wary.
LEONARD
It's Leonard... like I told you before.
Teddy pretends to think hard.
TEDDY
Did you? I musta forgot. I'm Teddy. *
LEONARD
(smiles)
I guess I've told you about my condition.
Teddy grins and holds the door open for Leonard.
TEDDY
Only every time I see ya!
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6.
7 EXT. DISCOUNT INN CAR PARK - DAY <> 7
Teddy starts for a GREY SEDAN. Leonard pauses behind him.
LEONARD
My car.
Teddy glances back in surprise.
TEDDY
This is your car.
LEONARD
(shakes head)
You're in a playful mood.
Leonard holds up a Polaroid of a late model JAGUAR.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Shouldn't make fun of somebody's *
handicap.
Teddy smiles and heads for the BRAND-NEW JAGUAR parked
several cars further down.
TEDDY
Just trying to have a little fun.
8 INT. CAR - DAY <> 8
Leonard drives, Teddy admires the new car' s interior,
reaching down around the seats, exploring the car with his
hands.
TEDDY
Roll your window up, will ya?
Leonard hits his window button. A few fragments of safety
glass rise out of the door, remnants of a broken window.
LEONARD
It's broken.
Teddy looks, curious.
TEDDY
I can get that fixed for you.
Leonard shrugs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
So where are we going, Sherlock?
(CONTINUED)
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6A.
8 CONTINUED: 8
Leonard fishes a note out of his pocket.
(CONTINUED)
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7.
8 CONTINUED: (2) 8
LEONARD
I got a lead on a place.
Leonard checks the note, then hands it to Teddy.
TEDDY
(surprised at the note)
What the hell you want to go there for?
LEONARD
You know it?
TEDDY
Yeah, it's just this fucked-up building. *
Why are we going there?
LEONARD
(smiling)
I don't remember.
9 EXT. CONTINUOUS - DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <>9
The Jaguar crosses the railroad tracks and approaches the
DERELICT BUILDING. Leonard stops the car next to the PICKUP
TRUCK and kills the engine, staring at the pickup.
LEONARD
Looks like somebody's home.
10 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 10
Leonard, wearing BOXERS and PLAID WORK SHIRT, takes the
GIDEON BIBLE out off the open bedside table drawer.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Nothing except the Gideon Bible.
He leafs through a couple off pages, then DROPS the Bible back
into the drawer and shuts it. He notices a MESSAGE written on
the back off his hand:
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
LEONARD (cont'd)
Sammy Jankis had the same problem. He *
tried writing himself notes. Lots of *
notes. But he'd get confused.
Leonard licks his thumb, and rubs at the writing. To
Leonard's surprise, IT DOES NOT EVEN SMUDGE.
He notices his bare legs. There is a NOTE taped to his RIGHT
THIGH with a handwritten message:
(CONTINUED)
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8.
10 CONTINUED: 10
"SHAVE"
Leonard pulls the note off, studying it carefully.
CUT TO:
11 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY <> 11 *
Close on the Polaroid of Teddy. Leonard flips it over. On the
back are the messages:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
"HE IS THE ONE"
Leonard writes another message beneath these two:
"KILL HIM"
He sticks the photo of Teddy BETWEEN HIS TEETH as he holds
his HANDGUN up and checks that it is loaded. He sticks the
GUN in the back of his waistband, the PHOTO in his jacket
pocket, slings the POLAROID CAMERA over his shoulder.
12 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 12 *
Leonard leaves room 304 and heads to the office. He pauses
just outside the glass door, breathing, psyching himself up.
13 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 13 *
Leonard enters , confident, smiling at the man behind the
desk, BURT (fat, sweaty, 40's). Burt smiles back.
BURT
Hiya.
LEONARD
I'm Mr. Shelby from 304.
BURT
What can I do for you, Leonard?
LEONARD
I'm sorry... um... ?
BURT
Burt.
LEONARD
Burt, I'm not sure, but I may have asked
you to hold my calls -
(CONTINUED)
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9.
13 CONTINUED: 13
BURT
You don't know?
LEONARD
I think I may have. I'm not good on the
phone.
BURT
(nods)
You said you like to look people in the
eye when you talk to them. Don't you
remember?
LEONARD
That's the thing. I have this condition.
BURT
Condition?
LEONARD
I have no memory.
BURT
Amnesia?
LEONARD
No. It's different. I have no short-term
memory. I know who I am and all about
myself, but since my injury I can't make
any new memories. Everything fades. If we
talk for too long, I'll forget how we
started. I don't know if we've ever met
before, and the next time I see you I
won't remember this conversation. So if I
seem strange or rude, that's probably...
He notices that Burt is staring at him as if he were an
exotic insect.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I've told you this before, haven't I?
BURT
(nods)
I don't mean to mess with you. It's just
so weird. You don't remember me at all,
and we talked a bunch of times.
Leonard shrugs.
BURT (cont'd)
What's the last thing you remember?
(CONTINUED)
10.
13 CONTINUED: (2) 13
Leonard looks through Burt, thinking.
LEONARD
My wife.
BURT
(fascinated)
What's it like?
LEONARD
Like waking. Like you always just woke
up. *
BURT
That must suck. All... backwards. *
Leonard raises his eyebrows in enquiry. *
BURT (cont'd) *
Well, like.. you gotta pretty good idea *
of what you're gonna do next, but no idea *
what you just did. *
(chuckles) *
I'm the exact opposite. *
LEONARD
(focuses on Burt)
How long have I been here?
BURT
Couple days.
LEONARD
So you're holding my calls?
BURT
As requested.
Leonard reaches into his pocket and pulls out his Polaroids
LEONARD
Okay, but this guy's an exception.
Leonard places the Polaroid of Teddy on the counter in front
of Burt. Burt looks at it.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Know this guy?
BURT
Your friend, right?
(CONTINUED)
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10A.
13 CONTINUED: (3) 13
LEONARD
What makes you think he's my friend?
BURT
Seen you together, that's all.
LEONARD
He's not my friend, Burt. But if he
calls, or if he turns up here, then you
give me a call in my room, okay?
(CONTINUED)
11.
13 CONTINUED: (3) 13
BURT
Sure. But nobody else, right?
LEONARD
Just this guy.
Leonard indicates the Polaroid of Teddy.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I hope my condition won't be a problem
for you.
BURT
Not if you remember to pay your bill.
Leonard smiles and reaches into his wallet.
E.C.U. of fingers rifling bills in a wallet. Leonard counts
out some money and hands it to Burt. Burt takes the money,
spotting something over Leonard's shoulder.
BURT (cont'd)
That guy's here already.
Burt TAPS the POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH of Teddy which is sitting
on the counter. Leonard picks up the photo and turns to see
Teddy APPROACHING the glass door of the office.
CUT TO:
14 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 14
Leonard, in boxer shorts and plaid work shirt, rips the note
from his thigh. The note says "SHAVE".
15 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 BATHROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 15
SEQUENCE##
Leonard enters, sees a WHITE PAPER BAG on the counter by the
sink. On the bag is a handwritten message:
"SHAVE THIGH"
Leonard looks into the bag, then pulls out a can of SHAVING
FOAM, and a pack of DISPOSABLE RAZORS. He runs the hot water,
steps back and lifts his foot onto the sink. He is awkward
and uncomfortable. He notices an ICE BUCKET by the sink.
16 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 16
Leonard sits on the bed applying SHAVING FOAM to his thigh.
The ICE BUCKET sits on the bedside table, steaming.
(CONTINUED)
12.
16 CONTINUED: 16
Leonard starts awkwardly SHAVING his right thigh. The PHONE
RINGS and Leonard FLINCHES, NICKING his leg. He looks at the
phone, then reaches for the receiver.
17 INT. A RESTAURANT RESTROOM - DAY <> 17
Leonard, in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT flushes the urinal,
then moves to the sink and starts washing his hands. He
notices a MESSAGE written on the back of his hand.
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
He stares at the message for a second, thoughtful, then tries
to scrub the writing off his skin. To his surprise, it is
INDELIBLE. Leonard looks at it, quizzical, then notices some
markings on his wrist, pulling his sleeve back to get a
better look. He can read the start of a message:
"THE FACTS:"
Leonard is about to roll his sleeve up further when the
restroom door opens and a MAN enters. Leonard dries his
hands, then exits the rest room.
18 INT. RESTAURANT - DAY <> 18
Leonard emerges .nto the waiting area of a crowded
restaurant. He glances around, lost, then pulls out his
Polaroids, flipping through them. Someone taps him on his
shoulder and he turns to see the smiling face of a waiter.
WAITER
Sir? You left these at your table.
Leonard looks down. The waiter hands him a BROWN ENVELOPE and
a MOTEL ROOM KEY (DISCOUNT INN, ROOM 304). On the envelope is
a handwritten message:
"FOR LEONARD, FROM NATALIE"
Leonard looks at his Polaroid photograph of the outside of
the Discount Inn motel. There is an address written beneath
it (7254 Lincoln Street). *
LEONARD
Thanks. Lincoln Street?
The Waiter glances at his Polaroid.
WAITER
You wanna go east on sixth.
(points)
Just keep straight, all the way out of
town, then take a right.
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13.
19 EXT./INT. JAGUAR - DAY <> 19
Leonard drives, consulting his Polaroid photos.
20 EXT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY <> 20 *
Leonard, BROWN ENVELOPE in hand, finds the door to room 304.
21 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY <> 21 *
Leonard enters, looks around as if for the first time. An
anonymous motel room, except that tacked to one wall is a
HAND-DRAWN CHART showing the layout of some streets, and
stuck to the edges of the chart are POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS,
with ARROWS DRAWN from each photograph to a spot on the map.
Leonard inspects the photos. Some are buildings, some are
people. All have the HANDWRITTEN NOTES on the broad white strip
underneath the image.
Leonard gets Polaroids out of his pocket. The first one is of
the Discount Inn. He STICKS it onto an already-squashed lump *
of blue tack at the end of an ARROW drawn from a location on
the outskirts of town.
The second photo is a blurred shot of a Brunette turning in a
doorway. The name NATALIE is written under the picture.
Leonard flips it over. On the back are two handwritten
messages. The first one has been completely scribbled over,
but the other one reads:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
Leonard nods, then sticks the photo to the chart. He steps
back looking over the Polaroids one by one: Natalie, Burt,
Discount Inn, Teddy. *
Leonard sits at the desk and opens the BROWN ENVELOPE. He
takes out a photocopy of a CAR REGISTRATION and a DRIVER'S
LICENSE. Both are in the name of JOHN EDWARD GAMMELL, but *
when Leonard looks at the picture on the license, he
recognizes the face. Leonard moves back to his wall chart,
finds the Polaroid of Teddy and compares it to the license
photo.
LEONARD (V.O.)
This guy told me his name was Teddy.
He turns the photo over and examines the white stop on the
back. It says only:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
(CONTINUED)
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14.
21 CONTINUED: 21
Leonard smiles. He goes to the phone and dials the number on
the Polaroid. A couple of rings, then it's answered.
TEDDY
Yup?
LEONARD
Mr Gammell?
TEDDY
Lenny, is that you?
LEONARD
John Gammell?
TEDDY
Lenny, it's Teddy. Look, stay there,
okay? I'm gonna be right over.
LEONARD
I'll be waiting. *
Leonard hangs up, thinking. He looks at the writing on the
back of his hand, then pulls back his sleeve to reveal the words:
"THE FACTS:"
Leonard removes his jacket, then starts pulling off his shirt.
He has WRITING TATTOOED ALL OVER HIS CHEST, STOMACH AND ARMS.
MESSAGES in different styles of writing, some CRUDE, some
ELABORATE. The messages run in all directions, some UPSIDE-
DOWN, some BACKWARDS. Leonard examines his tattoos,
methodically. From Leonard's POV, the most striking is an
upside-down tattoo on his BELLY which says:
"PHOTOGPAPH: HOUSE, CAR, FRIEND, FOE"
On one FOREARM it says:
"THE FACTS:
FACT 1. MALE
FACT 2. WHITE"
On the other FOREARM:
"FACT 3. FIRST NAME: JOHN OR JAMES
FACT 4. LASTNAME: G-------"
(CONTINUED)
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15.
21 CONTINUED: (2) 21
Leonard pulls down his trousers. On his right THIGH, crudely-
lettered:
"FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
And immediately below this, in elegant, neat lettering:
"FACT 6. CAR LICENSE NUMBER: SG13 7IU" *
Leonard takes out the REGISTRATION DOCUMENT and examines it.
Holding the photo of Teddy and the registration document,
Leonard checks off his TATTOOED FACTS:
LEONARD (cont'd)
(under his breath)
White... male. First name... John. Last
name... G for Gammell. Drugs. License *
plate.
(checks document against tattoo
on thigh)
SG... 13... 7... IU. It's him. It's *
actually him.
Leonard looks coldly at Teddy's smiling image.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I found you, you fuck.
Leonard turns the photo face down, takes a pen and writes:
"HE IS THE ONE"
Leonard drops the pen. Thinks. He looks at his chest through
the mirror and a backwards tattoo suddenly BECOMES CLEAR:
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE"
Leonard buttons his blue shirt, then writes on the back of
Teddy's picture:
"KILL HIM"
Leonard sticks the photo of Teddy BETWEEN HIS TEETH as he
holds his HANDGUN up and checks that it is loaded. He sticks
the GUN in the back of his waistband.
22 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 22
Leonard, in his boxers and plaid work shirt, shaving foam on
thigh, drops his disposable razor and cautiously picks up the
RINGING PHONE.
(CONTINUED)
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16.
22 CONTINUED: 22
LEONARD
Who is this?
(listens) *
He unbuttons his shirt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
And we spoke earlier? I don't remember *
that.
(listens)
Well, yeah, but it's not amnesia. I *
remember everything from before my
injury, I just can't make any new
memories.
(listens)
Leonard pulls his shirt off. There is a BANDAGE on his LEFT
ARM. He looks do at the TATTOOS ALL OVER HIS CHEST, STOMACH *
AND ARMS.
LEONARD (cont'd)
So I can't remember talking to you. What
did we talk about?
(nods)
Sammy Jankis. Yeah, I guess I tell
people about Sammy to help them
understand. Sammy's story helps me
understand my own situation.
Leonard touches the tattoo on the back of his hand.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Sammy Jankis wrote himself endless
notes. But he'd get mixed up. I've got a
more graceful solution to the memory
problem. I'm disciplined and organized.
I use habit and routine to make my life
possible. Sammy had no drive. No reason
to make it work.
Leonard can see his reflection in the mirror. He studies the
tattoo across his chest:
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE".
LEONARD (cont'd)
Me? I gotta reason.
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17.
23 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN ST. - DAY <> 23
Leonard parks the Jaguar, gets out, stops outside the door to
a restaurant, checking its name against a NOTE, written on a *
SMALL PAPER BAG FROM A PHARMACY. The note says: *
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET NATALIE FOR INFO"
He sticks the note in his pocket and pulls out his Polaroid
photographs. He flips through them until he finds Natalie's.
Leonard flips the picture over. On the back are two
handwritten messages. The first one has been completely
scribbled over, the second reads:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
24 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 24
Leonard enters, walking slowly down the aisle, looking at all
the customers. He makes eye contact with a WOMAN (brunette,
30's) sitting alone, wearing SUNGLASSES. Her face betrays *
nothing. Leonard walks past. She sighs and grabs the back of
his jacket as he passes. Leonard spins around.
LEONARD
Natalie.
Leonard slips into the seat opposite her. Natalie is pretty,
but has bruising around one eye, and a mark on her lip.
NATALIE
You don't remember me.
LEONARD
(friendly smile)
Sorry, I should have explained. You see,
I have this condition -
NATALIE
You did explain, Lenny.
Leonard shifts uncomfortably.
LEONARD
Please call me Leonard. My wife called me
Lenny.
NATALIE
You told me.
Leonard raises his eyebrows, then smiles.
(CONTINUED)
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18.
24 CONTINUED: 24
LEONARD
Then I probably told you how much I hated
it. Could you take off your sunglasses? *
It's just hard for me - *
Natalie takes them off to reveal her bruises. *
NATALIE
Yeah.
LEONARD
So you have information for me?
NATALIE
Is that what your little note says?
LEONARD
Yes.
NATALIE
Must be tough living life according to a
few scraps of paper. Mix up your laundry
list and your grocery list, you'll be
eating your underwear.
Natalie smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
But I guess that's why you got those
freaky tattoos.
Leonard is surprised.
LEONARD
It is tough. Almost impossible. I'm sorry
I can't remember you. It's not personal.
Natalie's smile fades.
NATALIE
I'm sorry.
She takes a BROWN ENVELOPE out of her handbag.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I do have information for you. You gave
me a license plate number? I had my
friend at the DMV trace it. Guess what name came up.
Leonard shrugs.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
18A.
24 CONTINUED: (2) 24
NATALIE (cont'd)
John Edward Gamme11. John G.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
19.
24 CONTINUED: (3) 24
LEONARD
You know him?
NATALIE
No. But the photo on his license looked
familiar. I think he's been in the bar before
Natalie slides the envelope towards him, but stops short.
NATALIE (cont'd)
This is a copy of his registration,
license, photo and all. Are you sure you
want this?
LEONARD
Have I told you what this man did? *
NATALIE
Yes.
LEONARD
Then you shouldn't have to ask.
NATALIE
But even if you get your revenge, you
won't remember it. You won't even know
it's happened.
LEONARD
(annoyed) *
So I'll take a picture, get a tattoo. *
(calms) *
The world doesn't disappear when you *
close your eyes, does it? My actions *
still have meaning, even if I can't *
remember them. My wife deserves *
vengeance, and it doesn't make any *
difference whether I know about it. *
NATALIE
Tell me about her again.
LEONARD
Why?
NATALIE
Because you like to remember her. I want
to see you enjoy yourself.
LEONARD
She was beautiful. Perfect to me - *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
20.
24 CONTINUED: (3) 24
NATALIE
Don't just recite the words. Close your
eyes, remember her.
Leonard smiles and shuts his eyes.
INSERT FLASHBACK:
25 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY <> 25
Random images of a woman (30's, black hair, plain). Jump cuts
of details: a smile, eating, tucking her hair behind her ear,
pulling on a pair of trousers, watching TV, shouting in
anger. Sitting on the edge of the bed in her underwear, she
TURNS as Leonard pinches her thigh.
LEONARD (V.O.)
You can only feel details. Bits and
pieces which you didn't bother to put
into words. And extreme moments you feel
even if you don't want to. Put it
together and you get the feel of the
person, enough to know how much you miss
them, and how much you hate the person
who took them away.
26 INT. CITY GRILL - DAY - <> 26
Leonard opens his eyes. Natalie is looking at him. She nods
and hands him the BROWN ENVELOPE.
NATALIE
I wrote an address in there, too. Might
be useful. It's this abandoned place
outside of town. I guy I know used to use
it for his bigger deals.
LEONARD
Deals?
NATALIE
It's isolated.
LEONARD
Sounds perfect? What do I owe you?
NATALIE
I wasn't helping you for money.
LEONARD
Sorry.
(CONTINUED)
21.
26 CONTINUED: 26
NATALIE
It's not your fault. See, you have this
condition...
Leonard smiles. Natalie reaches into her purse and pulls out
a MOTEL ROOM KEY.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Are you still at the Discount Inn? Room *
304? You left this at my place.
Leonard pulls out a Polaroid of the Discount Inn. *
LEONARD
The Discount Inn, yeah. *
Natalie leaves the key and gets up from the table.
NATALIE
They treating you alright?
LEONARD
(smiling)
Don't remember.
NATALIE
You know what we have in common?
Leonard shrugs.
NATALIE (cont'd)
We're both survivors. Take care, Leonard.
Leonard watches Natalie leave. He sits at the table, looking
down at the BROWN ENVELOPE and the MOTEL ROOM KEY (ROOM 304).
Leonard rises, and heads to the restroom.
27 INT. RESTAURANT RESTROOM - DAY <> 27
Leonard flushes the urinal, then moves to the sink and starts
washing his hands. He notices a MESSAGE written on the back
of his hand:
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
27 CONTINUED: 27
He stares at the message for a second, thoughtful, then tries
to scrub the writing off his skin. To his surprise, it is
INDELIBLE. Leonard looks at it, quizzical, then notices some
markings on his wrists, pulling his sleeve back to get a
better look. He can read the start of a message:
"THE FACTS:"
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
22.
27 CONTINUED: 27
Leonard is about to roll his sleeve up further when the
restroom door opens and a MAN enters. Leonard dries his
hands, then exits the rest room.
28 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 28
Leonard (IN BOXERS, BANDAGED ARM) talks on the phone. He *
resumes SHAVING his thigh.
LEONARD
I met Sammy through work.
(listens)
Insurance. I was an investigator. I'd *
investigate claims to see which ones *
were phony. *
Leonard dips the razor into the steaming ice bucket. *
LEONARD (cont'd)
I had to see through people's bullshit.
It was useful experience, because now
it's my life. When I meet someone, I
don't even know if I've met them before.
I have to look in their eyes and just
figure them out. My job taught me that
the best way to find out what someone
knew was to let them talk.
29 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 29
Montage: Leonard, wearing a CHEAP DARK SUIT and TIE, sitting
opposite various DIFFERENT PEOPLE in an interview situation.
LEONARD(V.0.)
Throw in the occasional "why?" but just
listen. And watch the eyes, the body *
language.
Leonard watches the people's movements carefully. We see
close-ups off fiddling hands, neck scratching, etc.
LEONARD (V.0.) (cont'd)
It's complicated. You might catch a sign
but attach the wrong meaning to it. If
someone touches their nose while they're
talking, experts will tell you it means
they're lying. It really means they're
nervous, and people get nervous for all
sorts of reasons. It's all about context.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
23.
30 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 30
LEONARD (cont'd)
I was good. Sammy was my first real
challenge.
31 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 31 *
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the
office.
32 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 32 *
Burt is behind the counter reading a magazine.
LEONARD
I'm sorry, I think I'm checked in here,
But I've misplaced my key.
BURT
(looks up)
Hi, Leonard.
Burt puts his magazine down and gets up, sighing.
BURT (cont'd)
Probably in the room.
33 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 33 *
Burt, swinging a pass key on a chain, leads Leonard along the
GROUND FLOOR to room 21, then unlocks it.
34 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 21 - DAY <> 34 *
Leonard enters and SCANS the room. Burt picks his nails in
the doorway. Leonard moves to the unmade bed. There is a pile
of BLOODSTAINED TISSUES. On the bedside table is an ICE
BUCKET. Next to it is a DISPOSABLE RAZOR and a can of SHAVING
FOAM.
LEONARD
I don't see my key.
Burt looks up. He REALIZES something.
BURT
Shit. Wrong room.
LEONARD
What?
Burt tries to SHEPHERD Leonard out of the room.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
24.
34 CONTINUED: 34
BURT
This isn't your room. You're in 304. I
Fucked up.
LEONARD
This isn't my room?
BURT
No, let's go.
LEONARD
Then why is this my handwriting?
Leonard picks a WHITE PAPER BAG up off the floor. Handwritten
on the side is a message:
"SHAVE THIGH"
LEONARD (cont'd)
Better tell me what the fuck's going on.
Burt looks uncomfortable.
BURT
This was your room. You're up in 304 now.
LEONARD
When was I in here?
BURT
Last week. Then I rented you another one
On top of this.
LEONARD
Why?
BURT
Business is slow. I told my boss about
You, about your condition. He told me to
Try and rent you another room.
LEONARD
Why didn't you clean it out? *
BURT
(shrugs)
You're still paying for it. It's still
Your room.
Leonard shakes his head, smiling.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
25.
34 CONTINUED: (2) 34
LEONARD
So how many rooms am I checked into in
this dump?
BURT
Just two. So far. *
Leonard walks out past Burt.
LEONARD
Well, at least you're being honest about
cheating me.
BURT
Yeah, well you're not gonna remember,
anyway.
LEONARD
You don't have to be that honest, Burt.
BURT
Leonard.
Leonard turns. Burt grins.
BURT (cont'd)
Always get a receipt.
LEONARD
I'm gonna write that down.
Leonard fishes a piece of paper out of his pocket. There is a
message on it which he reads. It says:
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1:00PM MEET NATALIE FOR
INFO"
Leonard looks up at Burt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
What time is it?
35 EXT. ROAD - DAY <> 35
The Jaguar speeds along.
36 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 36
Leonard checks the restaurant name against the note. He gets
out his Polaroids, FLIPPING through them until he finds the
one of Natalie.
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
26.
37 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 37
Leonard walks through the restaurant, checking the patrons.
He makes eye contact with Natalie, but walks past her table.
She sighs and grabs the back of his jacket.
CUT TO:
38 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 38
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm) SHAVES his thigh, talking *
on the phone.
LEONARD
I'd just become an investigator when I
came across Sammy. Mr Samuel R. Jankis -
strangest case ever. Guy's 58, semi-
retired accountant. He and his wife had
been in this car accident... nothing too
serious, but he's acting funny - he
can't get a handle on what's going on.
39 INT. A DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 39
A DOCTOR examines SAMMY'S head. SAMMY'S WIFE looks on.
LEONARD(V.O.)
The doctors find some possible damaqe to
the hippocampus, nothing conclusive. But
Sammy can't remember anything for more
than a couple minutes. He can't work,
can't do shit, medical bills pile up,
his wife calls the insurance company and
I get sent in.
40 INT. JANKIS HOUSE - MESSY SUBURBAN LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK 40
AND WHITE SEQUENCE##
SAMMY sits smoking, smiling at Leonard (CHEAP SUIT and TIE).
LEONARD (V.0.)
My first big claims investigation - I
really check into it. Sammy can think
just fine, but he can't make any new
memories, he can only remember things
for a few minutes.
Sammy watches a commercial on T.V.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
27.
40 CONTINUED: 40
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
He'd watch T.V., but anything longer than
a couple of minutes was too confusing,
he couldn't remember how it began. He
liked commercials. They were short.
*
Sammy rolls a small GLASS BOTTLE between the palms of his
hands. Mrs. Jankis rolls up her sleeve. Leonard watches as
Sammy takes a SYRINGE and pushes the needle through the
rubber of the bottle. The label is marked "INSULIN".
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
The crazy part was that this guy who
couldn't follow the plot of "Green
Acres" could do the most complicated
things as long as he had learned them
before the accident...
Sammy INVERTS the bottle and syringe, DRAWS the insulin into
the syringe, withdraws the needle, holds it up to check for
bubbles, TAPPING it delicately.
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
... and as long as he kept his mind on
what he was doing.
Sammy wipes a spot on Mrs. Jankis' arm with a swab, then
gently PINCHES the skin and confidently INSERTS the needle. *
Mrs Jankis winces. *
MRS JANKIS *
Gentle. *
Sammy looks up, worried. Mrs Jankis smiles at him. Sammy pushes *
the plunger, withdraws the needle and presses the swab against *
the skin, lookinq into Mrs Jankis' eyes and smiling back. *
41 INT. JANKIS HOUSE FRONT HALL - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 41
SEQUENCE##
Mrs. Jankis opens the front door to Leonard. Leonard shakes
hands with Sammy, who smiles at him in apparent recognition.
LEONARD (V.0.)
The doctors assure me that there's a
real condition called Korsokoff's
syndrome; short-term memory loss, rare
but legit. But every time I see him I
catch a look of recognition. Just a
slight look, but he says he can't
remember me at all.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
27A.
41 CONTINUED: 41
LEONARD (cont'd)
I can read people and I'm thinking bad *
actor. Now I'm suspicious and I order
more tests.
CUT BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM:
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
28.
42 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 42
Leonard DABS at some blood on his thigh with toilet paper.
LEONARD
His wife has to do everything. Sammy can
only do simple stuff. He couldn't pick
up any new skills at all, and that's how
I got him.
43 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY <> 43
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up at a red light. Suddenly Teddy is
BANGING on the window.
TEDDY
Lenny! I thought you'd gone for good.
What brings you back?
Leonard looks at Teddy, sizing him up.
LEONARD
Unfinished business. What made you think
I wasn't coming back?
TEDDY
You said you were leaving town.
LEONARD
Things change.
TEDDY
So I see. It's good to see you. My name's
Teddy.
LEONARD
Guess I've told you about my condition.
TEDDY
(grins)
Only every time I see ya! Come on, I'll
buy you lunch.
44 INT. DINER - DAY <> 44
Teddy pours ketchup all over his steak. Leonard plays with
his food.
TEDDY
Not hungry?
(CONTINUED)
29.
44 CONTINUED: 44
LEONARD
(shrugs)
It's my condition. I never know if I've
already eaten, so I always just eat small
amounts.
TEDDY
You don't have to remember to be hungry.
LEONARD
It's weird, but if you don't eat for a
while then your body stops being hungry.
You get sort of shaky but you don't
realize you haven't eaten. Have I told
you about Sammy Jankis?
TEDDY
Yeah, yeah. I heard enough about him.
Tell me about John G. You still think
he's here, right?
LEONARD
Who?
TEDDY
The guy you're looking for, Johnny G.
That's why you haven't left. Am I right?
Leonard shrugs. Teddy licks his fingers and frowns.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Leonard, you need to be very careful.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Well, the other day you made it sound
like you thought somebody might be trying
to set you up. Get you to kill the wrong
guy.
LEONARD
Yeah, well I go on facts, not
recommendations, okay?
TEDDY
Lenny, you can't trust a man's life to
your little notes and pictures.
LEONARD
Why?
(CONTINUED)
30.
44 CONTINUED: (2) 44
TEDDY
Because you're relying on them alone. You
Don't remember what you've discovered or
how. Your notes might be unreliable.
LEONARD
Memory's unreliable.
Teddy snorts.
LEONARD (cont'd)
No, really. Memory's not perfect. It's
not even that good. Ask the police,
eyewitness testimony is unreliable. The
cops don't catch a killer by sitting
around remembering stuff. They collect
facts, make notes, draw conclusions.
Facts, not memories: that's how you
investigate. I know, it's what I used to
do. Memory can change the shape of a room
or the color of a car. It's an
interpretation, not a record. Memories
can be changed or distorted and they're
irrelevant if you have the facts.
TEDDY
You really want to find this guy?
LEONARD
He took away the woman I love and he took
away my memory. He destroyed everything;
my life and my ability to live.
TEDDY
You're living.
LEONARD
Just for revenge. That's what keeps me
going. It's all I have.
Teddy considers this.
TEDDY
We'll find him. Where are you staying?
Leonard reaches into his pocket and takes out a Polaroid.
LEONARD
Discount Inn. Don't know what room;
haven't got my key.
TEDDY
Probably left it in your room.
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
31.
45 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 45
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the
office.
46 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY <> 46
Leonard enters. Burt is behind the counter reading a
magazine.
LEONARD
I'm sorry, I think I'm checked in here,
but I've misplaced my key.
BURT
(looks up)
Hi, Leonard.
47 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 47
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm shaving foam on thigh, *
strides the row, talking on the phone and gesticulating with
a disposable razor.
LEONARD
So Sammy can't learn any new skills. But
I find something in my research:
Conditioning. Sammy should still be able
to learn through repetition. It's how
you learn stuff like riding a bike,
things you don't think about, you just
get better through practice. Call it
muscle memory, whatever, but it's a
completely different part of the brain
from the short-term memory. So I have
the doctors test Sammy's response to
conditioning...
48 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 48
Sammy sits at a table. A DOCTOR sits opposite pointing out
various METAL OBJECTS sitting on the table.
DOCTOR
Just pick up any three objects.
SAMMY
(amused)
That's a test? Where were you guys when
I did my CPA?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
32.
48 CONTINUED: 48
Sammy PICKS UP an object and gestures to the Doctor for
applause. Sammy goes for a second object, but gets a SHOCK
which makes him recoil in pain. (LEONARD TO SUBSTITUTE) *
SAMMY (cont'd)
Ah! What the fuck?!
Sammy looks ACCUSINGLY at the Doctor.
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Some of the objects were electrified,
They'd give him a small shock.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM
49 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE# 49
LEONARD
They kept repeating the test, always
with the same objects electrified. The
point was to see if he could learn to
avoid the electrified objects. Not by
memory, but by instinct.
50 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM: MESSY, CHEAPLY BUT ABUNDANTLY 50
FURNISHED - MORNING <>
Leonard opens his eyes, naked in bed. He looks around,
confused. With a START, he realizes that someone else is in
the bed: a BRUNETTE with her back to him.
Leonard leans right over her to get a look at her face. It is
NATALIE. The BRUISE on her eye and the MARK on her lip are
worse than before.
She OPENS her eyes and is startled by the sight of Leonard's
hovering face.
LEONARD
Sorry. It's only me.
Leonard FLOPS down. Natalie wakes up fully and relaxes.
NATALIE
Sleep okay?
LEONARD
Yeah. You?
Natalie shrugs. She looks at her bedside clock.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
33.
50 CONTINUED: 50
NATALIE
I gotta be someplace.
She gets out of bed, wearing pajamas. Leonard swings his legs
out of the bed and realizes that he is wearing trousers and
socks. He looks at his tattoos, as if he has never seen them
before.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Pretty weird.
She is smiling at him in the mirror. Leonard smiles, shrugs.
LEONARD
Useful. You never write a phone number on
your hand?
NATALIE *
(through mirror) *
I should be able to talk to my friend *
about the license plate today. *
LEONARD *
Yeah, the license plate... *
NATALIE *
(smiles) *
John G's license plate number. You have *
it tattooed on your thigh. *
Natalie leaves the room. Leonard pulls down his trousers to *
reveal two tattoos: *
"FACT 5: DRUG DEALER" *
"FACT 6: LICENSE PLATE NUMBER SG13 1NU" *
Leonard runs his finger over fact 6, then pulls his trousers *
up and looks around the room. He spots his suit jacket *
hanging over the back of a chair. He checks the pockets,
pulls out his Polaroids, flips through them: a Jaguar, the
Discount Inn, Natalie. He flips Natalie's picture over and
looks at the back. There are two messages, but the first one
has been completely scribbled over. The other one reads:
"HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
Leonard stuffs the photos back into his pocket, grabs a white
shirt of f the chair and pulls it on. Natalie comes back in
and starts to apply her makeup.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
33A.
50 CONTINUED: (2) 50
NATALIE
If it's registered in this state it'll *
just take seconds to pull up his license
and registration. I'll call when I've
spoken to him.
LEONARD *
Why don't we just arrange a meeting now? *
I'm not too good on the phone.
Natalie takes her eye pencil and writes a NOTE on a SMALL BAG *
FROM A PHARMACY. Leonard puts his jacket on. Natalie offers *
him the note. It says:
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET NATALIE FOR INFO"
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
34.
50 CONTINUED: (3) 50
LEONARD (cont'd)
(leading)
It's great that you would... that you're
helping me like this...
NATALIE
(smiles)
I'm helping you because you helped me.
Leonard nods.
NATALIE (cont'd)
So will you remember me next time you seo
me?
Leonard shakes his head and reaches for the note. Natalie
grabs his lapel and pulls him down to her, kissing him gently
on the mouth.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I think you will.
LEONARD
(smiles)
I'm sorry.
Leonard heads for the door.
NATALIE
(amused)
Lenny, before you go, can I have my shirt
back please?
She tosses him his blue shirt. Leonard looks down at the
white shirt which he has put on. It is way too small.
51 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY <> 51
The Jaguar pulls up to a red light. Suddenly Teddy is banging
on the window.
TEDDY
Lenny! I thought you'd gone for good.
What brings you back?
52 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 52 *
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm) STRIDES the room, shaving *
foam on leg, razor in one hand, phone in the other.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
35.
52 CONTINUED: 52
LEONARD
They kept testing Sammy for months,
always with the same objects carrying
the electrical charge...
53 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 53
Sammy sits across the testing table from the Doctor. Sammy
goes for a METAL OBJECT and RECOILS in pain from a SHOCK.
SAMMY
Ah! What the fuck?!
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
JUMP CUT TO:
54 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE# 54
AS BEFORE, but Sammy is DRESSED DIFFERENTLY. He goes for an
object and is SHOCKED.
SAMMY
Ah! What the fuck?!
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
SAMMY EXTENDS A TREMBLING MIDDLE FINGER.
SAMMY
Yeah? Test this you fucking quack.
Sequence of JUMP CUTS of Sammy extending his MIDDLE FINGER
and RECOILING in shock from the objects.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Even with total short-term memory loss,
Sammy should've learned to instinctively
stop picking up the wrong objects. All
previous cases of short-term memory loss
had responded to conditioning in some
way. Sammy didn't respond at all.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM
55 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE# 55
LEONARD
It was enough to suggest his condition
was psychological not physical.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
36.
55 CONTINUED: 55
LEONARD (cont'd)
We turned down his claim on the grounds
that he wasn't covered for mental
illness. Sammy's wife got stuck with the
bills and I got a promotion for
rejecting a big claim.
Leonard looks into the mirror.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Conditioning didn't work for Sammy, so
he became helpless. But it works for me.
I live the way Sammy couldn't. Habit and
Conditioning. Acting on instinct.
56 EXT./INT. NATALIE'S FRONT DOOR - DUSK <> 56 *
Leonard pulls up in his Jaguar, gets out, rings the front
doorbell. It is opened by Natalie.
LEONARD
Natalie, right?
Natalie nods, wary of Leonard's barely concealed anger.
Leonard thrusts a Polaroid photo in her face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who the fuck is Dodd?
The photo is of a MAN who is BOUND, GAGGED, and BLOODY. On
the back of the photo:
"GET RID OF HIM, ASK NATALIE"
Natalie takes the picture and examines it.
NATALIE
Guess I don't have to worry about him
anymore.
LEONARD
(snaps)
Who is he? What have you got me into?
Natalie looks up and down the street.
NATALIE
Come inside.
57 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM: COMFORTABLE AND MESSY - NIGHT 57
<>
Natalie shows Leonard in.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
37.
57 CONTINUED: 57
NATALIE
Calm down. You're not into anything. It
was my problem, you offered no help. It's
got nothing to do with your
investigation.
LEONARD
That's the problem! How can I find John
G. when I don't know what's going on?!
How did you get me into this?!
NATALIE
Leonard, you offered to help when you saw
what this guy did to me.
She gestures at the BRUISING on her face.
LEONARD
How do I know he did that to you?
NATALIE
I came to you straight after he did it. I
showed you what he'd done and asked for
your help.
LEONARD
So I just take your word?
NATALIE
Yes.
LEONARD
(sighs)
Something feels wrong. I think someone's
fucking with me. Trying to get me to kill
the wrong guy.
NATALIE
Did you?
LEONARD
What?
NATALIE
Kill him.
LEONARD
Course not.
Natalie waves the Polaroid at him.
(CONTINUED)
38.
57 CONTINUED: (2) 57
NATALIE
This has nothing to do with you. You
helped me out, and I'm grateful.
She tries to rip the picture. Leonard watches her try. The
plastic is too strong.
LEONARD
You have to burn them.
Natalie scrunches it up and throws it down. Leonard and
Natalie sit down on the couch.
NATALIE
You decided to help me. Trust yourself.
Trust your own judgment. You can
question everything, you can never know
anything for sure.
LEONARD
There are things you know for sure.
NATALIE
Such as?
LEONARD
I know the feel of the world.
(reaches forward)
I know how this wood will sound when I
knock.
(raps knuckles on coffee table)
I know how this glass will feel when I
pick it up.
(handles glass)
Certainties. You think it's knowledge,
but it's a kind of memory, a kind you
take for granted. I can remember so much.
(runs hands over objects)
I know the feel of the world,
(beat)
and I know her.
NATALIE
Your wife?
LEONARD
She's gone and the present is trivia,
which I can scribble down as notes.
Natalie stares at Leonard, thinking.
(CONTINUED)
39.
57 CONTINUED: (3) 57
NATALIE
Relax a little, okay? Take off your
jacket.
Leonard takes his jacket off and places it on the back of the
couch, patting the pockets as he does so.
LEONARD
It's not easy to be calm when -
NATALIE
Just relax.
She reaches for his arm and unbuttons his cuff, revealing the
end of Leonard's tattoos.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You don't seem the type.
She pushes back the sleeve, trying to read the tattoo.
Leonard watches her. *
NATALIE (cont'd)
Come on.
She starts to unbutton his shirt. He watches. Natalie gasps
as she opens Leonard's shirt and pulls it back over his
shoulders. She tilts her head, trying to read the different
messages.
NATALIE (cont'd)
It's backwards. *
She pulls him up and turns him around in front of the mirror *
to read the backwards tattoo across his chest. *
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE".
Natalie touches the blank area of skin above Leonard's heart. *
NATALIE (cont'd) *
Here? *
Leonard looks down at the blank patch, then at Natalie, *
vulnerable, confused. *
LEONARD *
It's... it must be for when I've found him. *
*
She looks at Leonard. Leonard shrugs. Natalie studies *
Leonard's chest, avoiding his eyes. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
39A.
57 CONTINUED: (4) 57
NATALIE (cont'd)
I've lost somebody.
LEONARD
I'm sorry.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
40.
57 CONTINUED: (5) 57
Natalie picks up a photograph from off a messy desk in the
corner. She shows it to Leonard. The picture shows Natalie
smiling and hugging a smirking YOUNG MAN (JIMMY). Natalie *
looks up at Leonard to see his reaction.
NATALIE
His name was Jimmy.
LEONARD
What happened?
NATALIE
He went to meet somebody and didn't come
back.
LEONARD
Who did he go to meet?
Natalie studies Leonard.
NATALIE
A guy called Teddy.
Leonard does not react to the name.
LEONARD
What do the police think?
NATALIE
They don't look too hard for guys like
Jimmy.
Natalie puts the photo down. She reaches out to Leonard, *
spreading her fingers over the blank part of his chest. *
NATALIE (cont'd)
When you find this guy, this John G.,
what are you going to do?
LEONARD
Kill him.
NATALIE
Maybe I can help you find him. I know a *
lot of people.
58 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 58
Natalie, eyes closed, has her head on Leonard's chest. He is
shirtless, lying on top of the covers.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
41.
58 CONTINUED: 58
LEONARD
I don't even know how long she's been *
gone. It's like I've woken up in bed and
she's not here because she's gone to the
bathroom or something. But somehow I just *
know that she'll never come back to bed. *
I lie here, not knowing how long I've
been alone. If I could just reach out and *
touch her side of the bed I could know *
that it was cold, but I can't. I have no *
idea when she left. *
Natalie's eyes are open.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I know I can't have her back, but I want *
to be able to let her go. I don't want to
wake up every morning thinking she's
still here then realizing that she's not.
I want time to pass, but it won't. How *
can I heal if I can't feel time?
Leonard bends his head around to see if Natalie is awake. She
closes her eyes. Leonard gingerly slides from underneath her
and moves silently out of the bedroom.
59 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT <> 59
Leonard enters the dark room. He goes to the couch and picks
up his shirt and his jacket. He notices the photograph which
Natalie showed him on top of some papers on a desk in the
corner. He holds it in a shaft of light from the streetlamp
outside, studying the photo of Natalie and Jimmy.
60 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 60
Natalie, eyes open, slides her hand over to where Leonard was
lying, feeling his residual warmth.
ii 61 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT <>
61
Leonard has his Polaroid photograph of Natalie out. He takes
a pen out of his jacket, rests the photo against the wall in
a patch of light and writes on the back, underneath the
message which has been scribbled out:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE. SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
42.
62 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT <>
Leonard enters, deposits his jacket and shirt, then slides
into bed next to Natalie.
63 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 63
Leonard lies on the bed (in boxers, bandaged arm) talking on *
the phone. He wipes the excess shaving foam from his thigh,
and feels the SMOOTHNESS of the clean-shaven skin.
LEONARD
Sammy's wife was crippled by the cost of
supporting him and fighting the
company's decision - but it wasn't the
money that got to her.
64 INT. JANKIS HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 64
SEQUENCE##
Mrs. Jankis comes into the room. Sammy is seated, watching
T.V. He looks up at her with a smile. She smiles back, tense.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I never said that Sammy was faking. Just
that his problem was mental, not
physical. But she... she couldn't
understand. She looks into his eyes and
sees the same person. And if it's not a
physical problem...
Sammy's Wife starts shouting at Sammy. Sammy squirms.
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
... he should just... snap out of it.
Sammy's Wife THROWS her drink in Sammy's face, puts her head
in her hands, SOBBING. Sammy wipes his face on his sleeve.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM:
65 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 65
Leonard, talking on the phone, empties the white paper bag
onto the bed beside him: Two cheap BALL-POINT PENS, SCOTCH
TAPE, a pack of NEEDLES, and a FILE CARD.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
43.
65 CONTINUED: 65
LEONARD (cont'd)
So good old Leonard Shelby from the
insurance company gives her the seed of
doubt, just like he gave it to the
doctors. But I never said that Sammy was
faking. I never said that.
Leonard takes a NEEDLE out of the packet.
66 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT WITH HIGH CEILINGS AND WOODEN FLOOR 66
- NIGHT <>
We move along a hallway towards a closed door. An ominous *
rumbling builds.
A66 INSERT QUICK CUTS: A66
TREMBLING, SHALLOW-FOCUS EXTREME CLOSE UPS:
A glass bottle SHATTERS against black and white ceramic
tiles. A SUDDEN MOVEMENT glimpsed through a water-beaded
clear plastic shower curtain.
The shower curtain pulls TAUT across a GASPING FEMALE FACE.
Leonard's REFLECTION in a MIRROR which SHATTERS.
67 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY <> 67
Leonard opens his eyes, frightened. He is lying on the bed in
his beige suit and blue shirt.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Awake.
He rolls his eyes to one side.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Where am I?
He lifts his head and surveys the room.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Motel room.
He rises from the bed, looking at the room as if for the
first time. He starts looking in the dresser drawers, finding
nothing.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Some anonymous motel room. Nothing in the
drawers, but you look anyway.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
44.
67 CONTINUED: 67
He grasps the handle of the bedside drawer.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Never anything but the Gideon...
Leonard pulls the drawer open, and pauses at what he sees.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
... Bible.
In the drawer is a Gideon Bible. Resting on top of it is a
HANDGUN.
Leonard turns, looks over the rest of the room. He moves to
the bureau and opens drawers. Empty. He goes to the closet
and OPENS it.
Inside is a BOUND and GAGGED MAN on the floor, knees against
chest. His mouth is taped up with silver electrical tape,
stained with DRIED BLOOD from his swollen nose. He looks up
at Leonard, blinking in the sudden bright light, TERRIFIED.
Leonard SHUTS the closet door, CONFUSED. The Man in the
closet starts GRUNTING and BUMPING the closet door.
There is a KNOCK at the door. Leonard looks through the
peephole.
68 INT./EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 68
INSERT LEONARD'S P.O.V.:
A FISH-EYE TEDDY, grinning and waving.
69 INT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 69
Leonard looks around, trying to think. Teddy KNOCKS harder.
The Man in the closet BUMPS and GROANS. Leonard reaches into
his pocket and pulls out some Polaroids.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just a minute!
He finds the one of Teddy, then sticks them back into his
pocket. He OPENS the door to Teddy and grins.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Teddy!
Teddy brushes past him into the room.
TEDDY
Finished playing with yourself, Lenny?
(CONTINUED)
45.
69 CONTINUED: 69
Teddy SLUMPS into a chair. Leonard tries to smile. There is a
faint GRUNTING and BUMPING from inside the closet. Teddy
notices the noise and grins.
TEDDY (cont'd)
I get it - amorous neighbors.
LEONARD
Why are you here?
TEDDY
(surprised)
You called me. You wanted my help. You
know, Lenny, I've had more rewarding
friendships than this one. Although I do
get to keep using the same jokes.
Leonard thinks, then moves to the CLOSET and OPENS the door.
Teddy looks in DISBELIEF at the Man in the closet.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Who the fuck is that?
LEONARD
You don't know him?
TEDDY
No! Should I?
Leonard shrugs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Is this John G.?
LEONARD
I don't think so.
TEDDY
Think so? You don't know? Didn't you
write it down?
LEONARD
I might have fallen asleep before I did.
Teddy shakes his head, chuckling.
TEDDY
Ask him.
Leonard crouches down and RIPS the tape from the Man's mouth.
LEONARD
What's your name?
(CONTINUED)
46.
69 CONTINUED: (2) 69
The Man looks at Leonard, wary, says nothing. Leonard tweaks
his broken nose. The Man groans.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Your name.
MAN
Dodd.
LEONARD
Who did this to you?
DODD
(confused)
What?
LEONARD
Who did this to you?
DODD
You did.
Leonard replaces the gag and SHUTS the closet.
TEDDY
I'm not gonna help you kill this guy, if
that's what -
LEONARD
No. No, just let me think for a minute.
Leonard moves to the dresser and starts methodically emptying
his pockets. He pulls a Polaroid out of his inside jacket
pocket.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Here we go.
The Polaroid shows Dodd sitting on the bed, BOUND, GAGGED and
BLEEDING. The name Dodd is written below the picture. Leonard
flips it over. On the back it says:
"GET RID OF HIM, THEN ASK NATALIE"
Teddy looks at the photo over Leonard's shoulder.
TEDDY
Natalie? Natalie who?
LEONARD
Why?
(CONTINUED)
47.
69 CONTINUED: (3) 69
TEDDY
I think I know her.
Leonard sticks his pictures in his pocket.
LEONARD
We've got to get him out of here.
TEDDY
He's got to have a car, right? We just
take him back to his car and tell him to
get the fuck out of town before we kill
him.
LEONARD
We can't just walk him out tied up and
bleeding.
TEDDY
How'd ya get him in here in the first
place?
LEONARD
I don't know.
Leonard looks around the room for inspiration.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Yes I do... this isn't my room.
Teddy looks around at the anonymous room.
LEONARD (cont'd)
It's his. He was already here. Let's just *
go. *
Leonard starts for the door, Teddy lays a hand on his chest. *
TEDDY *
Wait, we can't just leave him. The maid *
finds him, calls the cops. He's seen us now *
Leonard thinks. *
LEONARD *
Okay. We clean him up, untie him and *
march him out with a gun in his back. *
TEDDY
Why would I have a gun?
Leonard fishes the HANDGUN out of the bedside table drawer.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
47A.
69 CONTINUED: (4) 69
LEONARD
It must be his. I don't think they'd let
someone like me carry a gun.
TEDDY
Fucking hope not.
Leonard covers Dodd with the gun while Teddy pulls him out of
the closet. Dodd has trouble standing up straight.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
48.
70 EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 70
Teddy exits the room, glances around, motions for Leonard and
Dodd to follow. Dodd is cleaned up and unbound, Leonard is
pressed up right behind him. The three of them descend to the
parking lot.
LEONARD
Which one?
Dodd leads them to a new LANDCRUISER. Teddy whispers in
Leonard's ear.
TEDDY
We probably ought to take his car, you
know, teach him a lesson.
LEONARD
Shut it, Teddy.
TEDDY
Easy for you to say, you've got the Jag.
LEONARD
I'll ride with him. You follow.
TEDDY
Give me your keys.
Leonard looks at him, suspicious.
LEONARD
Take your own car.
Teddy shrugs. Leonard motions Dodd into the driver's seat,
then slides into the passenger side. They pull out of the
parking lot, Teddy following in his GREY SEDAN.
71 EXT. SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY HEADING OUT OF TOWN - DAY <>
The Landcruiser PULLS OVER and stops. The grey sedan pulls up
behind. Leonard gets out of the Landcruiser and it PULLS AWAY
at speed. Leonard walks back to Teddy's car.
72 INT. GREY SEDAN - DAY 72
TEDDY
So was he scared?
LEONARD
Yeah. I think it was your sinister
mustache that got him.
(CONTINUED)
49.
72 CONTINUED: 72
Teddy leans over slightly so that he can see his reflection
in the rear view mirror. Leonard smiles. Teddy sees him.
TEDDY
Fuck you. We shoulda taken his car.
LEONARD
What's wrong with this one?
TEDDY
You like it? Let's trade.
73 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND THE MOTEL - DAY <> 73
The grey sedan pulls up beside Leonard's Jaguar. Leonard gets
out.
TEDDY
So what are you gonna do now?
LEONARD
I'm gonna ask Natalie what the fuck that
was all about.
TEDDY
Natalie who?
Leonard ignores him and gets into his Jaguar.
74 EXT. A MODEST SINGLE-STOREY HOUSE - NATALIE'S - DUSK 74
<>
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard checks the address against the
address written on his Polaroid of Natalie, then goes to the
door and RINGS the bell. It is opened by Natalie.
LEONARD
Natalie, right?
Natalie nods, wary of Leonard's tone. Leonard THRUSTS a
Polaroid in her face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who the fuck is Dodd?
The photo shows Dodd, BOUND, GAGGED and BLEEDING.
CUT TO:
75 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 75
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) talks on the phone as he takes
a NEEDLE and tapes it to the BALL-POINT PEN.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
50.
75 CONTINUED: 75
LEONARD
What Mrs. Jankis didn't understand was
that you can't bully someone into
remembering... the more pressure you're
under, the harder it gets.
(listens)
Then call me back.
Leonard hangs up.
76 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM BATHROOM - DAY <> 76
Leonard sits on the toilet, grasping an empty VODKA BOTTLE by
the neck. He notices the bottle in his hands as if for the
first time.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Don't feel drunk.
Leonard looks up from the VODKA BOTTLE, sighs, rubs his face,
then stands up. He SNIFFS at his armpit.
He puts the empty bottle on the counter by the sink, then
wearily UNDRESSES.
Leonard, NAKED, looks in the mirror, then RUNS THE SHOWER
then steps under it, shutting the PEBBLED PLASTIC STALL DOOR.
Leonard SHOWERS. He turns the water off, then hears the DOOR
BEING UNLOCKED. Leonard freezes, standing in the SHOWER
STALL, NAKED and DRIPPING. Through the distortion of the
PEBBLED PLASTIC DOOR, Leonard sees a FIGURE enter the
bathroom and start pissing into the toilet. The distorted
Figure turns and approaches the shower stall, becoming
clearer as it gets closer, then YANKS the door open. It is
Dodd (WITHOUT INJURIES). He is SHOCKED to see the naked
Leonard. Leonard BURSTS out of the shower stall, SMASHING
Dodd against the wall.
Dodd STRUGGLES around, grabbing at the SLIPPERY, naked
Leonard. Dodd PUSHES against Leonard, SLASMMING him into the
sink.
Leonard has his arms around Dodd's neck. Leonard SMASHES
Dodd's head sideways into the wall, HARD.
Dodd SLUMPS to the floor. Leonard exhales. Dodd puts a FIST
in Leonard's crotch, then GRABS his neck as he doubles over.
Dodd uses Leonard to pull himself off the floor then PUNCHES
the side of his head and pushes him HARD, Leonard FLAILING
wildly, GRABBING THE EMPTY VODKA BOTTLE from by the sink as
he falls back into the bedroom. Dodd reaches into his INSIDE
POCKET.
51.
77 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY <> 77
Leonard STUMBLES in, naked, from the bathroom, swings around,
HITTING Dodd square in the face with the empty vodka bottle,
which does not break.
Dodd lies still on the floor, bleeding, his hand still in his
inside jacket pocket. Leonard stands above him, naked,
dripping wet, catching his breath.
There is a KNOCK at the door.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Housekeeping.
The sound of a KEY entering the lock. Leonard LEAPS for the
door and flips the privacy latch.
LEONARD
Not just now!
Leonard listens to the maid withdraw her key. Leonard
SEARCHES Dodd, finding his GUN in his inside pocket. Leonard
examines the weapon, then starts to search the room. Leonard
finds an overnight bag at the bottom of the closet. Inside it
there are some clothes, spare ammunition, a large hunting
knife, and a roll of SILVER ELECTRICAL TAPE.
Leonard WRAPS the electrical tape around Dodd's wrists, then
across his mouth. Leonard finishes taping up Dodd, then sits
him on the edge of the bed. Leonard takes a POLAROID
PHOTOGRAPH of the bloody, taped-up Dodd.
Leonard shoves Dodd into the closet, takes out a NOTE and
consults it, then writes "DODD" on the white strip on the
front of the photograph. He flips the picture over and writes
on the strip on the back, in smaller writing:
"GET RID OF HIM, ASK NATALIE"
Leonard dresses, puts the Polaroid into the inside pocket of
his jacket. He looks again at the note. It says:
"DODD, MOUNTCREST INN ON 5TH STREET, ROOM 6" *
"PUT HIM ONTO TEDDY OR JUST GET RID OF HIM FOR NATALIE"
Leonard picks the stack of Polaroids out of his outside
jacket pocket. He flips through them until he finds the one
of Teddy, then picks up the phone and dials Teddy's number.
The phone is answered:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
52.
77 CONTINUED: 77
TEDDY (O.S.)
You know what to do.
Then a BEEP. Leonard does not look like he knows what to do.
LEONARD
Ah, it's a message for Teddy... *
Leonard looks at the note.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'm at the MOUNTCREST INN on 5th Street,
Room 6, and I need you to come over as
soon as you get this, it's important.
This is Leonard. Thanks. Bye.
Leonard hangs up. He looks around the room. He slips the
HANDGUN into the bedside drawer, resting it on the GIDEON
BIBLE, then swings his feet up onto the bed and lies down.
CUT TO:
78 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 78
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) crooks his neck to hold the *
phone. In his hands is the PEN with the NEEDLE taped to it.
Leonard wiggles the needle, then applies more tape.
CUT TO:
79 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUEWCE## 79
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) takes the NEEDLE/PEN in one
hand and picks up a CIGARETTE LIGHTER in the other.
Leonard IGNITES the lighter, then holds the needle over the flame.
He examines the NEEDLE, then holds it in the flame again.
Leonard puts down the lighter and picks up a second BALL-
POINT PEN.
80 EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY <> 80
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up, FAST. Several bits of SHATTERED
SAFETY GLASS are still visible in the frame. He parks around
the back, out of sight and consults a note.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I'll get the jump on you, fucker.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
53.
80 CONTINUED: 80
Leonard RACES up the stairs to the rooms on the second floor.
He stops at Room 9, listening. The T.V. is on.
Leonard gets a CREDIT CARD out and slips it into the lock
gently, with a practiced hand. He leaves the CARD WEDGED in
the lock, then steps back from the door and KNOCKS.
Leonard watches the POINT OF LIGHT in the PEEPHOLE to Room 9.
The point of light GOES OUT. Leonard KICKS the door in,
SMASHING THE ROOM'S OCCUPANT BACK INTO THE ROOM.
Leonard stands over him, looking down. The man is
unconscious, blood on his face. Something is not right.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Is this the guy?
Leonard looks down at his NOTE. The room number given is 6.
Leonard looks at the "9" on the door, then down at the
unconscious man.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Fuck! Sorry.
Leonard reaches down, GRABS his credit card from where it
landed on the floor, and backs out of the doorway, shutting
the door on the Unconscious Man.
He MOVES QUICKLY to Room 6, slips his credit card in the lock
and knocks.
No answer, so Leonard slips inside.
81 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY <> 81
Leonard flicks the light on and glances around. There is
nothing in the room except an empty VODKA BOTTLE on the
bedside table.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Need a weapon.
He grabs the empty vodka bottle, switches the light off and
slips into the bathroom.
82 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM BATHROOM - DAY <> 82
Leonard sits down on the toilet, holding the empty bottle by
its neck. He reaches out and adjusts the angle of the door.
His eyes are alert, he is nervous. Waiting. And waiting.
83 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 83
(CONTINUED)
54.
83 CONTINUED: 83
Leonard (boxers, bandaged bicep), takes the second ball-point
pen and SNAPS it in two.
84 EXT. SMALL ALLEY BEHIND A ROW OF TRAILER HOMES - DAY <>
Leonard is RUNNING FURIOUSLY, arms pumping.
LEONARD (V.O.)
What the fuck am I doing?
Leonard glances to his right, and through a GAP between two
trailers he catches a glimpse of Dodd on the other side of
the trailer homes, RACING along parallel to Leonard.
LEONARD (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Chasing him!
Leonard CUTS down the next gap between trailers, heading FULL
SPEED for Dodd's side.
Dodd (without bruises) appears again at the other end of the
gap, SEES Leonard, and STARTS RUNNING TOWARDS HIM. There is a
GUN in his hand.
LEONARD (V.O.) (CONT'D)
FUCK! He's chasing me.
Leonard SKIDS to a halt and turns around. A BULLET hits the
dirt by his feet. He clears the end of the trailer and THROWS
himself over a chain link fence, dropping down on the other
side and SCRAMBLING through some bushes. He RACES full tilt
into a parking lot, looking around, desperate. He can hear a
CAR ALARM sounding. He pulls his KEYS OUT and hits the ALARM
switch. Hearing the DOUBLE BEEP as the alarm stops, he spots
the Jaguar.
The Jaguar PEELS OUT just as Dodd emerges from the trailer
park.
85 INT. JAGUAR - DAY <> 85
Leonard is breathing hard, looking around nervously. He
starts knocking BITS OF BROKEN WINDOW GLASS out of the
driver's side window with his elbow then pulling photos and
pieces of paper out of his pockets as he drives.
Leonard finds a NOTE that gives a description of Dodd, along
with the motel and room number where Dodd is staying.
CUT TO:
55.
86 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 86
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) has the NEEDLE/PEN in one hand *
and the BROKEN PEN in the other. Leonard DIPS the needle into
the clear plastic INK RESERVOIR off the broken pen.
87 EXT. TRAILER PARK PARKING LOT - DAY <> 87
Leonard is in the Jaguar. Dodd (without any bruises) is
standing by the window, aiming his gun at Leonard.
DODD
I haven't made a strong enough
impression.
LEONARD
(amused)
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Dodd motions for Leonard to open the passenger side door.
Dodd gets into the passenger seat, gun on Leonard. Leonard
nods to him.
LEONARD
Seat belt.
Leonard starts to reach over his left shoulder with his right
hand as if for the seat belt. Dodd watches Leonard's right
hand.
With his left hand, Leonard opens the door. He rolls out,
SLAMMING the door in Dodd's face, and hitting the central
locking on his car keys.
Leonard TAKES OFF across the asphalt. Dodd tries the doors,
then SHOOTS at Leonard, SHATTERING the driver's side window,
triggering the CAR ALARM.
Dodd climbs through the window and takes off after him.
Leonard slips into a trailer park, TRIPPING as he DIVES into
a gap between two trailers, STUMBLING over the PLASTIC LAWN
FURNITURE and OLD BIKES which litter the narrow gap.
He picks himself up and SPRINTS into the alley behind the
trailers. He races along behind the trailers.
Leonard is RUNNING FURIOUSLY, arms pumping.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
What the fuck am I doing?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
56.
87 CONTINUED: 87
Leonard glances to his right, and through a GAP between the
two trailers he catches a glimpse of Dodd on the other side
of the trailer homes, racing along parallel to Leonard.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Chasing him!
Leonard cuts down the next gap between trailers, heading FULL
SPEED for Dodd's side.
CUT TO:
88 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 88
Leonard looks at the INK-COVERED NEEDLE. Leonard consults the
FILE CARD. It has a HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE:
"TATTOO: ACCESS TO DRUGS"
CUT TO:
89 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - NIGHT <> 89
*
Leonard exits room 304 of the Discount Inn carrying a *
SHOPPING BAG, looking GRIM-FACED.
90 INT. JAGUAR - NIGHT <> 90
Leonard gets in, gently places the bag on the passenger seat.
91 EXT. STREET - NIGHT <> 91
The Jaguar speeds along.
92 EXT. PARKING LOT OVERLOOKING RESERVOIR - NIGHT <>
Leonard gets out of the Jaguar, carrying the shopping bag. He
climbs the chain-link fence.
93 EXT. RESERVOIR - NIGHT - SAME <> 93
Leonard has built a small FIRE. He reaches into the bag and
removes a small STUFFED TOY. He douses it with lighter fluid
and places it on the fire. He watches the fur blacken and the
plastic eyes melt.
Leonard reaches into the bag and pulls out a well-worn
PAPERBACK BOOK, whose cover has long-since been ripped off.
Leonard flicks through the pages.
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
57.
94 INT. BEDROOM, LEONARD'S APARTMENT - NIGHT <>94
Leonard is undressing. Leonard's Wife is in bed, reading the
well-worn paperback.
LEONARD
How can you read that again?
LEONARD'S WIFE
(without looking up)
It's good.
LEONARD
You've read it a hundred times.
LEONARD'S WIFE
I enjoy it.
LEONARD
Yeah, but the pleasure of a book is in
wanting to know what happens next -
LEONARD'S WIFE
(looks up, annoyed)
Don't be a prick. I'm not reading it to
annoy you, I enjoy it. Just let me read,
please.
95 EXT. RESERVOIR - NIGHT <> 95
He places the BOOK on the fire. He reaches into the bag,
produces a BRA and a HAIRBRUSH. He puts the bra on the fire,
then pulls some BLACK HAIR out of the hairbrush. He holds a
few strands out above the fire until they shrivel up in the
heat. He does this with a larger clump and it produces a
SMALL FLAME so he DROPS it into the fire.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Probably tried this before. Probably
burned truckloads of your stuff. Can't
remember to forget you.
He DROPS the brush onto the fire, pulls a GREEN ALARM CLOCK
out of the bag and adds it to the fire. Once the bag is
EMPTY, Leonard places it on the fire. He sits looking at the
flames.
DISSOLVE TO:
96 EXT. RESERVOIR - DAWN <> 96
The sky has brightened. Leonard KICKS the dying embers apart.
58.
97 INT./EXT. DAWN - THE JAGUAR SPEEDS ALONG <> 97
Leonard looks into his rearview mirror to see a LANDCRUISER
following him. Leonard SPEEDS UP, turns right. The
Landcruiser sticks behind.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Do I know this guy?
Leonard fishes photographs out of his pocket, examining them.
The Landcruiser ACCELERATES until it is uncomfortably close.
Leonard slows, turning into a PARKING LOT. The Landcruiser
follows.
LEONARD (V.O.)
He seems to know me.
The Landcruiser PULLS ALONGSIDE the Jaguar. Leonard looks
over. Dodd (no bruises) is at the wheel. Leonard rolls down
his window.
LEONARD (V.O.)
What the fuck!
Dodd pulls out a HASNDGUN and points it at Leonard. Leonard
SLAMS on the brakes, JERKING to a halt as the Landcruiser
pulls over in front of the Jaguar.
98 EXT. TRAILER PARK PARKING LOT - DAY <> 98
Dodd, gun in hand, gets out of the Landcruiser and
approaches.
DODD
I like your car.
LEONARD
Thanks.
DODD
Where'd you get it?
LEONARD
Interested in buying one?
DODD
I just want you to tell me how you came
by that car.
LEONARD
I forget.
Dodd points his gun at Leonard through the window.
(CONTINUED)
59.
98 CONTINUED: 98
DODD
I haven't made a strong enough impression
on you.
LEONARD
(amused)
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself.
99 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 99
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) drops the FILE CARD and
presses the INK-COVERED NEEDLE against his thigh. Leonard *
pushes the ink-covered needle against his thigh, ABOUT TO
BREAK THE SKIN.
The PHONE RINGS, surprising Leonard. He watches it ring, then
reaches out with his BANDAGED arm to lift the receiver.
LEONARD
Who is this?
CUT TO:
100 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 100
Leonard is WOKEN by the sound of a door SHUTTING FIRMLY. He
turns his head to see a glow from under the bathroom door.
In the dim light he can see a well-worn, COVERLESS PAPERBACK
BOOK on the far bedside table. Next to it is a HAIRBRUSH and
a drinking glass half-full of water. There is a small STUFFED
TOY sitting by the pillow next to Leonard's head. Leonard's
eyes are half-closed as he slides his hand onto the other
half of the bed, feeling the residual warmth, smiling.
He props himself up on one arm, rubs his eyes and reaches
over to the SMALL, GREEN ALARM CLOCK, straining to read its
numbers in the dim light. He breathes heavily, sleepily and
shuts his eyes for a second, UTTERLY CONTENT.
LEONARD
(about to tell her something)
Honey?
The sound of the SHOWER being run. Leonard opens his eyes and
looks over to the bathroom door.
LEONARD (cont'd)
(relaxed)
Honey? It's late.
Leonard swings his legs over and sits on the edge of the bed.
Move in on Leonard's face.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
60.
100 CONTINUED: 100
LEONARD (cont'd)
Everything okay?
Leonard looks around with growing unease.
101 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <>101
TREMBLING, SHALLOW-FOCUS EXTREME CLOSE UPS:
A glass bottle SHATTERS against a tiled floor, bath salts and
glass spreading out over the black and white tiles.
102 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 102
Leonard RISES from the bed, STARING at the bathroom door.
103 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <>103
SUDDEN MOVEMENT glimpsed through a WATER-BEADED CLEAR PLASTIC
SHOWER CURTAIN. Mirror SHATTERING.
104 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 104
Leonard is at the bathroom door. He TAPS gently.
105 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <>105
The wet plastic shower curtain pulls TAUT across a GASPING,
THRASHING FEMALE FACE.
106 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 106
Leonard KNOCKS again. No answer. He KNOCKS louder, concerned.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Are you okay in there?!
Leonard GRABS the handle, THROWS OPEN THE DOOR.
107 INT. STEAM-FILLED BATHROOM ROOM 304 - NIGHT <>
A BLONDE WOMAN in a silk dressing gown, seated on the toilet,
looks up from SNORTING a line of cocaine off a small hand
mirror. She GIGGLES as she speaks to Leonard.
BLONDE
Was it good for you?
Leonard stands in the doorway, SHAKEN. The Blonde realizes
that Leonard is not happy.
(CONTINUED)
61.
107 CONTINUED: 107
BLONDE (cont'd)
Shit. Was I supposed to lock the door?
LEONARD
No. That would have been worse.
Leonard moves to turn off the shower.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'd like you to leave now.
108 INT. DISCOUNT INN, ROOM 304 - NIGHT - LATER <>
Leonard, fully clothed, grabs a SHOPPING BAG from the closet,
and does a quick circuit of the room, grabbing various items
(the paperback book, hairbrush, alarm clock, stuffed toy) and
STUFFING them into the bag.
109 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - NIGHT <> 109
Leonard comes out of Room 304, grim-faced, carrying the
shopping bag. He goes to his Jaguar and gets in.
CUT TO:
110 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - NIGHT ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 110
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) dips the NEEDLE into the ink *
reservoir and PUNCTURES the skin of his thigh, talking on the
phone.
LEONARD
Well, sir, that would certainly be in
keeping with some of my own discoveries.
Yeah, I was hoping to get more on the
drugs angle. Hang on a second.
Leonard drops the needle/pen, pulls a LARGE FILE out of his
sports bag and opens it on the bed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
The police report mentioned the drugs
found in the car outside my house. The
car was stolen, but his prints were all
over it, along with some of his stuff.
And I think there's something...
(flips through pages)
Something about a syringe...
(flips pages, confused)
I've got a copy of the police report.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
61A.
110 CONTINUED: 110
LEONARD (cont'd)
It has lots of information, but with my
condition, it's tough. I can't really
keep it all in mind at once.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
62.
110 CONTINUED: (2) 110
Leonard looks at the back of the file, where he has written a *
list of 'CONCLUSIONS'. *
LEONARD (cont'd) *
I have to keep summarizing the different *
sections... *
Leonard flips back to the front page. on it there is a
handwritten note: "MISSING PAGES: 14-17, 19, 23...
LEONARD (cont'd)
Yeah, and there's pages missing... I
guess I've been trying to log them all.
(listens, smiles)
The police gave me the report
themselves. I dealt with them a lot in
my insurance job, and I had friends in
the department. They must have figured
that if I saw the facts of the case,
then I would stop believing that we
needed to find John G.
Leonard flips to the back page to look at his HANDWRITTEN
CONCLUSIONS.
LEONARD (cont'd)
They weren't even looking for John G.
The stuff they found in the car just fit
in with what they believed had happened,
so they didn't chase any of it up.
111 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 111
Leonard pulls up in the Jaguar, checks the name against a
NOTE written on a BEER MAT, and heads into the office.
Leonard comes out of the office, gets a sports bag from the
Jaguar, then takes a Polaroid of the entrance and heads for
Room 304.
112 INT. DISCOUNT INN - ROOM 304 - DAY <> 112
Leonard enters the unoccupied room, flapping the Polaroid
photo. He sifts through his sports bag, pulls out a pen and
writes the motel's address on the picture.
With well-practiced, efficient movements, Leonard removes his
wall chart from the sports bag, unrolls it, sticks it to the
wall. He takes a stack of Polaroids out of the sports bag and
works through them, considering each new picture and finding
its proper place on the chart like someone playing solitaire.
LATER:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
62A.
112 CONTINUED: 112
Leonard flips through the yellow pages, looking under "Escort
Services".
LATER:
Leonard is on the phone.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
63.
112 CONTINUED: 112
LEONARD
None? Okay, blonde. Yeah, blonde is fine.
Discount Inn, 304. Leonard. *
LATER:
Leonard opens the door to the Blonde.
LATER:
The Blonde is looking curiously at the chart, drink in hand.
Leonard is in the chair.
BLONDE
Well, what then?
LEONARD
It's simple, you just go to the bathroom.
The Blonde turns, surprised. Leonard smiles, embarrassed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
No, you just go into the bathroom. We go
to bed, you wait till I fall asleep, then
you go into the bathroom and slam the door.
BLONDE
Slam it?
LEONARD
Just loud enough to wake me up.
BLONDE
That's it?
LEONARD
That's it.
Leonard gets up, pulls a paper shopping bag out of the closet
and hands it to the Blonde.
LEONARD (cont'd)
But, first I need you to put these things
around.
The Blonde looks confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just pretend these things are yours, and
this is your bedroom.
The Blonde pulls a bra out of the bag.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
64.
112 CONTINUED: (3) 112
BLONDE
Should I wear it?
LEONARD
No. Just leave the stuff lying around as
if it were yours. Like you just took it
off or something.
BLONDE
Whatever gets you off.
The Blonde pulls the hairbrush out of the bag. She moves to
brush her hair with it, but Leonard stops her.
LEONARD
No! No, don't use it, you, I mean it's...
you just have to put it where you would
if it were yours.
The Blonde sees the BLACK HAIR stuck in the brush.
113 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - NIGHT <> 113
The lights are off. The Blonde and Leonard are lying side by
side in bed.
The Blonde checks to see that Leonard is asleep, then slips
out of bed. She grabs her purse then opens the bathroom door.
She looks back at Leonard, asleep. She moves into the
bathroom and shuts the door firmly, making a LOUD BANG.
Leonard's EYES OPEN.
114 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQCTENCE## 114
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) TATTOOS HIMSELF as he talks on *
the phone. So far he has tattooed:
"FACT 5."
LEONARD
The drugs stashed in the car doesn't
ring true for me.
Leonard consults his FILE CARD, which says:
"TATTOO: ACCESS TO DRUGS"
LEONARD (cont'd)
The police figure the guy was an addict
needing money to score, but I'm not
convinced. He's not gonna be breaking in
when he's still got a stash that big.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
65.
114 CONTINUED: 114
LEONARD (cont'd)
(listens)
I think John G. left it or planted it.
(listens)
Well, it was a lot for one guy's
personal use.
(listens)
How do you know that?
(listens, checks report)
Right, that's true. It fits.
(listens)
Too much for personal use, so he deals.
Leonard takes his pen and alters his FILE CARD to read:
"TATTOO: FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
Leonard picks up the NEEDLE/PEN and continues his tattoo.
115 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY <> 115
The CAR ALARM of the Jaguar is SOUNDING.
Leonard exits, walks to the car and gets in, switching off
the alarm.
TEDDY (O.S.)
You should lock a car as nice as this.
Teddy is in the passenger seat. Leonard, startled, GRABS him
by the throat.
LEONARD
Who the fuck are you?
TEDDY
(gasping)
Teddy. Your buddy.
LEONARD
Prove it.
TEDDY
(gasping)
Sammy. Remember Sammy. You told me about
Sammy.
Leonard lets him go.
LEONARD
What are you doing in my car?
Teddy is now wearing his big grin, rubbing his neck.
(CONTINUED)
66.
115 CONTINUED: 115
TEDDY
Sense of humour went with the memory,
huh? You know why you're still here,
don't you?
LEONARD
Unfinished business.
TEDDY
Lenny, as a buddy, let me inform you.
Your business here is very much finished.
You're still here because of Natalie.
LEONARD
Who's she?
Teddy chuckles.
TEDDY
Whose house do you think you just walked
out of?
Leonard looks at the house. Teddy motions towards Leonard's
pockets.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Take a look at your pictures, I bet you
got one of her.
Leonard pulls out his Polaroids and flips through them. He
pauses at the one of Natalie. Teddy SWIPES it out of his
hands to get a better look at the blurred image of Natalie
turning in a doorway.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Great shot, Lenny.
Teddy flips the photo over. There is nothing on the back.
Teddy hands it back to Leonard.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You wanna make a note that you can't
trust her.
LEONARD
Why's that?
TEDDY
Because she'll have taken one look at
your clothes and your car and started
thinking of ways to turn the situation to
her advantage. She's already got you
staying with her, for fuck's sake.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
67.
115 CONTINUED: (2) 115
TEDDY (cont'd)
You can't stay with her. Let me give you
the name of a motel.
Teddy starts looking for a piece of paper.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Good thing I found you. She's bad news.
LEONARD
What do you mean "bad news"?
TEDDY
She's involved with these drug dealers.
Teddy opens the GLOVE COMPARTMENT, finding a STACK OF BEER
MATS from a local bar called FERDY'S. *
TEDDY (cont'd)
See these? That's the bar where she
works. Her boyfriend's a drug dealer.
She'd take orders for him, arrange meets.
He'd write messages on these, then leave
it on the bar. She'd drop replies when
she served him drinks.
LEONARD
Why should I care?
Teddy starts writing on the BEER MAT.
TEDDY
She's gonna use you. To protect herself.
LEONARD
From who?
TEDDY
Guys who'll come after her. Guys who'll
want to know what happened to her
boyfriend. They'll want to make somebody
pay. Maybe she'll try and make it you.
LEONARD
Yeah, well maybe she'll make it you. Is
that it? You worried she'll use me
against you?
TEDDY
She couldn't.
LEONARD
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
68.
115 CONTINUED: (3) 115
TEDDY
(grins)
She has no idea who I am.
LEONARD
Why are you following me?
TEDDY
I'm trying to help you. I knew she'd get
her claws into you. She doesn't know
anything about your investigation, so
when she offers to help you, it'll be for
her own reasons. Why would I lie? Do not
go back to her. Take out a pen, write
yourself a note, do not trust her.
Leonard takes out his pen, places the picture of Natalie face
down on the dash and writes on the white strip on the back:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
LEONARD
Happy now?
TEDDY
I won't be happy until you leave town.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
How long do you think you can hang around
here before people start asking
questions?
LEONARD
What sort of questions?
TEDDY
The sort of questions you should be
asking yourself.
LEONARD
Like what?
TEDDY
Like how'd you get this car? That suit?
LEONARD
I have money.
(CONTINUED)
69.
115 CONTINUED: (4) 115
TEDDY
From what?
LEONARD
My wife's death. I used to work in
Insurance, we were well covered.
TEDDY
So in your grief you wandered into a
Jaguar dealership?
Leonard says nothing. Teddy laughs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You haven't got a clue, have you? You
don't even know who you are?
LEONARD
Yes, I do. I don't have amnesia. I
remember everything about myself up until
the incident. I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm
from San Fran -
TEDDY
That's who you were, Lenny. You don't
know who you are, who you've become since
the incident. You're wandering around,
playing detective... and you don't even
know how long ago it was.
Teddy reaches out to Leonard's lapel, and gently opens his
jacket to reveal the label.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Put it this way. Were you wearing
designer suits when you sold insurance? *
Leonard looks down at his suit, then back to Teddy.
LEONARD
I didn't sell -
TEDDY
I know, you investigated. Maybe you need
to apply some of your investigative
skills to yourself.
LEONARD
Yeah, well, thanks for the advice.
TEDDY
Don't go back in there. There's a motel
out of town.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
70.
115 CONTINUED: (5) 115
Teddy hands Leonard the BEER MAT and gets out of the car.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It's been fun, Lenny.
Teddy walks off. Leonard pulls his Polaroids out of his
pocket and finds the one of Teddy. He places it on the dash,
face up, next to the one of Natalie which is still face down
on the dash. Leonard reads the message he has written on the
back of Natalie's picture:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
He flips Teddy's picture over, like a croupier turning a card
at blackjack. On the back it says:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard purses his lips in surprised frustration. He grabs
his pen and scribbles on the back of Natalie's picture,
obliterating the words:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
He flips Natalie's picture over and considers her blurred
image. He looks up at her house, then picks up the BEER MAT,
reading the address Teddy has given him.
LEONARD
Fuck it. I need my own place.
Leonard starts the engine.
116 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY <> 116
Leonard pulls up in his Jaguar, checks the name of the motel
against the note written on the BEER MAT, then heads into the
office to check in.
Leonard comes out of the office, takes a Polaroid of the
front of the motel, and heads for Room 304.
117 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 117
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm) talks on the phone. He presses *
the NEEDLE/PEN against his thigh, working on a "D".
LEONARD
I can't blame the cops for not taking me
seriously. This is a difficult condition
for people to understand. I mean look at
Sammy Jankis. His own wife couldn't deal
with it.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
71.
117 CONTINUED: 117
LEONARD (cont'd)
(listens)
I told you about how she tried to get
him to snap out of it?
(listens)
It got much worse than that. Eventually
Sammy's wife came to see me at the
office, and I found out all kinds of
shit.
(listens)
She knew that I was the one who had
built he case for Sammy faking it.
118 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 118
Leonard, in a CHEAP SUIT AND TIE, gets up from behind his
desk to shake hands with Mrs. Jankis. They talk, Leonard
nodding as he listens. Mrs. Jankis is crying.
LEONARD (V.O.)
She told me about life with Sammy, how
she'd treated him. It had got to the
point where she'd get Sammy to hide food
all around the house, then stop feeding
him to see if his hunger would make him
remember where he'd hidden the stuff.
She wasn't a cruel person, she just
wanted her old Sammy back.
The tearful Mrs. Jankis gives Leonard a determined look.
MRS. JANKIS
Mr. Shelby, you know all about Sammy and
you decided that he was faking -
LEONARD
Mrs. Jankis, the company's position
isn't that Sammy is "faking" anything,
just that his condition can't be shown -
MRS. JANKIS
I'm not interested in the company
position, Mr. Shelby. I want to know
your honest opinion about Sammy.
LEONARD
We shouldn't even be talking this way
while the case is still open to appeal.
MRS. JANKIS
I'm not appealing the decision.
LEONARD
Then why are you here?
(CONTINUED)
72.
118 CONTINUED: 118
MRS. JANKIS
Mr. Shelby, try and understand. When I
look into Sammy's eyes, I don't see some
vegetable, I see the same old Sammy.
What do you think it's like for me to
suspect that he's imagining this whole *
problem? That if I could just say the
right thing he'd snap out of it and be
back to normal? If I knew that my old
Sammy was truly gone, then I could say
goodbye and start loving this new Sammy. *
As long as I have doubt, I can't say
goodbye and move on.
LEONARD
Mrs. Jankis, what do you want from me?
MRS. JANKIS
I want you to forget the company you
work for for thirty seconds, and tell me
if you really think that Sammy is faking
his condition.
Leonard plays with his letter opener, thinking.
MRS. JANKIS (cont'd)
I need to know what you honestly
believe.
LEONARD
(looks at Mrs. Jankis)
I believe that Sammy should be
physically capable of making new
memories.
MRS. JANKIS
Thank you.
119 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 119
LEONARD
She seemed to leave happy. I thought I'd
helped her.
Leonard puts the NEEDLE/PEN down, and wipes blood from his new,
homemade TATTOO, which says:
"FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
LEONARD (cont'd)
I thought she just needed some kind of
answer.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
73.
119 CONTINUED: 119
LEONARD (cont'd)
I didn't think it was important to her
what the answer was, just that she had
one to believe.
Leonard notices the BANDAGE on his LEFT ARM. He starts *
fiddling with the TAPE, peeling back the corners.
CUT TO:
120 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 120
Leonard sifts through the papers on the desk, agitated. He *
hears a car door SLAM. He looks out of the window to see *
Natalie getting out of her car.
She turns and comes towards the front door. Her face is SWOLLEN
and BLEEDING.
Leonard OPENS the door for her. She RUSHES past him. *
LEONARD
What happened?
Natalie, intensely AGITATED, FUMBLES with things in her purse.
NATALIE
What does it look like?!
She turns to Leonard so that he can see the full extent of
her injuries. Her eye is SWELLING UP, and her lip is SPLIT.
NATALIE (cont'd)
He beat the shit out of me.
LEONARD
Who?
NATALIE
Who?! Fuck, Leonard! Dodd! Dodd beat the
shit out of me.
Natalie FLINGS her purse to the ground in frustration. She
does not know what to do with her hands.
LEONARD
Why?
Natalie turns to him, ENRAGED.
NATALIE
Because of you, you fucking idiot!
Because I did what you told me!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
74.
120 CONTINUED: 120
NATALIE (cont'd)
Go to him, reason with him, tell him
about Teddy! Great fucking ideal
Leonard APPROACHES her, palms out.
LEONARD
Calm down.
Natalie starts to HIT Leonard. He takes her arms.
LEONARD (cont'd)
(softly)
Take it easy. You're safe now. You're
safe.
He sits her down on the couch.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Let's get some ice on your face.
LATER:
Natalie, crying softly, holds a paper towel filled with ice
cubes to her swollen cheek while Leonard gently uses a damp
paper towel to wipe the blood from her upper lip.
NATALIE
I did exactly what you told me. I went to *
Dodd and I said that I didn't have *
Jimmy's money, or any drugs, that this
Teddy must have taken everything.
LEONARD
And what did he say?
NATALIE
He didn't believe me. He said that if I
don't get him the money tomorrow he's
gonna kill me. Then he started hitting
me.
LEONARD
Where is he?
NATALIE
What are you gonna do?
LEONARD
I'll go see him.
NATALIE
And?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
75.
120 CONTINUED: (2) 120
LEONARD
Give him some bruises of his own and tell
him to look for a guy called Teddy.
NATALIE
He'll kill you, Lenny.
LEONARD
(smiling)
My wife used to call me Lenny.
NATALIE
Yeah?
LEONARD
Yeah, I hated it.
NATALIE
This guy's dangerous, let's think of
something else.
Leonard takes out a piece of paper but he cannot find his
pen.
LEONARD
I'll take care of it. Just tell me what
he looks like, and where I can find him.
Do you have a pen?
Natalie gets a pen out of her purse and hands it to him.
NATALIE
He'll probably find you.
LEONARD
Me? Why would he be interested in me?
NATALIE
I told him about your car.
LEONARD
Why would you do that?
NATALIE
He was beating the crap out of me! I had
to tell him something!
Leonard hands Natalie the piece of paper and pen.
LEONARD
Just write it all down. What he looks *
like, where I find him. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
75A.
120 CONTINUED: (3) 120
Natalie hands him a note. It says:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
76.
120 CONTINUED: (4) 120
"DODD MOUNTCREST INN ON 5TH ST., ROOM 6" *
"PUT HIM ON TO TEDDY OR JUST GET RID OF HIM FOR NATALIE"
Outside, a CAR ALARM starts to sound. Leonard gets up and
heads to the door, flipping through his Polaroids.
121 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY <> 121
The Jaguar's CAR ALARM is sounding.
Leonard exits Natalie's house, walks to his Jaguar and gets
in, silencing the alarm.
TEDDY (O.S.)
You should lock a car as nice as this.
Leonard, startled, GRABS Teddy by the throat.
CUT TO:
122 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 122
Leonard, in boxers, bandage on arm, sits on the edge of *
the bed talking on the phone.
LEONARD
No, she shouldn't have given me that
responsibility. Shit, I'm not a doctor,
I'm a claims investigator.
Leonard crooks his neck to hold the receiver between ear and
shoulder and FIDDLES with the BANDAGE ON HIS LEFT ARM, *
starting to peel back the tape, t.zying to look under the
cotton pad.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I suppose, but I've got all sorts of
other considerations.
Leonard starts to REMOVE THE BANDAGE.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Legal responsibility, and large
financial...
LEONARD REMOVES THE BANDAGE FROM HIS LEFT ARM, REVEALING A *
CRUDE TATTOO WHICH SAYS:
"NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE"
Leonard looks up.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
77.
122 CONTINUED: 122
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who is this?
He takes the receiver away from his ear as if the caller has
just hung up.
CUT TO:
123 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 123
Leonard is sitting on the coffee table, relaxed, looking at
his Polaroids. Natalie (WITHOUT BRUISES) BURSTS in through
the front door, scared.
LEONARD
What's wrong?
NATALIE
Somebody's come. Already.
LEONARD
Who?
NATALIE
Calls himself Dodd.
LEONARD
What does he want?
NATALIE
Wants to know what happened to Jimmy. And
his money. He thinks I have it. He thinks
I took it.
LEONARD
Did you?
NATALIE
No!
LEONARD
What's this all about?
Natalie looks at him bitterly.
NATALIE
You don't know, do you? You're blissfully
ignorant, aren't you?
LEONARD
I have this condition -
(CONTINUED)
78.
123 CONTINUED: 123
NATALIE
I know about your fucking condition,
Leonard! I probably know more about it
than you do! You don't have a fucking
clue about anything else!
LEONARD
What happened?
NATALIE
What happened is that Jimmy went to meet
a guy called Teddy. He took a lot of
money with him and he didn't come back.
Jimmy's partners think I set him up. I
don't know whether you know this Teddy or
how well -
Leonard is getting frustrated.
LEONARD
Neither do I.
NATALIE
Don't protect him.
LEONARD
I'm not.
NATALIE
Help me.
LEONARD
How?
NATALIE
Get rid of Dodd for me.
LEONARD
What?
NATALIE
Kill him. I'll pay you.
LEONARD
What do you think I am?! I'm not gonna
kill someone for money.
NATALIE
What then? Love? What would you kill for?
For your wife, right?
LEONARD
That's different.
(CONTINUED)
79.
123 CONTINUED: (2) 123
NATALIE
Not to me! I wasn't fucking married to
her!
LEONARD
Don't talk about my wife.
NATALIE
I can talk about whoever the fuck I want!
You won't even remember what I say! I can
tell you that your wife was a fucking
whore and we can still be friends!
Leonard stands up.
LEONARD
Calm down.
NATALIE
That's easy for you to say! You can't get
scared, you don't remember how, you
fucking idiot!
LEONARD
Just take it easy, this isn't my fault.
NATALIE
Maybe it is! How the fuck would you
know?! You don't know a fucking thing!
You can't get scared, can you get angry?!
Leonard steps towards her.
LEONARD
Yes.
NATALIE
You pathetic piece of shit. I can say
whatever the fuck I want and you won't
have a clue, you fucking retard.
LEONARD
Shut the fuck up!
Natalie gets right in his face, grinning.
NATALIE
I'm gonna use you, you stupid fuck. I'm
telling you now because I'll enjoy it
more if I know that you could stop me if
you weren't a freak.
(CONTINUED)
80.
123 CONTINUED: (3) 123
Leonard grabs his Polaroids and finds one of Natalie. He
reaches into his pocket for a pen, but cannot find one.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Lost your pen? That's too bad, freak.
Otherwise you could've written yourself
a little note about how much Natalie
hates your retarded guts.
Leonard moves around the room searching for a pen. Natalie
follows him, speaking into his ear.
NATALIE (cont'd)
No pens here, I'm afraid. You're never
going to know that I called you a retard,
and your wife a whore.
Leonard turns to face her, barely controlling his anger.
LEONARD
Don't say another fucking word!
NATALIE
About your whore of a wife?
Leonard slaps Natalie. She smiles, then speaks softly.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I read about your problem. You know what
one of the causes of short term memory
loss is?
Leonard fumes.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Venereal disease. Maybe your cunt of a
wife sucked one too many diseased cocks
and turned you into a retard.
Leonard turns away, body tensed, ready to snap. Natalie
reaches out to gently brush the hair above his ear with her
fingers.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You sad freak, you won't remember any of
what I've said, and we'll be best
friends, or even lovers.
Leonard spins around, BACKHANDING Natalie on the cheek.
He PUNCHES her in the mouth then pushes her to the floor. He
stands over her, furious with himself as much as her.
(CONTINUED)
81.
123 CONTINUED: (4) 123
Natalie gets to her feet, and goes to the door. She turns to
Leonard. Her face is bloody but she smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
See you soon.
Natalie exits. Leonard watches her walk out to her car and
get in. She just sits there.
Leonard turns from the window and looks around the room. He
grabs at drawers, searching for a pen. He looks back out the *
window. Natalie is still sitting in her car. Leonard is *
sifting through the papers on the desk when he hears a car *
door SLAM. He looks out of the window to see Natalie getting *
out of her car. She turns to walk toward the house. Her face
is swollen and bloody.
Leonard opens the door for her.
LEONARD
What happened?
Natalie, intensely AGITATED, FUMBLES with things in her
purse.
NATALIE
What does it look like?
124 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY <> 124
Leonard lies on the bed, in jeans, topless. He reaches for the
ringing phone with his left arm. As his hand reaches the
receiver Leonard reads the tattoo on his arm which says: *
"NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE"
Leonard strokes the tattoo as he lets the phone ring. It
stops. Leonard goes to the door, opens it and checks the
number of the room: 21. He goes back to the phone, makes a
call.
LEONARD
Front desk? Burt, right. Well, this is
Mr. Shelby in Room 21. I don't want any *
calls, none at all, got it? Thanks. *
CUT TO:
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
82.
125 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY <> 125
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up. Leonard and Natalie (WITHOUT
BRUISES) get out. Leonard is carrying his sports bag. *
126 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 126
Natalie leads Leonard in, self-conscious about her messy
living room.
NATALIE
You can just crash out on the couch.
You'll be comfortable.
Leonard nods and stands awkwardly.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Uh, take a seat.
Leonard smiles and sits down in a chair. Natalie clears
things off the coffee table. Leonard unzips his bag and looks *
through his things, pulling out his file. *
NATALIE (cont'd)
So how long you think it's gonna take
you?
Leonard raises his eyebrows.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You told me you were looking for the guy
who killed your wife.
LEONARD
(consulting file) *
Depends on if he's here in town. Or if
he's moved on. See, I've got all this - *
NATALIE
Can I ask you something?
Leonard nods.
NATALIE (cont'd)
If you've got all this information, how
come the police haven't found him for
you?
LEONARD
They're not looking for him.
NATALIE
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
83.
126 CONTINUED: 126
Leonard runs his finger down the list of conclusions on the *
back of his file.
LEONARD
They don't think he exists.
Natalie looks confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I told them what I remembered. I was
asleep, something woke me up...
CUT TO FLASHBACK <>
127 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 127
Leonard opens his eyes. He slides his hand over to the empty
space on the bed beside him, feeling the sheet.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Her side of the bed was cold. She'd been *
out of bed for a while.
Leonard sits up in bed, listening.
128 INT. LEONARD'S HALLWAY WITH WOODEN FLOORS AND HIGH CEILINGS 128
NIGHT <>
We move down the hail towards a closed door. Shadows and *
light play across the floorboards from the gap under the *
door. An ominous rumbling builds. *
A128 INSERT QUICK CUTS: A128
Extreme close ups:
A glass bottle smashes against ceramic tiles. A mirror
smashes. Flesh hits tiled floor.
129 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT <> 129
Leonard takes a gun down from the top of the bedroom closet,
then quietly makes his way into the corridor.
A129 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT <>
He KICKS the door open, revealing two figures struggling on
the floor of a BATHROOM.
Close up of a WOMAN'S FACE, wrapped in the wet clear plastic
shower curtain, STRUGGLING to breathe.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
83A.
A129 CONTINUED: A129
Close up of a BASEBALL CAP-COVERED HEAD turning to reveal a
face covered by a DIRTY WHITE COTTON MASK.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
84.
A129 CONTINUED: (2) A129
Close up of a GLOVED HAND drawing a PISTOL from the back of a
waistband.
A SHOT rings out and the white cotton mask is BLOWN into RED,
the Masked Man falling of f the struggling woman. Leonard
stands in the doorway, smoking gun in hand. He is HIT HARD
from behind by an UNSEEN ASSAILANT who GRABS Leonard by the
HAIR and THROWS his HEAD into the MIRROR, SHATTERING IT.
Leonard DROPS to the floor.
An extreme close up of a woman's staring eyes, seen through
water-beaded, blood-spattered clear plastic.
The EYES BLINK and we WHITE OUT.
FADE DOWN FROM WHITE TO:
130 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY <> 130
LEONARD (cont'd)
There had to be a second man. I was
struck from behind, I remember. It's
about the last thing I do remember. But *
the police didn't believe me.
NATALIE
How did they explain what you remembered?
The gun and stuff?
LEONARD
(points at conclusions on back *
of file) *
John G. was clever. He took the dead
man's gun and replaced it with the sap
that he'd hit me with. He left my gun and
left the getaway car. He gave the police
a complete package. They found a sap with
my blood on it in the dead man's hand,
and they only found my gun. They didn't
need to look for anyone else. I was the
only guy who disagreed with the facts,
and I had brain damage. *
Natalie watches him. *
NATALIE
You can stay here for a couple of days if
it'll help.
LEONARD
Thank you.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
85.
130 CONTINUED: 130
NATALIE
I've got to get back for the evening
shift, so make yourself at home, watch
T.V., whatever. Just grab a blanket and
pillow off the bed. I never need them all
anyway.
Leonard nods. Natalie heads for the door.
LEONARD
Oh, one thing.
Natalie TURNS. Leonard snaps her picture with his Polaroid
camera. He lowers the camera and smiles.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Something to remember you by.
Natalie smiles unconvincingly, perturbed, and exits. Leonard
sits down on the couch and writes "Natalie" on the white
strip under her photo as it develops into the blurred image
of Natalie which we have seen before. He takes out his other
Polaroids, flipping through them.
LATER:
Leonard watches commercials on TV. He notices the tattoo on
his hand ("REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"), then switches the TV off.
He starts to examine his Polaroids.
Natalie BURSTS through the door, worried.
LEONARD (cont'd)
What's wrong?
NATALIE
Somebody's come. Already.
CUT TO:
131 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 131 *
There is a KNOCK at the door. Leonard PULLS ON HIS LONG-
SLEEVED PLAID WORK SHIRT, goes to the door and opens it. Burt
is standing there.
BURT
Leonard, it's Burt from the front desk.
LEONARD
Yeah?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
86.
131 CONTINUED: 131
BURT
I know you said you didn't want any
calls...
LEONARD
That's right I did, didn't I?
BURT
Yeah, but there's a call for you from
this guy. He's a cop.
LEONARD
A cop?
BURT
And he says you're gonna wanna hear what
he's got to say. *
LEONARD
(shakes head) *
I'm not too good on the phone. I need to *
look people in the eye when I talk to *
them. *
Burt shrugs, then walks off. *
CUT TO:
132 INT. FERDY'S BAR - DAY <> 132
Leonard sits at a booth looking through his Polaroids. A
DRUNK with shaky hands sits at the bar. Natalie (without
bruises) is working behind the bar. She tops up a silver
tankard with beer, brings it over and sets it in front of
Leonard, smiling.
NATALIE
On the house.
LEONARD
Thanks.
Natalie watches in fascination as Leonard drinks from the
mug. The Drunk is giggling.
NATALIE
(fascinated)
You really do have a problem. Just like
that cop said.
Leonard looks at Natalie, confused.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
86A.
132 CONTINUED: 132
NATALIE (cont'd)
Your condition, I mean.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
87.
132 CONTINUED: (2) 132
LEONARD
(shrugs)
Nobody's perfect.
Natalie leans in close, studying Leonard, looking him over.
NATALIE
What's the last thing you remember?
Leonard looks at her.
CUT TO FLASHBACK:
133 INT. LEONARD'S BATHROOM - NIGHT <> 133
An extreme close up, from floor level, of a woman's staring
eyes seen through water-beaded, blood-spattered clear
plastic.
The EYES BLINK.
134 INT. FERDY'S BAR - DAY <> 134
BACK TO LEONARD IN BAR:
Leonard looks at Natalie.
LEONARD
My wife.
NATALIE
Sweet.
LEONARD
Dying.
NATALIE
What?
LEONARD
I remember my wife dying.
Natalie picks up the silver tankard from the table.
NATALIE
Let me get you a fresh glass. I think
this one was dusty.
135 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 135
Leonard, in boxers and long-sleeved plaid work shirt, lies on *
the bed, trying to ignore the RINGING PHONE. he rubs his *
tattoo: "NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE". The phone goes quiet. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
87A.
135 CONTINUED: 135
Leonard hears a noise, and turns to see an ENVELOPE sliding *
underneath the door. He gets off the bed and picks it up. It *
is addressed: "LEONARD". He opens it and removes a POLAROID. *
The photo of himself, bare-chested, tattooed and grinning *
maniacally, pointing to the bare area of skin above his *
heart. Leonard stares at it, disturbed. Underneath the photo *
is written: *
"TAKE MY CALL" *
The phone RINGS. *
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
88.
136 OMIT 136*
137 INT. JAGUAR PARKED IN FERDY'S BAR PARKING LOT - DAY <>
Leonard sits, studying his Polaroids. A metallic howl makes *
him glance up and he sees the lid of a dumpster BANG SHUT. He *
puts his Polaroids in his pocket and examines the beer mat *
with the message: "COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE" *
138 OMIT 138*
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
89.
139 INT. FERDY'S BAR ON MAIN STREET - DAY <> 139
Leonard enters and sits at the bar a couple of places down
from a filthy, toothless Drunk. Natalie (without bruises)
appears in front of him. Leonard looks up at Natalie without
recognition. She eyes him coldly, staring at his clothes.
LEONARD
Beer, please.
NATALIE
(apprehensive)
What do you want?
LEONARD
A BEER, please.
NATALIE
Don't just waltz in here dressed like *
that and order a beer. *
Leonard looks over to the filthy Drunk, then back at Natalie.
LEONARD
There's a dress code?
NATALIE
What are you here for?
LEONARD
I'm meeting someone called Natalie.
NATALIE
Well, that's me.
LEONARD
Oh. But haven't we met before?
Natalie slowly shakes her head. Leonard is confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
So why am I here?
NATALIE
You tell me.
LEONARD
I don't remember. See, I have no short- *
term memory. It's not amnesia - *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
90.
139 CONTINUED:
NATALIE
You're the memory guy?
LEONARD
How do you know about me?
NATALIE
My boyfriend told me about you.
LEONARD
Who's your boyfriend?
NATALIE
(beat)
Jimmy Grantz. Know him?
Leonard shrugs.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Well, it seems like Jimmy knows you. He
told me about you. Said you were staying
over at the Discount. Then, just this *
evening, this cop comes in here looking *
for you. Looking for a guy who couldn't
remember stuff, who'd forget how he got
here or where he was going. I told him we
get a lot of guys like that in here.
Leonard does not find this funny.
LEONARD
Chronic alcoholism ~ one cause of short
term memory loss.
NATALIE
Are you Teddy?
LEONARD
My name's Leonard. *
NATALIE
Did Teddy send you?
LEONARD
I don't know.
Natalie stares at Leonard. Her look softens, becoming almost
pleading.
NATALIE
What's happened to Jimmy?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
91.
139 CONTINUED: (2) 139
LEONARD
I don't know. I'm sorry.
NATALIE
You have no idea where you've just come
from? What you've just done?
Leonard shakes his head.
LEONARD
I can't make new memories. Everything *
fades, nothing sticks. By the time we
finish this conversation I won't remember
how it started, and the next time I see
you I won't know that I've ever met you
before.
NATALIE
So why did you come here?
Leonard pulls the beer mat out of his pocket and hands it to
Natalie.
LEONARD
Found it in my pocket.
Natalie takes it, staring at it, emotional.
NATALIE
(quiet)
Your pocket.
She retreats down the bar to attend to a CUSTOMER, eyeing
Leonard suspiciously as he pulls out his Polaroids.
LATER:
Leonard hears a hocking sound and looks over to see the
filthy Drunk spitting a blob of sticky phlegm into a silver
tankard which Natalie holds across the bar. Natalie smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Bar bet.
Leonard shakes his head and looks down. He hears a snort and
glances over again. The Drunk is pushing his finger against
one nostril, whilst blowing snot out the other into the
tankard. Natalie smiles again.
NATALIE (cont'd)
For a lot of money.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
92.
139 CONTINUED: (3) 139
She approaches with the tankard.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Care to contribute?
Leonard shakes his head, disgusted. Natalie waves the tankard
in his face.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Come on, proceeds are going to charity.
Leonard drops a tidy blob of spit into the beer, shakes his
head, revolted. Natalie places the mug on the bar in front of
the stool next to Leonard's. She takes a long-handled spoon
and stirs it vigorously. Leonard grabs his Polaroids and
moves over to a booth.
Natalie brings over the tankard arid places it in front of
him, smiling.
NATALIE (cont'd)
On the house.
LEONARD
Thank-you.
Leonard raises the tankard to his lips.
CUT TO:
140 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 140
Leonard, holding the Polaroid of himself, stares at the ringing *
phone. He picks up the receiver. *
LEONARD *
(anxious) *
What do you want? *
(listens) *
I know you're a cop, but what do you *
want? Did I do something wrong? *
(frightened) *
No, but I can't remember things I do. I *
don't know what I just did. Maybe I did *
something wrong, did I do something *
wrong? *
Leonard paces. *
LEONARD *
I dunno - something bad. Maybe I did *
something bad. *
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
93.
A140 EXT. ALLEYWAY BEHIND TATTOO PARLOUR - DAY <> *
Leonard DROPS from a WINDOW, gains his balance and HURRIES to *
his Jaguar which is parked on the street by the mouth of the *
alley. He slips into the car, CLOSES the door gently, starts *
the engine and SPEEDS away. *
B140 INT./EXT. JAGUAR PARKED OUTSIDE FERDY'S - DAY <> *
Leonard reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a round *
piece of cardboard. It is a BEER MAT with the name of a local *
bar: "FERDY'S". There is a message written on it: *
"COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE". *
Leonard looks up at the doorway of the bar, then pulls the *
car around into the parking lot. Natalie is standing by a *
dumpster, heaving a trash bag into it. She watches the car *
pull up, unable to see the driver. Natalie casually knocks on *
the passenger side window. Leonard lowers the window and *
Natalie leans down. *
NATALIE *
(casual) *
Hey, Jimmy - *
Natalie stares at Leonard confused. *
NATALIE (cont'd) *
I'm sorry, I... I thought you were *
someone else. *
Natalie backs away from the car, perturbed. Just before she *
disappears around the corner, she tips the lid of the *
dumpster, letting it fall with a metallic howl and a BANG. *
C140 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## C140
Leonard talks on the phone, worried. *
LEONARD *
No, Officer, but with my condition, you *
don't know anything... you feel angry, *
guilty, you don't know why. You could do *
something terrible and not have the *
faintest idea ten minutes later. Like *
Sammy. What if I've done something like *
Sammy?! *
(listens) *
I didn't tell you? Didn't I tell you *
what happened to Sammy and his wife?! *
(listens) *
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
93A.
C140 CONTINUED: C140
LEONARD (contd)
Mrs. Jankis came to my off ice and asked *
my honest opinion about Sammy's *
condition. *
141 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 141
Mrs. Jankis is seated across the desk from Leonard. She gets
up to leave. Leonard just sits there.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I never said he was faking. Just that
his condition was mental, not physical.
She seemed satisfied, she just said
"thanks" and got up to leave. I found
out later that she went home and gave
Sammy his final exam.
142 INT. THE JANKIS HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 142
SEQUENCE##
Sammy watches T.V. commercials. Mrs. Jankis watches him.
MRS. JANKIS
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks up, smiling, glad to help. He goes into the
kitchen and comes back with a bottle of insulin, a syringe
and a cotton swab.
Sammy carefully prepares the injection and Mrs. Jankis offers
him her arm. (LEONARD AND LEONARD'S WIFE TO SUBSTITUTE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
94.
142 CONTINUED: 142
LEONARD (V.O.)
She knew beyond doubt that he loved her,
so she found a way to test him.
Sammy injects the insulin, then withdraws the needle, smiles
reassuringly at his wife and goes back into the kitchen.
Mrs. Jankis watches Sammy flipping through the channels,
looking for commercials.
She sets her watch back by fifteen minutes.
MRS. JANKIS
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks up, smiling, glad to be able to help. He goes
into the kitchen and comes back with the bottle of insulin,
the syringe and a new cotton swab.
He carefully prepares the injection and Mrs. Jankis offers
him her other arm. Sammy injects the insulin, then looks up
at her and smiles.
Sammy watches T.V. Mrs. Jankis sets her watch back by fifteen
minutes.
MRS. JANKIS (cont'd)
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks over from the T.V., smiling, glad to be able to
help.
Mrs. Jankis offers Sammy her leg, and he gives her another
shot of insulin, smiling.
LEONARD (V.O.)
She really thought she would call his
bluff...
Mrs. Jankis sets her watch back by fifteen minutes.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
... or didn't want to live with the
things she'd put him through.
Sammy injects her in the stomach.
DISSOLVE TO:
Mrs. Jankis, unconscious in her chair. Sammy glances over from
watching T.V. commercials, wondering.
He goes to her and takes her hand, nudging her gently.
(CONTINUED)
95.
142 CONTINUED: (2) 142
LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)
She went into a coma and never
recovered.
Sammy grabs for the phone, dialing frantically.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Sammy couldn't understand or explain
what had happened.
Sammy strokes Mrs. Jankis' cheek, crying.
143 INT. CROWDED DAY ROOM OF A NURSING HOME - DAY ##BLACK AND 143
WHITE SEQUENCE##
Sammy sits watching other patients and nursing staff pass by.
(LEONARD TO SUBSTITUTE) He looks at each one with a fresh
look of expectant recognition.
LEONARD (V.0.)
He's been in a home ever since. He
doesn't even know his wife is dead.
144 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 144*
Leonard strokes the tattoo on his hand.
LEONARD (cont'd) *
Sammy's brain didn't respond to *
conditioning, but he was no con man. *
When his wife looked into his eyes she *
thought he could be the same as he ever *
was. When I looked into Sammy's eyes, I *
thought I saw recognition. We were both *
wrong.
Leonard looks into the mirror.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
96.
144 CONTINUED: 144
LEONARD (cont'd)
Now I know. You take it. If you think
you're supposed to recognize someone,
you pretend to. You bluff it to get a
pat on the head from the doctors. You
bluff it to seem less of a freak. *
145 EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY <> 145
The TYRES of the Jaguar SCREAM as the car SCREECHES to a
halt. Leonard backs the car up and stops in front of a TATTOO
PARLOR. He grabs a FILE CARD of f the dash which says:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
146 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY <> 146
Leonard (beige suit) enters. A TATTOOIST is sitting with a
magazine, smoking.
LEONARD
Didn't know this town had a parlor.
TATTOOIST
Every town's got a parlor.
LEONARD
I'd like this on my thigh please.
Leonard hands her a FILE CARD. She reads the card, then looks
at him. He shrugs.
147 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 147
<>
Leonard unbuckles his trousers and starts to pull them down.
He STOPS when he sees his thigh, looking up at the tattooist.
LEONARD
Promise you won't call me an idiot.
He pulls down his trousers, revealing his SCABBY, homemade
tattoo. ("FACT 5: DRUG DEALER"). The tattooist looks at it.
TATTOOIST
(shaking her head)
Idiot.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
97.
148 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 148
<>
Extreme close-up of the tattooing needle finishing an "F".
Wider shows us Leonard sitting with his suit trousers around
his ankles in a curtained cubicle. Next to him on the floor
is his sports bag of notes and papers. The tattooist is *
tattooing his thigh, Leonard is reading a file, fascinated.
The curtain is thrust open and Teddy pokes his head in.
TEDDY
Hi, Lenny.
The tattooist turns and looks up at Teddy. *
TATTOOIST *
It's private back here.
TEDDY
It's alright, we know each other, right,
Lenny?
The tattooist looks to Leaonard. Leonard shrugs. *
LEONARD
How'd you know I was in here?
TEDDY
The Jaguar's out front. You didn't even
Bother to put it around back.
Teddy cranes his neck to see what the tattoo says, but only
"6. LI" is visible.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You should have just left town, Lenny.
There's Tattoo parlors up North.
LEONARD
Guess I wanted to get something down
before it slipped my mind.
The tattoo needle buzzes as the tattooist makes a start on *
the next letter: a "C". Teddy sticks his hand through the
curtain.
TEDDY
Gimme the keys, I'll move the car.
Leonard watches Teddy.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
98.
148 CONTINUED: 148
LEONARD
It'll be alright for a minute.
Teddy shrugs. The tattooist looks up at him.
TATTOOIST
Wait out there.
Teddy goes back through the curtain. Teddy pops his head back
through the curtain.
TEDDY
Lenny, I'll be back in a minute. I've got
to get you some stuff.
149 INT.CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - MOMENTS LATER 149
<>
The buzzing of the tattoo needle stops. Leonard looks down at
his thigh. It says:
"FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
150 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - MOMENTS LATER <> 150
Leonard exits the curtained cubicle, buckling his belt. Teddy
is waiting for him with a PLASTIC BAG. Leonard pays the
tattooist. Teddy looks at her.
TEDDY
Give us a minute, will ya?
She shrugs and heads into the back. Teddy watches her go,
then turns to Leonard, conspiratorial.
TEDDY (cont'd)
We've got to get you out of here. *
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Why? Come on, Leonard, we talked about
this. It's not safe f or you to be walking
around like this.
LEONARD
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
99.
150 CONTINUED: 150
TEDDY
Because that cop's looking for you. We *
need to get you a change of identity.
Some new clothes and a different car
should do for now. Put these on. *
Teddy offers the bag of clothes. Leonard refuses it. *
LEONARD *
What cop?
TEDDY
This bad cop. He checked you into the *
Discount Inn. Then he's been calling you *
for days, sticking envelopes under your *
door, telling you shit. *
LEONARD
Envelopes? *
TEDDY
He knows you're no good on the phone, so *
he calls you up to bullshit you. *
Sometimes you stop taking his calls, so *
he slips something under your door to *
frighten you into answering your phone *
again. He's been pretending to help you. *
Feeding you a line of crap about John G. *
being some local drug dealer. *
LEONARD
How do you know this?
TEDDY
'Cos he fucking told me. He thinks it's
funny. He's laughing at you.
LEONARD
How do you know him?
TEDDY
(glances around)
I'm a snitch. He's a cop from out of town
looking for information. The local boys
put us in touch.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
100.
150 CONTINUED: (2) 150
Leonard takes the plastic bag.
LEONARD *
What did he want to know from you? *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
101.
150 CONTINUED: (3) 150
TEDDY *
He wanted to know all, about Jimmy Grantz.
LEONARD
Who?
TEDDY
Jimmy's a drug dealer. This cop wanted to
know all about how he sets up deals, shit
like that. He's got some score in mind *
and you're involved. Come on, there's no *
time to argue - if he knew I was helping *
you he'd find a way to kill me. Just get *
these clothes on. You're gonna take my *
car and get the fuck out of here. *
Leonard heads back into the curtained cubicle with the
plastic bag of clothes.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
102.
151 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 151
<>
Leonard drops the plastic bag and takes his jacket off. He
feels something in the pocket, sticks his hand in and pulls *
out a charred Polaroid photograph. *
Leonard examines it, PUZZLED. All that is visible is AN ARM, *
lying on a floor. Leonard reaches into the other pocket and *
pulls out his POLAROIDS, flicking through them until he finds
the one of Teddy. He flips it over and checks the back:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard reacts with amused RELIEF.
LEONARD
(under his breath)
Sneaky fuck. "Bad Cop". Had me going.
Leonard puts his jacket back on, checks the other pockets. He
finds a BEER MAT for a local bar named FERDY'S. There is a
message written on it:
"COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE"
Leonard sticks it back in his pocket. He PEEKS through the
curtains. Teddy is sitting by the door, waiting. Leonard
looks around, NOTICES a window set high in the wall above the
padded bench in the cubicle. Leonard CLIMBS on the bench,
OPENS the window and SQUEEZES himself through.
152 EXT. TATTOO PARLOUR ALLEYWAY - DAY - CONTINUOUS <>
Leonard DROPS from the window, regains his balance and
hurries to his Jaguar which is parked on the street by the
mouth of the alley.
CUT TO:
153 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 153
Leonard, in boxers and plaid work shirt, sits hunched over *
the bedside table, flipping through the file as he talks on *
the phone.
LEONARD
So this Jimmy Grantz deals drugs out of *
the bar where his girlfriend works. But *
he'll come to the meet alone. *
Leonard looks down at the FRESH TATTOO on his thigh. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
102A.
153 CONTINUED: 153
"FACT 5: DRUG DEALER" *
He consults a file which he has drawn from his bag. *
LEONARD (cont'd) *
I always figured the drugs angle would *
be the best way to get him. No, officer, *
I'm ready. Ready as I'll ever be.
(listens)
You're downstairs now? What do you look
like?
(listens)
I'll be right down.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
103.
153 CONTINUED: (2) 153
Leonard hangs up the phone and pulls on a pair of scruffy
jeans. He grabs his Polaroid camera and puts it over his *
shoulder.
154 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 154
Leonard exits and heads to the Motel office.
155 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 155
The BELL CHIMES as Leonard enters. Burt is behind the
counter. A MAN stands by the free coffee. The Man TURNS *
AROUND. It is Teddy, with a big grin.
TEDDY
Lenny!
Leonard smiles cautiously, and offers his hand.
LEONARD
Officer Gammell.
156 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 156
Leonard exits the office, followed by Teddy, and looks
through his Polaroids. He finds one of a PICKUP TRUCK, spots
it in the lot, and walks over to it. He turns around and
points his camera at Teddy. Teddy grins wider. Leonard snaps
the picture.
LEONARD
Something to remember you by.
Leonard lowers the camera and takes out a pen, resting the
picture against the truck, about to write on the white strip
beneath the developing picture.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'm sorry - is it Officer, or Lieutenant
Gammell?
Teddy coughs and looks at the picture.
TEDDY
Just Teddy. Don't write Gammell please.
Leonard raises his eyebrows.
TEDDY (cont'd)
I'm undercover. Here's directions. He'll
be heading there now.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
104.
156 CONTINUED: 156
Teddy pulls a note out of his pocket and hands it to Leonard.
LEONARD
You're not coming?
TEDDY
Wouldn't be appropriate. *
Leonard climbs into the truck. Teddy taps on the window.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Leonard?
Leonard cranks it down. Teddy looks at Leonard with something
like fatherly affection.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Make him beg.
157 INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK ON STREET - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE 157
SEQUENCE##
The pickup truck speeds along, past strip malls and gas
stations, heading into more desolate industrialization.
158 EXT. THE DERELICT BUILDING - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##158
The pickup truck bumps across the railroad tracks, then pulls
up in front of the LARGE DERELICT BUILDING. Leonard gets out
of the pickup, looking around.
159 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 159
He heads into the house, down the DIMLY-LIT, DECAYING FORMER
HALLWAY, treading carefully on the LOOSE, ROTTEN FLOORBOARDS.
He notices a door at the end of the hallway. He opens the
door to see that it leads down to the basement.
Leonard hears a CAR APPROACHING. He slips into the kitchen
and looks out the dirty, broken front windows.
160 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 160
THE JAGUAR is approaching fast. It parks next to the PICKUP
TRUCK, and the driver emerges; a young man in his 30's,
smartly dressed in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT. This is JIMMY,
the young man from Natalie's photograph. He looks at the
truck then at the house.
161 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 161
Leonard steps back into the shadows of the crumbling kitchen.
Jimmy approaches the doorway, peering into the dark hallway.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
105.
161 CONTINUED: 161
JIMMY
Teddy?!
Jimmy steps cautiously inside. Leonard emerges from the
kitchen.
LEONARD
Jimmy?
JIMMY
What the fuck are you doing here?
LEONARD
Do you remember me?
JIMMY
(laughs)
Yeah, I remember you.
LEONARD
You Jimmy Grantz? *
JIMMY
Expecting any other Jimmy's out here,
Memory Man? Where the fuck's Teddy?
Leonard comes out of the gloom, stopping in front of Jimmy,
studying his face. Leonard has a JACK HANDLE in his hand.
JIMMY (cont'd)
Well?
FLASHBACK TO:
162 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT ##BLACK AND WHITE 162
SEQUENCE##
Leonard's wife, head wrapped in a water-beaded clear plastic
shower curtain, THRASHING around, GASPING for breath.
163 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 163
Leonard HITS Jimmy around the head with the jack handle.
Jimmy goes down, but STRUGGLES as Leonard drags him deeper
into the dark hallway. Leonard bends over the groaning Jimmy,
frisking him, finding nothing.
JIMMY (cont'd)
You fucking retard, you can't get away
with this -
Leonard holds the jack handle above him.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
106.
163 CONTINUED: 163
LEONARD
Strip!
Jimmy starts taking off his suit.
JIMMY
You're making a big fucking mistake. My
associates are not people you want -
LEONARD
Don't say anything else.
JIMMY
I knew I couldn't trust that fuck -
LEONARD
Quiet!
Jimmy drops his shirt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Pants, too.
JIMMY
Why?
LEONARD
I don't want blood on them.
JIMMY
(sudden fear)
Wait! Did he tell you what I was
bringing?
LEONARD
Strip!
JIMMY
Look, there's two hundred grand stashed
in the car. Just take it!
Leonard shoves Jimmy to the ground.
LEONARD
You think you can bargain with me?!
JIMMY
Take the money and walk away!
LEONARD
I don't want your fucking money!
(CONTINUED)
107.
163 CONTINUED: (2) 163
JIMMY
What?! What do you want from me?!
Leonard looks up.
164 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##164
Leonard's wife, smiling.
165 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 165
Leonard is losing it.
LEONARD
I want my fucking life back!
Jimmy SWINGS at Leonard with a BROKEN FLOORBOARD, STRIKING
his shoulder. The jack handle goes flying. Jimmy SWINGS
again, misses. Leonard GRABS him, taking him down. The two of
them STRUGGLE on the floor. Leonard gets ON TOP of Jimmy,
CHOKING him. Jimmy tries to speak, but can only make GURGLING
noises. As Leonard watches Jimmy fight for air we:
166 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT - ##BLACK AND 166
WHITE SEQUENCE##
Leonard's wife THRASHES her head from side to side,
STRUGGLING to breathe though the clear plastic shower
curtain.
BACK TO SCENE:
167 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##
167
Jimmy's arms THRASH, his hands catching Leonard's face,
SCRATCHING his cheek. Leonard tips his head back and
increases his efforts. Jimmy STOPS struggling. Leonard keeps
his hands around Jimmy's throat until he is confident that he
is DEAD.
Leonard BREATHES as he stands up. He nods to himself with
satisfaction. He looks around for his POLAROID CAMERA. He
snaps a FLASH picture of Jimmy's body, and stares intently at
the POLAROID as it begins to DEVELOP.
We see the IMAGE OF THE STRANGLED JIMMY appear <>(POST)
168 INT. DAY - DERELICT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS <>168
Leonard stands above Jimmy's body, examining the picture he
has just taken, nodding to himself, catching his breath.
(CONTINUED)
108.
168 CONTINUED: 168
Leonard grabs Jimmy' s body by the legs, DRAGGING him back *
towards the basement. He opens the door and BACKS down into
the DARKNESS, pulling Jimmy behind him.
169 INT. BASEMENT OF DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS 169
<>
Leonard BACKS DOWN the stairs, dragging Jimmy's BODY, head
BUMPING down each step. In the middle of the room, Leonard
DROPS the legs. Moving fast, Leonard pulls the BEIGE SUIT *
TROUSERS from the body, REMOVES HIS OWN SCRUFFY JEANS AND *
PLAID WORK SHIRT. Leonard dresses in Jimmy's BLUE SHIRT and *
BEIGE SUIT. He grabs the Polaroids from his PLAID WORK SHIRT *
and sticks them in his suit jacket pocket. He dumps his old *
clothes onto Jimmy's body. A faint RASPING comes from Jimmy's *
throat. Leonard, frightened, bends down to listen.
JIMMY
(barely and audible rasp)
Sammy... remember Sammy...
Leonard is SHOCKED. Jimmy is silent. The sound of a CAR
outside. Leonard JUMPS to his feet.
170 INT. KITCHEN, DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <>
Leonard looks out to see Teddy getting out of his GREY SEDAN.
Leonard leafs through his Polaroids finding the one of Teddy.
There is nothing on the back. He sticks his Polaroids back in
his pocket, pausing at the one of the STRANGLED JIMMY.
LEONARD (V.0.) *
What have I done? *
171 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 171
Leonard emerges to find Teddy trying the Jaguar's doors.
LEONARD
(distraught)
Hey! Mister! I need help!
Teddy looks up.
TEDDY
What's wrong?
LEONARD
There's a guy in here, hurt bad! We gotta
get him to a doctor!
Teddy moves towards the house. Leonard leads him in.
MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99
109.
172 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <172
Teddy follows Leonard down the darkened hall.
LEONARD
(panicked)
He might have fallen down the stairs, I
don't know, I don't know what's going on,
I'm confused. I have this memory thing -
do I know you?
TEDDY
No. Don't worry, I'm a cop. Everything'll
be okay. Is he still breathing?
LEONARD
Maybe. Maybe just.
They go down into the basement.
173 INT. BASEMENT OF DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS 173
<>
Teddy follows Leonard down the stairs. Jimmy's body, dressed
only in boxers, lies in the middle of the floor.
TEDDY
So what were you doing here?
Teddy moves to the body and crouches down to examine it.
LEONARD
I don't know. See, I have this condition.
TEDDY
Well, I hope it's not as serious as his,
'cos this guy's dead.
Leonard CRACKS Teddy over the head with the FLOORBOARD. *
TEDDY (cont'd) *
FUCK, Lenny! That fucking kills!
LEONARD
Remember me again, huh?
Leonard FRISKS him, pulling out a GUN and a POLICE BADGE. *
LEONARD (cont'd) *
You're a cop. A fucking cop. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Yellow Revisions - 9/29/99
109A.
173 CONTINUED: 173
TEDDY *
Yeah, and I helped you find the guy you *
were looking for - *
LEONARD *
Get up. *
Teddy CRAWLS to his feet, RUBBING his head. *
MEMENTO Yellow Revision - 9/29/99
110.
174 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <>174
Leonard pushes Teddy out of the basement.
TEDDY
I think you've got the wrong idea -
Leonard GRABS Teddy.
LEONARD
Who was that? He's not the guy. He knew *
me. *
TEDDY *
Sure he did. He raped your wife and *
fucked up your brain. *
LEONARD *
Bullshit. *
TEDDY
His name's James F. Grantz, John G. Check *
your tattoos. *
LEONARD
So what was he bringing the two hundred *
grand for? *
TEDDY *
What - *
LEONARD *
What was it for? *
TEDDY
A load of amphetamine I told him I had.
LEONARD
This is a drug deal?!
TEDDY
That, and your thing. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10/4/99
111.
174 CONTINUED: 174
TEDDY (cont'd) *
Jimmy's your guy, Leonard. I just figured *
we'd make some money on the side. *
LEONARD *
But how did he know me? *
TEDDY *
The Discount Inn, he deals out of there. *
The guy at the front desk lets him know
if anybody comes snooping around. He
called Jimmy as soon as you took a
picture of that dump. *
LEONARD
You're using me!
Teddy looks at him, offended.
TEDDY
No!
(beat)
You get half. *
Leonard THROWS him against the wall.
LEONARD
He knew about Sammy. Why would I tell him
about Sammy? *
TEDDY
(chuckles)
You tell everyone about Sammy. Everyone
who'll listen. "Remember Sammy Jankis,
remember Sammy Jankis". Great story. Gets
better every time you tell it. So you
lie to yourself to be happy. Nothing
wrong with that - we all do. Who cares if
there's a few little things you'd rather
not remember?
LEONARD
What the fuck are you talking about?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
112.
174 CONTINUED: (2) 174
TEDDY
(theatrical shrug)
I dunno... your wife surviving the
assault... her not believing about your
condition... the doubt tearing her up
inside.., the insulin -
LEONARD
That's Sammy, not me! I told you about
Sammy -
TEDDY
Like you've told yourself. Over and over.
Conditioning yourself to believe.
"learning through repetition" -
LEONARD
Sammy let his wife kill herself! Sammy
ended up in an institution - ! *
TEDDY
Sammy was a con man. A faker.
LEONARD
I never said he was faking! I never said
that!
TEDDY
You exposed him for what he was: a fraud.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
113.
174 CONTINUED: (3) 174
LEONARD
I was wrong! That's the whole point!
Sammy's wife came to me and -
TEDDY
Sammy didn't have a wife.
Leonard freezes, staring at Teddy.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It was your wife who had diabetes.
Leonard thinks.
175 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY <> 175
Leonard's Wife sitting on the edge of the bed. She feels a
sharp pain, and turns to Leonard (just as we have seen
before).
LEONARD'S WIFE
Gentle.
Leonard has a syringe in his hand.
176 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 176
Leonard shakes his head, clearing his head of the image.
LEONARD
My wife wasn't diabetic.
TEDDY
Are you sure?
177 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY <> 177
Leonard's Wife on the edge of the bed. She feels a sharp
pain, and turns to Leonard.
LEONARD'S WIFE
Gentle.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
114.
177 CONTINUED: 177
Leonard is playfully pinching her thigh.
178 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY <> 178
Leonard shakes his head, smiling.
LEONARD
She wasn't diabetic. You think I don't *
know my own wife? What the fuck is wrong *
with you? *
TEDDY
(shrugs)
I guess I can only make you believe the
things you want to be true, huh? Like ol' *
Jimmy down there.
LEONARD
But he's not the right guy! *
TEDDY *
He was to you. Come on, Lenny, you got *
your revenge - just enjoy it while you *
still remember. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
115.
178 CONTINUED: 178
TEDDY
(chuckles)
What difference does it make whether he *
was your guy or not? *
LEONARD
It makes all the difference. *
TEDDY
Why? You're never going to know. *
LEONARD
Yes, I will.
TEDDY
No, you won't.
LEONARD
Somehow, I'll know!
TEDDY
You won't remember!
LEONARD
When it's done, I'll know! It'll be
different!
TEDDY
I thought so too! I was sure you'd *
remember. But you didn't. *
Beat. Leonard looks at Teddy, questioning.
TEDDY
(off look)
You know, when we found your guy and *
killed him.
(off look)
That's right, the real John G. Over a *
year ago. I helped you find him. He's *
already dead. *
LEONARD
Why do you keep lying to me? *
TEDDY
I'm not. I was the cop assigned to your *
wife's death. I believed you, I thought *
you deserved the chance for revenge. I
helped you find the other guy who was in
your bathroom that night. The guy who
cracked your skull and fucked your wife. *
We found him and you killed him. *
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
115A.
178 CONTINUED: (2) 178
TEDDY (cont'd)
You didn't remember, so I helped you *
start looking again, looking for the guy *
you already killed.
LEONARD
So who are you saying he was? *
TEDDY
Just some guy. Does it even matter who? I
stopped asking myself why a long time
ago. No reason, no conspiracy; just bad
fucking luck. A couple of junkies, too *
strung out to realize that your wife
didn't live alone. When you killed him, *
I've never seen you so happy - I was
convinced you'd remember. But it didn't
stick, like nothing ever sticks. Like
this won't stick.
Leonard looks at the Polaroid of himself.
TEDDY (cont'd)
That's the picture, right? I took that,
right when you did it. Look how happy you *
are. Before you forgot. I wanted to see *
that face again.
LEONARD *
(sarcastic) *
Thank you. *
TEDDY
Fuck you; I gave you a reason to live and *
you were more than happy to help. You lie *
to yourself! You don't want the truth, *
the truth is a fucking coward. So you *
make up your own truth. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
116.
178 CONTINUED: (3) 178
TEDDY (cont'd) *
Look at your police file. It was complete *
when I gave it to you. Who took the 12 *
pages out? *
LEONARD
You probably. *
TEDDY
No. You took them out. *
LEONARD
Why would I do that? *
TEDDY
To set yourself a puzzle you won't ever
solve. You know how many towns, how many *
guys called James G? Or John G? Shit,
Leonard, I'm a John G.
LEONARD
Your name's Teddy.
TEDDY
(chuckles)
My mother calls me Teddy. I'm John Edward
Gammell. Cheer up, there's a lot of John *
G's for us to find. All you do is moan. *
I'm the one that has to live with what *
you've done. I'm the one that has to put *
it all together. You just wander around *
playing detective. You're living a dream, *
kid. A dead wife to pine for and a sense *
of purpose to your life. A romantic quest *
which you wouldn't end even if I wasn't *
in the picture. *
Leonard sticks the gun in Teddy's face. *
LEONARD
I should kill you. *
TEDDY
Quit it! *
(brushes the gun away) *
You're not a killer, Lenny. That's why *
you're so good at it. *
Leonard SEARCHES Teddy's pockets, still holding the gun on *
Teddy. Leonard finds Teddy's CAR KEYS. He gets off Teddy and *
moves towards the light. *
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
116A.
178 CONTINUED: (4) 178
TEDDY (cont'd)
Hey, where are you going? You know what *
time it is? *
Leonard stares at Teddy, mystified. Teddy grins. *
TEDDY (cont'd)
It's beer o'clock. And I'm buying. Our
work here is done.
Leonard turns away, and walks out into the light.
179 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS <>179
Leonard, in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT, comes out into the
daylight, THROWS Teddy's CAR KEYS into some bushes then heads
to his PICKUP TRUCK and climbs in. Teddy goes to look for his
keys in the bushes.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
117.
180 INT. PICKUP TRUCK - DAY - CONTINUOUS <> 180
Leonard opens the revolver and empties the bullets onto the
passenger seat. He flips through the photos until he finds
the one of the STRANGLED JIMMY.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I'm not a killer...
Leonard reaches into his sports bag, grabs a LIGHTER and
sparks a flame. Leonard holds the PHOTO in the flame until it
CATCHES LIGHT, MELTING and BLACKENING. The flames go out,
having destroyed the entire image but for an arm resting on a
floor. Leonard sticks the remnants into his jacket pocket. He
looks in the rear-view mirror at Teddy, who scrabbles around
in the bushes.
LEONARD (V.0.) (CON'T'D)
... but right now I need to be.
Teddy's GREY SEDAN is parked in front of Leonard. Leonard
looks at the sedan, then reaches into his sports bag for a
PEN and a FILE CARD. He writes on the file card:
"TATTOO: I'VE DONE IT"
Leonard looks from the card to Teddy's sedan.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Maybe I'm not finished yet. Maybe I need
to be sure that you won't ever use me
again.
Leonard rips up the file card and takes out another.
LEONARD (V.0.) (cont'd)
You're a John G.? Fine, then you can be
my John G.
Leonard writes on the file card:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE NUMBER"
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Do I lie to myself to be happy?
Leonard looks up at Teddy's sedan and copies down the license
number. The LICENSE NUMBER of Teddy's car is: SG13 7IU.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
In your case, Teddy... yes, I will.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO - Green Revisions 10-4-99
117A.
180 CONTINUED: 180
Leonard grabs the sports bag and GETS OUT of the PICKUP
TRUCK. He goes to THE JAGUAR and OPENS the passenger door,
DUMPING his sports bag onto the seat. Teddy SEES this and
RUNS over. Leonard walks to the back of the Jaguar and holds
up his camera.
TEDDY
Hey! Hey, that's not your car!
Leonard SNAPS a Polaroid of the Jaguar.
LEONARD
It is now.
TEDDY
You can't just take it!
Leonard UNLOCKS the trunk, TURNING to Teddy as he does so.
LEONARD
Why not?
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Yellow Revisions - 9/29/99
118.
180 CONTINUED: 180
TEDDY
You just killed the guy who owned it!
Somebody'll recognize it!
Leonard pulls Teddy's EMPTY gun out of his pocket.
LEONARD
I'd rather be mistaken for a dead guy
than a murderer. I'm gonna hang on to
this.
Leonard TOSSES the GUN into the trunk. It lands on PILES OF
BANKNOTES STUFFED IN THE TRUNK. Teddy REACTS to the sight of
the money. Leonard glances at Teddy, then the money, shakes
his head, then SLAMS the trunk. Teddy jogs back to where he
was looking for his keys.
181 INT. JAGUAR - DAY <> 181
Leonard starts the engine. Through the rear-view mirror,
Leonard stares at Teddy's retreating form. Thinking. Leonard
PULLS OUT onto the road.
182 INT./EXT. THE ROAD BACK INTO TOWN - DAY <> 182
As the Jaguar cruises along, Leonard places the FILE CARD on
the dash. It says:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU" *
Leonard drives, HEADING BACK INTO TOWN. He looks at his hand
on the steering wheel, reading "REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS".
LEONARD (V.O.)
I have to believe in the world outside my
own mind. I have to believe that my
actions still have meaning, even if I
can't remember them. I have to believe
that when my eyes are closed, the world's
still there.
Leonard CLOSES HIS EYES, driving blind. Stay on Leonard, not
seeing the road ahead, hearing cars whip past.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
(rising tension)
But do I? Do I believe the world's still
there?
Move in on Leonard as cars fly past, horns BLARING.
(CONTINUED)
MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99
119.
182 CONTINUED: 182
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Is it still out there?!
(beat)
Yes.
Leonard OPENS his eyes, straightening up the car, BREATHING.
His EYES DART from the STRIP MALLS to the GAS STATIONS, as if
HE IS TRYING TO ABSORB THE WHOLE TOWN IN A SINGLE VIEWING.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
We all need mirrors to remind ourselves
who we are. I'm no different.
183 EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY <> 183
*
From the bewildering BLUR of urban signage, Leonard SUDDENLY
GLIMPSES A TATTOO PARLOR in a strip mall. He SLAMS ON THE
BRAKES.
The tyres SCREAM as the car SCREECHES TO A HALT and we:
CUT TO BLACK.
LEONARD (V.O.) (cont'd)
Now... where was I?
ROLL CREDITS
END.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is Jonathan Nolan's short story
"Memento Mori", the inspiration for his brother,
Christopher Nolan's, screenplay for the film, MEMENTO:
MEMENTO MORI
by
Jonathan Nolan
What like a bullet can undeceive!"
-Herman Melville
Your wife always used to say you'd be late for your own funeral.
Remember that? Her little joke because you were such a slob-always
late, always forgetting stuff, even before the incident.
Right about now you're probably wondering if you were late for hers.
You were there, you can be sure of that. That's what the picture's
for-the one tacked to the wall by the door. It's not customary to take
pictures at a funeral, but somebody, your doctors, I guess, knew you
wouldn't remember. They had it blown up nice and big and stuck it
right there, next to the door, so you couldn't help but see it every
time you got up to find out where she was.
The guy in the picture, the one with the flowers? That's you. And what
are you doing? You're reading the headstone, trying to figure out
who's funeral you're at, same as you're reading it now, trying to
figure why someone stuck that picture next to your door. But why
bother reading something that you won't remember?
She's gone, gone for good, and you must be hurting right now, hearing
the news. Believe me, I know how you feel. You're probably a wreck.
But give it five minutes, maybe ten. Maybe you can even go a whole
half hour before you forget.
But you will forget-I guarantee it. A few more minutes and you'll be
heading for the door, looking for her all over again, breaking down
when you find the picture. How many times do you have to hear the news
before some other part of your body, other than that busted brain of
yours, starts to remember?
Never-ending grief, never-ending anger. Useless without direction.
Maybe you can't understand what's happened. Can't say I really
understand, either. Backwards amnesia. That's what the sign says. CRS
disease. Your guess is as good as mine.
Maybe you can't understand what happened to you. But you do remember
what happened to HER, don't you? The doctors don't want to talk about
it. They won't answer my questions. They don't think it's right for a
man in your condition to hear about those things. But you remember
enough, don't you? You remember his face.
This is why I'm writing to you. Futile, maybe. I don't know how many
times you'll have to read this before you listen to me. I don't even
know how long you've been locked up in this room already. Neither do
you. But your advantage in forgetting is that you'll forget to write
yourself off as a lost cause.
Sooner or later you'll want to do something about it. And when you do,
you'll just have to trust me, because I'm the only one who can help
you.
***
EARL OPENS ONE EYE after another to a stretch of white ceiling tiles
interrupted by a hand-printed sign taped right above his head, large
enough for him to read from the bed. An alarm clock is ringing
somewhere. He reads the sign, blinks,reads it again, then takes a look
at the room.
It's a white room, overwhelmingly white, from the walls and the
curtains to the institutional furniture and the bedspread. The alarm
clock is ringing from the white desk under the window with the white
curtains. At this point Earl probably notices that he is lying on top
of his white comforter. He is already wearing a dressing gown and
slippers.
He lies back and reads the sign taped to the ceiling again. It says,
in crude block capitals, THIS IS YOUR ROOM. THIS IS A ROOM IN A
HOSPITAL. THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE NOW.
Earl rises and takes a look around. The room is large for a
hospital-empty linoleum stretches out from the bed in three
directions. Two doors and a window. The view isn't very helpful,
either-a close of trees in the center of a carefully manicured piece
of turf that terminates in a sliver of two-lane blacktop. The trees,
except for the evergreens, are bare-early spring or late fall, one or
the other.
Every inch of the desk is covered with Post-it notes, legal pads,
neatly printed lists, psychological textbooks, framed pictures. On top
of the mess is a half-completed crossword puzzle. The alarm clock is
riding a pile of folded newspapers. Earl slaps the snooze button and
takes a cigarette from the pack taped to the sleeve of his dressing
gown. He pats the empty pockets of his pajamas for a light. He rifles
the papers on the desk, looks quickly through the drawers. Eventually
he finds a box of kitchen matches taped to the wall next to the
window. Another sign is taped just above the box. It says in loud
yellow letters, CIGARETTE? CHECK FOR LIT ONES FIRST, STUPID.
Earl laughs at the sign, lights his cigarette, and takes a long draw.
Taped to the window in front of him is another piece of looseleaf
paper headed YOUR SCHEDULE.
It charts off the hours, every hour, in blocks: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00
a.m. is labeled go BACK TO SLEEP. Earl consults the alarm clock: 8:15.
Given the light outside, it must be morning. He checks his watch:
10:30. He presses the watch to his ear and listens. He gives the watch
a wind or two and sets it to match the alarm clock.
According to the schedule, the entire block from 8:00 to 8:30 has been
labeled BRUSH YOUR TEETH. Earl laughs again and walks over to the
bathroom.
The bathroom window is open. As he flaps his arms to keep warm, he
notices the ashtray on the windowsill. A cigarette is perched on the
ashtray, burning steadily through a long finger of ash. He frowns,
extinguishes the old butt, and replaces it with the new one.
The toothbrush has already been treated to a smudge of white paste.
The tap is of the push-button variety-a dose of water with each nudge.
Earl pushes the brush into his cheek and fiddles it back and forth
while he opens the medicine cabinet. The shelves are stocked with
single-serving packages of vitamins, aspirin, antidiuretics. The
mouthwash is also single-serving, about a shot-glass-worth of blue
liquid in a sealed plastic bottle. Only the toothpaste is
regular-sized. Earl spits the paste out of his mouth and replaces it
with the mouthwash. As he lays the toothbrush next to the toothpaste,
he notices a tiny wedge of paper pinched between the glass shelf and
the steel backing of the medicine cabinet. He spits the frothy blue
fluid into the sink and nudges for some more water to rinse it down.
He closes the medicine cabinet and smiles at his reflection in the
mirror.
"Who needs half an hour to brush their teeth?"
The paper has been folded down to a minuscule size with all the
precision of a sixth-grader's love note. Earl unfolds it and smooths
it against the mirror. It reads-
IF YOU CAN STILL READ THIS, THEN YOU'RE A FUCKING COWARD.
Earl stares blankly at the paper, then reads it again. He turns it
over. On the back it reads-
P.S.: AFTER YOU'VE READ THIS, HIDE IT AGAIN.
Earl reads both sides again, then folds the note back down to its
original size and tucks it underneath the toothpaste.
Maybe then he notices the scar. It begins just beneath the ear, jagged
and thick, and disappears abruptly into his hairline. Earl turns his
head and stares out of the corner of his eye to follow the scar's
progress. He traces it with a fingertip, then looks back down at the
cigarette burning in the ashtray. A thought seizes him and he spins
out of the bathroom.
He is caught at the door to his room, one hand on the knob. Two
pictures are taped to the wall by the door. Earl's attention is caught
first by the MRI, a shiny black frame for four windows into someone's
skull. In marker, the picture is labeled YOUR BRAIN. Earl stares at
it. Concentric circles in different colors. He can make out the big
orbs of his eyes and, behind these, the twin lobes of his brain.
Smooth wrinkles, circles, semicircles. But right there in the middle
of his head, circled in marker, tunneled in from the back of his neck
like a maggot into an apricot, is something different. Deformed,
broken, but unmistakable. A dark smudge, the shape of a flower, right
there in the middle of his brain.
He bends to look at the other picture. It is a photograph of a man
holding flowers, standing over a fresh grave. The man is bent over,
reading the headstone. For a moment this looks like a hall of mirrors
or the beginnings of a sketch of infinity: the one man bent over,
looking at the smaller man, bent over, reading the headstone. Earl
looks at the picture for a long time. Maybe he begins to cry. Maybe he
just stares silently at the picture. Eventually, he makes his way back
to the bed, flops down, seals his eyes shut, tries to sleep.
The cigarette burns steadily away in the bathroom. A circuit in the
alarm clock counts down from ten, and it starts ringing again.
Earl opens one eye after another to a stretch of white ceiling tiles,
interrupted by a hand-printed sign taped right above his head, large
enough for him to read from the bed.
***
You can't have a normal life anymore. You must know that. How can you
have a girlfriend if you can't remember her name? Can't have kids, not
unless you want them to grow up with a dad who doesn't recognize them.
Sure as hell can't hold down a job. Not too many professions out there
that value forgetfulness. Prostitution, maybe. Politics, of course.
No. Your life is over. You're a dead man.The only thing the doctors
are hoping to do is teach you to be less of a burden to the orderlies.
And they'll probably never let you go home, wherever that would be.
So the question is not "to be or not to be," because you aren't. The
question is whether you want to do something about it. Whether revenge
matters to you.
It does to most people. For a few weeks, they plot, they scheme, they
take measures to get even. But the passage of time is all it takes to
erode that initial impulse. Time is theft, isn't that what they say?
And time eventually convinces most of us that forgiveness is a virtue.
Conveniently, cowardice and forgiveness look identical at a certain
distance. Time steals your nerve.
If time and fear aren't enough to dissuade people from their revenge,
then there's always authority, softly shaking its head and saying, We
understand, but you're the better man for letting it go. For rising
above it. For not sinking to their level. And besides, says authority,
if you try anything stupid, we'll lock you up in a little room.
But they already put you in a little room, didn't they? Only they
don't really lock it or even guard it too carefully because you're a
cripple. A corpse. A vegetable who probably wouldn't remember to eat
or take a shit if someone wasn't there to remind you.
And as for the passage of time, well, that doesn't really apply to you
anymore, does it? Just the same ten minutes, over and over again. So
how can you forgive if you can't remember to forget?
You probably were the type to let it go, weren't you? Before. But
you're not the man you used to be. Not even half. You're a fraction;
you're the ten-minute man.
Of course, weakness is strong. It's the primary impulse. You'd
probably prefer to sit in your little room and cry. Live in your
finite collection of memories, carefully polishing each one. Half a
life set behind glass and pinned to cardboard like a collection of
exotic insects. You'd like to live behind that glass, wouldn't you?
Preserved in aspic.
You'd like to but you can't, can you? You can't because of the last
addition to your collection. The last thing you remember. His face.
His face and your wife, looking to you for help.
And maybe this is where you can retire to when it's over. Your little
collection. They can lock you back up in another little room and you
can live the rest of your life in the past. But only if you've got a
little piece of paper in your hand that says you got him.
You know I'm right. You know there's a lot of work to do. It may seem
impossible, but I'm sure if we all do our part, we'll figure something
out. But you don't have much time. You've only got about ten minutes,
in fact. Then it starts all over again. So do something with the time
you've got.
***
EARL OPENS HIS EYES and blinks into the darkness. The alarm clock is
ringing. It says 3:20, and the moonlight streaming through the window
means it must be he early morning. Earl fumbles for the lamp, almost
knocking it over in the process. Incandescent light fills the room,
painting the metal furniture yellow, the walls yellow, the bedspread,
too. He lies back and looks up at the stretch of yellow ceiling tiles
above him, interrupted by a handwritten sign taped to the ceiling. He
reads the sign two, maybe three times, then blinks at the room around
him.
It is a bare room. Institutional, maybe. There is a desk over by the
window. The desk is bare except for the blaring alarm clock. Earl
probably notices, at this point, that he is fully clothed. He even has
his shoes on under the sheets. He extracts himself from the bed and
crosses to the desk. Nothing in the room would suggest that anyone
lived there, or ever had, except for the odd scrap of tape stuck here
and there to the wall. No pictures, no books, nothing. Through the
window, he can see a full moon shining on carefully manicured grass.
Earl slaps the snooze button on the alarm clock and stares a moment at
the two keys taped to the back of his hand. He picks at the tape while
he searches through the empty drawers. In the left pocket of his
jacket, he finds a roll of hundred-dollar bills and a letter sealed in
an envelope. He checks the rest of the main room and the bathroom.
Bits of tape, cigarette butts. Nothing else.
Earl absentmindedly plays with the lump of scar tissue on his neck and
moves back toward the bed. He lies back down and stares up at the
ceiling and the sign taped to it. The sign reads, GET UP, GET OUT
RIGHT NOW. THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU.
Earl closes his eyes.
***
They tried to teach you to make lists in grade school, remember? Back
when your day planner was the back of your hand. And if your
assignments came off in the shower, well, then they didn't get done.
No direction, they said. No discipline. So they tried to get you to
write it all down somewhere more permanent.
Of course, your grade-school teachers would be laughing their pants
wet if they could see you now. Because you've become the exact product
of their organizational lessons. Because you can't even take a piss
without consulting one of your lists.
They were right. Lists are the only way out of this mess.
Here's the truth: People, even regular people, are never just any one
person with one set of attributes. It's not that simple. We're all at
the mercy of the limbic system, clouds of electricity drifting through
the brain. Every man is broken into twenty-four-hour fractions, and
then again within those twenty-four hours. It's a daily pantomime, one
man yielding control to the next: a backstage crowded with old hacks
clamoring for their turn in the spotlight. Every week, every day. The
angry man hands the baton over to the sulking man, and in turn to the
sex addict, the introvert, the conversationalist. Every man is a mob,
a chain gang of idiots.
This is the tragedy of life. Because for a few minutes of every day,
every man becomes a genius. Moments of clarity, insight, whatever you
want to call them. The clouds part, the planets get in a neat little
line, and everything becomes obvious. I should quit smoking, maybe, or
here's how I could make a fast million, or such and such is the key to
eternal happiness. That's the miserable truth. For a few moments, the
secrets of the universe are opened to us. Life is a cheap parlor
trick.
But then the genius, the savant, has to hand over the controls to the
next guy down the pike, most likely the guy who just wants to eat
potato chips, and insight and brilliance and salvation are all
entrusted to a moron or a hedonist or a narcoleptic.
The only way out of this mess, of course, is to take steps to ensure
that you control the idiots that you become. To take your chain gang,
hand in hand, and lead them. The best way to do this is with a list.
It's like a letter you write to yourself. A master plan, drafted by
the guy who can see the light, made with steps simple enough for the
rest of the idiots to understand. Follow steps one through one
hundred. Repeat as necessary.
Your problem is a little more acute, maybe, but fundamentally the same
thing.
It's like that computer thing, the Chinese room. You remember that?
One guy sits in a little room, laying down cards with letters written
on them in a language he doesn't understand, laying them down one
letter at a time in a sequence according to someone else's
instructions. The cards are supposed to spell out a joke in Chinese.
The guy doesn't speak Chinese, of course. He just follows his
instructions.
There are some obvious differences in your situation, of course: You
broke out of the room they had you in, so the whole enterprise has to
be portable. And the guy giving the instructions-that's you, too, just
an earlier version of you. And the joke you're telling, well, it's got
a punch line. I just don't think anyone's going to find it very funny.
So that's the idea. All you have to do is follow your instructions.
Like climbing a ladder or descending a staircase. One step at a time.
Right down the list. Simple.
And the secret, of course, to any list is to keep it in a place where
you're bound to see it.
***
HE CAN HEAR THE BUZZING through his eyelids. Insistent. He reaches out
for the alarm clock, but he can't move his arm.
Earl opens his eyes to see a large man bent double over him. The man
looks up at him, annoyed, then resumes his work. Earl looks around
him. Too dark for a doctor's office.
Then the pain floods his brain, blocking out the other questions. He
squirms gain, trying to yank his forearm away, the one that feels
like it's burning. The arm doesn't move, but the man shoots him
another scowl. Earl adjusts himself in the chair to see over the top
of the man's head.
The noise and the pain are both coming from a gun in the man's hand-a
gun with a needle where the barrel should be. The needle is digging
into the fleshy underside of Earl's forearm, leaving a trail of puffy
letters behind it.
Earl tries to rearrange himself to get a better view, to read the
letters on his arm, but he can't. He lies back and stares at the
ceiling.
Eventually the tattoo artist turns off the noise, wipes Earl's forearm
with a piece of gauze, and wanders over to the back to dig up a
pamphlet describing how to deal with a possible infection. Maybe later
he'll tell his wife about this guy and his little note. Maybe his wife
will convince him to call the police.
Earl looks down at the arm. The letters are rising up from the skin,
weeping a little. They run from just behind the strap of Earl's watch
all the way to the inside of his elbow. Earl blinks at the message and
reads it again. It says, in careful little capitals, I RAPED AND
KILLED YOUR WIFE.
***
It's your birthday today, so I got you a little present. I would have
just bought you a beer, but who knows where that would have ended?
So instead, I got you a bell. I think I may have had to pawn your
watch to buy it, but what the hell did you need a watch for, anyway?
You're probably asking yourself, Why a bell? In fact, I'm guessing
you're going to be asking yourself that question every time you find
it in your pocket. Too many of these letters now. Too many for you to
dig back into every time you want to know the answer to some little
question.
It's a joke, actually. A practical joke. But think of it this way: I'm
not really laughing at you so much as with you.
I'd like to think that every time you take it out of your pocket and
wonder, Why do I have this bell? a little part of you, a little piece
of your broken brain, will remember and laugh, like I'm laughing now.
Besides, you do know the answer. It was something you learned before.
So if you think about it, you'll know.
Back in the old days, people were obsessed with the fear of being
buried alive. You remember now? Medical science not being quite what
it is today, it wasn't uncommon for people to suddenly wake up in a
casket. So rich folks had their coffins outfitted with breathing
tubes. Little tubes running up to the mud above so that if someone
woke up when they weren't supposed to, they wouldn't run out of
oxygen. Now, they must have tested this out and realized that you
could shout yourself hoarse through the tube, but it was too narrow to
carry much noise. Not enough to attract attention, at least. So a
string was run up the tube to a little bell attached to the headstone.
If a dead person came back to life, all he had to do was ring his
little bell till someone came and dug him up again.
I'm laughing now, picturing you on a bus or maybe in a fast-food
restaurant, reaching into your pocket and finding your little bell and
wondering to yourself where it came from, why you have it. Maybe
you'll even ring it.
Happy birthday, buddy.
I don't know who figured out the solution to our mutual problem, so I
don't know whether to congratulate you or me. A bit of a lifestyle
change, admittedly, but an elegant solution, nonetheless.
Look to yourself for the answer.
That sounds like something out of a Hallmark card. I don't know when
you thought it up, but my hat's off to you. Not that you know what the
hell I'm talking about. But, honestly, a real brainstorm. After all,
everybody else needs mirrors to remind themselves who they are. You're
no different.
***
THE LITTLE MECHANICAL VOICE PAUSES, then repeats itself. It says, "The
time is 8:00 a.m. This is a courtesy call." Earl opens his eyes and
replaces the receiver. The phone is perched on a cheap veneer
headboard that stretches behind the bed, curves to meet the corner,
and ends at the minibar. The TV is still on, blobs of flesh color
nattering away at each other. Earl lies back down and is surprised to
see himself, older now, tanned, the hair pulling away from his head
like solar flares. The mirror on the ceiling is cracked, the silver
fading increases. Earl continues to stare at himself, astonished by
what he sees. He is fully dressed, but the clothes are old, threadbare
in places.
Earl feels the familiar spot on his left wrist for his watch, but it's
gone. He looks down from the mirror to his arm. It is bare and the
skin has changed to an even tan, as if he never owned a watch in the
first place. The skin is even in color except for the solid black
arrow on the inside of Earl's wrist, pointing up his shirtsleeve. He
stares at the arrow for a moment. Perhaps he doesn't try to rub it off
anymore. He rolls up his sleeve.
The arrow points to a sentence tattooed along Earl's inner arm. Earl
reads the sentence once, maybe twice. Another arrow picks up at the
beginning of the sentence, points farther up Earl's arm, disappearing
under the rolled-up shirtsleeve. He unbuttons his shirt.
Looking down on his chest, he can make out the shapes but cannot bring
them into focus, so he looks up at the mirror above him.
The arrow leads up Earl's arm, crosses at the shoulder, and descends
onto his upper torso, terminating at a picture of a man's face that
occupies most of his chest. The face is that of a large man, balding,
with a mustache and a goatee. It is a particular face, but like a
police sketch it has a certain unreal quality.
The rest of his upper torso is covered in words, phrases, bits of
information, and instructions, all of them written backward on Earl,
forward in the mirror.
EventuallyEarl sits up, buttons his shirt, and crosses to the desk. He takes out
a pen and a piece of notepaper from the desk drawer, sits, and begins
to write.
***
I don't know where you'll be when you read this. I'm not even sure if
you'll bother to read this. I guess you don't need to.
It's a shame, really, that you and I will never meet. But, like the
song says, "By the time you read this note, I'll be gone."
We're so close now. That's the way it feels. So many pieces put
together, spelled out. I guess it's just a matter of time until you
find him.
Who knows what we've done to get here? Must be a hell of a story, if
only you could remember any of it. I guess it's better that you can't.
I had a thought just now. Maybe you'll find it useful.
Everybody is waiting for the end to come, but what if it already
passed us by? What if the final joke of Judgment Day was that it had
already come and gone and we were none the wiser? Apocalypse arrives
quietly; the chosen are herded off to heaven, and the rest of us, the
ones who failed the test, just keep on going, oblivious. Dead
already, wandering around long after the gods have stopped keeping
score, still optimistic about the future.
I guess if that's true, then it doesn't matter what you do. No
expectations. If you can't find him, then it doesn't matter, because
nothing matters. And if you do find him, then you can kill him without
worrying about the consequences. Because there are no consequences.
That's what I'm thinking about right now, in this scrappy little room.
Framed pictures of ships on the wall. I don't know, obviously, but if
I had to guess, I'd say we're somewhere up the coast. If you're
wondering why your left arm is five shades browner than your right, I
don't know what to tell you. I guess we must have been driving for a
while. And, no, I don't know what happened to your watch.
And all these keys: I have no idea. Not a one that I recognize. Car
keys and house keys and the little fiddly keys for padlocks. What have
we been up to?
I wonder if he'll feel stupid when you find him. Tracked down by the
ten-minute man. Assassinated by a vegetable.
I'll be gone in a moment. I'll put down the pen, close my eyes, and
then you can read this through if you want.
I just wanted you to know that I'm proud of you. No one who matters is
left to say it. No one left is going to want to.
EARL'S EYES ARE WIDE OPEN, staring through the window of the car.
Smiling eyes. Smiling through the window at the crowd gathering across
the street. The crowd gathering around the body in the doorway. The
body emptying slowly across the sidewalk and into the storm drain.
***
A stocky guy, facedown, eyes open. Balding head, goatee. In death, as
in police sketches, faces tend to look the same. This is definitely
somebody in particular. But really, it could be anybody.
Earl is still smiling at the body as the car pulls away from the curb.
The car? Who's to say? Maybe it's a police cruiser. Maybe it's just a
taxi.
As the car is swallowed into traffic, Earl's eyes continue to shine
out into the night, watching the body until it disappears into a
circle of concerned pedestrians. He chuckles to himself as the car
continues to make distance between him and the growing crowd.
Earl's smile fades a little. Something has occurred to him. He begins
to pat down his pockets; leisurely at first, like a man looking for
his keys, then a little more desperately. Maybe his progress is
impeded by a set of handcuffs. He begins to empty the contents of his
pockets out onto the seat next to him. Some money. A bunch of keys.
Scraps of paper.
A round metal lump rolls out of his pocket and slides across the vinyl
seat. Earl is frantic now. He hammers at the plastic divider between
him and the driver, begging the man for a pen. Perhaps the cabbie
doesn't speak much English. Perhaps the cop isn't in the habit of
talking to suspects. Either way, the divider between the man in front
and the man behind remains closed. A pen is not forthcoming.
The car hits a pothole, and Earl blinks at his reflection in the
rearview mirror. He is calm now. The driver makes another corner, and
the metal lump slides back over to rest against Earl's leg with a
little jingle. He picks it up and looks at it, curious now. It is a
little bell. A little metal bell. Inscribed on it are his name and a
set of dates. He recognizes the first one: the year in which he was
born. But the second date means nothing to him. Nothing at all.
As he turns the bell over in his hands, he notices the empty space on
his wrist where his watch used to sit. There is a little arrow there,
pointing up his arm. Earl looks at the arrow, then begins to roll up
his sleeve.
***
"You'd be late for your own funeral," she'd say. Remember? The more I
think about it, the more trite that seems. What kind of idiot, after
all, is in any kind of rush to get to the end of his own story?
And how would I know if I were late, anyway? I don't have a watch
anymore. I don't know what we did with it.
What the hell do you need a watch for, anyway? It was an antique.
Deadweight tugging at your wrist. Symbol of the old you. The you that
believed in time.
No. Scratch that. It's not so much that you've lost your faith in time
as that time has lost its faith in you. And who needs it, anyway? Who
wants to be one of those saps living in the safety of the future, in
the safety of the moment after the moment in which they felt something
powerful? Living in the next moment, in which they feel nothing.
Crawling down the hands of the clock, away from the people who did
unspeakable things to them. Believing the lie that time will heal all
wounds-which is just a nice way of saying that time deadens us.
But you're different. You're more perfect. Time is three things for
most people, but for you, for us, just one. A singularity. One moment.
This moment. Like you're the center of the clock, the axis on which
the hands turn. Time moves about you but never moves you. It has lost
its ability to affect you. What is it they say? That time is theft?
But not for you. Close your eyes and you can start all over again.
Conjure up that necessary emotion, fresh as roses.
Time is an absurdity. An abstraction. The only thing that matters is
this moment. This moment a million times over. You have to trust me.
If this moment is repeated enough, if you keep trying-and you have to
keep trying-eventually you will come across the next item on your
list.
End.
| screenplays |
the hypoperfused brain at risk of infarction has two distinct regions , penumbra and core or umbra.1 penumbra is the area of the hypoperfused brain supplied by the collateral circulation that is still viable but at risk of irreversible infarction if blood flow is not restored .
the core is the region of hypoperfused brain which is already infarcted.2 the introduction of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator ( iv t - pa ) as a successful therapy for acute ischemic stroke was a milestone in the field of medicine and along with the technological developments in the field of neuroimaging and angiography has further opened up avenues for development of novel technologies for acute stroke care.3 modern endovascular stroke therapy is a result of these advances and is the main focus of this review .
thrombolysis , the mainstay of acute therapy , can be achieved by pharmacological , mechanical or a mixture of both methods .
the thrombus consists of a variable mixture of fibrin strands with platelets and red blood cells .
the exact composition of the thrombus depends on its source and hemodynamics in the vessel during the thrombus formation.4 innate thrombolytic mechanisms include chemical thrombolysis mediated by plasmin .
arterial blood flow helps in augmenting this process by the mechanical disruption of the thrombus .
tissue plasminogen activator ( t - pa ) acts by hydrolyzing plasminogen to plasmin , which in turns dissolves the thrombus leading to restoration of the blood flow .
however the utility and efficacy of iv t - pa in acute stroke therapy is limited by a narrow time window for treatment , thrombus burden , thrombus composition , and patient related thrombolytic contraindications.5,6 site of occlusion is a major factor with rates of recanalization dropping dramatically with proximal occlusions .
the rates of recanalization with distal middle cerebral arteries is 44% versus 25 - 29% with proximal middle cerebral arteries and 10% with terminal internal carotid arteries.7,8,9 thrombolysis using iv t - pa is only effective in improving outcomes in a minority of patients .
the earliest attempts at intra arterial thrombolysis were reported by sussman in 1958 using purified plasmin ( fibrinolysin).10 over the next few decades , the development and improved understanding of thrombolytic drugs , advances in the neuroimaging and angiographic equipment led to the active resurgence of endovascular stroke therapy with several small case series and pilot studies in the late 80 's and early 90 's culminating in the era of prospective randomized endovascular stroke trials.11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21 in 1996 , fda approved the use of t - pa for intravenous use within 3 hours of stroke onset based upon the result of national institute of neurological disorders and stroke t - pa study.3 prolyse in acute cerebral thromboembolism trial ii ( proact ) was the first prospective randomized trial looking at safety and efficacy of intra - arterial ( ia ) recombinant prourokinase ( r - prouk ) and heparin vs. saline placebo and heparin .
both showed higher rates of recanalization and better 90-day clinical outcome in patients treated with ia r - prouk despite an increased incidence of early symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.16,17 there was a trend towards better outcomes in secondary outcome measures . in spite of the encouraging results from this trial , r - prouk was never developed to the point of licensure for clinical use
the potential pitfalls of proact - ii included use of heparin which may have contributed to increased major hemorrhage , inclusion of patients with irreversible changes on ct , lack of collateral assessment , and late treatment times.16,17 the ems bridging trial was a small pilot ( n=35 ) , prospective randomized trial that assessed the use of iv t - pa followed by ia t - pa vs. placebo followed by ia t - pa within 3 hours of stroke onset .
the study showed that the combined iv - ia approach was safe and feasible in the first 3 hours . despite having higher rates of recanalization
, there was no evident benefit in the iv - ia therapy group compared to ia alone , due to the small sample size , and enrollment of more severe strokes in the iv - ia arm.18 the feasibility and safety of the iv - ia approach within 3 hours of acute ischemic stroke was further demonstrated in the ims i & ims ii studies.19,20 both were prospective cohort studies in which the ia techniques were restricted to delivery of ia thrombolytic drug through microcatheters along with mechanical clot disruption by the guidewire or microcatheter .
the era of mechanical thrombectomy was launched with the development of mechanical embolus removal in cerebral ischemia ( merci ) retriever .
the rates of recanalization and chance of good clinical outcome were higher with the use of merci retriever when used with in 8 hours of stroke onset in the merci & multi merci trials.22,23 although these were both cohort studies and not randomized clinical trials , the evidence was substantive enough to obtain fda approval of merci retriever for mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke .
the penumbra stroke system , which works by debulking of thrombus with continuous aspiration was the next major development in the mechanical thrombectomy.24 the rates of recanalization in various series ranged from 67 - 82% .
good clinical outcomes ( mrs < 2 ) occurred in 19 - 25% and all - cause mortality ranged from 19 - 33%.25,26,27 following the introduction of merci and later development of penumbra aspiration system , the focus of endovascular clinical trials shifted from use of iv - ia bridging thrombolysis to use of thrombolysis with bridging mechanical thrombectomy .
encouraging results in favor of iv - ia approach in the international management of stroke ( ims ) i & ii studies and the results of merci & penumbra stroke system trials led to the larger ims iii trial.21 in the ims iii trial , patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours and treated with iv t - pa were randomized to stop iv t - pa after 40 minutes of infusion and proceed to additional endovascular stroke therapy or to continue their iv t - pa infusion .
patients randomized to the endovascular arm were treated at the discretion of the interventionist using available techniques and devices as they were approved by regulatory authorities . at the time of trial initiation ,
ia t - pa and merci retriever were approved . later on penumbra aspiration system and solitaire stent retriever
the results of the ims iii trial were not encouraging , showing a similar efficacy and safety profile for both iv t - pa and endovascular approach .
the intra - arterial versus systemic thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke ( synthesis exp ) trial compared outcomes between iv t - pa vs. ia therapy ( ia t - pa and/or thrombus disruption ) for acute stroke . in spite of having higher recanalization with ia therapy
, there was no difference in the primary outcome of mrs of 0 - 1.28 the mechanical retrieval and recanalization of stroke clots using embolectomy ( mr - rescue ) was a randomized clinical trial assessing the role of mechanical revascularization in acute stroke patients presenting beyond the standard iv t - pa treatment window based on ischemic pattern ( penumbral vs. non penumbral ) on multimodal imaging.29 though the trial showed that neither the use of penumbral pattern for selecting treatment modality was useful nor embolectomy was superior to iv t - pa , there was a trend for a better 3-month outcome and lesser infarct growth in patients with adequate recanalization .
the evolution of treatment for acute st elevation myocardial infarction started with use of nonspecific fibrinolytic drugs followed later by development of more specific fibrinolytic drugs and simultaneous development of percutaneous balloon angioplasty , bare metal coronary stents and then the drug eluting stents .
sequential randomized controlled trials have shown that achieving adequate and faster complete reperfusion [ thrombolysis in myocardial infarction ( timi ) grade 3 ] are the single most important factors affecting the clinical outcome.30,31 timi 3 flow is achieved in only 50 - 60% of cases with the use of fibrinolytic drugs , and 90% with primary percutaneous coronary intervention ( pci).32,33,34,35,36 by comparison , the first trials or primary pci were neutral or negative and it took several trials before it became clear that primary pci was a superior treatment to medical thrombolytic therapy .
extrapolation of these finding to acute stroke management suggest that we need to achieve these same fast and complete reperfusion rates to see success .
success in the current endovascular stroke trials in our view is dependent upon four factors .
these are : 1 ) consecutive enrolment of trial - eligible patients ; 2 ) careful selection of patients using fast stroke imaging ; 3 ) very fast treatment ; 4 ) 90% or better reperfusion of the target circulation ( fig .
commitment to enrolling patients into a clinical trial is critical to both success and generalizability after the fact . if only some of all eligible patients are enrolled the external validity of the study results are threatened .
both mr - rescue and ims iii took many years to recruit in part because eligible patients were being treated in clinical routine rather than being enrolled and randomized .
this delay in completion allowed ongoing technological development , which left the study design behind .
the populations studied may have been the least likely to benefit from the interventional therapy .
there is no practical way to enforce consecutive enrolment at a given clinical centre ; instead the commitment is matter of clinical academic rigour and a handshake agreement .
the importance of imaging based selection is supported by the accumulating evidence of the role of collaterals , baseline ischemic core size in affecting clinical outcomes , and vascular imaging in identifying patients with target lesions that maximally benefit form endovascular therapy.37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44 early ischemic changes seen as hypodensity or loss of grey white differentiation indicate irreversible parenchymal damage.45 identification and quantification of the ischemic core , the tissue that is dead or destined to die , is important for predicting the outcome.3 if a significant core of ischemic tissue is present on initial imaging , the outcome of the patient will be poor despite aggressive therapy.46,47 reperfusion in a patient with significant ischemic core is doubly unhelpful .
first , the dead infarct can not be helped by reperfusion and second , reperfusion increases the chance of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage ( sich).48 quantification of the ischemic core can be based upon either brain mri or ct .
however , there are several practical limitations to the use of mr in acute stroke.49 quantification of the early ischemic changes on the images of the ct head may be done using the alberta stroke program early ct score ( aspects ) score .
a pretreatment aspects > 7 is associated with a reduced risk of sich in acute stroke treated with iv t - pa.50 earlier trials of endovascular therapy have not adequately assessed the extent of early ischemic changes on the initial ct scan for selecting the patient into the trial .
analysis of proact ii and ims i data and more recently the ims iii trial has shown that using aspects may help to choose ideal patients for endovascular therapy.51 patients with an aspects score of 8 - 10 were more likely to have good outcomes compared to patients with an aspect of 0 - 7 in the ims iii trial .
moreover patients with aspects score of 8 - 10 were more likely to have a recanalization of the primary arterial occlusive lesion and more likely to have thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia ( tici ) 2b or 3 grade reperfusion.51,52 the ischemic core and penumbra may be quantified using perfusion imaging with ct or mri .
the importance of early reperfusion in improving the clinical outcome in patients with perfusion - diffusion mismatch on mr was demonstrated in the diffusion and perfusion imaging evaluation for understanding stroke evolution ( defuse ) and echoplanar imaging thrombolytic evaluation trial study.40,41 in the defuse 2 study , it was observed that the patients with mismatch benefited from reperfusion irrespective of the time from symptom onset.42 in these studies , it was clearly demonstrated that patients with large dwi lesions and no mismatch i.e. , a large ischemic core not only had poor clinical response despite recanalization , but also had higher risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.40,41,42 the size of the baseline dwi & perfusion - weighted imaging lesion predicts the chance of a good clinical outcome irrespective of the recanalization status.53,54 though perfusion imaging can be used to select patients for thrombolytic therapy as well as prognosticate the clinical outcome and risk of hemorrhagic transformation , the utility is hampered by the lack of consensus on the perfusion parameter to be used , the amount of mismatch and post processing techniques.37,38,39,55,56,57,58 stroke is primarily a disease of the vasculature .
vascular imaging helps in determining the severity and extent of occlusion and the collateral status and in an immediate understanding of the physiology of the stroke.59,60 the identification of the arterial occlusion helps in predicting the response to the thrombolytic therapy as well as guiding the judicious use of endovascular therapy.6 baseline ischemic changes are significantly influenced by leptomeningeal collateral status .
collaterals play an important role in the outcome of a stroke patient and influence the clinical deficit , the brain tolerance to ischemia and the time window available for the urgent stroke revascularization .
analysis of the recent endovascular stroke trials has shown that patients with good collaterals have better baseline and 24-hour aspects score , higher rates of recanalization , reperfusion and good clinical outcomes.61,62,63,64 this supports the utility of collateral assessment in selecting the patients for endovascular therapy.65 in the ims iii , baseline aspects was not mandatory before enrolling study participants , however patients with significant baseline ischemia on ct i.e. , more than 1/3rd mca territory were excluded .
92 of the 656 patients enrolled in ims iii had a baseline aspects of 0 - 4 indicating severe baseline ischemia and 57 of these were in the endovascular arm.51 only 6% and 15% of the subjects with a baseline aspects of 0 - 4 had achieved a mrs of 0 - 1 and 0 - 2 , respectively .
similarly , baseline vascular imaging was not required to be done per protocol , but 305 of the 656 patients enrolled in the ims iii trial had a baseline ct angiography ( cta ) as per local stroke practice . of these 305 patients , 24 showed no occlusion and of these 21 were randomized to the endovascular arm .
80 of the patients in the endovascular arm did not have a target occlusive lesion .
a total of 147 patients in the ims iii cohort did not have a target arterial occlusive lesion responsible for the stroke.66 in the mr - rescue study , though base line penumbral imaging was done it was not used to select patients for endovascular therapy in the study .
vascular imaging was however used to select patients with a large vessel occlusion ( ica , m1 mca , m2 mca ) and only 5 of the 70 ( 7% ) patients randomized to the endovascular therapy did not have a mr - demonstrable occlusion.67 in the synthesis exp study , neither the baseline quantification of the ischemic imaging nor vascular imaging to identify the target occlusive lesion or collaterals was used as entry criteria for the study participants.28 however , only 3 of the 181 patients in the endovascular arm however did not have any occlusion observed at angiography .
faster treatment from stroke onset to intravenous t - pa is associated with better clinical outcome.68,69 the same is true for endovascular therapy : in all the major endovascular trials to date , it has been convincingly demonstrated that the longer time to initiation of treatment resulted in a worse clinical outcome.17,19,20,22,23,24,70 in the ims iii trial , the time to reperfusion was associated with a decreasing chance of good clinical outcome and increased risk of adverse events seen with delayed reperfusion .
there is a 12 - 15% relative reduction in likelihood of a good clinical outcome for every 30-minute delay in the time to reperfusion.71 the mean time from onset to groin puncture and the onset to ia therapy time in the ims iii was 208 and 249.4 minutes respectively indicating significant delay in the treatment . in
the cohort of patients who achieved reperfusion , the mean time from symptom onset to reperfusion was 325 minutes with significant delay attributable to iv t - pa to groin puncture and groin puncture to reperfusion of 81 and 124 minutes respectively.71 the mean time from symptom onset to endovascular therapy in the mr - rescue study was 381 min.67 in synthesis exp , the median time from symptom onset to start of endovascular therapy was 225 minutes in the endovascular therapy group.28 the importance and feasibility of faster endovascular recanalization treatments in improving the clinical outcome is further highlighted in the solitaire fr thrombectomy for acute revascularization study.72 door to needle times as fast as 20 - 25 minutes can be achieved with proper planning and infrastructure changes.73,74 strict adherence to stroke performance metrics like door to needle time , picture - to - puncture , picture - to - perfusion time and comprehensive metrics like symptom onset to reperfusion time can vastly improve the chances of good clinical outcome.75,76,77,78 measures targeting overall system improvement focusing on faster transport , faster transfer of the clinical data , rapid imaging & mobilization of the interventional team will lead to faster reperfusion and thus improve the overall clinical outcome.72,78,79
the ultimate aim of endovascular stroke therapy is to reperfuse the ischemic brain , which in turn is a critical determinant of the good clinical outcome .
the adequacy of reperfusion is measured by using tici score on an angiography or a ct angiography.80 there is a graded relationship between the degree of reperfusion and outcome . whereas , prior simple dichotomization of the tici at 0 or 1 vs. 2 or 3 ( based upon the same approach in coronary artery disease with the timi score ) , was the standard of reporting , it is now clear that a tici score of 2b or 3 is required for a good angiographic outcome ; tici 2a is not enough .
reporting of reperfusion has been variable among prior studies . among patients with complete proximal occlusions in the anterior circulation treated with endovascular therapy in the ims iii study ,
40% of the patients achieving tici 2 or 3 reperfusion had good clinical outcome vs. 10% of patients with out reperfusion.71 the rates of tici 2b or 3 recanalization in the ims iii was 38% for an internal carotid occlusion , 44% for an m1 occlusion , 44% for a single m2 occlusion , 23% for multiple m2 occlusions .
the rates of timi 2 or 3 recanalization with the penumbra aspiration system were 82% in the penumbra pivotal stroke trial.24 in the post trial , a post marketing study , the rates of timi 2 or 3 recanalization with penumbra system were 87%.81 in the swift study , the rates of early reperfusion of timi grade 2 or 3 were 69% with the solitaire device and 30% with the merci retriever . in the trevo versus merci retrievers for thrombectomy revascularisation of large vessel occlusions in acute ischaemic stroke ( trevo 2 ) study , the rate of tici 2 or 3 recanalization was 86% with the trevo stent retriever and 60% with the merci retriever .
the rates of tici 2b or 3 recanalization with trevo and merci retriever 's were 68% and 44% , respectively . the overall rate of tici 2 or 3 recanalization in the endovascular arm of the ims iii was 41.9% ( 182/434 ) .
the rates of tici 2 or 3 recanalization in the ims iii with individual devices is as follows-73% with the merci retriever , 85% with the penumbra system , 75% with the solitaire device . in the mr - rescue trial , the rates of post procedure recanalization ( tici 2b or 3 ) was just 27% ( supplementary data).67 the rates of post procedure recanalization were not available from the synthesis exp study.28 no study has yet achieved a 90% good reperfusion ( tici 2b or 3 ) target , which we argue is the most meaningful reperfusion metric .
recanalization and reperfusion are two independent measures of therapeutic efficacy and the timing of measurement of the former has implications in assessing the treatment outcome . in the ims iii trial
all patients had a 24-hour cta to assess recanalization.21 measuring the recanalization after a considerable delay from the initial treatment will not be able to differentiate between those with early vs. late recanalization by including patients with delayed spontaneous recanalization .
there is often a mismatch in the clinical trials with higher reperfusion rates but lesser rates of good clinical outcomes .
the rates of futile recanalization have ranged form 30% to 50% in various endovascular trials.16,20,82 the apparent higher rates of futile recanalization in earlier endovascular stroke trials are , in part due to the timing of measurement . this was evident in ims - iii where 24-hour cta - defined recanalization rate was approximately double the rate immediately post - angiography .
thus , reasons for poor outcomes after endovascular stroke therapy include not only lack of recanalization but also late ( or futile ) recanalization .
we believe that success will be determined by whether trials can execute on all four of these pillars of treatment described above .
other ongoing trials have taken differing approaches , not making all four of these factors so critical in deciding who to treat .
it is an exciting time to be involved in stroke treatment because patients with an otherwise fatal illness can be cured and walk out of hospital .
our understanding of baseline imaging is going to be finally defined by outcomes because our results will no longer be confounded by lack of reperfusion .
completion of the current endovascular trials with positive results is going to result in necessary changes in the structure of stroke care .
we predict that there will be a center - by - volume relationships with outcomes because high performing teams will have the best treatment times and the best outcomes .
we predict that centralization of stroke care will benefit not only those who are candidates for endovascular treatment but all stroke patients who get diverted to central stroke units . for now , we must focus our efforts on very high performance in clinical research studies and we must execute endovascular treatment interventions very fast with high reperfusion rates . | pubmed |
stress urinary incontinence ( sui ) is the most prevalent disease in middle - aged women , with an incidence of 30 to 50% .
obesity is an important risk factor for the development of urinary incontinence at an old age in addition to vaginal delivery , a history of gynecological surgery , body mass index ( bmi ) , menopausal status , smoking , and coffee and alcohol consumption . currently , obesity is not just a cosmetic problem .
obesity is an increasing health problem all over the world that affects as much as 25% of the adult population in many countries in europe , in australia , and in the united states .
the third national health and nutrition survey reported in 2001 announced that the overall prevalence of obesity ( bmi25.0 kg / m ) in korean adults is 30.6% ( 32.4% in men and 29.4% in women ) .
some have described the increase of intra - abdominal pressure in obese patients , and this phenomenon may stress the pelvic floor , possibly causing nerve and muscular injuries that may lead to a higher prevalence of sui .
although weight loss may be beneficial to obese patients with sui , operative interventions remain the best options for definitive treatment .
a number of techniques for the correction of sui have been described through the years .
since the description of the tension - free vaginal tape ( tvt ) procedure in 1996 , interest in minimally invasive techniques for treating sui and the attractiveness of such treatments to patients have led to a number of modifications of the tvt procedure , including transobturator vaginal tape ( tot ) and suprapubic arch sling ( sparc ) .
this kind of surgery is generally considered to have the advantages of low morbidity , reduced costs , and shorter hospital stay .
however , there are not many large prospective series , and few studies have assessed the outcome of these procedures in obese women .
the purpose of this study was to assess the potential impact of obesity on the success rate of the monarc and sparc sling procedures , patient satisfaction , and complications at 1 year after surgery .
between january 2004 and december 2003 , 337 consecutive women who suffered from sui underwent either the sparc or the tot procedure in our institute , and this study analyzed 323 of the patients who had been followed up for at least 1 year .
the patients were classified into three groups by bmi according to the world health organization expert consultation : the normal - weight group ( a , bmi 18.5 to 22.9 kg / m ) , the overweight group ( b , bmi 23 to 27.5 kg / m ) , and the obese group ( c , bmi>27.6 kg / m ) .
the success rate of the procedures and the patients ' satisfaction with the procedures were assessed after 1 year through questionnaires , interviews with the patients , and medical records .
all the patients were preoperatively evaluated through the review of their medical history , physical examinations , and urinalysis and urodynamic studies including the measurement of valsalva leak point pressure ( vlpp ) .
the severity of urinary incontinence was classified by the stamey grade as grade i for women who lost urine only with coughing , sneezing , or lifting heavy objects ; grade ii for those who lost urine with minimal activities such as walking or arising from the sitting position ; and grade iii for those who were totally incontinent in the upright position .
patients with previous failed anti - incontinence surgeries or treatments with bulking agent were also eligible for the study .
patients with mixed urinary incontinence were not excluded as far as their cystometrogram showed normal capacity , compliance , and no uninhibited contractions .
patients with obstructive , unstable bladder functions or neurogenic bladders were excluded from the study .
all surgeries were performed with the patient in the lithotomy position under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia .
after the bladder was voided by inserting a catheter , a median incision was made around 2.0 cm long along the mid - urethra from the lower portion of the external orifice of the urethra on the anterior vaginal wall , and tissue on both sides around the urethra was detached through the incision . in the sparc procedure , 1-cm long skin incisions were made on both sides of the superior pubis , and sparc needles were inserted so that the needle tip went through the posterior surface of the pubis and came out to the incision on the anterior vaginal wall . in the monarc procedure ,
an incision was made on the obtuator foramen , and a tunnel was inserted through the rear side of the ischiopubic ramus in the direction of 45 from the horizontal and vertical planes so that its end came out to the incision site on the vagina .
the same method was applied to both sides so that the two needle ends were positioned in the incision sites on the anterior vaginal wall , and cystoscopy was performed to see if there was any injury in the bladder or the urethra .
tape was connected to the two needle tips , and mayo scissors were hung on the tape so that tensile force was not applied . in this state , the tape was pulled from the outer area of the superior pubis and the obtuator foramen so that it was positioned at around the mid - urethra . in cases in which no bladder perforations occurred during the operation ,
the catheter was removed on day 2 to 3 and self - voiding was tried .
if bladder perforation occurred , the catheter was maintained for 7 to 10 days and was then removed and self - voiding was tried .
if self - voiding failed or the quantity of residual was over 100 ml , intermittent self - catheterization was performed .
if the symptoms were not improved even with intermittent self - catheterization , urethral dilatation was performed , or within 1 month from the surgery the tensile force of the tape was adjusted under local anesthesia .
" cure " meant a state without urinary incontinence at all ; " improvement " meant a state in which no particular treatment was necessary because urinary incontinence was quite rare or the patient was highly satisfied with the outcome of the surgery ; and " failure " meant a state in which the severity of urinary incontinence had not changed after surgery or the patient was not satisfied with the outcome of surgery .
the level of satisfaction with the outcome of surgery was graded as " satisfied , " " fair , " or " dissatisfied , " and the subjective success rate included " satisfied " and " fair . " in addition , we assessed the objective success rate and the subjective success rate in patients with mixed urinary incontinence , and investigated the safety of the sparc procedure and the monarc procedure by comparing the incidence of postoperative complications .
the results of this study were processed statistically through independent - sample student 's t - tests and one - way analysis of variance , and statistical significance was considered if p<0.05 .
the numbers of patients in the normal - weight group , overweight group , and obese group were 103 , 186 , and 34 , respectively , and the patients ' mean ages were 49.237.90 , 50.428.14 , and 52.156.53 years , respectively ( p=0.873 ) .
the mean numbers of childbirths were 2.170.85 , 2.380.84 , and 2.320.91 ( p=0.138 ) ; the patients ' mean bmis were 21.511.11 kg / m , 24.81.24 kg / m , and 29.642.17 kg / m ( p<0.001 ) ; the mean preoperative maximum urine flow rates were 28.8810.99 ml / s , 30.309.96 ml / s , and 33.4414.94 ml / s ( p=0.106 ) ; and the mean preoperative vlpps were 70.9027.14 cm / h2o , 68.8129.80 cm / h2o , and 64.9723.70 cm / h2o ( p=0.562 ) . concerning the history of hypertension and diabetes in the groups , the normal - weight , overweight , and obese groups had , respectively , 16 , 30 , and 14 hypertensive patients ( p=0.002 ) and 7 , 11 , and 7 patients with diabetes ( p=0.012 ) .
in addition , there were , respectively , 12 , 36 , and 7 patients with a history of pelvic surgery and 2 , 4 , and 2 patients with a history of surgery for urinary incontinence . when preoperative patient characteristics were compared among the groups , no statistically significant differences
were observed except for the history of hypertension and diabetes ( table 1 ) . when the postoperative objective success rate and subjective success rate were compared among the groups , the objective success rates of the sling operation were 95.1% ( 98/103 ) , 95.7% ( 178/186 ) , and 94.1% ( 32/34 ) , respectively , in the normal - weight , overweight , and obese groups ( p=0.288 ) , and the subjective success rates were 94.2% ( 97/103 ) , 95.7% ( 178/186 ) , and 94.1% ( 32/34 ) ( p=0.163 ) .
the objective success rates of the sparc procedure were 94.4% ( 85/90 ) , 96.7% ( 148/153 ) , and 96.8% ( 30/31 ) ( p=0.321 ) , and the subjective success rates were 94.4% ( 85/90 ) , 96.1% ( 147/153 ) , and 96.8% ( 30/31 ) ( p=0.222 ) .
the objective success rates of the monarc procedure were , respectively , 100.0% ( 13/13 ) , 90.9% ( 30/33 ) , and 66.7% ( 2/3 ) ( p=0.742 ) , and the subjective success rates were 92.3% ( 12/13 ) , 93.9% ( 31/33 ) , and 66.7% ( 2/3 ) ( p=0.779 ) .
the differences in the success rates according to bmi were not statistically significant ( tables 2 - 4 ) .
in addition , 34 , 70 , and 16 patients in each group , respectively , had mixed incontinence and the objective success rates and subjective success rates were , respectively , 91.2% ( 31/34 ) , 90.0% ( 63/70 ) , and 100.0% ( 16/16 ) ( p=0.183 ) and 91.2% ( 31/34 ) , 88.6% ( 62/70 ) , and 100.0% ( 16/16 ) ( p=0.139 ) .
these differences among the groups were not statistically significant ( table 5 ) . concerning postoperative complications , the normal - weight group had one case of bladder injury , three of acute urinary retention , and two of urinary urgency ; the overweight group had one case of bladder injury , two of urinary retention , and one of urinary urgency ; and the obese group had one case of urinary retention and one of urinary urgency . on the whole ,
no significant differences were observed in the incidence of complications among the groups ( p=0.441 ) ( table 6 ) .
obesity is a well - established risk factor for the development of sui and may impact the voiding pattern , but the exact mechanism of this effect is not clear .
higher intra - abdominal pressure has been observed in patients with higher bmi , and this may stress the pelvic floor secondary to a chronic state of increased pressure .
mommsen and foldspang investigated 2,589 women aged 30 to 59 years and reported that , independently of other risk factors , bmi and the incidence of urinary incontinence in women were positively correlated with each other and , among the types of urinary incontinence , bmi was most closely related to sui . increased intra - abdominal pressure elevates pressure at the maximum cystometric capacity and decreases cough pressure transmission from the bladder to the urethra , in addition to decreasing vlpp , which may contribute to the development of sui in obese patients . on the other hand , obesity - induced neurogenic effects on the pelvic floor may also contribute to the development of urgency or urge incontinence .
however , in our data , we found no significant differences in vlpp , the grade of sui , and urgency and urge incontinence .
the results of a study of a korean population by ku et al . agree with our data .
we believe that obesity was defined by a bmi of 30 or higher in the western population studied in the previous report , and this may make a difference in the results .
nonsurgical treatments include drug therapy and physical therapies such as pelvic floor exercise , biofeedback therapy , and electrical stimulation therapy .
these treatments are applicable when symptoms are mild or the patient can not endure surgery and are less invasive and less costly than surgical ones . however , these treatments have a low cure rate and require the patient 's high compliance and , in this sense , their expected effect is lower than that of surgical treatments .
it is generally known that , for obese patients , surgery through the incision of the abdominal pelvic part increases the incidence of complications and is difficult to perform .
for example , burch vaginal suspension and marshall - marchetti - krantz cystourethropexy are invasive procedures with a large incision site . according to the report of o'sullivan et al .
when obese women who had bladder neck suspension were followed up for 5 years , the failure rate was significantly higher than that in normal - weight women .
moreover , varner reported that among sui patients who underwent retropubic bladder neck suspension , 3 patients experienced recurrence after the surgery and all of them were obese .
those authors suggested that the result was evidence that obesity may increase intraabdominal and pelvic pressure and cause the failure of surgery . on the other hand , however , parnell et al .
reported that 2 obese patients were cured among 151 sui patients treated through the marshall - marchetti - krantz procedure , and harris et al . reported that they performed anterior colpopexy or retropubic urethropexy for sui patients and that obesity did not affect the outcome of the procedures
, reports are not consistent on the outcomes of invasive procedures for urinary incontinence in obese patients . in 1996 ,
described tvt , a kind of modified sling procedure , which has since been applied to many patients with sui with long - term follow - up results that have been reported to be satisfactory .
the modified sling procedure began to be used for obese women as a substitute for previous invasive surgery , and several reports have been made on the postoperative success rates of the procedure .
performed transvaginal bladder neck suspension in 4 of 16 obese women and the sling procedure in the other 12 .
failure occurred in two of the patients who underwent transvaginal bladder neck suspension but in none of the patients who underwent the sling procedure . when addressing this result , the authors explained that the sling procedure supports the tissue around the urethra without suturing , and because this tissue is already weak and easily torn , it is more durable to correction by the sling procedure than by transvaginal bladder neck suspension . on the basis of this explanation , those authors argued that the sling procedure is the best treatment for sui in obese women .
the basic principle of the sparc procedure is the same , but the approach used is opposite to that of the tvt procedure , with the anterior vaginal wall being accessed from the superior pubis .
kim et al . reported this procedure to be equally effective and safe for the surgical treatment of female sui .
in addition , the tot procedure had been developed , in which the anterior vaginal wall is accessed through the obturator foramen , which differs from the tvt procedure , which uses the retropubic route .
this procedure is a safe and effective treatment for women with sui , and is comparable with tvt .
noted that the cure rate of the tot procedure was 92% and the satisfaction rate was 98% .
these new procedures reduce surgery - induced wounds because the incision and the detachment of the vaginal wall are not large ; consequently , hospital stay is shortened and management after discharge is simple . for obese patients , the minimal size of the incision
there have been a number of reports about the success rate of tvt surgery in obese patients , and the consensus is that obesity does not influence the outcomes of tvt .
recently , the sparc procedure and the tot procedure are producing good results in the treatment sui patients , but not many reports have been made on their effect in obese patients .
ku et al . performed the tvt and sparc sling procedures and confirmed the feasibility and safety of the sparc procedure when applied to obese women who suffer from sui .
in addition , rechberger et al . conducted 269 retropubic and 268 transobturator sling procedures and demonstrated that bmi does not influence the clinical effectiveness of sui treatment . in our study as well , the difference in the success rate according to bmi was not statistically significant , and the success rate differed little among the different types of surgery conducted in our hospital .
however , to evaluate the exact influence of obesity on sling operation outcomes , long - term follow - up is needed .
moreover , it was reported recently that the success rate was high not only in obese patients with sui but also in those with mixed urinary incontinence . in 1998 ,
ulmsten et al . reported a cure rate of 91% and an improvement rate of 7% among 131 sui patients . in 2000 , moran et al .
reported an objective cure rate of 95% and a subjective cure rate of 80% in 40 patients . in our study as well , the objective cure rate and the subjective cure rate were 91.6% and 90.8% , respectively , in patients with mixed urinary incontinence , and the differences in the rates according to bmi were not statistically significant .
this suggests that both the sparc procedure and the tot procedure are sufficiently effective also for patients with mixed urinary incontinence .
various postoperative complications have been reported including bladder perforation , intestinal perforation , urinary tract infection , bleeding , hematoma , transient urinary retention , and newly developed de novo urgency , but the incidence of such complications is known to be low . according to recent reports on postoperative complications , however , rafii et al . reported that they performed the tvt procedure for 147 normal - weight or overweight patients and 38 obese patients and found no significant difference in the cure rate among the patient groups according to bmi , although the incidence of de novo urgency was higher in the obese group than in the normal - weight group . also , sung et al . performed a meta - analysis of tvt and transobturator approach studies and concluded that the transobturator sling operation had a lower risk ( odds ratio : 0.54 ) of de novo bladder voiding symptoms than did the tvt procedure .
in our study , 2 cases of bladder perforation , 6 of transient urinary retention , and 4 of de novo urgency occurred among 323 patients , but the differences in the incidence of complications according to operative procedure or bmi were not statistically significant
. moreover , there were no major complications that required laparotomy or massive transfusion , and the complications that occurred were all improved through conservative treatment or the administration of anticholinergics . accordingly , both of the two procedures are believed to be effective and safe regardless of bmi .
in this study , the sparc sling operation and the monarc sling operation showed similar subjective cure rates , patient satisfaction , and incidence of postoperative complications regardless of bmi and were also effective for patients with mixed urinary incontinence at the 1-year follow - up .
accordingly , these sling procedures are believed to be safely applicable to overweight and obese women , although longer - term follow - up is needed .
moreover , efforts should be made to choose an operative procedure suitable for the condition of the patients through continuous large - scale studies . | pubmed |
Luitz-Morat 18841929 was a French actor, screenwriter and film director.
Selected filmography
A Roman Orgy 1911
The City Destroyed 1924
Surcouf 1925
Jean Chouan 1926
The Chocolate Girl 1927
Odette 1928
A Foolish Maiden 1929
References
Bibliography
Dayna Oscherwitz. Past Forward: French Cinema and the Post-Colonial Heritage. SIU Press, 2010.
External links
Category:1884 births
Category:1929 deaths
Category:French male film actors
Category:French male silent film actors
Category:20th-century French male actors
Category:French male screenwriters
Category:French screenwriters
Category:Film directors from Paris | wikipedia |
"Our Story" – We have so much history and accomplishments over the last 40 years. With all the support from our employees, customers and those friends and family who helped along the way. This would not be possible without you.
Performance Marine was Founded by Jene and Darin Whitaker in 1978.
Jene was 22 and Darin 18 years old – the couple ventured into the boat business. They were both into boating, water sports and high-performance vehicles which became a passion for both of them.
Growing up in Lake Placid with all the lakes and waterways Jene and Darin felt the need for a business to serve boaters in their community by providing high-quality products and service.
They built a small shop on U.S. Highway 27 just north town with a showroom, service bays, and fenced in the property for boats on display or being repaired. As their customer base grew so did the shop. They hired on mechanics, sales persons, and rigging techs.
The crew at Performance Marine worked on boats during the day but after hours built race cars. The team built 4 Chevrolet Camaro's which they raced at many different tracks like Sebring 12 Hours Endurance Race, Daytona 24 Hour, Road Atlanta and Miami Grand Prix. Standing beside car Left to Right – Jene Whitaker, Tom Norton, Steve Lauhnahan, Allan Underwood, & Lee Henderson.
In 1979 shortly after their grand opening Jene and Darin purchased joining property on north side of property and added on an extra service bay.
Built from a 1964 Chevrolet El Camino "Showtime" started out as just a 2 wheel drive mud bogging vehicle that was street legal. The team began making molds out of fiberglass to start building the light weight body parts. A tube chassis was built also to make room for larger paddle tires and safer for high speeds. In the early mud racing days the tracks were 300′ Feet.
During racing Performance Marine's Showtime Mud Dragster, many customers asked if Performance could build and repair engine for their boats and cars. Jene and Darin bought a Laythe, Kwikway boring bar, and Kwikway Master Head Surfacer to start.
Was built using some of the parts from Showtime 1 but was an entire different chassis design. More up to date safety equipment and different engine combination.
Performance Marine purchases back property off of Vista Drive to facilitate more service boats. The Private connecting road from Highway 27 to SW Vista drive had to be filled in. Jene with Shop Crew Tim Townsend, Bobby Piefer, Darrel Wilhite, Jonathan Weems, and Russel Hyatt. Robert Moore and Jene at Mercury's Dealer Training "Mercury University".
With the Machine Shop expanding and Sebring drag race track just up the road, Jene decided to build two custom Chevrolet Extended Cab S-10 Drag Trucks.
Performance Marine Testing New Hydrostream on Lake June with New Mariner 260 EFI. A little to much trim.
In June of 1999 Jene Whitaker was testing at Mercury's Lake "X".
KISSIMMEE – A man who was critically injured while testing race boat on Lake Conlin has died.
Jene Mallory Whitaker, 42, died at 11:34 p.m. Wednesday of head and spinal injuries suffered in a 9:14 a.m. accident in east Osceola County, said Joe Brown, Orlando Regional Medical Center spokesman. He also suffered a broken leg and fractured ribs after being thrown into the water. Whitaker was wearing safety equipment helmet, neck brace and high speed impact life jacket.
Whitaker, an experienced boat and car racer from Lake Placid in Highlands County, was testing an experimental boat across the lake, also known as Lake X, when the wind lifted his 18-foot tunnel hull and overturned it, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission said.
Lake X Rescue Team restored Whitaker's pulse and breathing, officials said before he was air lifted & taken to Orlando hospital, where he was unconscious and hooked to a ventilator.
Lake X is so named because it's used for secret testing of boats and engines by Mercury Marine, a Wisconsin company with a plant in St. Cloud. Whitaker was a customer/dealer for Mercury Marine a Mercury Marine spokesman said.
After Jene's death Darin and crew move forward and continue business. Darin expands property, paves and fences boat yard in.
Moves flats boat company from Stuart FL to Sebring manufacturing plant building custom flats and bass boats.
Performance Marine Builds replica Tunnel Hull Boat Like Performance Marine had back in 1978.
Mike Whitaker works with bullet to develop new saltwater boats. Bullet added a full coastal edition option to their bass boats with stainless hardware and aluminum trailers. Bullet also developed a 22′ Flats boat model which was built off the 21 XRD hull but modified for flats fishing.
After being closed for over 15 years Sebring Raceway brings back drag racing to Highlands county.
Mercury Launches new V8 outboard platform and teams up with Bullet Boats to do some photo's / testing.
Current 2019 Performance Marine shop and service center. | slim_pajama |
anti - mllerian hormone ( amh ) is secreted into the circulation by small growing follicles in the ovary , until they have reached the size at which they may be selected for dominance ( 68 mm ) .
since the cohort of small growing follicles is in equilibrium with the total number primordial follicles , serum amh levels reflect the ovarian follicular pool .
amh is therefore considered an accurate marker of ovarian reserve [ 3 , 4 ] .
moreover amh levels vary less across different menstrual cycles as well as within one menstrual cycle as compared to other biomarkers of ovarian activity , such as fsh , which has a number of obvious clinical advantages [ 47 ] . indeed , according to different studies ,
the measurement of amh on a random basis throughout the menstrual cycle is associated with a very good accuracy when predicting ovarian response [ 810 ] .
however while first studies reported a very low variability throughout the menstrual cycle [ 1114 ] , a number of more recent studies [ 1517 ] indicate a reduction of circulating amh in the luteal phase , hence raising the question if amh should better be measured on a fixed day of the menstrual cycles to foster standardization and to allow better cross comparison between individual assessments . in this review , we shed light on the partly controversial issue of amh variability , with particular attention on amh intracycle variability , that has been recently widely debated .
moreover we evaluate the impact of ethnicity , bmi , and smoking behaviour on amh interindividual variability .
finally we discussed changes in amh serum levels in two conditions of ovarian suppression , namely contraceptives use and pregnancy .
when talking about hormonal stability , two different types of variability should be considered : the interindividual and the intraindividual variability .
the interindividual variability of amh refers to variations in amh levels between different subjects and is first of all secondary to a very high variability in the number of growing follicles within groups of women of similar age [ 1820 ] .
the high interindividual variability in amh is not surprising , given the wide variability of ovarian reserve in women . generally , high interindividual variability is a good characteristic for a hormone when used as discriminatory biomarker in a clinical setting ( figure 1 ) .
indeed the high interindividual variability of amh makes it an ideal candidate biomarker with which to discriminate patients for diagnostic , prognostic , and other clinical purposes .
in uni- and multi - variate analyses , black [ 21 , 22 ] and hispanic women exhibit serum amh levels 25% lower than those found in caucasian women of similar age .
furthermore , an unexpectedly high number of black women has undetectable amh levels despite relatively young age and regular menstrual cycles , hence indicating a potential discrepancy between actual ovarian reserve and what is indicated by amh measurement in this population ( figure 2 ) . more research on the underlying biological phenomena and consequences of this finding
however , this finding indicates that care should be taken when using amh reference values across different ethnicities . some papers , even if limited to small numbers of patients , indicated a negative relationship between bmi and serum amh levels [ 23 , 24 ] .
in a recent large study performed in a healthy general female population , amh was negatively related to bmi , but the relationship was age dependent .
in other words , in women , amh levels decreased and bmi increased with age ; hence , the relationship between amh and bmi was only secondary to the stronger relationship of the two variables with age .
there is clear evidence that smoking may directly accelerate ovarian follicular depletion , thereby reducing the age at menopause [ 29 , 30 ] .
moreover , smoking has been shown to alter metabolic path for several hormones including estradiol .
however contradictory results have been reported on the relationship between smoking and amh , with some authors [ 3133 ] reporting reduced amh levels in smokers versus nonsmokers and others [ 18 , 27 , 3436 ] reporting similar values in both groups of women . in a more recent study , amh levels of 416 healthy women , including 99 smokers and 317 nonsmokers , were analyzed .
as shown in figure 3 , at any age , the distribution of smokers was uniform in all quartiles of amh distribution ( figure 3 ) .
in other words , in reference to a given age , a similar number of smoking women had high or low amh levels , respectively .
accordingly , the debate on the impact of smoking on the follicular pool and the circulating amh levels has not yet been settled . in conclusion , according to the published studies , it seems that the variability in ovarian reserve and secondly ethnicity may largely explain the high degree of interindividual variability in amh levels .
the intraindividual variability is indicative of variations in amh levels in one single subject and may be secondary to true biological variations in levels of circulating amh in women .
we propose to distinguish among a long - term variability , a short - term variability and an ultra - short - term variability .
the first refers to variations in amh levels that occur year after year and are indicative of the decline in the ovarian reserve of a single woman .
the second depends on the monthly physiologic variability in ovarian function ; hence , the short - term variability may refer to intermenstrual cycle variability .
the ultra - short - term variability indicates the day - by - day variability and refers to intramenstrual cycle variability . in a recent prospective longitudinal study
, serum amh levels have been measured in healthy young prepubertal girls ( 6 to 13 years of age ) every 6 months for 3 years and the mean intraindividual coefficient of variation ( cv ) for amh was reported as 22% .
this indicates that circulating amh shows on average only minor fluctuations within a limited time span ; thus , a random amh measurement is likely to be representative indeed for a given girl .
the long , term variability in adult women has been mainly studied in cross - sectional studies , with some of them including as many as 1015 thousand patients [ 18 , 27 , 3841 ] .
overall , the studies are in good agreement that amh declines with advancing age with a pattern that recalls the exponential decay of the primordial follicular pool [ 2 , 42 ] , which is best described by a quadratic equation .
the intermenstrual cycle variability has been analyzed in two well conducted prospective studies [ 14 , 43 ] .
both studies concluded that 89% of the variation in amh was due to between - subject variation , while only 11% of variability was secondary to individual fluctuation in amh levels ( figure 4 ) .
furthermore , a recent prospective study reported a correlation of 0.88 between amh measurements performed on cycle day 2 or 3 in two subsequent cycles in women with regular spontaneous cycles .
amh showed the highest between - cycle - correlation within an array of hormones assessed , including testosterone , fsh , e2 , inhibin b , and lh . a highly debated issue relates to whether amh significantly varies or not throughout the menstrual cycle .
several studies have suggested that serum amh levels fluctuate little during the menstrual cycle , as would be expected from the evidence that amh is not secreted by the dominant follicle or corpus luteum [ 1114 ] ( figure 5 ) .
amh is unique among the known hormones produced by antral follicles , because its secretion seems to be only marginally influenced by gonadotropins and it is dramatically reduced as follicles reach the full gonadotropin sensitivity . as a consequence , amh levels during the follicular phase do not reflect the activity of the developing large dominant follicle of the month , and conversely on any time point of the menstrual cycle amh levels provide information on the number of small antral follicle present in the ovary which are available for cyclic follicular recruitment . to study the intraindividual variability of amh , van disseldorp et al .
the authors reported that the intraindividual variability of amh was only 13% and , most importantly , when dividing patients into quintiles according to basal amh levels , the intraindividual fluctuations were shown to fall in the same quintile in 72% of the cases and to cross two quintiles in only 1% of the cases .
in contrast , some authors have noted significant fluctuations within one menstrual cycle [ 1517 ] . a very recent study found serum amh levels significantly lower in the luteal than follicular phase with a variation pattern similar to pituitary fsh , and the intraindividual variance of amh was as high as 80% . however the study was based on a very small group of subjects ( n = 12 ) , and some of them had as few as five blood samples throughout an entire menstrual cycle .
moreover when analyzing values for single patients , the proposed decline of amh in the luteal phase was not evident in 25% of patients ( figure 6 ) , hence raising the questions if the observed reduction of amh in the luteal phase might be simply casual instead due to a biological reason indeed . in another prospective study
including 20 women , serum amh levels were shown to fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle . in this case , the observed fluctuations were absolutely random throughout the cycle and not associated to typical gonadotropin or ovarian steroid patterns .
moreover , the amplitude was proportional to basal amh levels : women with low amh levels exhibited only minor fluctuations , whereas women with high basal amh levels showed relatively higher fluctuations .
the author speculated to categorize amh pattern in the ageing ovary pattern and the younger ovary pattern .
in spite of the good quality of the study , where blood samples were collected from each woman daily along a whole menstrual cycle , some criticisms have been put on roberts paper for the lack of the calculation of the intraindividual coefficient of variation , which is considered the optimal analysis for hormonal variability . however , at bottom line , sowers et al .
's study indicates in a clear and convincing way that serum amh levels vary throughout the menstrual cycle , that fluctuations may be relevant in those women with high basal levels , and most importantly that fluctuations are randomly distributed during the cycle .
the random and noncyclic fluctuations in amh indicate that measuring the hormone on a fixed day of the menstrual cycle would not yield any advantage of a random assessment , for example , on any day of the menstrual cycle . in order to verify the effect of female age on the degree of amh fluctuations , a recent study re - evaluated for the third time the data previously described by hehenkamp et al . and van disseldorp et al .
, the absolute intraindividual variation of amh ( deltaamh ) , that is , the difference between maximum and minimum serum level throughout one cycle , was found to be significantly and negatively associated with age . in other words , younger women had significantly larger fluctuations in amh levels than older women .
it may be concluded that in patients with low ovarian reserve ( usually aged women ) , amh fluctuations have little clinical relevance , while in young patients with usually high ovarian reserve , fluctuations of amh might indeed impact on the discriminatory capability of diagnostic and predictive tests , respectively .
the observed variability in amh levels may have a limiting effect on the main current application of amh as a predictive test in ivf practice .
amh is widely used to predict the ovarian response and to individualize the treatment according to this prediction [ 5 , 9 , 46 , 47 ] .
if amh values cross the cut - off values proposed for the ovarian response categories because of true biological variability in amh , this might lead to misclassification and erroneous treatment of patients .
hence the impact of the documented amh variability needs to be tested in a clinical setting on a typical target population undergoing a clinically relevant predictive testing scenario . as reported in detail in several reviews and metanalysis [ 5 , 4850 ]
, amh is the best hormonal marker for the prediction of ovarian response in ivf .
when using a random amh measurement in order to prospectively predict ovarian response to exogenous fsh , correct categorization of 75% of patients in the three categories poor , normal , or hyper - responder can potentially be obtained . accordingly , although not as stable as thought before , amh still remains the most reliable ovarian hormone and the best hormonal predictor of ovarian response to stimulation in ivf , with the important advantage of being randomly measurable .
since amh production by antral follicles has been considered to be largely gonadotropin independent , a logical consequence is that pituitary suppression , as occurring with oral contraceptives ( oc ) or physiologically during pregnancy , should not be associated with relevant changes in serum levels .
a number of studies have been published on the effect of oc on amh levels [ 24 , 44 , 5157 ] and most of the available evaluations are not prospective .
the very few prospective studies unfortunately limited the analysis to a few observational months ( 1 to 4 months ) of oc treatment and are thus potentially and insufficiently informative .
oc use has been reported either to insignificantly influence amh concentration [ 44 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 55 ] or to reduce it significantly [ 53 , 5658 ] .
a large cross - sectional study compared 180 and 76 twenty - year old oc users and nonusers , respectively , and found that long - term oc use was associated with a significant mean reduction in amh levels by 13% . recently
a cohort study based on 863 healthy women ( 228 oc users and 504 nonusers ) reported that amh serum levels were 29.8% lower in oc users than those in nonusers .
. however no dose - response relation was found between the dose of ethinyl estradiol and the impact on serum amh concentration . in a
well - conducted prospective study , amh levels during oc pill intake in long - term oc users ( n = 25 ) and 2 months after stopping the oc were assessed .
interestingly , a mean increase in amh levels by 30% after cessation of the oc was found ( from a mean of 2.0 ng / ml during oc to a mean of 2.6 ng / ml two months after the last pill , p = 0.001 ) .
the study population consisted of 42 healthy women randomized to use for 9 weeks an oc in the form of either an oral pill ( n = 13 ) , a transdermal patch ( n = 15 ) , or a vaginal ring ( n = 14 ) .
after 9 weeks of contraceptive use , serum amh levels decreased significantly by almost 50% as compared to baseline in all treatment groups ( figure 7 ) .
this evidence is indicative of a suppressive effect of hormonal contraception on circulating amh levels , at least when considering long - term use .
thus , serum amh concentration may not retain its accuracy as predictors of the ovarian reserve in women using hormonal contraceptives for long time .
pregnancy is a physiological condition associated with ovarian suppression because of suppressed endogenous gonadotropin release . according to the concept that amh reflects the continuous fsh - independent noncyclic growth of small follicles in the ovary
, it would be expected to find nonrelevant alteration in its levels during pregnancy . indeed , an early small cross - sectional study reported unmodified amh levels throughout pregnancy .
subsequent studies reported contradictory results , with some confirming this finding [ 60 , 61 ] , while others describing a decrease in amh levels during pregnancy [ 62 , 63 ] .
it has also been reported that the decline in amh during pregnancy is evident when using the beckman coulter but not the dsl assay . however , in the only longitudinal study available ( n = 60 ) , authors found a significant decrease in amh levels in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters compared to the 1st trimester and the mean reduction at the end of pregnancy was of about 50% .
this study indicated that during pregnancy , there is a relative ovarian quiescence and reduced follicular maturation with a consequent decrease in the population of follicles secreting amh . at the same time , at least part of the observed reduction in amh levels during pregnancy could also be explained by the pregnancy - associated hemodilution and increased plasma - protein binding .
in conclusion , on top of the age related decline in amh , significant fluctuations have been reported for a number of conditions and this has to be taken into account when interpreting values in clinical practice .
this suggests that in clinical practice , amh can be measured independently of the cycle phase .
prolonged ovarian suppression as induced by physiological or pharmacological interventions may reduce amh levels , since the long and profound pituitary gonadotropin suppression is associated with a reduced number of antral follicles . the exact role of patients ' characteristics , as ethnicity , and some habits , as smoking , on intra- and interindividual variability of amh need to be investigated further . | pubmed |
Why doesn't the electric field inside a wire in a circuit fall off with distance from the battery?
We studied electric fields due to point charges. The magnitude of these fields decreases with the square of the distance from the point charge.
It seems to me that we could treat the positive terminal of a battery as a point charge. So, I would conclude that the magnitude of the electric field set up by the positive terminal inside a wire in a circuit should fall off with the square of the distance from the end of the battery.
However, this does not happen. Instead, the electric field inside a wire in a circuit is constant. Why is this? Is it that the positive terminal can't be modeled as a point charge? Or is it perhaps some special property of the wire, or the fact that there is moving charge in the system?
You are absolutely correct, the electric field *does* fall off with distance from the battery. However, this is only true during the transient state (the state of the field when the battery is first connected). In fact not only are the magnitudes inconsistent, but so is the direction of the field. The field doesn't always point in the direction of the wire. The entire field is inconsistent in direction in magnitude and direction. The image below illustrates this:
Ignore the green arrows. The yellow arrows indicate the direction and the magnitude of the field at that point. See how there totally wrong?
Lets see what happens next. Note the field right before and after the "right bend". The field "going in" is greater in magnitude that the field "going out" and the field going out is pointing in the wrong direction! Because of this electrons start building up at the "right bend" (since more electrons are going in than going out). The build up of electrons creates a new field, which results in the fields before and after the right bend changing.
In fact this happens everywhere the field isn't consistent in magnitude and direction. Electrons start building up which generates a new field, that alters the original field until everything points in the right direction and is of equal magnitude, preventing further electron build up.
So during the transient state, electrons build up on certain places of the wire generating new fields until the field is consistent in magnitude and direction. You end up with something like this:
All images were taken from *Matter and Interactions*. Great question, unfortunately most physics books choose to completely skip over this, quite fundamental, concept. Hope that helps!
The battery terminal appears "small" when you hold it in your hand.
But from the perspective within the wire, close to the terminal, the battery terminal appears large. The electric field close to a large object like this is roughly constant (pitcure the constant field between capacitor plates).
Further away from the terminal, inside the wire, the charges that mostly contribute to the local electric field are nearby (i.e. they are not those in the battery which now appears far away). Since they are nearby, they do not appear like a distant point charge.
| stackexchange/physics |
Green Potassium Manganate and Sodium Hydroxide Equation
When a sample of green potassium manganate (VI), $\ce{K2MnO4}$, is added to aqueous sodium hydroxide, a brown black solid A and a purple solution of B are obtained.
I know that the brown black solid A is $\ce{MnO2}$, but I can't seem to write out the entire equation.
Can someone help me with this?
Thanks! Really appreciated.
$$\ce{ 3K2MnO4 + 2NaOH + 2H2O -> MnO2 +2NaMnO4 + 6KOH }$$
As you said the brown solid A is $\ce{MnO2}$ while the purple solution is due to the permanganate ion .
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Geoffrey Lewis Tiarks 8 October 190913 January 1987 was a British Anglican bishop. He was the Bishop of Maidstone in the latter part of the 20th century.
Early life and education
Born into an ecclesiastical family his father was Lewis Hermann Tiarks, sometime Rector of Lerwick in the Scottish Episcopal Church. on 8 October 1909 he was educated at Marlborough College and St John's College, Cambridge.
Ordained ministry
Tiarks was ordained in the Church of England: made deacon in Advent 1932 18 December and ordained priest the following Advent 17 December 1933 both times by Richard Parsons, Bishop of Southwark at Southwark Cathedral. He served his a curacy at St Peter's Church, Walworth. He was for many years a Royal Navy military chaplain. Following this, he served the Anglican Church in Rondebosch, South Africa, from 1950 to 1953. He then returned to England, and was Vicar of Lyme Regis until 1961. He served as Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight to 1965 and finally before his appointment to the episcopate, as Archdeacon of Portsmouth.
Tiarks was consecrated a bishop on 25 January 1969, by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey. He served as Bishop of Maidstone, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, until his retirement on 30 September 1976; until 1974 he was also Senior Chaplain at Lambeth Palace to Ramsey as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Personal life
He married Betty Lyne Stock in Malta whilst a naval chaplain and they had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Susan. They retired to Dorset in 1976; he died on 14 January 1987, survived by Betty.
He was second-cousin to John Tiarks Bishop of Chelmsford, 19621971. Through his sister Anne, the bishop was an uncle to Mark Phillips, and one of the godfathers of Mark's son Peter, the eldest grandchild of Elizabeth II.
References
Category:1909 births
Category:1987 deaths
Category:People educated at Marlborough College
Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
Category:Royal Navy chaplains
Category:Archdeacons of Portsmouth
Category:Archdeacons of the Isle of Wight
Category:20th-century Anglican bishops
Category:Bishops of Maidstone | wikipedia |
Does addition of HCl favour, or disfavour, formation of tetraamminecopper(II)? [closed]
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Which way does the equilibrium
$$\ce{[Cu(H2O)4]^2+(aq) + 4 NH3(aq) <=> [Cu(NH3)4]^2+ (aq) + 4 H2O (l)}$$
shift if HCl is added to the system?
When I did this experiment, I found that the original solution was rather cloudy, but adding HCl made it clear. I suspect that it was moving towards the more soluble side of the reaction, but I can't find the solubilities of the copper compounds.
HCl reacts with ammonia and removes it from the equilibrium above:
$$\ce{HCl + NH3 <=> NH4+ + Cl-}$$
therefore the equilibrium will shift to the left.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Man I am exhausted. We had a huge weekend – on Saturday Chuck picked us up at 6:45am so we could get to Stevens Pass around 9am. Or that was supposed to be the plan – but because it was opening weekend and also because there had been like 30″ of snow there was a traffic jam going up the mountain and we only got there 2 hours later than expected. At least it was nice and scenic – I was freaking out over how pretty the snow was. I found out later from Mike that in his car AJ (another Aussie) was also going nuts and taking photos out the window.
We were directed into one of the overflow parking lots and had to wait in a long line for the shuttle bus.
The shuttle was really slow because it could only take a limited number of people and was also getting stuck in the traffic jam. One guy had a pickup truck and was piling 15 people at a time into the back and ferrying them up the mountain.
So it was a bit of an ordeal actually getting there. But OMG the snow was incredible. It looked solid but if you barely poked it with your finger it would disintegrate. Check out how powdery it was – and this was just the garbage snow near all the buildings.
James and I did a snowboard class with some friends (Stevens Pass has a really great deal – $159 for 3 days of lessons, lift tickets and rentals) and then we went to try out the green run.
It was bloody terrifying. Well OK not as terrifying as the black run that I saw from a distance – that thing was near vertical! But I had always imagined that a green run would be mostly flat and it wasn't.
Also the chairlift didn't have a safety bar. It fit 3 people – I would not want to be the person in the middle. And then when we were about to land we realised that we had no idea how to get off the chairlift. So we tried to imitate the guys in front of us (who were of no use because they all fell over).
The instructor said that to force myself to turn I should reach one hand over to touch my opposite shoulder, which came in very handy except I kept forgetting which shoulder made me turn in which direction.
Although I was really intimidated by the green run I was glad we did it because it gave me an opportunity to put what I had learned into practice. James and I stacked a massive number of times but it was all part of the learning! There were definitely a couple of tumbles that could have been nasty if they hadn't been into a cloud of snow.
A lot of the stuff I learned was very unintuitive (like keeping my weight off my back foot!) but I think I have an idea of how it works and feel that if I go another couple of times everything will make more sense.
Caroline said that she saw a girl wearing the same colours as me being all pro and was like "wow Kaye is a really fast learner!" If only.
James and I both had trouble controlling our speed, and because of the fluffy powder we developed a terrible habit of flinging ourselves into the snow to stop when we started going too fast. Since we stacked so many times (and I also got trapped in powder more than once) a 5-10 minute run turned into maybe 30 minutes. Luckily we had these sorts of views to entertain us.
I didn't want to waste time going to the bathroom at Stevens (plus it's awkward going into the stall in my bulky snow gear, unzipping my pants and jacket from each other and peeling my compression bottoms off) so I deliberately didn't hydrate as much as I should have. Also because my compression gear was so good at wicking sweat away I never really felt like I was sweating. James had the same strategy and we both had huge dehydration headaches today.
James and I both brought fleece midlayers but ditched them at the start of the day because it wasn't that cold – we were both very warm in just our base layers and shells. James told me that he was really jealous of my Ziptech jacket and pants because his jacket kept riding up when he fell over. And later on Elisha showed me how her back was all red from the snow that went up her top. So I am hugely pleased with my pants and jacket (both Volcom goretex from last season at around 60% off online) I hadn't thought about my clothes all day, which obviously meant that they were doing their job.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed snowboarding given that I hated skiing (the boots hurt and I kept crossing my stupidly long skis). I'm itching to buy my own gear so that I don't waste half an hour at the start of the day getting rental stuff. Ideally it would be better to wait until March for the sales but maybe it's worth it buying at full price if I save a season's worth of rental fees? We'll see.
The guys are planning on going next weekend and I am super eager to try again!
YAY!!!!!! YOU DID IT! Snowboarding is THE BEST!!!!!!!! I love it!! I love it more now because I have all of my own gear! So it'll be really exciting when you get all your gear!!! =D Remember how you felt when you were carrying my board to the post office? LOL! =P You didn't post any photos of yourselves!!
Man… the mountains look SOOOO beautiful and so spacious, and the POWDERRRRRRRR, I'm so jealous!!!! It's funny how you said that you had to force yourselves to fall down when you lost control, that's EXACTLY what Julia (Ray's friend) had to do too, but she was headed for a CLIFF, so that would've been SCARY!
PS. LOL at your video, so cute!
I'm not too fussed about the bindings but I want to get really well-fitting boots so I'm comfortable.
And yeah I couldn't believe how beautiful everything was! It was really the perfect day to learn and I'm so glad we tried it out.
How long did it take before you were linking turns? I want to go like … EVERY DAY until I start not sucking! | slim_pajama |
Do molecules with a hexagonal planar geometry exist?
I recently read an [article on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagonal_planar_molecular_geometry) about pentagonal planar geometry.
There are only two molecules with this kind of geometry $\ce{XeF5-}$ and $\ce{IF5^2-}$ and it has two electron pairs at the axial positions.
As soon as I looked [at this](https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Inorganic_Chemistry/Coordination_Chemistry/Properties_of_Coordination_Compounds/Coordination_Numbers_and_Geometry), I thought that hexagonal molecular geometry can also exist much the same way i.e. 6 substituents bonded to the central atom and two lone pairs at the axial positions opposite to each other.
On the page, its given that arrangement of 6 atoms in a plane is found in higher coordination states but that does not help either as they have not given any examples of that.
**Do hexagonal planar molecules exist, and if they do, what are they?**
I think it's nearly impossible to find or synthesize a "canonical" complex with hexagonal molecular geometry, but in the field of *host-guest* supramolecular chemistry there are numerous examples of "unusual" geometry. Probably the most well-established class of such compounds are **torands** ("hosts") incorporating alkali metal cations ("guests").
Check out, for example: (1) Bell, T. W.; Cragg, P. J.; Drew, M. G. B.; Firestone, A.; Kwok, D.-I. A. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1992, 31 (3), 345–347, DOI 10.1002/anie.199203451.
Here is an example of the structure with potassium ion from (1), Tri-n-butyltorand-potassium picrate clathrate, which I quickly sketched in Olex2:
**Top view:**
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8qxfM.png)
**Side view:**
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jy8Mm.png)
**Unit cell and packing:**
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DAqRK.png)
In October 2019 a series of new transition metal complexes has been reported in an article published in *Nature* by Garçon et al. [[1](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1616-2)].
Among these, two palladium complexes have a near-perfect hexagonal arrangement of three hydride and three magnesium-diisopropylphenyl ligands according to single-crystal x-ray diffraction studies:
* **tris([2,6-di(propan-2-yl)phenyl][4-{[2,6-di(propan-2-yl)phenyl]imino}pent-2-en-2-yl]amido)-trihydrido-palladium-tri-magnesium n-hexane solvate** (compound **1a**, [CCDC 1909687](https://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/structures/Search?Ccdcid=1909687&DatabaseToSearch=Published));
* **tris([(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl){4-[(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imino]pent-2-en-2-yl}amido)-trihydrido-tri-magnesium-palladium** (compound **1b**, [CCDC 1909688](https://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/structures/Search?Ccdcid=1909688&DatabaseToSearch=Published)).
Interatomic distance were also supported by DFT calculations, which also showed that $\ce{Pd–Mg}$ bond is primarily ionic in nature.
>
> [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nTi0f.png)
>
>
> **Fig. 1** […] Single-crystal X-ray derived model of **1a**, annotated with selected experimental and calculated bond lengths.
>
>
>
Some news agencies such as [C&EN](https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/Transition-metal-complex-takes-unexpected/97/i40) called this structure "*first hexagonal planar crystal structure*", however the authors of the article make an important addition:
>
> The hexagonal planar coordination environment is known, but it is restricted to condensed metallic phases, the hexagonal pores of coordination polymers, or clusters that contain more than one transition metal in close proximity. […]
> Here we report the isolation and structural characterization of a simple coordination complex in which six ligands form bonds with a central transition metal in a hexagonal planar arrangement.
>
>
>
### References
1. Garçon, M.; Bakewell, C.; Sackman, G. A.; White, A. J. P.; Cooper, R. I.; Edwards, A. J.; Crimmin, M. R. A Hexagonal Planar Transition-Metal Complex. *Nature* **2019**, 574 (7778), 390–393. DOI: [10.1038/s41586-019-1616-2](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1616-2).
It looks as though hexagonal planar molecules are currently unknown, but you can find a hexagonal plane in higher coordination structures like a hexagonal bipyramid.
One example of a structure with hexagonal bipyramidal geometry is $\ce{UO\_2(OAc)\_3}$, which I found [here](http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/courses/IC10Kcn.html) on a site which gives similar info to your link, but includes example structures for known geometries.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
alcohol consumption is a well - known part of the nigerian culture and frequently part of festivals and celebrations and , within the past decade , there are indications that there has been a rapid increase in alcohol production and importation as well as its consumption across all age groups . for the year after 1995 ,
the unrecorded alcohol consumption was estimated to be 3.5 litres pure alcohol per capita for population older than 15 in nigeria .
alcoholic consumption continues to experience strong growth in nigeria as a result of the aggressive marketing activities of leading players , and drinking is widely considered a part of social activities ; therefore , most consumers drink unaccompanied .
the entry of several new local brews whose alcohol concentration and ingredients are not yet clearly identified has emerged as another public health issue .
nigeria 's population of about 160 million continues to grow at an annual rate of 3% .
similar to the western world , alcohol is also a factor in a large proportion of injuries and road accidents in nigeria and is also associated with physical health problems .
prospective studies among european and north american populations show that alcohol consumption , especially heavy drinking , is associated with pancreatitis , liver cirrhosis , tuberculosis , pneumonia , injuries , malignancies , and psychiatric morbidity [ 6 , 7 ] .
therefore , the estimation of prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption is a systematic prerequisite step in the direction of planning an effective intervention program for the target drinking population .
however , there is limited large - scale evidence on prevalence and the correlates of alcohol use in nigeria , particularly in rural provinces where majority of nigerians live . while a review of different local studies conducted in primary health care settings in urban areas highlighted high prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors such as male gender , increasing age , low educational level , and marital status [ 1 , 8 , 9 ]
, there is a need to examine the magnitude of alcohol use and correlates in settings where most nigerians live in order to influence the public health of nigerians .
we report here the prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption and investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and sociodemographic and associated level of health risks among 1,203 men and women , using cross - sectional data collected during the baseline survey of the effectiveness of assist linked brief intervention on harmful and hazardous alcohol use in two south - west rural communities in nigeria : a non - randomized intervention study .
ibadan is the capital of oyo state , nigeria , and it is the third largest city in nigeria .
however , we report , herein , baseline measures of hazardous and harmful use with their sociodemographic correlates . the inclusion criteria for the study were both male and female alcohol users of age 15 years and permanent residents of study areas .
the exclusion criteria were nonusers of alcohol of age less than 15 years , not willing to get alcohol intervention , and not a permanent resident of the study areas .
we obtained ethical approval for the study from the ethics and research committee of the ministry of health , oyo state of nigeria ; accent was obtained for participants between 15 and 18 years and consent from those over 18 years of age . using systematic stratified sampling method ,
the selected semirural local governments were lagelu local government ( local government a ) and akinyele local government ( local government b ) areas of ibadan .
the classification was according to national population commission in nigeria , based on population and fund allocation .
all the 11 lga were classified into urban or semirural each during the first stage of the study .
there are five urban local governments and six semirural local government areas in ibadan . in the second stage ,
one local government was randomly chosen from the six semirural local government areas . in the third stage , four enumeration areas were systematically selected as clusters .
the fourth stage involved the mapping and numbering of all buildings in each of the selected enumeration areas .
all households within each building were serially listed in the form specifically designed for the purpose . after getting the list of the households ,
all eligible respondents , who were 15 years and above in each household , were selected and were interviewed by chew using the questionnaires including assist after they gave permission / consent .
after administration of the sociodemographic questionnaire , participants were also screened with alcohol , smoking and substance involvement screening test ( assist ) .
the assist was used to determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption and associated level of harm .
the assist was developed by the world health organization for alcohol and drug screening in high prevalence settings . according to the assist manual , a score of 010 for drugs
is regarded as lower risk , 1126 as moderate risk , and 27 + as high risk . however , in this study , the level of harm was generated using a mean assist score at all the phases of the study .
for the purpose of this study , current alcohol use was regarded as use in preceding 30 days .
we used a set of precoded and pretested sociodemographic questionnaires to elicit sociodemographic characteristics from the respondents such as age , marital status , socioeconomic class , and years of education .
data on both lifetime and current alcohol consumption were obtained using the assist . for our univariate analysis , the association between sociodemographic variables and both lifetime and current alcohol use was determined using pearson 's chi square statistics .
multivariate analysis was carried out using binary logistic regression analysis , using variables that were significant during univariate analysis to determine association with current alcohol use .
a total of 1329 youths and adults were selected and invited to participate in this study . out of these , 1213 completed the questionnaires , giving a response rate of 91.3% . at baseline , responses were incomplete in ten questionnaires and so final analysis was carried out on 1203 questionnaires at baseline .
the mean age of respondents at baseline was 24.45 9.23 years , 623 ( 51.8% ) were males , 796 ( 66.2% ) were married , 570 ( 47.4% ) had at least some secondary education , 513 ( 42.6% ) were from low socioeconomic country , 598 ( 49.7% ) from low average socioeconomic group , 400 ( 33.3% ) were unemployed , and 516 ( 42.9% ) were christians ( table 1 ) .
prevalence of lifetime alcohol use was 697 ( 57.9% ) , lifetime alcohol use was more prevalent in men p < 0.001 , married respondents p = 0.003 , respondents with low level of education p < 0.001 , respondents of low socioeconomic status , those who were unemployed p = 0.03 , and the christians p = 0.001 ( table 1 ) .
prevalence of current alcohol use was 285 ( 23.7% ) ; current alcohol use increased with increasing age , p = 0.02 , was commoner in males , p = 0.003 , the unmarried , p < 0.01 , those with formal education , p = 0.003 , those from low socioeconomic group , p = 0.01 , the unemployed p < 0.001 , and the christians p < 0.01 ( table 2 ) . of current users ,
strong beer was first choice of beverage in 30.5% of them and other beverages predominantly local cocktails were the least ( 2.9% ) ( figure 1 ) .
prevalence of current alcohol use was 285 ( 23.7% ) , 88 ( 30.9% ) were at low health risk , 161 ( 56.5% ) were at moderate health risk , and 36 ( 12.6% ) were at high health risk ( table 3 ) .
multivariate analysis revealed that older age group , female gender , high average socioeconomic group , and high socioeconomic group were protective factors , while being unmarried was a risk factor . at 3 months , older age group , female gender , high average socioeconomic group , and high socioeconomic group were protective factors , while being unmarried was risk factor ( table 4 ) .
this is the report of baseline measures of a single arm nonrandomized intervention study that aimed to determine in semirural community settings the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use as well as the effectiveness of assist linked sbirt on harmful and hazardous alcohol use in the rural youth and adult dwellers and most probably the first in sub - saharan africa .
we found that the prevalence of lifetime alcohol use was 57.9% and current alcohol use 27.3% among the participants .
our finding was in agreement with the lifetime prevalence of alcohol ( 56% ) by gureje and colleagues , in a multicentre study across all cultures in nigeria .
however , our reported current alcohol use is almost twice that reported ( 14% ) by gureje et al . .
this could be a reflection of the difference in the instruments used or in spread of centres used .
our self - reported lifetime and current uses are lower than lifetime alcohol use ( 66.6% ) and current use ( 62.2% ) from a study in togo , a neighbouring country .
this could be because the permanent mandates commission of the league of nations could not effectively check france and the european companies operating in togo , from importing liquor to the country because of the recognized economic gains from liquor trade for the economy of france and other european countries .
we found that current drinking was associated with younger age , male gender , being unmarried , low educational status , low or low average socioeconomic class , christianity , and unemployment .
our findings are in line with those of gureje et al . , studies conducted in primary care settings in nigeria , as well as in community .
these findings are also consistent with alcohol surveys conducted in togo , a neighbouring country , as well as previous studies in nigeria . in consonance with our study , grittner and
colleagues opined that people with lower socioeconomic status ( ses ) could be more vulnerable to problems related to alcohol consumption .
the most common consumed alcoholic beverage is beer and local spirits and this finding contrasts with the 1998 study in ibadan by bennett and colleagues that found palm wine and beer .
however , the use of local spirits in this study is in consonance with findings from previous nigerian surveys .
factors that mediate these observed patterns of beverage choice may include cost of distilled spirits and advertisement by local brewers .
we also found that more than two - thirds of the current drinking population were moderate or high risk drinkers .
this is pertinent considering that drinking alcohol is associated with a risk of adverse health consequences such as alcohol dependence , cancers , and injuries [ 16 , 17 ] and , in semirural or rural settings , there is limited access to health care .
although some primary care attendees may seek consultation for some of the physical health consequences of hazardous drinking , clinicians who are less likely to screen them for alcohol use talk less of initiating an intervention for their alcohol misuse .
the multivariate analyses conducted in this study highlight protective and risk factors for alcohol use among dwellers in two semirural communities and provide important epidemiological data in terms of identification of a population who require special attention in terms of substance use prevention and intervention programs .
policies that address poverty and improve socioeconomic indices such as increase in job creation and employment and broadening of social network are likely to impact on the level of alcohol use among dwellers in the rural settings in addition to those in the urban settings .
the integration of these policies with evidence based alcohol policies that encapsulate demand control , supply control , and harm reduction will go a long way to reduce risky alcohol use and the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption .
we are , however , cautious that a cross - sectional study can not underscore a clear causative inference .
furthermore , there is the need for multiround cross - sectional studies to evaluate whether the prevalence of drinkers is increasing and whether those who drink are increasing their consumption intensity .
an understanding of these trends will guide health promotion and preventive strategies and further lend support for programmes for screening and brief intervention and more intensive programmatic interventions .
one , we did not allocate any diagnosis to the alcohol users ; therefore it was difficult to validate the level of health risk with the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder .
also the external validity of the prevalence rates is limited because of diverse sociocultural characteristics of the nigerian population . in conclusion ,
the prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use is high in a representative sample of semirural communities and correlates include male gender , being unmarried , low educational status , low or low average socioeconomic class , christianity , and unemployment .
this should inform policy decisions to address the magnitude of problematic alcohol use in rural settings , where majority of youth and adult in nigeria live . | pubmed |
Computing the maximum force a rod can bear [closed]
[Homework-like questions](https://physics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/714) and [check-my-work questions](https://physics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/6093) are considered off-topic here, particularly when asking about specific computations instead of underlying physics concepts. Homework questions can be on-topic when they are useful to a broader audience. Note that answers to homework questions with complete solutions may be deleted!
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Suppose I had a rod of diameter $d$ composed of some material with tensile strength $T$. If I then exterted a pulling force $F$ on the ends of the bar, how do I compute the force $F$ for which the rod will break apart? Is there some general equation that I can use to compute this?
If you know ultimate tensile strength $T$ of material, then knowing breaking force of rod is trivial,
$$ F\_{~br} = T \cdot A $$
,where $A$ is rod cross-section area.
However there is no way to compute [ultimate tensile strength](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_tensile_strength) of materials, it can only be known from [Tensile testing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensile_testing) of materials, with some exceptions. For example if metal is heated in the process of [annealing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annealing_(materials_science)), then metals changes it's properties due to structural changes in recrystallization. Then if you'll draw some metals Ultimate tensile strength Vs Young's modulus chart,- you may see correlation :
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/adtB9.png)
So in this case one can predict annealed metals ultimate tensile strength from it's Young's modulus by linear equation :
$$ T[\text{MPa}] = 1.3~E[\text{GPa}] + 34.1$$
Thus if you know that some materials shares common properties, you may try to extrapolate ultimate tensile strength based on some other key variables, such as Young's modulus, density, etc. However in general no common method exist to predict material ultimate strength and this can only be measured by destructive testing.
Breaking stress is the maximum force that can be applied on a cross sectional area of a material in such a way that the material is unable to withstand any additional amount of stress before breaking.
Breaking stress is calculated with the formula:
Breaking Stress = Force / Area (in your case Area= pi\*d^2/4)
Breaking stress may also be known as ultimate tensile stress or breaking strength.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/TDj3G.png)
This is a picture from wikipedia which explains this for more info you can visit them
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress%E2%80%93strain_curve>
| stackexchange/physics |
Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Rolling Meadows-Ill.-based RF IDeas, a leading provider of proprietary identification card technology solutions, which was acquired by Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ROP) on Sept. 1, 2015. The full release can be found here.
The Kirkland team was led by corporate partner Michael Paley and associates Joydeep Dasmunshi and Garrett Lorentz. | slim_pajama |
Vocaloid 1. Chapter I: Bypasses
**a/n: im just writing what goes through my head.**
* * *
There is a petite, nameless cafe situated near the edge of a rather small village. This little building stands on its own and faces the busy, air polluted city located in front of it. However, this cafe isn't very aesthetic, being a thirty year old, worn-out building that is simply squarish and made of bricks.
However, for Rin Kagami, it is the most important thing in the world—since, of course, she lives in it. Rin Kagami is an attractive young twenty year old female with a late mother and father, an abusive step-mother, and siblings who she doubts knows about her existence. Even though where she lives is not very pleasing to the eye, Rin finds the food she makes is lucrative thus allowing her to live alone peacefully.
On a completely unrelated note, bypasses are, seemingly, the most wonderful things in the world. It and I quote from_ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_, "allow some people to dash from point A to point B very fast while other people dash from point B to point A very fast. People in point C, being the point directly in between, are often given to wonder what's so great about point A that so many people from point B are so keen to get there and what's so great about point B that people from point A are so keen to get there. They often wish that people would just once and for all work out where the hell they want to be."
Unfortunately, in our tale, Rin Kagami is the "people" that lives in point C.
* * *
Len Kagamine is a rather infamous businessman and the heir to the Kagamine Industry, which manufactures roads so cars can get to places faster. Being only twenty-two, he has such insidious and malevolent power that he can make you, your family, your friends and your long-lost siblings disappear with a single stroke of a pen.
He is rather good-looking, with his perfect blonde hair and smirk that can swoon any girl (and sometimes guys), and always in high-spirits.
But today is different.
At eight o'clock this morning, Len Kagamine wakes up with a massive headache. Wearily he stands up from his bed, finds his slippers, wearily walks down the stairs, sees a somewhat familiar blonde female in his kitchen, wearily makes his coffee, and walks back upstairs to his bathroom.
Len takes one last sip of the not-so torrid cappuccino from his mug before taking his toothpaste and toothbrush. _Toothpaste—on. _He then proceeds to comb his unruly blonde hair. _Blonde hair. _Len flips through the files in his brain to associate blonde with _something_. More like a _someone_. Someone who—
In the next ten seconds, Len is out of the bathroom, rushing towards the kitchen.
* * *
**a/n: yes it was rushed, but everything will make sense the next chapter**
**if you haven't figured out yet, its based on **_**The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.**_
**well that's all. thank you for reading. much luvs.**
**DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO GALAXY NOR THE VOCALOIDS.**
2. Chapter II: Homes
**a/n: Alright! CONFESSION TIME!:**
**so i woke up this morning, feeling fresh and not dying from lack of sleep.**_** and then**_** i went to my computer and read what i wrote last night.**
**first of all, lemme apologize if it wasnt clear; me bad.**
**second of all, i really didnt have a plot planned out cause i was half drunk (metaphorically speaking, of course) and i was half stressing out, so im sorry.**
**good news though!: today i went to school (summer school) and thought of the plot. a reasonable plot.**
**also, i fixed and added anything in chapter one, so, yeah.**
**okay? okay.**
**and FORWARD!**
* * *
"YOU!" Len's voice rings throughout the nearly vacant dinner hall. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! BECAUSE OF YOU, MY HEAD HURTS LIKE FUCK. DON'T YOU REMEMBER _THE PULLING OF THE HAIR_?!" Len shouts while he tugs his already obstreperous hair in exaggeration.
Not listening to a single word the man adjacent to her said, Rin continues to sip her cup of tea nonchalantly and flip through the latest _WHAT'S NEW?_ magazine-numerous pages of a new up n' coming superstar, an article about a purple-haired supermodel and a salmon-hair news reporter's relationship gossip, and incessant photos of the notorious businessman himself.
"-PT ME UP TILL MIDNIGHT! EY? ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?"
"Aren't you being a bit histrionic, Mr. Kagamine," Rin finally speaks, flipping the magazine to its cover and looking up to meet the blue-eyed man's glare. "And if you were asking, and I have no clue if you were, I am not leaving."
"Do you not have a home to go to, Miss. Kagami? It's just eight in the morning, please have mercy," the man speaks, pleading on his knees for the first time in many years.
Rin sighs, "I don't know if you remember, but my house was annihilated _by you._"
"I'm sorry but I don't why this is so surprising to you, Miss. Kagami. The plans were on display for around a month."
"Yes," Rin hissed through her gritted teeth, "But where do I find them? In the alley way where most the homeless, perverted men live. The smell of that horrid place still haunts me 'til now."
"Yes. At least they were up," Len said, flipping his hair bombastically in his mind. "But please don't forget you came over to my house last night, pulling on my hair, demanding me to stop the demolishment."
"-And now, my house and cafe is long decimated," she sighs, shaking her head in disapproval, "and it's all because of _you_."
"Well, I'm sor-"
"Oh don't apologize," Rin interrupted. "Even though I'm tragically disappointed by the loss of my home, I won't press charges."
Len rose an eyebrow in amusement. Her being nice? That's new. In his four years being in the business, no one ever gave up this easily. They were too dogmatic and stubborn to let their property become a bypass-
"But, of course, you _do_ need to pay me back."
Shit. "And how would I do that, Miss. Kagami?" Len asked angelically, even though inside he was terrified of what detriment Rin Kagami could be.
Rin smirked. The smirk that could get a lion to cower in fear. The smirk that that make the devil, himself, throw himself into the pit of fire.
"I'm staying in your place for a while."
* * *
**a/n: UPDATE: so im a bit ill right now and i think i might faint from sickness. (you know the *cough* *cough* and *sneeze* *sneeze* sick.)**
**i might be slow at updating. okay? okay.**
**last thing: my chapters will be short because i will take forever to update.**
**thank you for reading.**
**pweaseeeeee comment**
**much luvs.**
**EXCUSE ANY ERRORS!**
End file.
| fanfiction |
Are Rippled or Wavy Potato Chips Stronger?
I am buying some potato chips. I want to use dip. But half the time I do my chips in the dip, they break apart.
Do wavy chips, with the wider bends have a greater strength? Or do the rippled chips, with the tiny bends have more strength? I am trying to find the best chip when it comes to dipping without the chip breaking.
Clarification based on the answers:
Are rippled chips stronger than wavy chips? I am not asking about standard chips.
Rippled potato chips are generally stronger. There's a reason why water bottles have grooves in them.
It's like trying to break a popsicle stick by applying a force parallel to its side or perpendicular to it. It is much stronger when you apply the force parallel to its side because there is more material on the relevant plane relative to the applied force to resist the combination of tension and compression.
Yes they are. The reason is that their cross-section has a greater value of the second moment of area so they bend less easier. To give you a similar example ,try to google 'sheet metal roofing' and notice their formation.
| stackexchange/physics |
One Piece 1. Thief: Chapter 1
The clouds moved in front of the moon, casting the entire city in shadows. Two figures sat crouched on a rooftop, hidden from the streets below. The young man and woman were dressed in dark clothes and were watching a large building intently.
"Okay newbie, pop quiz. How many guards are standing between us, and our target?" Anthony asked looking at his partner.
Mariko pushed a lock of her black hair away from her face. "In total or who we'll have to get past?"
"How many we're going to have to deal with."
"I'd say…7?"
Anthony smiled. "Seems about right, looks like you're getting the hang on this."
"Well I have been working on it for what, 4 years?"
Anthony's grin widened. "All thanks to your brilliant teacher no doubt."
Mariko rolled her dark purple eyes. "So what's the plan?"
Anthony's dark eyes flashed in delight. "Simple my dear pupil, we'll be making our grand entrance from the window on the east side of the building, sneak around, find the toy and leave before anyone notices."He shook his head in mock disappointment. "Honestly, I don't see why I need to explain the obvious to you."
Mariko sighed. "I still can't believe that we're breaking into a toy factory for some spoiled little brat."
"Ah, but we're not just talking about some run-of-the-mill toy factory. This is Wapol Industry's main building, the place where the CEO personally oversees the newest toys in his production line."
"I've never even heard of this company until we got the job."
"It's new, and becoming _very _popular. You should read the paper more often."
"I'll keep that in mind when we're done here."
"Alright, I'm going to head down. You know where the Surveillance Den Den Mushis are, right?"
"Yeah, there's enough in here to rival some smaller marine bases. You're going to run into about 6 before you hit the target. Then you'll have to pass 4 on your escape route."
"How long do you think you can block the signals?"
Mariko hesitated. "I've been practicing on the one you bought, but if I had to guess, you have 10 seconds at best."
Anthony narrowed his eyes. "And what the worst?"
Mariko looked at her shoes. "Half of that."
Anthony pinched the bridge of his nose and held up a hand to stop his assistant from speaking. "Right. Well, nothing to worry about. I am, after all, a master thief and I've had to deal with worse before I had you." He sighed. "Just stick to the plan, if I sense panic coming from you, I'll know how much time I have left before it all goes to shit."
Mariko nodded and watched Anthony sneak down to the next roof top. He seemed like a shadow himself, moving to the ease and silence of someone who had spent his entire life relying on his stealth.
She stretched her leg out and got comfortable. The rooftop they'd chosen was the perfect starting point, close enough to see the factory but far enough for anyone to catch them on tape. She closed her eyes and let her power close up around her.
It had been 4 years since Anthony had brought her into the life of a thief. He'd been interested in her Devil Fruit ability which he'd affectionately nicknamed the Sound-Sound Fruit. She could control sound waves and Anthony took full advantage of her abilities. They'd figured out she could wiretap and interfere with the Den Den Mushi signals, which was why she was sitting on a rooftop as support while Anthony was down below. In exchange for her help, he was teaching her the color of observation Haki, which she found as a more advanced version of her Devil Fruit ability to use sonar radar.
She did her best to block out the presences of the people down below on the streets, hurrying to get home to their families. With her Devil Fruit ability, she could feel the transmission waves coming from a Den Den Mushi in one of the apartments nearby. It gave her a headache having all the waves and presences being soaked into her mind. She focused her mind primarily on Anthony, the factory guards and the Den Den Mushis scanning the perimeter for intruders.
She felt Anthony getting close to a camera and pointed her figure at the factory. She unleashed small waves from her fingertip and felt it mix in with the transmission signals. She smiled, the Den Den Mushi must be confused by now and sending blank images to whatever monitoring room they had. She felt Anthony move beyond the camera's view and cut her interference.
She smiled in satisfaction and got ready for the next shot.
**-"~"-**
Anthony took another swig of his bottle and smiled. Their target, the latest Wapol toy, set to be released in a few months sat on the table in front of him.
He looked over at his assistant with a grin. "See? Piece of cake! And you did a great job! I bet the guards are checking the snails for a cold or something."
Mariko nodded pretending she'd heard him and kept reading the newspaper.
Anthony frowned. "You keep reading that article and putting a damper on my fun. I know I told you to be more aware about what's going on with world but I didn't mean tonight! We're almost finished the job, who cares what's happening with the rest of the world right now?"
Mariko sighed. "I care, the shit's about to hit the fan with enough force to knock out half of the New World. 'Fire Fist' is scheduled to be executed in a few days and the whole world is on standby for when Whitebeard makes his move." She looked up from the paper and looked at her boss steadily. "Don't think this doesn't affect us too! We're supposed to drop off that stupid piece of junk to one of the nobles who lives on Shabondy. That's sitting right next to Marineford where the execution is!"
Anthony laughed bitterly. "I heard they're going to set up these huge screens so that the 'good people' can watch it in style." He snorted. "What's this world come to?"
She shrugged. "Either way, I'm glad we're going a few days before the execution. It's going to be a nightmare with all those people. The whole world's going to watch this."
Anthony emptied his bottle and reached for the next one. "What does your brother think of all this?"
Mariko frowned. "In his last letter he said that the marines at the base are going nuts. It seems that even in the North Blue, they're getting orders to get ready for pirates. Whether Whitebeard wins or loses after this mess, you can be sure that the ocean's going to be flooded with pirates."
Anthony looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "And your sister?"
Mariko kept her voice casual. "I'm not sure, I haven't heard from her in a while."
A scratching sound at the window stopped whatever question Anthony was about to ask. Mariko jumped out of her seat and opened the window with enthusiasm. A small cat with fur as black as the night looked up at her with eyes as golden as a harvest moon.
"Little baby! Are you cold, sweetheart?" She cooed reaching for her pet.
The cat leapt away from the grabbing hands with such agility that Mariko almost fell out of the window. The cat shot her a disgusted look that seemed to imply that there was no way that it would tolerate such foolishness. With great dignity, the cat purposely ignored its owner and hopped up onto Anthony's lap.
Anthony laughed and scratched the cat behind its ear.
"Why she likes you more than me I'll never understand." Mariko glared at her friend accusingly. "Arasoi is _my_ cat and you don't even feed her!"
Anthony shrugged as the cat affectionately purred. "What can I say? My unnaturally high sexual attraction transcends even species."
Mariko looked at him in shock, completely speechless.
Anthony smirked and gently picked up Arasoi and placed her on the floor before standing up himself. "Anyways, I'm feeling mildly drunk and it's time to use that attraction to get me some bitches."
Mariko shook her head slowly. "I can't believe I put up with you."
Anthony laughed and threw on his jacket. "I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon, don't wait up."
Mariko rubbed her temples and heard the door close. She knew that no matter how loud and how long she'd listen to her music, her ears would never be clean again.
She sighed and took out a piece of paper and a pen and began her long overdue letter to her sister.
2. Citizen: Chapter 1
**Hello everyone. Look at me! Suddenly becoming productive again! Hopefully this chapter will give me the motivation to start writing again! **
**Chopper hugs to:**
**SniperKingSogeking0341, 10****th**** Squad 3****rd**** Seat, (An known Anon, thank you for reviewing!), Arrowachi and Girl-luvs-manga**
**-"~"-**
The sun was warm against her back as Keiko walked along the stone path leading back to her dorm. She casually reached into her pocket for the familiar lump, assuring herself that she had not forgotten her keys in one of her classrooms. She passed by some classmates whom she gave a quick wave to before hurrying on her way.
She stopped outside of her room to pull out some letters from the small box outside of her room. She opened the door and slipped through it as she flipped through her mail. She dropped her bag filled with textbooks on the ground and threw the letters on her small desk, all but one. She sat down and opened the letter in question with a smile.
"_My dear sister," _it began, _"things are going well. I'm coming close to graduating from a wooden sword to a real one, assuming that I'm reading the hints my superior has been giving me for the past few days. It's busy here at the base, there are new marines coming and going every day. _
_There are rumors floating around that some of us may be deported to other islands to increase security at other bases. The execution of "Portgas D. Ace" is closing in and I can feel the tension even from out here in the North Blue. _
_Also, I got a letter from Mariko and few days ago. She seems to be doing well and she mentioned she might be leaving for another island in the next little while. I hope that if she does move, she does so quickly. The seas are looking awfully dangerous these days. _
_I hope things are going well with your studies. Mom and Dad are wishing you luck as well!_
_I hope to hear from you soon, Tetsuo"_
Keiko frowned when she read the part about Mariko. She had not heard from her sister in some time and wondered if something had happened. It wasn't unusual for Mariko to be late with her letters, but for the past few months they seemed to lag further and further. She had messaged Tetsuo about it and they both wondered what on earth their big sister might be up to.
It was never quite clear what Mariko did for a living. They knew she travelled frequently and never stayed in one destination for very long. She would occasionally send them small gifts that she had picked up that may give some indication of where she was but they told little of where she might go next.
Keiko often wondered that if her sister were less restless, if she would have stayed at the Academy. Her sister had lasted all of 2 years before packing her bags and heading off for adventure.
There had been little surprise when the news reached the small island they had grown up on. Although it was the Mayor's child, the village had seen each sibling grow up and knew that if one of the children were to get up and go, it would be the oldest daughter. There had been some concern with the youngest, Tetsuo, who would follow Mariko like a puppy. However all that vanished when the boy expressed an interest in the navy and a military career.
As for Keiko, she cared little for travel and conflict. She preferred the company of books and the pursuit of knowledge. She hoped that one day she would take her father's place as mayor of the little island she so dearly loved. Until then, she dutifully attended her classes and was well liked by her peers and teachers alike.
Keiko was happy with her small and planned out life.
She folded the letter and slid it into a file she kept under her desk and made a mental note to reply the next day. She looked warily at her books. She ran through her mental list. She was caught up in all her classes, maybe even a little ahead. Surely she could have a night to herself?
She threw herself onto her bed and reached out to grab the latest book she had bought from the bookstore. She settled in for a well deserved quiet evening.
**-"~"-**
It was the shouts that woke her from her sleep. If those unknown classmates hadn't voiced their terror and disbelief, she would have continued sleeping.
The lights from outside her bedroom window painted her room in a hellish red light. She checked her clock and saw that the sun was still several hours from rising. She ran to her window to see what light was strong enough to turn night into day.
Flames danced and kissed the air below her window. Her eyes stared at the flames in horror. Had she been more level headed, she would have looked up and seen the same glow from the distance, as though the whole island had been set on fire.
"Keiko!" Someone below screamed. Keiko looked down and saw a girl whom she vaguely remembered from one of her classes. "You need to get out of there!"
She didn't need to be told twice. She was about to leave when she remembered the file. Although they were just sheets of paper with ink, they were her only connection with her siblings. She grabbed the file and hid it under her shirt as she flew out of her room.
There were others in the hall, frantically trying to escape the impending flames. Keiko ran with them, hoping that one of them knew a path to safety.
Years of practice fire drills lead the group to the door that lead to the courtyard. Their teachers had always told them that when a real fire occurred, you were to leave the building calmly and quickly. At least they had the "quick" part down. The group was in chaos, every student trying to get out the fastest. Several times, Keiko had to adjust her pace to keep up with the mob. She knew that if she slowed down, she would be trampled.
After what seemed like hours, she was pushed out of the building. Outside was no better. There were people everywhere. Some tried to put out the fire while others ran for what they might have hoped was safely away from the madness.
Keiko felt a sharp pain in her feet and remembered that she hadn't put on any shoes. She noticed several others were still in their pajamas and was suddenly thankful that she had fallen asleep in her clothes.
She heard screams and shots rang out. She instinctively ran for cover. Why were people shooting? Then, out of the corner of her eye she saw them.
Their skin was dark and scarred from a thousand days work in the sun. Their eyes shone with bloodlust that combined with the flames gave the impression of windows into hell. Daggers, swords and guns were held in muscled hands, waiting for their prey.
Keiko paled and tried to hide herself the best she could. She prayed it was a dream, but the cold stone beneath her feet and the ashes stinging her eyes were enough to keep her firmly anchored to reality.
Pirates were attacking the Academy.
End file.
| fanfiction |
Kelly made two free throws and then hit a 3-pointer to spark an 18-0 run that made it 29-10 when he made another 3 midway through the first half. The Spartans took a 52-21 lead into halftime and a 14-2 spurt early in the second half gave Norfolk State a 40-point lead with nearly 15 minutes to play.
Greg Bloodsworth led the Mustangs with 17 points.
Norfolk State scored 37 points off 24 Mid-Atlantic Christian turnovers outrebounded the Mustangs 59-39.
Mid-Atlantic Christian, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, made just 17 of 67 (25.4 percent) from the field, including 4 of 25 from 3-point range. | slim_pajama |
Giveaway: The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman
September 24, 2021 lindasbookbag
I've been taking a small blogging break this week as I recharge my batteries but I can think of no better way to return to blogging than by hosting a giveaway for Hannah Beckerman's brand new book, The Impossible Truths of Love.
My enormous thanks to Kealey Rigden Senior Communications Manager at FMcM Associates for affording me this opportunity. I have three paperback copies of The Impossible Truths of Love to give away to three lucky UK readers. You'll find details of how to enter below.
The Impossible Truths of Love will be published by Lake Union on 5th October 2021 and is available for pre-order here.
The Impossible Truths of Love
From bestselling author Hannah Beckerman comes a moving story about memory, secrets, and what it really means to feel that you're one of the family.
When Nell's father makes a deathbed declaration that hints at a long-held secret, it reignites feelings of isolation that have plagued her for years. Her suspicions about the family's past only deepen when her mother, Annie, who is losing her memories to dementia, starts making cryptic comments of her own.
Thirty-five years earlier, Annie's life was upended by a series of traumas―one shock after another that she buried deep in her heart. The decisions she made at the time were motivated by love, but she knew even then that nobody could ever understand―let alone forgive―what she did.
As the two women's stories unravel, a generation apart, Nell finally discovers the devastating truth about her mother's past, and her own.
In this beautifully observed and emotionally powerful story of identity, memory and the nature of family, Hannah Beckerman asks: To what lengths would you go to protect the ones you love?
Doesn't that sound utterly wonderful? Why not enter the giveaway?
For your chance to win one of three paperback copies of The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman, click here.
Giveaway closes at UK midnight on Monday 4th October 2021 and is open to those with a UK postal address. FMcM Associates will send winners their copies of The Impossible Truths of Love directly. Any data gathered will only be retained until prizes have been awarded.
About Hannah Beckerman
Hannah Beckerman is a bestselling author and journalist whose novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide. She is a book critic and features writer for a range of publications including The Observer and the FT Weekend Magazine, and has appeared as a book pundit on BBC Radio 2 and Times Radio. She chairs literary events across the UK, interviewing authors and celebrities, and has judged numerous book prizes including the Costa Book Awards. Prior to writing her first novel, Hannah was a television producer and commissioning editor for the BBC, Channel 4 and the Discovery Channel, and for two years lived in Bangladesh, running a TV project for the BBC. She now lives in London where she writes full-time.
For further information, visit Hannah's website, follow her on Twitter @hannahbeckerman and Instagram or find her on Facebook. | slim_pajama |
Patriot Stupid Girl
**Disclaimer:**I don't own any part of "The Patriot" but I do own Helena.
**Meg, BratPrincess** - Thanks for the reviews on the first version.
I **REWROTE** the story and decided that it will be a oneshot. I've simply lost the concept for the rest of the story. The ideas I had, I've decided to move to another Tavington ff, which is now work in progress. I'll soon publish it
* * *
_**OoOoOo Stupid Girl oOoOoO**_
It was a hot, dry day. Dirt arose from the ground, with the slightest movement. Even though the sun would soon set, the temperature didn't seem to drop. The heat was merciless. As merciless as Colonel Tavington, who sat on top of his horse, watching another family being dragged out of their home, by his soldiers.
It was a big, elegant house, built in a typical, colonial style. The wood, of what the home was made of, was painted white, a wide verandah, stretching on the full length of the building. Above it, a balcony matching the verandah's size. The roof was covered, with navy blue tiles.
One of the soldiers walked up to the Colonel.
"What shall happen with them, Sir?" The soldier asked pointing at the family - which included two adult women, one man and five children, non above the age of 12 – and a group of slaves.
"Kill them." Tavington answered blankly. He looked down at the soldier. "All of them." The man looked at his superior with disbelief. Obviously, he didn't know the Colonel's methods, yet.
Tavington pulled out his pistol and fired. A moment later one of the women was on the ground, screaming over her child. Because of the sudden movement, much dry dirt rose from the road before the house. The dead girl lying on the ground, wasn't older than ten. The Colonel hardly looked at them, his eyes turned back to the soldier.
"Captain, I really hate repeating myself." He said in his usual, emotionless voice. "Kill them all and burn the house."
The man, a bit shaken with what happened only seconds ago, nodded and gave the order. When the soldiers pointed their guns, at the group of people, something caught Tavington's eye. One of the women desperately looked at the open door of the house. The message was clear. Someone was still inside.
"Hold your fire!" The Colonel ordered, riding up closer to the traitors. "Who else is in the house?" The question was pointed to both, the family and the slaves. "The one which will answer, maybe will save his life." He added after a moment. One of the slaves jumped out, before the group of captives.
"Their seventeen year old daughter, is still in the house. There's a secret room, the entrance to it is in the study. She must be there." He said pointing at the family. The woman, which was still standing, cried out and collapsed next to the one kneeling, by the dead child. Tavington smirked.
"Now, kill them all. I'll get the girl." He said and dismounted his horse. He approached the entrance to the house.
"You said, I'll save my life if I'll tell you." The slave cried out. Tavington stopped and slightly turned his head to the slave.
"I said 'maybe'." He then looked at the Captain. "Proceed with the order." After that, the Colonel continued into the house. Inside, the air was quite cool, comparing to the outside.
Tavington passed through a few rooms, before finally reaching the study. It was a big room, covered in a dark green wallpaper and a matching rug lying on the floor. The furniture was made out of carved mahogany. The sun was pouring inside the study, through half closed louvers, which made the room shadowed.
The Colonel locked the double doors – which were the only entrance to the room - and looked around. He spotted, that one of the corners of the rug, was moved up. He glanced at the wall in the same place, there was a long, sheer crack in the wallpaper. It was just the length of a door.
_**XoXoXoX**_
Helena hid in a secret room, placed by her father's study. It was actually hard to call it a room, it was a compartment, just big enough to fit a person inside.
First Helena heard the sounds of a struggle and then, nerve wrecking, dead silence. It seemed to last forever. Suddenly, she heard a single gunshot, then, her aunt's scream. Dead silence, once more… broken by her mother screaming 'No!'. Helena felt her stomach rise up, right to her throat. She wanted to know what happened, but she was scared to find out, at the same time. Then, she heard multiple gunshots, and a second later, a second series. Later, only that killing silence.
Helena never belonged to the group of brave people, neither she was mentally strong. All of her emotions were easy to trigger. Every time she was scared, she felt cold. The girl felt best, safe in her own home, with her family. But now, she couldn't feel safe, even in her own house.
The silence was broken, by the sound of footsteps. Footsteps, approaching her fathers study. Helena could hear the double-door being locked. It was the only exit from the room. The girl had a feeling, like ice was being pressed to her bare back. Helena found a small crack in the wall and looked through it.
There was a man, in a British Green Dragoon officer's uniform, examining the room. He must've noticed something, because he was now looking directly at the door, to the secret compartment. Helena froze, when she saw, that he started walking in her direction. She felt, like her nerves were a too much stretched piano string, which would break any second. With his every step, Helena felt her insides being squeezed by an ice cold hand. Her breathing became more harsh and heavy. She closed her eyes for half a second, and when she opened them, the man was gone. He simply vanished. It was quiet again.
Suddenly the door shot open, which made Helena jump back and press herself tightly against the wall, that was mere centimeters behind her. She dug her nails desperately into the unpainted, wooden wall of the compartment, as if it would make the man before her disappear.
Helena looked at the officer, and there were three things that caught her eye immediately. First: his size. She hardly reached the man's chin. Second: his cold, steel grey eyes. That told her, who he was. They said that there was only one person, who had eyes almost like glass. Colonel William Tavington, commander of the Green Dragoons, murderer, butcher, bastard, scoundrel, etc. The third thing she noticed, was that he was devilishly handsome. It was his appearance that made her tremble, of fear and something else… Oh, how easy her feelings could be manipulated. She was weak, not stupid, but very weak.
Tavington walked up closer to the girl. He had to admit, she was pretty. The girl had wavy, shoulder length hair in a color somewhat brown and mahogany red, flowing loosely around her young face. Her carnation was delicately olive and she had ocean colored eyes. He shamelessly examined her body, visually undressing her piece, by piece.
The way he looked at her, made Helena feel like she was standing naked in front of him. And that merciless silence, which embraced the room… It was unbearable for her. How she wished that this was just a dream. But it wasn't and she knew it. Being trapped like a rat in a corner made it even worse.
"Name." He said in his emotionless manner, breaking the silence that was killing Helena.
"Helena Graves." She managed to say.
"Helena… nice name. You're quite nice yourself. As for a simpleton colonial, that is." Helena ignored that remark. She knew, that she had to calm down and act as brave as it was possible. She took a deep breath.
"Will you please, move out of the way, Sir. I would like to get out of here." Tavington slightly moved out of the way, to let the girl out of the compartment. Helena walked out into the study, relieved that she finally had some room to breathe. "Where is my family?" She asked.
"Your whole, traitor family is dead, Helena. Their bodies are lying outside, and this house will be burned." She saw an sadistic smirk, painting itself on the Colonel's face. Suddenly, the gunshots and her mother's and aunt's screams appeared in her head. She pictured her dead parent's, three sisters and brother, her aunt and her daughter's bodies, lying lifelessly before their house. An indescribable anger awoke in her.
"You bastard." She said calmly and then, suddenly Helena jumped to Tavington's throat. Though this surprised him, she only managed to scratch the side of his neck. He caught her both wrists, less than a second later. He slapped her, with the back of his gloved hand. The blow was so powerful, that Helena painfully landed on the ground.
When she came back to her senses, she felt a burning, stinging pain, in the place, where he hit her. She moved her hand to her face. No one ever hit her. Helena's father always told her, that a gentleman would never beat a woman. She quickly understood that the man before her, was no gentleman.
The rest of Helena's body ached from the fall. Her hair was now a mess, covering her whole face. Helena removed it from her eyes and looked at Tavington.
"Stupid girl." He said, glaring at her. He touched the place where she scratched him. When he brought his hand, back before his eyes, he noticed some blood on his glove. His blood. He was furious. He looked back at the girl. "Stupid whore."
"Will you kill me now?" She asked. Tavington smirked. That smirk made her even more afraid, than she was already. Still, there was something about him… It made it impossible for her, to tear her eyes away from him. Helena thought, that he was the devil with the face of an angel. He walked up to her.
"It would be a pity, to let you die a virgin." Her eyes widened and her muscles stiffened. She never made love to man before and she heard, that the first time hurt much. "Get up." He said. Helena didn't move, she just looked at him. "Get up!" When she still didn't move, Tavington painfully yanked her up. "Stop disobeying me, bitch." He looked around the room. He spotted a few bearskins laid by the study's fireplace. "This will do."
Helena followed his gaze and saw the bearskins, then she looked back at him, with fear in her eyes. She slightly opened he mouth and started to shiver in his hands. The Colonel smirked at that and pulled her towards the fireplace. When he was a few steps away, he threw her on the bearskins. They amortized Helena's fall, but the touch of the soft fur quickly reminded her, what's waiting for her. Tavington walked up to an armchair and took off his riding helmet, gloves and jacket.
He returned to the girl and kneeled beside her. The Colonel traced the red mark on her face, in the place where he hit her. His touch made her tremble. He moved his hand through her jaw line, down her neck to her breasts. Helena moved away from his hand, but then Tavington grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her into a rough kiss, forcing his tounge into her mouth. The girl tasted like wine to him. Helena tried to pull away, but he was to strong. Finally, he let her go.
"Stop struggling. You'll enjoy this, more than you think." After saying that, he moved on top of her. Helena started struggling even more, but it was useless. He pulled out a dagger from his boot and started cutting open the front of Helena's dress. He cut it deep enough, to get through all of the girl's undergarments as well. When he was done, it took him only a few seconds to rip the dress off her. Now, she was lying completely naked beneath him.
Though Helena knew, that she couldn't do anything to prevent what was going to happen, she kept struggling. Tavington captured her wrists with one hand and pinned them above her head. He pulled her into another rough kiss and started penetrating her mouth with his tongue. While exiting her mouth, he bit her lower lip. She wasn't sure anymore, if she wanted him ho stop.
He moved down the girl's neck, to her breasts and started nibbling on the gentle flesh. Helena gasped, when he did that. She felt his hardened manhood, press against her thigh. He kissed his way back to her mouth. Then Helena felt him, move his free hand between her legs. She started breathing more heavily, when inserted his fingers into her most intimate part. Her senses came back and she tried to free herself, but her attempts were fruitless. A moment later, Helena felt him undo his breeches.
"No, please." She begged with tears in her eyes. The girl was afraid of him and Tavington took pleasure in it. He liked seeing people fear him. He moved his hand up to her face and gently caressed it.
"Shh. As I've already told you, you'll enjoy this, more than you think." With that, he savagely thrust into her. Helena screamed at the pain that seemed to be tearing her body apart, all her muscles stiffened. She dug her nails into her hands so hard, that they started bleeding. Helena whimpered when another thrust came.
"Stop, please…" She said, but there was no answer. He didn't stop. He just kept thrusting into her harder and faster. To Helena's surprise, the pain disappeared and something else appeared in it's place… Pleasure? Yes, it was now pleasure that was ripping her body apart. She couldn't explain it. This was the man that killed whole family and she didn't care. The world didn't exist for her now. Helena stopped struggling underneath him and wrapped her legs around his hips, to pull him deeper inside of her.
Tavington finally released her wrists, and she wrapped her hands around his neck. Helena first started moaning and then screaming with pleasure. His thrusts became faster and more violent. Oh, how she wanted him. When she finally climaxed, she dug her nails into his neck. Tavington made two more thrusts and released himself inside of Helena, then collapsed on top of her.
A moment later he pulled out of her and cleaned himself with a part of her torn dress. Then he walked up to the armchair, where his things lay. He put the jacket, gloves and riding helmet back on, and walked back to Helena. She still laid naked on the bearskins, with her legs spread wide apart, breathing heavily. The girl's mind was somewhere else, far away.
"I told you, that you would like it. Now, get up and get dressed, whore." He said in his cold voice. That brought Helena back to realty. She was just raped by the man that killed her family and she enjoyed it. She enjoyed it more than anything in her life. He was right, she was a whore. She hated herself and she hated him.
Helena quickly dressed herself in her emerald green dress. It was a hard task, because the dress had the whole front cut open. While dressing, she noticed that she had some blood between her legs. The girl decided to not pay attention to it. When she finally succeeded in putting her clothes on, she had to hold the dress in her hand, so it wouldn't split open.
"Come on." Tavington said and grabbed her, by her forearm. He dragged her outside the house and threw her on the ground, before the house's verandah. Helena heard the soldiers whispering and she could see some grinning. When she turned her head left, she saw that she was lying beside of the dead bodies of her family.
That sight made her freeze. It got to her, that she would never hear her mother's or father's voice again,neither her sister's laughing. She would never even see them again. Tears started filling her eyes. She started moving her hand, to touch her dead mother, that was lying beside her…
The sound of a gunshot cut the air. Tavington shot the girl in the back of her head. Her body was now lying as lifelessly as her family's bodies. The Colonel put his gun back into the holster and mounted his horse.
"Burn the house." He said. The soldiers threw lit torches at the house. Soon later, they left the place of the ruthless murder. Not the first and not the last.
* * *
Sorry for any mistakes. The punctuation is probably horrible. I wrote this at 3:00 am. I'm the type of a night writer, I don't have time during the day.
**Please review.**
End file.
| fanfiction |
Mass Effect Small shots of Mass Effect
**An Eye for An Eye**
"Hey Garrus, where did you learn that human saying?" Shepard asked offhand, as she recalled his use of the phrase '_an eye for an eye_' when they took care of Sidonis. They were sitting the mess hall as the _Normandy_ approached her destination.
"What human saying?" the turian asked in reply, obviously he couldn't tell which saying she was recalling with so little information.
"An eye for an eye." Garrus visibly stiffened.
_Silence._
"Garrus?" the turian shook his head.
"I can't remember, sorry Shepard." Shepard smiled and patted him on the shoulder as she got up to head back to the CIC.
"It's okay Garrus. You avenged them good and proper." Garrus nodded, _'An eye for an eye indeed.'_
End file.
| fanfiction |
MANILA - Surfing destination Siargao is up next on the Department of Tourism's list of sites to be rehabilitated, Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Thursday.
Government is "working on" the plan for Siargao as it is currently rehabilitating popular destinations El Nido in Palawan and Panglao in Bohol, said Puyat.
"Siargao is next," she told ANC's Headstart.
Stakeholders in the famed site are "very environmentally conscious" and are following easement rules that prohibit building structures within a certain distance from the coastline on their own, she said.
"I think it would be easier in Siargao because the stakeholders are very cooperative," she said.
Known for its surf breaks and white sand, Siargao was one of the main destinations foreign tourists visited during the closure of Boracay island last year.
It was because of the discovery of other destinations such as Siargao that tourist arrivals rose to 7.1 million in 2018 from the 6.6 million in 2017, said Puyat.
Boracay alone attract about 1 million tourists annually, but its closure during peak months last year was a "blessing in disguise because people realized that there are other places to go to in the Philippines," she said.
The holiday island was closed to public from April to October last year to give way to rehabilitation following orders from President Rodrigo Duterte. | slim_pajama |
Bleach, Naruto 1. Chapter 1: Uzumaki
"Hurry!" A genin yelled at the civilians. They were scrambling all over each other to get to the safety of the Hokage Monument. In the background, an omnious red figure loomed over the large crowd. It reached forward, and with a swipe of one of its large claws, it batted them aside.
"**Where is she? Where is she?**" it muttered. Kyuubi sweeped back and forth, frantically searching for something. Its large round eyes reflected the fear stricken villagers that scurried about beneath its paws.
"Help! Help!" came a franted cry from the forest. A medic nin helped a pregnant woman limp out of the way of the imposing force of nature. She looked sick from all the movement. Kyuubi spotted the duo and raised his claw to attack. All it saw was a yellow blur, before they dissapeared. It gave a cry of anguish.
"Who are you?" asked the blonde stranger. His grim sky blue eyes showed worry for her wellbeing.
"I... I am Uzumaki. That is all you need to know," was her mysterious reply. Her body gave a lurch before she turned aside and emptied her stomach. Her petite form shook as she let out an anguished scream. Kyuubi turned to their general direction and ran forward at the sound.
"What's wrong! Tell me!" Minato panicked as he saw the pain she was going through. Her face was twisted up in pain. She breathed heavily in and out before replying.
"I think, my water broke," she chocked out. She bit down on her clothes to muffle another set of screams. Her eyes blurred as Minato yelled at the nearest medic nin.
"Okay stay calm and breathe deeply," said the medic nin calmly. Minato watched them interact for a bit before the medic nin removed her clothes.
"Okay... Push!" Uzumaki made a strangled sound as the tip of the head showed.
At first, Minato was fine with that graphic image. But as it progressed on, he turned into a putrid shade of green. He looked away, but what he had seen will forever scar him.
The medic nin took out a towel from his kit, and wipped the child clean. She didn't look like a newborn. Far from it. At first glance she looked five or even six, but her small body made it obvious she was younger. She had a small button like nose and pointed ears. Her eyes were blue as all newborns eyes are. But they were quickly bleeding into a leafy green, faster than should happen. Her blonde hair also underwent the strange transformation to a warm red.
"At long last, my precious. I have been waiting for you for a long time," panted Uzumaki on the floor. "Please, bring her here medic nin."
The medic nin handed her the baby. Uzumaki held her offspring close to her bossom and whispered a blessing. She unclapsed her chocker and wrapped it around the baby's neck. It shrunk to fit, not too tightly as to choke the babe, but not too lose to just slip off.
"My beautiful... Shiki...," whispered Uzumaki. There was a moment of silence. Kyuubi had stopped moving and in turn so did the shinobi. The confused civilians stopped their screaming. A wave of calm swept through the battle field.
Uzumaki grabbed onto Minato and Shiki before using her chakra to reach for Kyuubi. And in an instant, they were gone.
They reappeared in a cave far not far from Konohagakure. In fact, it was somewhere on top of the Hokage Monument. Kyuubi appeared stunned for a moment before bowing toward the woman until her nose touched the floor.
"Oh, my familiar. How well do you fare?" Her voice echoed through the cave, sending chills throughout Minato's spine.
"**Who is the man next to you?**" growled Kyuubi. "**Wait. I sense another presence in this sacred ground. Here we do not hide ourselves nor do we lie. Expose yourself.**"
"As expected of the mighty Kyuubi. I would have been disappointed if you did not sense me."
A figure shimmered into existance between Uzumaki and Kyuubi. It appeared amused, although there was an angry tone that cut into the human duo.
"It appears that your job was not finished. Why did you not finish destroying Konoha?" asked the masked mystery. "I command you to kill those pathetic fools. Ignore these pests."
Kyuubi's eyes misted over.
"**Your command is my pleasure, Master Madara.**"
Minato's eyes widened. "Madara? Uchiha Madara? Isn't he dead?"
Uzumaki grimaced. "Apparently not. Oi! Kyuubi! Snap out of it!"
"**You are a nuisance. Prepare for death, scum!**" the beast roared.
Uzumaki cursed and dodged the incoming claw. Shiki cried as Kyuubi's killing intent washed the entire cave with a maddening pressure. She wriggled from her blanket like prison and glared at the second most powerful being of all time.
"Nehehe. Furball!"
Nevermind, the third most powerful being of all time. Shiki trumps him no matter what.
"Down boy! Down!" Shiki shrieked. Her eyes shined with a sort of arcane knowledge. Shiki gave a little happy snort. Uzumaki eyes filled with tears. She was laughing!
"Atta' girl, Shiki! Kick him in the nose for your Ma!" Uzumaki staggered before collapsing. "Oh... your mom is a little tired."
The Namikaze sweatdropped, a first since his wife died giving birth to a stillborn. In fact, Uzumaki reminded him a little of Kushina. He never really knew Kushina's last name didn't he.
His musings were cut short when Kyuubi lunged for Shiki. He tried to pull her away. But even a speed demon as himself was not faster than something much larger than him. After all, a twitch of Kyuubi's muscles and he could be crushed by its enormous hulk.
"Not on my watch," groaned Uzumaki. Before Kyuubi could follow through with its strike, Uzumaki appeared before him and Shiki. Kyuubi's claw went through her, but not quite reaching Minato.
"Hey. You. Blondey...," she drawled. She hacked a little and spit out a mouthful of blood.
"Draw a seal for me. There is a copy of it in my back pocket, as well as a letter. It explains everything. I was planning to seal Kyuubi myself, but its obvious why I can't do it right now isn't it?"
She gave another wheezing cough. Her lungs were filling with blood fast, and it became obvious to Minato that he couldn't save her. So he relented and followed through on her request.
"What is this seal? Its amazing, I can't even understand its use!"
"Yeah, yeah pretty boy. Just use it!"
Shiki giggled happily. "Use it! Use it!"
Minato quickly drew the seal as Uzumaki immobilized Kyuubi with her own chakra. He drew quickly but Uzumaki was losing too much chakra.
"Hurry! I can only hold on for so much longer!"
"This is not as easy as you think! I have to make sure I don't mess up!"
"I drew that seal when I was a toddler! Quit your whining and hurry up!"
"Well obviously, you complaining isn't going to help me get anywhere!"
The rest of the work was done in silence, only interupted by an occasional growl from Kyuubi or a whimper of pain from Uzumaki. Shiki joined her mother sometime during the drawing proccess, helping by feeding chakra to her mother.
"Hurry up! Mama isn't gonna hold for long!"
"I'm done!"
Uzumaki pushed Shiki away from her.
"Take my hand, Namikaze! Then touch the seal!"
Minato did as he was told. Soon he felt her energy flow through him and enter the seal. But it was a ridiculous amount.
"Hey! Don't give me too much! I can help to power it too!"
"Who says I'm using Chakra? This is something you can use only if you trained to find it for 50 years."
"Wait! You're older than fifty!"
"Much older than that! I had Kyuubi when he was naught but a kit. Please. Protect my child..."
The seal glowed with so many colors. Some of which Minato didn't know existed. It crawled from its spot on the floor onto the Kyuubi. It roared and cried as a white light engulfed him.
When the light died down, all that was left was a small shivering kit with nine tails.
"Elyssa! Elyssa!" The kit ran toward Shiki and licked her face.
"**Shiki-tan!**" cried Elyssa, the miniturized Kyuubi. Then it walked circles around Shiki and fell asleep in the baby's lap.
Minato groaned, "What type of mess did I get myself into this time?"
I had rewrote my first chapter, now that I had gotten ahold of myself and didn't go crazy with the whole Mary Sueing of Shiki.
I would like to say, that thank you **MAGNUM777,**** afallenheart,** **stc-dragon, Yin7, Harteramo, Fan of Fanfics21, Stellar-TheFangirl, AnonymousShadowReader1, little firework, Anake14, gabyxx21, Nycel, and Neliel Tu Oderschvank Espada 3 **for your reviews. They have all been read.
I'll try to update, I am still in school. Until next time.
P.S. I will be deleting the chapters I'm replacing soon. Not yet though.
2. Chapter 2: Who is she?
A/N: Hey guys! It's been a while. I've grown up a bit and now I'm going to high school! Sorry for not updating all this time. I have finally decided to stop moping around and end this unscheduled hiatus. So I'm BACK FROM THE GRAVE.
* * *
Chapter 2: Gone With the Wind
For the first time in what seemed like centuries, Konohagakure no Sato hadn't seem like it was on top of its game. Even the event in which the Shodaime was killed in the Valley of the End had not been as devastating as this.
The beautiful city lay in ruins, its leader, the Yondaime, not found within the living nor dead. Everything felt slow and miserable, like a blanket of depression was pulled over the usually happy city. Within those first few weeks it was not unusual to see people crying over a dead body in the middle of the street.
But everything was not lost. The Will of Fire must continue. And so like a great firebird, The Village Hidden in the Leaves rose up from its ashes to begin anew. And everything almost seemed to fall back into place in the busy city. Almost everything was back to normal. Almost everything...
The Yondaime was a great man. He had sacrificed himself for the sake of the Village, like a true Hokage. To everyone he is dead and would never be forgotten. And to be frank, the man who was Yondaime is no more. He was no longer Minato Namikaze, the Yondaime of the Hidden Village of the Leaves and the Kiiroi Senko. Now he was just Arashi Kazama, father to a young daughter and a civilian.
* * *
_Flashback_
"Minato-kun, I will have you know that you are one of the most extraordinary person I have ever met," said the Sandaime, smoking his signature pipe. He took a deep drag before he sighed, letting all the smoke out. "I didn't think you would find out so soon."
"I don't know what you mean, Sandaime. What was I not supposed to find out?" asked Minato. He was a little pale and shaken from the events of the night. From his wife dying from birthing a still born to watching someone birthing something that shouldn't be able to be inside that person in the first place to having a near death experience to something akin to legends and a dead person, you could say he was pretty shaken up. He just wanted to go back home and hole up for a while, but as he held that sleeping girl that had just been born, he knew he had a lot to do in the next few years.
"You don't understand Minato! It was something I could tell you yet. Heck! I didn't find out until Hashirama-sensei died," exclaimed Sarutobi, setting down his smoking pipe and gripping his forehead. "All of this is just so delicate. If anyone else finds out, we may be looking at the Fourth Shinobi War!"
"Sandaime, all I want to know is who this child is, who Uzumaki-san is, and what the hell happened last night! I..."
"I know. All those things yesterday, I don't blame you. I didn't realize that this would happen so soon," sighed the Sandaime. "Let me start by telling you more about the Uzumaki. Your wife, Kushina, she was an Uzumaki. In fact all the supposed Kyuubi Jinchuriki were Uzumaki. They were an old and ancient line."
The Sandaime picked up his pipe and took another drag and looked up. "They were distant relatives of the Senju, it is from their bloodline that the Mokuten had come to be. Unfortunately it wasn't something that had stayed within the Senju line. Now the Uzumaki were famous because of their sealing prowess as well as their potent chakra. Only they held the key to controlling the Kyuubi as well as keeping the other Bijuu calm. Unfortunately, it seemed as the secret has died with them when their homeland, the Land of Whirpool, was destroyed in what seemed like a joint alliance with Iwa and Kumo nin."
"Sarutobi-sama, why are you telling me all this?" asked Minato, still trying to comprehend what was going on.
"All in due time, Minato-kun," said the Sandaime. "The girl you are holding there. It appears since the events yesterday had occurred, she is the last known Uzumaki in the Shinobi Nations, or even the entire world. Of course we cannot be sure. There has been sightings of the Rinnegan showing itself in Ame."
"The Rinnegan?" screamed Minato. "That doujustu. I thought it was just a legend!"
"No. It was one of the reasons why the Uzumaki were so feared. They are said to be descendants of the Sage of the Six paths. It was him that the secret to taming the Bijuu had come from. After all, the Juubi is his familiar," said Sarutobi. "It hadn't been trapped on the moon. No, it has been sleeping this entire time under our feet, waiting for the next worthy to bond with it."
Minato sat in his seat in shock. All those stories of the Savior of this World were true. And his wife had been living proof of it all this time and he hadn't noticed.
"The Uzumaki were only part of it all. In fact, before even the Sage of Six Paths there were Chakra users. They were mostly priests, monks, and shaman. But a select few became very famous for their magical power. They could predict the weather and create gold out of lead. They were known as wizards. And the Uzumaki, which had existed back then, were famous in their dealings with the dead. They were what seemed like the Shinigami of their time. They were royalty back then, and they are still now. And as the last of this magnificent linage is that little girl sitting there in your lap."
"Shiki. Shiki Uzumaki, that is her name," breathed Minato, pulling the sleeping girl closer to him. "So I'm guessing she's the Uzumaki Princess then, seeing as she is royalty."
"Shiki. What a wonderful name. It means Corpse Demon, which would strike fear in her enemies, but it also can mean Seasons, which matches her soon to be beauty."
"Wait. I almost forgot about something," said Minato, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. "Along with the sealing array, she gave me this. She said it would explain everything."
"Well. Let's see what it has to say," said Sarutobi. He cleared his throat and put on his reading glasses. "Let's see. 'To whoever is reading this, this probably means that I didn't survive. I would let myself hope that Kushina is the one receiving this, but I cannot let my hopes up. Let me start from the beginning of my story. I am ninth direct descendant of the Sage of the Six Paths, Uzumaki Shiro, and the last of the Priestesses that Reside over Death. My daughter, Shiki, is hopefully alive and will awake her bloodline when close to _bodies of water. _You cannot let her get close enough to one until you know she can protect herself from those who pursue her. If you are not Kushina, I hope that the custody of my daughter, Shiki, can go to Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage. It is extremely important that he, Kushina, or any of their kin are constantly in her presence. The Namikaze clan are one of our retainer clans and were previously known as the Inazuma before they were forced to escape. Only their Kaminari released forms can catch up to the speed of our clan. If you are not of the ones mentioned above, quickly present the child and the letter to the leader of your village and never speak of this again. -Uzumaki Shiro.'"
"The Inazuma? Kaminari? I've never heard of it," blabbered Minato. "Of course I would never know. Because I don't even remember what my parents look like..."
"The Inazuma clan were one of the most superior clans I have ever had the pleasure to meet. How I never saw the connection between you and them, I do not know. Because of your special circumstances and the contents of this letter, it is safe to assume that you are an Inazuma."
"It would make sense. When I use the Hiraishin it feels as if I am only tapping into a little of what I can do. This Kaminari release form, it is probably the completed form of my Hiraishin," said Minato thoughtfully.
"It is a scary thought that the jutsu used to kill so many Iwa nin in the last war wasn't even at its best. I hope there wouldn't be the need for you to use such a powerful technique. But to make sure, find out how to unlock it so you can take care of Shiki-chan. I trust that everything that has been said or heard here will be kept as an S-rank secret."
"Hai, Sandaime-sama!"
"Also as your senior Hokage, I order that as a mission you are to pretend dead and take care of Uzumaki-hime here. Do you understand!"
"Hai."
"Good. Your new Alias shall be one very familiar to you. How does the name, Arashi Kazama, sound?" asked Hiruzen mischievously.
"Perfect."
_End Flashback_
* * *
"Are you my papa?" asked Shiki. She bounced around the house helping Minato move everything in. Elyssa the Kistune ran around putting stuff in her mouth and bringing them to Shiki.
Minato, taking a break and drinking tea, almost choked on his tea before spitting it out.
"No," he stammered out. "What makes you bring that up?"
"Cause you were there when I was born. So I assumed..." she explained.
"I'm not your biological father, but I might as well be your dad right?" said Minato cheerfully. "I'm going to be the one taking care of you from now on."
"M'kay! Then you will be Papa!" Elyssa yipped and ran around their ankles.
**"Papa! Papa!"** she yipped. **"You are Papa!"**
Minato smiled at their antics. It reminded him of when Sandaime had first visited the orphanage. One of the other orphans had asked Sandaime if he was going to take care of any of them. The Sandaime replied that he was the father of everyone in the village because he was the Hokage. Of course he hid behind the corner seeing how shy he was at the orphanage. But from then on, he wanted to be the Hokage so he could help all the other children in need, just like the Sandaime. Minato was brought out of his daydream by a tug on his sleeve.
"Papa! Elyssa and I are hungry!" exclaimed Shiki. "What's for dinner?"
Minato chuckled and ruffled Shiki's hair. "How does ramen sound?"
"What's ramen?" asked Shiki. She looked up to Minato with her giant, adorable eyes. The Kyuubi sat there and tilted its head in its adorable way.
"It was something my wife used to eat a lot, before she died. She really liked it. Actually according to her, a lot of her family really liked it. So I wonder if you would like it," said Minato. "You are related to her after all."
"She was an Uzumaki?" Shiki thought outloud.
"Yeah she was," replied Minato. "Come on, let's go eat."
Minato pulled on his mask that covered most of his face and used the Henge no Justu on his hair and eyes to turn them brown. Shiki stared at him for a moment then copied his actions. She turned her long red hair and green eyes into a common brown color. Little Elyssa beside her morphed into a common brown dog.
"How did you?" stuttered Minato. "How did you do that?"
"The same way you did Papa! I took some of my energy by using those funny hand gestures and spread them over the places to change my hair and eyes brown!"
"You are really something special, eh?" whispered Minato as they set off hand and hand to the little ramen shop.
* * *
A/N: And that's it for today! Sorry for not updating regularly or often. It is not in my nature to do so, so you may have to wait from an hour to even a year before I update. It usually depends on my mood, or if I'm working on something else. If you guys have any questions, just PM me, leave it as a comment, or even contact me through my tumblr procrastinatingturtles. I will reply as soon as I can. Thank you for being patient with me!
-Meep
End file.
| fanfiction |
asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that can be characterized by symptoms such as episodes of wheezing , breathlessness , chest tightness , and coughing with wheeze being the most common physical finding .
childhood asthma results in a large amount of health care utilization and associated resource use leading to a huge impact on society [ 2 , 4 ] . at an individual level ,
persons with asthma demonstrate lower quality of life compared to those without asthma [ 5 , 6 ] .
part of this results from reduced participation and activity limitation , including school or work absenteeism . among children , geographic trends in asthma prevalence have been reported with higher prevalence of asthma observed in westernized nations [ 7 , 8 ] and in urban and nonfarming locations .
in addition , there is evidence of temporal trends with increases in asthma prevalence occurring over the past few decades [ 3 , 11 ] .
the environmental factors have been considered as possible explanations for these trends , but a less examined and potentially important explanatory factor includes health behaviours and obesity .
associations with obesity have been the most studied of these alternate explanations . as with asthma , rates of obesity have been rising in recent years .
there is also evidence that being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of asthma or wheeze [ 9 , 13 , 14 ] .
some foods , such as fish products or vegetable and milk consumption , have been suggested to be protective of asthma , while other foods , such as hamburger consumption or fast foods , have been suggested to increase the risk of asthma .
finally , there is conflicting evidence on whether physical activity is associated with asthma [ 1719 ] . despite these findings
, few studies have examined the interrelationship between diet , physical activity , and weight status with regard to children with asthma or wheeze .
what is more , these investigations in relation to asthma and wheeze are rarely considered in rural populations despite there being differences in obesity and health behaviours between urban and rural dwellers .
as mentioned , results of several studies suggest that farming or rural exposure is protective of asthma and allergic disease [ 10 , 21 , 22 ] although this is not entirely consistent . within canada , the protective effect of rural or farm dwelling has ranged from negligible to more than a 50% reduction in risk as well as an inverse dose - response association .
thus , there are substantial gaps in knowledge regarding weight status , diet , and activity and their interrelationships in rural areas , where health care access is lower , and there are different exposure patterns compared to urban areas . in this study , some of these issues were investigated using the data collected from humboldt , saskatchewan , and the surrounding area , which has been the site of four previous cross - sectional studies on lung health .
the primary objective was to examine weight status , diet , and activity level in relation to asthma or wheeze among a rural dwelling population of children and adolescents .
the specific research questions considered in our study were ( 1 ) what is the profile of weight status , diet , and activity levels among children with and without asthma ? ( 2 ) are characteristics of a child or adolescent 's weight status , diet , or activity levels associated with having active asthma or wheeze ? ( 3 ) how do health behaviours and weight status interrelate among children and adolescents with and without asthma ?
the methods used in this study have been described elsewhere [ 26 , 27 ] . in brief
, we conducted a case - control study of children and adolescents living in and around the rural community of humboldt , saskatchewan , canada , during the fall and winter seasons from 2005 to 2007 with some extended data collection in the spring .
rural schools in the same school district as schools within the community boundary of humboldt were approached .
subjects were recruited from a previously conducted population - based cross - sectional survey of respiratory health of 6 to 18-year old children and adolescents completed in 2004 .
potential cases comprised all subjects reporting either ( 1 ) wheeze in the past 12 months or ( 2 ) report of doctor - diagnosed asthma and at least one of health care utilization for asthma in the past 12 months , asthma medication use in the past 12 months , or asthma episodes in the past 12 months . thus , the cases considered here were current asthma or wheeze cases . for each case
selected , two potential controls were randomly selected from among children who were not considered cases .
once selected , an invitation letter was mailed , and potential participants were contacted by telephone a maximum of seven times . following contact , case and control status was confirmed by a screening questionnaire that enquired about asthma diagnoses , recent asthma , or wheeze events including symptoms , episodes , and breathing medication use .
data collection for the current analysis was based on an interviewer - administered case - control questionnaire , data from the original cross - sectional questionnaire , and saliva samples to assess exposure to tobacco smoke . the health research ethics board
panel a ( university of alberta ) and the biomedical research ethics board ( university of saskatchewan ) approved the study as did the local school boards .
prior to taking part , parents and children completed consent and assent forms , respectively .
the questionnaires were based on previously validated and standardized questionnaires [ 7 , 28 , 29 ] and those used in previous respiratory health studies in saskatchewan [ 3032 ] .
information was collected on respiratory health , sociodemographic factors , general health , family history , birth characteristics , lifestyle , housing characteristics , and environmental exposures .
height was measured against a wall using a fixed tape measure with subjects standing in socks on a hard floor .
weight was measured using a calibrated spring scale with subjects in socks and dressed in normal indoor clothing . from these measures , body mass index ( bmi )
was calculated based on the equation ( bmi = weight ( kg)/height ( m ) ) .
weight status was classified based on categorization of body mass index ( bmi ) using values described by cole et al . which base the cut - off value as the predicted adult equivalent of 25 for overweight .
the second method of classifying weight status was based on weight status perceived by the parent .
this was considered by the question do you consider your child to be : underweight / just about right weight / overweight ? .
if a parent responded with overweight , the child 's perceived weight status was overweight .
this question was based on a question used in the united states national health and nutrition examination survey iii .
physical activity level was classified based on parental response to the question : how many of the past 14 days has your child done at least 20 minutes of exercise hard enough to make him / her breathe heavily and make his / her heart beat fast ?
( hard exercise includes , e.g. , playing basketball , jogging , or fast bicycling and includes time in physical education class ) : none/1 to 2 days/3 to 5 days/68 days/9 or more days .
children were categorized as < 9 days versus 9 days ( high activity level ) .
classification of diet was based on questions used in the international study of allergy and asthma in childhood questionnaire for dietary assessment as well as an additional question on soft drink consumption .
dietary questions were based on in the past 12 months , how often , on average , did your child eat or drink the following never / occasionally / once or twice per week/3 or more times per week with a number of food categories considered .
soft drink consumption was based on the question on average , how many soft drinks or pops does this child drink in a week ?
regular consumption of a given food was considered to occur if the child ate that food at least once or twice per week on average .
the foods considered were based on findings from previous studies [ 9 , 15 , 16 ] and included vegetables , fruits , milk , and fish ( including seafood ) .
high soft drink consumption was considered to occur if the child drank 2 or more soft drinks or pops per week on average ( the 75th percentile ) . as an indicator of poor diet , if the child was considered to have either regular soft drink or fast food consumption , then they were classified in the regular fast food / soft drink consumption group .
the classification methods for each of the following potential confounders have been used in previous studies by our group when examining pediatric asthma [ 9 , 24 , 26 , 27 ] .
subjects were classified into age groups ( 12 years versus > 12 years ) to be comparable with other childhood asthma studies where age ranges were typically between 6 and 12 years , [ 31 , 38 ] .
season of testing was defined by the date of the home visit and was recorded as spring ( march , april , and may ) , fall ( september , october , and november ) , and winter ( december , january , and february ) to account for the potential differences in endotoxin and allergy levels by season .
subjects were asked to spit into a specimen container without the use of gum , teflon , or other materials that would stimulate the flow of saliva .
analysis for cotinine was conducted using saliva cotinine microplate enzyme immunoassay kits ( cozart plc , uk ) .
levels of cotinine ( ng / ml ) were categorized as high and low post analysis based on the median cotinine level ( 1.24 ng / ml ) due to a highly skewed distribution of results that could not be normalized after log transformation . analysis was completed using spss version 20 . throughout the analysis we considered statistical significance based on an alpha level of < 0.05 .
initially we described weight status and health behaviours descriptively to develop a profile of these characteristics in a rural population .
this was completed through examination of agreement between the perceived weight status and actual weight status using percent agreement , kappa statistics , and descriptive comparisons of mean bmi .
we also considered frequencies and proportions among cases and controls to describe the population and used chi - squared tests to make statistical comparisons between these two groups .
next we measured the association between case - control status and dietary characteristics , activity level , and weight status using logistic regression .
variables were chosen to be included in the model based on clinical and biological importance from the literature , statistical significance , or the effect that the removal of that variable had on the beta coefficient of the other variables in the model . to avoid colinearity
, we fitted several models but only included one variable of a certain type of diet or weight status while adjusting for the other variables .
the strength of the association was quantified using the odds ratio ( or ) and 95% confidence intervals ( ci ) .
statistical significance was assessed by comparing the observed p value to the aforementioned alpha level . in our final set of analyses we considered the interrelationship between each of the following health behavior variables : diet , weight status ( actual and perceived ) , and activity level first descriptively then using chi - squared tests for proportions . following this
, we tested for statistical significance by using multiple logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders .
these final sets of inter - relationship analyses were stratified by case - control status .
models were fitted to avoid colinearity between diet variables and included one diet variable at a time ( adjusted models 1 to 4 ) . also , models were fitted with one of actual weight status based on bmi ( adjusted models 1 and 2 ) or perceived weight status ( adjusted models 3 and 4 ) independently .
among eligible cases and controls , 322 children or adolescents and their parents agreed to participate in the study ( participation rate = 43.4% ) . of these , 208 were controls and 87 were cases .
the remaining 27 children were excluded due to either missing data ( n = 12 ) or they were cases who had asthma that was no longer considered current ( n = 15 ) .
when analyses considering perceived weight status were conducted there were an additional 22 fewer participants due to missing data in this specific variable .
a high proportion of cases and controls were overweight based on objective measurements with a much lower proportion of parents perceiving their children to be overweight ( table 1 ) . among cases , there was 72.8% agreement between actual weight status and perceived weight status but with 25.9% of parents perceiving their children to not be overweight when in fact they were considered overweight by objective measures .
this was similar among controls where there was 72.4% agreement between actual weight status and perceived weight status , with 25.5% of parents perceiving their children to not be overweight when in fact they were measured as overweight .
this resulted in kappa statistics of 0.28 for cases and 0.19 for controls indicating a poor agreement . when cases were adjusted for age ,
mean bmi in the actual overweight group was 24.5 and 26.6 in the perceived overweight group . among controls ,
mean bmi in the actual overweight group was 24.9 and 25.4 in the perceived overweight group after adjusting for age .
there were no statistically significant differences between cases and controls in weight status , perceived overweight status , activity level , or dietary intake ( table 1 ) although there was a trend towards statistical significance with cases reporting a higher proportion with regular fast food / soft drink consumption than controls ( 65.5% and 54.3% , resp .
; p = 0.08 ) . given the high proportion of having a regular diet of fruit , vegetable , and milk consumption , these variables were not considered in subsequent analyses . after adjusting for potential confounders , there were no statistically significant associations ( p > 0.05 ) between any of the health behaviours or overweight status with case status ( table 2 ) . while the directions of the associations were as expected , they tended to be weak based on the or , with the exception of fast food and/or soft drink consumption .
this was after fitting independent models to avoid potential co - linearity between weight status and dietary intake ( models 1 to 4 ) .
again , there was a trend towards an association for regular fast food / soft drink consumption ( or = 1.67 , 95% ci = 0.952.95 , p = 0.08 ) .
when considering the interrelationships between the health behaviours and weight status including actual and perceived weight status , there was no statistically significant association between poor diet ( regular fast food / soft drink consumption ) and any of the other measures among cases or controls ( table 3 ) .
as seen in figure 1 , when considering physical activity levels , among cases , a higher proportion of children had high activity levels if they were classified not overweight compared to if they were classified overweight regardless of if the weight status was based on objective measures or perception , although this was not statistically significant when considering perceived weight status ( p = 0.11 ) .
however , among controls , when using objective measures of weight status , there was not a statistically significant difference between those who were overweight and those who were not with regard to having high activity levels .
there was a significantly lower proportion of controls with high activity levels when they were perceived to be overweight compared to when they were not perceived to be overweight ( figure 1 ) .
we sought to describe and examine weight status , diet , and activity levels in relation to asthma and wheeze among children and adolescents in a rural setting .
we found that a large proportion of children and adolescents were overweight when considering objective measures of height and weight , yet a low proportion of parents perceived their child as being overweight .
health behaviours and weight status in this population did not show strong associations with asthma or wheeze , and children and adolescents with asthma who were also considered overweight were less likely to have a high activity level .
we found that close to one - third of children and adolescents in our study population were overweight or obese when using bmi to classify weight status .
this is similar to levels found in previous studies looking at national samples of canadian children and adolescents which report the prevalence of overweight and obesity to be between 18% and 39% depending on age , sex , and location of residence [ 12 , 20 ] .
this high prevalence of overweight classification should be addressed given the long - term negative health consequences of childhood obesity .
we also confirm previous studies that showed that parents generally underestimate the weight status of their children [ 35 , 40 ] .
our results extended these previous findings to rural populations and found that parents of children with asthma or wheeze and those without asthma or wheeze do this similarly . in our study , approximately 80% of children who were overweight based on objective measurements were not perceived to be overweight by their parents . this discrepancy is higher than that observed in previous studies [ 35 , 40 ] .
failure to recognize children as being overweight or obese could have serious health implications as action taken to address or prevent this condition and subsequent health effects can not occur without first identifying that there is a problem . with regard to activity level and diet , it is more difficult to compare other studies given the large number of indicators and methods available .
we found that the majority of the current study population engaged in high levels of physical activity .
the level was higher than expected based on previous studies which found that approximately 50% to 57% of adolescents took part in high levels of activity .
however , regular physical activity levels in a separate study of canadian adolescents were approximately 80% , which is similar to the levels we found in the current analysis .
finally , it was difficult to assess dietary status as there appeared to be low sensitivity in the measures we used , possibly due to the small number of categories . despite this , we were able to determine that over half of this population consumed fast food or high levels of soft drinks regularly .
we did not find strong associations between being overweight or obese , activity levels , or diet with asthma or wheeze although there is some indication of increased risk of asthma or wheeze associated with poor diet .
associations between obesity and asthma have been reported but often depend on personal characteristics such as sex and onset of puberty , with associations typically seen among females and those with earlier onset of puberty [ 13 , 42 ] .
the associations between physical activity with asthma and wheeze have been infrequently studied and with inconsistent results [ 1719 ] .
results from the few diet studies have been inconsistent but have shown some foods to be protective , while other foods may increase the risk of asthma or wheeze .
the potential explanation for the increased risk of asthma or wheeze associated with poor diet in our study could be due to increased dietary sodium intake and the increased systemic inflammation that results from eating items such as fast food regularly or in high quantities .
it has been shown that higher levels of c - reactive protein are associated with a reduction in lung function , and a single high fat meal has been shown to significantly increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as exhaled nitric oxide , a marker of airways inflammation .
we recently investigated the association between obesity and health behaviours with asthma in a national sample of adolescents in canada . in that study we found an increased risk of asthma associated with weight status and physical activity with a reduced risk of asthma associated with whole milk consumption and vegetable consumption . in the current study we did not find similar associations .
reasons for the differences may be that the earlier study focused only on adolescents , different outcome definitions were used because respiratory health was not the focus of the earlier study , and the earlier study included both urban and rural populations from across canada . despite these differences ,
most of the other associations were in the same direction between the two studies with several of them being similar in strength .
similarly , reasons for the differences in results between our current study and those of others could be the differences in exposure variables considered , study population , or study design . given the large number of indicator variables available and differences in populations in these investigations , differences in results could occur through differential variability in exposures or outcomes or mechanisms of exposure - outcomes at different ages .
we found that children and adolescents who have asthma or wheeze and who are considered overweight or obese were less likely to participate in high levels of activity .
this was regardless of weight status based on objective measures or parent perception . in contrast , lower activity levels were only present among controls when overweight was defined by parent perception .
children and adolescents whose parents perceived them to be overweight had a higher mean bmi than those children who were classified as overweight based on objective measures .
it could be that higher bmi could result in physiologic limitation leading to reduced activity among children .
children and adolescents with asthma may experience these changes at a lower level of bmi , resulting in differences between cases and controls .
although there is some inconsistency , children with asthma have been reported to have lower activity levels than children without asthma . among adults , increasing bmi
was associated with reduced likelihood of exercise defined by a number of methods and consistently in a dose - response manner .
studies to date have not considered the characteristics of overweight / obese and asthma status in a combined fashion among children .
our findings suggest that this is a population deserving special attention for activity programming . as it is , asthma is a barrier for exercise in children .
if asthma is less controlled or outcomes worsen , there is the possibility that children with asthma will be even less likely to participate in activity , potentially further increasing overweight / obese status .
this study addresses notable gaps in knowledge in that few studies have investigated health behaviours and overweight / obesity in rural populations , especially in relation to asthma or wheeze despite indication that rural dwellers are at increased risk of being overweight or obese . in an earlier study we found the prevalence of overweight or obese in an adolescent canadian population to be approximately 23% overall , and the prevalence of overweight or obese in rural areas was significantly higher ( approximately 28% ) than in large metro areas ( approximately 19% ) .
given the high prevalence of being overweight or obese and the higher levels in the current study population who reside in rural areas , we highlight the need to recognize and address overweight and obesity issues in rural regions .
rural dwellers are a unique population with different exposures , social structure , socioeconomic structure , and access to health care , and specific focus should be made to promote healthy lifestyles in these regions .
the major limitation in this study is the lack of temporality . due to the cross - sectional nature of the data , we are unable to determine if poor weight status resulted from lower activity levels or if lower activity levels resulted from poor weight status .
similarly , we are unable to comment on whether asthma or wheeze preceded the lower activity levels among those with a poorer weight status or if lower activity levels with poor weight status preceded asthma or wheeze . regardless the temporal relationship , it is clear that children and adolescents who are overweight and who have asthma or wheeze represent a group of children with lower activity levels , and this should be considered a public health focus .
another limitation is that this was a secondary analysis based on data collected for a children 's lung health study .
because of this , some variables of interest may not have been collected and alternate methods of assessing health behaviours and weight status were not used which may have resulted in misclassification .
however , we did use objectively measured height and weight as well as standardized measures of perceived weight status and activity where the question we used for activity has been well validated .
our dietary measures may not have had as much sensitivity as desired but have been used in other assessments of diet and asthma .
data regarding this stage of life was not collected and unfortunately we were unable to control it .
while we controlled age , we can not rule out that there may be some results explained by confounding by puberty status . in conclusion
, we report on several findings that warrant further examination and should be further addressed in the population .
first , we found that there are high levels of being overweight in this rural population and parents often do not accurately perceive their children to be overweight or obese . identifying children who are overweight or obese is the first step in addressing the condition , which can have long - term negative health consequences .
finally , we found that overweight status may negatively impact activity levels and that this may be especially true among children with asthma or wheeze .
as such , activity programming should consider the needs of overweight children with asthma specifically .
health behaviours and weight status of children in rural areas are an area in need of further research and practical application . | pubmed |
the factoring of decision processes interacting with continuous evolution plays an important role in model - based optimization for many applications .
for example , when optimally controlling chemical processes there are often both continuous decisions such as inlet and outlet flows , as well as discrete decisions , such as the operation of on off valves and pumps that may redirect flows within the reactor , @xcite .
such mixed - integer optimal control problems are therefore studied in different communities with different approaches .
most of these approaches address problems that are governed by systems of ordinary differential equations in euclidean spaces , see @xcite for a survey on this topic .
total discretization of the underlying system obviously leads to typically large mixed - integer nonlinear programs .
hence , relaxation techniques have become an integral part of efficient mixed - integer optimal control algorithms , either in the context of branch - and - bound type methods or , more directly , by means of nonlinear optimal control methods combined with suitable rounding strategies .
an important result is that the solution of the relaxed problem can be approximated with arbitrary precision by a solution fulfilling the integer requirements @xcite . in this paper
, we extend such relaxation techniques to problems that are governed by certain systems of partial differential equations .
motivating applications are for example to switch between reductive and oxidative conditions in order to maximize the performance in a monolithic catalyst @xcite , port switching in chromatographic separation processes @xcite , or to optimize switching control within photochemical reactions @xcite .
our problem setting also includes the switching control design in the sense that systems are equipped with multiple actuators and the optimizer has to choose one of these together with ordinary controls for each instant in time . concerning systems involving partial differential equations ,
such switching control design has already been studied using several techniques : in ( * ? ? ?
* chapter 8) optimal switching controls are constructed for systems governed by abstract semilinear evolution equations by combining ideas from dynamic programming and approximations of the value function using viscosity solutions of the hamilton - jacobi - bellman equations .
switching boundary control for linear transport equations using switching time sensitivities has been studied in @xcite .
exemplary for the heat equation and based on variational methods , the controllability in case of switching among several actuators has been considered in @xcite and null - controllability for the one - dimensional wave equation with switching boundary control has been considered in @xcite . based on linear quadratic regulator optimal control techniques and enumeration of the integer values for a fixed time discretization ,
optimal switching control of abstract linear systems has been considered in @xcite .
our approach is complementary to the above , as we break the computationally very expensive combinatorial complexity of the problem by relaxation .
this comes at the downside of providing only a suboptimal solution and possibly at the price of fast switching but , as we will see , with arbitrary small integer - optimality gap , depending on discretization , and extensions to limit the number of switching .
we will be concerned with the following problem of mixed - integer optimal control : minimize a cost functional @xmath0 over trajectories @xmath1 } \subset \{z{\mathcal{\colon}}[0,t_f ] \to x\}$ ] and control functions @xmath2 } \subset \{u { \mathcal{\colon}}[0,t_f ] \to u\}$ ] and @xmath3 } \subset \{v { \mathcal{\colon}}[0,t_f ] \to v\}$ ] subject to the constraints that @xmath4 is a mild solution of the operator differential equation @xmath5\\ & z(0)=z_0 \in x \end{aligned}\right.\ ] ] and that the control functions satisfy @xmath6\ ] ] where @xmath7 , @xmath8 and @xmath9 are banach spaces , @xmath10}$ ] , @xmath11}$ ] and @xmath12}$ ] are normed linear spaces , @xmath13 is the infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous semigroup @xmath14 on @xmath7 , @xmath15 is a fixed real number , @xmath16 \times x \times u \times v \to x$ ] , @xmath17 and @xmath18 are given functions , @xmath19 is some subset of @xmath8 and @xmath20 is a finite subset of @xmath9 .
this setting is for the most part classical , except for the assumptions on @xmath20
. we will refer to the above infinite - dimensional dynamic optimization problem as mixed - integer optimal control problem , short ( miocp ) , and to the control function @xmath21 $ ] as a mixed - integer control .
this accounts for the fact that we do not impose restrictions on the set @xmath22 while we can always identify the finite set @xmath23 of the feasible control values for @xmath24 with a finite number of integers @xmath25 moreover , the operator differential equation is an abstract representation of certain initial - boundary value problems governed by linear and semilinear partial differential equations , see , e.g. , @xcite .
the existence of an optimal solution of the problem ( miocp ) depends , inter alia , on the spaces @xmath10}$ ] , @xmath11}$ ] and @xmath12}$ ] where we seek @xmath26 \to x$ ] , @xmath27 \to u$ ] and @xmath28 \to v$ ] , respectively .
common choices are , for @xmath29}$ ] , the spaces of square integrable ( @xmath30 ) , piecewise @xmath31-times differentiable ( @xmath32 ) or ( piecewise ) @xmath31-times weakly differentiable ( @xmath33 ) functions @xmath34 \to u$ ] and , for @xmath12}$ ] , the spaces of essentially bounded ( @xmath35 ) or piecewise constant ( @xmath36 ) functions @xmath28 \to v$ ] .
we defer these considerations by assuming later that there exists an optimal solution of a related ( to a certain extent convexified and relaxed ) optimal control problem and present sufficient conditions guaranteeing that the solution of the relaxed problem can be approximated with arbitrary precision by a solution satisfying the integer restrictions .
we do only assume that @xmath10 } \subset c([0,t_f];x)$ ] , @xmath11}\subset l^1(0,t_f;u)$ ] and @xmath12 } \subset l^1(0,t_f;v)$ ] to ensure that certain quantities in problem ( miocp ) are well - defined .
this relaxation method becomes most easily evident from writing the problem ( miocp ) using a differential inclusion , that is , minimize subject to the constraints that @xmath4 is a solution of @xmath37\\ & z(0)=z_0 .
\end{aligned}\right.\ ] ] and @xmath38 satisfies @xmath39.\ ] ] it is well known that , under certain technical assumptions , the solution set of is dense in the solution set of the convexified differential inclusion @xmath40\\ & z(0)=z_0 , \end{aligned}\right.\ ] ] where @xmath41 denotes the closure of the convex hull .
this is proved in @xcite for the case when @xmath7 is a separable banach space and in @xcite for non - separable banach spaces .
while these results rely on powerful selection theorems , our main contribution is a constructive proof based on discretization , giving rise to a numerical method at the prize of additional regularity assumptions .
we will see that the advantage of such a relaxation method is that the convexified problem , using a particular representation of , falls into the class of optimal control problems with partial differential equations without integer - restrictions . the already known theory , in particular concerning existence , uniqueness and regularity of optimal solutions as well as numerical considerations such as sensitivities , error analysis for finite element approximations , etc .
, can thus be carried over to the mixed - integer problem under consideration here .
we also discuss the possibility to include state - constraints for example enforcing time - periodicity constraints @xmath42 as occurring in chromatographic separation processes @xcite .
the disadvantage of this approach is that we target at a solution that is only suboptimal ( though with arbitrary precision ) and that switching costs , a standard regularization of mixed - integer problems to prevent chattering solutions , or additional combinatorial constraints can lead to larger optimality / feasibility gaps .
nevertheless , we will show how a - priori bounds for such a gap can be obtained when constraints on the number of switches are incorporated .
the framework we use for the analysis here will be semigroup theory . recall that for given @xmath43 and given control functions @xmath44 , the mild solution of the state equation is given by a function @xmath45 satisfying the variation of constants formula @xmath46 in the lebesgue - bochner sense .
this abstract setting covers in particular the usual setup for weak solutions of linear parabolic partial differential equations with distributed control on reflexive banach spaces where @xmath47 arises from a time - invariant variational problem , see ( * ? ? ?
* section 1.3 ) .
we include in our analysis explicitly the possibility to approximate the state equation and say that @xmath48}$ ] is an @xmath49-accurate solution of if @xmath4 is the mild solution and @xmath50 for all @xmath51 $ ] .
accordingly , we define for a given @xmath52 the set of @xmath49-admissible solutions for ( miocp ) as @xmath53 } \times v_{[0,t_f ] } \times x_{[0,t_f ] } : u , v~\text{satisfy}~\eqref{eq : constraintuc}\\ & \qquad\qquad~\text{and}~z = z(u , v)~\text{is an}~\varepsilon\text{-accurate solution of}~\eqref{eq : sysuc}\bigr\}. \end{aligned}\ ] ] further , we denote throughout the paper by @xmath54 the space of @xmath7-valued functions defined on the interval @xmath55 $ ] and being piecewise once - weakly differentiable with a piecewise defined weak derivative that is square - integrable in the lebesgue - bochner sense . consistently , we denote by @xmath56 the space of @xmath7-valued functions defined on the interval @xmath55 $ ] being piecewise hlder - continuous with a hlder - constant @xmath57 . in both constructions , piecewise means that there exists a finite partition of the interval @xmath55 $ ] @xmath58 so that the function has the respective regularity on all intervals @xmath59 , @xmath60 .
we denote by @xmath61 the norm on @xmath7 and by @xmath62 the operator norm induced by @xmath61 .
further , we denote by @xmath63}}$ ] and @xmath64}}$ ] the norm of @xmath11}$ ] and @xmath12}$ ] , respectively . for simplicity of notation , we also define @xmath65 for all @xmath66 , @xmath67 denoting the identity on @xmath7 .
the paper is organized as follows . in section [ sec : relax ] , we present details of the relaxation method and the main results concerning estimates of the approximation error . in section [ sec : cconstraints ] , we discuss extensions of the method to incorporate certain combinatorial constraints . in section [ sec : examples ] , we discuss applications for linear and semilinear equations and present numerical results for the heat equation with spatial scheduling of different actuators and a semilinear reaction - diffusion system with an on - off type control . in section [ sec : final ] , we conclude with some additional remarks and point out open problems .
consider the following problem involving a particular representation of the convexified differential inclusion [ eq : relaxedconvexifiedproblem ] align & j = ( y(t_f ) ) + _ 0^t_f ( y(t),(t))dt [ eq : relaxedconvexifiedproblema ] + & ( t ) = a y(t ) + _ i=1^n _ i(t ) f(t , y(t),(t),v^i),t ( 0,t_f][eq : relaxedconvexifiedproblemb ] + & y(0)=y_0:=z_0[eq : relaxedconvexifiedproblemc ] + & ( t ) u _
, t[eq : relaxedconvexifiedproblemd ] + & ( t)=(_1(t), ,_n(t ) ) ^n , t[eq : relaxedconvexifiedprobleme ] + & _ i=1^n _ i(t ) = 1 , t[eq : relaxedconvexifiedproblemf ] , where we write @xmath68 for @xmath69 , respectively , to emphasize the relaxation of the original problem ( miocp ) . here ,
@xmath70}=\{\alpha{\mathcal{\colon}}[0,t_f ] \to { \mathbb{r}}^n : \|\alpha\|_{v_{[0,t_f ] } } < \infty\}$ ] . ' '' '' [ algo : iter ] choose a time discretization grid @xmath71 , a sequence of non - negative accuracies @xmath72 and some termination tolerance @xmath73 . set @xmath74 .
find an @xmath75-accurate optimal solution @xmath76 $ ] of the relaxed problem and set @xmath77 .
if @xmath78 and @xmath79 , then set @xmath80 and @xmath81 for @xmath51 $ ] and stop .
using @xmath82 and @xmath83 , define a piecewise constant function @xmath84 \to \{0,1\}^n$ ] by @xmath85 where for all @xmath86 , @xmath87 @xmath88 set @xmath89 , @xmath90 for @xmath51 $ ] and @xmath91 where @xmath92 is an @xmath75-accurate solution of @xmath93,\quad z(0)=z_0 . \ ] ] if @xmath94 and @xmath95 then stop .
choose @xmath96 such that @xmath97 and set @xmath98 .
set @xmath99 , @xmath100 and @xmath101 for @xmath51 $ ] . ' '' '' observe that the control functions @xmath102 take values on the full interval @xmath103 $ ] , but that any optimal controls @xmath104 $ ] of yields an optimal mixed - integer control @xmath105:=[\omega^*,\sum_{i=1}^n \alpha^*_i v^i]\ ] ] of problem ( miocp ) if @xmath106 for almost every @xmath107 .
however , it is not very difficult to construct examples where @xmath108 for @xmath109 on some interval of positive measure .
it is only in some special cases where optimality of @xmath110^n$ ] implies that @xmath111 takes only values on the boundary of its feasible set . for examples where this property , known as the bang - bang principle , can be verified in the context of partial differential equations ,
see ( * ? ? ?
* section 3.2.4 ) and the references therein .
moreover , the relaxed problem can in most applications only be solved approximately .
therefore , consider the following hypothesis .
= 1em=1.5em problem has an optimal solution in @xmath11 } \times \tilde{v}_{[0,t_f ] } \times x_{[0,t_f]}$ ] . under this assumption
, we will accept @xmath49-accurate optimal solutions of the relaxed problem and propose in algorithm [ algo : iter ] an iterative procedure to obtain from these solutions a mixed - integer control taking values in @xmath112 .
we then show in theorem [ thm : convergence ] under certain technical assumptions that the optimal value and the optimal state of problem can be approximated by the proposed procedure with arbitrary precision . to make our terminology precise
, we include the following definition .
given some @xmath52 , we say that @xmath113 \in u_{[0,t_f ] } \times \tilde{v}_{[0,t_f ] } \times x_{[0,t_f]}$ ] is an _
@xmath49-accurate optimal solution of _ if @xmath114 is an @xmath49-accurate solution of with @xmath115 and @xmath116 ,
the constraints hold with @xmath115 and @xmath116 and @xmath117 so any @xmath49-accurate optimal solution of the relaxed problem is admissible with respect to the control constraints on @xmath118 and @xmath119 , @xmath49-close admissible with respect to the state variable @xmath120 and the corresponding value of the cost function is @xmath49-close to the optimal value of problem
. now , consider algorithm [ algo : iter ] on page to obtain a mixed - integer control for problem ( miocp ) .
the main result is the following .
[ thm : convergence ] assuming ( h@xmath121 ) , let @xmath122 $ ] denote an optimal solution of the relaxed problem and assume that the following assumptions hold true .
= 1em=1em the functions @xmath123 , @xmath124 , and @xmath125 satisfy the lipschitz - estimates @xmath126 for all @xmath127 , @xmath51 $ ] and @xmath86 with positive constants @xmath128 , @xmath129 and @xmath130 .
for all @xmath86 and @xmath51 $ ] the function @xmath131 is in @xmath132 and there exists a positive constant @xmath133 such that @xmath134 let @xmath135 . for all @xmath86
, there exists a positive constant @xmath136 such that @xmath137 } \|f(t , y^*(t),\omega^*(t),v^i)\|_x \leq m_i.\ ] ] let @xmath138 .
the solution @xmath122 $ ] is stable in the sense that there exists a positive constant @xmath139 such that @xmath140 for @xmath141 $ ] in some neighborhood of @xmath142 $ ] in @xmath11 } \times \tilde{v}_{[0,t_f]}$ ] .
moreover , assume that @xmath143 and that the sequence @xmath144 in algorithm [ algo : iter ] is such that @xmath145 with @xmath146 define the constants @xmath147 , @xmath148 , @xmath149 and @xmath150 , where @xmath151 } \|t(t)\|_{{\mathcal{l}}(x)}$ ] and the constants @xmath128 , @xmath129 , @xmath152 , @xmath153 , @xmath130 and @xmath139 are given by hypothesis ( h@xmath154)(h@xmath155 ) .
then , @xmath156 $ ] defined by algorithm [ algo : iter ] is in @xmath157 for all @xmath158 and satisfies the estimates @xmath159,\ ] ] and @xmath160 in particular , algorithm [ algo : iter ] terminates in a finite number of steps with an @xmath49-feasible mixed - integer solution @xmath161 \in \xi_{\varepsilon}$ ] of problem ( miocp ) satisfying the estimate latexmath:[\[\label{eq : miocpoptvalueest } @xmath73 is chosen arbitrarily in step @xmath163 : .
before we prove theorem [ thm : convergence ] , we first prove a result saying that the deviation of two mild solutions in @xmath10}$ ] equipped with the uniform norm can be estimated in terms of the absolute value of the integrated difference of two linearly entering control functions .
this estimate is non - standard and generalizes the result in @xcite to a banach space setting , noting that the absolute value of the integrated difference is not a norm and in particular not comparable to the @xmath12}$]-norm as a natural choice .
this estimate , together with an approximation result for this integrated difference is the key ingredient in order to prove all a - priori estimates needed for the proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] .
[ lem : solutionest ] let @xmath73 and @xmath164 } \|t(t)\|_{{\mathcal{l}}(x)}$ ] .
suppose that @xmath122 $ ] is a feasible solution of the relaxed problem and assume that the hypotheses ( h@xmath154)(h@xmath165 ) of theorem [ thm : convergence ] hold true .
let @xmath166^n)$ ] be such that @xmath167}\left|\int_0^t \alpha^*_i(\tau)-\beta_i(\tau)\,d\tau \right| \leq \varepsilon\ ] ] and let @xmath4 be the mild solution of in algorithm [ algo : iter ] with @xmath168 , @xmath86 , and @xmath169
. then @xmath170.\ ] ] fix @xmath51 $ ] and set , for the sake of brevity , @xmath171 and @xmath172 . recalling and using hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) , let @xmath174 be the set of partition points of the functions @xmath175 as objects in @xmath176 , @xmath86 , so that @xmath177 and @xmath178 . from the definition of the mild solutions for and ,
we have @xmath179 adding @xmath180 under the integral , applying the triangular inequality and rearranging terms this yields @xmath181\beta_i(s)\,ds\right\|_x \\ & \quad + \sum_{i=1}^n \left\| \sum_{k=0}^k \int_{\tau_k}^{\tau_{k+1 } } t(t - s ) f^i(s , y^*(s))[\alpha_i^*(s)-\beta_i(s ) ] ds\right\|_x . \end{aligned}\ ] ] now using integration by parts in the second part , we obtain @xmath181\beta_i(s)\,ds\right\|_x \\ & \quad + \sum_{i=1}^n \bigg\| \sum_{k=0}^{k } \bigg ( t(t-\tau_{k+1})f^i(\tau_{k+1},y^*(\tau_{k+1}))\int_{0}^{\tau_{k+1 } } \alpha_i^*(s)-\beta_i(s)\,ds\\ & \quad - t(t-\tau_k)f^i(\tau_k , y^*(\tau_k))\int_{0}^{\tau_k}\alpha_i^*(s)-\beta_i(s)\,ds\\ & \quad - \int_{\tau_k}^{\tau_{k+1 } } \frac{d}{ds}\left(t(t - s)f^i(s , y^*(s))\right ) \int_0^s\alpha_i^*(\vartheta)-\beta_i(\vartheta)\,d\vartheta\,ds\bigg ) \bigg\|_x . \end{aligned}\ ] ] then by rearranging terms , noting that the appearing telescopic sum evaluates as @xmath182 because of @xmath177 , @xmath178 , @xmath183 and @xmath184 , and by applying the triangular inequality this estimate simplifies to @xmath185 then , by definition of @xmath186 , @xmath187 and the constant @xmath188 , the definition of the constants @xmath130 , @xmath153 and @xmath152 in hypotheses ( h@xmath154)(h@xmath165 ) , the assumption and the fact that @xmath189 , this yields @xmath190 finally , using the gronwall lemma and rearranging terms , we obtain the desired estimate @xmath191 next , we recall from @xcite the following result on integral approximations .
[ lem : integeralapprox ] let @xmath192 \to [ 0,1]^n$ ] be a measurable function satisfying @xmath193 for all @xmath51 $ ] .
define a piecewise constant function @xmath194 \to \{0,1\}^n$ ] by @xmath195 where for all @xmath86 , @xmath196 , @xmath197 is defined by in algorithm [ algo : iter ] with @xmath198 .
then it holds for @xmath199 1 .
@xmath200 for all @xmath51 $ ] , 2 .
@xmath201 for all @xmath51 $ ] .
see theorem 5 of @xcite . with the above two results we are now in the position to prove theorem [ thm : convergence ] .
let the assumptions of theorem [ thm : convergence ] hold true .
first we show that the sequence @xmath156 $ ] obtained by algorithm [ algo : iter ] is @xmath75-feasible for the problem ( miocp ) .
we have @xmath202 for all @xmath31 by construction of @xmath203 in step @xmath204 : , @xmath90 , @xmath51 $ ] , by construction in step @xmath205 : so @xmath206 , @xmath51 $ ] , because @xmath207 for all @xmath208 and @xmath51 $ ] as seen from and . by construction in step @xmath205 : , @xmath92 is an @xmath75-accurate solution of .
thus , recalling , @xmath156 \in \xi_{\varepsilon^k}$ ] for all @xmath158 .
next , we show . to this end , let @xmath209 , @xmath210 and @xmath211 denote the mild solutions of , with the respective controls .
the stability assumption ( h@xmath155 ) and the continuity assumption ( h@xmath154 ) implies that @xmath212 for a.e .
@xmath107 , where we added @xmath213 , used the triangular inequality and that @xmath76 $ ] is an @xmath49-accurate optimal solution of . moreover , by fixing @xmath51 $ ] , adding @xmath214 , @xmath215 and @xmath216 and using the triangular inequality , we see that @xmath217 with @xmath218 observe that @xmath219 , because @xmath92 is an @xmath75-accurate solution of and thus of , with controls @xmath220 . by definition of the mild solution and using ( h@xmath154 )
, we have @xmath221 using , the gronwall inequality implies that @xmath222 from lemma [ lem : integeralapprox ] with @xmath223 , @xmath224 and @xmath225 with @xmath226 from , we get that @xmath227.\ ] ] moreover , lemma [ lem : solutionest ] used with @xmath228 , @xmath229 , @xmath224 and @xmath230 implies that @xmath231 again by definition of the mild solution we have @xmath232 adding @xmath233 under the integral , we obtain @xmath234 \\ & \qquad + [ \alpha_i^k(s)-\alpha^*_i(s)]f(s , y(s;\omega^*,\alpha^*),\omega^*(s),v^i)\|_x\,ds\\ & \leq \bar{m } l \int_0^t \delta_4(s ) + m |\alpha^k_i(s)-\alpha^*_i(s)|\,ds . \end{aligned}\ ] ] using again and the gronwall inequality we obtain that @xmath235 thus , summing up the estimates for @xmath236 and rearranging terms we obtain from that for all @xmath51 $ ] @xmath237 with @xmath147 and @xmath148 . this proves . by definition of the cost function
we get from the triangular inequality that @xmath238 so that using hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) , and we obtain @xmath239 with the constants @xmath240 and @xmath241 .
this proves .
next , suppose that the main loop in algorithm [ algo : iter ] terminates in step @xmath242 : or in step @xmath243 : .
in the first case , the termination criterion implies that @xmath244 for some @xmath31 , because @xmath245 is an @xmath75-accurate optimal solution of .
similarly , in the second case the termination criterion implies that @xmath246 for some @xmath31 .
this proves under the assumption that algorithm [ algo : iter ] terminates .
finally suppose that algorithm [ algo : iter ] loops infinitely many times , that is , @xmath247 by adding @xmath248 and using that @xmath249 is an @xmath75-accurate optimal solution , we obtain from that @xmath250 using that @xmath143 and @xmath145 as @xmath251 by assumption , we see from that @xmath252 } \|z^k(t ) - y^k(t)\|_x \to 0 $ ] as @xmath251 . by definition of @xmath253 and @xmath254 and using the triangular inequality
we have @xmath255 so that @xmath252 } \|z^k(t ) - y^k(t)\|_x \to 0 $ ] as @xmath251 implies by continuity of @xmath123 and @xmath124 that also @xmath256 as @xmath251 . together with the assumption that @xmath143 as @xmath251 this contradicts and completes the proof .
theorem [ thm : convergence ] can be seen as a performance analysis of the relaxation method proposed in algorithm [ algo : iter ] .
the estimates and prove a bilinear dependency of the mixed - integer control approximation error for the differential state and the optimal value in terms of the chosen maximal integer - control discretization mesh size @xmath226 and accuracy @xmath75 .
this relates to the convergence speed of algorithm [ algo : iter ] in terms of the chosen refinements for @xmath226 and @xmath75 .
note that the estimates and suggest to choose @xmath226 and @xmath75 of the same order . on the other hand
, theorem [ thm : convergence ] can be regarded as an existence result of suboptimal solutions for ( miocp ) . to emphasize this
, we formulate the precise statement explicitly .
[ cor : convergence ] under the hypothesis ( h@xmath121)(h@xmath165 ) there exists for every @xmath73 a feasible solution @xmath257 } \times v_{[0,t_f ] } \times x_{[0,t_f]}$ ] of problem ( miocp ) satisfying @xmath258 where @xmath259 is the optimal solution of the relaxed problem .
apply theorem [ thm : convergence ] with @xmath260 for all @xmath31 .
then , @xmath261 and it can be seen from proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] that ( h@xmath155 ) is then not needed for the estimate .
moreover , @xmath262 is contained in the feasible set of problem and thus @xmath263 for all @xmath264 .
thus , follows from .
hypothesis ( h@xmath121 ) can be checked by classical arguments , cf .
, e.g. , @xcite .
hypothesis ( h@xmath154)(h@xmath165 ) are needed to estimate the proximity of mixed - integer solutions of ( miocp ) to the optimal solution of the relaxed problem while hypothesis ( h@xmath155 ) guarantees in a sense the proximity of the @xmath49-accurate optimal solutions of to the optimal ones .
hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) and ( h@xmath165 ) are standard assumptions and can be weakend to appropriate ` local ' versions using standard arguments .
this can also tighten the estimates in theorem [ thm : convergence ] .
the last conclusion of theorem [ thm : convergence ] concerning the termination of algorithm [ algo : iter ] and corollary [ cor : convergence ] even hold for the functions @xmath123 and @xmath124 just continuous as it can be seen from the respective proofs .
hypothesis ( h@xmath155 ) can be verified for problems that are well - posed in the tikhonov sense , cf .
the discussion in ( * ? ? ? * section 4 ) .
for sufficiently regularized parabolic problems it could also be checked using methods as in @xcite .
alternatively , instead of invoking theorem [ thm : convergence ] , corollary [ cor : convergence ] or a weaker conclusion presented in proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] below may be used where ( h@xmath155 ) is not needed .
hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) of theorem [ thm : convergence ] clearly imposes certain regularity assumptions on the linear operator @xmath47 generating the semigroup @xmath14 , the function @xmath125 , but also on the time regularities of the optimal control functions of the relaxed problem in @xmath11}$ ] and @xmath70}$ ] .
the main difficulty with proving ( h@xmath173 ) is that @xmath265 as a solution of with @xmath47 unbounded may only be continuous and not absolutely continuous in time , hence not necessarily differentiable almost everywhere as this is always true when @xmath266 ( with @xmath267 ) and @xmath7 is a finite dimensional space .
this can be delicate in particular for nonlinear systems .
we will therefore exemplary discuss hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) in example [ ex : lotkadiff2d ] below for the case of a semilinear system where @xmath47 is the generator of an analytic semigroup .
a more general analysis is possible for linear systems @xmath268 when @xmath125 is sufficiently smooth .
we formulate this as an auxiliary result .
[ prop : onh2auniformlybounded ] consider the problem ( miocp ) with equation replaced by equation , let @xmath269}\|t(t)\|_{{\mathcal{l}}(x)}$ ] and suppose that the functions
@xmath270 \to x$ ] defined by @xmath271 , @xmath86 , satisfy the following conditions .
* @xmath272 for a.e .
@xmath51 $ ] and there exists constants @xmath273 such that @xmath274}\left\|a g^i(t)\right\|_x \leq \bar{l}^i.\ ] ] * @xmath275 is differentiable for a.e .
@xmath51 $ ] and there exist constants @xmath276 such that @xmath274}\left\|\frac{d}{dt}g^i(t)\right\|_x \leq \bar{c}^i.\ ] ] then hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) of theorem [ thm : convergence ] holds with @xmath277 .
from condition ( i ) we get from the chain rule that @xmath278 for all @xmath86 and thus , by taking the norm , applying the triangular inequality and using the definition of the constants in ( i ) and ( ii ) we obtain @xmath279 the conditions ( i ) and ( ii ) are a natural extension of the differentiability assumptions imposed in ( * ? ? ?
* corollary 6 ) for the case when @xmath266 and @xmath280 . in section [ sec : examples ] , we will use such arguments in order to verify hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) in example [ ex : heatrelax2d ] .
we note that the relaxation method works under much weaker assumptions with slightly weaker conclusions .
suppose that we replace the main hypothesis ( h@xmath121 ) by the following much weaker hypothesis .
= 1em=2em problem has a feasible solution in @xmath11 } \times \tilde{v}_{[0,t_f ] } \times x_{[0,t_f]}$ ] .
then , we still get the following result , being useful in particular in many practical applications when the solutions @xmath76 $ ] found in step @xmath204 : only satisfy , for example , necessary optimality conditions ( up to an accuracy of @xmath75 ) . the following conclusion can then still be very useful in order to provide bounds for the mixed - integer problem ( miocp ) and we will take advantage of this when discussing the examples in section [ sec : examples ] .
nevertheless , an approximation of a globally optimal solution of problem ( miocp ) can of course only be obtained when the relaxed problem in step @xmath204 : is solved to @xmath75-global optimality .
[ prop : convergenceweaker ] under the hypothesis ( h@xmath281 ) , consider algorithm [ algo : iter ] where we replace step @xmath204 : by = 1em=1.5em select some @xmath76 $ ] such that @xmath203 and @xmath83 is feasible for problem and @xmath249 is an @xmath75-accurate solution of , .
assume hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) and that the hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) and ( h@xmath165 ) hold with @xmath282 and @xmath283 with constants @xmath284 and @xmath285 for all @xmath158 and @xmath286 being the mild solution of , .
further assume that , as in theorem [ thm : convergence ] , @xmath143 and that the sequence @xmath144 is such that @xmath145 .
define the constants @xmath287 , @xmath288 , @xmath289 and @xmath290 , where @xmath151 } \|t(t)\|_{{\mathcal{l}}(x)}$ ] and the constants @xmath128 , @xmath129 and @xmath130 are given by hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) .
then , @xmath156 $ ] defined by algorithm [ algo : iter ] is in @xmath157 for all @xmath158 and satisfies the estimates @xmath291,\ ] ] and @xmath292 in particular , if @xmath285 and @xmath284 can be chosen independently of @xmath31 , then algorithm [ algo : iter ] terminates in a finite number of steps @xmath293 with an @xmath49-feasible mixed - integer solution @xmath161 \in \xi_{\varepsilon}$ ] of problem ( miocp ) satisfying the estimate latexmath:[\[\label{eq : miocpoptvalueestprop } where @xmath73 was chosen arbitrarily in step @xmath163 : .
let the assumptions of proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] hold true .
first observe that the sequence @xmath156 $ ] obtained by algorithm [ algo : iter ] with step @xmath204 : replaced by @xmath295 : is @xmath75-feasible for the problem ( miocp ) by the same arguments as in the proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] . to show and , let @xmath286 denote the mild solution of , and @xmath296 be the mild solution of with the respective controls .
then , @xmath297\ ] ] because @xmath249 and @xmath92 are both @xmath75-accurate solutions of , and , respectively . from lemma [ lem : integeralapprox ] with @xmath223 , @xmath224 , and @xmath225 with @xmath226 from , we get that @xmath227.\ ] ] moreover , under hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) and the assumption that the hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) and ( h@xmath165 ) hold with @xmath282 and @xmath298 with constants @xmath284 and @xmath285 for all @xmath158 , we may apply lemma [ lem : solutionest ] with @xmath283 , @xmath229 , @xmath224 , @xmath299 and @xmath230 and obtain that @xmath300.\ ] ] this proves with @xmath287 and @xmath288 . using again the continuity assumptions of @xmath123 and @xmath124 in ( h@xmath154 ) , we obtain similarly as in the proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] that @xmath301 @xmath302 and @xmath303 .
this proves .
finally , when the constants @xmath284 and @xmath285 can be chosen independently of @xmath31 , @xmath143 and @xmath145 , then @xmath304 is independent of @xmath31 and we get by similar arguments as in the proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] that the iteration terminates after a finite number of steps such that holds . in order to solve the optimal control problem numerically
, the problem may have to be ( adaptively ) discretized .
in particular , direct or indirect numerical methods may be used . for an introduction to the basic concepts
see , e.g. , @xcite . depending on the method of choice for the time discretization of the control functions @xmath305}$ ] and @xmath306}$ ] it may in many cases
be advantageous to discretize @xmath203 and @xmath83 simultaneously using the grid @xmath82 .
this is for example implemented in the software package ms mintoc designed for solving mixed - integer optimal control problems with ordinary differential equations @xcite .
we conclude this section with an interesting remark saying that , in the fashion of theorem [ thm : convergence ] and proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] , the relaxation method can also deal with state constraints .
[ rem : stateconstraints ] suppose that we wish to include a constraint of the form @xmath307\ ] ] in the mixed - integer optimal control problem ( miocp ) .
including this constraint also in with @xmath308 replaced by @xmath309 and assuming that there exists a function @xmath310 such that @xmath311 with @xmath312 and @xmath313 as in theorem [ thm : convergence ] .
this shows also a bilinear dependency of the integer - control approximation error for the state constraint violation on @xmath226 and @xmath75 .
the conclusion of proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] can be adapted accordingly .
' '' '' [ algo : iter2 ] consider algorithm [ algo : iter ] where we replace steps @xmath242 : @xmath314 : and @xmath243 : by = 2em if @xmath78 , holds with @xmath315 and @xmath79 , then set @xmath316 and @xmath81 for @xmath51 $ ] and stop . using @xmath82 ,
define a piecewise constant function @xmath317 \to \{0,1\}^n$ ] by @xmath318 where @xmath319 is given by the solution of the min - max problem @xmath320 with @xmath321 , @xmath322 , and @xmath323 if @xmath324 or @xmath325 then stop . ' '' '' suppose we wish to include combinatorial constraints of the form @xmath326 into the mixed - integer optimal control problem ( miocp ) given by
, where @xmath327 denotes the number of switches of the control function @xmath28 \to { v_{\text{ad}}}$ ] from value @xmath328 to value @xmath329 , @xmath330 are given , non - negative constants and @xmath331 .
note that the relaxation method considered in section [ sec : relax ] typically satisfies @xmath332 for some @xmath333 as we let @xmath334 , so eventually violating for small @xmath49 .
therefore , along the lines of @xcite , we propose in algorithm [ algo : iter2 ] a modification of algorithm [ algo : iter ] .
the min - max problem can be written as a standard mixed - integer linear problem ( milp ) using slack variables and can be computed efficiently @xcite .
we then have the following result .
[ thm : cconstaints ] suppose that the hypotheses of theorem [ thm : convergence ] hold true and let @xmath312 , @xmath313 , @xmath335 and @xmath336 be as in theorem [ thm : convergence ]
. then algorithm [ algo : iter2 ] terminates for every @xmath73 and @xmath337 after a finite number of steps @xmath338 with an @xmath339-feasible solution @xmath161 \in \xi_{\varepsilon^{\kappa}}$ ] of problem ( miocp ) satisfying the combinatorial constraints and the estimates @xmath340,\ ] ] and @xmath341 for @xmath342 given by algorithm [ algo : iter2 ] and some @xmath343 .
algorithm [ algo : iter2 ] terminates by the criterion in step @xmath344 : after @xmath293 steps , @xmath338 , with a solution @xmath161 $ ] .
we first show that this solution is @xmath345-feasible for the problem ( miocp ) .
we have @xmath346 and by definition of @xmath347 in step @xmath204 : , @xmath348 , @xmath51 $ ] , by definition in step @xmath205 : , so @xmath349 , @xmath51 $ ] , because @xmath207 for all @xmath208 and @xmath51 $ ] as seen from and the constraints in .by construction in step @xmath205 : , @xmath350 is an @xmath345-accurate solution of .
thus , recalling , @xmath161 \in \xi_{\varepsilon^{\kappa}}$ ] .
the constraints in also ensure that the combinatorial constraints are satisfied .
next we show . for all @xmath351
the cost function in is defined as @xmath352 by definition of @xmath353 in and @xmath354 in and rearranging terms , we get @xmath355 using that @xmath356 $ ] and @xmath207 for all @xmath51 $ ] , this yields @xmath357 } \left| \int_0^{t}\alpha_i^k(\tau)-\beta_i^k(\tau)\,d\tau \right| - \delta\ ] ] for some @xmath358 . fixing some
@xmath51 $ ] , we have as in the proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] @xmath359 with @xmath360 , @xmath361 , as in . moreover , as in the proof of theorem [ thm : convergence ] , we see that @xmath219 , @xmath362 and @xmath363 . using ( h@xmath154)(h@xmath165 ) , we can apply lemma [ lem : solutionest ] with @xmath228 , @xmath229 , @xmath224 and @xmath364 and get that @xmath365 summing up the estimates for @xmath236 and rearranging terms , this proves with the definition of @xmath312 and @xmath313 as in theorem [ thm : convergence ] .
the estimate then follows from and the definition of the constants @xmath335 and @xmath336 as in theorem [ thm : convergence ] using the definition of the cost function @xmath366 in and the lipschitz constants @xmath128 and @xmath129 from ( h@xmath154 ) .
this completes the proof of theorem [ thm : cconstaints ] .
as already remarked in the case without combinatorial constraints , the method can also deal with state constraints such as .
assuming again existence of a function @xmath310 such that holds true , yields a bounded deviation of the feasible reference trajectory @xmath367 and hence a bound on the worst case constraint violation .
also , the conclusion of proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] can be adapted analogously .
in this section we discuss the hypothesis ( h@xmath154)(h@xmath165 ) of theorem [ thm : convergence ] exemplary for a linear and a semilinear control problem where @xmath47 is the generator of an analytic semigroup in view of proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] and present numerical results for a test problem in each case using the conclusions .
let @xmath368 be a domain in @xmath369 and @xmath370 , @xmath86 , be fixed control profiles .
consider the internally controlled heat equation @xmath371 where @xmath372 , @xmath373 and @xmath374 is a positive constant .
suppose that for some @xmath375 and @xmath376 the control task is to minimize the cost function latexmath:[\[\label{eq : heatcost } j = \int_\omega |z(t_f , x)|^2\,dx + \lambda_1 \int_0^{t_f } \int_\omega @xmath4 is the weak solution of by selecting @xmath27 \to { \mathbb{r}}$ ] and a switching signal @xmath378 \to \{1,\ldots , n\}$ ] determining the control profile @xmath379 applied at time @xmath51 $ ] . in order to write the above problem in abstract form , we let @xmath380 , set @xmath381 , @xmath382 and define @xmath16 \times u \times v \to x$ ] by @xmath383 , @xmath384 , @xmath385 and define @xmath386 as @xmath387 it is well - known that @xmath386 is the generator of a strongly continuous ( analytic ) semigroup of contractions @xmath14 on @xmath7 , see , e.g. , @xcite . we choose
@xmath10}=c([0,t_f];x)$ ] , @xmath11}=pc(0,t_f;{\mathbb{r}})$ ] and @xmath12}=l^\infty(0,t_f;{\mathbb{r}})$ ] .
let @xmath76 $ ] be a sequence of feasible solutions of the corresponding relaxed problem so that @xmath76 \in { \mathcal{s}}$ ] for @xmath158 , where @xmath388 is a bounded subset of @xmath10 } \times u_{[0,t_f ] } \times \tilde{v}_{[0,t_f]}$ ] and assume that the fixed control profiles @xmath379 satisfy @xmath389 we now want to check if the assumptions of proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] are satisfied .
for this , we can restict our analysis without loss of generality to @xmath388 and , using that the functions @xmath123 , @xmath124 and @xmath125 are locally lipschitz continuous and @xmath388 is bounded , we can see that hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) holds .
moreover , due to we have that @xmath390 and @xmath391 for some constant @xmath276 and due to the choice of @xmath11}$ ] we have that @xmath392 is differentiable for a.e . @xmath393 $ ] and @xmath394 for some constant @xmath273 . noting that and thus also the abstract system is linear , we may apply proposition [ prop : onh2auniformlybounded ] to see that hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) holds for every @xmath158 . also , the bound in ( h@xmath165 ) holds for all @xmath31 , observing that @xmath395 for some constant @xmath396 .
hence , for any such choices @xmath76 $ ] , any sequence @xmath143 , @xmath145 and any @xmath73 , the relaxation method terminates after finitely many steps @xmath293 with an @xmath49-feasible solution @xmath161 $ ] of problem satisfying the estimate @xmath397 by proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] .
the desired switching structure @xmath398 \to \{1,\ldots , n\}$ ] is finally given by @xmath399 .
[ ex : heatrelax2d ] to demonstrate the applicability of the approach , we implemented the relaxation method for a test problem of the form with a two - dimensional rectangular domain @xmath368 and the following parameters .
let @xmath400 \times [ 0,l_\zeta]$ ] , @xmath401 , @xmath402 , @xmath403 and @xmath404 and suppose that there are given 9 actuator locations @xmath405 with the positions given by @xmath406 , where @xmath407 further suppose that there is a point actuator for each of these locations @xmath405 which we model here by setting @xmath408 with @xmath409 for some small , but fixed @xmath410 . note that @xmath411 and that @xmath412 converges to the dirac delta function @xmath413 as @xmath414 . as initial data we take @xmath415 and as parameters in the cost function we take @xmath416 and @xmath417 .
we have chosen these numerical values to match as closely as possible the two - dimensional example in @xcite motivated by thermal manufacturing .
the only difference is that the pointwise actuators @xmath413 were approximated in @xcite by indicator functions of an epsilon environment while we choose here a smoother approximation in view of . regarding a direct treatment of @xmath413 as an unbounded control operator instead of using the bounded approximation ,
see the comments in section [ sec : final ] .
the solution of the relaxed optimal control problem has been computed numerically .
we discretized the state equation in space using a standard galerkin approach with triangular elements and linear ansatz - functions .
we eliminated one control by setting @xmath418 , @xmath419 , where we then get @xmath420 using the constraint @xmath421 , @xmath51 $ ] .
this constraint is then always fulfilled and the condition @xmath422 $ ] , @xmath423 , is equivalent to imposing that @xmath424 $ ] and @xmath425 .
the resulting semi - discretized control problem was solved with bock s direct multiple shooting method @xcite implemented in the software - package muscod - ii .
the control functions @xmath119 and @xmath426 were chosen as piecewise constant and initialized with @xmath427 and @xmath428 , @xmath429 $ ] , @xmath430 . the computations were made for an unstructured grid with 162 triangular elements and 8 , 16 and 32 equidistant shooting intervals .
time integration was carried out by a bdf - method and sensitivities were computed using internal numerical differentiation .
error estimates for these methods provide an accuracy of some @xmath431 for the so obtained approximations of the mild solutions .
we implemented algorithm [ algo : iter ] where we compute in step @xmath204 : solutions satisfying first order necessary conditions with an accuracy of @xmath432 .
the above discussion of the abstract example thus applies . in particular , using that @xmath376 , we obtain the existence of a bounded set @xmath388 containing the iterates @xmath76 $ ] .
we adaptively solved the relaxed problem on a common control discretization grid @xmath82 for @xmath38 and @xmath426 .
for the computations , we have chosen @xmath433 and used bisection for refinements of the control grids @xmath82 in step @xmath243 : .
thus , @xmath75 is given implicitly as a function of @xmath434 , @xmath432 and @xmath226 .
this construction ensures that @xmath143 as @xmath251 .
@xmath435 & @xmath436 & error @xmath437 + 0 & 1.8750 & 5.634024e+04 & 1.283813e+05 & 2.9809 + 1 & 0.9375 & 4.190360e+04 & 7.080185e+04 & 1.1955 + 2 & 0.4688 & 3.224914e+04 & 6.175488e+04 & 0.9149 + the performance of the relaxation method is summarized in table [ table : heatrelax2d ] .
we see that the relative error of the mixed - integer solution compared with the best found relaxed solution decreases with the grid refinements in accordance with proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] .
the best found controls and the evolution of the state norm of the corresponding solution are displayed in figure [ fig : heatrelax2d ] .
we see the rounding error in form of an overshooting behavior when comparing the evolution of the @xmath438-norm of the relaxed and the mixed - integer solution .
this effect decreases with the size of the time discretization step size .
the cost corresponding to the best found solution is 6175 .
unfortunately , @xcite does not report the cost of the best found solution , but a cumulative @xmath439-norm of @xmath440 .
the cumulative @xmath439-norm of our best found solution is @xmath441 .
+ let @xmath368 be a bounded domain in @xmath369 with a smooth boundary @xmath442 and consider the classical lotka - volterra system with diffusion @xmath443 with constants @xmath444 , @xmath445 , domains @xmath446 $ ] , @xmath447 $ ] and control @xmath448 .
system describes the interaction of two populations @xmath449 and @xmath450 , both spatially distributed and diffusing in @xmath368 .
the initial distribution @xmath451 at @xmath452 is assumed to be non - negative .
the boundary conditions then imply that the populations @xmath449 and @xmath450 are confined in @xmath368 for all @xmath453 .
the function @xmath24 models a control of the system and we shall investigate to approximate optimal controls @xmath454 taking values in @xmath455 as to minimize the distance of the population @xmath456 to its uncontrolled ( @xmath457 ) steady state distribution @xmath458 given by the constant functions @xmath459 in order to bring the system into abstract form , set @xmath460 , @xmath461 , @xmath462 , @xmath463 , define the operator @xmath13 by @xmath464 define the non - linear function @xmath465 by @xmath466 and define the cost functions @xmath123 and @xmath124 by @xmath467 we choose @xmath10}=c([0,t_f];x)$ ] and @xmath12}=pc(0,t_f;{\mathbb{r}})$ ] .
it is well - known , that @xmath386 is the generator of an analytic semigroup on @xmath7 and that for any non - negative initial data @xmath468 , the system has a non - negative unique mild solution @xmath469,x \times x)$ ] for every @xmath470)$ ] .
moreover , for data @xmath471 and @xmath472)$ ] , @xmath473 , this solution is classical and satisfies @xmath474;d(a ) \times d(a ) ) \cap h^1([0,t_f ] ; x \times x).\ ] ] existence ( local in time ) and uniqueness follows from classical theory for semilinear parabolic equations , see , e.g. , ( * ? ? ?
* chapter 6 ) .
global existence results for are obtained by a - priori bounds on the solution using contracting rectangles @xcite .
assume that the initial data satisfies @xmath471 and that @xmath475 $ ] is a sequence of feasible solutions to the corresponding relaxed problem in a bounded set @xmath476 } \times x_{[0,t_f]}$ ] .
we want to discuss again the assumptions of proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] .
hypothesis ( h@xmath154 ) holds by the same arguments as in the previous example .
moreover , we claim that hypothesis ( h@xmath173 ) holds .
let @xmath477 be the growth bound of @xmath14 on @xmath55 $ ] .
by analyticity of @xmath14 , we have for every feasible @xmath478}$ ] that @xmath479 almost everywhere in @xmath480 , @xmath481 where @xmath482 and @xmath483 . using that @xmath484 for all
@xmath393 $ ] and @xmath485 , we see that @xmath486 for some constants @xmath487 . using that @xmath125 is a smooth function
, we see that @xmath488 thus yields the estimate @xmath489 for @xmath393 $ ] a.e . by well - posedness of the problem for every @xmath3}$ ] and using the boundedness of @xmath388 , we get an estimate @xmath490 } \|f(t , y^k(t),v^i)\|_x \leq m^{i},\ ] ] for some constants @xmath396 verifying hypothesis ( h@xmath165 ) .
further , using ( h@xmath154 ) and the boundedness of @xmath388 , @xmath491 and @xmath492 can be bounded independently of @xmath31 . using the state equation
, we get @xmath493 for a.e .
@xmath393 $ ] .
so , boundedness of @xmath494 and the regularity of @xmath120 in implies that @xmath495 can be bounded independently of @xmath31 for a.e .
@xmath393 $ ] . hence
, the constants @xmath496 and @xmath497 in can be chosen independently of @xmath31 and we can conclude from proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] that the relaxation methods terminates after @xmath293 steps with an integer solution @xmath498 $ ] satisfying the estimate @xmath499 for any sequences @xmath143 , @xmath145 and every @xmath73 .
@xmath500 & @xmath501 & error @xmath502 + 0 & 2.0000 & 7.066392e+01 & 8.287875e+01 & 0.4065 + 1 & 1.0000 & 5.978818e+01 & 6.958250e+01 & 0.1809 + 2 & 0.5000 & 5.892414e+01 & 5.875641e+01 & 0.0028 + [ ex : lotkadiff2d ] we applied the relaxation method to a semilinear test problem of the form again for a two dimensional domain @xmath368 with the following parameters . let @xmath368 being a circle with radius @xmath163 centered at @xmath503 and choose @xmath504 , @xmath505 , @xmath506 , @xmath507 , @xmath508 , initial data @xmath509 approximated by @xmath510 , @xmath511 , where @xmath512 given by @xmath513 models a population concentrated at the origin . for @xmath514 , @xmath515 , the solution @xmath516 , @xmath517 converges asymptotically to a spatially constant and temporarily non - constant , periodic solution .
the computations for the optimal control are made by the same numerical method as in the previous example , but using a grid with 258 finite elements . for the performance of the relaxation method see table [ table : lotkadiff2d ] .
the best found controls and the evolution of the state norm of the corresponding solutions are displayed in figure [ fig : lotkadiff2d ] .
again we see a decrease of the integer - approximation error in accordance with proposition [ prop : convergenceweaker ] . the best found integer control yields a cost of 58.76 .
we considered mixed - integer optimal control problems for abstract semilinear evolution equations and obtained conditions guaranteeing that the value function and the state of a relaxed optimal control problem can be approximated with arbitrary precision using a control that satisfies integer restrictions .
in particular , our approach is constructive and gives rise to a numerical method for mixed - integer optimal control problems with certain partial differential equations .
moreover , we showed how these conditions imply a - priori estimates on the quality of the solution when combinatorial constraints are enforced .
we note that we did not discuss convergence of the constructed sequence of integer controls approximating the optimal value of the relaxed problem .
it is not even clear in which topology such a convergence would be meaningful .
several issues related to this questions , in particular in a pde - context , is discussed in @xcite and @xcite .
compared to the previously available results on mixed - integer optimal control problems with ordinary differential equations in @xcite , the setting treated in this paper involves a differential operator @xmath47 , taken to be a generator of a strongly continuous semigroup .
this requires careful regularity considerations .
when @xmath47 is a laplace operator , we showed on a linear and a semilinear example how such regularity assumptions can be met and provided numerical examples demonstrating the practicability of the approach .
it is clear that the methodology considered in this paper generalizes to the case when the generator @xmath47 of a strongly continuous semigroup is replaced by a family @xmath518}$ ] of unbounded linear operators generating an evolution operator in the sense of @xcite . on the other hand
it is not so clear how to extend the results in case of unbounded control action , for example , neumann or dirichlet boundary control for the heat equation .
recalling the density of solutions to in the set of solution to which motivated our approach , we note that the case of unbounded control is not covered by the available results on operator differential inclusions . while in principle
semigroup techniques can deal with unbounded control operators , see for example the exposition in ( * ? ? ?
* chapter 3 ) , this extension is non - trivial and requires additional work .
most of this research was carried out while both authors were member of the working group of prof .
bock at the interdisciplinary center of scientific computing ( iwr ) , university of heidelberg .
the financial support of the mathematics center heidelberg ( match ) , of the heidelberg graduate school of mathematical and computational methods for the sciences ( hgs mathcomp ) , and of the eu project embocon under grant fp7-ict-2009 - 4 248940 is gratefully acknowledged .
the first author also acknowledges the support from andreas potschka with the software package muscod - ii .
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To Die For is an ambitious little flick about the seductive lure of stardom, the suggestive power of Nicole Kidman's lips, and the promise of liberation held by a teenage flunky with a handgun who's willing to lose everything for your love. The movie is ambitious, and sounds terrific on paper, but director Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues) can't pull everything together to make any impact at all. It's enough to make you wonder what he's doing with this script in the first place.
Leaving Las Vegas
In Leaving Las Vegas, Nicolas Cage plays Benjamin, an alcoholic who's lost his family and his job and moves to Las Vegas to quite deliberately drink himself to death over the course of four weeks' time. While he's there, he meets a hooker named Sera, played by Elisabeth Shue, who's cast adrift, so to speak, when her boyfriend and pimp (Julian Sands) is finally murdered by the thugs he owes money to. Since these two are just about the neediest people on the planet, they immediately fall into a codependent relationship. Ben agrees to vacate his room at the $29-a-night Whole Year Inn (in an unusual moment of lucidity, Ben reads the sign as "the hole you're in") and move in with Sera on one condition — she can never ask him to stop drinking.
There's a lot of sex in Strange Days. A lot of sex, and a lot of violence. Director Kathryn Bigelow and her screenwriter cronies James Cameron and Jay Cocks understand well that the sleekest new technology is immediately turned to the seediest purposes. Their protagonist, L.A. ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), understands it too, and he's the consummate salesperson for virtual sleaze, circa 1999. When Nero watches a potential client "jack in" — a contraband silver rig on top of the mark's head wires the contents of a mini CD recorded with the full sensory experience of another person directly into his brain — he sports the sharp grin of a guy who loves the junk he's dealing as much as the junkies do. After the client's spent a few quality moments feeling himself up through his business suit, Nero cuts off his feed. "You were just an 18-year-old girl taking a shower," he tells the client. And, of course, there's more where that came from. Continue reading →
David Fincher, whose brilliant career as a director of music videos encompassed such highs and lows as Madonna's "Express Yourself" and Rick Springfield's "Bop 'Til You Drop," has helmed an almost overly stylish thriller about the evil that men do and the myriad ways to punish them. And this thriller is so unlikely on its surface that when the machine kicks into high gear and the characters really start to matter to us, its impact seems all-encompassing and lingers for days after viewing.
Who would have thought that one of the year's most satisfying movies would be a 79-minute documentary about a clothing designer? A year ago, who would have guessed that Robert Altman's fashion industry barbecue, Ready to Wear (then called Pret-a-Porter), would seem so baggage-laden, and that unknown documentarian Douglas Keeve's doting portrait of Isaac Mizrahi would seem lighter than air?
Your mileage may vary, but for this jaded moviegoer, Unzipped is an unmitigated treat, as much a relief from the practiced heaviosity of Hollywood buckbusters as an air-conditioned movie house is from the burning city streets. Keeve's movie feels so free because it's a portrait of the fashion industry from the inside, from a vantage point that those with cynical intent could never reach (it's no secret that Keeve and Mizrahi were in the throes of a relationship during the shoot, but any reference to this has been excised from the finished product).
This is perhaps the most absurd of all big-ticket industries, and Keeve shows what it feels like from the inside, when it lets its guard down. Mizrahi looks as much like a Peter Pan as any pop superstar, using Nanook of the North as a springboard for his fall collection or cavorting with beautiful supermodels as though all the streets of New York lead to Neverland. What's at stake, though, is his professional reputation. In the opening scenes, we see a little clowd following Mizrahi through Manhattan as he reads the decidedly unflattering reviews of his latest collection. This tragedy in miniature sets the story in motion, as we watch Mizrahi struggle to recreate his own image as well as some cool clothes.
Followers of the biz will no doubt enjoy seeing Mizrahi at work, expounding on his personal philosophy, switching into depressive mode when he learns that Gaultier may beat him to the "Eskimo chic" punch, and confessing to his mother that he used to steal money from her purse as a child (home movie footage reveals that he sported that Eraserhead 'do even then). Douglas Keeve works stylishly enough to suck in the unconverted, as well, with sometimes-arty composition within the frame and occasional inserts of film leader to remind us of the documentary process.
The centerpiece is the all-important fashion show in New York's Bryant Park, captured in full brilliant 35mm color with swooping crane shots and a throbbing soundtrack. The glossy shots of the catwalk itself are intercut with more jittery footage from backstage, as the models struggle to change from outfit to outfit, and Mizrahi himself hops around, coaching them like a high school drama teacher. These scenes are breathtaking, and Keeve helps us understand what all the fuss is about, even if we still believe the whole business is a little weird. We come away feeling like we know a little bit about Isaac Mizrahi, even if the movie concentrates conspicuously on painting a picture of the fashion industry as a perfect world, and turning Mizrahi into a hero. But when you consider the standard Hollywood alternatives for hero worship (Stallone, Segal, et. al.), that might not be such a bad thing after all.
Three Colors: Blue
It's hard to defend the artiness of Blue. With a Kieslowski movie (maybe with all Kieslowski movies), either you get it or you don't. If you get it, you're a fan. The movie becomes a mystical, dream-like experience. You recall the most indulgent camera angles and close-ups at the oddest moments of your day. Perhaps you hum a few bars of Zbigniew Preisner's formidable score as you drink your coffee in the morning, or you have a nightmare about the kind of car crash that sets this story in motion. And when a friend doesn't appreciate the film — in fact, they think it's a dull, pretentious throwback to the French New Wave or somesuch — you find yourself speechless. It's hard to use words to explain the cinema's moments of great beauty, and you may as well give up before you begin.
Three Colors: Blue is the first film in Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy built around the precious themes of liberty, equality, and fratenity (the second and third films are White and Red, respectively). The concepts correspond to the three colors of the French flag, and the conceit is actually less a stricture than a simple excuse for Kieslowski to make a set of movies that meditate on love, loss, and our essential humanity. Liberty is personified in the newly-widowed Julie (Binoche), who survives the automobile accident that kills her husband Patrice (a famous composer) and daughter Anna. This sea change in her life drives her to divorce herself from familiar people and surroundings, but she's dogged by an unwelcome artifact from her husband's life. His unfinished composition, Song for the Unification of Europe, is the subject of intense interest, and although Julie disposes of Patrice's notes for the piece (and tries to dispose of all her own memories), it continues to insinuate itself into her life until she confronts the music as well as her own devastated psyche.
It sounds very color-by-numbers, but the film is actually anything but. Kieslowski is a bold filmmaker, with a knack for hypnotizing an audience. As much as Kieslowski's The Double Life of Veronique seemed concerned with lenses, this one dwells on reflections — Julie's face reflected on the curve of a spoon, a doctor's face reflected in the iris of her eye, filling the screen. The richness of imagery occasionally rivals that of a novel (Julie touches a sugar cube to coffee; as we watch, the sugar turns the luminous color of her own skin). And Kieslowski works at capturing the essence of memory and the passage of time. At four moments during the film, the screen fades completely and music swells – Patrice's unfinished piece – and then the music cuts, and the scene fades back in at exactly the moment where it faded out. It's part of the mystery of the film that a viewer can have an immediate and intuitive grasp on such an abstract device.
Intuition, indeed, is the driving force behind Kieslowski's films. The relationships and imagery are drawn so intricately that the pictures reward repeated viewing, and it's only on the second or third time around that the whole power of one of these films really becomes apparent. It's easy to belittle a film like this, with its languid pace, elliptical dialog, and propensity for introspection (navel-gazing?). Don't these somber sequences substitute a content New Age-ism for any real statements in response to the questions they pose? Isn't Kieslowski living in a blithe, egocentric dream world? How can we be expected to identify with the rich widow of a French composer as she mourns her way through Paris?
Yet through Binoche's performance and Kieslowski's guidance, we do identify. We feel Julie's aloneness even as we understand her resolve to cast off her sentiment and distance herself from the inexorable sadness. At the end of Blue, as Preisner's music swells up on the soundtrack, all of the disparate characters and situations that make up Julie's story finally come together. Pictures recall pictures as Julie is finally reflected in the eyes of another, and the delicate shape of another character is traced on a video monitor, echoed in shades of blue. These final moments articulate character and contradictory emotion in one crystalline, irrefutable passage of images, absolutely wordless — the very definition of great cinema. If you're asking the same questions as our director, the simple clarity of such images provides answers enough.
Posted on June 1, 1995 September 16, 2018
Three Colors: White
Bookended as it is by Blue and Red, the second film in Kieslowski's liberty/equality/fraternity trilogy is a welcome relief from the sometimes tragic sensibility of the other two films. White is about post-Communist Poland. It is about the tricks that hold up our own quests for "equality" (is there really such a thing outside of mathematics?). But most of all, it's a love story.
Of course, all three of the films are love stories in a way; but Blue is a love story that ends as the film begins, and Red is a love story once removed. White is a story about stubborn love, a sort of codependent relationship that endures despite the best efforts of both lovers. Zbigniew Zamachowski plays Karol Karol, the impotent hairdresser who is abandoned in Paris by wife Julie Delpy. Unable to support himself, the spurned lover eventually returns to his native Poland, smuggling himself in inside a friend's suitcase. Seething with resentment, he makes a fortune in his newly capitalist homeland, and then sets off on an elaborate plan to revenge himself on his wife. Kieslowski makes some wry observations about the nature of capitalism and the lust for "easy money." Karol doesn't simply want to make himself the financial equal of his wife; he wants to become "more equal" than she is. That being the case, it's not enough for him simply to make a fortune. He wants to humiliate her, as well.
He manages that, but the circumstances are an idiosyncratic delight. White isn't lofty enough to avoid an occasional detour into sober, existential territory, but the side trips add a little weight to the story, which is at heart a marriage farce. The sublime Zamachowski pulls his best Chaplin routine here, and it pays off charmingly. It's no surprise that Delpy is radiant, and plays the ice queen well (my favorite shot of Delpy is still her cameo in Red, where all three films touch briefly). In most ways, this film is the least of the trilogy — White is so conciliatory that it threatens to float away. But at the end, it's anchored by a Chaplinesque moment of revelation that justifies our attention and respect, and this film's solid place in Kieslowski's admirable trilogy.
David Cronenberg's debut feature prefigured both Alien and AIDS with its tale of parasites — a metaphorical sexually transmitted disease — that turn humans into nymphomaniacal zombies as they move from host to host, infecting the residents of a Canadian apartment complex. Like other early Cronenberg films, the movie has a low-key immediacy that makes the perversions of its milieu all the more distressing. Shivers is the original Canadian title of this film. If you're looking for it in the U.S., the title is They Came From Within. The movie was originally edited for U.S. consumption, but as far as I can tell, the most recently released TCFW videocassette (Vestron Video VA4403) is identical to the Canadian cut of Shivers except for the title.
Update 09/18/10: In the intervening decade and a half since I originally wrote this paragraph, Shivers has come into wide, easy availability on DVD and then gone back out of print again. Cronenberg deserves better distribution.
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Agoria: Call of the Wild
Joywave: Obsession
In the Deer 2nite
Screening Log
Possessor (Brandon Cronenberg, 2020)
Total Recall (Paul Verhoeven, 1990)
Requiem for a Dream (Darren Aronofsky, 2000)
Shivers (David Cronenberg, 1975)
Ghost in the Shell (Mamoru Oshii, 1995)
The Owners (Julius Berg, 2020)
Lock Up (John Flynn, 1989)
We Summon the Darkness (Marc Meyers, 2019)
Bad Boys for Life (Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, 2020)
Knives and Skin (Jennifer Reeder, 2019)
Piercing (Nicolas Pesce, 2018)
Burning (Lee Chang-Dong, 2018)
Suspiria (Luca Guadagnino, 2018)
The Spy Who Dumped Me (Susanna Fogel, 2018)
A Star Is Born (Bradley Cooper, 2018)
Bad Times at the El Royale (Drew Goddard, 2018)
Hold the Dark (Jeremy Saulnier, 2018)
American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000)
The Nun (Corin Hardy, 2018)
Blue Collar (Paul Schrader, 1978)
BlacKkKlansman (Spike Lee, 2018)
First Reformed (Paul Schrader, 2018)
Eighth Grade (Bo Burnham, 2018)
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (Christopher McQuarrie, 2018)
Unfriended: Dark Web (Stephen Susco, 2018) | slim_pajama |
among the unusual characteristics of dwarf spheroidal ( dsph ) galaxies is the apparent lack of any interstellar gas , even in systems such as fornax or carina , where star formation occurred in the last 1 to 3 gyr ( skillman & bender 1995 ; also see reviews by gallagher & wyse 1994 ; mateo 1998 ; grebel 1999 ) .
stetson , hesser , & smecker - hane ( 1998 ) find a sequence of stars in color - magnitude diagram of the fornax dsph that appears to be only a few times @xmath8 yrs old .
the major exception to this trend may be the sculptor dsph , where an hi cloud could be associated with the galaxy ( carignan et al .
1998 ; carignan 1999 ) .
recent sensitive 21 cm hi observations by young ( 1999 , 2000 ) yielded upper limits on any diffuse neutral gas at column densities of @xmath9 @xmath10 , implying that any distributed gas would have low mean volume density and therefore could be ionized .
bowen et al . ( 1997 ) searched for a hot ionized ism in the outskirts of the leo i dsph by seeking interstellar ultraviolet lines with no detection , thereby setting ionized gas column density limits along two sight lines to background qsos similar to those of the hi surveys .
gizis , mould and djorgovsky ( 1993 ) studied the fornax dsph with _
rosat _ and found no extended component that could be associated with very hot gas and set a limit of @xmath11 m@xmath12 .
the limits on interstellar gas column densities from the ultraviolet and hi observations correspond to gas masses of @xmath13 m@xmath12 or @xmath51% of the estimated stellar mass ( see grebel , gallagher , & harbeck 2003 ) . as noted by young ( 2000 ) ,
even if gas were initially removed from a dsph at the time that its star formation ceased , mass loss from stars should have replenished the interstellar medium to detectable levels .
evidently , dsphs either lose essentially all their interstellar gas or their interstellar gas lies in a form that has yet to be detected . for example , their gas could reside in dense , cold clumps or be nearly fully ionized but at a moderate temperature @xmath14 k that can be sustained by photoionization . in either case ,
substantial amounts of gas could escape detection by previous hi , x - ray , and ultraviolet absorption line studies . in this paper
we report results from observations with the highly - sensitive wisconsin h@xmath0 mapper ( wham ) with the goal of detecting h@xmath0 emission from ionized interstellar matter in the draco and ursa minor dsphs .
no emission is found to sensitive limits , and we discuss the implications of these results .
we have used wham to search for the h@xmath0 emission from the draco and ursa minor dsphs .
the wham instrument is a spectrometer located at the kitt peak national observatory and is remotely operated from madison , wisconsin .
wham consists of a 0.6 m siderostat coupled to a 15 cm dual - etalon fabry - perot system ( tufte 1997 ; reynolds et al .
it produces an optical spectrum integrated over its circular , 1@xmath4 diameter field of view within a 200 kms@xmath1 wide spectral window , centered on any wavelength between 4800 and 7400 , with a resolution of 12 kms@xmath1 .
wham was designed to detect very faint emission lines from the diffuse interstellar medium , and is capable of detecting h@xmath0 emission down to an emission measure of @xmath15@xmath16 pc .
it s capabilities are well - matched to surveys for faint diffuse h@xmath0 emission from extended sources , such as the galactic satellite dsph galaxies .
we chose to study the draco and ursa minor dsphs since they are the closest northern examples of these systems .
our wham observations were all taken on the night of 2002 may 6 , and employed an on minus off technique . in order to accurately remove the contamination of the spectra by faint atmospheric lines ( madsen et al . 2001 ; hausen et al . 2002 )
, the observations were alternated between the galaxies ( ons ) , and a couple of directions ( offs ) a few degrees away from the ons .
the off directions were checked to ensure that no potential systematic contaminants , i.e. bright stars or high velocity hi gas , were present within the 200 kms@xmath1 spectral window .
each individual observation was 120 s , and the total integration time toward each on direction was 78 min .
the average of the off spectra was subtracted from the average of the corresponding on spectra to yield spectra of the galaxies which minimized the contamination by atmospheric lines .
figures 1 and 2 show the resultant h@xmath0 spectra toward the draco and ursa minor dsphs , respectively .
the spectra were corrected for atmospheric and internal transmission effects , and their intensities calibrated using synoptic observations of a portion of the north america nebula , which has an intensity @xmath17photons @xmath10 sec@xmath1 sr @xmath1 ] ( scherb 1981 ) .
the velocity scales were calibrated using a bright atmospheric oh line near -420 kms@xmath1with respect to h@xmath0 .
the x - axis of each plot is heliocentric velocity , and the y - axis is milli - rayleighs per kms@xmath1 .
the spectra in figures 1 and 2 show no statistically significant emission lines , providing only upper limits to the h@xmath0 emission from these galaxies . to estimate these upper limits , we assume an emission line exists at the heliocentric velocities of each of the dsph systems , -293 kms@xmath1 for draco and -248 kms@xmath1 for ursa minor ( armandroff , olszewski , & pryor 1995 ) . in order to set a limit on the expected width of an h@xmath0 line , we assume that the gas would have a velocity dispersion close to that of the stars , which have line - of - sight dispersions of about 10 kms@xmath1(e.g . , olszewski , aaronson , & hill 1995 ; armandroff , olszewski , & pryor 1995 ; hargreaves et al 1996 ; kleyna et al .
however , it is likely that the velocity dispersion of the ionized gas would be larger than that of the stars , as the gas receives additional energy input from the host stars as they evolve . furthermore , if we impose the condition that a significant amount of ionized gas is actually present in these galaxies , we can not use a dispersion that is larger than is allowed in order to keep the gas bound in the system ( @xmath19 15 kms@xmath1 ) .
we therefore adopt a dispersion of 15 kms@xmath1 for the h@xmath0 emission line that we attribute to ionized gas bound to the draco and ursa minor dsph galaxies . adopting the above heliocentric velocities and 15 kms@xmath1 dispersion , we use the observed spectra to constrain the maximum area ( intensity ) of an undetected h@xmath0 line with these parameters .
in particular , we increase the area of the imposed spectra line until the average value of the observed spectra within the fwhm of the line is more than 3@xmath20 below the peak of the imposed line ( see figures 1 and 2 ) . in this sense , we consider the limits to the strengths of the imposed emission lines to be 3@xmath20 upper limits .
we find upper limits of @xmath2r and @xmath21r for the draco and ursa minor dsphs , respectively , averaged over the 1@xmath4 circular wham beam .
these limits are factors of 20 - 50 below the h@xmath0 intensity limits obtained for external galaxies from deep , conventional narrow band filter imaging or spectroscopy ( e.g. , ferguson et al .
1996 ; hoopes , walterbos , & rand 1999 ) , albeit at the price of the low angular resolution required to increase our sensitivity , but with the advantage of precision radial velocity information .
we note that these results were derived using uncertainties arising only from the random errors ( i.e. photon statistics ) , whereas the systematic uncertainties from the incomplete subtraction of atmospheric lines may also contribute to the overall error measurements , particularly with the location of the continuum .
however , we have little understanding of the origin and variability of these lines .
given that these random errors account for point - to - point variation in the data , and that a straight line fit to the spectra , i.e. a spectrum with no features , yields a @xmath22 , we conclude that the contribution of systematic errors to our upper limits is minimal .
however , it is not clear if significantly deeper observations can be obtained with wham , as systematic errors are likely to become important for longer observations .
an additional consideration regarding these upper limits is extinction of the h@xmath0 emission by interstellar dust in the galaxy .
however , according to the nasa extragalactic database , the predicted galactic extinction at h@xmath0 toward the draco ( @xmath23 ) and ursa minor ( @xmath24 ) dsphs is less than 10% .
furthermore , the variation in galactic extinction across the projected angular extent of the draco dsph is negligible ( odenkirchen et al .
2001 ) we do not make any correction for galactic extinction . another possible systematic error could be photospheric h@xmath0 absorption by the stars in the host galaxies themselves .
this dip in the background stellar continuum would tend to reduce the measured intensity of any h@xmath0 emission feature from the ionized gas . to estimate the magnitude of this effect
, we consider a completely saturated h@xmath0 absorption line at the velocity of the host galaxy .
the strength of such a saturated line , as observed by wham , is at most equal to the surface brightness , or continuum level , of the galaxy .
the apparent total @xmath25 magnitudes of the draco and ursa minor dsphs , @xmath26 , are 10.1 and 10.3 , respectively ( grebel et al 2003 ) . in the limit where this light uniformly fills the wham 1@xmath4 beam
, we derive surface brightnesses of 0.7 @xmath27 at h@xmath28 and 0.5 @xmath27 . using a line width of 50 kms@xmath1 ( 1 )
, we find conservative upper limits of 0.003 and 0.002 r for the strength of an h@xmath0 absorption line .
given that such a line is not likely to be completely saturated in these systems , and that the line width at the core may be overestimated , it is likely that any absorption line would be even weaker than these limits .
we therefore have not taken into account any correction for an internal stellar h@xmath0 absorption feature . with these upper limits of @xmath29 in hand
, we estimate the total mass of ionized gas in these galaxies . at a temperature of @xmath30
k , 1 r of h@xmath0 emission corresponds to an emission measure of @xmath31 .
if we assume that the gas uniformly fills a fraction @xmath32 of a cylinder of length @xmath33 along the line of sight , we use the definition of emission measure @xmath34 : @xmath35 where the beam efficiency @xmath36 is given by the ratio of the circular 1@xmath4 diameter wham field to the solid angle subtended by the source .
the electron density is @xmath37 if we further assume that the gas only fills a sphere of radius @xmath38 within this cylinder , then the geometric filling factor is @xmath39 , so that with an internal gas filling factor on small spatial scales of @xmath40 , then the total filling factor is @xmath41 .
the mass of ionized gas @xmath42 within a volume @xmath25 is given by @xmath43 with the mass of the hydrogen atom @xmath44 , and the correction factor to include helium @xmath45 .
placing the emission within a sphere with @xmath39 and combining the above relations then yields @xmath46 @xmath47 where the radius @xmath48 is measured in parsecs . to compute conservative limits
we assume that the ionized gas , if present , has a spherical distribution with radius equal to the tidal radius and an internal volume filling factor of @xmath49 by analogy to conditions in the galactic diffuse ionized gas ( reynolds 1977 ) .
this model is based on the assumption that any gas beyond the tidal radius would be lost ( see blitz & robishaw 2000 ) .
we adopt a tidal radius of @xmath50 arcmin and a distance @xmath51 kpc for ursa minor ( kleyna et al .
1998 ; see also carrera et al .
2002 ) , and @xmath52 arcmin with @xmath53 kpc for draco ( odenkirchen et al . 2001 ) .
we then have @xmath54 1 for both galaxies and @xmath55 pc and 930 pc , respectively for the ursa minor and draco dsphs . since we do not detect any emission , we do not correct for the elliptical shapes of these two galaxies , which could reduce @xmath36 and increase in the upper mass limits by 20 - 25% , if the gas had the same projected distribution as the stars but with uniform intensity .
incorporating these data into eq.(4 ) result in 3-@xmath20 upper limits to the ionized gas mass in ursa minor of @xmath56 and in draco of @xmath57 .
if we instead assumed that the ionized gas is confined to the galaxies core regions , these values would be reduced by about a factor of 5 .
if h@xmath0 emission is present at its upper limit , we can assume ionization equilibrium to estimate the flux of ionizing photons required to produce this amount of h@xmath0 emission .
for a given @xmath29 in rayleighs , the corresponding flux of lyman continuum photons @xmath58 incident on the surface of the galaxies is given by @xmath59}\ ] ] where the factor of 2.05 comes from the number of lyman continuum photons need to produce one h@xmath0 photon via photoionization ( osterbrock 1989 ) .
the upper limit on @xmath29 derived for these two dsph galaxies would thus correspond to @xmath60 photons @xmath61 s@xmath1 .
the total rate of lyman continuum photons q incident upon a galaxy having a projected area a is then @xmath62.}\ ] ] for the projected areas ( @xmath63 ) of these galaxies , we thus find lyman continuum photon rates of @xmath64 photons s@xmath1 and @xmath65 photons s@xmath1 for the draco and ursa minor dsphs , respectively .
the hot stellar populations in the draco and ursa minor dsphs , unfortunately , are poorly known .
given their dominant old stellar populations , hot stars arise from evolved low mass stars .
for example , ursa minor has a predominantly blue horizontal branch ( e.g. , kleyna et al .
1998 ; bellazzini et al . 2002 ) while that in draco the red horizontal branch is much stronger ( odenkirchen et al .
2001 ; aparicio , a. , carrera , & martinez - delgado 2001 ) , and both galaxies should be producing white dwarfs .
it is also possible that the milky way could ionize gas in these nearby dsphs .
however , at the 70 - 80 kpc distances of these galaxies , it is unclear what the milky way s ionizing flux is .
detections of h@xmath0 emission from hi clouds at distances of 10 - 50 kpc within the galactic halo suggest an escaping flux @xmath66 photons @xmath61 s@xmath1 ( tufte et al .
1998 ; bland - hawthorne and maloney 1999 ) .
even the cosmic background may be sufficient to maintain ionization near our observed limit .
from wham h@xmath0 observations of the outer hi disk of m31 madsen et al .
( 2001 ) set an upper limit of @xmath67 photons @xmath61 s@xmath1 for the cosmic background in the local group .
note that assuming the galaxies are spheres , then @xmath58 as defined in our paper is four times larger than the @xmath68 definition adopted by madsen et al .
therefore , the cosmic background radiation field is sufficient to maintain an ionized ism of substantial mass in the draco and ursa minor dsphs even in the absence of stellar photoionization from the galaxies themselves or from the milky way .
table 1 lists the estimated stellar masses and limits on gas masses for the draco and ursa minor dsphs .
these results show that the hi limits now are at the level of @xmath691% of the stellar mass , while our new hii results place limits of order @xmath5 10% of the stellar mass .
furthermore , we find that current estimates of the background ionization rate would allow gas masses near our limits to be maintained in an ionized state even without additional energy inputs from the dsph stellar populations , which are unlikely to be completely negligible ( e.g. , burkert & ruiz - lapuente 1997 )
. therefore , the old and extremely dim ursa minor and draco dsphs could harbor considerable amounts of ionized interstellar matter .
it is interesting to compare our limits with theoretical expectations .
unfortunately , it is unclear how much gas should be left over after early epochs of star formation in a small dwarf galaxy .
several possibilities exist for the evolution of interstellar matter in dwarf galaxies ( e.g. , skillman & bender 1995 ) .
currently available theoretical models suggest that populations of cool gas in clouds can survive star formation and associated supernovae over cosmic time spans in dwarf galaxies , where galaxies with more dark matter should be better able to retain their gas ( e.g. hirashita 1999 ; andersen & burkert 2000 ; ferrara & tolstoy 2000 ) ) .
these models suggest that @xmath7010% of the baryonic mass remaining in low mass dwarfs that evolve over @xmath610 gyr in isolation could be in the form of interstellar gas ( lia , carraro , & salucci 2000 ; carraro et al .
2001 ) . in this regard
it is interesting to note that ursa minor and draco may have different dark matter properties .
odenkirchen et al .
( 2001 ) find the outer regions of the draco dsph has a regular structure , suggesting that perturbations induced by the milky way s tidal force are small leading to the conclusion that draco is dominated by its dark matter halo .
the ursa minor dsph , on the other hand , shows evidence for tidal disturbances ( martnez - delgado et al .
2001 ) and may have less dark matter , but also appears to be free of interstellar matter .
a second option is that gas is removed via external processes .
this may happen early on if reionization of the universe cuts off gas supplies to small galaxies , as suggested by some ( barkana & loeb 1999 ; bullock , kravtsov , & weinberg 2000 ; see also review by loeb & barkana 2001 ) but not all models ( e.g. , ricotti , gnedin & shull 2002 ) .
evolution near giant galaxies provides additional opportunities for gas to be removed from dwarfs through ram pressure stripping or tidal effects ( e.g. , sofue 1994 ; grebel , gallagher , & harbeck 2003 ) . since the ursa minor and draco dsphs are near the milky way , they probably experienced gas stripping .
our observations in combination with the hi data appear to rule out the possibility of a massive residual interstellar medium in either the ursa minor or draco dsphs .
we therefore consider how much gas might collect in these systems under the less strict assumption that they were cleaned of gas when their star formation ceased .
evolving stars are the most likely sources of interstellar gas for dsphs orbiting near the milky way . in an old stellar population
the mass loss rate from stars is @xmath71 ( e.g. , schulz , fritze - v .
alvensleben , & 2002 ) . over an @xmath78 gyr span appropriate to the time since star formation stopped in these two dwarfs ( carrera et al .
2002 ; ikuta & arimoto 2002 ) , we expect about 5% of the stellar mass to return to the interstellar medium .
a significant fraction of the gas returned by stars therefore can not be in the form of hi , but even with our new limits , this material could remain hidden in a diffuse ionized interstellar medium . of course , not all of the gas ejected by stars into the very empty interstellar space of a dwarf spheroidal system necessarily will remain in the galaxy
. ram pressure stripping can be highly effective if the orbits of dsphs take them within @xmath69 50 kpc of the milky way ( sofue 1994 ; grebel , gallagher , & harbeck 2003 ) .
thus the possibility remains that dsphs close to giants , like ursa minor and draco , are nearly gas - free systems ; our new observations do not disprove this option . in summary
, we obtained 1@xmath4 angular resolution wham observations of the integrated h@xmath0 line fluxes from the draco and ursa minor dsph companions of the milky way at their optical radial velocities .
our limits of @xmath72r for draco and @xmath73r for ursa minor are the most sensitive h@xmath0 emission line measurements for dsph galaxies to date .
however , they still allow for the presence of a diffuse ionized interstellar medium with mass approaching 10% of that of the stars , or @xmath610 times that set by the hi 21-cm line limits .
it is possible that even dsphs with dominant old stellar populations , like draco and ursa minor , could contain the bulk of material lost by stars after star - formation activity halted , or they may be periodically cleaned of gas during close encounters with the milky way .
searches for diffuse ionized gas in denser dsphs and dwarf galaxies further from the milky way will help to illuminate solutions to this long - standing mystery . to this end we recently obtained wham observations of the fornax
dsph a system that supported supported star formation , and will report these results in a subsquent paper .
jsg received support from the nsf through grant ast98 - 03018 , and from the university of wisconsin graduate school .
he also thanks hans - walter rix for hospitality at the max - planck institute for astronomy during the writing of this paper .
gjm and rjr acknowledge support from the nsf through grant ast96 - 19424 , and tsh from nsf grant ast00 - 70985 .
gjm also acknowledges support from the wisconsin space grant consortium .
this research has made use of the nasa / ipac extragalactic database ( ned ) which is operated by the jet propulsion laboratory , california institute of technology , under contract with the national aeronautics and space administration .
spectrum toward the draco dwarf spheroidal galaxy .
the average of 34 off spectra were subtracted from the average of 34 on spectra to produce this spectrum ( see text ) .
the x - axis is heliocentric velocity in kms@xmath1 .
the y - axis is h@xmath0 intensity in milli - rayleighs per kms@xmath1 .
a characteristic 2-@xmath78 error bar for each data point is shown at the far right near -250 kms@xmath1 .
the solid line through the spectrum is a 3-@xmath20 upper limit to an h@xmath0 emission line , placed at the velocity of draco with line width ( @xmath79-value ) of 15 kms@xmath1 and intensity @xmath80 .
the dashed line through middle of the h@xmath0 emission line is an average of all the data points that lie within the full width half maximum of the superimposed h@xmath0 line .
the error bar in the middle of this dashed line , @xmath81 , is the average deviation of those data points from this line .
the dashed line lies 3@xmath81 below the peak of the h@xmath0 line . ]
error bar for each data point is shown at the far right near -200 kms@xmath1 .
the solid line through the spectrum is a 3-@xmath20 upper limit to an h@xmath0 emission line , placed at the velocity of ursa minor with line width ( @xmath79-value ) of 15 kms@xmath1 and intensity @xmath82 . ] | arxiv |
the decay @xmath0 is well - studied from experimental @xcite and theoretical @xcite points of view .
a set of phenomenological models was used for a theoretical description of @xmath3 lepton decays .
the chiral njl model was also used by one of the authors of this paper @xcite particularly for a description of decays @xmath4 and @xmath5 . in these works
intermediate axial - vector @xmath6 and vector @xmath2 mesons in the ground state were taken into account .
recently , it was appeared the paper where the contribution of the intermediate @xmath7 meson in an exited state was also took @xcite .
it made better agreement of theoretical results with experimental data in the interval of a pion pair invariant mass between 1.5 and 2 gev @xcite . in recent experiments ,
the influence of the intermediate radial - exited @xmath2 mesons on the decay @xmath0 was included in the description of experimental data @xcite .
the kuhn - santamaria model @xcite was used for treatment of experimental data . in this paper , a theoretical description of the decay @xmath0 was given in the framework of the njl model with intermediate vector mesons in the ground and first radial - excitation state .
firstly , the diagram with intermediate @xmath1 boson ( contact diagram ) and the diagram with the transition of @xmath1 boson into @xmath8 meson in the standard njl model were calculated @xcite .
then an additional diagram with radial - exited @xmath9 meson was calculated in the extended njl model @xcite .
let us note that the result of calculation of the first two diagrams coincides with the results obtained in the vector - dominance model @xcite .
the contribution of the radial - exited intermediate @xmath2 meson to the amplitude of the decay @xmath10 is also in satisfactory agreement with recent experimental data @xcite .
the amplitude of the @xmath10 decay is described in the njl model by given the feynman diagrams in figs .
[ fig1 ] and [ fig2 ] .
contact ( 200,100 ) rho ( 200,100 ) ccccccc pi0 ( 63,48 ) & [ 4]*[5ex]@xmath11 & pi1 ( 63,48 ) & [ 4]*[5ex]@xmath12 & pi2 ( 63,48 ) & [ 4]*[5ex]@xmath12 & pi3 ( 63,48 ) for description of the @xmath13 vertex one can use the result for the @xmath14 decay amplitude with the accounting of @xmath15 @xmath6 transitions .
amplitude of the @xmath16 is @xmath17 @xmath18 where @xmath19 is the @xmath2 meson momentum , @xmath20 and @xmath21 are the outgoing pion momenta , @xmath22 is the decay constant of @xmath14 , @xmath23 mev is the pion decay constant , @xmath24 is the additional renormalizing factor appeared after accounting of @xmath15
@xmath6 transitions , @xmath25 mev is the constituent quark mass , @xmath26 mev is the mass of the @xmath27 meson , @xmath28 is the mass of the @xmath15 meson .
the first term of this amplitude is corresponding to triangle diagram without @xmath15 @xmath6 transitions , the second term is corresponding to diagram with @xmath15 @xmath6 transition on the one of the pion lines and the third term is corresponding to the diagram with transitions on the both pions lines . for description of the @xmath13 vertex @xmath29 should be changed into @xmath30 , where @xmath31 is the fermi constant ; @xmath32 is the cabibbo angle cosine .
for the first diagram we get @xmath33 where @xmath34 is the lepton current .
the second diagram with the intermediate @xmath35 meson contains three parts .
the first part describes the @xmath36 into @xmath35 transition . for this part
, one can use form describing a transition photon into @xmath2 meson calculated in @xcite . in this
form , charge @xmath37 should be changed into @xmath38 .
we get @xmath39 where @xmath40 is the @xmath2 meson momentum .
the @xmath2 meson propagator has the form @xmath41 where @xmath42 is the full width of the @xmath35 meson decay .
the last vertex corresponds to the @xmath43 decay through quark loop : @xmath44 this amplitude takes the form @xmath45 the sum of these two diagrams has the form close to the vector meson dominance expression : @xmath46 let us consider the last part of the amplitude .
it contains the intermediate radial - exited @xmath35 meson .
the extended njl model @xcite should be used in this case .
the probability of the transition of @xmath36 into @xmath47 meson can be calculated using the result for the photon transition into @xmath2 meson given in @xcite . also , in this form charge @xmath37
should be changed into @xmath38 .
after that we should get : @xmath48 @xmath49 where @xmath50 , @xmath51 are the mixing angles ; @xmath52 was defined in @xcite .
the propagator of the radial - exited @xmath2 meson reads : @xmath53 where @xmath54 mev is the mass of the radial - exited @xmath2 meson ; @xmath55 mev is its full width . the @xmath56 decay was considered in detail in @xcite .
the amplitude of this process can be written : @xmath57 @xmath58 where @xmath59 , @xmath60 and definitions of @xmath61 , @xmath62 were given in @xcite .
our model can not describe relative phase between @xmath8 and @xmath63 .
thus , we should get phase from @xmath64 annihilation and @xmath3 decays experiments : @xmath65 for the part of the amplitude of the @xmath66 decay containing the intermediate radial - exited @xmath2 meson one can get : @xmath67 the sum of these three amplitudes is : @xmath68 after using the expression for the decay width we get @xmath69% .
this value is in satisfactory agreement with experimental data ( see the table [ tbl1 ] ) .
the kuhn - santamaria model @xcite was used for treatment of experimental data . in this model
the pion form - factor reads : @xmath70 where @xmath71 is a parameter taken from fitting of experimental data .
in our model we can get approximate value for @xmath71 at @xmath72 @xmath73 this value is in satisfactory agreement with experimental data given in @xcite ( see the table [ tbl1 ] ) .
we note that the @xmath9 meson influence on the decay width is small .
in fact , the contribution to the decay width from two first diagrams @xmath74% . this value increased by @xmath75% after the inclusion of the @xmath9 meson contribution
. this allowed us to describe differential width in the interval of the pion pair invariant mass above 1 gev .
.experimental and theoretical data [ cols="<,<,<,<,<",options="header " , ] [ tbl1 ]
we have shown that results obtained in the framework of the njl model satisfactorily describe the @xmath0 decay .
this statement relates both the description of the partial decay width as well as the differential decay width .
the value of the @xmath71 parameter computed in the njl model framework is in quality agreement with one obtained from the fit of experimental data .
it noticing that results were obtained in the njl model with minimal number of parameters .
we are going to describe processes @xmath76 and @xmath77 in the framework of the same model in future .
we are grateful to e. a. kuraev and a. b. arbuzov for useful discussions .
this work was supported by rfbr grant 10 - 02 - 01295-a . 00 k. nakamura _ et al . _
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phys . j. a * 47 * , 103 ( 2011 ) [ arxiv:1106.2215 [ hep - ph ] ] . | arxiv |
How to visualize a crystal from a unit cell PDB and how to draw the unit cell's axes? [closed]
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---
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I am looking at the following [PDB](http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/explore.do?structureId=3SOA) experimental data:
```
Length (Å) Angle (°)
a = 155.72 α = 90.00
b = 155.72 β = 90.00
c = 106.16 γ = 120.00
```
I find it hard to imagine in my head what does it mean to have $\gamma = 120.00$ as an angle.
1. How can I see the unit cell's axes on the following [structure](http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/explore.do?structureId=3SOA)?
2. How can I build a crystal with 16 or so structures like this?
How can I build the [biological structure](https://cdn.rcsb.org/images/rutgers/so/3soa/3soa.pdb1-500.jpg) from asymmetric [unit cell](https://cdn.rcsb.org/images/rutgers/so/3soa/3soa.pdb-500.jpg)?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ryUMs.png)
To view the $120^\circ$ angle, use any [molecular viewer](https://www.rcsb.org/pdb/static.do?p=software/software_links/molecular_graphics.html); one of the simplest and versatile desktop app is probably [Jmol](http://jmol.sourceforge.net/) (available on Windows, Linux, MacOS). [Download the PDB file](https://files.rcsb.org/download/3SOA.pdb), open it with the program. What you are going to see is the [asymmetric unit](http://reference.iucr.org/dictionary/Asymmetric_unit):
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SGfY2.png)
Now, right click and select `Symmetry > Reload {444 666 1} + Display 555`. This will basically populate the entire unit cell (might take a while). This command is described in [interactive scripting documentation](https://chemapps.stolaf.edu/jmol/docs/):
>
> `{ijk i'j'k' 1}` Loads a block of unit cells within the range `ijk` and `i'j'k`' (which should include `555`), normalizing the operators to move the geometric center of the generated set of atoms into cell `555`, then applying the lattice translation.
>
>
>
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lrYlv.png)
Finally, select `Style > Scheme > Cartoon`:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9fhlh.png)
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Intuitively, why does removing solutes cost $k_B T$ of free energy per molecule?
I can calculate that if you want to, for example, desalinate water, you will have to pay a free energy cost of $k\_B T$ for each ion you remove. In other words, removing an ion from a volume of water requires $\log\_2 e$ bits of information. Is there an intuitive reason why?
Below is the calculation:
Imagine a tank of water from which we are removing ions, which currently have concentration $c$. We move the ions to a reservoir of concentration $c\_0$.
Each ion can be considered to occupy a volume $1/c$, so the entropy change in moving an ion from our tank is $k\_B\ln(c/c\_0)$. As we empty the tank starting from $c = c\_0$ to $c = 0$, the average entropy change per ion is
$$\mathrm{d}\bar{S} = \frac{k\_B}{c\_0}\int\_{c\_0}^0 \ln(c/c\_0)\mathrm{d}c =- k\_B$$
Because the internal energy doesn't change, the free energy cost is $$N k\_BT$$ to completely remove $N$ solutes.
I am not sure if this answer will give you an intuitive understanding of the result, but I think it may be useful as it shows the assumptions behind it.
What your result means is that in an idealized situation when the volume gas or solute occupies is shrunk slightly by $\delta << V$ while its energy remains the same (let's say, isothermal compression of ideal gas), the entropy decreases by $k\_B N'$, where $N'$ is the number of molecules in the lost volume before the shrinking occurs.
This can be shown as follows. Let the entropy of the gas be defined as log of volume of phase space available to it. Initially, the gas of $N$ molecules has volume $V$, in the end, $V-\delta$ and $N'$ molecules have moved to the remaining space. The change of entropy is
$$
\Delta \sigma = \log (V-\delta)^N - \log V^N
$$
$$
\Delta \sigma = N\log \frac{V-\delta}{ V}
$$
Since $\delta << V$, approximately
$$
\Delta \sigma = - N \frac{\delta}{ V}.
$$
Quantity $N/V$ is concentration $c\_0$ of the gas, so the change of entropy is
$$
\Delta \sigma = - c\_0 \delta = -N'.
$$
Thus entropy decreases by 1 for each molecule removed from the lost space.
This is similar to change in thermodynamic entropy of the system. Since we have isothermal compression of ideal gas, all energy transferred through work eventually gets transferred to environment as heat. Change in the Clausius entropy is
$$
\Delta S = Q'/T
$$
where $Q'$ is total received heat (actually the system gives off heat, so $Q'<0$.)
From 1st law of thermodynamics, $Q' = \Delta U - \Delta W$ and since internal energy does not change, it is equal in value to minus work done on the system. Since $\delta << V$, approximately
$$
Q' = - P \delta.
$$
Putting this into the formula for $\Delta S$, we obtain
$$
\Delta S = Q'/T = - \frac{P}{T} \delta
$$
and using the equation of state $P = c\_0 k\_B T$, we arrive at
$$
\Delta S = - N' k\_B.
$$
This result is similar to $\delta \sigma$, except for the additional $k\_B$ that we need in thermodynamic entropy.
For ideal gas, this result is perhaps not that surprising. There is work $k\_B T$ per molecule to overcome the pressure of the gas itself, since it obeys the ideal gas equation of state.
For a solute in solvent, it seems more interesting: it means that after we strip solvent out of $N'$ solute molecules and dump them in the rest of the solution containing many times higher number of molecules, the system will have released heat $k\_BTN'$. Entropy of the system decreases, so necessarily it must give off heat.
The calculation was exact for ideal gas, but solutions are more complicated. We neglected the solvent and its interaction with the solute which will probably not allow the process to proceed along constant internal energy (it could be easily made isothermal by making it slow enough, but energy is no longer function of $T$ for general solution). Thus the entropy cannot be expressed as function of configuration space volume only; momentum phase space part will become important as well and the calculation will be more difficult.
The heat produced in the filtering process thus may be lower or higher than the ideal value $k\_BT$ per molecule.
Assuming a constant temperature, every particle has *on average* 1/2 kB T of "kinetic" thermal energy in each degree of freedom.
When a piston compresses a gas with such properties, it needs to do work on the gas by opposing the pressure, which is in kPa = J/L = J/dm^2 \* dm. The piston has an area and it is moving along an axis, which is dimensionally equivalent to volume. We can call this "PV work" and simply accept it.
Nonetheless, I think we can also take it a step further apart. What are we doing? We're reflecting an individual particle in one dimension, which has a kinetic energy of 1/2 kB in that dimension. And we can't just stop it dead in its tracks or we'd have free refrigeration to absolute zero; we have to send it back the way it came with another 1/2 kB of work done to it. This is the same as a juggler doing work on a ball by catching it and tossing it back up again.
Now a solute in solution is very much like a gas, in that it is made of mostly non-interacting particles with the same thermal energy per degree of freedom. Ideally, osmotic pressure P = cRT = (n/V)RT, whether we're speaking of liquid or gas. (Even non-ideal behavior is considered comparably in many ways)
So at the moving osmosis membrane, or the surface of the boiling or freezing solvent, the same thing is always happening - a conceptual "piston" is forcing the solute into an ever-tighter space, with predictable effect on entropy and free energy.
At the moving boundary, the cost is kB T; but when considering a change in volume, it is kB T ln(V1/V2). The reason for this is that the pressure is the inverse of the volume, which is also the inverse of the linear axis on which the work is being done, and so we're integrating 1/x to ln x. The pressure increases all the while we compress the solute, which implies that some of the particles we bounce back once will be bounced back again before we finish changing the volume. For every factor-of-e change in volume that occurs, another kB T of energy is required; this is analogous to the mean-life of a radioisotope being the time until 1/e of it is left.
| stackexchange/physics |
Denis Heywood Peel 1 February 1886 25 October 1927 was an English first-class cricketer.
The son of Edward Peel, he was born at Wavertree in Liverpool in February 1886. He was educated at Bedford School, before going up to Balliol College, Oxford. While at Oxford, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University against Surrey at The Oval in 1907. He made two further first-class appearances for Oxford in 1907, against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's and Sussex at Eastbourne. He scored 9 runs in his three matches and took 3 wickets, with best figures of 1 for 32. In addition to playing first-class cricket, Peel also played minor counties cricket for Bedfordshire from 190613, albeit intermittently, making nine appearances in the Minor Counties Championship. He died in Switzerland at Montana in October 1927. His brother, Bertram, was also a first-class cricketer.
References
External links
Category:1886 births
Category:1927 deaths
Category:People from Wavertree
Category:People educated at Bedford School
Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
Category:English cricketers
Category:Bedfordshire cricketers
Category:Oxford University cricketers
Category:Sportspeople from Liverpool | wikipedia |
Are there any well documented reactions with "persistent" intermediates
I'm a biology and/or math person, not a chemistry person. I have only taken the standard sequence of undergraduate courses up to organic chemistry, and that was some time ago, so please excuse (and correct) any mistakes that I make in my terminology.
---
**Note:** For simplicity's sake, assume that all reactions occur in a fluid, and that if any solid particles form during a reaction, they are small enough (guess: <~300nm, <~2 MDa for liquid, don't know for gas) that they do not effect the fluid nature of the solution.
---
The typical means of expressing reactions in elementary chemistry is a chemical equation
$$\ce{c\_{X\_1}X\_1 +\cdots + c\_{X\_m}X\_m <=> c\_{Y\_1}Y\_1 +\cdots+c\_{Y\_n}Y\_n}$$
where $\rm c\_Z$ is the stoichiometric coefficient of each chemical species $\rm Z$. The time-independence of such expressions subtly suggests an instantaneous conversion of reactants into products and vice-versa, so that no time passes during the rearrangement of atoms from one chemical species into another. This doesn't actually happen, of course, but for practical purposes the time spent in transition states is so small that it has no effect on the properties of a solution.
**Or so I assume**. But now that I'm thinking about it, I can't see any reason why the constant conversion of reactants into products back into reactants *can't* leave a small but non-negligible concentration of intermediates in solution at all times, especially if the products and reactants in question are only slightly more stable than the intermediate.
The presence of such intermediates could be verified by checking that the concentration of products and reactants are simultaneously lower than the expected values at equilibrium. This would indicate that the "missing" mass is bound up in some other state, which, provided that no additional [stable] species are present, can only be that of transition between reactants and products.
To clarify - the intermediates are [probably] not stable and cannot be isolated but are being produced and consumed at the same rate in the forward and reverse reactions, so that the concentration of intermediates is consistently high enough to have an observable effect on the properties of the solution.
So how about it, are there any well known mixtures which exhibit intermediates of this type?
**Comment:** I would expect that most if not all reactions of this type occur under constant heating.
**Additional comment:** I find it somewhat ironic that the addition of gratuitous "$\frac\partial{\partial t}$"s *doesn't* eliminate the "instant reaction" problem.
The equation you give and any similar one, does not describe what happens in a reaction other that X1 moles of A react with xB of B to give this and that amount of product which may or may not be in equilibrium with reactants depending on the reaction.
What actually happens depends on the type of reaction, if it is a cis-trans isomerisation or bond breaking ($X\_2 \to 2X$) then the 'intermediate' lasts for little more than a vibrational period of the bond breaking say order of 100 femtoseconds. As long as the reactant is present then some some minute fraction is as an 'intermediate', usually this is called a transition state and is fleeting.
If reaction is a bimolecular one, with practically zero activation energy, this will occur as soon as the molecules, say A and B meet, i.e. the rate is controlled by how quickly the molecules diffuse together, and again the 'intermediate' is the collision complex and will last as long as A-B exists, typically no more that nanoseconds. In other cases where there is significant activation energy the collision complex is similar in all respects except that there is not enough energy to overcome the activation barrier and so possibly a million collisions occur before one molecule reacts.
Thus there are no 'intermediates' as such in simple reactions. However, if the reaction is of the form $A\to B\to C $ then species B can be observed as it forms and decays away, you might consider this as an intermediate.
In more complex cases such as an enzyme /substrate, usually the substrate has to diffuse into the enzyme pocket and then reacts as if a bimolecular reaction with an activation energy. Usually there is always some of this complex intermediate present as (ES) for example in a Michaelis-Menten scheme. (Not a great deal is known about the actual mechanism. i.e atom positions vs time, of such reactions as time-resolved x-ray crystallography is in its infancy.)
In gas phase recombination reactions such as recombination of iodine atoms $I\cdot + I\cdot \to I\_2$ and gas M is present, such as argon, $I\_2$ itself or methane etc. an intermediate forms as a short lived complex with an iodine atoms $I\cdot +M \rightleftharpoons IM$ which has been detected experimentally.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Regarding common preservatives and their effect
If someone has an average of 1 litre of Coke or Pepsi a day, would this form too much benzene oxide in the person's body or stomach and eventually effect part of their genetics?
Benzene oxide isn't present in Coke or Pepsi. Some drinks contain sodium benzoate though. If that is what you're concerned about, there's not really any cause. Sodium benzoate is not remotely harmful in the concentrations that humans ingest. [Here is the FDA's statement](http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/SCOGS/ucm260074.htm) on benzoates and benzoic acid.
There were claims that a mixture of ascorbic acid and benzoates would react to form benzene. That has been shown to not be an issue. There were ~100 drinks containing benzoates [tested by the FDA](http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/ChemicalContaminants/ucm055815.htm#table1), and only 5 showed benzene levels higher than allowed in drinking water. These were reformulated and now show less than 5ppb benzene. I would suspect that their benzene came from another source rather than this unlikely reaction, but I don't have any evidence for that.
Finally, neither Coke nor Pepsi even contain benzoate, benzoic acid, or any other compound that is chemically close to benzene.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations was an Australian government department that existed between December 1975 and December 1978.
History
The Department was announced in December 1975, separating the employment and industrial functions from the immigration functions in the previous Department of Labor and Immigration.
Scope
Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.
At its creation, the Department was responsible for the following:
Industrial relations, including conciliation and arbitration in relation to industrial disputes
Commonwealth Employment Service
Re-instatement in civil employment of national servicemen, members of the Reserve Forces and members of the Citizen Forces.
Structure
The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Tony Street. The Secretary of the department was Keith McKenzie.
References
Category:Ministries established in 1975
Employment and Industrial Relations | wikipedia |
Sailor Moon X-overs 1. Prologue
SailorStar9: Another fic cutesy to me. This time, it's a Sailor Moon/Captain Tsubasa J crossover. Pairing: Genzo/Ami. And no, I'm not separating Tsubasa and Sanae. This takes place after Sailor Stars .
Basic Summary: Ami missed her chance to go to Germany during the R Season. Now, she was given another chance; accepted once again by the school in Germany. Meeting up with Genzo in school once again, Ami is torn between her loyalty to the White Moon family and her desire to have a normal life.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Prologue
* * *
17-year-old Mizuno Ami was on board an airplane bound for Germany.
She had missed her first opportunity due to her duties as Sailor Mercury.
But now with all enemies gone, she could safely pursue her dream to be a doctor like her mother.
Looking out of the plane window, she smiled as her mind went back to the shrine meeting at Rei's where she revealed about the appointment letter.
* * *
_Flashback_
"_You got accepted, again?" came Aino Minako's surprised exclaim when Mizuno Ami bashfully told the untransformed Senshi that she had been given another chance to go to the med school in Germany._
"_Ami-chan, I'm so proud of you!" Kino Makoto hugged her best friend._
"_Mako, air…" Ami wheezed._
"_Makoto-san, you might want to let her go. Ami-san's turning blue." Kaiou Michiru calmly advised the Senshi of Thunders._
_Makoto blushed and released the blue-haired genius, all the while apologizing._
"_All the enemies have been defeated. It's best that you grab this second chance." Tenoh Haruka told the intelligent Senshi. After the team-up against Queen Neherenia, Ami had unknowingly gained the respect of the blonde Senshi of the Skies._
_Michiru nodded in agreement._
_Everyone else, including the cats, nodded in unison._
_End of Flashback_
With her obligation as Sailor Mercury temporarily put on hold until Crystal Tokyo was formed, Ami sent out to Germany for the very first time.
* * *
Six hours later, Ami had flagged down a cab at the airport and the driver had taken her to the school hostel that housed its foreign students.
Blinking at the immense building that stood before her, Ami gulped nervously and entered the boarding house.
After getting herself registered, Ami was given a piece of paper which told her where her room was.
She was so focused that she had no idea she was heading for the boys' dormitory until she hit someone.
"Gomen nasi." she whispered in her maiden language.
"Daijoubo." came a deep masculine voice.
Ami blinked and looked up from her piece of paper.
Mirthful black orbs met her bright blue eyes and Ami let out a meek 'eep'.
"Five years and you've forgotten me? I'm hurt Blue." the boy retorted, somewhat miffed.
At that nickname, Ami's thoughts screeched to a stop.
The only one who called her Blue was…
"Genzo?" she whispered in disbelief.
_The trademark red baseball cap, the cocky smirk and those teasing eyes. Yup definitely him._ Ami thought.
"About time." Wakabayashi Genzo snorted.
"And what are you doing in the boys' dormitory? Got lost, Blue?" he asked.
"You could say that." Ami replied shyly.
"The girls' dormitory is that side, girl." Genzo told her, pointing his finger to the other direction.
"I knew that." Ami replied, mildly embarrassed. Then, she turned her heels and ran to the girls' dormitory, leaving a rather puzzled Genzo behind.
_What's up with her?_ he wondered.
* * *
SailorStar9: This fic has begun. Read and review.
2. The First Day
SailorStar9: I had numerous ideas churning out of my head for this fic but nothing too definite. So just feel lucky I have this chapter out. Anyway, this is Chapter 1. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 1: The First Day
* * *
Arriving at her locker, Ami frowned as she twisted the combination dial for the umpteenth time. The stubborn door just would not open much to her frustration.
"Need help with that, Blue?" an amused voice sounded behind her.
Ami turned to see a smirking Genzo behind her.
"Yes." the blue-haired girl muttered.
Genzo's smirk widened as the goalkeeper stepped forward and gave the locker door a hard tug.
"Now enter your combination number." he instructed.
Ami nodded and obeyed, the door popping open moments later.
"Finally." she breathed in relief.
Genzo's grin never left his face.
* * *
"Political Sciences." Genzo winced once he sneaked a glance at Ami's schedule. "You just _have_ to take the advanced classes, don't you Blue?"
"So I'm smarter than most, sue me." Ami replied jokingly.
"Har, har." Genzo muttered sarcastically.
* * *
Ami's first class of the day, turned out to be Advanced English, with Genzo nonetheless.
The prideful goalkeeper raised a brow at the uninterested azure-haired girl and shook his head.
The teacher, noticing that the new student was not paying attention, decided to call her out to answer a question on the board.
Most of the female students snickered, confident that she would not be able to answer the question correctly. Ever since the two had entered the lecture hall together, Ami had been getting snide looks from most of the female population.
Much to Genzo's amusement and the girls' shock, Ami calmly strolled up to the board and wrote a lengthly answer complete with explanations. Her sharp rebuke to the teacher, 'complimenting' his pronunciation, was so smart that Genzo's smirk widened.
* * *
"Smart move." the goalkeeper complimented once the class let out. Right now, the pair were at Ami's locker and the cocky teenager was struggling not to burst into laughter.
"Thank you." Ami replied, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. Ever since she met up with Genzo the previous day, her shy personnel begun to give way to her more adventurous self.
* * *
Aside, Yuna Athha was seething in anger and glaring venomously at the close contact Genzo had with the new girl. For the most of her freshmen year and the whole of her sophomore year, the Queen Bee had tried to catch the attention of the hunky goalkeeper, to no avail. Genzo had balked at every of her advances and attempts. And now, this newcomer comes in and steals his undivided attention.
_How dare she!_ Yuna mentally screamed. _He's mine!_
Rumor had it that this new girl was offered to be a foreign exchange student two years back, but she declined the invitation for some reason. The school had now given her a second chance and she had leapt at it.
Yuna scoffed at the idea. She looked too weak to be given such a special privilege.
* * *
Ami suddenly shivered, as if knowing that she was being watched.
"Are you alright?" Genzo asked the girl.
"I'm fine. I just had this feeling that I'm being glared at." Ami admitted.
Genzo looked around, his stony eyes catching Yuna's glare at the azure-haired genius. Yuna's eyes widened when she noticed his glare and the sandy blond stammered something before she hurried away.
"What was that?" Ami inquired.
"Nothing you should worry about." Genzo told her. "It's just that some people are too stubborn."
"And talking about stubborn." he turned to her. " You never did answer me."
"Answer you what?" Ami blinked.
Genzo gave her a meaningful look.
Ami blinked some more before realization dawned on her.
"Oh... that!" she nodded.
With a teasing twinkle in her eyes, she reached up on her tiptoes and gentle placed a small kiss on his cheek.
"I think that gives you my answer, Genzo-kun." she grinned and she ran off to her next class.
"Sure it does." Genzo muttered, resting his hand on the spot her kiss was and he let out a goofy grin. He had admitted he liked her before he headed off to Germany but she had no replied him then. Now, he knew what her answer was.
* * *
SailorStar9: Well, well, finally Ami admits her love for Genzo. Read and review folks.
3. Reminiscence
SailorStar9: You guys wanted this chapter, so here it is. This is Chapter 2. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 2: Reminiscence
* * *
Lunchtime came by and was alone under a fig tree she had chosen and munching on her sandwich as she read her Advanced Philosophy study guide.
"Here." Genzo muttered, thrusting a wrapped ice lolly in front of her.
The girl looked up at her childhood friend and smiled.
"I see you still remember." she remarked softly, taking the ice lolly.
"Yes." Genzo admitted, a hint of red spreading across his cheeks.
Taking his place beside her, he added, "This isn't as good as the one the old uncle used to sell back home, but it's better than nothing."
Ami nodded and took a lick before she frowned at the lolly. Genzo was right. It was not as good the the old uncle used to sell.
"Brings back memories huh?" Genzo commented.
"Sure does." Ami nodded as she finished her lolly.
"You know," Genzo begun after a moment of silence. "This reminds of of something."
"What?" Ami inquired.
"Well..." Genzo's blush came back on. "The first time I treated you..."
Ami blinked and giggled, "Oh that..."
* * *
_Flashback_
_It was before the National Junior Championships and the then eleven-year-old Ami had accompanied Genzo to the doctor's for a check-up._
_The goalkeeper had been furious when the doctor told him that he could not enter the National Championships._
_He was about to blow when Ami placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head gently. Genzo sighed and sat back down._
The doctor gave the Nankatsu team manageress a grateful look before he explained and Genzo was still growing and if he had participated, his injury would become worse.
"_But he can participate in just one match right?" Ami inquired._
_The doctor nodded._
"_I see." Ami nodded._
_Genzo gave her a look which she interpreted as' what-are-you-getting-at'._
_Ami smiled and explained. "Going by Meiwa's standards, they'll most likely to be in the finals. Rest up for that match to get your re-match."_
_Genzo nodded at her logic._
"_What?" Ami asked when she noticed Genzo giving her an amused look as the two walked out of the doctor's office._
"_Nothing. I just wanted to say thanks." Genzo replied._
"_Why?" Ami blinked._
"_You didn't have to accompany me to the doctor's after the incident with him, but you did." Genzo replied._
"_I'm the team manageress. It's my duty to see that every player is alright." Ami answered._
_Just then, Genzo heard the familiar bell of the ice-cream man._
"_Stay here." he told the girl and jogged off._
"_Here." he added, a few minuted later , returning with an ice lolly._
_Ami took the popsicle and unwrapped it, giving the icy treat a small lick. Surprised at the taste, she decided that she like it and continued to consume the ice stick._
_End of Flashback
* * *
_
"You know," Genzo chuckled.
"Hm?" Ami wondered aloud.
"I hadn't realized that I've already fallen for you back then." he grinned.
"What?" Ami blinked in shock.
"You hear me Blue." Genzo's grin widened some more. "Took me quite a while to figure it out."
"And it sure took you long enough to confess." Ami giggled.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Genzo gave her playful glare.
Ami just continued giggling.
* * *
_Flashback_
_it was the night before the finals of the Nationals and after the coaches had announced that Ami had tendered her resignation as team manageress since she would be moving to Tokyo with her mother._
_Gasps were heard all over and Genzo had looked at her from across the table, a hint of shock on his face._
"_This fast?" Tsubasa asked his cousin._
_Ami nodded._
"_But I thought your mother isn't going to be back for another two weeks?" Taro asked._
"_She decided to skip the graduation." Ami replied softly._
"_I see." the mid-fielder nodded._
"_You knew?" Hajime asked the two._
_Both Taro and Tsubasa nodded. They were with her when she received the phone call from her mother in Italy._
_After dinner that night and the team meeting, Genzo had found the blue-haired genius on the rooftop of the players' hostel, under Tsubasa's directions._
"_You know," he begun, slipping his arms around her._
_Ami almost jumped out of his arms but Genzo held her close._
"_I've never expected you to be the first to leave." he told her softly._
"_I have to." Ami replied._
_Genzo took a breath. It was now or never. He had to tell her before it was too late. He had a talk with Mrs. Ozora which helped him sort out his feelings for the gentle manageress._
"_Ami..." he started, turning her around, a serious look on his face._
"_Yes?" Ami blinked._
_Genzo managed to hide his blush, "I like you. The person I like most is you."_
"_That's all I want to say." he smiled and walked off._
_Ami was stunned at his sudden revelation._
_End of Flashback
* * *
_
"By the way." Genzo looked her.
"Yes?" Ami asked.
"I know Bas is your cousin, but how did Taro know you were leaving?" he asked.
"Bas and Taro were with me when my mother called." Ami replied
"I see." Genzo nodded. "And speaking of Taro, he and his father are in two this week on an arts exhibition."
"Are you suggesting that we go and visit him?" Ami inquired jokingly.
"Depends on how you interpret my question." Genzo grinned.
* * *
SailorStar9: A short memory chapter and the two meet up with Taro next. If you guys don't know who's who, I suggest you look up Wikipedia.
4. Meeting With Misaki
SailorStar9: You guys wanted this chapter, so here it is. This is Chapter 3. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 3: Meeting With Misaki
* * *
The next morning, after Ami's Political Sciences class and Wakabayashi's Advance Geometry lesson, the goalkeeper raised an amused eyebrow when he saw Ami search frantically in her locker for something.
"Lost something?" he smirked.
"Yes." Ami let out a partial growl in annoyance. "My PDA."
"Never knew you were into Public Display of Affection." Wakabayashi joked.
Ami gave him a glare, "You know what I mean."
"I know." Wakabayashi grinned in understanding, before turning serious.
"You're never this disorganized." he pointed out.
"Something happened this morning." he added, looking straight into her eyes.
Slightly unnerved, Ami sighed, "Nothing escapes you, does it?"
"Nothing escapes me when it comes to you." Wakabayashi replied.
"Remember that girl from yesterday?" Ami asked.
"Yuna Athha, the head cheerleader aka the Queen Bee." Wakabayashi elaborated. "Yeah, she's been trying to gain my attention for most of her freshmen year and the whole of her sophomore year. I rejected her flat-out."
"She gave me a pretty nasty wakeup call this morning." Ami revealed. "Wait, scratch that. Make it _two_ wakeup calls this morning."
Wakabayashi raised an eyebrow.
At his unasked question, Ami explained, "The moment I stepped out of the dormitory, I was bombarded by a horde of water balloons, filled with _icy cold water_. When I looked up, I found _her_ and her cronies _laughing_."
"And when I got to school, I found _this_ on my locker door." she hissed, thrusting a piece of red cardboard straight into his face.
Wakabayashi let out a curse, "A red tag. She has it in for you."
"Don't I know it." Ami sighed.
"Although," Wakabayashi smirked as he leaned in closer to her to smell her perfume. "the cold water didn't wash off your perfume."
"Actually, it did." Ami corrected. "I had to go back to get changed and a quick re-spray."
"Anna Sui?" Wakabayashi blinked.
At Ami's nod, he muttered, "No wonder I find that fragrance familiar."
* * *
Aside, Yuna Athha fumed, mentally screaming vicious curses at the blue-haired girl who was beside the object of her obsession. Her eyes turned red when she saw the handsome goalkeeper slip a possessive arms around the new student's waist and she did nothing to stop him. Yuna peeved, there was no way she would allow this witch to get between her and Wakabayashi, no matter who she was.
* * *
Meanwhile, on the other side of the lockers, Takasa Higato growled at the intimate contact the new girl had with Wakabayashi.
The moment Mizuno Ami stepped into the Advanced English class with Wakabayashi Genzo the previous day, the captain of the school basketball team had his eyes set on the girl the second he saw her. There was something about her that attracted him to her.
The basketball star chose his prizes carefully from year to year, choosing only the most exceptional of girls, and for his senior year, the girl of his choosing had to be extra special.
A prized trophy.
There were other girls who were certainly more lovely than the azure-haired girl, but she had a certain magic appeal, a quality about her he couldn't quite place but that he found alluring in the strongest of ways. Takasa wanted her and what he wanted he usually got.
With the school bell ringing signaling the beginning of the next class, Ami quickly kissed Wakabayashi on the cheek and headed off to her class.
Takasa allowed himself a grin. _Soon, that smile and those lips will be mine. _
* * *
Three periods later...
"Gah! Homecoming." Wakabayashi paled when he saw the huge poster plastered on the bulletin board outside the school.
Ami giggled at his anguish expression.
"I don't see why it's so bad." she pointed out.
"Went to the Homecoming dance during freshman year. No points guessing who got voted for Homecoming King." Wakabayashi winced. "I skipped Homecoming during sophomore."
"My poor Genzo." Ami teased, giggling at his unamused look.
* * *
Higato loved the sound of her laughter. It was always so crystalline and pure, never faked, and it was addictive to all those within earshot. She was very special indeed. He frowned at the fact that the other two of their Abstract Arts teammates had run off though. This left the lovely Mizuno and the brat, Wakabayashi alone together.
No.
He could not allow that to happen.
She was _his_ girl, not the brat's.
Higato's frown deepened when he saw Wakabayashi whisper something into Mizuno's ear and the girl blushed heavily.
Higato's rage finally exploded as he stormed over to the embracing couple. He would make Wakabayashi pay dearly for stealing Mizuno away from him.
* * *
The hulky goalie heard the sound of rushing feet and saw the look of fear on his partner's face warning him of the arriving danger. He let his instincts take over. A subtle sensation in his mind told him to duck. He obeyed the feeling, the punch aimed for the back of his head barely missing.
Wakabayashi quickly leapt to his feet and whirled around to face his opponent, instinctively standing in a battle ready stance in front of Ami. He frowned in annoyance when he saw who it was that was attacking him.
"You?" He stood up straight and scowled at his opponent, carefully circling his foe to place some distance between the impending attack and his beloved genius.
Takasa Higato did not answer, merely rushed him again. Ami held back her gasp of concern for her love, not wanting to accidentally distract him. For his part, Wakabayashi just sidestepped out of the way of the lunge.
"You have no claim on her, brat!" Higato shouted as he struggled to regain his balance.
"My, my. In a jealous rage, are we?" the goalie taunted.
Higato lunged again.
"She's mine!" he raged.
He stopped just short of his competition for the blue-haired genius' affection and began to throw out numerous powerful punches and kicks in a vain attempt to hit his target.
Roundhouse kicks, left hooks, right hooks, uppercuts, spin kicks… None made contact.
With a peacefully placid expression, the goalkeeper simply dodged and sidestepped every blow with the greatest of ease. A tiny grin tugged at the corners of his lips.
Realizing her love was in no danger what so ever from the enraged basketball player, Ami just settled herself more comfortably against the bulletin board to wait out the fight, crossing her arms behind her head.
She abruptly giggled.
"All I'm missing is the popcorn." she quipped.
Wakabayashi heard her and grinned as he easily avoided a spin kick aimed for his chest.
Then, he dodged a punch.
Quickly finding an opening, Wakabayashi shifted his weight over to his right foot and brought his left fist up and back hard to smash into Higato's face.
The force of the impact caused the self-absorbed basketball captain to flip over backwards and land flat on his stomach unceremoniously.
Wakabayashi stayed in a battle-ready stance for a moment more, waiting for any retaliation of any kind. Then he shrugged casually, straightened and re-adjusted his cap when none was forth coming.
Ami was amazed, "When did you ..."
"Ever since _that_ incident with Hyuga." Wakabayashi replied. "I started training to protect you better."
"Now," he grinned. "How about lunch?"
Takasa Higato peered open an eye just in time to see Wakabayashi leave with Ami, hand in hand.
_Ami is mine. You'll see, Wakabayashi. She and I are meant to be._
* * *
Minutes later, in an small cafe...
"Anyway, I checked." Wakabayashi said, after swallowing his forkful of pasta. "Misaki's father is having his exhibition starting Friday. I managed to contact Misaki and he said he'll probably be free on Saturday."
"Where and when?" Ami asked, her fork poking at her lasagna.
"A small arts gallery in Central Street. I think it's called Picasso's Arena, or is it Picasso's Mausoleum? I can't remember." Wakabayashi replied. "Anyway, it starts at around 10am."
"By the way," he added. "Are you going to eat that or beat it into submission?"
Ami held back the urge to roll her eyes.
* * *
Come Saturday...
Wakabayashi was leaning causally against the dormitory gate waiting for Ami. Moments later, the blue-haired genius walked out of the dorm, clad in a light blue dress with lily-sparkle-trim, complete with a pair of leather cut-out sandals.
Wakabayashi raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it a little too... cold to wear that?" he asked.
"Nope." Ami quipped.
Wakabayashi shook his head in amusement. Cradling an arm around her waist, the couple walked off.
* * *
Meanwhile, Yuna Athha was hiding behind the corner of the dormitory wall as she saw everything going on between Wakabayashi and the newcomer.
She frowned when she saw Wakabayashi kiss the girl's cheek, causing her to blush.
_That should be me! _She fumed. _I should be the one by his side! I should be the one he keeps so close! I should be the one he kisses!_ Her frame began to tremble ever so slightly in rising fury.
Her hands were clutched into angry fists as she dug deep within herself as she concocted a plan to force the newcomer out of the school permanently.
With the witch gone, Yuna was sure that Wakabayashi will finally notice her.
Such lovely pain she would cause the blue-haired girl before she took what rightly belonged to her. It was perfect.
_You will feel the pain I have felt at your arrival, little witch. Wakabayashi is mine!_
* * *
"Next time, get your place right." Ami chided as they arrived at the galley's front door. "It's Picasso's Stadium."
"Right, right, right." Wakabayashi waved her rebuke aside and the two entered.
* * *
"Misaki-san is really a great artist." Ami remarked as she admired one of the oil paintings on exhibition.
"I'm flattered." Mr. Misaki commented behind the couple.
Both Wakabayashi and Ami turned around to see the Misaki father-and-son pair approach them.
"Really, I am. Especially if it comes from Shino-sempai's daughter." Mr. Misaki remarked at Ami's disbelieving look.
"You... know my father?" Ami gasped.
"Yes." Mr. Misaki nodded. "He was my senior in arts academy."
"I see." Ami muttered.
"And speaking of your father," Misaki added. "He's the other..."
The mid-fielder was cut off when a man with bluish black hair and brown eyes walked towards them.
"It's been a while Ami." he said.
If Ami was surprised, she certainly did not show it.
Wakabayashi looked at her, his arm tightening around her waist.
Emotions fled across the genius' eyes. She had waited years to meet her father. When she was younger, she would ask her mother why her father did not live with them, and her mother responded that people just grew apart sometimes. Then, in her mother's loneliness, she grew caught up in her medic studies, and simply tossed Ami to her sister to look after.
Even though Mrs. Ozora had been like a second mother to her, but nothing had ever seemed to fill the void left by her parents. Nothing. Then, she met the boys who later formed the Nankatsu team, and after she left, she met the girls, starting a new life as Sailor Mercury, she had done well.
Removing Wakabayashi's hand from her, Ami walked over and enveloped him in a hug. He looked surprised at her kindness, but hugged her back, surprised.
"I'm sorry," Mr. Mizuno said, tears coming to his eyes, "I could have written, called, done...something. I know a painting sent once a month by mail doesn't exactly make me a father."
* * *
The three males looked on as Ami hugged her father.
"It's good that Mizuno-san's forgiving, I guess." Misaki said, watching the two begin to talk for real.
Wakabayashi smiled.
* * *
SailorStar9: Okay, this chapter is down... finally. And I'm running out of ideas for this fic! Help!
5. Revival of the Sun Knight
SailorStar9: You guys wanted this chapter, so here it is. This is Chapter 4. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 4: Revival of the Sun Knight
* * *
Back in Japan...
"Looks like our 'Frostbite' is in love." Hakura grinned as she saw the intimate scene between Wakabayashi and Ami through Michiru's Mirror.
"And it looks like those two are reliving their romance during the Silver Millennium before everything went chaotic." Michiru remarked.
Setsuna added, "Especially since the rest of the Inners and Princess Serenity had too wanted the Phoenix Guardian."
"You mean..." Haruka blinked.
Setsuna nodded and pointed to Wakabayashi, "That young man is Prince Solaris, the heir to the Golden Kingdom. His main missions were to keep the Sun Crystal out of Queen Selenity's hands and to ensure Metallia's seal was never released. He never expected to fall in love."
Taking out her henshinn pen, she added, "I do believe it is, forgive the pun, time for our two lovers to regain their memories. Pluto Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"You are evil, Pluto." Haruka smirked after the Time Senshi transformed.
"I know." Super Sailor Pluto returned her smirk. Raising her Time Staff, she channeled her power towards the Garnet Orb and the sphere glowed an eerie red.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Germany, it was almost sunset. Both Wakabayashi and Ami had bade the Misaki father-and-son pair and Ami's father farewell before they returned to the dormitory.
Along the way, Ami had long sensed Pluto's power around them and was wondering what the Time Senshi was up to.
By the time they arrived at the Dormitory, Ami was already suffering from a splinting headache.
_Damn you Pluto._ Ami let out a extremely rare mental curse as she massaged her temples.
Wakabayashi looked at her worriedly.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"My room... now... I need aspirin..." Ami whined.
The goalkeeper raised an amused eyebrow which earned him a glare from the girl.
"Just kidding. I caught what you said." Wakabayashi grinned as he helped her to the door of her room. Digging for her keys, Ami unlocked the door before stumbling painfully onto her bed.
"Where's your medical case?" Wakabayashi yelled from her pantry.
"Cardboard above the fridge, third shelf." Ami moaned sorely.
Minutes later, Wakabayashi exited the pantry with two tablets and a glass of water.
"Here." he said, offering her the two pills and the glass.
"Thanks." Ami muttered, popping the two tablets and swallowing them with a swing of water.
"Much better." she sighed in relief.
"Or not." she added, as her headache did not subside.
Wakabayashi let out a gasp, catching Ami with his arm when the girl suddenly fainted.
He then let out a louder gasp when he saw the symbol of Mercury blazing on the blue-haired girl's forehead. The goalkeeper did not have time to react when the light blue sign shot out a beam of blue light that connected to his forehead.
Pain was what Wakabayashi felt next as a orange-red sigma of a burning flame burnt on his forehead.
Eventually, the pain was too overwhelming and the goalie, too, fainted.
* * *
_Dream sequence _(Note: This dream occurs in third-person with Wakabayashi and Ami having it at the same time!)
"_Maris." the Phoenix Guardian mumbled, nuzzling his wife's neck affectionately._
"_Hmmm?" the Queen of Mercury asked softly, as she looked up into her husband's ebony eyes._
"_You're wonderful." the Phoenix Guardian replied, his hand smoothing over her huge belly._
"_Tell me that again once the baby is born." Queen Maris reminded._
"_Yes love." Alan grinned._
_Unknown to the loving couple, the Moon Princess had hidden herself in the lavish gardens and was growling jealously at the tender scene._
That should be me! she fumed. I should be the one sitting at his side! I should be the one he keeps so close! I should be the one he kisses!_ Her frame began to tremble ever so slightly in rising fury._
_The Moon Princess knew she was not the only one who lusted after the dashing __Phoenix__ Guardian, heck, the other Inner Princesses did too. But all three had backed off once they saw Alan propose to Maris right before their eyes and the Princess of Mercury accepted his proposal. But the Princess of the Moon was not someone who would give up that easily._
_The Moon Princess drooled as she fantasized that she was the one in Alan's arms, and not Maris._
* * *
_Serenity's Daydream_
"_Oh Serenity! I don't know what I was thinking when I spent all that time with Maris!" Alan cried out, kneeling before her on the soft grass of the park with her hands held in his. "How could my eyes have been blind to such a goddess all this time? You're the one for me, please forgive my error!" He begged._
_Princess Serenity simply glowed as she gazed down at him, giving him a light smile as she nodded her head. How could she say no to him? Especially when he looked so good kneeling there, his sword strapped to the right side of his waistband, giving the added knight-in-shining-armor effect. "Of course I forgive you. I love you." She said, beaming as he got to his feet before taking her into his arms and holding her close. _
"_I love you too." He said seductively, leaning in for a soft kiss that she gladly complied to._
_End of Serenity's Daydream_
* * *
_Princess Serenity frowned; if only she could let Alan see what a fool he was by staying with Maris. Then, when she saw Maris' huge stomach, she smiled as an idea came to her._
_With Maris this obese, Alan would sure be disgusted by her large tummy and look for svelte and pretty girls elsewhere. And who better than her, the Moon Princess, to show him what he was missing on? Besides, the girls had always played second fiddle to her simply because she _was_ Queen Selenity's daughter and Princess Serenity always got what she wanted. So, Princess Serenity began her first step in seducing King Mercury._
* * *
_Seduction Plan One_
_It was during one of the fancy galas on the Moon when Princess Serenity found her chance. She managed to corner the Sun Knight who was standing on the sidelines and literally glomped him, dragging him to the dance floor._
_Alan was about to pull away from the insistent Moon Princess when she suddenly pressed herself against him and started grating her hips against his._
"_We need to talk." Alan hissed as he pulled her into a dark hallway outside the ballroom. Once alone, Alan demanded what she was up to._
_Princess Serenity then slithered up to him, bristling and pouting like a child._
"_Why don't you love me?" she questioned in all innocence, genuinely not understanding how he could possibly resist her._
"_Gee, where to start?" he snapped sarcastically, frowning._
_Princess Serenity moved closer to him, pressing herself up against his chest, a hand to his heart as the other hand lightly traced the features of his face, enjoying his attempts to escape her touch._
"_That girl is a nobody, Alan, she is unworthy of your attentions." she murmured seductively. "You deserve someone stronger, someone better. Let me be that someone."_
_He didn't say a word, only tried to pull his face further away from her searching lips, thoroughly disgusted._
"_She is far too naive and innocent." she cooed, undeterred by his actions of refusal. "You deserve someone more experienced, someone who will know how to please you in every way possible."_
_Alan blinked in appalled understanding. He frowned in utter revulsion and glared at the obsessed princess. _
"_I would rather die a horrible and agonizing death that let you anywhere near me that way." he hissed._
_Her expression faded to stunned disbelief._
_He refused her?_
_The disbelief then melted into fury. He wasn't allowed to refuse her. He had to fall in love with her. She pulled back away from him, much to the Phoenix Guardian's relief. _
_All the sweetness and innocence that had played upon her face were now gone, replaced by the expression worn by every woman who was ever shunned by the one she desired._
"_You'll change your mind soon enough." she ground in promise. "You'll see. Maris will die, and you'll be mine."_
_Seduction Plan One... failed._
_
* * *
_
_Seduction Plan Two_
_Maris was in the middle of her third trimester of her pregnancy when Alan, being the worrywart that he is, took charge of the palace's security the moment Maris' second trimester set in. That proved the perfect opportunity for Princess Serenity to set her second seduction plan into action._
_Alan was on night shift. When it came close to switching his shift to the next officer, he headed off to return to his wife. When he rounded the corner of a deserted hallway, he was shocked to see Princess Serenity standing before him, the shoulder pads of her dress pulled down to her elbows, revealing her breasts. She lunged at him and started to kiss him._
_When he pushed her away, she cooed, "It's safe to have sex with me now. I'm having my period."_
_Then, she did the unthinkable; she actually took off her undies to show him that she was bleeding._
_In his sternest voice, Alan told her to put her dress back on. With a wave of his hand, he used a teleporting spell on the Moon Princess before she cried rape._
_Seduction Plan Two... failed._
* * *
_Seduction Plan Three_
_A few weeks later, right before Maris' due date, Princess Serenity pulled the same stunt after Alan made sure his wife was alright before returning to his nightly shift. Again, she confronted him in the same hallway, whipping out a condom before asking him to have sex with her._
_Disgusted, Alan used the same teleporting spell as before without letting the Moon Princess finish her seducing speech._
_Seduction Plan Three... failed._
* * *
_F__inally, Alan decided to tell Maris what had happened, but he waited until her confinement period was over._
_He gave her a blow-to-blow account of his ordeal with Princess Serenity and was actually crying as he related it all to her. He had felt that their marriage had been tainted by the whole affair. And he was also afraid that she would not believe that he was innocent._
_Maris' suspicion that Alan had somehow led the Moon Princess on was laid to rest when sometime later, she overheard Princess Serenity talking to Princess Mesuinu of Venus._
"_You know he's off limits, Serenity! All of us know that!" Princess Mesuinu exclaimed. "Why are you so determined to seduce Alan!?"_
_The Moon Princess' answer shocked not only the Princess of Venus, but also Maris._
"_I was just playing with the two of them! I can't believe he would be so faithful to her even when she's pregnant! No man in the world can resist a woman if she wanted to seduce him." Princess Serenity complained. "He may not have screwed me, but there _will_ be someone else down the road who'll be able to tempt him."_
"_Besides," the Moon Princess leered. "I'm the Princess and every guy, married or not, will want me. So, it's alright for me to apply the see-like-buy approach to married men and it's 'fun' to break up a marriage as well. "_
_Princess Mesuinu sighed, "Piece of advice Serenity: respect others and, most of all, respect yourself. Don't cheapen your life by spending it throwing yourself at men, especially men who are taken. Life is short – try to live it honorably."_
* * *
"That hurt..." Ami muttered as she opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"I take it you're not in pain anymore..." Wakabayashi remarked as he climbed over her. "Maris."
"Alan..." Ami let out a smile.
Stroking his cheek, she added, "You remembered."
"Of course." Wakabayashi returned her smile. "Remind me to thank Pluto for this."
"And kill Serenity's reincarnation while I'm at it." he added after a second.
"Don't." Ami giggled. "We still need her if any evil comes up."
"I hate it when you're right." Wakabayashi growled.
"When was I ever wrong?" Ami grinned.
"Good point." Wakabayashi nodded.
"And since it's already nighttime, I'd better head back." he added. Getting off her bed, Wakabayashi exited her room.
* * *
SailorStar9: So you have it; another chapter. Read and review.
6. Spread Your Wings in the Sky
SailorStar9: I've decided to restart this fic, so here it is. This is Chapter 5. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 5: Spread Your Wings in the Sky
* * *
Come Sunday...
"Now this brings back memories." Ami mused on the park's bench, the group photo taken after Nankatsu's victory of the National Championships in her hand.
"Hm..." Genzo muttered, an arm cradled around his beloved waist.
* * *
"Tsubasa, Ami, we're leaving." Oozora Natsuko shouted from the back of the transport truck.
"One day, I'll make that come true." Tsubasa looked at his autographed 'World Cup 1982' poster.
"Knowing you, you definitely will." Ami sounded from his door. "Let's go now, or else…"
"Tsubasa, Ami, it's time to leave." Natsuko called.
"Well, here we go." Tsubasa gathered his football and kicked it out of his window.
"Really, Tsubasa…" Natsuko chided, catching her son's football.
"Let's go!" Tsubasa declared, the two six graders having jumped into the truck.
"Tsubasa, Ami…" Yayoi Aoba arrived too late to see the cousins off. "Tsubasa! Ami!" she chased after the truck.
"Yayoi!" Ami waved.
"Tsubasa, Ami, don't forget me!" Aoba shouted. "I will never forget you, Tsubasa, Ami. I'm sure one day we'll meet each other again soon."
"Look, Mount Fuji." Ami pointed to the mountain in the horizon.
"That's true." Tsubasa beamed.
"We already arrived in Shizuoka." Natsuko informed the cousins. "We will soon be in Nankatsu."
"Nankatsu." Tsubasa echoed.
"You're _still_ reading that magazine?" Ami echoed when Tsubasa picked up his magazine.
"But, the players of the Shutetsu team from Nankatsu City won the last national tournament." Tsubasa argued. "And I'll be one of them soon. We're coming, Nankatsu. Shutetsu has a really good goalkeeper. We'll show him our strength."
"Yeah, my baby." Natsuko giggled, catching her son before he fell over as the truck turned a corner. "We're going there. We're going there."
"Stop that!" the embarrassed Tsubasa protested. "Let me off! Let me off!" and Ami just burst out giggling.
"We've arrived." Tsubasa looked around as the truck entered the street. "Here's Nankatsu. Mom, we're going!" he shouted taking off with Ami in tow, as the adults moved the furniture into the new house.
"Hey, Tsubasa, you could help us a bit." Natsuko called. "You can continue please." She told the movers. _But it was unavoidable._ She mused. "After all, we came here to let Tsubasa play soccer." She placed her husband's photo on top of the fire place. "My dear, where are you right now? I hope you'd let us know sometime."
* * *
"Wait a second!" Mrs. Ishizaki called to her son who had left off washing the bathhouse floor. "You're going to play ball with your friends again? I want you to finish first."
"I don't have time to do that right now." Ishizaki Ryo complained.
"Stay here, Ryo!" Mrs. Ishizaki barked as Ryo headed out.
* * *
"Bas, look out!" Ami warned her cousin who was about to collide with an incoming Masao on his bicycle. "Oh, look out!" she exclaimed when Masao was sent skidding down the slope and into the river.
"Are you alright?" the cousins ran down the slope.
"Hey, it's not deep at all." Tsubasa entered the water.
"You're right." Masao stood up. "I was afraid of sinking." His admission causing the three to burst out laughing.
"It's impossible here." Ami giggled.
"Stop mocking me!" Masao snapped.
"Masao, what happened?" two Nankatsu players inquired.
"I fell into the river because of this boy's soccer ball." Masao stated.
"Because of a soccer ball?" the pre-teen echoed.
"Who left this ball in the middle of the road?" Nakazawa Sanae picked up Tsubasa's ball.
"Sorry, it's me." Tsubasa admitted.
"Don't give him back his ball." Masao protested as Tsubasa walked out of the water. "It's because of it that I fell into the river."
"Well..." Sanae remarked and kicked the ball off, Tsubasa reclaiming his football with a header.
"Great!" Sanae beamed, seeing Tsubasa's expert handling of the said ball.
"Never change, Bas." Ami chuckled. "Sorry just now." She apologized on her cousin's behalf. "See ya."
"Hey, wait." Masao voiced, stopping the cousins in their tracks. "I've never seen you around here. Where do you two come from?"
"My name is Oozora Tsubasa." Tsubasa introduced himself. "Me and my cousin, Mizuno Ami." He nodded over to Ami. "Just arrived today."
_Tsubasa?_ Hongo Roberto mused, lying on the slope.
"So, you're new students?" Sanae beamed. "Which class are you?"
"Sixth year." Tsubasa replied.
"You seem to be good at soccer." One of the Nankatsu players voiced.
"I came here play soccer." Tsubasa supplied.
"Cool!" the two Nankatsu players cheered. "So you'll be in our school."
"It's going to be great!" Masao beamed.
"So, you're going to Shutetsu school too?" Tsubasa inquired.
"Shutetsu?" the group chorused.
"What's wrong?" Tsubasa blinked.
"Great player you may be Bas," Ami sighed, resting a hand on her confused cousin's shoulder. "But you don't know the slightest about subtlety. Judging from their uniforms, it's safe to say they are from Nankatsu's public school. In other words, Shutetsu is their rival."
"Your cousin is right." Sanae agreed. "It's a pity that you will be one of them. Well, let's go." She led the group off. Let's hurry to the soccer ground."
"So, that's him." Roberto stretched and stood up as Tsubasa and Ami ran past. "Oozora Tsubasa?" and walked in the same direction as the cousins.
"What's the matter?" one of the Nankatsu players inquired as Sanae and Masao turned.
"Oh, nothing." Masao replied.
"That guy seemed to be really good at soccer though." One of the players noted.
"Ah, you thought about it too?" Masao beamed.
"Everyone, don't forget they're going to Shutetsu." Sanae reminded. "It's better to forget him."
"Nankatsu's Junior Soccer Ground." Ami read off the signboard.
"That's normal for a city where soccer is popular." Tsubasa remarked.
"Hey, what are you looking at?" a girl asked as she and her friend walked past the field.
"Nankatsu and Shutetsu are quarreling among themselves again on the soccer field." Her friend replied.
"Shutetsu?" Tsubasa echoed.
* * *
On the field…
"Stop that!" Ryo barked. "Shutetsu's team has its own ground, right? So, use it!"
"Yeah, he's right." The Nankatsu team agreed.
"Hey, Wakabayashi." The elder rugby player stepped in to defend his juniors. "Nankatsu's school ground is not big enough for all the sports teams so they can't train on it. O, you can leave them this one, right?"
"They don't need to train." Wakabayashi Genzo remarked. "They are bad at soccer."
"What?" Ryo demanded.
"You forgot the promise you made before the match?" Genzo barked. "We beat your Nankatsu team 10 to 0. As promised, Shutetsu won the use of this ground."
"Hey, what?" Sanae snapped. "We won't let you get away with this."
"Yeah!" the Nankatsu players chorused. "Shutetsu has its own soccer ground."
"We got some new players after our victory in the national tournament." Genzo stated. "The official field is used by the A-team. So this one will be for our B-team."
"Hey, Wakabayashi." The rugby team captain remarked. "Bring good at soccer doesn't allow you to make your own rules."
_Wakabayashi…_ Tsubasa recalled. _That's him, Wakabayashi?_
"Ishizaki, what's the meaning of bringing some schoolboys?" Genzo barked.
"Em… well…" Ryo started.
"You don't scare me." Genzo stated. "Well, what do you think facing each other, schoolboys?"
"Facing each other?" the rugby team captain echoed.
"Against them?" even Tsubasa was shocked. "How does he want to face them?"
"The captain of each team will make a shot." Genzo posted the challenge. "One after the other."
"Interesting." The handball team captain remarked. "Are you ready?"
"I am able to catch any ball shot from outside the penalty area." Genzo declared. "If you want the field, you just have to score a goal on me."
"Pretty confident, isn't he?" Ami noted. "What do you think, Bas?"
"Let's see how this turns out." Tsubasa grinned.
"I knew you'd say that." Ami sighed.
"You really are too arrogant." The rugby team captain growled. "Hey, give me the ball. Even if you are a genius goalkeeper, you won't have any possibility of winning this challenge." He caught the tossed rugby ball.
"We'll see once it's finished." Genzo smirked.
"That's enough." The rugby team captain hissed. "I'll settle this immediately. A rugby ball is different from a soccer ball. No one can predict in which direction it would bounce."
_Yeah, that's right._ Ryo nodded.
"Here we go!" the rugby team captain declared and kicked the ball.
Genzo jumped to catch the ball, but missed his mark. Reacting instantly, he used his foot to kick the ball out of the net.
"He stopped it…" the rugby team captain gasped.
"Great." Tsubasa was awed.
"Only you, Bas." Ami shook her head. "Only you."
"That's one down." Genzo dusted himself down."
"Okay, I'm next." The handball team captain stepped forward. "A soccer goal is twice as large as a handball. If I don't manage to score, I'll be the shame of our handball team." And stuck the handball. "What?" he gasped when he landed, seeing Genzo catching the ball effortlessly. "No way…"
"Incredible…" Tsubasa gaped. _Wakabayashi is really an exceptional goalkeeper._
"I'll be the last." The baseball team captain stood forward. "Whatever your level is, it's useless to try to catch it."
"Go ahead." Genzo prodded.
"Can he really catch a baseball?" Tsubasa gaped.
"Damn…" the baseball team captain hissed as Genzo chuckled.
"Bring it on, come!" Genzo declared.
"Okay." The baseball team captain accepted the challenge and threw the ball. "What do you think of that?"
Ami let out a low whistle when Genzo caught the ball in one hand.
"What…?" the rugby team captain was stunned.
"He stopped it…" the baseball team captain gaped.
"This guy is a monster." The handball team captain gasped.
"Well, the case is closed." Genzo concluded. "Now, let's go and train seriously."
"Yes." The B-team chorused.
"Senpais!" Ryo protested.
"Sorry, Ishizaki." The rest of the teams replied. "But we're giving up."
"We can't even count on our Senpais." Ryo sighed.
"What are you saying?" Sanae argued. "You too, you lost against them."
"Captain, where do we train?" Masao inquired after Sanae stormed off.
"No idea." Ryo replied. "There won't be any practice today."
"If this keeps going like that, we'll lose for sure during the school's tournament." The group sulked off.
_I've never seen such a strong goalkeeper._ Tsubasa mused. _I want to challenge Wakabayashi too._ "Eh?" he blinked, looking around the empty field. "Hey, wait a second!" he called out to Ryo. "Where did Wakabayashi, the goalkeeper, go?"
"He should have gone back to his house." Ryo supplied.
"Then, can you tell us where he lives?" Ami requested.
"Hey, what do you want Wakabayashi for?" Ryo inquired.
"Not me." Ami corrected. "Bas here, wants to challenge him at soccer."
"What?" Ryo echoed. "Challenge him? You're crazy? Didn't you see how strong he was?"
"And that's the exact reason why he wants to challenge him." Ami replied, causing Ryo to facefault.
"Okay, I'll show you." Roy relented.
* * *
On the hill…
"So, you've just arrived here, right?" Ryo remarked. "That's why you're not aware of anything."
"Tact hasn't been one of his strong points." Ami grinned.
"Look, Wakabayashi lives in that big mansion." Ryo pointed. "His family is one of the oldest of the city. But I don't know such little guys like you will win against him. During the last national tournament, no one managed to score a goal on him."
"I know." Tsubasa readied his football.
"Eh, what are you doing?" Ryo blinked. "What is it?" he inquired, when Tsubasa showed him the message he had written on his soccer ball. "That's…! Don't tell me…"
"That's Bas for you." Ami laughed as Tsubasa readied to kick his ball.
"You think the ball will reach Wakabayashi's house from here?" Ryo was shocked.
"Just watch." Ami grinned.
"Here we go!" Tsubasa declared and have the ball a good kick.
"What…" Ryo gaped as the ball flew.
"Go!" Tsubasa whooped.
"Incredible..." Roberto was stunned at the long shot.
"No way…!" Ryo gasped.
"That's gonna leave a mark." Ami joked.
* * *
In the Wakabayashi courtyard…
Genzo caught the incoming ball with both hands.
"What's happening, Genzo?" Coach Mikami inquired. "Where did that ball come from?"
"It came from the Shinto shrine over there." Genzo pointed to the temple on the hill.
"Stop spouting nonsense." Mikami chided. "You know how far it is from here?"
"That's…" Genzo noticed the message on the ball. "A challenge?"
* * *
On the hill…
"It reached Wakabayashi's house." Tsubasa remarked.
"Amazing." Ryo gaped.
"What an incredible boy." Roberto mused.
* * *
In the Wakabayashi courtyard…
"You made a mistake, Genzo." Mikami concluded. "It couldn't have come from there."
"But, there's a challenge for me written on the ball." Genzo stated. "And the handwriting looks like a boy of my age."
"Stupid." Mikami insisted. "How could an elementary boy shoot that far?"
"I accept your challenge, Oozora Tsubasa." Genzo declared. "Whoever he is, I want to make sure with my own eyes."
* * *
On the hill…
"You're really great." Ryo gushed. "Your shot was really incredible. How could you shoot so far? that's weird, there should be some trick somewhere, right? You may be able to defeat Wakabayashi."
"A toast for the little soccer champion!" Roberto declared and downed his vodka.
"Well, let's go to the soccer field." Ryo led the cousins off, with Roberto following closely behind.
* * *
In the Oozora household…
"Really Tsubasa," Natsuko sighed. "Where could you and Ami be? I hope they don't get lost since this city is unknown to them."
* * *
On the streets…
"You just arrived here today, right?" Ryo confirmed.
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
"So, you will go to Nankatsu school?" Ryo inquired.
"Well…" Tsubasa started.
"There are two elementary schools in this city." Ryo added. "But only Nankatsu is a public school. Shutetsu is a private one. Maybe I shouldn't tell you, but Nankatsu and Shutetsu are rivals. Nankatsu and Shutetsu have been perpetually fighting among themselves. Today, the fighting was about the retrieval of the soccer field. They have a great soccer field near here. But us, we have to share the field with all the other sports. You'll represent Nankatsu."
"I'm not really concerned about being a representative of Nankatsu or whatnot." Tsubasa stated. "I just want to challenge Wakabayashi."
"If you defeat Wakabayashi, we'll be able to take back the field from Shutetsu." Ryo argued.
"Ishizaki, those two are new students of Shutetsu." Sanae cut in.
"Eh?" Ryo echoed. "Really? If you're planning to go to Shutetsu, then why have you challenged Wakabayashi?"
"This boy challenged Wakabayashi?" Sanae gaped.
"Yes." Tsubasa smiled.
_Oozora Tsubasa…_ Genzo mused, the ball tucked under his arm. _Who could he be? He was able to shoot from that Shinto shrine. Would the challenge be thrown by a student of Nankatsu? How could that team have such a good player?_
"So Genzo." Mikami voiced. "You said that Oozora Tsubasa is an elementary school student? If that was the case, it would be impossible for him to send the ball so far with a simple shot."
"Ah, here's Wakabayashi." Ryo stopped in his tracks, the two opposing team captains facing each other on opposite sides of the road.
"That would be him….?" Genzo noticed the newcomer.
"Wakabayashi, here's the one who sent you the challenge, Oozora Tsubasa." Ryo declared.
"Eh?" Genzo echoed. "What?"
"Such a small boy…" Mikami muttered. "Impossible."
"You're mocking me!" Genzo snapped. "This runt couldn't shoot that far."
"But, I saw just like I'm seeing you right now." Ryo taunted.
"Okay, we'll check if you're really the one who shot." Genzo declared and sent the ball flying towards Tsubasa.
"Look out, step aside." Ryo warned.
Tsubasa deflected the shot with a kick upwards.
"He managed to block my shot." Genzo was stunned as a bus passed by and Tsubasa sent the ball flying over beneath the bus. "You're Oozora Tsubasa…" he caught the ball effortlessly.
"Oozora Tsubasa…" Sanae trailed.
"Oozora Tsubasa." Roberto took off his hat. "It's this boy, no doubt about it."
* * *
Omake
Sounds Like My Ex
Naruto looked through the bars of the massive cage, and was surprised to find an attractive, red-haired woman.
"Hey!" he shouted. "I never knew you were a _girl!_ Well, gee, you must be pretty lonely in there…"
And before you could say, '_Yamada Tarō'_, he was through the bars and hugging her affectionately.
It took the ancient demon fox about five seconds to 1) rip out his heart; 2) rip off his head; and 3) strip the flesh from his carcass.
Smacking her lips appreciatively as the cage bars dissolved around her, the Kyuubi chuckled.
"You don't know much about women, do you, Dumbass?"
* * *
SailorStar9: Kyuubi is supposed to be a thousand-year old demon; but a lot of writers seem to think that if you slap a pair of tits on it, she'll suddenly see this short-lived monkey as her baby - or as her lover. They aren't made out of her _brain matter_, fellas.
7. Flame Up, Soccer Kid
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 5 goes up and no review. No one is reading this fic! *Sob, sob, wails*
Tailmon (from 'Digital Light of Hope' and her current muse): Great, now you non-reviewing readers made her cry. Leave your comments in your review, or else... (Turns non-reviewing readers' faces into chessboards)
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 6: Flame Up, Soccer Kid
_
* * *
Damn, he managed to block my shot._ Genzo cursed. _And was able to kick a volley under the bus. That's not funny. And I can't stand him smiling like that._
"So, Wakabayashi?" Ryo taunted. "What do you think of the power of his shot?"
"Captain, what are you doing here?" the B-team voiced. "Haven't you returned yet?"
"You guys." Genzo noted. "Just in time. I admit that he has a powerful shot. But he's wrong if he thinks it's enough for him to play soccer. If you want to challenge me, you'll have to pass through them first, alone. We'll only confront each other after you fulfill that condition."
"What?" Ryo growled.
"If he's not satisfied with it, he can go home now." Genzo smirked.
"Wakabayashi, you're being really unfair." Ryo retorted.
"I'll do it." Tsubasa cut in.
"Huh?" Ryo blinked. "But, how can you do that against so many?"
"He's right." Sanae agreed.
"We can't know without trying." Tsubasa argued.
"Ishizaki, Nakazawa, don't even try." Ami told the two. "You can never out-argue with him when he's in _that_ mood."
"This should be funny." The B-team laughed.
* * *
On the field…
"Hey, soccer ball." Tsubasa started his warm-up. "You and me, we're brothers, right? I would like you to help me again."
"He never changes." Ami noted amusedly.
"He accepted such a thing, but will it really be okay?" Ryo wondered.
"Ishizaki!" Sanae called, having gathered the rest of the team.
"Ah, everyone." Ryo blinked.
"We've heard about a confrontation against Shutetsu, so we came here to be the supporters." Sanae supplied. "Hey, we'll cheer you on during your confrontation with Wakabayashi."
"Do your best." Ryo shouted. "I'll also root for you."
"I'll try." Tsubasa chuckled.
"This man," Mikami spotted Roberto on the side. "I am sure that I have seen him somewhere before."
"Hey, have you seen him?" Tsubasa asked his soccer ball. "The goalkeeper who brought you here? He's really a great goalkeeper. But, if I don't pass through all of them, I won't be able to face him. You once saved my life when I was small, but, lend me a hand again, please."
"That guy…" the B-team wondered. "Who is he talking to?"
"I have to challenge him, no matter what." Tsubasa concluded.
"Why are you standing there like fools?" Genzo barked. "Hurry up and steal the ball from him."
"Yes." The B-team chorused. "Okay, let's go." They took their positions.
"Well, here we go." Tsubasa remarked. "Go!" he charged.
"Hey there, that guy is rather good." Ryo gushed, as Tsubasa passed through the B-team defenses.
"Damn!" two players slide-tackled Tsubasa.
"Look out!" Ryo warned as the feet closed in.
With a leap, Tsubasa dodged the tackled, taking the ball with him, before swiftly passing through the next defense lines.
_Incredible._ Roberto mused. _His nutmegs and his dribbles. This boy, at his age, already became friends __with the ball. There's really no doubt about it, it's this boy._
"Go, Tsubasa." Ryo cheered. "You're almost done."
_This guy…_ Genzo frowned as Tsubasa drew closer. "Don't let him shoot. Gather yourself in front of the goal."
"Yes." The B-team obeyed and clustered around the net.
"What?" everyone else, but Ami, gaped when Tsubasa kicked the ball high up in the air.
"He's flying!" B-team gasped when Tsubasa took off after the soccer ball and sent the ball into the net with a header.
"Damn!" Genzo cursed, punching the shot out.
"Oh, it's really bad luck." Ryo remarked as the ball hit the post corner and got reflected out.
"Damn!" Genzo punched the grass in frustration.
"The ball can still be played." Roberto voiced.
_Oh, I know! _Mikami realized. _This man… he's the center-forward of the national Brazilian team, Hongo Roberto._
"We'll settle this duel with a centering." Roberto sent the ball flying with a center passing and the two pre-teens jumped, with Tsubasa sending the ball into the net with a header.
"Great, he scored!" Ryo cheered.
"Impossible." Mikami was stunned. "Genzo lost…"
"Look out!" Roberto warned, the impact having sent Genzo crashing into the goalpost.
"Captain!" B-team gasped after the two boys crash-landed.
"Genzo!" Mikami exclaimed.
"Are you okay" Tsubasa asked, in concern.
"Don't touch me." Genzo slapped Tsubasa away. "I lost… I lost against this runt." He focused on the ball in the net. "Tsubasa." He barked. "A match. A match, we'll do a match. We can't know which one of us is the best player like this. We will only be able to determine it with a match. I'm accepting your challenge for the schools' tournament."
"The schools' tournament?" Tsubasa echoed.
"If you manage to score a goal on me during this match, then I'll admit my defeat." Genzo promised.
"Stop it, Wakabayashi." Roy retorted. "There's no need to get violent."
"Whatever the outcome of the match, the only stake here will be for you to score a goal." Genzo laid down the terms.
"You are Roberto." Mikami looked over at the other adult, the former center-forward walked off, whistling.
"Ishizaki, I'm leaving you this ground until then." Genzo declared. "Try and train yourself a bit to be up to the task."
"Captain, wait up!" B-team ran off after their captain.
"Seriously, I don't understand boys sometimes, especially bull-headed ones." Ami sighed. "You alright, Bas?"
"Yeah." Tsubasa replied. "By that way, where is the man who did the centering?" he thought to ask. "Eh? When did he leave?"
"Hey, you were incredible." Ryo voiced. "I thought my heart would stop."
"Yes, it was really incredible." Sanae agreed.
"Not really." Tsubasa blushed. "By the way, what is the schools' tournament?"
"Oh yeah, the tournament." Ryo supplied. "All the sports clubs from Nankatsu and Shutetsu face off on a yearly base. It looks like a bit of a festival. All the habitants of the town are completely passionate about it. Ah, that's right." He noted. "You'll go to Shutetsu. It's a pity. We would really have liked it if you joined our school."
"All of the good players are always going to Shutetsu." Masao added.
"But Wakabayashi thought that Tsubasa was a Nankatsu member." Ryo pointed out.
"The next time we meet, it'll be as opponents." Sanae noted.
"See ya." Ryo bade the cousins farewell.
"Hey, wait." Tsubasa voiced.
"What's the matter?" Ryo asked.
"Em, well, actually…" Tsubasa started. "Actually…" he whispered into Ryo's ear.
"What's happening, Ishizaki?" Sanae asked the laughing Ryo.
"This guy is really too much." Ryo chuckled. "He forgot the way to his house."
"Eh?" the group chorused.
"Figures." Ami muttered. "Only you, Bas. Only you."
* * *
In the Oozora household…
"Mom, that's enough." Tsubasa protested at his laughing mother. "Stop it."
"But to bring all these people home, he is really something." Ami giggled.
"Well, I got that from you, right Mom?" Tsubasa joked.
"Hey, Tsubasa." Natsuko chided. "But to make friends that fast, you too, you prefer playing soccer rather than eating?"
"Personally, I like both." Ryo admitted.
"I told you, Aunt Natsuko." Ami chuckled. "It's only Bas."
"Ami's right." Natsuko agreed. "You know, since kindergarten, Tsubasa always likes soccer. You just need to give him a ball for him to be happy. In fact, at one time, when he was playing with a ball as usual… the ball absorbed the shock and saved Tsubasa's life." She finished her narration. "Since that day, Tsubasa never stopped playing soccer. As if he was born for it."
"Really?" Masao echoed. "That happened to him?"
"Ah, Mom, why do you always have to bring up this story?" Tsubasa complained.
"But I'm doing it so that your friends can know a bit more about you." Natsuko pointed out. "Right?"
"Yeah…" Ryo trailed. "Well then…" he started.
"You're already going back?" Tsubasa blinked as the group stood to leave.
"You didn't finish cleaning up." Ryo reminded. "We'll see again another time."
"Sorry that I haven't been able to receive you well." Natsuko apologized.
"No, it was perfect." Ryo corrected. "See ya." He bade the family farewell at the doorstep.
"Thank you for everything." Tsubasa voiced. "Goodbye!" he bade the group farewell.
"Next time, don't forget your address." Ryo reminded and headed off.
* * *
The next morning…
"Hey, Tsubasa." Roberto knocked on Tsubasa's door and entered the room, the Brazilian center-forward's sudden appearance shocking the boy and throwing him to the ground.
"You're the center-forward of the national Brazilian team, Hongo Roberto." Tsubasa recognized.
"You know my name?" Roberto blinked.
"Of course." Tsubasa beamed. "Yesterday, when I came back home, I read this magazine and what a surprise. You're the famous center-forward of the national Brazilian team. But what are you doing here?"
"Here, Tsubasa." Natsuko handed her son a letter. "Here's a letter for you that your father gave to Roberto."
"Eh?" Tsubasa beamed. "A letter from Dad? Ask him to teach you what real soccer is. Your Dad will come back soon." He read the last sentence. "Great." He gushed. "I'll live in the same house with a player from the national Brazilian team. But, when did you arrive?"
"Oh Bas." Ami sighed, the adults chuckling.
"Well, your mother thought I was a burglar and suddenly threw a bucket of water on my face." Roberto stated as Natsuko served breakfast. "But that's normal. That is what happens to someone who visits people at 2 am."
"Yes, you should have shown me the letter in the beginning." Natsuko chided.
"By the way, Tsubasa." Roberto stated. "Which school will you and Ami go to?"
"Well…" the cousins looked at each other.
"I don't really know anymore." Tsubasa admitted. "I get the feeling that it would be better to go to Nankatsu and to have to have Wakabayashi as a rival."
"Furthermore, he mistook Bas for being one of them." Ami added.
"If I were you, I would choose Nankatsu." Roberto advised.
"Really?" Tsubasa asked. "That's what you think, Roberto? Okay, it's decided. Mom, I've changed my mind. I'll go to Nankatsu school."
"Tsubasa, don't say me that this is because Shutetsu is more strict concerning studies." Natsuko scolded.
"That's not it." Tsubasa protested. "I'll study seriously even in Nankatsu."
"Really?" Natsuko was unconvinced. "Well, we came to Nankatsu to let you play soccer, so in the end, it doesn't really matter which school you'll decide on."
"So, it's decided for Nankatsu." Tsubasa declared.
* * *
On the field…
"Gah, what the hell are you doing?" Ryo chided, the ball having hit Masao on the face. "Pull yourself together, Masao."
"But, I thought this Oozora Tsubasa will go to Shutetsu and that we'll be slaughtered again." Masao muttered.
"Stop talking about defeat." Ryo scolded. "As long as we're doing our best, do you really think that's important?"
"Yes." Sanae agreed. "Ishizaki is right. Let's do our best, guys."
"Yeah, let's go everyone." Ryo cheered.
"Yes!" the team chorused and resumed practice.
"What do you want?" Ryo demanded, when someone stole the ball.
"Now boys, if you don't train seriously, you won't even win against Shutetsu's back up team." The backup team player taunted.
"Damn!" Ryo cursed and charged to reclaim the ball, only to fall on his feet.
"So, having a ball or not, is the same for you." The team player mocked.
"You'll see!" the team charged. "Damn, we have to get our ball back."
"Fight!" Sanae shouted, the Nankatsu group was getting trashed by the two Shutetsu players. "You shouldn't lose to Shutetsu." When Tsubasa cut in, snatching the ball away from the Shutetsu player.
"You are…!" the two Shutetsu players gasped.
"Tsubasa!" the group echoed.
"Tell your captain, Wakabayashi, that Oozora Tsubasa will face him during the tournament in Nankatsu's team." Tsubasa declared.
"No way!" Sanae beamed.
"Way!" Ami nodded in affirmation.
"Damn!" the Shutetsu players cursed.
"I heard you fine." Genzo barked.
"Ara, speak of the devil." Ami remarked, everyone turning to the speaker.
"I'm looking forward to the schools' tournament." Genzo added. "Until then, try training yourself as much as you can."
"Captain, wait for us." The two Shutetsu players hurried after their captain.
"Tsubasa, Ami." Ryo ran over to the cousins. "Is that true that you'll come to Nankatsu?"
"I was waiting for this moment." Masao added.
"That's great." Sanae beamed.
"Okay, we'll all gather ourselves around Tsubasa and we'll do it." Ryo declared.
"Yeah!" the group cheered.
"Glad to welcome you among us." Ryo greeted the new member.
"This pleasure is mine." Tsubasa replied.
"Can I be one of you too?" Roberto requested. "What do you think of having a coach?"
"Wait a minute." Ryo voiced. "This may only be an elementary club, but don't say silly things. Okay, you have good centering, but anyone can do that. Therefore, for a drunk like you does not have the skills required to be a coach."
"So, let me prove it to you." Roberto stated and stole the ball from under Tsubasa's feet. "Let's go!" he charged straight for the goalpost.
"What will he do?" Ryo wondered. "He missed it." He snorted after Roberto kicked the ball into the goal bar.
"That is…!" Tsubasa gasped when Roberto delivered an overhead kick, sending the ball through the net.
"Overhead kick." Ami breathed.
"Amazing!" the Nankatsu group gaped in awe.
"He is the center-forward of the national Brazilian team, Hongo Roberto." Ami enlightened the group.
"He's actually living at my house." Tsubasa supplied.
"So, do you want me as a coach?" Roberto inquired.
"Yeah, of course." Ryo nodded.
"Who wouldn't?" Masao beamed.
"Great!" the team cheered.
_Wakabayashi, we won't lose._ Tsubasa swore.
* * *
Back in the present...
"He's right about that promise, though." Ami noted.
* * *
Omake
Because We Won Because We're the Good Guys
"So let me get this straight," 13-year old ANBU captain Uchiha Itachi said, making a herculean effort to cut through the vague political rhetoric, dissembling phraseology and flat-out _bullshit _of the past hour's 'conversation'. "You're saying that the Uchiha have grown resentful of being marginalized by the Village…"
"Correct," said Koharu, giving a single juddering nod of her withered old head in acknowledgment.
"_Marginalized_, even though you consider them to be one of the most powerful shinobi clans - as evidenced by your current fears…"
"True enough," Homura admitted, looking rather uncomfortable under the boy's intense gaze.
"_And _even though they helped to _create _this village, working side by side with the -_now defunct_- Senju clan..."
"A tragic fall," said Sarutobi, pretending to look mournful (though it remained unclear just _which _of the two great clans he was supposed to be grieving).
"Because you _have_, in fact, segregated them from the rest of the village, breeding fear and mistrust among the rest of the citizenry, and keeping them from achieving any real political power…"
"They can't be trusted!" shouted Danzō, slamming his single usable fist down on the table hard enough to rattle the teacups. "That bastard, Madara-"
"Was _one_ man, _rejected_ by his clan, who _died_ at the hands of the Shodai over sixty years ago," Itachi interrupted, glaring at the one-eyed man as only a 13-year old boy can do.
"_Way to hold a grudge,"_ he added quietly, with a frown.
"And _besides_," Itachi continued, once again addressing the others. "He was simply afraid that you were going to do _exactly_ what you _have_ done. He was right all along…"
"Enough," Sarutobi interjected, affecting his patented 'tough-but-fair' grandfatherly demeanor in an attempt to get the conversation back on track. "We are not here to point fingers…"
_Actually,_ Itachi thought to himself, _That seems to be __precisely__ why you are here. But you seem to forget - When you point your finger at us, you leave three __more__ fingers, pointing back at yourselves._
"Do you understand the parameters of the mission, Itachi-kun?" Sandaime inquired, finally getting down to brass tacks.
"You suspect a coup," Itachi said, cutting straight to the heart of the matter; always the consummate professional as soon as someone mentioned the key word, 'mission'.
(It was ironic, really, that the post-hypnotic suggestion techniques used to drive Itachi to such rarefied heights of excellence could be turned against the Uchiha themselves this way; they had arrogantly thought that their little sleep-training program was better than Sylvan®.)
"And you want me to eliminate the ringleaders?" he continued, a slightly less 'coldly detached' and slightly more 'childishly hopeful' tone in his barely-adolescent voice.
"All of them," Koharu replied, with a slightly more '_chillingly_ _ominou'_' tone in hers.
"You mean, everyone involved in the plot?" Itachi asked.
"_All_ of them," Homura repeated firmly, with a bit more emphasis.
"You mean, everyone supporting the supposed 'conspiracy'?" Itachi asked again.
"ALL! OF! THEM!" Danzō shouted, spelling it out for the reluctant prodigy, another delicate teacup tumbling with every punctuated syllable.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait up, hold on there, slow down, give me a second here," the normally stone-faced Itachi stammered, trying -with little success- to wrap his head around this mind-blowing concept. "You mean, 'all of them', as in... _everyone_?"
"Not just the 'guilty', or even those guilty by association, but _everyone_? The elderly, the disabled, the non-shinobi shopkeepers, pregnant women, untrained kids, babies, Uchiha-by-marriage…"
"_Yes_. All of them," the Third replied, cutting him off before (he hoped) it started sounding ridiculous. _"It is for the good of the Village."_
"For the good of the Village?" Itachi repeated dully. (ANBU had their _own_ post-hypnotic key words as well, after all.)
"And what about _me_?" Itachi asked at last, finally coming back to his senses somewhat. "_I'm_ an Uchiha, just like the others. Do you not fear and mistrust _me_? What will become of me, after I perform this task for you?"
"Don't worry, Itachi-kun," Sarutobi replied, with that horrible fake smile on his face. "There is no question in our minds about you. You have proven your strength and your loyalty. We will take care of you, after you complete your assignment."
_That's just what I'm afraid of,_ Itachi thought, once again schooling his features to mask his uncertainty.
* * *
Itachi was running through the forest. He had tried to warn his kinsmen, but it was too late. Suspecting that their pawn was being influenced by useless and unbecoming 'emotions', Danzō had sent an overwhelming force of _Ne_ ANBU operatives to eliminate the 'threat' of the Uchiha clan.
That Akatsuki group he'd been hearing rumors about sounded like his only hope.
Konoha might think that they could use his pathetic little brother as leverage; but _someday_, he would have his revenge.
* * *
SailorStar9: Without Madara and the Mangekyou, Sarutobi & Co. had _no reason whatsoever_ to think that Itachi could actually pull it off. So what were they _really _thinking? If the ANBU had moved in to quell the resulting 'riot' in the Uchiha district, the other clans would _still_ have suspected a bloodline purge. And if they did _not_ follow through, this abortive first-strike would have forced the Uchiha's hands, _provoking_ them into rising up against their oppressors and precipitating the much-feared and anticipated civil war. (And _yes_, the Uchiha _were_ being oppressed; and _had been_, at least since the time of the Nidaime.) So what outcome could they have _possibly_ been expecting? What would make 'Itachi's not-entirely-successful attempt to massacre the Uchiha clan' worth their while - and worth _losing _such a valuable resource? The death of the clan's greatest prodigy? If they feared all Uchiha, they surely considered Itachi their greatest threat. Elimination of the clan's strongest (disloyal) shinobi, with enough hostages ('prisoners') taken to cow the remainder? This would still lead to one of the two outcomes mentioned above. Seizure of clan assets? A nice side benefit, sure; but it would have to be something _special_ to be a material cause, and worth losing the Uchiha over. The further ostracization of the Uchiha as a clan of untrustworthy, uncontrollable misfits? Which brings us right back where we started from. Weakening the Uchiha _just enough_ so that they could simply shrug this headache off onto the next generation, like climate change or Social Security? Well, that's probably as good as we can get for rationalizing Kishimoto-sensei's half-assed storylines... But maybe _you_ can come up with something better. The fact that the _other _founding clan (the Senju) was _also _mysteriously wiped out might be a good place to start.
8. Towards Tomorrow's Kick Off
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 6 goes up and no review. No one is reading this fic! *Sob, sob, wails*
Tailmon (from 'Digital Light of Hope' and her current muse): Great, now you non-reviewing readers made her cry. Leave your comments in your review, or else... (Turns non-reviewing readers' faces into chessboards)
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 7: Towards Tomorrow's Kick-Off
* * *
The next morning...
"Mom, what are you doing on the floor with my bed cover on your head?" Tsubasa blinked.
"Well, you hit it like a soccer ball." Natsuko replied.
"Ah?" Tsubasa jumped up. "Really?"
"It means you're dreaming of soccer." Ami supplied, poking her head in.
"Ah?" Tsubasa echoed. "Probably."
"Now hurry and get ready." Natsuko told the cousins. "Today is your first day in your new school."
"Yes." Tsubasa hurried to get ready.
"Ah, Tsubasa." Natsuko stated. "Go wake up Roberto and tell him breakfast is ready."
"Roberto?" Tsubasa echoed. "Oh yeah, the professional Brazilian player who will be living with us as of today." he recalled. "Roberto, Roberto." he hammered on his mentor's door. "Roberto, get up. Roberto, Roberto." he shook the sleeping player. "Hey, Roberto, are you alright? Roberto. What's happening?" he inquired as Roberto sat up.
"Nothing, everything is fine." Roberto assured.
"Breakfast is ready." Tsubasa informed.
"Ah, thanks." Roberto noted.
"So, hurry up." Tsubasa urged.
"My appointment at the university hospital center is today." Roberto mused. "I hope the results turn out well."
"Go ahead and eat up." Natsuko told her guest.
"Thanks." Roberto took a sip from his cup. "So, you start school today?" he looked over at the cousins.
"Yeah, we're going to Nankatsu." Tsubasa confirmed.
"Did you choose Nankatsu because all the rich kids go to Shutetsu?" Natsuko inquired.
"This is also for soccer, right Roberto?" Tsubasa asked.
"Yes." Roberto nodded.
"Or I wonder if Shutetsu is a harder school?" Ami joked.
"Eh?" Tsubasa protested. "You're wrong, I don't..."
"To prove the contrary, you'll have to study very hard." Roberto cut in.
"Eh?" Tsubasa echoed. "Even you, Roberto... I'm going!" he called as the two cousins headed out.
"Tsubasa." Roberto voiced. "Let's walk part of the way together."
"Where are you going, Roberto?" Natsuko wondered.
"While waiting for Tsubasa and his friends to start training, I'll go to the beach for a little while."
"To the beach?" Natsuko echoed.
"Yeah, for a little while." Roberto replied.
"Roberto, if we don't hurry, we'll be late." Tsubasa called.
"Well, see you later." Roberto noted.
"Later!" Natsuko bade the three farewell. "Be careful."
"Practice starts after school." Tsubasa informed Roberto from the other side of the road. "I'll wait for you on the field with Ishizaki and the others."
"Got it." Roberto nodded. "See you later."
"Later!" Tsubasa shouted and he and Ami headed off to school.
"Tsubasa." Roberto called. "I'll give you a great gift at practice."
"A gift?" Tsubasa echoed.
* * *
In front of the school gate...
"Well, from today, we're students of Nankatsu school." Tsubasa stopped in front of the gate.
"Everyone, meet our new arrivals, Oozora Tsubasa and Mizuno Ami." Sanae declared, once the cousins entered the compound.
"I knew I should have went to the swimming complex this morning." Ami muttered.
"Ah, Tsubasa, Ami!" Ryo called to the cousins.
"Hello." Tsubasa greeted. "I'm glad to see you again."
"You really came." Ryo remarked.
"Though you said you would come here, we were worried that you would end up in Shutetsu anyway." Masao added. "We were all worried. But it's okay now."
"Follow me, I'll show you around." Ryo stated.
"One second." Sanae cut in. "I'm the one who will show them around."
"Eh?" Ryo echoed. "What? What does that mean?"
"'What does that mean?'" Sanae echoed.
"Well, I'm gladly accepting it." Tsubasa voiced.
"So, let's go." Sanae beamed and led the cousins off. "Make it a bit less noise." she snapped at the murmuring girls.
"Good morning." the homeroom teacher greeted her class.
"Good morning." the students chorused.
"What are you looking at, Ishizaki?" the teacher inquired. "Ah, I see." she winked. "You're already aware of it. Well, let's make the presentation. From today on, you'll have two more little comrades in your class. Come on in. introduce yourselves." she told the cousins.
"I'm Oozora Tsubasa." Tsubasa declared.
"Mizuno Ami." Ami bowed.
"Your father is a captain of a ship, is that right?" the teacher inquired.
"Yeah, he travels around the world." Tsubasa confirmed.
"Quite everyone!" Sanae barked, silencing the pending fangirls. "Welcome to our sixth grade class." she told the cousins.
"Be quiet!" the teacher shouted. "Let's see, your places will be..."
"Teacher, here!" Masao raised his hand. "They can sit here with me."
"Let's see, sit there." the teacher gestured.
"Yes." the cousins nodded and headed over to their new seats.
"Tsubasa, send the ball here." Masao pointed to the chair.
"Okay." Tsubasa landed his ball into the ball with a header.
"Nice shot." Masao gave a thumbs-up. "Here." he returned Tsubasa's soccer ball.
_Oozora Tsubasa?_ The teacher mused as the new students settled in. _Well, it looks like we have a star in our class._
* * *
On the field...
"Oops." Masao stuck out his tongue, his kick having missed its mark. "Thanks." he voiced, when someone stopped his ball under his foot. "The ball didn't go where I wanted."
"So, you still don't understand, and you continue to train yourself?" the pre-teen taunted. "Oh come on, we told you to stop wasting your time and break up your team."
"Hey, you!" Sanae barked. "Don't interrupt this precious training for the schools' tournament."
"Is that a joke?" the bully retorted. "A club of morons like you, if you took part in the tournament, you'd be smashed to pieces."
"Look, we don't have time for this." Sanae stopped his protest. "Look over there."
"Incredible." the boy gaped, seeing Ryo and Tsubasa dribbling. "We have such a player on our soccer club? Who is he?"
"Our ace, of course." Sanae boasted.
"Your 'ace'?" the boy echoed.
"Okay, everyone." Ami declared. "Now we'll practice our shooting. Try to aim inside the goal."
"Okay." the team chorused.
"Here." Tsubasa started the shooting practice.
"Now heading." Ami added, after everyone had a turn. "The most important thing is to focus on the ball. You shouldn't be afraid."
"Let's go." Tsubasa started.
"Really." Ryo complained, the group panting in exhaustion. "You could go little easier."
"Sorry." Tsubasa voiced.
"But Roberto's training will be far harder than this." Ami pointed out.
"That's true." Ryo admitted. "Our coach is a professional player from the Brazilian national team."
"I will never manage to survive the training." Masao muttered.
* * *
After school...
"I'm back!" Tsubasa called, tossing his book bag on the floor. "I'm going to practice!" he headed out.
"Tsubasa, wait." Natsuko chided. "Really. It's like he only comes here to leave. Brazil?" she looked at the emblem on the schoolbag. "After all, he's admired it since a child. Now that I think about it, I wonder where Roberto is."
* * *
On the field...
"Hi!" the team called, having snuck out of their homes.
Gathering, the group started a jog around the field.
"Tsubasa has already made so many friends?" Natsuko mused, passing on her bicycle. _I'm so happy. In his old school, no one played soccer and Tsubasa was always alone. Ami was the only one who understood him._ "Well, it's a good thing that he's entered Nankatsu. Now, I also need to make my place in this town." and rode off as the boys started their passing practice.
"What's happening?" Tsubasa inquired, seeing everyone had stopped in mid-practice.
"You're Nishigoaka's soccer club?" Ryo asked the newcomers.
"Yes, like promised, here we are." "I hope you didn't change your mind."
"Like promised?" Ryo echoed. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act dumb." Urabe Hanji chided. "You're the ones who asked us for a training match."
"A training match?" the team echoed.
"Wait, don't tell me..." Ami blinked.
"Yes, it was me." Roberto confirmed. "I'm the one who asked them about it."
"I see." Tsubasa realized. "This is your gift?"
"Yes." Roberto nodded.
"What an amazing soccer team." Hanji snorted. "It's not surprising that they lost 30 to 0 against Shutetsu."
"30 to 0?" Ami echoed.
"Well..." Ryo muttered.
"The aim of our Nishigoaka team is to defeat Shutetsu." Hanji stated. "We have to finish, at least with the same result."
"Damn." Ryo growled. "Say what you want, you'll see."
The referee's whistle blew and the match started, with the Nishigoaka team weaving through the Nankatsu defenses.
"Hey you!" Hanji cursed, chasing after Tsubasa who had stolen his ball.
"Tsubasa!" Ryo turned.
"What is he thinking?" Ami blinked in confusion as Tsubasa headed back to the Nankatsu side of the field.
"What are you doing, Tsubasa?" Ryo took off after Tsubasa. "That's our side here."
"Mid-field..." Ami frowned. "Don't tell me he's going to..."
And now, I shoot." Tsubasa finished her thought.
"What?" the Nishigoaka team gasped.
"I knew it." Ami sighed when Tsubasa sent the ball flying into the net with a long-distance shot.
"It's in." Ryo gaped. "A great long shot."
"No way!" Hanji was stunned.
"Great, Tsubasa." Ryo congratulated.
"Listen everyone." Hanji gathered his team. "This guy. We just have to mark this guy. The others are not dangerous at all."
The whistle blew and the match restarted.
"And here we go." Tsubasa reclaimed the ball.
"Stop him!" Hanji barked as Tsubasa penetrated the Nishigoaka lines. "Don't give him any space.
"Tsubasa!" Ryo shouted.
"It's for you, Ishizaki!" Tsubasa passed the ball.
Ryo sent the ball into the net with a header.
"Great!" Tsubasa cheered.
"Yeah, it's in!" the Nankatsu team clustered around their captain.
"Me..." Ryo pointed to himself. "I scored?"
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
"Great!" Ryo jumped in joy.
"Roberto, this is..." Ami blinked at the former Brazilian national player.
"Yes." Roberto confirmed. "So, what do you think?"
"A morale-booster." Ami stated. "To ensure the team that they, too, can score as well. But for my strategies to work, the rest will have to work on their footwork."
_The schools' tournament won't be like that._ Genzo mused, watching the match on the sidelines. _Prepare yourself, Tsubasa._
"Shutetsu's Wakabayashi." Ryo spotted the goalkeeper.
_Tsubasa,_ Roberto thought as the team headed back. _I'll make you a first class player, and you'll fly towards the world. Now that all my hopes have been broken, this is my new dream.
* * *
_
Back in the present...
"Wait, don't tell me that letting Tsubasa play sweeper during the schools' tournament was _your_ idea?" Genzo exclaimed.
Ami just smiled brightly at him.
"I knew it." Genzo sighed.
* * *
Omake
Awkward II
The mist closed in, and a choking killing intent filled the air. Sasuke whimpered.
"Don't worry, Sasuke!" Kakashi shouted, "I don't let my comrades die!"
"Not anymore, at least," he continued softly, losing himself once again in painful memories and bitter regrets. "I mean, not since the only other team I've ever had. My best friend, and the girl I should have married. And my sensei, who was like a father to me. And then there was my real father, of course…"
Sakura, Tazuna, Sasuke and Naruto (in that order) slowly sank into the black pit of despair, never to emerge again.
"I don't really know what happened to my mo-"
And with a whispering hushhh! the Master of Silent Killing's glittering zanbatou finally brought Hatake Kakashi's torment to an end.
* * *
Walking out of Gato's office counting their money, a baffled Haku observed, "That seemed way too easy."
"Yeah," Zabuza spat in disgust. "Konoha nin. They're all such drama queens."
* * *
SailorStar9: Stories where Naruto breaks down _in the middle of a fight_ because he's just made his first kill drive me crazy.
9. The Ball Is Our Friend
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 7 goes up and no review. No one is reading this fic! *Sob, sob, wails*
Shizune (Blinks as an arm wraps around her) Tsu-Tsunade-sama?
Tsunade (Drunk to the gills) Put me on th' bottom willya?
Shizune: Eh? Bottom? What are you-TSUNADE-SAMA?
SailorStar9: O-kay...shouldn't be watching this (Watches the scene before her slight nosebleed) Ah hell, roll camera, I can always tape it.
Shizune: TSUNADE-SAMAAAAAAA!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 8: The Ball Is Our Friend
* * *
"Go!" Ryo called, the team starting their practice.
"What are you doing?" Ami barked on the sidelines as Tsubasa bypassed the others easily. "None of you can mark Tsubasa? Really…"
"Alright, shoot from there, Tsubasa!" Roberto shouted. "Go!"
"Wait a second, Tsubasa." The goalkeeper voiced.
"Eh?" Tsubasa stopped. "What's the matter?"
"Coach, look over there." The goalkeeper stated. "Do you see their condition?"
"Everyone…" Ami blinked at the exhausted group.
"This is hopeless…." Roberto sighed. "Well, listen to me, everyone." He declared. "In order to be able to play soccer well, and before learning the various techniques and skills, you have to treat the ball like your girlfriend."
"'Like our girlfriend'?" the team chorused.
"Yes." Roberto nodded. "Oh yeah, you guys are a little bit young for that." He noted. "Well then, become a friend with the ball." He restated.
"Be friends with the ball?" Tsubasa echoed.
"How are we supposed to do that?" Ryo wondered.
"It's simple." Roberto remarked. "You just have to bring it with you everywhere. Be it going to school, or eating."
"Even to the toilet?" Ryo inquired.
"Fool!" Masao bonked his head.
"Wherever you go, always take the ball with you." Roberto added. "But never use your hands."
"No way." Ryo moaned. "So, we'll have to dribble wherever we go?"
"Exactly." Roberto confirmed. "If the ball hates anything, it's being picked up by hands."
"Make the ball our friend?" Tsubasa claimed a ball under his foot. "Okay. Goodbye, everyone." He called, dribbling the said ball back home. "See you tomorrow!"
"Hey, Tsubasa, wait for me." Ryo stated, claiming a ball under his feet.
"Ok, me too." The rest of the group gathered a ball under their feet.
"Understand?" Roberto shouted after the boys. "Don't use your hands."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"Be friends with the ball, huh?" Roberto mused, and sent the last remaining soccer ball into the net.
* * *
That night, in the Oozora household…
"You don't have to keep the ball next to you when you're eating, Tsubasa." Natsuko remarked.
"But…" Tsubasa protested.
"You are saying that ball is your friend?" Natsuko concluded. "That sounds a bit simple-minded.
"It's probably hard for your mother." Roberto noted. "She has to take care of two crazy soccer fans, right Tsubasa?"
"That's right." Natsuko agreed, causing a round of laughter from the table.
"Tsubasa, do you like soccer?" Roberto inquired.
"Isn't it obvious?" Tsubasa beamed.
"Okay, so starting from tomorrow, we'll do a special training every morning." Roberto nodded. "I'll teach you soccer, the Brazilian way."
"Yes!" Tsubasa nodded.
"Alright, Tsubasa." Natsuko stated. "A special soccer training is a good thing, but Roberto could also teach you English. Next year, you will go to middle school. Isn't that a good idea? What do you think of it, Tsubasa?"
"Um, I'll think about it." Tsubasa mused. "Well, I have to get up early tomorrow."
"Him…" Natsuko fumed as her son retreated to his room.
"Sorry, I forgot you." Tsubasa returned and retrieved his soccer ball. "Mom, Ami, Roberto, good night."
"Only you, Bas." Ami chuckled. "Only you."
* * *
After school, the next day…
"Their training match is about to begin." Ryo stated, the group having entered the Shutetsu training field. "This time we have to carefully examine Shutetsu's playing."
"This is great!" Tsubasa peered into the field on the railing. "To play on such a soccer field. I'm really envious."
"Tsubasa." Ryo chided. "This isn't the time to be so relaxed. We'll have to play against them soon."
"But thinking about it, Tsubasa could really have played soccer on this field." Masao pointed out. "He would have become a regular on Shutetsu. There're no doubt about it. But now, he became a Nankatsu student, he won't be able to play on it."
"Don't say that." Ami chided.
"I really have no regrets about it." Tsubasa assured. "To be a member of Nankatsu and play soccer with you is really great. That's the truth."
"When others say it, it sounds fake." Masao noted. "But when you say it, it makes me happy."
"Thank you, Tsubasa." Ryo remarked. "But, I'm the captain, okay?"
"Guys, look." Ami voiced.
"That's not Shutetsu's goalkeeper." Ryo realized.
"You're just noticing now?" Hanji inquired behind them. "Yes, Wakabayashi won't play today."
"You're Urabe of Nishigaoki." Ryo noted.
"But doesn't matter if Wakabayashi is or not," Hanji added. "It's all the same. They're already leading 3-0 against their opponent, Mizukoshi. It'll be an easy win for Shutetsu."
"Damn Shutetsu." Ryo cursed after Shutetsu scored a fourth goal. "Hey, what are you doing, Mizukoshi!" he barked. "You haven't done anything yet."
"Ah, Mizukoshi got the ball back." Ami blinked.
"Okay, now shoot from there." Ryo cheered.
"Great." Tsubasa noted when Shutetsu intercepted. "Nice cut."
"Tsubasa, remember him well." Ryo advised. "This is who protects the goal with Wakabayashi, the sweeper Takasugi Shingo. The game-maker Izawa Mamoru. This is the control tower of the midfield. This swift winger, Taki Hajime. Shutetsu's assist king. And the center-forward, Kisugi Teppei. Shutetsu hasn't weakened since last year. And Wakabayashi wasn't even playing."
"It'll be impossible to defeat them." Masao added.
"Great." Tsubasa beamed. "Shutetsu's team is really amazing."
"Don't say that." Ryo chided. "It makes me lose more and more confidence."
"You're wrong, Ishizaki." Tsubasa corrected. "The stronger the opponent, the more you want to beat him. Shutetsu's team; this is really the best opponent for us. Well, you know what I mean."
"We'll do it, Tsubasa." Ryo nodded, his confidence upped. "Right, guys?"
"Yes!" the team chorused.
"Then, leave the battle plan to me." Ami nodded.
"By the way, do you know why Wakabayashi didn't play?" Hanji voiced. "Wakabayashi doesn't even go to school anymore." He answered his own question. "He's training by himself, very hard every day."
"What?" Ryo echoed.
"Even for Wakabayashi, the goal you scored against him was a big shock for him." Hanji noted. "He's really furious. This time, he won't let Oozora Tsubasa score a goal."
_Wakabayashi Genzo…_ Tsubasa mused.
* * *
On the day before the tournament…
"Okay, todays' training is over." Roberto stopped the practice, after having Tsubasa play the role of the goalkeeper.
"Tomorrow's the day." Ryo noted.
"Yes, tomorrow." Masao agreed. "The match against Shutetsu."
"You have put forth a lot of effort so far." Roberto remarked. "Keeping up with my training isn't an easy thing."
"This is all thanks to you, coach." Ryo stated. "And also, we managed to come this far, thank to you, Tsubasa."
"Everyone, let's do our best tomorrow." Tsubasa told the team. "We've trained ourselves very hard for tomorrow."
"Yes!" the team cheered.
"Tsubasa, I think you understand now, why I made you play goalkeeper." Roberto remarked as the trio walked home.
"Now that I played goalkeeper, I understand which shots are hard to block." Tsubasa noted.
"And also, that the goalkeeper reacts easily to some shots compared to others." Ami added.
"And even for the kicker, it's important to follow the goalkeeper's movements and to pay attention." Tsubasa finished.
"Yes." Roberto was impressed by the girl's insight. "You did everything you could. The team also did its best at training. Whether you win or lose, make sure not to regret this match, Tsubasa."
"With Ami's battle strategy, tomorrow we'll win for sure." Tsubasa declared.
Meanwhile, Misaki Taro had arrived in Nankatsu city, with his father.
* * *
Back in the present...
"Well, you guys _didn't_ win that match." Genzo smirked.
"You don't have to rub it in." Ami smacked him playfully on the arm.
"Ouch, that hurt." Genzo teased. "I want you to touch me gently, Nymph."
"Genzo!" Ami exclaimed in horror.
* * *
(Cyborg ninja walks onto the stage, opens visor and clears throat.)
CN: Hello, I'm Frank Jaeger, some of you may remember me as Grey Fox from Metal Gear 1 and 2.
Kakashi: (Still suspended) Very decent of you.
SailorStar0: No input from you (Presses a button on a remote)
CN:( Convulses, lightning shooting off him) GRAAAAAH! MUST. KILL!
Kakashi: (eyes the electrified cyborg in terror) !
10. Where's The Rival?
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 8 goes up and no review. No one is reading this fic! *Sob, sob, wails* *Lets off crying after a while* Now, all I have to do is find the rest of the Captain Tsubasa J episodes and determine which of the guys should I pair up with the girls.
Kakashi: Hmph, like you care.
SailorStar9: What did I tell you about input?
(Raises rocket launcher, only for Kakashi to disappear, holding a Kunai at her neck.)
Kakashi: You little brat...did you really think I'd forget all the indignity you put me through?
SailorStar9: Nope, frankly I was hoping the trauma would stick with you the rest of your natural life.
Kakashi: Well guess what, while I as being tortured I noticed something interesting...for all your contacts and gadgets, you have virtually no combat ability.
SailorStar9: True...sadly so.
Kakashi: Which means at this range you're defenseless.
SailorStar9: Defenseless? Me? (Chuckles darkly) Is that what he said?
?: He did indeed.
Kakashi (Whirls around to stare in horror at the man behind him) Y-You! What are you doing here?
?: I see that Frank never got round to teaching you manners. (Exhales cigar smoke) Oh well, more for me.
SailorStar9: Do be thorough will you? (Turns to leer at the trembling Kakashi) Show him the power of the greatest soldier of the 20th century...Big Boss.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 9: Where's The Rival?
* * *
"Here we go, guys." Ryo stated, the team having gathered at the school gates, soccer balls under their feet. "To the match of the day against Shutetsu. We'll show them that Nankatsu isn't the same team as before."
"Yes!" the team chorused.
"The last match ended on a score of 30-0, but this time, we won't let them score more than 10 goals." Masao swore.
"Well, this is probably hopeless." Ryo sighed. "But if it comes down to whoever has more courage, we won't lose. Right, Tsubasa?"
"Yeah." Tsubasa nodded. "And with Ami's plan, there's no way we'll lose." _The day of confrontation has finally come._
* * *
On the field…
"What a crowd." Ryo gawked at the stadium-filled spectators.
"This is not surprising." Ami pointed out. "The results of the tournament will be determined by this match."
"My legs are shaking." Masao trembled. "I'm going back to the restroom."
"Be strong, guys." Roberto encouraged. "The more the number of spectators there are the more it's motivating for someone to do his best, no?"
"That's right, Ishizaki." Tsubasa agreed.
"Yes." Ryo nodded.
"Tsubasa, the number of spectators here is really nothing compared to the ones during a World Cup." Roberto reminded.
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded._ Wakabayashi isn't here._ He saw the goalkeeper was missing. "What is Wakabayashi doing?" he wondered.
"However, Urabe of Nishigaoki was saying that he was training a lot not to let you score a goal on him." Masao noted.
"That's probably because of you, Tsubasa." Ryo remarked. "You probably scared him and he finally ran away."
"You're funny, Ishizaki." The said goalkeeper retorted from the stands.
"Ara, speak of the devil." Ami grinned, as the goalkeeper jumped down.
"Wakabayashi!" Ryo gaped.
"Oozora Tsubasa, like I said before, the bet will be to see if you can score a goal on me." Genzo related.
"Scoring a goal isn't enough for me." Tsubasa declared. "My aim is that Nankatsu wins this match."
"Bold proclaim, Bas." Ami chuckled.
* * *
On the stands…
"Go, go, Tsubasa!" Sanae waved her flag in the stands. "Tsubasa, do your best. It took me all night to make it."
* * *
In the field…
"Tsubasa is highly requested." Masao joked.
"Well, it's cool, no?" Ryo kidded. "It's hard to be so popular, right, Tsubasa?"
"But, it's a bit too much." Tsubasa remarked.
"Anyway, I know which are the ones I prefer." Ryo noted and turned to the Shutetsu cheerleaders.
"Boys." Ami sighed on the bench.
"Listen to me, everyone." Genzo addressed his team. "During this match, you'll have to prevent Oozora Tsubasa from scoring. In the end, this match is only to see if he can score a goal on me. Shimada, Nakamoto." He barked. "Forget the other players, mark Tsubasa really closely."
"Okay." The two players replied.
"But only mark him in the penalty area." Genzo added. "Outside it, let him shoot as much as he wants to."
"Did you understand?" Roberto told his team. "Don't forget the strategy Ami came up with and we focused on this morning."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"But, can we take off the ankle weights now?" Ryo complained.
"Not yet." Ami shook her head. "Wait until the second half."
"Go, now." Roberto remarked. "Have the best possible fun while playing soccer."
"Yes." The group replied.
_This is when we can have_ _such a feeling during a match against Shutetsu._ Ryo mused. _That's us, when we were a bad soccer club, we managed to undergo the hard training of the coach, complete with Ami's ankle weights. Tsubasa, it's all thanks to you._ "Tsubasa, look at us." He stated.
"Ishizaki, this is the time." Tsubasa encouraged. "According to Ami's plan."
"Yes, we'll do it, Tsubasa." Ryo agreed.
"Yes!" Tsubasa nodded and the referee blew his whistle, signaling the start of the match.
"Captain!" Nakamoto turned to Genzo.
"The player you told us to mark, he is…!" Shimada added.
"He's in front of the goal…?" Genzo was stunned to find Tsubasa in the sweeper position.
"He's playing as a sweeper." Shimada added. "Is he planning to defend?"
_What do you think of that, Shutetsu?_ Ryo mused. _This is the strategy Ami came up with._
"Ishizaki, remained focused." Roberto rebuked.
"Tsubasa is playing as a sweeper?" Genzo echoed.
"Kisugi, it's not like what the captain told us about Oozora to be in such a position and staying there." Mamoru remarked.
"Don't mind, Izawa." Keppei added. "Anyway, our job is to open the score."
"As expected from them." Tsubasa noted in front of the goal post as the forwards and mid-fielders took their positions, marking their respective counterparts as Taki took possession of the ball. "They are really strong. Come!" and cutting into Keppei's charge, before the defense line was breached.
"Well done!" Ryo whooped.
"As expected from Tsubasa." Masao beamed.
"What are you doing?" Mamoru barked. "Hurry and get the ball from him."
"Yes." Keppei gaped and ran forward to engage Tsubasa.
_There are no reasons to be that surprised._ Genzo mused.
Pulling a feint after another, Tsubasa avoided the Shutetsu players. "Ishizaki!" he made a long pass to Ryo.
"Alright!" Ryo received the ball.
"We're counting on you, Ishizaki." Tsubasa shouted once Ryo was in front of the Shutetsu goalpost.
"Tsubasa, why don't you attack?" Genzo frowned. "This match should have been a duel between you and me. Why did you do a pass to Ishizaki?"
"Take that, Wakabayashi!" Ryo sent the ball flying into the Shutetsu goal.
"Why don't you attack, Tsubasa?" Genzo barked.
"Captain!" Mamoru warned, Genzo stopping the ball with a hand.
"Damn, he is really motivated." Ryo cursed.
"Listen to me, everyone." Genzo declared. "The only opponent is Tsubasa. Hurry up and open up the score. Our aim is to score 50 goals in this match."
"What?" Ryo gaped.
"For you, Izawa." Genzo shouted, sending the ball over. _Attack, Tsubasa._ He taunted. _Are you running away?_
_Wakabayashi._ Tsubasa mused.
* * *
Back in the present...
"'The only opponent is Tsubasa.'?" Ami echoed incredulously. "How arrogant can _you _get?"
"Fine, I didn't take into account that Ishizaki and the others improved as well." Genzo admitted. "Happy now?"
"Very." Ami grinned, kissing him on the cheek.
"But wait, ankle weights?" Genzo blinked.
"Albeit of an old-fashioned method, but it works wonders." Ami shrugged.
"I don't suppose you did the same with Morisaki as well?" Genzo death-panned.
"What do you think?" Ami smiled.
"Right, stupid question." Genzo muttered.
* * *
SailorStar9: (Nods at the man and lights up a cigar for him) Good work by the way.
Big Boss: Ninjas, Phah! I eat them for breakfast.
SailorStar9: Yes, there's a definite sequence when it comes to you snakes and Ninjas.
Big Boss: They come, we kill them...though arguably Frank didn't really count as a ninja when I first met him.
SailorStar9: True...pretty damn tough through (Regards a censored pile of organs in the corner) You left him alive right?
Big Boss: Sorry, torture's Ocelot's specialty, not mine. (Shrugs offhandedly) He'll live, but it won't be pretty.
SailorStar9: That's why I pay you the big bucks. (Snaps fingers) And benefits.
Big Boss: ? (Arms wrap around him from behind) WHA-EVA?
Eva: (Young again through the wonders of Authoress powers) Jack...care to join me for a game of 'Snake Eater'?
Big Boss: (Blinks, realizes he's regained his youth, turns to SailorStar9) Couldn't fix my eye could you?
SailorStar9: Sorry, my powers are useless against things that are badass.
Big Boss: Ah well, no loss. (Grins and scoops up Eva) prepare to be tempted my dear (Eyes the censored pile of organs) But first...dinner.
Censored pile of Organs aka Kakashi: ...Whimper...
R&R or Big Boss will come for YOU.
11. To Gather Before The Goal
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 9 goes up and only one review. No one else is reading this fic? *Munches fish burger* Ah...nothing like a good meal, wouldn't you agree, Saladin?
Saladin (Big Boss): Call me John.
SailorStar9: Nah, professional courtesy and all...besides, Saladin just sounds cooler. (Snorts) Funny, never thought I'd ever stomach Kakashi.
Big Boss: He's not that bad, especially with teriyaki sauce.
SailorStar9: Lord Quadros, love your work. That said, let's get this show on the road!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 10: To Gather Before The Goal
* * *
"Great, I see the goal." Mamoru headed straight for the goalpost. "Take that!" he fired a long shot. "What?" he gaped when Tsubasa once again blocked the shot.
"Tsubasa!" the goalkeeper beamed.
* * *
On the bench…
"That is Tsubasa." Roberto noted.
* * *
On the field…
"Damn!" Mamoru cursed. "Let's take the ball from him."
"Yes!" the Shutetsu players charged to reclaim the ball.
"Oda!" Tsubasa passed the ball to his teammate, after feinting past the Shutetsu players.
With Oda leading the attack, Ryo and Masao followed closely behind.
* * *
Outside the stadium…
Misaki had arrived at the gates. "Eh? It's still a draw?" he blinked, noticing the scoreboard.
* * *
On the field…
"We have to attack again and again." Teppei led the team's assault. "Go!" he fired a long shot, only to have Tsubasa block the attack once again, sending a long pass to Ryo.
* * *
On the stands…
"Oh, him!" Misaki recognized Tsubasa. "If he's here, then that means…" his eyes turned to the bench, spotting Roberto and Ami.
* * *
On the bench…
"Yeah, that's good." Roberto encouraged.
* * *
On the stands…
"Superb." Misaki gaped. "Huh? He's Tsubasa?" he echoed, hearing Tsubasa's name shouted from the spectators.
* * *
On the field...
"Damn!" Mamoru cursed. "We have to at least score one goal. After all, we only have one player for an opponent."
"We won't let you score." Ryo promised, leading the attack.
"Okay." Mamoru dodged the charging Ryo, passing the ball to Teppei.
"Go!" Teppei fired his shot, only to have Tsubasa intercept once again.
Mamoru and Tsubasa fought for the ball in the air, with Tsubasa winning the fight.
"Tsubasa…" Mamoru growled as Tsubasa once again blocked Teppei's shot.
* * *
On the bench…
"Good, the strategy is working as planned." Ami nodded in satisfaction.
"So, this is your plan?" Roberto noted.
"Yes." Ami replied. "In the first half, I placed Tsubasa in defense and we have managed to prevent them from scoring. The victory will be decided in the second half. Well, that is provided nothing changes…" she turned a look at the fuming Genzo.
* * *
On the field…
"What are you doing, everyone?" Genzo barked.
"Damn…" Teppei hissed, having reclaimed the ball. "I'm the best center-forward of Shutetsu, and I haven't scored yet. How embarrassing. This time… let's go!" he paused in front of the penalty area, ready to fire his shot when Tsubasa slide-tackled him, snatching the ball away and kicking the ball into the goalkeeper's hands.
"Sorry, Tsubasa." Masao apologized. "You have to do everything, cause we're not strong enough."
"What are you saying?" Tsubasa chided. "You are all doing your best, ain't you? Everything is fine, our defense is doing their job. And also, anything could happen at any time, even I could make a mistake. Fight everyone!" he told the team.
"Yes." The team nodded.
"I'll do my best." Masao promised.
* * *
On the stands…
_It's not an error to make Tsubasa play as a sweeper._ Misaki mused. _They're doing their best to prevent them from scoring, and they'll probably attack during the second half. Furthermore, I don't think that Tsubasa is as weak as the other players._
* * *
On the field…
"Guys, you're attacking in too much of a monotonous way." Genzo barked. "Where has your formation gone? Tsubasa is the only opponent. Have a look at yourselves."
_That's right._ Teppei mused. _We rushed our play and completely forgot our regular playing pattern._ With a unison nod, the Shutetsu trio restarted their combo.
_Here they come._ Tsubasa noted as Teppei, Mamoru and Taki took center-stage.
_We got him._ Teppei grinned, his timing passing having prevented Tsubasa from claiming the ball.
"Oh no!" Tsubasa gasped when Mamoru took possession of the ball.
"We did it!" Mamoru fired his shot.
* * *
On the bench…
_At this distance and his left foot…_ Ami thought, the calculations churning in her mind. "Keeper, D6!" she called. "Hands to C5!"
* * *
On the field…
"On it!" the goalkeeper jumped to the allotted spot, both hands catching the ball successfully.
* * *
On the bench…
"It was really good." Roberto was impressed at Ami's accuracy.
* * *
On the field…
"Damn…" Taki cursed. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
"We didn't score a goal." Teppei added.
_What's happening_? Takasugi Shingo wondered. _This is not good. They're starting to doubt themselves._ And turned to Genzo.
_It's not only because of Tsubasa that we aren't scoring._ Genzo realized. _This isn't the same team as before; they have without a doubt, become stronger in ball control. And furthermore, they seem to have fun when playing. Those two things seem linked. Is it because of Hongo Roberto's training that they've come this far? And also, the strategy to put Tsubasa as sweeper, is it also him?_
* * *
On the bench…
_That's really good._ Roberto thought. _Continue playing like that. If we manage to defend until the end of the first half, we can win this match._
* * *
On the field…
"Ishizaki!" Tsubasa reclaimed the ball, firing a long pass to Ryo.
"Ok!" Ryo claimed the ball and charged into the Shutetsu field. _The first half is almost over._ He thought. _If we manage to score now…_
"Leave it to me!" Genzo ordered as Takasugi returned to his position.
"Ishizaki!" the Nankatsu team gasped in warning as Genzo dashed out of his post.
"What?" Ryo gaped when Genzo slide-tackled the ball from his feet.
"Tsubasa!" Genzo hollered and fired a long shot straight towards Tsubasa. _Attack, Tsubasa._ He challenged. _Attack._
Tsubasa looked at the ball on the field, remembering _his_ own challenge. "This… a challenge from Wakabayashi." And turned to the bench.
* * *
On the bench…
_No, Tsubasa._ Roberto shook his head. _Don't let him provoke you._
* * *
On the field…
"Let's go get the ball from him." Teppei remarked, the referee already looking at his watch.
"Tsubasa, Shutetsu is attacking." The goalkeeper warned.
"Tsubasa, what are you doing?" Oozora Koudai hollered from the stands. "Go! Attack Tsubasa. Attack."
"Oh, Dad!" Tsubasa beamed. "Got it."
"He'll see what happens when you take your eyes off the ball." Teppei promised, closing in.
_Damn…_ Taki took over once Tsubasa dodged Teppei.
Feinting Taki, Tsubasa took off into the Shutetsu field.
* * *
On the bench…
"Tsubasa, the strategy…" Roberto gaped.
"Should have figured something like that would happen." Ami muttered.
* * *
On the field…
"Good." Genzo returned to his post.
* * *
On the stands…
"Yes, keep going like that." Koudai shouted.
"Captain." Roberto turned.
"Uncle." Ami blinked in surprise.
"Roberto." Koudai stated. "Tsubasa's style isn't a defensive soccer type. It's a soccer type that scores goals. Ami, you of all people, should know that. Even if you have a strategy, let him attack this time."
"Knowing him like I do, even if I tell him to stop, he won't do it." Ami grinned. "Guess I'll have to alter the battle plan then."
* * *
On the field…
_What speed._ Taki tried to catch up to Tsubasa who had entered the attack zone.
* * *
On the bench…
_Well, attacking is also a way to defend._ Roberto mused as Ami reformed her plan on her clipboard. _Now, we just have to wait, it's sink or swim._
* * *
On the field…
_Come!_ Genzo stood ready. _I've gone through intense training for this._ "Okay, come! This trajectory…!" he gaped, recognizing the ball's course after Tsubasa fired his shot, his fist barely blocking the ball, and causing the ball to bounce into the corner.
_Superb._ Tsubasa was stunned. _A right-handed keeper shouldn't have been able to block such a shot._
_Damn!_ Genzo slammed a fist on the grass. _I couldn't catch it._
Taking the corner, Tsubasa readied the corner kick.
_Tsubasa will take the corner?_ Genzo thought as he readied to defend. _Will he attempt to score directly?_
_Okay…_ Tsubasa focused on the ball and fired his shot.
"I'll get it." Ryo dashed forward.
"I got tricked." Genzo realized. "It's a centering for Ishizaki." And ran out to intercept when the ball curved into the net. _That trajectory again?_ He wondered and dived after the ball. The ball hit the goalpost and Genzo caught the rebound ball.
The referee's whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
"Captain…" Mamoru started, the team clustered around the goalkeeper.
_I was completely beaten._ Genzo growled.
"That was close, Tsubasa." Ryo remarked.
"But this is the first time that Shutetsu haven't managed to score despite their attempts." Masao pointed out.
* * *
On the bench…
_That's what he's really like._ Ami mused. _To use a curved ball that he's barely mastered at the last minute. But the curve was a bit too pronounced. Mental note: add curved ball training to his regime, even though he'll kill me._
"That was close, Tsubasa." Koudai voiced from the stands.
"Papa!" Tsubasa beamed. "You came back today?"
"Yes, does that surprise you?" Koudai joked.
"Of course." Tsubasa replied. "You never call to tell me when you're coming back."
"Tsubasa, that's your dad?" Ryo blinked.
"Yeah." Tsubasa nodded. "He just came back today."
"Everyone, you played well in the first half." Roberto stated.
"Thanks." The boys chorused.
"But thanks to a certain someone, I have to modify the strategy…" Ami gave her cousin a joking glare.
"She's talking about you." Ryo prodded.
"I'm sorry." Tsubasa chuckled.
"In fact, I also sometimes ignored the instructions of my coach." Roberto admitted
"Eh?" the group gaped.
"And it sometimes happened to be more effective than the coach's strategy." Roberto added. "Listen carefully everyone; soccer is a game that has to be played according to instinct. From now on, your own judgment has to be the most important."
"Yes." The boys chorused.
"That's right." Koudai agreed. "When someone is only following instructions, they don't allow themselves to improve."
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
"You…" Natsuko complained. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other and you're already abandoning me?"
"Oh yeah, that's right." Koudai remembered. "If you win this match, my wife will cook some delicious steaks for all of you."
"Ah?" Ryo echoed. "Really?"
"Darling, did you see how many they are?" Natsuko inquired.
"Isn't it a good idea?" Koudai chuckled. "It's worth at least that."
"Mrs. Oozora, I'll also get one, right?" Roberto prodded.
"Even Roberto now…" Natsuko sighed. "Fine. We'll probably be in the red this month, but never mind."
* * *
On the Shutetsu side…
"Listen everyone." The Shutetsu coach told the team. "Today's Nankatsu team isn't the same as before. Put your arrogance aside and stand on your guard during the second half."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"Please." Genzo muttered. "Guys, a goal. Score a goal."
"Captain…" Mamoru gaped.
"I won't ask you for big goals, like 50 goals." Genzo admitted. "But please, score a goal."
* * *
On the Nankatsu side…
"Okay, it's time." Roberto stated, looking at her watch. "You understand? If you see an opportunity, don't hesitate."
"Yes!" the team chorused.
"And remove the ankle weights, guys." Ami added.
"Finally!" Ryo whooped, causing everyone else to chuckle as they knelt to pull off the weights before heading out to the field.
"Don't be too happy just yet, Ishizaki." Ami stated. "Remember my rules."
"What?" Ryo complained, remembering Ami's term if they took off the ankle weights; for every time the weights were removed, an additional 1.5 pounds would be added to _each_ of the weights.
"Rules are rules, Ishizaki." Ami reminded.
"Oh man." Ryo muttered.
"Tsubasa." Koudai started. "I'll watch you from the stands. Listen, do your best to win. Your father hates losers."
"Don't worry, Dad." Tsubasa assured. "I won't lose."
* * *
On the Shutetsu side…
"Fight, Shutetsu." Genzo barked.
"Okay, let's go." Teppei declared, the team heading out. _This is the first time that the Captain is asking this of us._
_We have to…_ Mamoru promised.
_By any means…_ Taki swore.
_Score a goal._ Takasugi finished, the team taking their positions.
* * *
On the field…
"Wow, they look determined." Ryo noted. "Okay, let's do this too. Fight!"
"Yeah!" the team chorused.
"Okay…" Ryo started off.
_Okay._ Mamoru and Teppei shot off, tackling Ryo and claiming the ball.
"Everyone, let's move back." Tsubasa instructed. "Hurry!"
"There!" Ryo quickly caught up. "We need to clear the ball!"
At that, the Nankatsu defenders managed to get the ball off-side, resulting in a throw-in for Shutetsu.
"Damn…" Teppei cursed. "That was close."
_They are really pumped._ Ryo mused. _Thank god for Ami's ankle weights, otherwise we wouldn't be able to match them speed-to-speed._
"Taki, let me take the throw-in." Takasugi called.
_Takasugi, you…_ Genzo wondered.
"Takasugi will take the throw-in?" Tsubasa blinked.
_Captain, watch this._ Takasugi promised. "Go, I'm centering!" he declared and tossed the ball into the field.
"Tsubasa, we're counting on you." Ryo remarked as Tsubasa took off after the air-borne ball.
"I won't lose." Mamoru, too, chased after the ball. "I am the best jumper in Shutetsu." The two players fought over the ball in the air.
Teppei pushed Masao aside and claimed possession of the ball.
"Oh no!" Ryo gasped as Teppei headed towards the goalpost, both Tsubasa and Mamoru on the grass and Teppei fired his shot.
* * *
On the bench…
"F5, F4!" Ami instructed.
* * *
On the field…
"Damn…" Teppei cursed, when his shot was caught accurately by the goalkeeper.
_That girl…_ Genzo turned a look at the girl genius on the Nankatsu bench. _How was she able to…_
* * *
Back in the present…
"Tsubasa's parents are…" Genzo trailed, remembering the motherly Oozora Natsuko.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Ami chuckled. "Married for more than a decade and they _still_ act like newly-weds. But really, what's up with you males and your prides? Wait, don't answer that; I don't think I want to know."
"Nymph, let's just say it's a guy thing." Genzo grinned, nuzzling her neck.
* * *
SailorStar9: And the match heats up. Will things finally get in gear? Or will Shutetsu have the final win?
Eva: You really enjoy leading people on don't you?
SailorStar9: (smirks, giving a mock bow) Guilty as charged. R&R!
12. The Long Shot of Fate
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 10 goes up and only one review. No one else is reading this fic?
Big Boss: You really shouldn't be staying up late...it's bad for your stamina.
SailorStar9: Bah, Stamina means nothing to me...or you it would seem, seriously, there's like ten layers of steel between your room and my office and I could hear everything.
Big Boss: What can I say, it's a talent.
Kakashi: The...beauty...
Big Boss: (Points patriot ant him) I charge per viewing (Fires the gun) Payment in full
Kakashi: MY...MY BALLZ!
SailorStar9: Ha ha...dangly parts.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 11: The Long Shot of Fate
_
* * *
Wakabayashi, it's only the beginning of our battle._ Tsubasa promised.
_Will you continue not to attack, Tsubasa?_ Genzo challenged.
On the stands…
"This goal will weigh heavily." Misaki noted.
* * *
On the field…
"Let's go." Tsubasa told the team. "The match is only beginning."
"Okay, let's go, guys." Ryo encouraged as Tsubasa moved to the front.
_You finally decided to move up, Tsubasa._ Genzo mused.
At the referee's whistle, the match restarted.
"We have to stop Tsubasa." Mamoru barked as he charged to stop Tsubasa. "Forget the wingers."
After passing Mamoru with a feint, Tsubasa pressed on, passing Taki and Teppei in succession. Jumping to dodge another slide-tackle, Tsubasa headed forward.
"Keep going at this pace." Ryo instructed, following behind Tsubasa.
"Leave him." Genzo ordered, once Takasugi moved in to stop Tsubasa. "No need to mark him. Let him shoot." Just as Tsubasa ran past the defender and fired his shot.
Genzo jumped to stop the ball.
"As expected from him." Ryo noted.
"Go, it's our chance." Genzo told his team. "Go." And tossed the ball to the striker.
"Hurry guys, we have to get back!" Ryo shouted, hurrying back to the Nankatsu field.
The striker then passed the ball to Taki, who in turn sent it Mamoru's way. Maneuvering out of his marker's path, Mamoru passed the ball, only to have Masao clear the ball before it reached the winger's feet. Mamoru got the throw-in, sending it to Taki's way, who then passed it to an incoming Teppei.
Tsubasa had by then return to the Nankatsu field and stole the ball from Teppei.
_Such a clever player._ Genzo mused. _He read the path of the pass in a split second. Eh? What?_ He blinked when Tsubasa readied to shoot from half-court.
Stopping at mid-field, Tsubasa fired the shot.
"Great." Ryo beamed.
"It's the super long shot he showed us against Nishigaoki." Masao added.
_Are you losing it, Tsubasa?_ Genzo smirked, catching the ball. _You thought that such a shot could work against me?_
"It was close, Tsubasa." Ryo remarked. "I thought it would go in for sure."
* * *
On the bench…
_Keep your calm, Tsubasa._ Roberto mused. _You're trying to shoot too much. Soccer has to be played by eleven players._
"This is troublesome." Ami noted. "Bas' flaw is showing up in this match."
"What do you mean?" Roberto inquired.
"A goal can't be scored alone." Ami elaborated. Until our arrival here, Bas always played alone with his ball; which means he's not used to team play." As Tsubasa reclaimed possession of the ball on the field.
* * *
On the field…
"He's playing alone." Teppei remarked as he and the rest of the strikers dashed forward. "We have to completely mark Tsubasa."
_Alright._ Tsubasa smiled and sent a long pass forward, stopping his markers in mid-step.
"What?" Teppei gaped at the flying ball which Oda claimed under his feet, before passing to Masao.
* * *
On the bench…
_Was this his plan all along?_ Roberto wondered. _Or did he decide to do it, when he realized what was happening? In any case, he really has an incredible flair for the game._
_That's it, Bas._ Ami smiled. _You can't do this along. Soccer is a game played with 11 players._
* * *
On the field…
"Don't leave Tsubasa unmarked." Genzo barked as the unmarked Tsubasa reclaimed the ball Masao passed and passed the ball near the throw-in line, where Ryo was waiting to claim the ball.
"Watch the opposite side!" Genzo ordered just as Ryo passed a centering to the incoming Oda, who ducked the flying ball, causing Genzo to completely miss his mark and enabling Tsubasa to fire a diving head shot.
However, the pending goal missed its mark, bouncing off course when it hit the goalpost.
_Luck is also a strength._ Genzo smirked. _Sorry Tsubasa, but this match is for us. What's he thinking?_ He frowned at Tsubasa's smile. _Smiling at this stage, is he admitting defeat? Okay, in that case, you'll see._ He decided as Taki readied the corner kick. "Taki, pass it to me!" he ordered.
"Captain…" Taki blinked as Genzo dashed out of his post and threw the ball to the goalkeeper who immediately sent the ball flying towards Nankatsu's net with a long shot and scoring a goal.
* * *
On the bench…
"Okay, wasn't expecting that." Ami blinked, the sudden turn surprising her.
* * *
On the field…
"Alright, the 'birdcage'!" Genzo barked upon returning to the goalpost.
"The 'birdcage'?" Teppei echoed.
"What's 'the birdcage'?" Tsubasa was puzzled.
"The 'birdcage'?" Ryo blinked. _Could it be…_ and turned to the team strategist on the bench, Ami giving him a nod to confirm his suspicions.
"What's 'the birdcage'?" Masao wondered as he headed back.
"I don't know what it is, but if they get the ball back, this will be bad for us." Tsubasa remarked.
"Having to use the 'birdcage' against a team like Nankatsu…" Teppei noted, snatching the ball away.
"We don't have a choice." Taki admitted. "We've only managed to score one goal against Nankatsu."
* * *
On the bench…
_An elementary school team plans to use the 'birdcage'?_ Roberto mused. _If we get caught in it, we won't have any chance to counter-attack._
Meanwhile, Ami started the mental countdown as Mamoru passed the ball, the Shutetsu team getting into position.
* * *
On the field…
_If we don't get the ball back…_ Ryo hurried back to the Nankatsu side. _Not yet, Ami?_ He turned to look at the girl genius. _Alright._ He smiled, at Ami's nod, his cue to commence her counter-plan. "Everyone, scatter!" he shouted, intercepting Mamoru's pass to Taki, his left ankle clashing into Taki's outstretched right foot.
"Yosh!" Tsubasa declared, taking possession of the mislaid ball as the rest of the team spread out across the field.
With everyone in place, Tsubasa sent the ball flying into the air, passing it to Oda, who repeated the aerial shot to Masao.
_This is…_ Genzo was stunned to see that Shutetsu's trademark delaying tactic was countered by the scattering of the Nankatsu players and their consecutive aerial passes. _That girl…_ he cast a look at Ami. _To poach on one main weakness of soccer players… She's no ordinary girl, that's for sure._
"Tsubasa, everyone, I'm counting on you!" the injured Ryo shouted on the field.
"Damn, they got us." Mamoru cursed as the Shutetsu team hurried back.
"We have to stop him." Teppei promised.
_Come, Tsubasa._ Genzo was ready. _We'll put an end to this challenge once and for all._
"Tsubasa, last pass!" Oda fired the final aerial shot.
"I won't let you pass, Tsubasa." Mamoru stood in front of the goal.
Tsubasa pulled a feint and headed straight for the goal, just as Genzo dashed out to stop the shot.
"So, you persist on shooting outside the penalty area, Tsubasa?" Genzo wondered. "This shot again…" he trailed as Tsubasa fired his shot and dived to intercept, causing the ball to hit the goalpost bar. "I win." He was confident of his victory, before gaping when Tsubasa somersaulted in the air, sending the ball into the net with an overhead kick.
"I did it!" Tsubasa cheered as the equalizer shot entered the goal.
* * *
Back in the present…
"The morale of that goal: never count your chickens before they hatch." Ami grinned at her grimacing love who was recalling his first official loss to Tsubasa.
"You don't have to rub it in, Nymph." Genzo muttered.
* * *
Kakashi: Ballz...river...of blood...
SailorStar9: Ah shite...it's all over the floor (turns head) VAMP!
Vamp: (Twirls in like a vampire ballerina) You called Star?
SailorStar9: Don't call me that (Nods to the pile) clean that up, and be quick about it.
Vamp: But of course (leers at Kakashi) Haaaaaaaaaaaaah...!
Kakashi: ...whimper...
R&R!
13. The Birth of An Explosive Duo
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 11 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic? And, for those who requested, we will be leveling off on the character bashing.
Kakashi: Yay!
BRATATATATATATATATATA!
SailorStar9: (Nods at Big Boss, who lowers the patriot) Just not too soon. (Smirks)
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 12: The Birth of An Explosive Duo
* * *
"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa blinked at the defeated goalkeeper, before it was announced that the match would be decided via extended time.
* * *
On the bench…
"Well done, Tsubasa." Roberto remarked.
"Thanks." Tsubasa nodded.
"But you really surprised me." Roberto admitted. "Seeing you using the overhead kick after the ball bounced off that you only saw once. And also, even if it was pure luck, you managed it during a match. You are really impressive."
"To be honest, I find it hard to believe too." Tsubasa confessed. "I tried to copy you during the training, and when the ball hit the bar, I jumped without thinking."
"Yes." Roberto nodded.
"Extra time?" Ryo echoed. "It won't be easy."
"Ishizaki, is your leg okay?" Tsubasa asked.
"Oh, that's right." Masao noted. "The captain's leg got wounded when he cut Shutetsu's pass."
"This is nothing at all." Ryo assured. "I saw worse things than that. Look." He demonstrated a kick, only to wince at the pain.
"Ishizaki!" the team hurried over.
* * *
On the field…
"Damn, we Shutetsu, having so many problems." Taki cursed.
"Don't say that." Mamoru chided. "If we managed to contain Tsubasa a little more by playing by the clock, we would have won."
"Sorry, Captain." Teppei apologized.
"Captain…" Mamoru blinked as Genzo stood up.
"It's over." Genzo declared and walked off.
* * *
On the Nankatsu bench…
"Seriously…" Ami sighed, the first aid box on the grass as Roberto removed Ryo's shoe. "You'll have to see a doctor for this." She advised, feeling Ryo's ankle, causing the injured player to wince.
"You won't be able to play the extra-time?" Masao wondered.
"Don't say silly things." Ryo scolded. "It's not like this kind of scratch which will make me…"
"You can't say such things." Ami chided.
"It wouldn't be reasonable." Misaki cut in. "You shouldn't force yourself, you may have a sprain."
"Who are you?" Ryo wondered as Ami sat him down once more. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed.
"This is really a sprain." Ami concluded, removing his sock. "You should recover in around 3 days. But you are lucky you don't seem to have a fracture."
"Who are you?" Tsubasa repeated Ryo's question.
"My name is Misaki Taro." Misaki replied.
"But how will we do?" Ami pondered. "Our team is exactly composed of 11 players. If the captain has to go out, we won't…"
"And me, could I replace you?" Misaki requested.
"You?" Tsubasa echoed.
"Yes." Misaki nodded.
"You aren't from Nankatsu either." Ryo reminded. "I never saw you."
"I'm from Nankatsu." Misaki confirmed. "I moved in today."
"You are a new student?" Masao blinked.
"What is this?" Ami muttered. "'The Term of Transfer Students'?"
"Then you are really from Nankatsu, even if you are new." Ryo noted.
"But do you really know how to play soccer?" Ami inquired.
"A bit." Misaki replied. "Well…" he took a nearby ball under his foot and started heading the ball on his head.
"Tsubasa, did you see his ball control?" Ryo was awed.
"Yes, superb." Tsubasa agreed.
"Yes, it's decided." Roberto declared. "Ishizaki's substitute would be Misaki Taro."
* * *
On the Shutetsu bench…
"Captain…" Mamoru voiced as Genzo picked up his bag to leave.
"As I said before the match, the bet of this match was to see if Tsubasa could score a goal on me." Genzo stated. "And I lost this duel. Those extra-times have no meaning for me. The match is already over."
"Wait, Wakabayashi." The coach voiced.
"Captain!" the team pleaded.
"Coach Mikami…" Genzo gasped when his trainer slapped him across the face, sending him to the ground.
"I have enough of your spoiled kid attitude, Genzo." Mikami barked. "'The match is over'? Look." He turned to the Nankatsu bench. "Stop being so proud, Genzo. You won't only lose against Oozora Tsubasa. Do you also want to lose to the efforts of your training and to all of Shutetsu who trusted you until now? If this is what you want, alright. But Genzo, I don't ever want to see you again."
* * *
On the Nankatsu bench…
"Understand?" Roberto addressed the team. "Follow the formation I explained to you just now."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"Misaki, I'm counting on you to assist Tsubasa." Roberto turned to the new addition.
"Yes, Cooch." Misaki nodded.
"Misaki." Tsubasa looked at his new partner.
* * *
On the Shutetsu bench…
"It's true that I lost my duel against Tsubasa." Genzo admitted. "But, first of all, I'm Shutetsu's captain."
"Captain." Mamoru breathed in relief.
"Forgive me, guys." Genzo apologized. "I woke up. We'll win this match. Understand? Starting from now, we'll show them the true soccer of Shutetsu."
"Yes!" the team chorused.
"Okay, let's go." Genzo declared.
* * *
On the field,..
Both teams returned to the turf.
_Wakabayashi…_ Tsubasa mused as the whistle came on.
"Come, Tsubasa." Genzo remarked and the match started.
"Tsubasa." Misaki passed the ball to Tsubasa who then fired the shot, only to have Genzo save the ball.
"That was close." Misaki admitted once he and Tsubasa returned to their posts.
"Wakabayashi is really strong." Tsubasa noted.
"Damn, what does that mean?" Teppei cursed.
"After Tsubasa, a new unknown player is making his appearance in Nankatsu." Taki added.
"And, he's not an ordinary player." Mamoru remarked.
_That Misaki is rather good._ Genzo mused. "Cheer up, guys." He encouraged. "Whoever the opponent is, there is no need to panic. We just need to play our soccer and everything will be fine. Show them what Shutetsu's secret technique is worth."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"Go!" Genzo tossed the ball.
Misaki intercepted the pass Mamoru made to Taki, cutting off the Shutetsu's series of passes. "Tsubasa." He called.
"Yes." Tsubasa caught up with Misaki.
* * *
On the bench…
"That's great, Coach." Ryo was amazed. "We are completely imposing our pace in the extra-time. They are fantastic."
"Yes, this is unexpected." Roberto admitted. "But things are turning out good."
"Tsubasa and Misaki." Ryo added. "As long as they are here, Nankatsu can't lose."
"If only I knew that thing would turn out like that, I would have preferred to see you wounded before." Roberto joked.
"That's not nice, Coach." Ryo complained.
_At this rate, maybe, just maybe…_ Ami flipped to the last page of her clipboard, the 'Golden Triangle' battle plan already sketched out.
* * *
On the field…
Tsubasa and Misaki had already penetrated the Shutetsu field after making a series of passes to each other.
"Nakamoto, don't look after both of them." Genzo barked. "Focus your marking on only one. Takasugi, Shimada, more to the left. Nakamoto, keep marking Tsubasa like this."
"Misaki, it's your turn." Tsubasa stated, having passed the ball to Misaki.
"Okay." Misaki made the shot, only to have Genzo dive to save the ball.
"It was really a perfect shot though." Tsubasa noted as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first-half.
After a five-minute interval, the teams returned to the field, starting with Nankatsu's kick-off.
It was not long before Shutetsu claimed possession of the ball, with Mamoru, Taki and Teppei using their usual combo.
Teppei, gaining possession of the ball, fired his shot, only to have the goalkeeper deflect the ball.
"Damn!" Teppei cursed as Taki took the corner-kick.
Takasugi claimed the ball, scoring a goal; the force of the shot was too powerful for the goalkeeper to block it.
"Captain, there isn't much time remaining." Mamoru pointed out. "What do we do?"
"We keep the ball to let the time pass, the 'birdcage'?" Teppei suggested.
"Is it really what you want?" Genzo inquired. "Won't you have any regrets if we win this way?
"Captain?" Mamoru blinked.
"Besides, that tactic has already been broken." Genzo reminded. "Let's do more than just protecting this goal, let's ensure our victory by scoring another goal." He decided.
"Yes, you're right." The team agreed.
"Tsubasa." Misaki nodded.
"Yes, we will equalize." Tsubasa promised. "Let's go!"
* * *
Back in the present…
"So, _that_ was what happened." Ami remarked amusedly. "I was wondering since when did your tenacity for victory shift away from Bas."
"Good thing Coach Mikami gave me a reality check." Genzo agreed. "Otherwise, we won't be as we are right now." He nuzzled her neck, before giving her a love-bite.
* * *
SailorStar9: Wait... where's Kakashi?
Wesker: Oh, were you still using him? I had him sent to the lab.
In a dimly lit laboratory, a tall, thin man with long limbs and bizarre spectacles leered down at the remains of Kakashi and held up his surgically gloved, six fingered hands.
Doc: A Vunderfull specimen...let Ze operation begin!
Kakashi corpse: ...
R&R, or no more Kakashi Pwnage.
14. To Bet Everything On The Last Chance
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 12 goes up and only one review! Is this a sign of the end?
Major: OH I zertainly hope not, othervise there'd be no time for ze next war...und ze war to follow that...und ze next...und ze next...
SailorStar9: Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh-tah...(nods to Big Boss) You CAN handle this guy right?
Big Boss: Nazi's? Vampires? Cyborgs? (Lights a cigar) Please.
Major: By Ze way...that charming fellow with ze sunglasses seems to be a little perplexed.
SailorStar9: (Looks up at a monitor to see Wesker dragging a recovered Kakashi down a hallway.) Just testing something. Care to do the honors?
Major: Da. (Points remote, nothing happens.) Eh? Ist this thing vorking right?
Captain: ... (takes remote and turns it to face the right way round, points at screen)
Major: Ah, danke Captain. Roll Camera!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 13: To Bet Everything On The Last Chance
_
* * *
Tsubasa, I won't just wait here in the goals._ Genzo stood ready. _I will show you Shutetsu's true power._
"We have to catch up." Tsubasa told the team. "Got it?"
"Let's go." Misaki passed the ball to Tsubasa as the game resumed.
"Be careful, this guy is dangerous." Mamoru cautioned. "We have to take the ball from him quickly."
"Ok, let's go." Teppei voiced.
"Misaki." Tsubasa passed the ball to his partner, their rapid passes enabling them to bypass the Shutetsu players easily.
"Shimada, take care of Tsubasa." Genzo instructed as the two closed in. "And you, Nakamoto, get Misaki. Keep them covered."
"Oda!" Tsubasa made a long overhead pass, finding himself surrounded.
"I got it." Oda claimed the ball and dribbled towards the goal.
"Masao!" he passed the ball off, seeing himself marked.
Masao passed the ball off, as a Shutetsu player came forth to mark him, the entire Nankatsu team moving forward.
"Head up!" Iwami made a long pass overhead to the approaching Tsubasa and Misaki, only to have Genzo catch the ball.
"It's your turn." Genzo tossed the ball. "Go."
Taki took possession of the ball and led the attack, forcing the Nankatsu players to head back to defend.
"Damn!" Teppei was forced to pass the ball when he found himself blocked by two defenders.
"Not so fast!" the goalkeeper leapt to defend the goalpost when Mamoru fired his shot.
Misaki had by then returned to the goalpost, intercepting the ball's path.
"Well played, Misaki." Tsubasa beamed.
"Thanks." Misaki nodded. "Let's go for a counter-attack."
"Alright." Tsubasa focused on the match.
_An extraordinary save… a perfect feint._ Genzo mused as Misaki feinted yet another Shutetsu forward. _He can read every one of his opponent's plays. He's got some remarkable talent. Tsubasa acts with his instinct. It's as if the ball is part of his body._ As Tsubasa made another pass to Misaki.
Everyone looked on anxiously as the duo headed straight for the Shutetsu goalpost.
_I'm going to anticipate your movements, Misaki._ Genzo thought. _Will it be you or Tsubasa? Who will shoot? Good, I bet on Tsubasa._ And true to his suspicions, Misaki passed the ball to Tsubasa just outside the penalty box. _You'll be the one to shoot._ Genzo focused on Tsubasa.
"Misaki!" Tsubasa made a last-minute decision, passing the ball back to Misaki.
_What?_ Genzo gasped as Misaki dived for a head shot.
The goalkeeper moved to block Misaki's path, only to have Misaki switch from a head shot to a head pass.
"Yes!" Tsubasa sent the ball into the undefended net with a head shot. "Superb, we're tied again!" he whooped.
"Well played, Tsubasa." Misaki remarked as the pair headed back.
_I chose Tsubasa in the beginning._ Genzo cursed his misjudgment. _And then I was fooled._
"Sorry, captain." Mamoru apologized. "We couldn't stop them."
"Damn idiots!" Genzo scolded. "Why are you apologizing? We're not in the lead anymore. Come on, it's not over yet. There's still some time left."
"Captain." Mamoru breathed.
_Tsubasa, I won't lose to you._ Genzo promised.
The whistle was blown, signaling the last leg of the match, with Shutetsu going on the offensive and Nankatsu fighting for the ball.
"Here's a long pass!" Tsubasa stole the ball from Teppei, firing a long overhead pass.
"Takasugi, go!" Genzo ordered once Oda claimed the ball.
Misaki retook the ball once Oda was slide-tackled. "Tsubasa!" he made a long overhead pass.
"Damn!" Genzo moved out of his post. "I have to get the ball." He swore, both rivals diving for the air-borne ball, the impact causing them both to drop to the field, the ball rolling away, hitting the goalpost and rolling off the field.
At that, the final whistle was blown, signaling the end of the match and the game in a draw.
"You got me, Tsubasa." Genzo admitted.
"A tie." Tsubasa reached out a hand which the goalkeeper took.
"It's over." Masao breathed in relief.
"Ouch!" Oda winced. "The game just ended and the pain is already setting in."
"What a beautiful match." Mamoru told the exhausted Nankatsu players. "I wasn't expecting that, honestly."
"It's true." Teppei agreed. "We misjudged you."
"I hope that the next match will be just as good." Taki noted.
"We won't lose." Oda promised, both sides exchanging handshakes.
* * *
Back in the present…
"Typical boys." Ami muttered. "Have to make friends with every worthy rival."
"Like you're the one to talk." Genzo smirked. "You _actually_ live with the guy."
"Don't I know it." Ami bemoaned. "And as it would seem, the Senshi's lack of awareness came back to bite us in the rear." She remarked, sensing a spike in dark mana.
"Transform?" Genzo suggested, already looking around.
"Agreed." Ami nodded. "And pray it doesn't take over either one of us." At his look, she explained, "I think the dark mana will affect _all_ magical beings, awakened or not. As long as they have the capability of using magic, _anyone_ can be taken over."
"Mercury, any idea where all the dark mana came from?" the Sun Knight asked his female counterpart.
"Yes." The Eternal-level Senshi nodded as she looked up from her computer. "It's residual. I guess it started gathering back when the Dark Kingdom was still around. Each new enemy we fought used dark mana or mana for their attacks, so this residual energy grew larger and larger."
"And now it has enough power to strike" the Phoenix Guardian concluded. "But, what is it looking for?"
"Survival, maybe." Mercury replied. "The dark mana 'feeds' from the darker emotions like pain, anger, hatred, fear... and I think we've just found our latest victim." She added, the pair hearing a crash.
* * *
Ten minutes later…
"That was almost _too_ easy." Genzo remarked, the Sun Knight having used his 'Gravity Press' to hold the affected mage-to-be in place while Mercury healed the human.
"Perhaps." Ami stated. "But the future battles will be a lot more difficult."
* * *
Major: Ve could Vatch Der show?
Monitor: Kakashi is thrown into a room, looking up in horror into the face of Nemesis. He charges a 'Raikiri', only to be impaled by the tentacle.
SailorStar9: Seriously, he just stood there as it charged up. What the hell?
Kakashi: (Glares murderously at Nemesis, only to stare in horror at the single, visible Sharingan.) No... It can't be... Obito?
SPLORTCH!
R&R PLZ!
15. My Dream Is To Go To Brazil
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 13 goes up and only one review! Is this a sign of the end?
Major: Da...dere ist something not quite right about zis.
Captain: ...
SailorStar9: The canine is right (rummages through a box) Here, have a cookie.
Captain: (Catches biscuit)...
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 14: My Dream Is To Go To Brazil
* * *
"Let's regroup." Roberto blew his whistle, signaling for a time-out. "You all move better than before."
"You even tied with Shutetsu last time." Ryo added.
"If we keep this up, we'll be able to play in the National Championships." Tsubasa remarked "Okay, guys?"
"Yeah, I know we can do it." Masao agreed.
"Okay, let's pick up the training again." Roberto instructed.
* * *
In school…
"Hey, Murayama." Shiroyama called to his junior.
"Shiroyama." Murayama greeted her senior. "Sorry for being rude. You're the coach of the new Nankatsu soccer club, right?"
"Don't act so formal." Shiroyama laughed. "Why so courtesy between students?"
"If you say so." Murayama replied.
"I heard the match between Shutetsu and Nankatsu was a tie." Shiroyama stated.
"Yes, those kids really had a beautiful match." Murayama answered. "And they're going to play in the National Championships."
"I wanted to talk to you about just that." Shiroyama remarked. "The town of Nankatsu is recruiting players to play in the Championships."
"Recruiting players?" Murayama took the list Shiroyama handed to her.
"Yes, to form a stronger team." Shiroyama confirmed.
"The best from both schools, I imagine." Murayama noted.
"Yes, the choices are made based on a test." Shiroyama nodded.
"That's harsh." Murayama remarked. "I don't know if my students can pass."
"I wonder how many players from Nankatsu will be chosen." Shiroyama mused.
"I'd like them all to be chosen." Murayama admitted. "They trained themselves so hard."
"And I learned that one of your students actually broke the Shutetsu's time-delaying tactic." Shiroyama added.
"Ah, our resident school genius." Murayama smiled.
"That's her." Shiroyama nodded. "I would like her to be the team manageress."
* * *
In the Wakabayashi household…
"Next, please." Genzo requested.
"Good, that's it for today." Mikami stated, ending the practice.
"I want to practice some more." Genzo panted. "I'm sure Tsubasa and his team are training themselves for the tryouts. Please." He tossed the ball back at his trainer.
"It isn't good to train yourself too hard." Mikami reminded. "Please stop."
"Okay." Genzo relented. "It's the issue this month, right?" He picked up his sports magazine on the side table.
"Yes, your parents brought it a moment ago." Mikami supplied. "What?" he inquired, hearing his protégé's startled gasp. "What's in the article?"
"Roberto Hongo…" Genzo added. "Left the Brazilian team."
"How…" Mikami was stunned. "Roberto Hongo…"
"Roberto Hongo quits soccer." Genzo read. "Because of problems with his retina, he's abandoning his career."
* * *
The next morning…
"All of them are really into it." Ryo sighed on the bench. "I can't stand it anymore."
"Patience is a virtue, Ishizaki." Ami reminded, eyes raised from her clipboard as she stopped in mid-sketch. "And no unwrapping your bandages, doctor's orders."
"Wakabayashi." Ryo blinked at the incoming goalkeeper. "I'm really impatient to trash Shutetsu but we have to concentrate on the tryouts first."
"Dare I ask what are you doing all the way across town?" Ami inquired.
"Where's Roberto Hongo?" Genzo demanded.
"He's not here yet." Ryo replied.
"Ah, Wakabayashi." Tsubasa spotted the goalkeeper.
"Did you hear about Roberto Hongo's eyes?" Genzo pressed.
"What are you talking about?" Tsubasa wondered.
"He can't play soccer anymore." Genzo informed.
"What?" the team chorused.
"But…" Tsubasa trailed.
"Liar." Ryo barked. "He still plays with us."
"Yes!" Masao agreed.
"I don't think playing with elementary students is a problem for him." Genzo stated. "But he can't play anymore against professionals. He stopped before running away."
"Mataku." Ami sighed. "It's just one wave after another. I swear you boys are really going to be death of me one of these days."
"Ami…" Tsubasa looked over at his cousin. "You… knew?"
"Bas, you forgot who my Mum is." Ami deathpanned. "I'll be both blind _and_ stupid not to notice the tell-tale signs of severe retina tearing. And from what I can deduce, if Roberto takes one more hard hit to his eye, he will be blind, _permanently_. Or that's what Mum's medical journals tell me." She added an afterthought.
"Then why didn't you…" Tsubasa trailed.
"Tell you about it?" Ami finished his question and gave her cousin a wry smile. "Because I don't want to see you like this."
"Tsubasa." Ryo called as Tsubasa ran off.
"I'm going to ask Roberto myself." Tsubasa insisted.
"Me too." Ryo decided, the boys following the cousins back to the house.
* * *
In the Oozora household…
"Please, I beg you." Roberto made his request, just as the children burst into the house. "I'll do all I can to make Tsubasa one of the best players in the world. Let me take Tsubasa to Brazil." When the kitchen's door opened, revealing the shell-shocked boys.
"Roberto." Tsubasa voiced. "Is it true that you can't play soccer anymore?"
"Yes." Roberto confirmed. "My place isn't on the field."
"Is it also true that you have ended your career?" Tsubasa inquired.
"Yes." Roberto affirmed. "I want to continue playing with you without you worrying about me."
"Roberto." Tsubasa breathed.
"I've abandoned all hope of fixing my eyesight." Roberto stated. "But I've found another dream."
"Another dream?" Tsubasa blinked.
"It's you, Tsubasa." Roberto replied.
"Tsubasa?" the boys chorused.
"I'm going to make you one of the best players in the world." Roberto promised.
"Me?" Tsubasa gaped.
"Please." He turned to Tsubasa's parents. "Leave Tsubasa to me."
"I want to go to Brazil." Tsubasa declared. "I want to go there with you to become an international player."
"Tsubasa." Roberto nodded. "I'm sure you can do it."
"Dear…" Natsuko looked at her husband.
"Incredible." Ryo gushed. "Brazil."
"I'm sure Tsubasa can do it." Misaki assured.
* * *
The next day, at the selections meet…
"There really are a lot of people." Ryo gawked. "It won't be easy to succeed in the selections. Do you believe we can do it?"
"This is not the time to say that." Ami chided.
"You too, are you taking the test?" Teppei inquired, the Shutetsu team approaching the Nankatsu boys.
"Of course." Ryo boasted. "Remember, we tied in our last match."
"I wish you luck." Teppei remarked. "We're aiming to be all chosen."
"Us too.." Ryo retorted. "All of us. Or not…" he muttered.
"Why are you looking at me?" Masao protested.
_Boys will always be boys._ Ami shook her head amusedly as the boys laughed.
"Yo." Urabe voiced. "The same goes for us at Nishigaoka, we think we can all get chosen."
"Everyone is motivated." Tsubasa blinked.
"Yo, Tsubasa." Genzo called. "If we're both chosen, we'll play together."
"Yes." Tsubasa agreed.
"And add more to my workload." Ami joked. "Thanks a bunch, boys."
"Paperwork?" Misaki guessed.
"Misaki, did you have to say the 'P' word?" Ami grimaced. "You should have seen my 'In' tray." As the announcement for the tryouts sounded over the loudspeaker. "Duty calls." She told the assembled boys and ran off.
* * *
Back in the present, the next day…
'_Everyone takes off to make fresh new lives for themselves.', huh?_ Ami mused, recalling her Uncle Koudai's quote as she watched Genzo practice with Hermann Kaltz and Karl-Heinz Schneider. _Guess he's right. Misaki's on a plane back to France, me and Genzo are here in Germany and the rest of the guys are still back in Japan. And after high school, I reckon Bas will head off to Brazil and Hyuuga to Spain. I suppose the only thing that will bring everyone back to Japan will be the World Youth Championship._
* * *
Major: (Looks at caffeine-high SailorStar9) Da, Coffee is bad for you.
Wesker: (Nods in agreement) And that's only _one_ cup. She needs help...or Decaf.
R&R, plz!
16. The Intervention Of The Wild Wolf
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 14 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic?
Major: (Looks at caffeine and sugar-high SailorStar9) Dis isn't good...
Wesker: How so?
Major: This place ist held together by her vill...if she snaps...
Hellboy: Oh...Crap.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 15: The Intervention Of The Wild Wolf, Kojirou
* * *
"Oozora Tsubasa, Misaki Taro and me." Ryo declared to the rest of the team. "The three of us passed the selections test with flying colors."
"Well done!" the rest of the team cheered.
"You guys did your best too." Ryo added. "There was just too much difference in our skill levels. But it's a pity. As your captain, I understand your disappointment. Really."
"Seeing Tsubasa and Misaki pass wasn't too much of a surprise." Masao noted. "But for you, Ishizaki, it's a miracle."
"More like divine intervention." Ami muttered and wracked Ryo on the head with her clipboard. "Ishizaki, you can't afford to take it easy from here on."
"Huh?" Ryo blinked.
"She's right." Misaki agreed. "We're part of the remaining 30 candidates, but only 15 will be chosen for the team."
"Damn, I forgot that." Ryo gaped.
"It sounds scary already." Masao taunted. "And we can tell you that it would be suicide for us. We really should focus the training on you three."
"Everyone." Ryo blinked.
"It's not a problem for Misaki and Tsubasa, but…" Oda voiced.
"The thing is…" Masao added, the boys turning to Ryo.
"What?" Ryo gaped. "What's with that look?"
"Ishizaki, you'll have to train seriously." Masao stated.
"That's right." Tsubasa agreed. "I think you just barely made it."
"I agree." Misaki concurred.
"You're not cool, Tsubasa." Roy pouted. "I know that I'm not at your level."
"Then, it's decided." Oda stated. "We'll focus on training you, Ishizaki."
"What?" Ryo gawked.
"We have a match this weekend." Masao added. "Every other day of the week, we can focus on your training."
"Time to increase the training weights then." Ami mused.
"Wait." Ryo protested.
"What are you doing?" Masao barked as Ryo dribbled the ball as he weaved through the boys who were standing in line. "It's not over yet."
"Faster!" Oda ordered as Ryo passed him.
"Too slow, Ishizaki." Ami scolded, stopping the stopwatch after Ryo finished his run.
"Ami, don't compare me to Tsubasa." Ryo complained. "Let me catch my breath."
"One minute." Ami relented.
"What?" Ryo exclaimed. "That's it? I don't ask for 10 minutes, but give me at least 5. Please."
"30 seconds." Ami shot back, silencing all arguments as Ryo sank to his knees in resignation.
_Kowaii,_ the boys thought in eerie unison, _Seriously Kowaii…_
* * *
"If I manage to get in the top 15, I'll get to play in the Championships." Ryo stated, after the training regime.
"That's not true." Oda corrected. "Last year, Shutetsu won it all alone. And if we give them Tsubasa, Misaki and Ami…"
"We'll definitely win." Ryo finished. "It's cool, Tsubasa. You'll be able to go to Brazil with Roberto as promised."
"It would be great if it was that easy." Misaki voiced.
"What does that mean, Misaki?" Ryo inquired.
"Junior soccer is getting more and more competitive." Misaki replied. "And from what I've heard, there are many strong teams."
"Really?" Ryo echoed.
"Of course, with your Dad's work, you must travel a lot, right?" Ami realized. "You must have made a lot of friends that play soccer."
"Are you sure you're not exaggerating?" Masao was unconvinced.
"No, really." Misaki was certain. "Take, for example, Kujukuri FC in Chiba. They train at the beach every day to improve their legs. They're really fast and hit in the ball at superhuman speeds. The team from Naniwa FC from Osaka are all really tall and master all kinds of aerial attacks. And Hukata FC from Fukuoka train with adults, so they have a lot of experience."
"Wow, that does seem difficult." Ryo noted.
"And we must not forget," Misaki continued.
"What?" Ryo exclaimed. "You're not done yet?"
"The team of Meiwa FC which has already participated in the National Championships." Misaki added.
"Meiwa FC?" Ryo echoed.
"We have to be wary of their formidable ace striker, Hyuuga Kojirou." Misaki cautioned.
"No problem." Ryo declared. "Tsubasa is the only player to ever score a goal against Wakabayashi. He's not afraid of anyone."
"Kojirou huh?" Tsubasa echoed.
"Yes, but you two have very different ways in playing your positions." Misaki nodded. "Your entire playing style, in fact."
"Meiwa FC, Hyuuga Kojirou…" Tsubasa mused.
* * *
"Ishizaki, fight." The boys chanted as they paced alongside Ryo on their way home. "Ishizaki, fight."
"Stop the torture." Ryo muttered. "I've dribbled enough for today. I can't do it anymore."
"As if we'd let you do that?" Masao taunted. "Don't you remember what the coach told us? Befriend the ball."
"There's more?" Ryo whined.
"Ah, Wakabayashi and the others." Tsubasa stopped, seeing the approaching Shutetsu team who were on their way back from the training match.
"Tsubasa." Genzo greeted. "You're going back? Oh, Ishizaki is the only one covered with mud."
"Shut up." Ryo snapped. "I'm training for the tryouts."
"You've always had a big mouth, Ishizaki." Genzo remarked.
"Hey, what's that mean?" Ryo retorted.
"Calm down, Ishizaki." Genzo pacified.
"What is it, Wakabayashi?" Ami inquired, seeing the goalkeeper's sudden change in expression.
"Nothing at all." Genzo replied, hiding the pain in his ankle, having injured himself during the training match. "How about we encourage Ishizaki too?" he told his team.
"They should mind their own business." Ryo complained as the Shutetsu team joined in.
"Well, you _were_ the one who said 'anything'." Ami pointed out.
"You don't have to remind me." Ryo pouted. "I'll show them." He promised. "I will be chosen. You'll see."
_Wakabayashi Genzo._ Hyuuga grinned, once everyone else were out of earshot. _The genius keeper. I will test your strength._
* * *
The next day…
After the initial warm up, the boys were divided into two teams to decide on the final 15.
"Good." Hyuuga rose from the bench. "I'll join them too. Is that you, Wakabayashi?" he voiced from behind the goalpost.
"Who are you?" Genzo demanded.
"Meiwa FC, Hyuuga Kojirou." Hyuuga introduced himself.
"Hyuuga Kojirou?" Genzo echoed.
Jumping on top of the goalpost, Hyuuga leapt into the field. "I challenge you, Wakabayashi Genzo." He declared.
"What?" Genzo growled as Hyuuga took off, snatching the ball away Teppei.
"Who is he?" Tsubasa wondered as Hyuuga headed straight towards Genzo.
"Kojirou…" Misaki breathed.
"What?" Tsubasa echoed. "It's him, Hyuuga Kojirou?"
"Captain, he…" Mamoru started as Hyuuga ran past him.
"I accept his challenge." Genzo voiced.
"I knew you would understand, genius keeper, Wakabayashi." Hyuuga continued his run.
"He's running towards the goal." Tsubasa remarked, Hyuuga having pushed the Shutetsu defenders away. "He's dribbling aggressively and with such power."
"Yes." Misaki concurred. "You play technically, but he plays with force."
"Here I come, Wakabayashi." Hyuuga declared, having gotten past Takasugi. "I want to see your genius keeper talent with my own eyes." And fired his shot outside the penalty box.
"Wakabayashi, stop it." Tsubasa shouted.
"It's in." Teppei gaped when Genzo let the ball fly past him, the ball entering the net.
"It seems that my shot has paralyzed you." Hyuuga smirked.
"I can't let him…" Tsubasa cursed.
"Tsubasa." Misaki stopped him. "Don't show him your skill yet. Wait for your time."
"Misaki?" Hyuuga noticed the other player. "Is that really you, Misaki?"
"Kojirou, you haven't changed at all." Misaki remarked.
"Neither have you." Hyuuga added. "Still following your father during his travels?"
"No, this time, I'll stay a bit longer." Misaki replied.
"Good, since everyone's gathered, I'll make my announcement." Hyuuga looked around. "It's my team, Meiwa FC, that will win the National Championships this year. If you're lucky, we'll see each other again. See you, Misaki." He took off.
_If you came for to gather information about us, you've failed, Kojirou._ Misaki mused. _You don't know that we've got Oozora Tsubasa on our team._
"Captain." The Shutetsu players clustered around Genzo, taking off after the goalkeeper who had walked off.
"Get to the hospital to have that ankle checked." Ami advised as Genzo walked past her. "I'm not blind or stupid not to notice you attempting to hide that injury." She added, unfazed at Genzo's glare. "Team manageress' orders." She cracked a grin.
"Only you Mizuno, only you." Genzo smirked.
* * *
After practice…
"Hey, Captain!" Masao shouted, noticing the Shutetsu team walking back with the four Nankatsu pre-teens.
"What?" Tsubasa echoed, after the team told them. "You saw Wakabayashi leaving the hospital?"
"It appears that I've lost." Genzo snorted, confronted by the group.
"Is that why you didn't react to Hyuuga's shot?" Ryo inquired.
"No." Genzo corrected. "I don't think I would have been able to stop it anyway. His shot was great."
"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa trailed.
"My wound isn't that bad." Genzo scoffed. "I'll pay him back during the Championships. And I don't want to shatter your dream, Tsubasa."
"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa beamed.
* * *
Back in the present …
"Mataku…" Ami muttered in annoyance as the three teens flopped on their backs in the middle of the field in exhaustion, wet towels already on standby. "Boys, stubborn hotheads, the lot of them."
"I think we bit off more than we could chew." Kaltz breathed as one of the towels Ami tossed at them landed on his face.
"We're gluttons for pain that's for sure." Schneider opined, earning a few looks from his companions. "What? Everyone can make a food joke but me now?" he removed the towel from his face.
"No…" Genzo began uncertainly, sweatdropping as a weak grin stretched across his face. "It's just…we never took you for the type."
"Philistines." Schneider growled, earning a round of chuckles from the group.
"Remind me again why I put up with you three?" Ami joked, arms akimbo.
"Because you love us." Genzo smirked.
* * *
Orochimaru: Kukuku…
Wesker: How'd you get here anyways?
Orochimaru: I thought I'd look into your little experiment (Shivers at the monitor) That looks painful
Kakashi: Obito! What are you-THOSE ARE MY PANTS!
Nem-ito: URRRRRR!
Kakashi: YEAAARGHLEPLEGHGHGLARGHLE#&#-!
Orochimaru: ...kinky!
Wesker: You stay away from me freak.
R&R or Nem-ito will come for you!
17. On Our Way To Become The Best Of Japan
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 15 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic?
Hellboy: Uh guys...walls're startin to warp...
Major: Not good...ve need to get her to calm down.
Wesker: Alright...how?
Hellboy: Ah Crap, she's gone all limp Bizkit on us.
Wesker: Be ready to grab her if she decides to break stuff.
Kakashi: That's an out hole! AN OUT HO-LMPGHLE!
Orochimaru: Ooooh! Tentacles!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 16: On Our Way To Become The Best Of Japan
* * *
"Here we go." Tsubasa stepped out of the bench.
"You're always into it, Tsubasa." Ryo noted.
"Of course." Tsubasa beamed.
"By the way, your father is going on a journey, right?" Misaki voiced.
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
"So he's not coming to see you today?" Urabe wondered.
"Of course he is." Ryo corrected. "Tsubasa's parents are always here."
"How do you know that?" Urabe demanded.
"They'll come, I tell you." Ryo insisted.
"Tsubasa." Koudai shouted from the stands. "We came to support you."
"See?" Ryo smirked.
"You were right." Urabe blinked.
"You have time?" Tsubasa inquired.
"Yes." Koudai replied. "Tsubasa, Roberto told me about your deal. You won't go to Brazil if you don't win the Championships. It's my turn to make a deal with you. Score three goals during this match."
"A hat trick?" Tsubasa confirmed.
"Yes." Koudai replied. "If you manage that, I'll let you go to brazil."
"Understood." Tsubasa nodded. "I will score three goals."
"Tsubasa." Natsuko held out the score book she had. "I will write down the scores."
"So, Wakabayashi?" Murayama inquired. "Are you going? How's your leg?"
"It's alright." Genzo confirmed as the announcement came on, signaling the start of the match.
"It's worrying." Ryo stated. "If we win, everyone will know our play. Don't you think so, coach?"
"This is to be expected." Ami noted. "And hence the saying 'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.'"
"And that's why she's the team strategist." Murayama added. "It doesn't matter who is watching you, you have to give it your very best."
* * *
On the field…
After the whistle was blown, the match began, with the newly-formed Nankatsu starting the kick-off.
"And one!" Tsubasa scored the first goal.
* * *
On the bench…
"Superb, Tsubasa." Ryo cheered. "Continue like that."
On the field…
"Well played." Urabe praised as the team clustered around their ace striker.
The match restarted with Fuji FC taking possession of the ball, when Urabe slide-tackled the forward, letting Teppei claim the ball. Teppei then passed the ball to Mamoru who then made a long overhead pass to Tsubasa.
"Yes!" Tsubasa leapt into the air, along with the three Fuji FC defenders and winning the aerial fight over the ball, "And two!" he sent the ball into the net with a header. "Yeah, I did it." He cheered. "And two!"
* * *
On the bench…
_He only has Brazil in mind._ Ami mused.
* * *
On the field…
_I __was worried about my leg._ Genzo thought, watching the match from his post. _But it seems that I won't have to play, Tsubasa._
"Misaki!" Tsubasa passed the ball to his 'Golden Combo' partner, before the Fuji FC players cornered him.
Misaki then passed the ball back to Tsubasa, the 'Golden Combo' dissolving the mid-fielders' defense.
Tsubasa then fired a long shot, scoring his third goal.
And the final score: Nankatsu victory, 7 to 0. The team continued to breeze through the next 5 matches.
* * *
On the bench…
"It looks like it's in the bag for tomorrow." Ryo boasted, the team having won the quarter-finals.
* * *
The next day…
"What?" the team chorused. "Wakabayashi won't be playing?"
"Why, coach?" Ryo pressed.
"His leg is still in pain." Murayama supplied.
"Don't worry." Genzo assured. "I will play if you really need me."
"The finals will take place tomorrow." Ami added. "He's only taking a day off." She gave the goalkeeper a 'behave-or-else' glare.
"Rest well then, Wakabayashi." Ryo stated. "We won't need him today."
"Yes." Urabe agreed. "Even with Ishizaki on the field, this will be a piece of cake. Kami knows what hell will arise if our team manageress gets mad."
"I heard that." Ami growled, a hint of mirth in her voice.
* * *
On the field…
At the whistle, the match started.
"Shit, we have to go back and defend!" Urabe cursed as the defenders dashed back.
* * *
On the bench…
"Morisaki, what are you doing?" Genzo barked. "It's you who has to defend your territory."
* * *
On the field…
"Yes." Morisaki replied.
"Morisaki!" Urabe and Mamoru shouted after Nakai trapped the long shot Fujisawa fired to him.
Morisaki jumped to block the shot, only to have the ball miss his hand by millimeters, the ball entering the net and earning the Shimada team a goal.
_I won't lose._ Tsubasa swore. _I will defeat Hyuuga and go to Brazil._
* * *
Back in the present …
Ami was in her dorm room, the Sapphire Starfire Gem, the equivalent to Sailor Moon's Ginzuishou, between her palms. The said jewel flashed, revealing a vision from the past.
_
* * *
Flash_
_Selenity almost didn't believe she had done it. Now drenched in the red blood of the Planetary Rulers, she almost missed her one chance to seize all the power of their Starfire Gems._
_Reaching down and snatching the crystal pyramid, she held it before King Chronos' face, still skewered on her sword, and cracked it between her first, letting her blood join the lake of blood she had already split that hour. She said the incantation that trapped it all, giddy in the rush of white fire and lightning as the eight crystals' magic became her own. She let the shards of the broken crystal loose from her hand, and it rose and hovered above them. Streaks of magic and broken power rushed upwards into it and into her, lifting her out of the ankle-deep sea of red._
_She began to scream as the pain took her, the unbelievable agony. The sword was forgotten, and the dead King of Pluto was released and then drawn in again by the magical vacuum. His body sank to into the red, the sword making an inaudible crack as it hit the floor, followed by his body, then the corpses of the other Planetary Rulers._
_Selenity's every nerve ending felt attacked, felt like they were searing and burning as the onslaught of magic consumed her, and remade her. She screamed and screamed as she too died, and was reborn from the incredible fire._
_Finally it was done. She fell to the stone floor, the Pearl Starfire Gem falling beside her. From the height they fell, both should have broken, but both remained whole._
_The room had been cleansed wholly by the display of sheer, raw, forceful energy. The circle that had given birth to them was now an empty crater in the floor, a crater that now cradled them. No blood remained, not a bone or a shred of fiber remained as evidence of the bloodshed and ultimate betrayal she had committed._
_For a day, the door to the unholy room remained bolted and the woman inside remained deathly still. The only proof she was anything but dead was one perfect white hand, tightly enclosed around her shimmering Starfire Gem that now was perfectly round and pulsing with power to the exact rhythm of her heart._
_As the moon began to rise on that second day, finally, Selenity stirred. One cornflo__wer__ eye opened, and blinked._
_The next instant beheld her standing, naked and draped by hair that had been burnt silver-white by her power. Her laughter was an assault on the walls that had seen only silence since that final explosion. It was hysterical, peals and peals of mad laughter as she crooned over the crystal in her hands._
"_I have done it, I have done it! And you, and you my lovely, my shining Gem of power, shall be my Imperium Crystal... my Ginzuishou."_
_It continued to pulse at her, a beautiful violet hum that made her dizzy with glee._
* * *
SailorStar9: This omake came to me when I was re-watching 'Naruto' last night.
Omake
"Even with handicaps there's no contest between us." Orochimaru taunted through the bite, a rather unsettling feeling in Jiraiya's opinion "Give it up, I've won." He smirked "Unless of course, you want to watch the Kyuubi vessel suffer."
"Suffer?" Jiraiya growled, glaring at his former teammate coldly. "You won't know the MEANING of the word till I get through with you!"
"Is that so?" Orochimaru snorted, looking into the Sennin's eye mockingly "And just what do you expect to do to me tied up like this?" he snorted as Jiraiya struggled again "Just like old times, hm?"
He blinked as Gamakichi hopped onto Jiraiya's head and held what appeared to be a nudie magazine in front of the toad Sennin. His eyes widened as he felt the Sennin's muscles expand.
(Cue 'Popeye the Sailor Man' music)
"PERV POWER!"
Orochimaru swore as Jiraiya literally exploded out of his clothes, sending the serpent flying backwards, gaping in horror at the hulking mass of muscle and testosterone glaring down at him
"Who's a little bitch now huh?"
18. Fierce Fight In The Mud
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 16 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic?
Hellboy: Man, she's takin the abridged war pretty damn hard.
Wesker: Tell me about it...who started that thing anyways
Hellboy: Dunno... hey, where'd the major go?
Wesker: (Blinks)...ah shit...
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 17: Fierce Fight In The Mud
* * *
On the bench…
"That's it." Ryo cheered as the team retook their positions. "Go on, guys. We're not going to lose to an unknown team. Right, Wakabayashi?"
"Yeah." The goalkeeper nodded.
"What's with the funeral face?" Ryo protested.
"It will be a tough fight from now on." Ami remarked, looking at the overcast sky as lightning crackled.
"Well played, Misaki." Ryo declared after Misaki passed the ball to Tsubasa, when Teppei cut in, claiming the ball and fired his shot, only to have his shot miss its mark when it hit the crossbar.
* * *
On the field…
"Kisugi, why didn't you pass the ball to Tsubasa?" Urabe inquired. "He would have scored."
"So what?" Teppei shrugged. "I wanted to try my luck."
"Haven't you seen the score or what?" Urabe pressed. "We're losing, just in case you haven't noticed. We're getting beaten."
The match restarted with Shimada's keeper making a long pass to his teammates.
"That was close, Misaki." Tsubasa noted after Shimada 's goalkeeper saved the ball.
"Yeah." Misaki agreed and the whistle blew, signaling the end of the first half.
* * *
On the bench…
"Fools!" Murayama barked. "What are you doing? Your attacks are too slow."
"Yeah, why don't you pass it to Tsubasa?" Ryo agreed.
"We can't get a pass at him." Mamoru defended.
"So we're shooting the ball ourselves." Teppei added.
"So, let me get this straight." Ami leveled a look at the two. "You're sacrificing the team's chances of getting into the Championships just to sate your ego."
Murayama raised a hand to stop the manageress' rant. "I understand, but our best scorer is Tsubasa." he reminded. "Pass to him, so he can score."
"Captain." Genzo voiced. "Let me onto the field."
"Wakabayashi." Morisaki blinked.
"But your leg is still…" Tsubasa protested.
"It doesn't matter." Genzo insisted. "I know I can do it."
"No, we're using the same formation." Murayama cut in. "I'm counting on you, Tsubasa."
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
"Remember what I just said." Murayama addressed the team.
"Yes." The boys chorused and headed back to the field.
* * *
On the field…
"It's raining." Teppei blinked as it started to pour. "Izawa!" he passed the ball to Mamoru, only to have the ball fly past him.
Taki cut in, taking possession of the ball, passing it to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa dribbled the ball towards the opposing net, the rain making it more difficult for him to control the ball.
Shimada then took advantage of the opening and snatched the ball.
* * *
On the bench…
"What's going to happen?" Genzo wondered.
"Shimada qualified narrowly each time." Ami reasoned. "This shouldn't have been a very hard game. Unless I'm missing something. Coach, let me see your notes on Shimada SC's team. This is…" she took a glance at the scores. "Just as I thought."
* * *
On the field…
"I'm counting on you, Tsubasa." Mamoru made a long pass.
"Alright." Tsubasa dashed.
* * *
On the bench…
"Look at this." Ami raised her head from the book, passing the book to Murayama. "Like us, none of their opponents managed to score any goals. Yet they all had plenty of chances. The whole team defended the goal. In other words, they have an 'Iron Defense'. And their attack pattern is…"
"They push their opponents to attack, and when there's nobody on defense, they try a long pass." Genzo finished her sentence, the Shimada defender having made a long pass to the team's forward, after the ball stopped rolling in the rain. "He's unguarded." He realized once the forward headed straight for the goal. "He's going to shoot."
* * *
On the field…
Morisaki hand barely brushed past the ball, Shimada scoring their second goal.
"They're a strong team." Teppei admitted.
_We will not lose to them._ Tsubasa swore.
* * *
On the bench…
"Coach, let me play." Genzo insisted, grabbing his gloves. "We'd end up losing if they continue to score."
"You won't play." Murayama objected. "Wakabayashi, our aim is not only the qualifications, but the victory in the National Tournament. If they can't come together to beat this team, they won't have what it takes to go all the way. So it would be better to lose and stay here."
"Coach…" Genzo blinked.
"And that's why he's the coach." Ami quipped. _You can't do this alone, Bas._ She mused as the match restarted.
"No, what is this madness?" Ryo cursed after Tsubasa's shot missed its mark. "Tsubasa failed to score, once again."
"Bas, you…" Ami breathed, once Tsubasa reached the ball first, and led the attack, dissolving Shimada's defense with passes.
"Go, Tsubasa!" Ryo cheered after Misaki passed the ball to a diving Tsubasa.
Hooking the incoming ball with his right leg, Tsubasa sent the ball into the net.
* * *
Back in the present …
"Morning, beautiful." Genzo kissed Ami on the cheek. "I see you got that back." He nodded over to the Sapphire Starfire Gem which dangled as a pendent around her neck.
"Yes, got it back yesterday." Ami nodded. "It was a long time ago, but I still feel it..." her voice cracked as she pointed towards her heart, "Right here. Our child. I remember your last words to me before you passed away from your battle wounds. You said.. "
Pulling his sobbing love into a tight hug, Genzo picked up from where the Senshi of Ice trailed off, "Take care of our first born. I should've stayed at your side when you miscarried during your last pregnancy. I was scared of losing you and too afraid of overwhelming you with my grief when you could barely handle your own." A slight pause. "Laugh a little more. Keep us in your heart, always. What happened to our first child, Ames?" his voice was gentle, as Ami's sobs subsided. "I know you miscarried our second child but I do not remember ever hearing from Pluto about our first born."
"As soon as you and the Pantheon Knights were killed, I did what I thought was best for the children of the Senshi, and the girls agreed with me" Ami answered. She frowned, "I took Helios and Caelestis to Elysian."
* * *
Wesker: Here comes Nemesis.
Nem-ito: Murrrrr...
Hellboy: (tosses him a pack of smokes) Here, just stay away with the smokes...those things smell awful.
Wesker: I agree, nothing beats a good cigar.
Nem-ito: (shrugs and lights up) Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
19. Birth! Captain Tsubasa
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 17 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic? Meh, I'll be reverting back to the Captain Tsubasa Road to 2002 version since is being an a**.
Hellboy: (Looks on as SailorStar9 starts to sound like William Shatner) Okay, we gotta stop this.
Wesker: I agree, the coffee machine's been acting strange.
Hellboy: How strange?
Wesker: Well it's tentacle raping the wuss.
Kakashi: #PLORGHLE!
Hellboy: Ouch...that strong?
Wesker: Star had a cup of the stuff before she went like this.
Hellboy: Dayumn!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 18: Birth! Captain Tsubasa
* * *
"Tsubasa, what is it?" Genzo wondered as Tsubasa moved to the back.
"Bas, you…" Ami gasped.
* * *
On the field…
_This game is not about offense or defense._ Tsubasa mused. _Just observe the overall flow and grab the chance for the goal. Okay._ He ran forward and trapped the ball underneath his feet. "There's a chance. Here goes." He took off. "I can catch everyone's moves." He blinked in astonishment. "Now we can attack. I'm going in." he closed in. "I see it. Keep going, Kisugi." And passed the ball to Teppei. "Kisugi, pass the ball to me." He shouted Teppei making a pass to him.
"Tsubasa!" Misaki claimed the next pass, re-passing the ball back to Tsubasa.
"Alright!" Tsubasa scored the second goal.
* * *
On the bench…
"Tsubasa, I'm leaving this game to you." Genzo stated.
"You seem to have decided then." Ami stated.
"Yes." Genzo nodded.
* * *
On the field…
"Turning back here." Tsubasa dived for the header Mamoru passed to him, sending the ball into the net and scoring Goal No. 3.
"Okay." Tsubasa cheered.
* * *
On the bench…
"Now, that's Tsubasa." Murayama noted. "He's got the place down."
"Yes." Genzo agreed.
"Wakabayashi, we won." Tsubasa reported after the match.
"Very good." Genzo admitted.
"Now it's the National." Tsubasa added.
"Tsubasa, I have a favor to ask you." Genzo started.
"What is it?" Tsubasa blinked.
"My leg seems to be worse than I thought." Genzo confessed.
"Wakabayashi." Murayama blinked.
"That's according to the doctor." Genzo added. "But I don't think I can go to the Nationals."
"How can that be…" Tsubasa gaped.
"I'll be there, once my wound has healed." Genzo assured. "But I want you to keep winning."
"Captain." The Shutetsu boys protested.
"Another thing, Tsubasa, I want to give you this." Genzo handed the captain mark to Tsubasa. "Seeing that game, I realized you're the one to lead Nankatsu FC. Nankatsu FC's victory at the Nationals; I'm counting on you."
"I understand." Tsubasa nodded. "I'll take care of the captain mark." He promised, taking the arm-band. "Wakabayashi, let's fight together when your injury is better."
"Okay, Tsubasa is the new captain." Murayama remarked. "March towards the National Championships."
"Okay!" the team chorused.
_Tsubasa, I'm counting on you._ Genzo mused. _I want to fight Hyuuga Kojirou._
* * *
Back in the present …
"Mataku, what's up with you males and your single-tracked minds?" Ami muttered, recalling Genzo's obsession to defeat Hyuuga. "So troublesome."
"You're really starting to sound like a certain character from a certain anime, you know." Genzo joked as the couple entered the lecture hall.
* * *
Hellboy: Caffeine still not out of her system, I see.
Wesker and Kakashi: (Huddles in terror)
20. Opening! The National Competition
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 18 goes up and only one review!
Hellboy: You okay?
SailorStar9: As can be expected.
Anderson: Amen!
Hellboy: Holy! What's he doin' here?
SailorStar9: Relax, he won't bite, I've been feeding him sedatives for some time now.
Anderson: Amen!
Hellboy: What...kind of sedatives? (Blinks as SailorStar9hands him a pill) What the hell? This is Viagra!
Door opens, Hienkel sticks her head in
Hienkel: Father? Are you coming to bed? Yumie's getting impatient.
Anderson: AMEN!
Note: Alcohol is an evil, evil substance that should only be used responsibly for comedic purposes.
No insane killer priests were harmed in the making of this fanfic...just Kakashi, who had to be returned to the hospital for plot conveniences.
Random medic: God...what the hell happened to YOU?
Kakashi mummy: ...whimper...
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 19: Opening! The National Competition
* * *
"It's here." Tsubasa declared, upon arrival. "The National Competition is finally here."
"What a huge arena." Ryo remarked.
"Oh yeah, it is the first national for Nankatsu, right?" Taki pointed out. "Don't be scared. It's just soccer."
"Yes, but there are pros from all over the country." Tsubasa agreed. "We must be careful."
"Move, move, move!" Tachibana Masao barked, passing the ball over to his twin.
"Kazou, hurry." Masao chided.
"Twins." Ryo blinked as the Tachibana siblings passed by.
"Are you guys going for the game too?" Kazou inquired.
"Yes." Tsubasa replied.
"We're with Hanawa FC." Kazou stated. "Nice to meet you. Bye." He took off.
"They're strange." Taki noted.
"They're fast with the ball." Ryo admitted.
"Twin soccer players." Ami mused. "They must be a tough combination."
"We see new opponents each year." Taki added. "That's the National Competition."
"We must work hard for Wakabayashi." Tsubasa declared. _The captain agreed. I will not lose until we fight Meiwa FC._
"There's a lot of people." Ryo looked around in the gathering hall.
"48 teams from around the country." Ami recited from her notes.
"They all seem very good." Ryo noted.
"I'm nervous." Tsubasa admitted.
"Let's go, Tsubasa." Ryo stated after the announcement came on for the teams to assemble on the field. "What's wrong?" he asked, once Tsubasa stopped in his tracks.
"Where's Wakabayashi?" Hyuuga demanded. "Is he too scared to be here?"
"Jerk. "Ryo growled.
"It's okay, Hyuuga." Ami assured. "He will be here to fight you."
* * *
In the Wakabayashi household…
"What?" Genzo echoed after Ami informed him on the phone. "I see. I hate it when your predictions come true."
"So do I." Ami joked and hung up.
"Man, we are going up against Meiwa in the first match." Genzo cursed.
* * *
On the field…
"Thank you, everyone." Tsubasa shouted to the stands and put on the captain's arm-band. _I must defeat Meiwa._
"What?" Hyuuga taunted, seeing Tsubasa wearing the captain's mark. "Are you replacing Wakabayashi?"
"Not replacing." Tsubasa corrected. "I'm the captain of Nankatsu."
"Without Wakabayashi, Nankatsu FC is no match for Meiwa." Hyuuga declared. "Sorry, but we're going to win this game."
_Kojirou, Nankatsu not only has Wakabayashi, it also has Tsubasa._ Misaki mused.
The whistle was blown and the match started.
_Kid, I won't let you catch me._ Hyuuga promised as the two captains headed towards each other. "Come on!" he called as Misaki and Sawada followed closely behind their respective captains.
"You're not going to beat me." Tsubasa promised as the two clashed, the impact causing the ball to fly upwards, with Mamoru passing the ball to Taki via a header.
"Kisugi!" Taki called.
"I got it." Teppei closed in, only to have Sawada steal the ball.
"Takeshi, leave it to me." Hyuuga shouted after Sawada dodged Mamoru's slide-tackle.
"Hyuuga." Sawada muttered.
"Takeshi, you're improving." Misaki caught up with the fourth-grader and the two fought over the ball, with Misaki gaining the upper hand and passing it to Teppei, who then passed it to Tsubasa.
_Try catching me if you can._ Hyuuga swore as Tsubasa headed towards him. _This way? Okay, come on._ And both captains clashed once again. "What?" he gasped when Tsubasa kicked the ball with his heel, sending the ball flying over their heads.
With the ball landing right in front of him, Tsubasa fired his shot and scoring the goal.
"Meiwa's not going to win." Tsubasa declared. "It's Nankatsu."
_That jerk…_ Hyuuga growled. _Kid, I won't forgive for this._
"What is this?" Misaki caught the ball Ryo passed to him and seeing Hyuuga leaning against the goal post. "Kojirou is not moving. Tsubasa." He passed the ball.
"That jerk!" Hyuuga charged towards the incoming Tsubasa. "Not so fast. Take that." and slide-tackled Tsubasa who jumped to avoid the outstretched leg, the impact causing Tsubasa to fall on his back as Hyuuga snatched the ball. "I'm going to win." He fired his shot, the powerful kick hitting Morisaki straight in the face, Meiwa evening the score. "Remember, we come from two different worlds." He barked.
"Hyuuga, this is not a joke." Tsubasa glared. "Soccer is my dream."
_What dream?_ Hyuuga growled. _Stop kidding me. I'm going to make you see the difference between you and me._ And fired his shot.
_Morisaki…_ Tsubasa blinked in shock as Morisaki just let the shot enter the net, the referee's whistle declaring the end of the first half.
* * *
On the bench…
"Morisaki will not hold through the latter half." Ami predicted.
"Listen, that goalkeeper is out." Hyuuga told his team. "Attack in the latter half."
"Yes." The Meiwa boys chorused.
* * *
On the field…
The second half started with Meiwa leading the attack.
_Soccer is my dream._ Hyuuga scoffed. _Stop kidding me, kid. Watch closely, this is Hyuuga Kojirou's soccer._ And fired his shot right at Morisaki.
Tsubasa cut in, kicking the ball away. "Morisaki, the ball is our friend." He told the terrified keeper. "Don't be afraid."
_Enough talking._ Hyuuga trapped the ball under his feet. _Take that._ And released another shot straight into Tsubasa's face. "If it's your friend, then I'll send you both into the goal."
Tsubasa stretched out his left arm and leg, stopping the ball from entering the net.
"What?" Hyuuga was stunned.
"Tsubasa." Misaki gasped.
"Tsubasa." Morisaki grabbed the ball.
"Look, I am fine." Tsubasa assured.
_I know._ Morisaki mused as Tsubasa returned to his position. _I know, Tsubasa. I'll block the gate with my body. I won't be afraid of the ball. _"Okay, I am gonna fight back now." He declared.
_That kid._ Hyuuga twitched. _He made the goalkeeper stand up again._ "All of you guard that kid." He ordered. "Don't let him get near."
After dodging Meiwa's slide-tackles, Tsubasa passed the ball to Misaki, who then passed the ball over to Ryo, when the Meiwa defender intercepted.
"Takeshi, shoot." Hyuuga barked after Sawada claimed the ball and fired his shot, only to have Morisaki catch the ball.
"How can Nankatsu be beaten?" Morisaki tossed the ball out and Misaki caught it.
Teppei caught the passed ball and made a long pass towards Tsubasa.
Both opposing teams' captains fought over the ball in mid-air, Tsubasa winning the fight by landing on his feet.
_Kid, try and catch my 'Tiger Tackle._ Hyuuga quickly caught up.
Tsubasa jumped to dodge the sudden tackle and fired his shot in mid-air, pulling off the equalizer.
_He blocked my 'Tiger Tackle'._ Hyuuga was stunned. _I didn't think I'd be competing in the National._ "Takeshi, kick lightly in front of me." He instructed.
After the whistle restarted the match, Sawada did what was told.
_This is going to end it all._ Hyuuga promised and fired a long shot.
_Hyuuga Kojirou is one stubborn player._ Tsubasa admitted, Hyuuga's shot hitting the post bar and Hyuuga continued his charge.
_I'm going to win._ Hyuuga swore.
_I won't let you get away with this._ Tsubasa promised.
"Kid, you're in my way." Hyuuga barked as Tsubasa blocked his path. "Move."
"I won't let you kick." Tsubasa promised as the two fought over the ball.
Tsubasa suddenly changed his stance, sliding to the ground. "Now." He declared as Hyuuga raised his foot to fire his shot
"Kid, you did it on purpose." Hyuuga realized his mistake when Tsubasa kicked the ball away.
Sawada took the chance and fired the shot, causing Meiwa to win the match with a third goal.
* * *
Back in the present …
"Great, so any of us could go berserk anytime..." Minako remarked after Ami informed them over the communicators, the whole gang having gathered in Rei's Temple, minus Usagi, Mamoru and the cats.
"What should we do?" Makoto inquired.
"Go on with your lives" Setsuna advised.
"But what if..." Rei started.
"Senshi for some reason are always near whenever evil strikes." Setsuna reasoned. "Besides you all live relatively close to one another."
"She's right." Ami admitted. "We cannot stop going to school or enjoying our time just because of this problem. One thing you must have clear. If you're fighting someone turned evil, talking is useless. Call for help as soon as you can, and try to resist until they arrive. One Senshi alone can hardly defeat another Senshi without killing them."
"Is there a way to calculate who the next one taken over will be?" Makoto asked.
Ami shook her head, "This is not a sentient being we're facing. It doesn't have a 'plan'. It just acts on instinct, to survive. So any of us could be next." She shook her head and sighed, "What's more, our powers are no longer rising slowly with each form we have."
"Ami, what do you mean?" Minako asked, puzzled.
"I see, you still haven't regained your memories." Hotaru remarked.
"Setsuna, would you…" Ami trailed.
"Consider it done." Setsuna nodded and begun her chant. "Eles an chronos. Helet an pacia. An chronos est helenest pacia vacarre."
"Well… that was unexpected." Minako voiced, as she held the Topaz Starfire Gem in her hands; the memory seals having been released from the three Inner Senshi's minds, their past memories unlocked.
"The question is," Rei said thoughtfully, the Ruby Starfire Gem in her palms. "What do we do now?"
"With the battle against Galaxia weakening the Ginzuishou's hold on us, it's obvious that Usagi doesn't have the same level of control over the crystal that her mother did." Ami surmised. "So, she must not realize that the power is returning to our Starfire Gems. She made a mistake upping us to 'Eternal'; her mother would never have allowed us to retain that much power. When she sent us, she ensured we would never question Usagi's place. The more power we have, the more we reclaim from the Ginzuishou. Eventually, our powers will rise so exponentially that we'll be able to sever the crystal's connection to us completely."
"What would happen if we did that?" Makoto questioned, the Emerald Starfire Gem in her hands.
"The crystal would return to its Pearl Starfire Gem form and our Starfire Gems' power would be returned." Setsuna replied calmly, the Garnet Starfire in her grasp.
"And Usagi?" Hotaru asked, hesitation evident in her voice, her hands holding the Amethyst Starfire Gem.
"Theoretically, she should be fine." Setsuna assured her, "The crystal wouldn't be drawing on her life force like it has done in the past. The Ginzuishou would revert back into the Pearl Starfire Gem and she would simply retain the basic illusory powers her mother possessed all those years ago."
Ami nodded in acceptance of this answer, "Let's do it then. We let our Starfire Gems reclaim what's rightfully ours, without Usagi knowing anything."
"Right." The girls nodded and focused on their respective jewels, letting the small ribbons of their Planetary magic that seeped out from the Ginzuishou enter their gems.
* * *
SailorStar9: (beams brightly) See ya'll soon, if you review! Review if you love fanfiction!
21. The Glass Ace
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 19 goes up and only one review! Let me assure you, that several characters _will_ receive individual character development moments.
Koganei Kaoru (From her 'Ice on Mercury' fic): Sweet!
SailorStar9 (Side-glances): What are _you_ doing here?
Kaoru (Pouts cutely): I get bored without reviews.
SailorStar9 (Mutters): Review glutton.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 20: The Glass Ace
_
* * *
Glass Heart._ Misugi mused as he took his medicine. _Tomorro__w, we fight Nankatsu FC. My big battle with Oozora Tsubasa. Even if my heart breaks, tomorrow, I will not regret it. Oozora Tsubasa, I believe you will be my last opponent. The best choice._
* * *
The next day…
The semi-finals begun.
"I'm here." Misugi called to his teammate who passed the ball to him, as Ryo blocked his path to the goalpost.
Misugi wrestled with the ball, before passing it to his incoming teammate, who then sent the ball into the net with a header.
Morisaki quickly grabbed the ball before it entered.
"That was close." Ryo muttered.
"Amazing." Tsubasa was stunned. "Misugi does it all."
"Attack." Morisaki tossed the ball out.
Misaki caught the ball and headed straight towards the Musashi field.
"Misaki, they're coming over." Ryo warned as Misugi dashed towards him.
The two fought over the ball, with Misugi snatching the ball away.
"Run, Ichinose." Misugi told his teammate, having bypassed the Nankatsu defenders. "Go for the goal."
"Yes, Captain." Ichinose replied as Misugi passed the ball to him and he fired his shot, the ball missing its mark as it hit the post bar.
Morisaki released the ball into the center of the field, as both teams fought for the ball's possession.
"We must get a point this time." Misugi gained control of the ball, having cut in-between the 'Golden Combo'. He then stopped in his tracks as Tsubasa caught up with him, both captains fighting over the ball.
_Not bad, Misugi._ Tsubasa mused.
_Tsubasa, I've been waiting for this moment._ Misugi thought as the two fought over the ball.
_It's too early._ Misugi winced, Tsubasa having knocked his elbow into his chest in the struggle.
"Misugi…" Tsubasa blinked.
"Tsubasa, I'm going." Misaki reclaimed the ball. "Run as fast as you can."
"Okay." Tsubasa took off after his 'Golden Combo' partner.
_Not yet._ Misugi told himself. _You mustn't stop. The game has just begun. Yes, please stop._ He pleaded with his weakened heart. _Good. Be good. Be very good._ He sighed in relief as his heart stopped pounding.
"Tsubasa." Misaki passed the ball to the dashing Tsubasa.
Tsubasa caught the ball with a slide and sent the ball into the net, the Musashi keeper saving the ball.
_Okay, I'm going._ Misugi focused. _It must work this time._ He swore, claiming the ball the keeper tossed out. _I can't let my illness beat me. I can't lose._ He promised, getting past Takasugi. _I will not lose. Tsubasa, just wait and see._
"Stop him!" Tsubasa shouted. "Stop him."
"Come on." Misugi challenged as the three Nankatsu defenders came forward. "I'll break through."
_Misugi is very bold._ Tsubasa noted as Misugi bypassed one of the defenders.
Dodging the other two defenders, Misugi then fired a 'Flying Drive Shot' into the net.
"That was fast." Teppei gawked.
"Getting a goal just like that." Ryo was awed.
"Misugi is really good." Tsubasa admitted. "But there are 11 players in soccer. We haven't lost yet. We'll get the point this time. Let's do it." He encouraged his team as the whistle sounded. "Misaki." He passed the ball to his partner as the match restarted.
"Noguchi, Kudo, go block Tsubasa." Misugi instructed. "Listen, in the end, the ball should go to Tsubasa. Go block Tsubasa."
_If we watch Tsubasa, then we'll get the ball._ Misaki mused, stopping in his tracks, seeing Tsubasa marked by three players. _I need to think of a way to break through the defense. Okay, let's dribble._
"Okay, Misaki." Tsubasa broke free of his opponents. "Here."
"Okay, pass it to Tsubasa." Misaki passed the ball over.
"Good one." Tsubasa was poised to receive the pass when Misugi intercepted, stealing the ball.
"They saw it." Misaki gasped as Misugi led his team on the attack.
"Nankatsu still has us!" Mamoru charged forward, Misugi having made a long pass to his teammates in the front. Jumping, he passed the ball to Urabe via a header.
"Come on, Taki." Urabe passed the ball to the running Taki.
"Nankatsu has been around for 11 years." Taki remarked.
"Surround him." Misugi barked. "You're falling behind. Can't let him get the pass."
"Taki, here." Misaki took his position.
"Come on, Misaki." Taki passed the ball over.
"No, Tsubasa is surrounded." Misaki paused, seeing Tsubasa was cornered. "Kisugi, it's yours!" he passed the ball to the incoming Teppei.
Teppei then passed the ball to Tsubasa via a header.
_Can't track a high ball._ Tsubasa mused. _Okay, I'm going._ He jumped up. "I'm the best in Nankatsu!" his foot connected with the falling ball. "Go!" he sent the ball flying into the net, via a 'Rolling Overhead Kick', pulling the equalizer.
_Dad, Mom._ Misugi thought. _Did you see that? Good, huh? That's my last opponent, Tsubasa. No matter what, I must defeat Nankatsu._
Just then, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
* * *
In the hallway…
"Tsubasa." Aoba voiced, alerting the cousins of her presence.
"Yayoi?" Ami blinked. "Didn't expect you see you here. What's wrong?"
"I transferred." Aoba replied. "I'm now the manager of Musashi FC."
* * *
Outside…
"What?" Tsubasa gasped after Aoba informed the cousins. "Misugi has a heart problem?"
"Yes, actually the doctor forbids him to play soccer." Aoba confirmed.
"And?" Ami pressed.
"He's been playing 10 minutes each game." Aoba confessed. "That was the condition for him to be in the game."
"10 minutes." Tsubasa's eyes widened.
"That serious?" Ami gaped.
"Yes." Aoba replied. "Only the coach and I know about this. Captain plans to make this game his last. Tsubasa, please. I hope you can let him win. Please." She pleaded.
"How can this be?" Tsubasa was stunned. _How can Misugi have a heart problem? I don't believe it. Misugi is so good._
"Please." Aoba repeated her request.
_Misugi has a heart problem?_ Tsubasa was still shocked.
* * *
Back in the present, in Japan…
"Guys." Rei started.
"Rei?" Minako blinked.
"Leave please." Rei requested.
"Are you okay?" Makoto asked.
"No..." Rei muttered in agony. "Please, leave before... AAAAAARRRGGGHH!"
Minako gasped as Rei fell to her knees, clutching her head, eyes closed. Something was causing her a great pain, but what was it? Before the Senshi could ask her, however, they saw her outfit change into her Senshi suit. And as she opened her eyes, hey could see they were not the same. She looked at the assembled Senshi coldly and stood up.
"Wha...?" Hotaru blinked.
"You should've run while you could," Mars said. "Fire Soul!"
"Flaming Spear!"
Uranus rolled on the ground barely missing Mars' attack. It was clear she was not playing, clearly the dark mana had taken over her and she was trying to kill them. But she was also worried about the shrine, since Mars had set several trees aflame already.
"Flaming Spear!"
She used his sword to deflect the attack this time, and leapt at Mars, taking her by surprise. "Space Sword Blaster!"
Mars was knocked back but stood up, smiling coldly. "So Wind Girl wants to play rough... Okay then." She charged forwards and kicked the Senshi in the guts. "Goodbye. Flaming Anger!" she rose her hands and a massive ball of flames formed over them. She brought her hands down fast, causing the ball to crash into the ground, a trail of small flames burst from the ground
"Deep Submerge!" Neptune's water attack blasted the flames off, dousing it. "Now, where were we?"
"You were about to die." Mars snapped. "Mars Magma Flood!"
The Ocean Senshi leapt aside as a wave of molten metal and rocks rushed by, melting concrete, cars and trees on its wake.
"Aww I missed." Mars pouted. "Never mind, I'll try again. Magma Flood!"
"Flood Gate!" streams of water encircled Neptune and were absorbed into Neptune's body, before being released in a massive tidal a second later. The attacks hit and cancelled each other. "We gotta stop her somehow." She noted.
"Saturn Requiem Mist!" Saturn's fist was covered by a ghastly white mist as she aimed it at Mars. The mist shot out from her hands, surrounding Mars, and the evil Senshi screamed in pain. She then fell to one knee and panted.
"Venus Cosmic Chain!" Venus summoned her chain, swinging it in front of her body. The chain started shinning with light energy and she tossed her chain forwards with amazing speed, wrapping it around Mars, trapping her.
"Jupiter Eternal Power!"
"Uranus Eternal Power!"
Light shot from both Senshi's bodies into Mars' body, the healing waves fading out after several seconds.
* * *
SailorStar9: Holy, are the Senshi going to come out of this battle, alive?
Hao: Not necessarily, near death experiences have drastic effects on one's growth, often awakening hidden potential.
SailorStar9: Really, so I suppose spending a few minutes in hell does the same?
Hao: Well yes, but it's not for the faint hearted.
Lu: Damn right, I should start charging admission.
R&R or be charged per view!
22. Stand Up, Misugi Jun
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 20 goes up and only one review!
Kakashi: You're just lazy (Gags as a garrote is wrapped around his throat, courtesy of Luca Brassi)
SailorStar9: I prefer mangled to dead, Luca, and give my regards to the Godfather.
Luca: I will do that, Don Corleone is glad to do grant favor for you.
SailorStar9: Seriously, did Luca talk like that? All 'Broken English'?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 21: Stand Up, Misugi Jun
* * *
"He's back." Ryo looked over at the returning Tsubasa. "Where did you go? I was worried."
* * *
On the field…
The whistle sounded and the second half started.
"Tsubasa, incoming." Misaki shouted, snapping Tsubasa out of his musings.
_How could I fight?_ Tsubasa was conflicted.
_Tsubasa, let's fight it out._ Misugi dashed towards his opponent, having gotten the ball from his teammate. _What happened to you, Tsubasa?_ He mused, passing the shell-shocked Tsubasa easily.
_I can't fight._ Tsubasa stood still.
_Why did you let me pass you so easily?_ Misugi wondered.
_How can I fight him, knowing he has a handicap?_ Tsubasa thought.
_You know about…_ Misugi realized.
_I can't fight._ Tsubasa decided.
_Tsubasa, you found out about my illness?_ Misugi apprehended.
_I can't fight…_ Tsubasa was resigned.
"Tsubasa?" Misaki gaped.
"Tsubasa, what's wrong with you?" Ryo wondered.
_Tsubasa, I decided that this would be my last game and you're my opponent._ Misugi mused. _So, please, show me your best._
_Misugi, how can you play so calmly?_ Tsubasa was confused as the sky grew overcast and it started to rain.
Misugi passed the ball to the running forward, who then slid the ball into the net, scoring a goal.
_I don't know how to fight._ Tsubasa sank to his knees.
_What's wrong, Tsubasa?_ Genzo's chiding voice entered his mind. _Get up. Is this all you think of soccer? Are you going to let everyone's efforts go to waste?_
"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa muttered.
_You promised that you would fight in the Championships._ Genzo reminded. _The pitch is a fighting arena for players. If you pity him, he will feel humiliated. Stand up and fight him. Isn't that the way to show respect to Misugi, who plays with a handicap?_
"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa murmured.
"Tsubasa." Misaki voiced, the team standing around their captain.
"What's wrong, Tsubasa?" Ryo inquired.
"Are you okay?" Misaki asked.
"Sorry." Tsubasa stood up, confidence restored. "I'm alright. I know I can do it. I will score a goal to make up for what we just lost. Let's go." He told his 'Golden Combo' partner after the match restarted. "Here it comes, Misaki." He passed the ball over.
"Let's go, Tsubasa." Misaki returned the ball.
"Alright." Tsubasa caught the ball.
"Bring it on, Tsubasa." Misugi grinned. "I won't let you score. I will stop you."
"Let's fight." Tsubasa declared, both captains facing off.
Misugi blocked Tsubasa's charge with a slide-tackle, the impact causing Tsubasa to trip over. Tsubasa then used his heel to send the ball into the air. Both captains jumped to reach for the air ball, Tsubasa winning the confrontation and sending the ball into the goal post, the Musashi team reclaiming the ball.
"Come on, Tsubasa." Misugi stated, as the two captains clashed once again.
"Misugi, let's do it." Tsubasa accepted. "Man, my shoes are getting wet." He muttered, having taken the ball from Misugi. "The ball is going to stop soon." And sent the ball into an empty spot via a long-distance shot. The ball in place, Tsubasa slid across the wet field, sending the ball into the net, pulling the equalizer.
"Captain, what's wrong?" Sanada pressed, the Musashi team clustered around their wincing captain.
"Wait, coach." Misugi voiced, hearing the coach call for a replacement. "You promised to let me play the full game. I'm sorry I kept it from you guys." He stood up. "I have a heart problem." He confessed. "That's why I haven't been showing up. But this game is different. I must be here. So I made a decision. If this is to be my last game, I will fight to the end. I don't want to be switched. Tsubasa, it's not over yet." He declared.
"Misugi's heart problem…" Urabe was stunned. "It's him."
"Just play like you usually do." Tsubasa assured. "In response to Misugi, we must fight our best.
_Tsubasa, you knew about Misugi._ Misaki realized the reason for Tsubasa's previous hesitation.
Bypassing the weakened Misugi, Tsubasa headed straight for the goal, the Musashi defenders blocking the assault, before passing the ball to Misugi, who then dashed towards the Nankatsu field.
"Misugi." Tsubasa was stunned at Misugi's determination.
"Fast." Misaki admitted. "I can't catch up."
Misugi jumped over Misaki's slide-tackled and heads straight for the goal. _Tsubasa, I can't give it to you. It's my ball._ He looked over at the incoming Tsubasa, having dodged Takasugi's defense. _I'm going to make a goal with that ball._
Tsubasa closed in, Misugi blocking Tsubasa's attempt to steal the ball with his thigh, the impact sending the ball upwards.
"The ball." Misugi voiced. "Where's the ball? I see it." He spotted the falling ball.
"Clear it!" Tsubasa instructed.
"Here." Misugi stuck his foot out, sending the ball into the net.
"Misugi." Tsubasa looked over at the still Misugi.
"It's pounding." Misugi started. "My heart is still pounding. It's okay. My heart is still good. Tsubasa, we lead by one. We're gonna keep it that way."
"Let's go." Tsubasa told his team as the whistle sounded.
"Honma, Sano, surround Tsubasa." Misugi barked, resting against the goal post. "Ichinose, Godai, follow the two to your left. I order the fight. Go!"
_All the moves are revealed._ Tsubasa realized, finding himself and Taki marked.
_No, I can't pass._ Misaki mused.
"Misaki!" Ryo shouted.
"Ishizaki." Misaki blinked.
"Okay." Tsubasa moved to his new position.
"Tsubasa!" Ryo passed the incoming ball over via a header.
_Alright._ Misugi nodded, having four players surround Tsubasa.
_The only way out is here._ Tsubasa sent the ball upwards.
_Okay._ Misaki came forward just as Tsubasa sent the ball flying via an 'Overhead Kick'. Cutting in before Misugi, he sent the ball into the net via a diving header, pulling the equalizer.
"I didn't know that was Misaki's pass." Misugi admitted. "I thought he was going for the goal. I'm too simple. Tsubasa, you…" he gaped, seeing Tsubasa was still going strong after the whistle signaled match's restart.
_Misugi knew about his condition, but still challenges his limit._ Tsubasa headed straight for the goal. _This is for Misugi. We can't waste any single moment. I'm going. I'll do my best until the last second._
"I'm going to stop the goal." Misugi promised, seeing Tsubasa about to fire his shot.
"Here goes, Misugi." Tsubasa sent the ball flying via a long-distance shot.
"Stop it." Misugi instructed the keeper as he too, reached to stop the ball. "Stop it." His warning came too late as the ball shot through the gap between his head and the keeper's hands; right into the net.
"We won." Tsubasa blinked after the final whistle sounded.
"Captain." Aoba walked over to the fallen Misugi.
"I'm okay." Misugi sat up with her aid. "Thank you, Manager."
"Misugi." Tsubasa came over.
"Congratulations, Tsubasa." Misugi noted. "You're good. You won the game."
"No, if you were the captain, you would have won." Tsubasa corrected.
"Thank you, Tsubasa." Misugi nodded. "But I don't need it anymore. I am satisfied."
"Misugi." Tsubasa smiled.
"I'm very happy to have played an exciting game with you." Misugi stood up, leaning against Aoba.
"Me too, Misugi." Tsubasa agreed.
"Tsubasa." Misugi voiced, as Aoba led him off. "I won't give up soccer. One day, when I conquer this illness, I'll come back and defeat you."
"I'll be waiting, Misugi." Tsubasa nodded. "I know you can do it."
"Here." Ami handed Aoba a name card as the pair walked past her.
"Ami…" Aoba blinked. "This…"
"My mother's mentor in Italy." Ami supplied. "He's one of the top heart specialists in the world. Overcome your heart illness; I'll see you then… in the Japan Junior Youth." She bade the pair farewell.
* * *
Back in the present…
Ami sank onto a bench in the park, her mind focused in the problem they were facing. The worst part: not knowing who the next one'd be. It could be any of them. It could be her. For a moment, the memories of the Moon Kingdom invasion flooded her mind, but she dismissed them. She was sure her friends would stop her before she went berserk.
"What's bothering you, angel?"
Ami jumped at that, then looked back to see Genzo hovering over behind her, "Oh, hi..."
"Is it about the dark mana?" Genzo guessed.
Ami nodded, "Yeah... I'm worried about it. I remember how the Silver Millennium fell. What if it happened here too?"
Genzo blinked, "I... don't know." He cracked a wry grin. "I think I could knock you out before that happens."
"And if you can't?" Ami pressed.
"You'll have to trust us." Genzo assured.
Ami sighed, "I guess so… wait, us?"
"I'm contemplating on awakening the rest of the Pantheon Knights." Genzo admitted. "If the dark mana is as dangerous as you say it is, we're going to need all the help we can get."
"So… you found who got reincarnated as whom?" Ami blinked.
"More or less." Genzo shrugged. "I've confirmed Pegasi, Andromedae and Cancri were reincarnated."
"The girls'…." Ami's eyes widened.
"Yup." Genzo smirked. "And in accordance, Misaki, Hyuuga and Wakashimazu. Too bad for Venus though, I still can't find who Gliese got reincarnated into."
* * *
Omake
You Put a Spell on Me
In all of his time studying with the great Toad Sage, Jiraiya, Naruto only managed to pick up _one_ genjutsu technique. But it was enough.
It was difficult to classify, as far as jutsu go. It wasn't defensive in itself, though it _could_ be used for defense; and although it _was_ offensive, it wasn't really an attack.
Naruto simply called it, _that_ technique.
(Or _Ekorio_, if he was filling out paperwork.)
* * *
Orochimaru, Sasuke, Madara, Pein, the other members of Akatsuki, and the Kages of Cloud and Stone were standing at the gates of Konohagakure no Sato, the Village Hidden in the Leaves - the so-called 'strongest' of the Great Five Hidden Villages. After suffering so many bitter (and _humiliating!_) defeats, they had resolved to set aside their petty differences and join together to form this unholy alliance of the world's most powerful shinobi... to _finally _bring those _Konoha bastards_ down.
"It looks like the time has come at last," Naruto thought grimly, standing on the wall and staring down at the bowel-voiding sight of their deadliest adversaries. "Forgive me; in my heart, I know you are my brothers, and I feel your pain. But you leave me no choice: I will actually have to use _that_ technique."
And so saying, he made the hand seals to cast his most widely rumored -yet never exhibited- jutsu.
The enemy was prepared, however. Recognizing the opening seals for a genjutsu, they braced themselves, ready to dispel any illusion that might be influencing them. Those with doujutsu fired them up, searching out the slightest deviation from reality.
But they couldn't detect a single fucking thing. They didn't seem to be affected _at all_.
Odd, that.
Zip. Nada. Nothing.
Maybe the Kyuubi brat really _was_ as hopeless as they'd always heard?
The women of Konoha, on the other hand -kunoichi and civilian alike- absorbed the full force of the technique.
And saw Orochimaru, Sasuke, Madara, Pein, the other members of Akatsuki, and the Kages of Cloud and Stone, standing at the gates… waving their naughty bits and making smoochy-smoochy noises and catcalls.
"_Gah! Perverts!" _a thousand women cried simultaneously.
They tore into the enemy like a herd of rampaging elephants.
_Menstruating_, rampaging elephants.
They didn't leave enough behind to fill a shoebox.
* * *
Naruto didn't know _how_, but for some reason, whenever a woman he knew saw a pervert -Hell, if a guy just _looked _at her funny- she gained the strength of ten men.
If he could just harness that power for _Good_, he thought…
* * *
SailorStar9: Ekorio = Reversed Oiroke (Reversed Centerfold Technique)
(What the hell do you want from me? Do I _look_ Japanese? The well is running dry here.)
23. Confrontation! Tsubasa Vs Hyuuga
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 21 goes up and only one review! Another chapter already? I gotta lay off the caffeine again.
Hellboy: Did you forget what happened last time?
SailorStar9: Forget what? (Takes a sip out of a Big Glug Mug ExLarge)
Hellboy: ...never mind.
Kakashi: That can't be good for him...Maybe I should take it off him-!
FRAG-A-DOOM!
SailorStar9: (Lowers the grenade launcher with a twirl) NO-ONE stands between me and my Java.
Hellboy: (Eyes the smoking wreck that WAS Kakashi's lower body) point Taken.
Kakashi: Can't...feel...my balls...!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 22: Confrontation! Tsubasa Vs. Hyuuga
* * *
Both goalkeepers met on the foggy path.
With a glint in his eye, Wakashimazu fired a shot at his rival. "Now, that's Wakabayashi Genzo." He noted, Genzo having caught the flying ball. "Outstanding."
"What?" Genzo demanded. "Who are you?"
"You'll know soon enough." Wakashimazu reclaimed his ball.
"Tsubasa." Genzo greeted the warming up team captain.
"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa beamed.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Genzo stated.
"What about your leg?" Tsubasa inquired.
"I wouldn't be here if there were any problems." Genzo remarked.
"I see." Tsubasa nodded.
"Tsubasa, you did it." Genzo commented.
"Oh yeah, this." Tsubasa dug out the captain armband.
"No, the badge is yours now." Genzo corrected. "You're the one who has led Nankatsu FC here."
"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa blinked.
"Win the final." Genzo declared. "Please, captain."
* * *
The next day…
The finals started with both captains facing head-on.
"Take that!" Hyuuga fired his shot straight into Tsubasa's stomach.
"Tsubasa." Misaki gasped.
_He did it on purpose._ Genzo realized.
"What?" Hyuuga gaped when Tsubasa recovered momentarily, kicking the ball to the side.
Misaki caught the pass and sent the ball flying towards Tsubasa via a long pass.
"I got it!" Wakashimazu caught Tsubasa's shot.
"How can that be?" Tsubasa wondered.
"Come on." Wakashimazu tossed the ball out." I'm gonna fight."
"Hyuuga!" Sawada passed the ball to his captain.
"It's not use, Hyuuga." Genzo caught the shot. "Shooting from the penalty area; even if it's Tsubasa." He tossed the ball out.
"I see." Hyuuga smirked.
"Here goes." Sawada dodged Takasugi's slide-tackle, passing the ball once more to Hyuuga.
"If I get the goal from the penalty area, I will be better than Tsubasa." Hyuuga was determined. "Shoot!" he fired his shot.
"It's the same, no matter how you kick." Genzo was certain. "That distance won't work on me."
"Damn." Hyuuga cursed as Genzo saved the ball.
"Hyuuga." Sawada was puzzled at Hyuuga's persistence. _Strange, Hyuuga is different today._ He mused, after Hyuuga's fifth failed attempt to get a goal from Genzo outside the penalty area. _How can he shoot from so far away? Could it be…_
_Damn…_ Hyuuga cursed.
"It's no use." Genzo swore, as Hyuuga fired his shot once again.
"Now!" Sawada jumped in.
_Takeshi…_ Hyuuga blinked, the ball rolling towards the goal line.
"Alright." Sawada beamed.
"I won't let you." Genzo kicked the ball off course.
"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa beamed.
"Good one." Misaki cheered, as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
"Takeshi!" the Meiwa forward passed the ball to Sawada.
_Hyuuga must continue._ Sawada caught the ball. _He must go for the center goal._
"I can't let you pass." Ryo intercepted.
_You can't have it._ Sawada kept the ball. _We must pass the ball to Hyuuga._
"In the latter half, Meiwa has become more agile." Ryo gaped.
"Hyuuga!" Sawada sent Hyuuga a long pass, the Meiwa team captain having entered the penalty area.
"Darn…" Tsubasa cursed. "Wakabayashi!" he gasped, the keeper catching Hyuuga's shot, the impact sending Genzo flying backwards. At the last second, Genzo stopped the ball from passing the goal line.
"A shot from that distance." Sawada was awed.
"It must work this time." Hyuuga swore.
"Let's go!" Genzo called after Hyuuga took off and tossed the ball out.
"Tsubasa." Misaki won the fight over the ball, passing it to Tsubasa.
"Okay." Tsubasa trapped the ball. "There's a chance."
"Darn…" Hyuuga cursed as he and Sawada hurried back. "I can't afford to lose a point here."
"Come on!" Wakashimazu jumped to block as Tsubasa fired his shot after bypassing Sawada's slide-tackle.
"Charge!" Tsubasa fired another shot with the rebound ball, only to have Wakashimazu deflect the shot with his foot.
"Captain, it's up to you." Wakashimazu shouted.
"Okay." Hyuuga caught the ball.
"I won't let you pass me." Misaki blocked Hyuuga's path. "Coming, right or left? Here." He decided, switching to his left. "What?" he gasped when Hyuuga shifted to the right. "Darn, he caught up."
"They're counting on me." Hyuuga growled. "I must succeed, no matter what."
"Come on. "Genzo accepted the challenge.
"Wakabayashi, let's fight it out." Hyuuga readied his shot.
Both adversaries clashed, with Hyuuga's shot winning the scuffle, the impact causing Genzo's glove to fly off and the ball to enter the net.
"How can it…" Misaki gaped.
"Damn…" Genzo cursed.
At the whistle, the match restarted.
"There's no time." Misaki trapped the ball. "Tsubasa, I'm counting on you." And fired a long pass to Tsubasa.
"Go!" Tsubasa fired his 'Overhead Shot', only to have Wakashimazu block the shot.
"The victory is ours." Hyuuga caught the rebound ball.
"I'm gonna avenge for Hyuuga." Genzo dashed out of the goalpost, snatching the ball from Hyuuga.
"Wakabayashi." Hyuuga blinked as the goalkeeper fired his shot.
"Long distance kicks don't work on me, either." Wakashimazu retorted.
"Tsubasa!" Misaki made a heading pass to the incoming Tsubasa.
"Go in!" Tsubasa kicked the ball into the undefended net, pulling the equalizer. "It's in." he blinked as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the second half, the match entering into extended time.
* * *
Back in the present, in Japan…
"Guys, the dark mana is moving." Rei reported.
"Where to?" Makoto asked.
"I can't determine that." Rei sighed. "The mana overloads my sensors pretty fast. It's coming..." she said and the three Inners walked out of the room. As they reached the shrine's yard, they saw Uranus waiting for them, sword drawn.
"Hello there, girls." Uranus said.
"Mars Eternal Power!"
"Jupiter Eternal Power!"
"Venus Eternal Power!"
"Perfect," Uranus smirked and charged. "Uranus Gale Blade!"
The three Inners leapt aside as a solidified air blast shot by, neatly slicing a tree in half. Uranus was already charging at them but was abruptly stopped by Venus' chain.
"Stupid girl. Your powers are just a nuisance to me." Uranus snapped.
"True, but they are enough to distract you." Venus shrugged.
"What the …"
"Ocean Sphere!"
Uranus yelled in pain as Neptune's massive bubble of water trapped her, and she fell to the ground, knocked out, after it vanished.
"Neptune Eternal Power!"
"Well... guess this is it." Jupiter blinked as Neptune's healing wave washed over the unconscious Sky Senshi.
* * *
Omake
There but For the Grace of God
Chiyo, the revered council elder, puppet master and poison specialist of Sunagakure no Sato, had just given her life, using the secret kinjutsu _Kishō Tensei_, to revive Gaara.
A crowd of Suna nin had gathered -seemingly out of nowhere- and they were all cheering and crying, clapping their hands, thumping each other on the back and giving each other awkward, one-armed man hugs, grateful and relieved that their young Kazekage would be all right.
There were even _girls _-pretty ones!- arguing over who would get to _fight_ for him, _protect_ him, be _with_ him.
Naruto stood silently, off to the side, taking in the emotionally fraught scene.
"_Gaara…"_ he thought wistfully to himself with a rare, _genuine_ smile. _"They really __accept__ you. Look how far you've come..."_
He was happy for his friend, of course; but with all he'd been through himself, he couldn't help but feel a little bit melancholy, as well.
"_I've worked so hard," _he thought, brow creasing and a small frown forming, marring his unrefined (but handsome) features._ "I've always tried to be nice to people, tried to keep smiling so I'd never be a burden…"_
"_So why don't they accept __me__?"_ he asked the silent gods of the ether._ "What is the __difference__ between us?"_
The answer to that question, he was sure, would change his life by orders of magnitude.
* * *
"Look out!"
"He's coming this way!"
"Run!"
Uzumaki Naruto stalked down the (now deserted) main street of Konoha.
He had the kanji for "ramen" tattooed across his forehead. (_All the way_ across his forehead: it was 4 sprawling characters.)
And he'd _kill_ you if you even _looked_ at him funny.
Phase 1 of his _new _plan for becoming Hokage was under way.
* * *
SailorStar9: Gaara was a psychopathic killing machine his whole life, and then -overnight- his village _loves_ him.
(Oh, that's right - _he's_ the son of a kage. I forgot. Hey, _wait _a minute...!)
If the people of Konoha are going to be such hard-asses to Naruto, maybe it's time for a little wake-up call.
(Come on, you _know _he's not the sharpest kunai in the holster: 2+2=_CAT _for this guy, for crying out loud. _Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc_ has his name written all over it.)
24. Heated Battle
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 22 goes up and only one review!
Hellboy: okay, seriously, this is getting outright scary right now.
Wesker: What are you looking at ME for?
Hellboy: You're the one that fixed the damn java machine!
Wesker: Oh sure, blame ME for the fact the machine came from Umbrella!
Nemy: BAAAAAAAAAD! (This is most troublesome!)
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 23: Heated Battle
* * *
"Good work." Murayama told the team. "The extended game is two halves of 5 minutes each. No time to daydream,. Get back in the game."
"There's no here." Genzo told the team. "We must be on our best. Tsubasa, aren't you the captain?" he caught himself.
"Huh?" Tsubasa blinked. "Yeah. Listen everyone. Nankatsu is going to win."
* * *
On the field…
"Pass, Takeshi!" Hyuuga barked after the whistle sounded, the pair bypassing Tsubasa and headed towards the goal.
Hyuuga then made his shot, only to have Genzo save the ball. "Damn." He cursed.
"Ishizaki, go!" Genzo tossed the ball out.
"Leave it to me." Ryo trapped the ball.
"Let's go, Tsubasa." Misaki caught the pass.
"Stop him!" Hyuuga ordered as Tsubasa led the attack.
"Misaki." Tsubasa passed the ball over.
"Come on." Wakashimazu readied himself as Tsubasa connected with Misaki's pass and made a volley-shot. The Meiwa goalkeeper managed to save the ball.
After the failed attempts get score a goal, both teams fought it out under the sun.
Sawada claimed the ball and made the high center pass.
_Don't underestimate me._ Genzo growled.
_You can't have it._ Tsubasa swore as he and Hyuuga fought for the ball.
"Get out of the way!" Hyuuga snapped, sending the ball flying into the net via an overhead kick.
"Beautiful." Tsubasa beamed after Genzo caught the ball with a single hand.
_Darn, I'm hurt,_ Genzo cursed, having landed on his left foot and reopening his wound. "Go!" he tossed the ball out.
Ryo caught the ball and passed the ball over to Misaki, who then passed it to Tsubasa, after dodged Hyuuga's slide-tackle.
"Too simple!" Wakashimazu deflected Tsubasa's shot.
Tsubasa went for the second chance, trying to slide the ball in.
"Wakashimazu!" Hyuuga intercepted, kicking the ball to the keeper, who immediately cleared the ball.
"Darn!" Sawada cursed, Misaki having cut in on him.
"Tsubasa." Misaki snatched the ball and made his pass.
"Wakashimazu!" Hyuuga warned.
"It worked!" Tsubasa declared, Wakashimazu having jumped to block his shot. The ball then brushed past Wakashimazu's fingernail, missing its mark. "No good?" he noted as the whistle sounded.
_Darn…_ Genzo hissed. _The pain in my leg is getting worse._
* * *
On the bench…
"Wakabayashi, keep it up in the latter half." Tsubasa encouraged.
"Tsubasa, promise me." Genzo requested.
"Huh?" Tsubasa blinked.
"I'll watch the goal." Genzo stated. "You and Misaki wait for the chance. Don't come back even if there's trouble. Trust me, get enough time to rest. Wait for the chance."
"So, it's Ami's 'Golden Triangle'." Tsubasa mused. "But, it's…"
"For once, I have to agree." Ami relented. Raising a hand to cut Tsubasa's protestations off, she added, "Yes, I've said it's one of those 'Use as a last resort' kind of plan; but against an opponent like Meiwa... it can't be helped. Boys, look," she sighed. "Remember, I only lay out the basic plan; it's up to you three to execute it as you deem fit."
"Got it." Tsubasa nodded. "We must score."
"Nankatsu was beaten by Meiwa once." Genzo stated. "We must win this time, even if by one point." _I will not lose a point, even if it costs me my leg._
* * *
On the field….
The match restarted and both teams fought over the ball.
"Okay!" Hyuuga made a second shot, his first attempt having been blocked by Genzo's fist.
"Go!" Genzo caught the third shot and tossed the ball out.
_Damn, we must score this time._ Hyuuga cut in, stealing the ball from Teppei. "Takeshi!"
"Okay." Sawada caught the pass, before passing it back to Hyuuga.
"Tsubasa, let's go back." Misaki suggested.
"No," Tsubasa objected. "Wait here."
"Tsubasa." Misaki protested.
"Leave it to Wakabayashi." Tsubasa assured. "We'll wait for our chance here."
"You're right." Misaki relented. "Just like Wakabayashi trusts us, we must trust him too."
_Yes, Tsubasa, Misaki._ Genzo agreed. _Wait there._
Before the Nankatsu defense line, the defenders fought to shave off Meiwa's assault.
_I'm coming, Wakabayashi._ Hyuuga reclaimed the ball and made his shot.
Despite his injury, Genzo dived to block off the shot. "I will not lose the point." He jumped to punch on Sawada's shot.
"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa gasped, the keeper having landed on his injured foot after blocking off Hyuuga's shot.
_He…_ Hyuuga realized. _Is your leg hurting? But, a game is a game._ And fired his next shot, only to have Ryo block the ball with his face. "We're going to win this." He swore, renewing his attack.
"Darn!" Ryo's attempted header missed its mark.
"Good save." Tsubasa beamed, Genzo having saved the shot.
"I won't give you one point." Genzo swore. "Ishizaki." He tossed the ball out. "There's no time. Attack."
"I'm counting on you, Tsubasa, Misaki." Ryo passed the ball out.
"Stop him!" Hyuuga barked, rushing back as Nankatsu's 'Golden Combo' started their attack.
"We're going to… win!" Tsubasa declared.
_Oozora Tsubasa? Or Misaki Taro?_ Wakashimazu mused. _Who will shoot? It's Tsubasa._ He focused on Tsubasa who had charged ahead.
"It's Misaki!" Hyuuga shouted as Misaki fired his shot.
Wakashimazu dived to punch out the shot.
"I won't let you!" Hyuuga kicked the ball away.
"The promise I made to Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa jumped into the air. "I must realize it." And made the goal with his trademark 'Overhead Kick'.
_It's over._ Hyuuga thought in regret after the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match.
"Can you walk, Wakabayashi?" Ryo asked.
"Yeah, sorry." Genzo apologized, leaning against the defender for support.
"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa hurried over. "Are you okay?"
"It's no big deal." Genzo assured.
"Good job." Tsubasa praised.
"You did good too." Genzo agreed.
"Everyone worked hard." Tsubasa told the team.
"I thought we were finished." Ryo whined.
"Tsubasa, you win." Hyuuga admitted.
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa nodded, both captain exchanging handshakes.
* * *
Back in the present, in Japan…
"She's taking her time." Jupiter said coldly.
"Flame Spear!"
Jupiter dodged the fiery attack and smirked, turning around to face the Mars Senshi. "Finally... Now the fun begins. Ready yet?" she snapped.
"Anytime you want." Mars snapped back. She dodged Jupiter's punch, then kicked her in the gut, sending her crashing down to the ground.
Jupiter stood up and grinned "Time to stop playing... Jupiter Berserker Fury!"
Mars leapt back and frowned as Jupiter's gloves charged up with electric energy. Jupiter charged at her, and Mars did the best she could to dodge as the green-skirted Senshi tried to hit her with a flurry of blows. A few of them connected, the electricity running through Mars' body with each punch. Jupiter ended the attack with a jab to Mars' jaw that sent the fire Senshi flying out of the rooftop they were on.
"Too much for her meelee skills," Jupiter muttered.
* * *
"Rei?"
Mars opened her eyes and moaned. That fall had really hurt, and that was not counting those lightning-charged punches she'd received.
"Are you okay?" Uranus asked, looking at her.
Mars stood up slowly and nodded. "I'll live." She then realized something. "Mako went evil."
"I'll take care of that." Uranus assured and leapt up to the rooftop.
Mars tried to follow but fell to her knees. "Damn... I'm out of this battle." she muttered bitterly.
"Don't worry, we'll get them," Neptune said as she ran into the scene.
Mars nodded as they leapt up to the roof. She then leaned on a wall and sighed. "I had to be careless enough and get beaten up... Way to go, Rei..."
* * *
"You're not going to win this one." Jupiter snapped, glaring at Uranus.
"Just shut up and fight" Uranus shrugged.
"Suits you..." Jupiter charged forwards again and summoned her new attack. "Berserker Fury!"
Uranus summoned her sword and used it to block Jupiter's attacks. Some of them hit her, but Jupiter got the worst part of it, as the electricity of her own attack zapped her.
"That was fun, do it again" Uranus teased.
Jupiter frowned and sent a punch straight to her gut. Uranus blocked that with her sword but didn't see Jupiter's other fist coming straight for her jaw until it was too late to block it.
"Come on, blondie, let's fight for real," Jupiter snapped as Uranus crashed on the ground a few meters away.
Uranus stood up and growled. "Thought you'd never say that..."
"Berserker Fury!"
The two Outers dodged the attack and Jupiter frowned. "Okay then, let's try again. Berserker..."
"Flood Gate!"
"FURY!"
Neptune's attack was faster, and soaked Jupiter just as she released her own attack. The backlash zapped her out cold and the two Outers sighed.
"Well, that solves this problem." Uranus said. "Uranus Eternal Power!" she unleashed the healing wave on the unconscious Senshi.
* * *
Omake
The Power of Electricity... In My Pants
"I'd like to register a new jutsu," newly-minted Jounin Hatake Kakashi said proudly, standing at the Jutsu Registration Desk in the basement of the Hokage Tower.
"Ummm…" the Chuunin staffing the desk hesitated, staring at the infamous 'whiz kid' of Team Minato. "You do understand, Sir, that it must be an _original_ technique? The Jutsu _Library_ is down the hall; _they_ deal with known techniques."
"No, no," Kakashi cheerfully interjected. "This _is_ an original technique. I have created an original technique!"
"I call it… " and here Kakashi paused to heighten the dramatic impact. "_Chidori_!"
"That's excellent, Sir!" the Chuunin enthusiastically replied, wary of getting on the stuck-up prodigy's bad side. "So, what does it do, exactly?"
"It enables me to recompose my chakra's elemental nature into _Raiton_, and then manipulate it spatially/physically into a weaponized form." Kakashi explained, as though reciting from a memorized text.
The Chuunin stared at him dumbly.
"It lets me coat my hand with electricity, okay? I have the Power of Electricity!" Kakashi clarified, a note of giddiness creeping into his habitually monotone voice.
"Oh, okay, I see," said the Chuunin, nodding in understanding. "So you are talking about elemental recombination; it's some kind of Raiton technique. I'm with you so far. So you generate the Raiton-natured chakra, and then what? What is the actual technique?"
"What do you mean, 'What is the actual technique'?" Kakashi huffed indignantly. "That _is_ the technique. I _stab_ stuff with it. With the Power of Electricity!"
"But that's not really a _new_ technique," the Chuunin asserted dubiously. "_All_ raitontechniques start off with generating Raiton-natured chakra. That's self-evident, really. _Q.E.D._ You know what I'm saying?"
Kakashi gave the Chuunin a cold, menacing stare.
The Chuunin began to remember that Kakashi was not referred to as a 'prodigy' because of his ability to play the piano. This boy was an experienced _killer_.
"This is my new, original technique," Kakashi repeated, back to that chilling, dead monotone. "I have the Power of Electricity. Allow me to demonstrate."
And with that, Kakashi grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, and flared his raiton-natured chakra with the sound of a thousand birds.
"mzmmzmzmz," mumbled the Chuunin, drowned out by the noise.
"WHAT?' Kakashi shouted over the chirping din. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU! IT'S THE POWER-"
"RIGHT, RIGHT," the Chuunin hurriedly interrupted. "JESUS! CAN YOU SHUT THAT THING OFF?"
"SU- Oh, yeah, sorry. No problem," Kakashi replied, releasing his 'technique'.
"So, your chakra _affinity_ is Raiton, isn't it?" the Chuunin inquired, crossing his arms and nibbling a thumbnail thoughtfully.
"How did you know that?" Kakashi asked in turn, startled by the other man's perceptive and astute observation. Was he a Yamanaka, perhaps?
"Lucky guess," the Chuunin replied, shrugging it off with a slight roll of the eyes.
"So, do you need me to stab something?" Kakashi offered, eager to move the process along.
"No, no, that's quite alright," the Chuunin quickly declined. "So, what _class_ is your new… your 'technique'?"
"What do you mean?" Kakashi questioned the other man.
"We class techniques just like missions; that's how we pay the creator, for adding them to our inventory. The lowest are E-ranks, and the highest are S-ranks. Of course, there are different subcategories within each class, ranging from Non-Combat to Assassination."
"What's the _highest_?" Kakashi asked.
"S-rank Assassination. But how many people can you kill with it? That will determine the level."
"If it's an _assassination_ jutsu," Kakashi frowned. "Doesn't that imply that I only _need_ to kill _one_ person?"
"I don't make the rules, Sir," the Chuunin shrugged, grateful to _finally_ be seeing some light at the end of this very long, very dark tunnel.
"Well, I can kill anyone who is standing right in front of me, and not moving. Or resisting. I can't really see too well with all of that _ELECTRICITY_." Kakashi tap-danced around the question, wiggling his fingers in electric-y gestures as a distraction.
"So, multiple, unarmed, stationary targets? I guess that would be a C-"
Kakashi glared.
"I mean a B-"
Kakashi increased the voltage of his glare. With the Power of Electricity.
"An A-rank. An A-rank Assassination jutsu," the sweat-dropping chuunin confirmed, more than slightly intimidated.
"Exactly. That's _exactly _what this is: an A-rank Assassination jutsu. That _I _created." Kakashi had a smug, self-satisfied smile on his face (not that anyone could see it).
"Very good sir. I'll cut you a check."
"Nice," Kakashi acknowledged. "But could you hurry this up? I don't want to be late for my mission."
* * *
A few weeks later, Kakashi was back at the Jutsu Registration Desk. He was wearing a false nose and eyeglass combination, which covered his recently-acquired Sharingan eye.
"I'd like to register a new jutsu," he said.
"Ummm…Okaaay," said the same poor, overwrought Chuunin staffing the desk, staring incredulously at the recently-christened '_Copy Nin_'. "And you do understand, Sir, that it must be an _original_ technique?"
"Yes, yes," Kakashi dismissively waved off the weak protest. "I'm an old hand at this."
"So what is your new technique?" the Chuunin asked, biting back a long-suffering sigh.
(His _mother _thought a nice desk job would be a good career choice. "It will be less _dangerous_," she said. "The _hours _are better," she said. Stupid old cow. If only… )
"It's an _S-rank_ Assassination technique. It's called, _Raikiri_. Allow me to demonstrate."
"I'm sorry, Sir," the Chuunin demurred, after Kakashi had performed and released this new… technique. "But I'm afraid that technique is already registered. It's called the _Chidori_."
"Don't be silly," Kakashi scoffed. "This is completely different! See? This is _blue_. The _Chidori_ is _white_."
"And you think the _color_-?" the confused Chuunin began.
"Structural discombobulation," Kakashi replied, looking down his mask-covered nose. "Elemental matriculation. It's probably over your head. I _am_ a genius, you know."
"Riiiight," the Chuunin slowly drawled, looking skeptical.
"And I can kill anyone I want now, moving or not. Why, I could blast right through this desk and stab you straight through the heart - for example. _Hypothetically_."
"I'll c-cut you a check," squeaked the Chuunin, reaching nervously for his ledger.
* * *
And that's the story of how Hatake Kakashi - a certified _genius_ who was promoted to Chuunin at the same age that other children are still mastering the finer points of bladder control - was credited with creating his only (or should we say _two_) original techniques.
* * *
SailorStar9: The _Chidori_ is more of an overpowered elemental chakra manipulation _exercise_ than a true _technique _in its own right.
And Kakashi's _affinity_ is Raiton! How difficult could it have been for him to pull up a handful of Raiton-natured chakra? Some 'genius'.
Sasuke's _Habataku Chidori_ is just more of the same, as well (fueled by tainted Cursed-Seal chakra).
And then calling this 7.1HP wrist-mounted chainsaw an _assassination_ technique, on top of all that? That simply takes the cake. Konoha really _does_ suck up to its 'prodigies'.
25. Farewell
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 23 goes up and only one review! For those of you who don't know, this will be the last flashback chapter. I'll be starting the Japan World Youth arc next.
Jiraiya: What indeed...
SailorStar9: Pervert.
Jiraiya: Like you're one to talk!
SailorStar9: True, but then, YOU don't have the power to do THIS! (Snaps fingers)
Jiraiya: What? So you snapped your, HEY! Why's my voice so high? (Looks down, is now a woman...) HEY...I can look at myself!
SailorStar9: And people say 'I' need help... (Rolls eyes at gender-bent Jiraiya)
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 24: Farewell
* * *
At the train station…
"Ami, hurry!" Mizuno Saeko shouted.
"But…" Ami protested.
"Five minutes." Saeko relented.
"So…" Tsubasa started once Saeko was out of earshot, the team having gathered at the train station to see Ami off.
"This is it, huh?" Ryo sniffled.
"Ishizaki…" Ami sighed. "Boys, look." She stated. "This isn't good- bye," she smiled softly, "Merely a farewell. The next time we meet, it will be in the Japan World Youth. Until then…" she cast a lingering glance at Genzo, before heading off to the awaiting train.
"Misaki?" Tsubasa blinked at the silent Misaki. "Misaki, what's wrong? You look out of it."
"Tsubasa, actually…" Misaki started. "I… it's the last day that I'll be playing soccer with you guys. I must go to France because of my Dad's work."
"Misaki… is going to France?" Tsubasa gaped.
"I'm going to Germany after I graduate." Genzo dropped the bombshell as well.
"Huh?" Takasugi echoed. "Germany?"
"Coach Mikami was scouted by a German team." Genzo explained. "He told me to go with him. It's my dream to go to Germany. They make excellent goalkeepers. And then moving on to become a pro soccer player."
"Wakabayashi… is going to Germany?" Tsubasa was shocked.
"Is that true?" Ryo pressed.
"No matter there we are, we'll meet again as long as we continue to play soccer." Genzo assured. "Ami is right." He added as the train took off. "The next time all of us meet, it will be in the Japan World Youth."
It was not long before Roberto, too, left for Brazil; but not before showing Tsubasa one final technique, the 'Drive Shoot' and leaving a notebook that detailed all of the techniques and the problems he faced as a professional player.
* * *
Back in the present…
Now, let's get back to our favorite couple, shall we?
It was 'Homecoming Night' and Genzo had wisely chosen to skip the dance, opting to go on a date with his girl. "Wow…" he gawked after Ami exited from the dormitory. "Just wow."
Ami stifled a giggle at his stunned expression; she herself was decked in a less _conservative_ version of her Princess gown. "And you, my dear, are late." She chided. "I've been ready for half an hour, Genzo. You really are a peacock, you know?"
"No, I'm not. Have you seen peahens? They're rather drab." Genzo grinned, "But you, my dear, are quite stunning."
Ami blushed and rolled her eyes, a feat that quite impressed the keeper. "You are a flatterer, dear. Come on, we are so late that our table might have been taken."
Genzo laughed, "It's called fashionably late, love. And I'll have you know that I am never late for anything that really matters."
Ami, however, let out a calculating smirk, "Well… there was that one ball that you were horribly late for. Had me half thinking that you had stood me up."
Genzo raised an eyebrow, "Love, past lives do not count." He kissed her as she chuckled, stunning her for a moment. However, there was only a moment's hesitation before her arms were around him and she was returning the kiss fervently.
After a few moments they parted and he grinned down to him, "I think I could definitely get used to this. I'm open to being even more late…" His grin became quite mischievous and that blush he loved to see on his Nymph's face blossomed once again.
"Oi!" Ami thumped his arm playfully.
"Shall we, milady?" Genzo asked in a fake ancient British voice.
Ami burst out laughing and allowed him to take her hand, the couple leaving the school grounds thereafter.
* * *
Later, after dinner…
Despite Ami's protestations, Genzo had pulled her to the dance floor. When the next song came on started, he bowed to her, and she curtseyed to him, and the two danced an intricate waltz, one that would not have been out of place at a ball room dancing competition. They moved together effortlessly, complimenting one another perfectly.
_
* * *
Flashback_
_Princess Maris of Mercury had __always been considered a good dancer, though most of her potential partners had been scared off by her immense intellect._
_It wasn't until the Phoenix Guardian came along. Being the planet closest to the Sun, the pair had long noticed each other's presence, even before Queen Selenity came into power. As time passed, they found themselves spending more and more time together, getting to know each other and falling in love, much to the displeasure of the Moon Princess._
"_May I have the honor of the next dance, Princess?" Alan was positively grinning as he asked._
_Maris recognized the voice and gasped, turning to see if she had been imagining things, almost squealing his name in exultation, but knew that she needed to keep from drawing attention to him, though she curtseyed, smiling widely. "I would be very pleased to dance with you."_
"_Selenity's proposal has been rejected, Maris." Alan told his partner. "The Council prevailed and told me to marry the woman I love. And that they would smooth over any rough feelings from Princess Serenity."_
"_You're free?" Maris couldn't believe her ears._
_Alan shook his head, "I haven't been free since the first time I met you, Maris. I'm not free. I'm just now allowed to be with the woman who truly holds my heart. That is, if you'll have me?"_
_Maris nodded, "With all my heart, Al."_
_He crushed her to him, kissing her for all he was worth. "I love you, Mar. I want to face all my tomorrows with you." He gently pushed her from him, just a short distance, and dropped to one knee, "Princess Maris, will you marry me and be my Queen?"_
"_I will, Prince Solaris. Yes."__She pulled him to his feet, and the two kissed, completely ignoring any need for breath._
* * *
Omake
Ride the Snake
Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto were deep in the heart of Training Ground 44 -aka the Forest of Death- taking part in the biannual Chuunin Selection Exams.
They had just stopped to take a short break, having been running non-stop since they entered their gate.
"I need to drain the snake," Naruto said, somehow never learning his lesson regarding 'situational awareness' (let alone, 'common decency') even after all these years of… negative reinforcement.
"Naruto! You can't do that here! That's… _incredible_."
Sakura's voice had gone from ream-y to dreamy in a flat 2.0 seconds (a new world record).
"Sasuke-kun, maybe you should check our perimeter?" Sakura suggested sweetly, never once shifting her transfixed, half-lidded eyes. "You know, look around for some strong enemies or something."
"And take your time," she added absently, licking her lips.
The proud Uchiha Sasuke didn't let _anyone_ tell him what to do, of course; but the thought of battling fierce opponents aroused… something in him.
Maybe they'd be like that Zabuza guy.
Shirtless.
And _damp_.
Glistening in the sun like a...
"I'll be back in an hour," Sasuke grunted. _"Unless I'm captured. And tied up. And…"_
Sasuke dashed off before his... nosebleed could give him away.
"So, Naruto-kun," Sakura cooed seductively. "I'd sure like to wrestle that _big snake_ of yours."
Moments later, Naruto found himself -quite literally- _blown away_.
* * *
SailorStar9: Lust-crazed Sakura? Humorously in-denial Sasuke? Yes, it's crack - but it still doesn't seem like _too _much of a stretch. The humor here is grounded in the fact that there is (just barely) enough circumstantial evidence in canon to support the argument. You may _say _that it's 'unbelievable' - but you aren't really _convinced _that it's 'impossible'.
It's the same with Naruto and Sasuke bonding over plans to destroy the village, or Danzo being a paper-pusher under covert orders from the Hokage himself, or Orochimaru being framed for Sandaime's human experiments. It can _all_ be made 'not unbelievable'.
26. Ignite! Japan Youth Cup
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 24 goes up and only one review!
Kakashi: You still haven't finished the other fics, you know.
SailorStar9: Shut up! The mojo for this one flowed a lot easier alright?
Kakashi: Forgive me! (Covers face and balls, only to blink) huh? You're not gonna hurt me?
SailorStar9: Naw...you're expecting it (turns away) it's no fun if you're expecting it.
Kakashi: Sadist.
SailorStar9: Here, make yourself useful (Tosses Kakashi a book)
Kakashi: (lets book drop to the floor, when it doesn't explode, he sends a clone to pick it up) Wonder what this is?
The clone opens the book, reads a few lines, sole eye bulging in horror before poofing out of existence, Kakashi's eye bulging as the information was imprinted into his brain.
SailorStar9: (Smirks as Kakashi falls to the ground, screaming and clawing at his eye,) Yami choco, bokoa no s-beep-al h-beep-ment edition. (Shudder) sometimes I even scare myself...
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 25: Ignite! Japan Youth Cup
* * *
Time passes…
_I know I'm right._ Katagiri mused as the World Japan Cup players were announced. _These players make a team that can go to the world. They are the perfect players._
* * *
In the National Soccer Association building…
"We're gonna go aboard." Tsubasa noted.
"I still can't believe I'm representing Japan." Ryo added. "And I'm going to France. My heart is pounding."
"Tsubasa, Ishizaki!" Jito Hiroshi called.
"Everyone." Tsubasa turned to see Hyuuga and the rest.
"Tsubasa, how's your shoulder?" Matsuyama Hikaru inquired.
"It's getting better." Tsubasa replied. "But I still can't go to practice."
"That's because Tsubasa will what he's not supposed to do." Ryo chided, the group of 17-year-olds entering the conference room. "But that's Tsubasa's strong point."
"We have a training seminar for the Japanese reps." The press conference started.
"Misugi…" Tsubasa trailed, seeing the familiar figure enter the room. "Misugi is a coach?"
"Ami too…" Ryo gawked as the two took their seats.
"As you know," the Association head started. "There's a World Youth Cup in France for players under 18 years of age. There are teams from 12 countries. The players who demonstrate high potential might have a chance to become the best in the world. I hope you will give your best as the representatives of Japan."
"Now, I'll introduce the coaches." Katagiri added. "First is Coach Mikami. He was a goalkeeper in his days of soccer. He has been with the sport for a long period of time. After he retired, he coached in my soccer clubs. He's now training Wakabayashi of the Bayern Munich. Beside him is Coach Kato. Kato played forward position. He has good records at the J-League. Coach Misugi Jun, as you all know, was the captain of Musashi High. This time, he doesn't join as a player, but as a coach. Lastly, Coach and Team Physician, Mizuno Ami, as you all know, was the manageress of Nankatsu Elementary. They will have a chance to develop his calm observations. I hope they will be able to pick out their peers' strong points."
"The day after tomorrow, you will go to Fukushima." Mikami announced. "After the training, we'll select the best players to represent Japan. There'll be training in Germany before going to France."
* * *
After the press conference…
"Ishizaki, I got the defense." Jito boasted.
"Liar, I'm not gonna lose to you." Ryo retorted.
"See you in two days." Jito bade the rest farewell as he headed out with Sano Mitsuru and the Tachibana twins.
"Bye." Ryo called.
"Misugi." Tsubasa blinked as Misugi exited the lift.
"Misugi, you got me scared there." Ryo complained.
"Even though I feel bad about not making a player, but I will work hard as a coach." Misugi promised. "And I'm beginning to understand why Mizuno said she'll see me in the Japan World Youth."
"Your good judgment will make you great coaches." Ryo stated.
"If I didn't make it to the team because of my heart, I think it'll be my regret in life." Misugi admitted. "But I won't give up becoming a representative of Japan. I have a dream."
"A dream?" Ryo echoed.
"One day, becoming a representative of Japan and play in the World Cup with you guys." Misugi replied.
"World Cup?" Ryo echoed. "You mean the best of soccer, World Cup? Isn't that…"
"I don't think it's a far off dream." Misugi corrected. "No, I think it's because it's something only we can do."
"Misugi, let's realize that dream." Tsubasa declared. "Let's make that dream come true."
"Okay, come on." Hyuuga announced.
"World Cup." Matsuyama added. "Alright."
"Sounds cool." Ryo agreed.
"A dream must be big." Matsuyama reminded.
"First, it's the preliminary." Tsubasa decided.
"Oozora." Mikami called. "Oozora, come here."
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
"We're off." Matsuyama remarked.
"About this training…" Mikami trailed after the three sat down.
"Yes." Tsubasa responded.
"You don't have to participate." Ami dropped the bombshell. "You must cure your shoulder first. Tsubasa, that's what you need to do now."
"Yes, I know." Tsubasa relented.
* * *
The next day…
"How long will they last with the varsity players?" Kato wondered.
"I think they are here." Ami cut in. "The elite soccer university, Nohara Central University."
"Firs time with 2 to 1." Mikami noted after the practice match. "Not bad. Misugi, what do you think about the lineup of players?"
"First, we need to make a firm line down the middle," Misugi voiced. "Goalkeeper, Wakashimazu, Libero, Matsuyama, Middle-fielder, Oozora, Forward, Hyuuga. Defender Takasugi, Jito and Soda. Mid-fielder, Sano, Tachibana Jr. forward, Nita, Tachibana Sr. What do you think?"
"4, 3, 3." Mikami mused. "Almost exactly what I'm thinking."
"I see, putting Matsuyama in defense." Ami added.
"I think his judgment, vision and stamina make him a good defender." Misugi stated. "But that's if only Tsubasa can play…"
"Yeah." Mikami agreed. "If his shoulder is not too serious, I plan to let him play."
* * *
The next day…
"Tsubasa." Ryo beamed, seeing Tsubasa on the lines.
"Everyone." Tsubasa greeted.
"How's your shoulder?" Matsuyama inquired.
"It's getting better day by day." Tsubasa replied.
"I see." Matsuyama was relieved.
"Get it fixed, or else you'll lose your position." Hyuuga joked.
"Will you make the Europe trip?" Soda asked.
"Of course." Ryo assured. "Right, Tsubasa? Let's go to France with the best players."
"Coach, the Toho players are here." Ami informed.
It was not long before the practice match started.
"Bas, if you're in midfield, this game might have a different development." Ami voiced as the three watched the match. "Misugi, you too. It's the same with you here."
"I want to play." Tsubasa stated. "Looks like it'll be a good game." He noted, once Matsuyama pulled the equalizer in the second half. Everybody, one minute left." He encouraged. "Fight to the end."
At that, Hyuuga scored the second goal with his trademark 'Tiger Shot'.
* * *
After the match…
"Now announcing the players that will go to Europe." Mikami declared.
At that, Misugi unrolled the player list and posted it on the board.
"I see it." Ryo whooped. "I see my name."
"I'm the captain." Hyuuga blinked.
"Tsubasa, I see it." Ryo cheered. "I can go to France with you."
"Congratulations, Ishizaki." Tsubasa stated.
"Tsubasa…" Ryo trailed, scanning the list and finding Tsubasa's name missing. "Why…"
"There's no use." Tsubasa remarked.
"No way." Ryo protested. "Why can't I go with Tsubasa?"
"I don't feel any pain, but I trust Ami's diagnosis." Tsubasa reasoned. "There's no use."
* * *
At the airport…
"There's so many people." Ryo remarked.
"That's Tsubasa." Matsuyama blinked, the team spotting Tsubasa at the bottom of the escalator.
"Tsubasa, you're here." Ryo ran forward.
"Hyuuga." Ami handed a folded uniform to the forward.
"Tsubasa, I have something for you." Hyuuga stated. "I'll wait for you, Tsubasa." He passed the uniform over. "This is yours."
"This represents Japan." Tsubasa gaped. "I'm not a rep."
"The coach said we could choose our own numbers." Ami supplied.
"And nobody wanted #10." Misugi added.
"Because #10 belongs to you, Tsubasa." Matsuyama remarked.
"That's it." Hyuuga concurred.
"Because only Tsubasa is good enough to wear #10." Ryo remarked.
"And there you have it, Bas." Ami grinned. "It's unanimous."
"You guys…" Tsubasa muttered. "I want to go to Europe more than ever."
"Ishin Airport, Flight 451 for Bangkok." The announcement came on.
"It's time." Kato declared. "Let's go."
"Oozora." Mikami stated.
"Coach Mikami." Tsubasa turned. "I'll get my shoulder fixed in 2 weeks." He promised. "So, please…"
"The ticket to France." Mikami handed Tsubasa the plane ticket. "'Only Tsubasa is good enough to wear #10.'" He quoted Ryo.
"Coach." Tsubasa beamed.
"#10 and France's #11." Mikami added. "We'll become the real Japan reps."
"France's #11?" Tsubasa echoed.
"Misaki Taro." Mikami supplied.
"Misaki…" Tsubasa breathed.
"I'll be waiting for you in France." Mikami stated.
"Okay." Tsubasa swore.
* * *
Omake
Shrink my _What_?
Naruto lay on the psychologist's couch, clutching a small pillow to his chest.
"I've been alone my whole life," he wheezed; a haunted, sunken expression on his face. "No one's ever loved me; no one's ever cared…"
The doctor took a long, thoughtful drag from his cigar, then looked back down at his clipboard.
"So tell me about your mother," he said, in a thick Viennese accent.
Naruto raised the pillow to his face and started sobbing hysterically.
* * *
SailorStar9: Not much point to this; I was just wondering how things would go, if Naruto started seeing a therapist.
27. The Humiliating Expedition
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 25 goes up and only one review!
Kakashi: (fetal position on the floor) The...corn...!
SailorStar9: Silence...sacred moment right here.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 26: The Humiliating Expedition
* * *
In Germany…
"Everything you see here belongs to Bayern Munich." Ryo gushed.
"Yes, the football and tennis courts." Ami confirmed. "The field is 15 sq. meters."
"Awesome." Ryo gaped.
"So you spent 3 years in this great place." Kazou remarked.
"That's right." Genzo voiced from behind.
"Wakabayashi." Ryo gaped.
"Captain." Taki beamed. "Long time no see."
"Are you guys chosen to be on the Japan team?" Genzo inquired. "Ishizaki, you too?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryo protested.
"Peacock, I thought we were over the 'Ishizaki is useless' phase?" Ami joked.
"I may be over the phase, but he still acts useless." Genzo smirked. "You grew out your hair."
"5 months and that's the _first_ things you say to me?" Ami quirked a brow, unamused.
"Long time no see, Wakabayashi." Hyuuga cut in the couple's playful bantering.
"Hyuuga, I kept our promise." Genzo greeted his long-tome rival. "You have to kick in the penalty area."
"I'll make it." Hyuuga swore.
"You look confident." Genzo noted. "I didn't spend 5 years in Germany for nothing."
"Okay, show me what you learned in Germany tomorrow." Hyuuga stated.
_I guess Tsubasa is not here because of his shoulder._ Genzo mused. _Without Tsubasa, japan has no chance of winning tomorrow._
* * *
That night…
"The Sapphire Starfire Gem…" Genzo started. "Its power is…"
"Yeah." Ami nodded. "It was Usagi who defeated the dark mana in the end, and ironically, that's what caused the Starfire Gems to regain all of their power."
_
* * *
Flashback_
"…" _Moon clutched her head and fell to her knees. "I... It's happening," she said almost in a whisper. Then her face changed, becoming emotionless, and her body was surrounded by an aura of light. "Moon Holy Power!"_
_The other Senshi got ready for the fight as Moon's suit was modified. When the transformation ended, a pair of angel-like wings were on her back. Moon fled up and stared down at the others. "It's time to stop playing. This time I won't let any of you live. It'll be a lot of fun to hear your leader's mental screams when she watches as I kill you one by one..." Her voice had been dropping down as she spoke, and now it was a deep, booming growl. "Bow before your Queen, or die standing. Your choice. "_
"_Big words, but you can't back them," Uranus snapped._
"_So I can't... Moon Eternal Beam!"_
"_Ocean Sphere!" Neptune used her attack like a barrier, and it blocked Moon's energy beam. However, Moon didn't let the attack down, and the wall started cracking under the pressure. "I... I can't hold this for much longer... Death Legion_!" _Saturn twirled her staff around her, the weapon creating blobs of energy that floated down to the ground. When she was done, there were a hundred of these blobs surrounding her. The blobs turned into wraiths, but these weren't small, in fact they were twice their summoner's size. Saturn pointed her glaive as she completed her attack._
_Moon smirked and let the wraiths surround her, but then shot an energy wave all around her, vaporizing them. "Nice try..."_
_Saturn leaned on her staff and frowned. "Sorry guys, out of power... "_
"_Oh don't worry, you all will be dead in a few minutes," Moon said. _
"_You're a fool."_
_Moon turned to glare at Tuxedo Kaman. "What?"_
"_You heard me. Dark mana or whatever you want to call yourself. You can be defeated by us weaklings. Let me show you..." he summoned the Golden Crystal and changed into his Prince Endymion self. _
"_Oh come on, Endy, you won't hurt your precious Usako, would you?" Moon taunted._
_Moon... No, the creature controlling Moon's body knew all that already. It had not considered Tuxedo Kaman a real threat, and that could be its downfall. It could already feel Moon trying to regain control as Endymion released the Golden Crystal's power. Moon's face showed fear, an emotion the dark mana had never experienced before. In fact, it could quite well be the first emotion it felt on its own._
_But it was not about to give up. Not when victory was so close at hand. It only had to get rid of the caped hero and then eliminate the others. And it knew just how._
_Endymion frowned as she saw Moon's arms raising. "C'mon Usako... You gotta fight it. Please..."_
"_She can't, little boy. How ironic, the one you want to save will be the one that'll destroy you."_
"_No... I won't let you win," Endymion said. His eyes glew brighter as he grabbed his Golden Crystal and glared at Moon. _
_A golden beam of energy blasted forwards at Moon, but the elder Senshi of the Moon didn't look worried at all. In fact she had summoned her own crystal and was about to counter with an attack of her own._
"_Moon Silver Crystal Wave!"_
_The energy beam was just like Endymion's, only white. As the beams clashed, however, it was obvious there was a lot more power in Moon's one. Endymion tried to pour more and more energy into his own beam, but with the dark mana's energy reserves being way higher, he was fighting a hopeless battle._
_If the other Senshi had had any energy left in them, they would have helped. In fact, one of them decided to try anyways. Uranus charged at Moon, sword drawn and ready to strike, but slammed face-first in an invisible barrier._
"_Damn..." Mars muttered._
_Just then, Endymion ran out of power. His beam wavered off, and Moon's one hit her dead on, sending her crashing into a building, the energy of the attack completely wrecking the structure and causing it to fall over Endymion. The others looked on worriedly, and heard a battle-cry from inside the wreckage and Endymion rushed out of it, sword drawn. However, Moon smiled coldly and shot a single, thin energy blast. It passed right through Endymion's chest, and the Earth Prince fell to his knees._
"_I... couldn't..." he managed to say as his mouth filled with blood, reverting back to his Tuxedo Kaman form, before falling to the ground in a lifeless heap._
"_That beam shot right through his heart," Saturn said. "He's dead... "_
"_This can't be happening," Venus muttered._
"_Wait... Moon is not moving," Mars noted._
_The others turned to look at Moon. By now, the dark mana should be gloating over its victory, but Moon wasn't even moving a muscle. She stared for several moments at Tuxedo Kaman's dead body then a scream escaped her mouth._
_"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"_
_What happened next was amazing to say the least. Moon's body lit up with energy, and columns of light blasted out of every sewer hole around the city. The ground under Moon cracked as energy poured into the sewers, seeking and destroying all of the dark mana in the city. _
_The rage from seeing her love die by her own hand had been enough for Moon to literally kick the dark mana out of her body, but her connection to it was kept as the evil 'creature' tried to regain control. That same rage had allowed her to literally vaporize any traces of dark mana she could find, but right now, the rage was gone. All that was left was a feeling of guilt like she'd never experienced before._
_The Ginzuishou's energy utterly spent, the crystal broke apart, releasing the trapped Starfire Gems' energies and reverting back to its original Pearl Starfire Gem form._
_As her friends started walking towards her, Moon could only kneel on the ground and start crying; the Senshi's Starfire Gems reclaiming all of their po__wer and allowing the Senshi to return to their original 'Aeon' forms back during the Golden Millennium._
"_Saturn Resurrection!" Although tired like she'd never been, Saturn still knew she had to revive Tuxedo Kaman._
* * *
The next day…
The friendly match started with Hyuuga charging straight towards Schneider. "Takeshi." He passed the ball to Sawada. _Wakabayashi, I created the 'Tiger Shot' while you were away._ He readied his shot and fired, the ball missing its mark. "That was just a greeting, Wakabayashi." He declared. "I will have my eyes on the goal, that's for sure."
"Got it." Kazou stole the ball.
"No response whatsoever." Masao remarked, running alongside with his twin. "So, there's nothing great about Wakabayashi.
"Big brother, we will get Japan into the game." Kazou promised. "Come on, Nita."
"Okay." Nita caught the pass as Masao shot his twin into the air, Nita making an overhead pass to the flying Kazou.
"This is our 'Flying Drive Shot'!" Kazou let the ball fly with a header, with Genzo caught skillfully. "What?" he gasped as Genzo tossed the ball out.
"It's my turn." Nita took over, passing the ball to Matsuyama.
"Nita!" Matsuyama passed the ball over.
"I'll show you." Nita made his shot, to with Genzo caught with relative ease.
"Okay, I'm next." Soda snatched the ball. "Razor Shot! What?" he gaped when Genzo caught the shot.
_Wakabayashi._ Matsuyama mused. _Mizuno was right. The Germany stay did him good. Then, try and catch mine._ "Eagle Shot!" he fired his shot. "What?" he gaped when Genzo dived to save the ball.
"Damn!" Nita cursed.
"Let's go." Ryo encouraged. "Wakabayashi is the only good player in Bayern Munich."
"For us, it's an easy game." Jito boasted.
"Come on, Takeshi." Hyuuga called. "What?" he gasped when Kaltz stole the pass.
"I'm gonna get it back." Nita promised.
"Let's do it." Kaltz told the team, spitting out his toothpick.
"What?" Ryo gaped as the German team started to make rapid passes. "They picked up their paces all of a sudden.
"What's going on?" Jito wondered.
"Listen, you guys." Genzo called. "I've made you attack on purpose to test your strengths."
"What?" Hyuuga demanded. "You're testing us? You're kidding me."
"Hyuuga." Matsuyama beamed as Hyuuga stole the ball from Kaltz.
"Alright." Ryo cheered.
With a simple twist of his body, Schneider knocked Hyuuga off his feet, stealing the ball. Breaking through the mid-fielders, he made his shot.
Wakashimazu was too stunned to respond, earning the German team their first goal.
"What's that?" Wakashimazu gaped.
"What?" Ryo complained. "A goal so fast."
It was not long before Schneider scored a second goal with his trademark 'Fire Shot'.
"The ball flies into his hands." Wakashimazu noted. "This shot is faster than Captain's 'Tiger Shot'.
"Bastards." Soda cursed as the gloating German team. "What are you smiling about?"
"You think you're gonna win with that?" Matsuyama swore.
"Are you kidding?" Wakashimazu growled. "I won't let it end."
The first half ended with Schneider making his third goal minutes before the whistle sounded.
* * *
On the bench…
"They're tough." Sawada admitted.
"I wanted to get another point." Ryo hissed. "But they got another point."
"That's why I warned you guys about underestimating them." Ami voiced. "Don't give up. It's only the first half."
"They're really fast." Soda noted. "How do we turn it around?"
"Japan, go!" Tsubasa shouted.
"Ara, our 'Field Samurai' enters the scene." Ami grinned as Tsubasa entered the field with Katagiri.
"Tsubasa." Ryo beamed.
"It really is Tsubasa." Taki exclaimed.
"You're here." Ryo gaped.
"You're here, Tsubasa." Genzo noted.
"Is he the one you often talk about?" Schneider inquired.
"Yes, he's the soccer genius, Oozora Tsubasa." Genzo replied.
"Why are you here?" Ryo wondered.
"I couldn't wait to play with you guys." Tsubasa replied. "I just had to come."
"Oozora, is your shoulder okay now?" Mikami inquired.
"Yes." Tsubasa assured.
"I see." Ryo nodded. "Go on the latter half."
"Yeah." Matsuyama agreed.
"It's too bad Tsubasa can't play." Ami corrected.
"Why?" Ryo pressed.
"Tsubasa is not listed as a player in this game." Misugi supplied.
"How can that be?" Ryo muttered. "Tsubasa is here."
"If Tsubasa joins us, then we have a chance." Sawada noted.
"Stop being so pessimistic." Hyuuga chided. "We haven't lost yet. I'm going to win this game."
"Yes, it's awful to say that we can't win without Tsubasa." Matsuyama agreed. "We might not always have the best players in the future. We must win with the players that are on the field.
"Yeah, Matsuyama is right." Tsubasa concurred. "We still have the second half. Come on."
* * *
On the field…
The second half started.
"Looks like Tsubasa is not here." Genzo noted. "If Tsubasa doesn't play, Japan will still have a zero."
"What?" Hyuuga growled. "Bastard, we must win. We can't have them say that we can't win without Tsubasa. Takeshi!" he passed the ball.
Schneider cut into the pass, snatching the ball.
"Don't underestimate me!" Wakashimazu roared, diving to save Schneider's fourth 'Fire Shot'.
"Cool, Wakashimazu." Ryo beamed. "Wakashimazu." He came up to the injured keeper.
"Morisaki." Ami looked over at the benched keeper.
"Wait, I'm going out." Wakashimazu stopped her. "The game's just started."
"Not with your hand like that." Ryo protested.
"Listen to the team physician." Hyuuga advised. "Just leave the rest to us."
"Captain." Wakashimazu muttered. "I understand."
"Morisaki replaces Wakashimazu as the goalkeeper." Mikami called the replacement.
"Infirmary, now." Ami barked as the returning keeper.
"Yes." Wakashimazu muttered, following the team physician off.
It was not long before Schneider made his fourth and fifth shots into the Japan goalpost.
_It's not fair, that's now we are._ Hyuuga mused. _Tsubasa, smile. This is who we are._ "Matsuyama!" he barked once Matsuyama stole Schneider's ball.
"The game is not over yet." Matsuyama swore. "We will fight until the last second. That's the endurance of Japanese players."
"Hyuuga!" Sawada caught Matsuyama's pass and made a pass to Hyuuga.
"Come on, Hyuuga." Ryo urged once Hyuuga trapped the ball under his foot.
"Kick, Hyuuga." Matsuyama called. "As the best striker in Japan, shoot!"
"I'm going." Hyuuga declared. _The winner is out. At least score with some long kicks. I'm the one who almost gave up. They're passing the ball to me._
"Hyuuga's fake moves…" Genzo gaped as Hyuuga feinted the German defenders. "You want it this bad?"
"Take that." Hyuuga growled, bypassing the last defender and made his shot.
"Alright." Jito cheered once the ball shot through the net, Genzo having let the ball in.
"We got a point back." Nita beamed.
"Nice shot, Hyuuga." Masao cheered.
"You ran away." Genzo stated. "I thought you'd made a long kick.
"What did you say?" Hyuuga growled.
"There's a 5 point difference." Genzo reminded. "There's no way you'll win. Do you want this point so bad?"
"What?" Hyuuga demanded.
"Forget it." Genzo shrugged. "I'll give this point to you as a present. Such a sucky captain, you'll never learn in France."
"Bastard." Hyuuga hissed.
"Calm down, Hyuuga." Jito warned as he and Takasugi pulled the enraged Hyuuga back. "Hyuuga, stop."
"Let go." Hyuuga demanded.
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa voiced.
"I know." Hyuuga relented. "Let go." He shrugged Jito off. "Matsuyama." He passed the captain armband to Matsuyama and walked.
"Hyuuga…" Tsubasa muttered.
* * *
After the match…
"Genzo, I'm sorry." Mikami apologized. "Giving you these hateful jobs."
"It's nothing." Genzo assured his mentor.
_
* * *
Flashback_
"_We must let Japan know, no matter what, how strong and tough European soccer is." Mikami told his former protégé. "We must show them in any kind of way. Please Genzo. Please accept this position."_
"_Okay, I know." Genzo nodded. "Mikami."_
* * *
"Mataku." Ami sighed. "Real hardball, Peacock." She chided.
"But is it going to work?" Genzo wondered. "A team we scrambled up with Hyuuga as the focus."
"And now, it's splitting apart." Ami finished.
"If we don't go back as a team, that is it for us." Mikami added.
"Katagiri is going to be _so_ pissed." Ami grinned.
"Hyuuga has grown." Genzo noted. "I'm happy, even if he said what he said. For his teammates, Hyuuga threw away his dignity for one point."
"Yeah." Mikami agreed.
"Mikami, have you made up your mind?" Genzo asked. "I'm going to represent Japan at the World Youth Soccer Cup."
"Wakashimazu will not approve." Ami predicted.
* * *
Omake
It Is My Density
"_Demon,"_
"Oh, hi Mr. Smith. The lawn looks great!"
"_Monster,"_
"Hello, Mrs. Thompson. You're out early today!"
"_Hellspawn,"_
"It's good to see you, too, Mr. Jenkins! How about them Mets?"
Uzumaki Naruto was making his way toward the Academy, whistling a happy tune and shouting a cheerful 'Good Morning' to all the nice people he met on his way.
He loved this town. Everyone was always so friendly, and went out of their way to acknowledge him every time he passed by. It really made him feel good about himself!
* * *
Naruto had just failed his genin exam for the third time; and Mizuki had unexpectedly offered a second chance, telling him about a 'secret' make-up exam.
Naruto had to say it: for a sensei, that Mizuki sure was cool to clue him in about that secret test. That was, until they met in the forest.
* * *
"That's right!" Mizuki shouted, eyes glittering with madness. "_You_ are the Kyuubi no Youko! The Nine-Tailed Demon that attacked our village and killed all those people - including Iruka's parents!"
"I'm not sure I follow," Naruto confessed, totally bewildered by his part-time sensei's ranting. Was this, too, part of the exam?
"What the hell do you _mean_?" Mizuki fumbled, stopped short by this unexpected (lack of) reaction. "I just _told _you! You are the Demon Fox! You killed Yondaime!"
"I'm not really getting what you're saying," Naruto repeated, brow creasing and chin quirking up in a futile effort to understand.
"Your freaking _birthday_ is _October 10th_," Mizuki gritted out a patient explanation, years of teaching experience winning out over weeks of traitorous plotting. "You know, _the exact same day_ as the greatest disaster to ever befall the village?"
"You know my birthday?" Naruto asked excitedly. "That's so sweet! I _knew_ you were a swell guy!"
"That's not the _point_!" Mizuki shouted (because even teachers have their limits). "Haven't you ever wondered why everyone calls you 'Demon', or 'Monster', or 'Slayer of Millions', or "Devourer of Souls', or…?"
"Oh, _that_?" Naruto scoffed, seeming to finally grasp the very straightforward concept Mizuki was presenting. "They're just being _friendly_."
Then again, maybe not.
"Friends make up nicknames for each other; the Old Man told me that. They think I'm a 'little devil' for pulling my pranks, so… "
"_They're not being friendly_!" Mizuki snapped, interrupting the blond-haired boy before he could continue. "They _hate _you! Why do you think they won't let you in their stores? Why do you think they won't let their children anywhere near you?"
"Well, it's not really up to me to argue with store policy," Naruto shrugged. "They've probably just had some bad experiences with unescorted children in the past, like shoplifting and such. It's just good business practice, when you think about it."
"And as for the parents, I think they just don't want me _catching_ anything from those other kids. That boy Chouji has had the mumps forever! And that Shino kid has lice or something. The Inuzuka keeps a _puppy_ on his _head_ - and you _know_ that can't be very sanitary. And I think that Shika has some kind of narca-, narco-… What's the word?"
"Narcolepsy?" Mizuki offered helpfully, completely at a loss at the turn this conversation had taken.
"Yeah, that's it! _Narcolepsy_. He has narcolepsy. I think. And that poor retarded girl has gone blind from syphilis. (Or maybe it's cataracts.) Isn't that a _shame_?" Naruto shook his head sorrowfully.
"The Uchiha is another one with vision problems," Naruto eventually continued, trying hard to remember all the other members of his age-group. "He's _always_ rubbing his eyes and glaring at stuff."
"Between you and me," Naruto whispered conspiratorially. "I think some of these clan families are a little 'too close for comfort', if you know what I mean. They seem to have a lot of... _issues_."
"Anyway, the blond girl is anorexic. Or maybe bulimic. And _pink_ hair? I hate to think of what kind of nasty virus could do _that_ to a person. It must cause her a lot of physical discomfort, too, the way she acts."
"So it's for my own good, really," Naruto finally concluded, in what he considered to be a very grown-up way. "And I think it is just so _thoughtful_ of them, to worry about my health like that. We really live in a great town!"
"_Oh, for the love of_... All right, give me a second here… " Mizuki replied after a moment, losing any desire to continue but soldiering on out of pure strength of will. "Oh, that's right: okay, so what about the marks on your belly?"
The adrenaline rush had worn off a while ago, and by now he was more interested in returning home to a soft bed than in any vague (and therefore highly questionable) promises of undefined 'power'.
"You know about my condition?" Naruto asked in a small, shaky voice, eyes wide with fear.
"_Finally_," Mizuki thought to himself, sighing with relief. "_We are __finally__ getting somewhere. How dense can this kid be_?"
"I didn't think anyone knew about that," Naruto continued softly, his perpetually ebullient demeanor now replaced by an ill-suited, downcast expression. "I… I think I might be allergic to chakra. It only breaks out when I try to perform a technique. Do you know someone who can help me? I'd hate to end up like that bastard, Lee."
"The whisker marks," Mizuki suggested weakly, ignoring the boy's desperate question and grasping at straws. "What about those?"
"My birthmarks?" the attention-starved (in the ADD-sense) Uzumaki replied, bouncing right back to his normal, oblivious self. "_Everybody_ has _something_ weird like that. My friend, Ayame has one that looks like a strawberry, right on her-"
"There he is! This way!" Naruto was prevented from revealing the ramen girl's embarrassing secret by the sudden arrival of a squad of masked ANBU operatives.
"You're coming with _us_, Demon," the ANBU captain hissed. "For stealing the Forbidden Scroll-"
"It wasn't him!" Mizuki volunteered, showing recognizable signs of life for the first time in ten minutes. "_I_ did it. Take me in, lock me up, do whatever you want - but for _God's sake_, get me away from that kid!"
* * *
Watching the ANBU gently lead the whimpering Mizuki away (with sympathetic tenderness, considering what that _monster _must have done to him), Naruto could only think, "Man, I _love _this town. People really _care_ about each other here!"
He sniffed back a sentimental tear and made his way home; to sleep, to dream of one day becoming Hokage.
* * *
SailorStar9: If you're trying to write a Competent!Naruto, and he never figures out there _might _be some kind of connection between him and the 9-Tails despite all the clues? Start over.
28. Glorious 10
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 26 goes up and only one review!
Random voice: Just roll the damn camera already!
FRAG-A-DOOM!
SailorStar9: (Growls and lowers RPG) NEVER, interrupt me when I'm addressing the audience!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 27: Glorious #10
* * *
"I'm gonna go out first." Matsuyama stated.
"We finally come to Germany and we lose." Ryo sighed.
"And losing in front of Tsubasa." Misugi added.
"Tsubasa is in Germany, but he can't play." Ryo complained. "What was the coach thinking? If Tsubasa were here, they won't look down on us."
* * *
In the stands…
_Roberto, I'm here in Europe._ Tsubasa mused. _The language is different, but soccer is an universal sport._ "I really want to play with the players in the world." He sighed.
"You never change, Bas." Ami noted amusedly.
"Tsubasa." Genzo voiced.
"Wakabayashi, why are you here?" Tsubasa inquired.
"Tsubasa, what are you doing here?" Genzo stated. "There's a friendly game with Italy, right?"
"I wasn't listed as a member of the team." Tsubasa reminded. "Coach says we should keep an eye on my shoulder for a bit longer."
"He's still not letting you play after the game with Bayern Munich?" Genzo inquired. "Europe is not the simple."
"Hyuuga and Matsuyama are just not used to it yet." Tsubasa reasoned. "It's okay today."
"Really?" Ami wondered.
"He's Gino Hernandez of Italy." Genzo supplied. "I hear he's Italy's best goalkeeper. He's very well-known in Europe."
_Gino Hernandez…_ Tsubasa beamed. _It's a big world. Schneider, Hernandez, there are still so many players I don't know. I really want to play with them._
"Oh boy, I know that look anywhere." Ami grinned at her cousin's excited expression.
"Let's go down." Genzo suggested as the Japan team exited.
"Okay." Tsubasa nodded.
* * *
On the side…
"I don't want to keep losing like this." Sawada remarked.
"Italy, huh?" Ryo mused. "They seem pretty good."
"Wakabayashi." Matsuyama blinked at Genzo came into view.
"I'm gonna be in the team from now on." Genzo informed. "Representing Japan for the big game in France. Nice to meet you."
"What?" Wakashimazu demanded.
"Where's the coach?" Genzo inquired.
"The Italian team called him over to talk about the game." Matsuyama replied.
"Coach Misugi, why didn't you put Tsubasa on?" Genzo pressed.
"Because…" Misugi started.
"That was the decision." Hyuuga took over.
"But we've always relied on Tsubasa." Matsuyama reminded.
"Matsuyama, don't underestimate them." Genzo warned. "Teams from all over should be here for the Bayern Munich game. Including them." He pointed over to the Italian team.
"They're laughing." Ryo blinked.
"The soccer of the world is much tougher than you think." Genzo cautioned. "If you don't do your best, you won't break through the wall."
"Misugi, Mizuno." Mikami voiced. "There's a problem."
"What is it?" Tsubasa wondered.
"Could it be…" Genzo realized.
"Come on, guys." Misugi shouted over to the team.
"We're going back." Mikami told the gathered team. "Italy refused to play."
"What?" Ryo demanded. "Why?"
"They saw our game against Bayern Munich." Ami supplied. "They said they have nothing to gain from playing with Japan. So, they're going back."
"What?" Ryo gasped.
"Bastards, they're playing with us." Matsuyama cursed.
_Nothing to gain?_ Tsubasa echoed.
"It's good to get a vacation before the France game." Genzo translated. "They're screwing around with Japan."
"Bastard." Hyuuga hissed when Tsubasa stepped into the field.
"Tsubasa." Genzo started when Tsubasa broke into a run.
"Let's go, Italy." Tsubasa charged towards the Italian goalpost. "Don't underestimate Japan. Try and stop me if you can."
"Who wants to go?" Gino inquired.
"Alright, Tsubasa." Ryo cheered as Tsubasa bypassed the charging defender. "Alright, Tsubasa makes a 'Drive Shot'!" he beamed once Tsubasa scored against Gino with his trademark 'Drive Shot'.
"Tsubasa…" Hyuuga blinked.
"Tsubasa, you're awesome." Ryo hugged him.
_Tsubasa, your 'Drive Shot' is still great._ Genzo mused.
'_Drive Shot', huh?_ Gino noted. "Let's go." He told his team. _His name is Tsubasa?_ He thought before exiting the stadium. _I'll remember that._
"If Tsubasa joins us and we work together, we'll beat them for sure." Kazou was certain.
"So, Tsubasa should play in the next game." Ryo agreed.
"If Tsubasa plays, he'll bring out the team's strength." Teppei insisted. "Misugi, Ami."
"Yeah." Masao looked at the two coaches.
"Tsubasa, how's your shoulder?" Ami inquired.
"You made a kick like that, so you're okay, right?" Ryo pressed.
"Anytime." Tsubasa agreed.
"He said it, Misugi, Ami." Ryo stated.
"Looks like we don't have a choice then." Ami turned to her fellow coach. "It's either we tell the coach or we get murdered in our sleep." She joked.
"Okay, I'll tell the coach." Misugi relented.
"If you go on the field, it's a test of strength." Matsuyama reminded.
"You must show our strength." Hyuuga added. "You must play."
* * *
The next day…
_It's been a long time._ Tsubasa mused on the field. _And this is a ne__w team up. Matsuyama is not in the midfield. I have a great responsibility._
At the whistle, the game started.
"Okay, let's go it." He told the team, dodging the Rodgroque tripe slide-tackle.
"Tsubasa." Sawada took to the side.
"Go!" Matsuyama made a high pass.
"If it's Tsubasa…" Sawada passed the ball over with a header.
"Hyuuga, there's a chance." Tsubasa called.
"It's an offside trap!" Hyuuga shouted, dashing back. "Tsubasa, go." He trapped the pass and kicked the ball back to Tsubasa.
"Okay." Tsubasa fired his shot. "'Drive Shot'!"
"Tsubasa…" Ryo gawked. "They're different." He blinked once the match restarted, the Rodgroque forwards bypassing him easily.
"He's coming up." Matsuyama barked. "Stop him. Not a chance." He intercepted the ball with a header.
"Oh no." Ryo gasped when a forward stole the ball and fired his shot.
"Alright, Wakashimazu." Matsuyama beamed when Wakashimazu saved the ball. "Tsubasa, come on."
"Hyuuga, here goes." Tsubasa caught the pass.
"Nice pass, Tsubasa." Hyuuga trapped the pass.
"Go, Hyuuga." Tsubasa called.
"Got it." Hyuuga needed no prompting and fired his shot, scoring Japan's second goal.
"My hand is okay now." Wakashimazu noted, having saved his second ball.
"Okay, come on." Matsuyama called.
"Yes." Sawada nodded.
"Leave it up to me." Ryo agreed.
_Tsubasa._ Matsuyama looked over, skidding to a stop once he scored Japan's third goal after receiving Tsubasa's pass.
* * *
Omake
Be Careful What You Ask For
Naruto had finally succeeded in dragging a battered Sasuke back to the village.
As he approached the village gates, he noticed that a surprisingly large crowd had gathered, waiting.
* * *
"Uzumaki Naruto," Utatane Koharu's voice rang out over the crowd. "For your unprovoked attack on a fellow Leaf nin, and based on evidence that you drew upon _that_ chakra in said assault… "
She paused for a moment to heighten the dramatic tension. She was absolutely _loving_ this.
(Drama queen.)
"We hereby _banish_ you," Mitokado Homura interrupted, unwittingly ruining the moment for his teammate of fifty-plus years.
Koharu gave the old man a withering glare. He would _definitely_ be sleeping on the guest-futon tonight.
"Yes," she picked up once more in a slightly sharper tone, trying to recapture the spotlight. "You are _banished_. And Uchiha Sasuke will be made Rokudaime. To ensure his loyalty."
"What the _hell_?" Naruto choked, totally confounded. He sure never saw _that_ one coming. "Isn't that a little _backwards_? Besides, why are you punishing _me_? _He's_ the traitor! Why does _he_ get special treatment?"
"He is the last of the Uchiha," Koharu replied with a huff, as though the answer was self-evident and any _moron_ should be able to figure it out. "We must do everything in our power to restore one of Konoha's most powerful clans."
"After _you yourselves_ wiped them out?" Naruto asked incredulously. "That's not really something you get a '_do-over_' for, you know. You were _afraid_ of the Sharingan, and you _hated_ the Uchiha!"
From the crowd, there came the muted murmur of muttered agreement.
"Besides," Naruto continued, regaining his bearings and back on his game. "_I'm_ the last of the Uzumaki. Does that mean you're going to start kissing _my_ ass, too?"
"And _I'm_ the last of the Mitarashi," Anko piped up from the sidelines, seeing where this was going and wanting cut in on the action.
"And I'm the last of the Hatake," Kakashi added, copying Anko.
"Maito," said Gai, not wanting to be one-upped by his 'Eternal Rival'.
"H- (cough, cough). Sorry. Haya- (cough, cough, gasp). Ewugh. Sorry. Haya- (cough, cough, gasp, wheeze, rattle)." Plonk.
There was an awkward silence.
"So much for the _Hayate_ clan," Naruto observed quietly.
"H-Haruno," Sakura choked out, with a haunted expression on her face.
"Ten," said Ten (there was a funny story behind that, but you'd have to get her drunk to tell it).
"Rock," said Lee.
"_Shut the fuck up, Bastard,"_ Naruto hissed.
"I'm the last of the Jiraiya," said the Toad Sennin, whose first name was never recorded.
"And I'm the last of the Senju," said Tsunade, the Godaime Hokage. "And Naruto is not only the last of the _Uzumaki_, but the last of the _Namikaze_, as well."
"He's still got the… that _thing_ sealed inside him! The decision _stands_," said Koharu, putting her foot down.
Priorities were being spelled out pretty clearly in Konoha today.
"_Sasuke_ has a seal, too," Naruto volunteered, throwing his 'brother' under the bus. "Orochimaru's _Ten no Juin_. Are you saying that you trust _Orochimaru's_ seal more than _Yondaime's_?"
"Actually," Anko slipped in uncomfortably. (Not that _that_ was anything new, if Iruka's teary-eyed confessions could be believed.) "_I_ have the Cursed Seal of Heaven, as well."
Sasuke has a _summoning contract_," Homura countered, feeling slightly desperate as the crowd swayed with the wind. "And you know how rare and desirable _those_ are."
"Me, too," said Naruto.
"Me, too," said Anko.
"Me, too," said Kakashi.
"Me, too," said Jiraiya.
"Me, too," said Tsunade.
"Me, too," said Gai.
"Me, too," said Sakura.
"Me, too," said Konohamaru.
"Sasuke is in an arranged marriage with _another_ of Konoha's premier noble clans: the _Hyuuga_," said Danzō, finally pulling out -what he considered to be- their ace in the hole.
"_What_?" Sasuke gasped, as surprised by this little tidbit as the others.
"That's right," Hyuuga Hinata confirmed, looking solemn. And _ravishing_. "It was arranged years ago between our fathers, as a way to consolidate the power of the two great Konoha doujutsu."
"Well," said Sasuke, giving the attractive, powerful kunoichi an appraising look. "That doesn't sound _too_ bad, I suppose. I guess I could live with my _first _wife being the head of the Hyuuga clan. I accept."
Both Hyuuga sisters unexpectedly began to giggle uncontrollably. And the sound was _mellifluous_.
"Oh, no," Hinata finally managed to say, gasping delicately for air behind the broad sleeves of her elegant silk kimono. "No, no. _No_. (Another giggle.) I am afraid you misunderstand, Uchiha-san: you will not be marrying _me_ or my sister, but rather _another_ Hyuuga. _That_ was the arrangement."
"Don't worry though - she is perfectly acceptable in her own right." Hanabi added. "She is a perfectly average kunoichi, with average skills, average intelligence, and average looks."
"Oh, _Hell_ no," Naruto laughed, backing away from the shell-shocked Uchiha and toward the gates. "Well, good luck with the Rokudaime thing, Old Buddy. And congratulations on the wedding! Sorry I won't be able to stick around for it. _See ya_!"
And with an orange flash and a puff of cartoon road runner-like dust, he was _gone_.
"I'm out," Kakashi sighed, with a hint of resignation.
"Yeah," Anko quickly agreed. "And I got snakes to ride. Long live the Uchiha!"
"Married!" cried Jiraiya, grabbing a surprised -and delighted- Tsunade by the hand.
"Married!" Gai echoed, grabbing his own 'life-partner' by the... hand, as well.
"_Of course_," Hinata said sweetly, interrupting the sudden mass exodus of panicking, eligible shinobi. "If you really _are_ determined to restore the Sharingan to Konoha…"
"Yes? Yes?" the Council replied eagerly, wagging their tails and salivating over the prospect (of yet _another _clan of crazy, traitorous, jutsu-stealing cannibals).
"All it takes is a little _red chakra_ and the Byakugan - and you know who has _those_," the resplendent Hyuuga heiress continued, finally dropping the bomb. "What a_ shame _you just banished my _boyfriend_."
"_6, 5, 4_…" Shikamaru thought to himself, snuggled securely into his blonde sandwich.
"WAIT!" roared the Council, stampeding the forgotten Uchiha and his fiancée into the dust. "Get him back here!"
* * *
And so Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto, Rokudaime of Konohagakure no Sato, _was_ ultimately able to unite the Hyuuga clan, just as he had promised. And he and his lovely brides restored the Sharingan as well, pleasing the Council greatly.
In the end, everyone's dreams came true.
And Uchiha Sasuke and his Hyuuga _Branch_ wife lived... ever after.
* * *
SailorStar9: (Sniffle.) I love a happy ending. Next stop: the World Youth Cup in France.
29. Golden Combo Returns
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 27 goes up and only one review!
SailorStar9: Kakashi (Jounin flinches) What are you doing?
Kakashi: (Blinks, eyes the surroundings warily) You're not going to hurt me?
SailorStar9: (Shrugs)
(Eye watery, Kakashi holds out a hand towards his onetime tormentor. The second their hands tighten around one another, a bandaged fist rams into his face, sending him flying into the wall.)
SailorStar9: (shakes her head in disbelief) I can't believe he's that stupid...(turns her head to the Shinnigami of the Muay Thai underworld) Good job Appachai, have a cookie.
Appachai: (eyes white circles) APA!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 28: Golden Combo Returns
* * *
In France…
"We're here." Ryo stated, once they arrived at the airport. "Our final destination, France."
"I'm hungry." Jito complained.
"If it's French food, I'll eat double." Ryo boasted.
"If it's rice, I can eat five times as much." Jito bragged.
"The game will be held in 5 days." Mikami cut off the laughter. "Today is day off. Rest your bodies. We'll break when we get to the hotel."
"You're all here." Katagiri voiced.
"Katagiri, did you see Misaki?" Ami asked.
"I asked him to join the team." Katagiri replied. "But he seems to have doubts."
"Misaki's having doubts?" Tsubasa echoed. _What doubts?_ He mused, both cousins looking at each other.
* * *
By a pier later…
"Telling me to rest, I can't calm down." Tsubasa took off to the city. "It's FL Tower." He noted as the tower came into view. "It's huge."
"Tsubasa." Misaki stopped in his tracks, seeing Tsubasa in the distance. "Tsubasa." He hurried over.
"Misaki." Both partners on the field met. "Long time no see, Misaki."
"I've been in France for the last 3 years." Misaki started, once they settled down. "I kept up with soccer. But I haven't gone through any formal training. If I join the team, I might drag them down."
"Misaki…" Tsubasa blinked.
"When the both of you first met, you two worked so well together." Ami stated. "It shouldn't have changed."
"Ami…" Misaki turned to the team physician.
"Ami is right." Tsubasa agreed. "Let's play soccer again."
* * *
The next day…
"Nice to meet you." Misaki greeted the team. "I am Misaki Taro."
"Misaki, long time no see." Ryo beamed.
"Tsubasa, Misaki, the long awaited reunion." Mikami remarked. "Let me see how you pass."
"Tsubasa and Misaki." Ryo stated, once the reunited duo took the field. "The duo spent 5 years apart."
"Will they still work as well as they did before?" Mamoru wondered.
"Is Misaki that good?" Jito voiced.
"Just see." Ryo grinned.
"Here goes, Misaki." Tsubasa started.
Without a single cue, the pair started dribbling and passing.
"That's fast." Mamoru gawked. "It's been 5 years."
"Passing the ball in that speed and maintaining it." Even Jito was stunned. "Amazing."
"Of course." Ryo agreed. "That's why they're the 'Golden Combo'."
"Misaki, the last ball." Tsubasa made the final pass as they headed towards the goalpost.
"Okay." Misaki made a goal with a header.
"Nice shot, Misaki." Tsubasa beamed.
"Nice pass, Tsubasa." Misaki nodded.
"Alright, you guys." Ryo cheered.
"They're still the best duo." Genzo noted.
"Tsubasa's run has improved." Misugi remarked.
"It's correct to have Misaki come." Ami agreed.
"Now, that's Tsubasa." Misaki stated. "5 years. You gave me a scare. It's hard enough trying to keep up with Tsubasa."
"Me too." Tsubasa concurred. "We'll just have to make the combo work during the game."
"The World Youth Cup begins tomorrow." Mikami addressed the team. "Everyone, you must do well as representatives of Japan."
* * *
The next day…
The World Youth Cup officially began with the Japan vs. Italy match as the opening game.
* * *
In the locker room…
"Oozora Tsubasa, you're the captain." Mikami told the team.
"Me?" Tsubasa echoed.
"Tsubasa, you've led this team here." Matsuyama reminded.
"We all agree." Genzo voiced.
"And there you have it, the unanimous vote, Tsubasa." Ami grinned.
"You guys…" Tsubasa trailed.
"Tsubasa goes well with the word 'captain'." Ryo beamed once Tsubasa took over the captain armband.
"Also," Mikami added. "And, Misugi Jun, who took the place of a coach, will be participating as a player. There's a time limit. Let's do it."
"We must win the game against Italy today." Hyuuga swore. "We'll make them regret cancelling the game."
"We must win the preliminary against Italy." Tsubasa agreed. "We must win."
* * *
On the field…
"Bastard." Ryo cursed, taking after the ball as the Italian players penetrated the defense.
Wakashimazu saved the ball from being headed into the net. "The counterattack begins." He told the team, passing the ball to Tsubasa.
_Here goes._ Tsubasa bypassed the Italian forwards and feinted the mid-fielders.
"Tsubasa." Soda warned.
"Watch out." Masao cautioned.
Tsubasa was knocked to the ground by the two players marking him, the referee pausing the game, calling for the obvious foul.
"Are you okay?" Sawada asked.
"I'm fine." Tsubasa stood back up. "Not yet. Not yet." He sat back up, having been fallen to the ground by a player's outstretched foot, the referee calling for another foul.
It was not long before Italy pulled its third foul, all against Tsubasa.
"Tsubasa." Matsuyama started.
"They're targeting Tsubasa." Ryo growled.
"There's the chance." Tsubasa stood back up. "We have a lock on the goal from here."
"But they know about Tsubasa's 'Drive Shot'." Ryo reminded.
"So, Matsuyama." Tsubasa started.
Matsuyama nodded in realization and the Japan team prepared for the free kick.
After pulling a bluff on the defending Italian players, Tsubasa ran over the ball, giving Matsuyama the cue.
"Got it." Matsuyama took the shot. "Go. 'Eagle Shot'!"
"Alright, it worked." Ryo beamed as the ball skidded across the grass, only to have Hernandez catch the ball with a hand.
The Italian keeper tossed the ball out to Tsubasa.
_I accept the challenge._ Tsubasa took on the challenge. _Try catching it if you can._
"Tsubasa." Misaki beamed as Tsubasa fired his shot.
"Okay, attack." Ryo cheered.
Hernandez caught the ball with a hand, the force forcing him backwards. Unable to stop the ball from spinning, he stabilized the ball with his other hand, stopping the ball just before the goal line.
"Tsubasa's 'Drive Shot'…" Wakashimazu gaped.
"He caught it." Even Genzo was stunned.
_I must beat it this time._ Tsubasa swore, heading back.
"Okay." Nita caught Sawada's pass and fired his shot, only to have Hernandez save the ball. "Man!" he cursed.
With the referee's whistle, the first half ended.
* * *
On the bench…
"Alright, everyone." Mikami stated.
"It's not working." Ryo sighed.
"And he's even catching Tsubasa's 'Drive Shot'." Masao added.
"'Drive Shot' is not the only thing I've got." Tsubasa reminded. "Our time begins now."
"Yes, that's right." Hyuuga agreed.
"Italy's defense is strong." Tsubasa admitted. "It's now a battle for points. Let's work harder in the latter half."
* * *
On the field…
The referee's whistle sounded, signaling the start of the second half.
Sawada was tripped by Italy's slide-tackle.
Making quick passes, Italy skillfully dissolved the Japan's defense line.
"I won't let you." Soda swore as he and Jito dashed forward. "Take that." his slide-tackle diffusing the Italian's onslaught.
Jito got the pass and the two defenders went on the attack.
Hernandez ran out of his post to counter the high pass Jito made.
"Leave him to me." Hyuuga told Tsubasa. "Go save the ball."
"Okay." Tsubasa replied, as Hernandez and Hyuuga fought over the ball in the air, with Hernandez saving the ball. Hernandez let the ball drop the referee called a fourth foul.
Tsubasa jumped into the air to get the ball when Hernandez made a long pass over Tsubasa's head.
"Oh no." Soda gasped.
"Bastard." Wakashimazu cursed, running out of his post as the Italian team diffused Matsuyama and Ryo's defense.
With a rapid pass, Italy scored a goal into the defenseless net.
"They did it." Wakashimazu punched the grass in frustration.
"They have a point." Tsubasa remarked. "Italy is still strong."
* * *
On the bench…
"Misaki." Mikami stated.
At the cue, Misaki stood up. _I haven't seen you guys in 5 years. I'm afraid I'd drag you down, so that's why I haven't joined you. But I… I still want to play soccer with Tsubasa and the others. And I want to win._
* * *
On the field…
"Misaki." Tsubasa beamed when Kazou was substituted by Misaki.
_Tsubasa, everyone._ Misaki promised. _I will do my best. Okay, here goes._ He caught Tsubasa's pass.
* * *
Omake
_You'd_ Hit It
Naruto had just run into a strange boy on his way to the training grounds.
He looked a lot like Sasuke, actually; or maybe just Sasuke's _head_ on _Ino's_ body.
"_Ewugh_," Naruto shuddered at the mental image. They would definitely be leaving the lights _on_ tonight.
Thank God he didn't have the Sharingan, at least. _There's_ a blessing. Or any clones active, for that matter.
Still, he might have to strategically offend Sakura later, to kill off the more recalcitrant and uncooperative brain cells that insisted on remembering.
A little something he liked to call, '_Plan 'B'_."
(Naruto couldn't recall precisely when he had decided _that_ would be an effective tactic for ridding his mind of unwanted memories; _nor_ why it had seemed like a good idea at the time; _nor_ the frantic objections raised by the Fox. What he _could_ remember was 'Ramen', and 'Orange', and… umm, something with a 'P'…)
While Naruto was lost in… thought, the other boy attacked.
"_Chōjū Giga_!" he shouted, channelling chakra into his technique.
"AAAARGH!" Naruto screamed, jumping back as far as he could. "WHAT THE HELL ARE _THOSE_?"
"Oops, sorry," Sai tittered, blushing prettily. "Wrong notebook."
Dispelling the _extremely detailed_, 10-foot tall, purple… apparitions, Sai stowed away his 'Life Drawing 101b: The Male Nude' sketchpad.
"Can I have a 'do-over'?" the metrosexual boy asked demurely, flashing his creepy eye-smile.
* * *
SailorStar9: So I'm looking at the (open source) Narutopedia page on Sai , and as part of his back-story it says:
"Sai came to think of Shin as an older brother and looked up to him. Eventually, his 'brother' died **of an unnamed illness**, and Sai's Root training suppressed most of the memories he had of his brother. Before Shin's death, Sai was making a picture book that would depict all the opponents that they faced and illustrate the feelings that they shared for each other. Sai's and Shin's portraits are located at opposite ends of the book, and in the centre pages would be a picture of both him and his brother holding hands. He had forgotten that this was his intention, but after bonding with Naruto Uzumaki he remembers and is able to complete the book, causing Sai to give the first genuine display of emotion in a long time: a smile."
_What the hell? _I thought the whole _point _was that _Sai_ killed Shin -kind of like the Mist Graduation Exam- and _that_ was why he had suppressed the memory. Has somebody (cough-Kishimoto-cough) gone back and pussified the whole manga?
30. Italy's Guardian Angel
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 28 goes up and only one review!
Kakashi: -snort- NO Sensei don't touch me there!
SailorStar9:... Ooookay...(BOOT TO THE NADS NO JUTSU)
Kakashi: GUAAAARRRGGGGHHHH! [(Noise he makes in the Japanese ultimate ninja games when you beat him) curls up holding crotch] Gai so help me if you did that top challenge me again I'm gonna-!
SailorStar9: (Grins down at Kakashi) S'up bitch?
Kakashi: (pales) oh no...nonononononono! You aren't real! You're a hallucination! A genjutsu! (Molds chakra as SailorStar9's ominous laughter fills the room) KAI! KAI! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! KAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIII!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 29: Italy's Guardian Angel
_
* * *
Interesting._ Hernandez mused as Misaki dodged another two mid-fielders. _I didn't think Japan has a player like that._
"Tsubasa." Misaki made his pass.
* * *
On the bench…
"Amazing." Even Misugi was awed. "They work so well together."
"Of course." Genzo remarked. "5years apart had no effect on them."
"And that's why they're called the 'Golden Combo'." Ami quipped.
* * *
On the field…
Both Tsubasa and Misaki headed straight for the goalpost.
"Let's go surround them." Hernandez gave the order.
"They're here." Misaki declared, seeing Tsubasa and Hyuuga marked. "Now… it's the time for the dual." With that, he broke through the Italian's defense line.
Hernandez ran out to intercept when Misaki made a skillful pass to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa readied his trademark 'Overhead Kick' when he saw Hernandez coming for him and made a last second 'Overhead Pass' to Misaki.
Misaki dived for the header, Hernandez moving in to intercept when Misaki made a header pass to Tsubasa, enabling Tsubasa to pull the equalizer shot with a header.
* * *
On the bench…
"Now the pace changes." Mikami nodded.
"If Hernandez is the perfect goalkeeper, then Tsubasa and Misaki are about to make the perfect shot." Genzo stated.
* * *
On the field…
"We must do the 451 system." Hernandez told the team. "The forward is Talutelli. Make a fast attack. Don't give those two any chance. Let's finish this once and for all."
_Alright, Takeshi._ Hyuuga nodded once Sawada stole the ball, both Tsubasa and Misaki having being marked.
"If Tsubasa and Misaki are the Nankatsu 'Golden Combo', then Hyuuga and I are Toho's 'Golden Combo'." Sawada stated. "Hyuuga." He passed the ball over.
"Here goes." Hyuuga caught the pass. "Concentrate on the mid-field and even the score. So we have to win."
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa ducked past his opponents, catching Hyuuga's pass.
_Tsubasa and Misaki are surrounded._ Hyuuga mused once Tsubasa was tripped over. _Less people on me. The chance will come. And then I'll make the decision._
"It can't go on like this." Jito cursed.
"Let's go too." Ryo suggested.
"Wait." Matsuyama objected. "We must be patient or we'll make more trouble. We can't break our balance now."
"It can't end here." Tsubasa stole the ball, just as Misaki dodged his opponents, receiving Tsubasa's centering pass and fired his shot, only to have Hernandez save the ball.
"Right, counter!" Hernandez kicked the ball out.
"It's correct not to play the hero, Matsuyama." Ryo noted.
"First, you must guard." Matsuyama recited from memory.
"Show them how it feels to be rejected." Soda added.
"Wakashimazu, we're counting on you." Ryo stated, the four defenders dashing off.
"There's one more point." Wakashimazu knocked the incoming ball off. "We still have a chance."
"We have to win this game." Tsubasa promised, receiving the pass. "Misaki, here goes."
"Okay." Misaki nodded, the 'Golden Combo' restarting their passes.
_Bastard, I want a goal. _Tsubasa hissed, Misaki having been tripped by one of the mid-fielders. _We need to get a goal. I want to win._ And pulled free of his attacker's grip. Kicking the ball high into the air, he bypassed the last defender and made his 'Overhead Kick' in mid-air.
Hernandez reacted, slapping the ball aside. _How__ can __we lose to a country that has no soccer tradition? We're Italy, the kingdom of soccer._
_Not yet._ Tsubasa continued his charge. _Not until it's the end. I'll keep making shots, Hernandez._ "Take this, Hernandez." He caught the reflected ball and made another shot.
Hernandez managed to block out the ball.
_I'll pay that back, Italy._ Hyuuga swore, dashing for the deflected ball. _For humiliating us, I'll make the last shot._
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa turned.
"It'll be the same, no matter how you do it." Hernandez was confident. _My hand…_ he felt a flash of pain from his hand. "I'll stop it. I still have my wrist."
_The practice I did on the black ball that coach gave me._ Hyuuga recalled his training with the lead ball. _We must win._ "Take that. This is my new 'Tiger Shot'." And fired his upgraded shot, scoring the goal, the sheer force shredding Hernandez's glove and exposing his fingers.
Just then, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match.
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa beamed as he and Misaki ran over to the forward.
"Alright, we won." Misaki declared.
* * *
On the bench…
"Guess he completed it." Ami noted. "Definitely going to need a radar gun to measure that shot's velocity."
"Coach, we did it." Misugi remarked.
"You guys did it." Mikami corrected.
* * *
On the field…
"Nice shot, Hyuuga." Tsubasa stated. "What an amazing shot."
"Tsubasa, after playing with Italy today, I realized that there are many people that I want to beat." Hyuuga confessed. "I've always tried to catch up to you. My goal was to defeat you. But now, my goal is even higher. I've found a bigger goal. With the #9 uniform, I'll work to become the best ace striker in the world."
"Hyuuga, let's surprise the world with our soccer." Tsubasa nodded.
"But first," Ryo started.
"We must win this competition." Matsuyama finished.
"Tsubasa Oozora." Hernandez stated, approaching the Japan team. "I admit it. I lost."
"Hernandez, let's play again one day." Both team captain exchanging a handshake.
"I'm sorry about the practice game." Hernandez apologized. "Bye." He bade the Japan team farewell.
* * *
The next day…
"Now that's France." Tsubasa noted, the team arriving to the stadium to watch the match. "The passion."
"Because it's a game between five countries." Misaki added. "To them, soccer is more than a sport."
"It's unlike Japan." Ryo remarked.
"Here, Tsubasa." Genzo called, him and Misugi waving the team over. "Germany defeated Canada, 4 to 0." He reported. "Schneider made his first attack of the game."
"Schneider, huh?" Tsubasa echoed.
"What about Uruguay vs. Belgium?" Misaki inquired.
"Completely one-sided." Ami replied.
"3 to 1." Misugi supplied. "Uruguay won. Ramon Victorino made all three goals."
"Amazing." Ryo gaped. "Two players made 3 points in one day."
"We won't lose either." Hyuuga promised.
"The players are entering the field." Mikami hushed the team.
"He looks like a movie star." Ryo remarked as Elle Sid Pierre led the France team into the field.
"Crap, fan-girls." Ami winced at the squealing. "I _knew_ I should have brought ear-plugs."
"Amazing." Tsubasa was awed as Pierre's skillful dodging. "What a beautiful dribble. Nothing was done in excess."
"He's the artist of the field." Misaki supplied.
"Artist of the field…" Tsubasa echoed.
"But Pierre, I'm not going to lose to you." Misaki swore.
* * *
On the field…
_Tsubasa Oozora and Taro Misaki are in the audience, watching._ Pierre approached the English goalpost. _It's not the time to make a shot._ And he passed the ball over to Brabo, who then fired his shot, the ball missing the goal bar.
It was not long before England scored the first goal.
* * *
In the stands…
"Amazing…" Tsubasa shook in anticipation, Louis Napoleon having made the equalizing shot minutes after he was switched onto the field.
"What is it, Tsubasa?" Ryo wondered. "You're shaking."
"That's amazing." Tsubasa stood up. "The world is so big. All these great players. We can't just sit here. It's the world. Come on."
* * *
Omake
Hinky!
Naruto was rummaging through the remains of Tsunade's office after the destruction of Konoha, hoping to find a scroll with some kind of super-powerful technique to take out Pein and the Akatsuki.
He had found one huge scroll that looked promising, but it turned out _that_ was just her bar tab.
(The scroll with her gambling debts was so massive it had had begun to generate its own gravitational field, and had to be stored within a special containment jutsu.)
* * *
"Damn, it's dark in here," Naruto said to himself. "Hey! Maybe this _lamp_ will help."
He never got a chance to find out. As he started to rub the lamp, there was a bright flash -
And then the lights went out.
Tragically, he never noticed the stamp on the bottom of the lamp: _If found, please return to Deus X. Machina._
* * *
Looking down at his shockingly small body, Naruto's mind was working fast.
"_Wait a minute_," he thought. "_These are the clothes I wore when I was __twelve_…"
"_I'm in a 12-year old boy's pants_…"
"Holy shit!" he cried "I've turned into Orochimaru!"
Okay; maybe not _that_ fast.
* * *
Eventually figuring out what _must_ have happened -however improbable it might seem- Naruto recognized the great opportunity that had befallen him.
"Whoo-hoo!" he cheered. "I can get into the movies for half-price!"
* * *
Finally coming to the conclusion that he could use this 2nd chance to prevent many of the terrible catastrophes that had occurred in Konoha, Naruto began to strategize.
Suddenly, he noticed the date on his Word-a-Day calendar. (He had given up on _that_ crazy thing on January 3rd. "'Didactic'? What is _that_, some kind of _joke_?")
"_Sasuke_," he remembered with alarm. "_I have to get to the Uchiha compound right away!"_
"_I am going to make _so _much __fun__ of him!" _he thought gleefully._ "Who's the 'crybaby' __now__, Asshole?"_
* * *
At last realizing that he would need help to effect the kind of changes that were necessary to forestall the destruction of his hometown and the deaths of everyone he knew-slash-loved -and remembering that he would be a _target _walking anywhere as he was- Naruto came up with a plan to get to the Sandaime undetected.
He would use henge to transform into a small insect -a Blue bottle fly (_Calliphora vicina_), to be precise- and _fly_ to the Hokage Tower.
He had to say it - sometimes he was so smart, it was _scary_.
* * *
He made several attempts, but found it to be surprisingly difficult.
To transform into an insect 1/ 5,579,186.15 his size.
Finally, he made the connection:
_Of course_! It was all due to his untrained, 12-year old body. It was one of those _'chakra control'_ deals.
Of course. _That _was the reason.
With this new insight, Naruto was soon able to compensate for his disability and successfully complete the technique.
Adjusting easily to the 360 degree vision of his new compound eyes, Naruto fluttered his wings, and flew swiftly to the window of his apartment.
* * *
There was a flash of orange.
And a flash of pink.
And then Gamatatsu, seated at the windowsill, was happily crunching on a tasty mid-afternoon snack.
"Mmmm, _meaty_," he thought, just as he dispelled.
* * *
SailorStar9: _Bend_ it, don't _break_ it. That's the secret.
I've actually seen this premise used in more than a couple of stories recently, so I thought I'd do an omake on it.
That's right: Naruto (so they say) is able to henge into an _insect_.
1/ 5,579,186.15 his size (±).
And _fly_.
That technique has now officially replaced the _kawarimi_ as the most ridiculously overpowered / underrated technique in fandom. It pretty much obviates 99 percent of all other ninja techniques.
Why bother learning those tricky _S-rank_ jutsu, when this _E-rank_ can allow you to fly right up to the target -avoiding your enemies- sting them in the eye with some kind of poison, and then fly away undetected?
The perfect crime.
Mass, Volume, Physical Laws? All irrelevant in the Narutoverse. (The Laws of Attraction doubly so, it seems.) They just get in the way of god-like effects (which is _supposed_ to be the reason we _consider_ them 'god-like').
I don't expect it to be _real_ - just _reasonable_ (or at least, _well-reasoned_), within the framework of the story.
For the sake of the storyline, I can accept that some people in this Naruto-world can generate a force called 'chakra'; which they can, in turn, use to generate a number of powerful effects. That's one of the defining characteristics of this Naruto-world, after all.
And maybe I'm somewhat willing to accept the premise that Naruto has a 'special' version of the henge.
_Maybe_ you can even convince me that he somehow uses his vast chakra reserves (or something) to compensate for the larger mass when he wants to transform into something/someone _bigger_ than himself.
_Maybe_.
But _shrinking_ his mass to the size of an _insect_?
He would be denser than uranium. (Not that he _isn't_, already.)
And _flying_?
Can he henge into a working handgun, also? A laptop? A car?
Hey, wait a minute -
A _talking_ car, named _Kit_?
Holy Shit! Naruto is Knight Rider!
31. Genius Juan Diaz
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 29 goes up and only one review!
Kakashi: (Walking down the streets of Konoha) I got a bad feeling...she let me walk away too easily... (Humming to himself as he read his Beloved volume of Icha-Icha Tactics) Hoho...Jiraiya-sama hasn't lost his touch...hm?
(Kakashi quirks an eyebrow as he spots a weird seal on the next page, shrugging to himself as he turned the page, only to gape in horror as he discovered the rest of the pages were blank!)
Kakashi: Wha-NO! (He flips the book over desperately from all angles) It can't be! It was just getting-huh?
(A note falls out of the book, addressed in familiar handwriting)
Note: Yo, Kaka-baka, if you want to read the rest of this book, you'll have to take your job more seriously...that means for every time you show up on time, half a page will be added to the book. If you actually do something constructive, a page will be added. See ya Sucka! SailorStar9.
Kakashi: (Eye widening in horror/disbelief/primal fury)...-!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 30: Genius Juan Diaz
_
* * *
How can we be looked down upon by Japan?_ Juan Diaz growled, unwilling to be belittled by what he considered as an inferior team. Dodging Tsubasa skillfully, he charged towards the goalpost. Performing an 'Overhead Kick', he scored Argentina's first goal. _Genius?_ He scoffed. _Heh! I'm the only genius here. I'll make that clear to you. An easy steal._ He snatched the ball from Sawada. _This is how a pass is made._ And fired the pass to Alan Pascal. _Pascal, move._
_Okay, catch._ Pascal returned the pass.
_Alright, leave it to me._ Diaz assured. He caught the pass and made his second goal. "I'm glad you did what I expected, Mr. Goalkeeper of Japan." He mocked.
"Damn." Wakashimazu cursed. "Treating us like fools."
* * *
On the bench…
_No good._ Ami mused. _We're following their pace._
* * *
On the field…
_No matter what, we must get our rhythm back._ Tsubasa swore. _Juan Diaz? Pascal? Who's going to attack?_
_Heh, too naïve._ Diaz snorted, coming forth to engage Misaki. _Think you can get rid of me?_ And stole the ball from Misaki.
"Juan Diaz is going to attack." Tsubasa warned. "Stop him."
_Heh._ Diaz taunted. _Is that all you've got? Watch._ And fired a 'Drive Shot' from mid-field, scoring his third goal.
_Damn._ Hyuuga cursed.
"He knows 'Drive Shot' too?" Ryo growled.
"He didn't use it in the Italian game." Matsuyama hissed.
"Saving his strength for the semi-finals?" Jito wondered.
"The Japanese team is weak." Diaz declared. "I'll break my record. Make me happy. Smiling?" he frowned at Tsubasa's grin.
"Three points." Tsubasa told the team. "They're attacking. Isn't that good?"
"What?" Diaz echoed, understanding the hidden meaning. _Getting back my 3 points? Come on. I'll show you who's stronger._ "Come on." He declared.
Stopping in his tracks, Tsubasa made a pass to Misaki, who then passed the ball to Nitta, who then passed the ball back to Tsubasa.
"He's going to shoot." Diaz barked. "Be careful, Galvin. Guard it."
Tsubasa fired his shot, the ball's path curving right in front of the defenders.
"Alright." Hyuuga closed in. _Tsubasa trusts me. That's why he made the pass. No matter what._ With that promise, he fired his shot, scoring Japan's first goal. "Nice pass, Tsubasa."
"Nice shot, Hyuuga." Tsubasa corrected.
"Damn, Japan has those guys too?" Pascal cursed.
"He's just avoiding fighting me." Diaz growled. "I'm going to get that point back."
The match restarting, Diaz dodged past Hyuuga and headed straight for the Japan goal, with Tsubasa and Misaki following closely behind.
Tsubasa managed to steal Diaz's ball and made a pass to Misaki.
"How?" Pascal gasped.
"Matsuyama." Misaki made his pass.
* * *
On the bench…
"Okay, very good." Mikami noted as Ryo caught Matsuyama's pass. "Keep that up."
* * *
On the field…
"Tsubasa and Misaki are being watched tight." Masao noted.
"We must do it." Kazou told Jito.
"Right." Jito nodded.
"Tsubasa." Ryo made his pass.
"Tsubasa, pass the ball to us." Masao called, Tsubasa having dodged Diaz's defense.
_Jito, Tachibana brothers._ Tsubasa looked at the three players. _Okay, we're counting on you._
"Let's go, Jito." The Tachibana siblings chorused as Tsubasa made a pass backwards.
"Okay." Jito landed on his back, both legs stretched out and boosted the twins forward.
"Take that." the Tachibana twins caught the ball between their feet. "Twin Shot!"
"Alright." Tsubasa beamed as the ball entered the net.
"Tachibana." Jito gaped, both twins having slammed into the goalpost.
"There's one more point." Tsubasa muttered, the Tachibana siblings having been taken to the side, just as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
After intermission, the second half started, with the Argentina team possessing the ball.
_I will not let him get another point._ Diaz swore. _Because I'm the world-class Juan Diaz._
_Juan Diaz, don't get emotional._ Pascal warned. _Or they'll take away your pace._ "Juan Diaz, pass."
Tsubasa took the chance to steal the ball via a slide-tackle and passing the ball to Misaki, who then handed possession over to Ryo. Ryo then passed the ball back to the passing Misaki.
_He… stole my ball again!_ Diaz hissed. _I won't forgive you._ He then headed to reclaim the ball from Matsuyama.
_Juan Diaz, even though I'm not a genius, I'm one of the members of the Japanese team._ Matsuyama guarded the ball.
_Shut up!_ Diaz reached out to claim the ball.
"I'm not giving the ball to you." Matsuyama guarded the ball with his thighs. "Tsubasa." He made his pass.
"What?" Diaz gaped. "Damn!"
"Hyuuga, catch." Tsubasa passed the ball over in mid-air.
"Okay." Hyuuga increased his speed and scored Japan's third goal via a diving header. "Tsubasa, this is only the beginning." He stated.
"Matsuyama, good job." Ryo added.
* * *
On the bench…
_Hyuuga… just scored with his head._ Mikami was surprised. _But you can't win this game with boldness._ "Misugi." He voiced.
* * *
On the field…
"Misugi." Misaki blinked as Misugi stepped forth, replacing Mamoru on the field.
"There's no time." Misugi voiced. "Let's go."
_I'm not giving the ball to you._ Diaz swore.
"Don't just stick to Tsubasa, Diaz." Pascal cautioned.
"My opponent is Tsubasa." Diaz insisted.
_Diaz, what are you doing?_ Pascal wondered, having gotten the pass from his teammate who had stolen the ball from Nitta. _You can't have it._ He promised as Misugi came forth.
Having read his moves, Misugi stopped past Pascal, skidding to a stop and shot back, reclaiming the ball.
"Damn." Pascal cursed as Misugi jumped over him and bypassed the Argentina forwards.
"Misugi, here." Tsubasa called.
At that, Misugi made his pass.
"Beautiful, Misugi." Tsubasa reached to catch the pass.
"Not a chance!" Diaz intervened, knocking the ball out of Tsubasa's reach and sending it into the air.
"Okay." Tsubasa nodded.
"What?" Diaz gaped.
"Misugi." Misaki beamed.
_It's going in. _Misugi promised. _For the coach and everyone… and for myself._ "Go!" he took the chance and fired an 'Overhead Kick', scoring Japan's fourth goal.
"Diaz, leave Tsubasa." Pascal advised. "We're playing soccer." He reminded. "It's not a one-on-one game. Didn't we come all this way for the victory?"
_The team is losing points because of me._ Diaz realized his mistake. _But the coach is not switching me. Does he still want to keep me as center? Pascal, you too._ He turned to his best friend. _You always went with my ways. You've been my friend since we were kids._ "Pascal." He sounded. "That #10… Tsubasa Oozora is a fighter. I hear he's even better in the face of an obstacle."
"That's right." Pascal replied. "And we're to get the game back from that genius."
"Okay, Pascal." Diaz agreed. "Get back the point. Come on, everyone." He told his team as the match restarted. _Just like old times._ He smiled.
_Yeah._ Pascal agreed, catching the pass.
"Goal." Tsubasa barked. "Guard the goal."
"Come on, Diaz." Pascal made his pass.
"Go!" Diaz fired his shot, Wakashimazu deflecting the ball.
_Not yet._ Diaz resumed the attack. _Not yet. For everyone, for Argentina, I must win._
"Come on." Wakashimazu declared. "I'll guard the Japanese goal."
_I'll fight to the end._ Diaz readied his shot. _I must win._ Just as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match and Japan the ticket to the semi-finals.
* * *
Omake
The Eyes _are_ the Prize
Team 7 had quickly fallen back into their usual routine after the disastrous 'C-rank turned A' mission to Wave: waiting for their lazy sensei, performing the odd D-rank, having the occasional brief spar…
Eventually, however, the pressure got to be too much for even the terminally-stoic Sasuke.
Surprising everyone, he finally came right out and _asked _about Kakashi's mismatched Sharingan eye.
How _did_ the elite jounin come to have the legendary doujutsu (known to be exclusive to the Uchiha clan), anyway?
* * *
And so Kakashi told them the tragic story of _Team Minato's Mission to Destroy the Kannabi Bridge_
.
How he had always been such a stickler for living by the Shinobi Code, following his father's disgrace.
How he had -incredible as it may sound- graduated from the Academy at the tender age of 5 (in a single year _and_ at the top of his class), made Chuunin at the age of 6, and then been promoted to jounin shortly after his 13th birthday.
How he had invented his only original technique, the _Chidori_ - and how Minato-sensei had harshly forbidden him from using it.
How he had been put in charge of the mission to blow up the bridge, while the future Hokage had gone off to assist the demoralized Konoha forces on the front lines.
How Rin had been captured by the enemy, and how adamant Obito had been about rescuing her.
How Obito had met his untimely end, gifting Kakashi with his newly awakened Sharingan as his final act ("A present for making jounin," he had said).
How the Iwa nins had returned and…
How Kakashi had at last used the three-pronged kunai his sensei had given him, which had summoned the man instantaneously in a yellow flash…
(But -sadly- too late to protect his female teammate from the gang of Iwa nins, who had taken their… _revenge_ on her.)
And how Kakashi had lived with the _unbearable guilt_ from his first failed mission, since long before the rookie genin of Team 7 were ever even born.
* * *
It was an emotionally fraught tale of sacrifice and redemption; and Sasuke appeared to immediately accept the story wholesale, without reservation.
The Uchiha clan had never _liked _Obito, to be perfectly honest: they considered him a buffoon and a failure, and wouldn't hesitate for a second to say so - _even in front of the boy's own teammates_. So having a loser like his cousin crushed to death by boulders was immensely satisfying to the arrogant Avenger.
That is, the _story_ was satisfying.
Oh, hell - he was just satisfied by Kakashi's _answer_, all right? Don't make a feudal case out of everything.
His 'annoying' teammate, on the other hand, seemed a bit more skeptical.
"That's kind of… _convenient_," Sakura observed quietly. "I mean, you couldn't use your new technique without the Sharingan; and then suddenly…"
"Yes; yes, it's a real coincidence," Kakashi quickly jumped in. "You know what they say, 'God never closes a door, without opening a window', and all _that_ sort of jazz. _Anyhoo_, I think that's enough for toda-"
"And no one else actually _saw_ any of this happen?" Sakura pressed the subject dubiously, gears clearly turning behind that broad forehead of hers.
"Rin," Kakashi answered brusquely. "I _told_ you, _Rin_ was there. _She_ performed the operation."
"But you said that she was in _shock_ afterwards; practically catatonic," Sakura continued, latching on to the puzzling incongruities and inconsistencies of the story like a dog with a new chew toy. "Though actually, from your description of her behavior it sounds more like some kind of mind technique, or maybe a _genjutsu_…"
"What exactly are you _implying_, Sakura?" Kakashi narrowed his visible eye at the girl who always _was_ too smart for her own good.
"N-nothing! Nothing," she swiftly back-pedaled. "I just-"
"And where is this 'Rin' person _now_, Sensei?" Naruto piped up, taking the heat off his one-time crush. "How come we've never _met _her?"
"Missing," Kakashi responded tersely. "She disappeared shortly after that. MIA."
"So-"
"Hey, that's enough boring talk about ancient history," Kakashi interrupted the pink-haired girl, his tone once again bright and enthusiastic. "Good news! I've decided to enter the three of you in the Chuunin Exams! Whoo-hoo!"
The two boys bit hard, of course; their heads filled with thoughts of proving themselves (_against_ powerful opponents, for one; and _to_ the rest of the villagers, for the other).
("_Hook, line and sinker_," Kakashi silently gloated.)
The distaff member of the team, on the other hand…
"Are you sure we're ready?" Sakura asked nervously. "I mean, don't inexperienced kids like us get _killed_ in those exams?"
"You worry too much," Kakashi eye-smiled, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm sure everything will work out _fine_."
* * *
SailorStar9: Obito gives Kakashi the Sharingan eye, and Sakura gives him the fish-eye. 9_L_¢
What _other _reason did Kakashi have to enter these untrained, inexperienced kids in the Chuunin Exams? By all rights, they should have been totally out-classed by the competition.
(Is Rin's implied rape after the cave-in something _else _that got whitewashed in later editions?)
32. Elaborate Direction
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 30 goes up and only one review!
Kakashi: Remember kids, mind your language and you'll go far!
SailorStar9: Aren't you running late?
Kakashi: (Eyes widen and he dashes for the door)
SailorStar9: I wonder...did I turn off the traps today? (The sound of machinegun fire, laser cannons and Chainsaws start up) ...meh.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 31: Elaborate Direction
* * *
"Misaki." Pierre voiced, once the Japanese team exited from their transport. "Let's fight it out in this game as we said."
"Yeah." Misaki agreed.
"Let's do it." Pierre reached out his hand, which Misaki took, the two rivals exchanging a handshake. "Tsubasa Oozora." He looked over Misaki's shoulder. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Tsubasa returned.
"Master Pierre." His assistant voiced. "The president is here to see you. Let me take you over."
"I know." Pierre nodded. "See you later." He told the Japanese team.
"The French president is here." Ryo gawked. "Really? Amazing."
_Pierre El Cid._ Tsubasa mused.
"The game with Pierre should happen in mid-field." Ami noted.
"Yeah." Tsubasa agreed.
* * *
In the stadium…
"Germany won, 6 to 1." Ryo blinked at the result of the German vs. Uruguay game.
"Wakabayashi." Schneider stated. "You're not going to be in today's game? You're fighting the French. Don't let your guard down. See you in the final, Wakabayashi."
"Some people never change." Ami noted amusedly.
"German's young player, Schneider." Ryo mused. "'See you in the final.'" He quoted. "So that means we'll win?"
"We 'must win'." Genzo corrected.
* * *
In the audience…
"Pierre, go!" the fan-girls squealed, one of them tossing a rose into the grass. "Ah…" the girls gushed, once Pierre picked up the flower, giving them a grin. "Pierre is so cute."
On the bench…
"Crap, fan-girls." Ami muttered, wincing at the squealing. "I _really_ should have brought ear-plugs."
* * *
On the field…
_Misaki, I finally get to play you._ Pierre grinned, both teams taking their positions.
_Pierre, I've been waiting for this moment._ Misaki mused.
_It's starting._ Tsubasa readied himself.
The match started with the French team on the offensive.
Pierre caught his teammate's pass and headed for the goal, with Misaki charging at him.
_I'm here, Pierre._ Misaki prepared to confront his rival.
_Come on, Misaki._ Pierre accepted the challenge.
"Take that!" Hyuuga slide-tackled in, with Pierre jumping to dodge the attack.
"Okay." Misaki took to the air, both rivals decking it out in mid-air.
"Misaki." Matsuyama warned.
"Pierre." Napoleon called.
"What?" Pierre gasped when Tsubasa cut in, stealing the ball.
"Tsubasa." Misaki beamed.
_Tsubasa._ Pierre blinked.
"Beautiful, Tsubasa." Hyuuga took off.
"Come on." Tsubasa declared, dodging a slide-tackle and bypassing a second mid-fielder, before weaving through the French defense line. "Okay." He readied his shot and fired his 'Drive Shot', the ball flying into the net.
_Tsubasa Oozora, Taro Misaki._ Pierre mused. _I have a present for you._
The match restarted, with Pierre possessing the ball, Napoleon charging from the right.
"Here goes." Napoleon caught the pass.
"Not a chance." Soda dashed up.
_I'm getting the point back._ Napoleon swore.
"Pass." Pierre voiced from the back. "Pass it back, Napoleon."
"You want me to pass?" Napoleon demanded, when Soda came at him with a slide-tackle. Left with no choice, he passed the ball back to Pierre. "Damn, you fouled."
"What?" Soda glared.
"The game continues." The referee declared.
_Not a chance._ Misaki closed in.
_Stop!_ Ryo came in. "I got it." He pulled a slide-tackle. _Huh? Disappeared?_ He gaped when Pierre leapt over. "Ouch!" he screamed, crashing into Misaki.
_Don't tell me my little trick has already scared you._ Pierre taunted, charging straight for the goal. _My soccer… performance has just begun._ He sped up. _This is my present, 'Slider Shot'._ He released his shot.
Judging the ball's course, Wakashimazu jumped. _Got it._ He then gaped when the ball curved downwards, millimeters from his outstretched hand and into the net.
Just then, the referee's whistle sounded.
"Soda, stop." Jito pulled the defender back.
"He started it first." Soda snapped.
"Calm down." One of the French mid-fielders pulled Napoleon back, when the referee pulled out a yellow card.
_Damn._ Napoleon cursed.
"Calm down." Matsuyama cautioned.
"Okay." Soda relented.
"Sorry guys." Misaki apologized. "I should have watched Pierre. And letting Pierre make that shot."
"Hey, it's only the beginning." Tsubasa reminded. "It's only 1 to 1."
"Yeah, that's right." Matsuyama agreed. "Let's show them by getting another point."
"Wakashimazu." Hyuuga snapped the keeper from his musing. "I'm gonna get this point back."
"Hyuuga." Wakashimazu gaped. _I… yesterday's game with Argentina too… putting the winning aside, I was too easy on Diaz. I'm so useless. Why keep me as the goalkeeper? Why isn't Wakabayashi on the field?_
* * *
On the bench…
_Wakashimazu, you lack international experience._ Genzo mused. _Only by facing the obstacle, will you strength be brought out. I know you're frustrated, but you must conquer that._
"Crap, coach, we forgot to consider in one more factor." Ami told Mikami. "And that problem might be exploited."
"Problem, Mizuno?" Mikami questioned.
"Foul trouble." Ami stated plainly.
* * *
On the field…
"Let's do it, Misaki." Tsubasa told his partner.
"Ok, Tsubasa." Misaki agreed.
The 'Golden Combo' weaved through the French team with their passes.
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa made his pass forward.
"Here goes." Hyuuga caught the pass and charged. "I'm the only person who can score from here. What?" he gaped when Pierre stole the ball.
_I'm the one who'll win and fight Schneider at the final._ Pierre swore. _Misaki, I'm sorry._ He looked at the charging mid-fielder. _But I'm not giving the ball to you._
_Pierre._ Misaki focused, both rivals meeting head-on, with Pierre winning the fight for the ball.
With Misaki left behind, Tsubasa met Pierre frontally.
"Catch, Napoleon!" Pierre made an overhead pass to his teammate.
"I got it!" Napoleon jumped, Soda closing in.
"Not a chance!" Soda knocked the ball off with a header, his elbow hitting Napoleon's cheek and Wakashimazu saved the ball.
"Alright." Wakashimazu noted, when the whistle sounded, the referee came forward, flashing a yellow card at Soda.
"How?" Soda muttered. "How can it be? I didn't do it on purpose. Why am I removed from the game?"
"Calm down." Ryo chided; him and Matsuyama pulling the enraged defender back.
"Why am I removed from the game?" Soda demanded. "I didn't do anything!"
"That's not fair." Ryo agreed.
"Referee." Tsubasa stepped forward. "Soda didn't do it on purpose. Soda's elbow barely touched him. We can't accept the ruling."
"Tsubasa…" Misaki muttered.
* * *
Omake
The Melodrama of Uzumaki Naruto
Naruto had just defeated the Six Paths of Pain, thwarting the Akatsuki Invasion of Konoha.
Now all that remained was the final, _epic _confrontation with the (seemingly) omnipotent, omniscient mastermind behind it all.
* * *
"_You're_ Nagato?" Naruto gulped incredulously.
"_You have _got _to be fucking __kidding__ me_," he whispered under his breath.
Whatever Naruto _may _have been expecting, a petite 16-year old girl in a sailor uniform was most assuredly _not_ it.
"That is correct," the diminutive girl replied in a crisp monotone voice. "My name is Nagato Yuki; I am here to observe."
It was like pulling teeth (with a pair of rusty pliers), but further questioning eventually revealed that Nagato's 'mission' was to find and observe the one who had the power to change the world.
This _was_, of course, a story Naruto was intimately familiar with. And it immediately set alarm bells ringing inside the boy's head.
"You're not a _fan-girl_, are you?" Naruto narrowed his blue eyes suspiciously.
He had already had as much as he could stand of the painfully shy, quiet fan-girl type.
"'_A fongul_'?" Parroting the uncouth boy's thickly-accented speech uncertainly, Nagato's eyes went momentarily blank. "Accessing."
"No; such activities were not a part of my original programming;" she finally continued. "The local use of Italian-American colloquialisms was _also_ considered to have an extremely low degree of probability."
"I am a humanoid interface," she offered, by way of clarification. "Created by the Data Integration Thought Entity."
Cricket sounds in the background; a dull look on Naruto's face. A tumbleweed bounced down the dusty street, caught up by an errant gust of wind.
"That's cool," he nodded sagely after a moment, understanding every third word. "So, you've come here to observe _me_?"
"Do you have godlike powers?" the artificial human responded, seeking verification.
Her stoic expression had not changed one iota, and her voice maintained that same aggravating monotone quality; yet somehow… her whole demeanor just _screamed_ 'skeptical'.
"Fuck," Naruto growled. "You're looking for that asshole _Sasuke_, aren't you?"
* * *
SailorStar9: Crossover Fics: check.
If you haven't read the 'Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya' light novels, you are seriously missing out.
Kakashi: Pretty sure no-one wants to know.
SailorStar9: Who asked you? (Pushes a button)
Kakashi: (Winces, only to blink as he realizes nothing happened)...I'm alive?
?: YEEEOUUUHH! (Chainsaw noise!)
Kakashi: (Turns around in alarm, just as Dr. Salvador brings his chainsaw onto his neck) GGGGYYAAAAA-!
SailorStar9: (Shielded from the blood by a barrier jutsu) Prompt as always...(tosses him a sack of bullion) Keep the change.
Dr. Salvador: YEEOUH! (Cheers with Chainsaw over his head.)
R&R or have an appointment with the good Doctor!
33. The Hateful Yellow Card
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 31 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Rorschach: You're posturing, I don't like that.
SailorStar9: Meh, the public does.
Rorschach: The public deserves to know the truth, stop stalling and tell them what they want to know.
SailorStar9: God, why'd I resurrect you again? (Eyes the morphing mas) Never mind, go torture Danzo.
Rorschach: Fine. (Hoists up a metal pipe) ...never liked pedophiles...or would be dictators.
Danzo: (Sitting bound to a char with a sack over his head) What is the meaning of this! Unhand me at once, you! (CRACK!) AAAUGH! MY LEG!
Rorschach: (Tossing the pipe that shattered Danzo's knee away) That little piggy got shattered. (Hoists up an electric drill over the other knee) This little Piggy's getting drilled.
Chapter 32: The Hateful Yellow Card
* * *
The referee pulled out a yellow card.
"Forget it, Tsubasa." Soda assured. "If you're going to get removed too, how are we going to play?" that said, he exited the field.
Minutes later, Pierre scored the second goal with the penalty kick.
"Catch up." Hyuuga voiced, picking up the ball. "We must fill in Soda's part."
"You're right."Matsuyama agreed. "Let's finish what Soda couldn't do."
_Okay, let's go. _Tsubasa decided, the team retaking their positions.
The whistle sounded and Misaki got Tsubasa's pass.
Misaki dodged the incoming slide-tackle, only to be pushed off by Napoleon, who then stole the ball.
"What kind of referee is he?" Hyuuga scowled, the referee not stepping in. "You must be kidding me. Let's go, Tsubasa. " he stole the ball back. "Tsubasa." he passed the ball over.
With three players closing in, Tsubasa kicked the ball backwards to Misaki.
"Kojiro!" Misaki made his pass.
"Okay." Hyuuga caught the ball. "Got it." he sent the ball into the net.
The whistle sounded, signaling an off-side offense and marking Hyuuga's goal a no ball.
"What?" Hyuuga growled. "You must be kidding. I got Misaki's pass by the defense line."
"Defense, everyone!" Matsuyama warned.
With France on the offensive, it was not long before they scored a third goal.
* * *
On the bench...
_Genzo, I know you want to be on the field._ Mikami looked at his student. _But this is to get Wakashimazu_ _used to an international game. Please wait a little longer. I'm sorry, Genzo._
* * *
On the field...
"How can we end here?" Hyuuga swore, as he led the attack. "We must get back the point. Come on, Misaki." he made his pass.
"Not a chance." Pierre cut in, battling with Misaki over the ball.
"Okay!" Tsubasa made his move and sent the ball into the net via an 'Overhead Kick'.
"What?" Hyuuga gasped when the whistle sounded yet again, the referee ruling the kick too dangerous.
"Defense!" Matsuyama told his fellow defenders. "We're finished if they get another point. We must keep out guard up."
"Let's go." Tsubasa stole French's ball.
"Tsubasa!" both Misaki and Hyuuga followed closely behind.
_I must get a point._ Tsubasa was determined, as he weaved past the French players. _In order to get into the second half._ "Okay, go!" he fired his shot, the ball hitting the goal bar and the goalkeeper saved the ball.
"No goal!" the referee declared.
"What?" Hyuuga growled.
_No goal?_ Tsubasa gaped as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
* * *
In the locker room...
"You guys..." Soda blinked as the team trooped in, Hyuuga kicking a chair in frustration.
"Damn..." Hyuuga cursed. "That referee ruled three no goals. We should be leading by one."
"I can't forgive him." Jito swore. "If we lose, he's a dead man."
"Calm down, Jito." Matsuyama chided.
_What do we do?_ Tsubasa wondered. _All the techniques will be ruled in favor for France. If this continues, we won't get the points back._ Before he recalled Ami's statement, _'The referee is always right.' 'To become a_ _worthy player, you must not be resentful of the ruling.'_ Roberto's advice echoed in his mind. _'You must take the ball and head for the goal. Don't hesitate. Defeat the enemy in your own way.'_ "Everyone." he addressed the team. "We shouldn't hate the referee. We should work harder. Fill in Soda's part. We will get the points in the latter half. We can turn the situation around. So, we're going to win, for sure."
"Tsubasa is right." Ryo agreed. "Along with Soda's part.
* * *
On the bench...
"Go, everyone." Mikami voiced. "We must win this game."
"Coach." Misugi stated. "I can go up anytime. Not just the last 10 minutes. I'm ready to go."
"Okay, I know." Mikami acknowledged.
* * *
On the field...
"Let's go, Misaki." Tsubasa declared, the Japan team starting off.
"Okay, Tsubasa." Misaki agreed.
"Misaki." Tsubasa made his pass. "Well then." he stopped, their passes having dissolved the French defense when Misaki was blocked off by Pierre.
_Making the pass without a choice?_ Pierre grinned. _That's..._at his cue, the defenders dashed out as Tsubasa passed the ball over to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga smiled and let the ball pass him, the ball flying over to Matsuyama.
"Goal!" Matsuyama fired his shot. "Alright!" he cheered once the referee signaled the goal. "That's a goal out and out."
"Okay, one more point." Tsubasa told the team.
"Pierre..." Misaki looked over. _We can't lose._
_We can't give up, no matter how tough the referee is._ Pierre mused. _Japan, they're a great team. But they're not going to defeat _France. The whistle sounded and he started to dribble towards the Japan's field.
"Steal the ball and bring it back." Tsubasa instructed.
"Not yet!" Hyuuga barked as he and Nita closed in, Pierre having bypassed Tsubasa and Misaki. "Stop him!"
Pierre simply weaved past the three players with ease. "Napoleon!" he made his pass.
"'Cannon Shot'!" Napoleon made his shot.
Wakashimazu blocked the shot with a hand, the ball deflecting out, before Napoleon aught the ball, sending it into the net.
"No goal!" the referee declared.
"What the..." Hyuuga was stunned. "Isn't he on the French side? Izawa." he blinked, seeing Mamoru on the ground.
* * *
On the bench...
"Coach, please put me on." Misugi requested.
"Okay." Mikami nodded."France has the advantage. Go get them."
* * *
On the field...
Mamoru was carried off, Misugi taking his place.
"I'll take care of Napoleon." Misugi told the team. "So, you're the attacker." he informed Tsubasa.
"I'm here, Pierre." Tsubasa charged. _I realized that we can't win unless we don't get rid of Pierre._
_That's right, Tsubasa._ Misaki agreed. _ If we can do that, our luck will turn._
_I can't lose._ Pierre swore. _Because France has so much expectation on me._
Both captains clashed, with Pierre winning the fight over the ball.
"Now!" Misugi gave the order as Pierre passed the ball.
"Okay." Napoleon caught the pass.
The whistle then sounded, stopping Napoleon in mid-step, he himself having been caught in Misugi's trademark 'Off-side Trap'.
"What?" Pierre gaped when Tsubasa came at him again.
_I'd knew you'd do _that. Misaki grinned knowingly.
"I won't give up, no matter how tough my opponent is." Tsubasa declared. "I will fight until I win. I will... get rid of you."
_What's he thinking?_ Pierre wondered. _Facing me head-on?_
Tsubasa sped up, bypassing Pierre and leaving the French stunned. "Go in!" he weaved past the French team. "Then we'll be even." and fired his 'Drive Shot', pulling the equalizer.
"Do it, Napoleon.." Pierre told the striker.
"Really?" Napoleon smirked and the two charged.
"Let's go." Pierre declared. "Look at our 'Eiffel Attack'!" and the pair bypassed the Japan forwards with a volley of passes. "An elevator going straight up. The target, the Japanese goal. And attack modeled after the Eiffel Tower. The final measure of the final - 'Eiffel Attack'."
"Get between them!" Matsuyama barked. "Steal the ball."
_Only Napoleon and I can bring out it's power._ Pierre was determined as the pair weaved past the mid-fielders. _We can't fail._
"I'll stop it." Misugi promised, clashing with Pierre head-on.
"Go, Napoleon!" Pierre passed the ball over via a header.
"Okay." Napoleon caught the pass. "'Cannon Shot'!"
"Not a chance!" Wakashimazu blocked the pending shot, but Napoleon fired the shot anyway, earning France its fourth goal.
With the French team on the defensive, the match restarted, with Tsubasa leading the attack.
Napoleon blocked Tsubasa's shot, Hyuuga reclaiming the ball, before finding himself marked by two players.
On the side, Matsuyama, too, was marked.
"There's no time." Hyuuga growled.
"Kojiro, here!" Misaki shouted.
"Come on!" Hyuuga made the pass.
_Not yet._ Misaki weaved through the two mid-fielders. _We haven't lost yet. I'll shoot. If we win this game, we'll still be playing together. I want to be in the final, so we must win!_ He then headed straight for Pierre. "Go!" he dodged past Pierre.
"I can't!" Napoleon blocked Misaki's air assault.
_It's finished._ Misaki realized.
"Don't give up, Misaki!" Tsubasa barked, adding his leg into the fight over the ball. "Go!" both Japanese players fired the shot simultaneously, pulling the equalizer.
The whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match, the game entering into extended time.
* * *
Omake
A Blast from the Past
While there was no question (in his _own_ mind, at least) that Kakashi was extremely upset¹ by the loss of his teammate, Uchiha Obito, he nonetheless felt that it simply would not properly _honor_ the memory of his newly-considered 'best friend' to merely sit around and mope.
Not with the 'New Eye Smell' of that hidden _Sharingan _driving him to distraction 24/7, it sure wouldn't.
So without another thought, Kakashi leapt to his window, intent on racing as quickly as possible to Team Minato's customary training ground.
(Rin and Minato-sensei would not be using it any time soon, after all; apparently, it turns out that _they _were the sort to sit around and mope. Who would have guessed? And to tell the truth, it made them seem kind of… _shallow_, in Kakashi's humble opinion.)
Slamming into the wall _beside _his window, Kakashi slowly climbed back to his feet.
"_Damn you, Depth Perception_!" he hissed, not for the first time.
(He really _was _still pissed off about that utterly disappointing fiasco with the new -and _supposedly '_3-D'- _Icha Icha: the View-Master_®.)
* * *
Eventually deciding that a nice, leisurely _stroll _might be more appropriate -'as befit his _grief_'- Kakashi left the apartment by the door, at a subdued (and 'respectful') pace.
* * *
Finally arriving at the training ground, Kakashi whispered a brief prayer and fired up his gifted eyeball for the first time.
(Let's get one thing straight, right now: it's not like he was _glad_ that his 'old pal' Obito was dead or anything like that; but let's be fair - had the unfortunate Uchiha survived, that _would_ have been one _seriously_ fucked up Thank-You card to try and write.)
At some point during his walk to the training area (dodging some surprisingly tricky lampposts and an inordinate number of rude pedestrians along the way), Kakashi decided that a fitting and commemorative tribute of the occasion would be to try out his only original technique, the _Chidori_.
(A technique that -_by sheer coincidence_- could _only_ be used by someone of the Sharingan persuasion.)
Calling out the name of his newly-created _raiton _jutsu and grabbing his right wrist with his left hand, Kakashi began a mad dash towards the scattered targets -
Only to be caught by the elbow and swung into a nearby tree like a dead baby², thus dispelling his technique.
When at last he came to his senses several moments later, Kakashi found a young man -who looked an _awful _damn lot like Minato-sensei- staring back at him with a stern expression on his face.
"That technique is flawed," the serious blond admonished. "In fact, it's complete rubbish."
"No, it isn't," Kakashi replied, his wounded pride (and throbbing head) causing him to be uncharacteristically candid. "I have the _Sharingan _now, so I can see my enemies' counterattacks."
"It _is_," the other man rejoined with an authoritative air. "It drains too much chakra, it disrupts the electrical impulses to your brain (which _might_ cause permanent damage, you know), and it is as hellishly _loud _as a Hyuuga being fed through a wood chipper. How _else _do you think I was able to get the drop on you?"
Kakashi thought about this for a moment. Whoever this guy was, he made a pretty good argument.
His autocratic attitude also reminded Kakashi a little bit of _himself_, which certainly helped to carry the day.
"What do you suggest?" the masked jounin finally asked.
"Why not try something with wind?" said the other boy (whom Kakashi was secretly beginning to think of as a potential rival). "That _is_ the strongest element in battle, after all. Maybe your _sensei _even knows a few tricks he'd be willing to share."
And so, with that final nail in the coffin, Hatake Kakashi abandoned what _might _have become his signature technique and dedicated himself to mastering _fuuton _jutsu, instead.
The kind that Uzumaki Naruto, 15 years hence, would be able to easily manipulate.
* * *
Naruto walked up to the gates of Konoha, whistling a happy little tune.
He had the turncoat Uchiha at his side (now looking decidedly green around the gills - at least, where he _wasn't_ bleeding profusely from a thousand tiny cuts, that is); draped over a mid-sized toad that was hopping roughly down the dusty lane.
"Naruto? How-?" Kakashi stammered, unable to comprehend how someone that he had never seen as anything but the 'dead-last' had managed to _decimate _his prized student.
The same student to whom he had taught all of his very best techniques.
"Piece of cake," answered the nonchalant blond, discretely patting the lamp³ in his pocket.
* * *
Next stop: giving his 'dad' a great big kick in the nuts.
* * *
SailorStar9: Time Travel Fics: check.
¹Using the word 'crushed here seemed a tad indelicate.
²What's _that _look for? I said a dead baby. Jeez.
³This is the magic lamp from Chapter 29, if that needs clarification.
34. Respectable Penalty Tie Breaker!
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 32 goes up and no review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chiyo: Konoha no Shiroi Kiba! Prepare to die!
Kakashi: HOW THE HELL'D YOU GET IN HERE? *STAB* SPLEEN!
Chapter 33: Respectable Penalty - Tie-Breaker!
* * *
On the bench...
"You've gathered here from different parts of the country." Mikami addressed the team. "How long will you last with the world as your opponent? Honestly, that's an unknown to me too. But during this short period, you have grown. I'm sure you know what to do. This extended game will decide everything. Get your act together."
"This is for Soda too." Tsubasa declared. "So we must win today and make it to tomorrow's finals."
* * *
On the field...
_Pierre, let's fight it out._ Misaki charged towards Pierre.
_Misaki, come on._ Pierre accepted the challenge. _Let's finish this once and for all._
"Okay, here I come." Misaki fought it out with Pierre.
_Looks like the Goddess of Victory is on my side._ Napoleon smirked, stealing the ball.
_I'll stop you._ Wakashimazu swore, jumping to block Napoleon's shot.
"Are you okay, Wakashimazu?" Tsubasa asked the injured keeper.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Wakashimazu assured. "How can we lose now?"
"Okay." Tsubasa nodded. "We must win this, no matter what."
The match restarted, with Pierre possessing the ball and dodging past Ryo.
* * *
On the bench...
"Wakabayashi." Mikami looked over at his student, Wakashimazu having punched out the forward's shot, the player's leg landing on his injured arm.
"Please let Wakashimazu play to the end." Genzo requested.
* * *
On the field...
"Take that!" the forward reclaimed the ball and readied his shot.
"I won't let you!" Misugi blocked the shot with a header.
"Damn!" Napoleon renewed his attack.
"Get up, Wakashimazu!" Misugi barked, having blocked off the shot. "You're the only one who can guard the goal."
"Tsubasa, go!" Misugi encouraged, Wakashimazu having cleared the next shot.
_Okay._ Tsubasa caught the ball and charged forth. "Go!" he fired a centering pass.
_Good, now for a header._ Misaki closed in for the pass.
"Not a chance!" Pierre cut in. "Damn!" he cursed, Misaki having knocked the ball back to the incoming Hyuuga.
Pierre jumped, just as Hyuuga fired his shot and kicked the ball off course.
The whistle sounded, signaling the end of the extended game.
* * *
On the bench...
"Thanks." Wakashimazu took the bottle Sawada handed over.
"Wakashimazu." Mikami voiced. "Well? You wanna switch?"
"I worked so hard to come this far." Wakashimazu replied. "I will guard the goal until the end."
* * *
On the field...
"France goes first." the referee declared, having tossed a coin to decide which side will start the Penalty Kick Tie-Breaker.
"We've come this far." Tsubasa told the team. "We must win. Wakashimazu."
"Yeah." Wakashimazu nodded and headed to his post. "I will finish this game, no matter what."
_As the captain of the French team, I must make the first kick._ Pierre took the first shot.
_This side!_ Wakashimazu jumped to block the shot when the ball changed its course and flew into the net. _Damn. I saw the ball, but it went the other way._
_Tsubasa, I'm going._ Hyuuga looked over at the team captain.
_Yeah._ Tsubasa nodded and Hyuuga took his position.
_Tsubasa, my goal has always been to surpass you._ Hyuuga mused. _Practicing the 'Tiger Shot' in the storm. But now, I'm the responsible for being the #9 player. And my goal is to become the best striker in the world. This PK... this is my first step into the world._ "Go!" he fired his shot, sending the ball flying into the net.
"I must get the ball this time." Wakashimazu swore, the French team taking their next turn, but still missing the shot and allowing France their second goal.
_It's my turn._ Matsuyama tied his headband around his forehead. _Fujisawa, you... where in France are you looking at me now? The National High Semi-Final, I wanted to tell you how I felt, after winning the game and before you left for France. But... I lost... Fujisawa, I'm in France now. I must win this game and then go see you. So..._ he fired his shot, sending the ball into the net.
_Damn!_ Wakashimazu cursed, unable to prevent France from scoring their third goal. _Wakabayashi, I don't want you to see me like this._
_I've been in France for 5 years now_. Misaki took the spot. _Because I _w_anted to go back to Japan, I didn't join any soccer team. I joined the Japanese team, without ever joining a soccer team. It was a dream to play against French player, Pierre. That's w__hat I thought. But, I found an answer in this game. And it's what I've been doubting all this time. I've decided. So I want to fight for Japan._ With that, he fired his shot, sending the ball flying into the net.
_Are you going to kick right, too?_ Wakashimazu wondered as French's fourth player stepped forward. _Damn! They're going after my right hand. If I don't catch it, I must block it._
"This is a successful min game." Napoleon noted, Wakashimazu having jumped in the wrong direction and allowing France to score their fourth goal. "We're gonna win for sure, Pierre. No reason, because I'm the last one up."
_I still can't forget my surprise of being invited to the game as a coach._ Misugi took the stage and fired his shot, sending the ball into the net as the goalkeeper jumped in the opposite direction.
_Wakabayashi, you have always been ahead of me._ Wakashimazu mused. _I've been so hard with you as my #1 enemy. But my opponents now, are the French striker ahead of me and myself._
_If I make this goal, I'll be the hero of France._ Napoleon stepped forward. _It must work._ "Take that!" he fired his shot.
"I must block it, even if it costs me my arm." Wakashimazu promised. "I'll show you!" he punched the shot out.
"Huh?" Napoleon gaped. "What? No way... why did he?"
_Tsubasa, my right hand is finished._ Wakashimazu noted. _We're counting on you now._
_Wakashimazu, you've fought so hard with your hand injury._ Tsubasa mused as the goalkeeper walked off. _I won't let it go to waste. There's nothing worst than injury to a player. I've realized that through the last couple of weeks. My shoulder injury tested my strength. I was left behind in the Europe game. I gave up coming here. But everyone's been... I'm here because of you guys. The number you gave me, #10. Right then and there, I decided that I must win this world competition._ That determined, he sent the ball straight into the net and winning the PK match and the team the ticket to the finals.
* * *
Omake
NarOto!
Uzumaki Naruto was sitting on the old wooden swing near the Shinobi Academy. Classes had been dismissed hours earlier, and everyone else had gone home ages ago to be with their families.
To _celebrate_.
Naruto had just failed the Genin Exam for the third time running.
"I really thought I was going to _make_ it this time," he whispered, scuffing at the dirt with the toe of his sandal. "Stupid _bunshin_! It's not fair - why did they have to pick my _worst _technique?"
"And then they said…" and he paused for a moment, because he had sworn that he would never let them make him cry again. "They said I shouldn't even _be_ here! They were _happy_ I failed!"
Naruto barely caught himself from falling off the swing, when another voice made him realize with a start that he was no longer simply talking to himself, blowing off steam.
He was no longer _alone _in the isolated schoolyard; miles from home, with twilight falling.
"It's painful, isn't it?" the tall man quietly asked. "Being different, I mean. And being _hated_ for it."
"What do _you_ know about it?" Naruto scowled, having long since learned from painful experience that sympathetic strangers were _not_ to be trusted.
"We have much in common, you and I," the strange man replied, taking a graceful seat on the lawn and toying idly with the grass and sand at his feet. "I, too, have known the bitter scorn of this village. Growing up alone and unwanted…"
Naruto's breath caught in his throat, coupled with a curse at his own foolish naïvete.
"Yes, it's true," his eyes flashed briefly at Naruto, and then back into the distance, beyond the Academy. "I was an orphan as well. The Sandaime said that he would look after me-"
"J-Jiji said-?" Naruto haltingly interrupted.
"Yes, but the villagers still reviled me. I only wanted to grow stronger, to be the Hokage-"
"Like me!" Naruto shouted, any pretense at indifference cast aside by this seeming _karmic_ revelation. "That's what _I_ keep saying, too! I want to be Hokage, so those bastards will finally have to acknowledge me!""
"Of course you do," the man gave a small nod and a sad smile. "And that is _precisely_ why I have come to you now. What if I said that there is _still _a way for you to become a genin?"
* * *
That night, Naruto stole the Forbidden Scroll from the Hokage Tower. And he never looked back once.
* * *
Locked inside the _Shishienjin_, the Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell easily to Orochimaru's Kusanagi blade. He had aged so much in the months following Naruto's disappearance, it could hardly even be called a _battle_.
The Sound Four released the technique, and Orochimaru looked out across Konohagakure no Sato, where _both_ of his jinchuuriki were laying waste to the village.
"Boys will be boys," he laughed, as he set off at an easy gait to intercept them.
There was no rush; and he had to let them have a _little_ fun, after all. They had earned it.
But he had promised to make Naruto the Godaime Hokage -just as he had made Gaara the Godaime Kazekage- and that promise would be _meaningless_ if there were nothing left of the village but a smoking ruin.
"_Two down; three to go_," he smirked, already making plans for the remaining hidden villages.
He'd be _damned_ if any more children would be forced to grow up like _he_ had.
* * *
SailorStar9: If a sympathetic Orochimaru approached Naruto that day at the Academy instead of Mizuki, how might things have turned out differently?
I think that there are a lot of ways that Orochimaru could be a more sympathetic character - and have more in common with Naruto than is initially apparent:
he was an orphan;
Sarutobi may have cast himself as a substitute father/grandfather figure, who then failed the boy when he was most needed;
he may have been treated like a pariah in the village (for his ophidian features and the sacrifices demanded by his summons/Kyuubi);
he wanted to get stronger and learn a lot of jutsu;
he wanted to be Hokage;
he has been forced to fight his best friend/'rival'/teammate;
he was nearly killed in a fight with an Uchiha;
he has a 'teammate' who is an accomplished med-nin (by which I mean _Kabuto_/Sakura);
the obvious Sannin/Team 7 analogies;
he never fell for Tsunade's genjutsu;
he has an unhealthy obsession with Uchiha Sasuke;
he is one of the only two people to ever 'kiss' Sasuke (it _does _apply to both - and how creepy is that?);
he has hidden skills/talents/abilities;
he is proficient with a clone technique, and uses them to an annoying extent in battle (that is, in the opinion of his enemies);
Minato had a major impact on his life (displacing him as Yondaime/using him as the Kyuubi jinchuuriki);
Sandaime had a major negative impact on his life (choosing Minato/revealing the secret of the Kyuubi sealing);
Danzo was keeping an eye on him (or vice versa, in Orochimaru's case);
he has an interest in _fuuinjutsu_ (a very _personal _interest, in Naruto's case);
he has the ability to 'change' other people (using Cursed Seals, in Orochimaru's case);
he tried to develop a radical new technique (risking great physical harm in the process);
probably immortal;
he shrugs off damage that would kill other people, and comes back without a scratch;
he wore a 'mask' (ugh);
he has been known to take the form of a woman on occasion;
people are sometimes horrified and disgusted by the things he can swallow (What? I just mean the Earth scroll from the Chuunin Exams/ramen);
the part Gaara played in the Sand-Sound Invasion had a major impact on his life;
people complain about his taste in clothes;
there's something 'different' about him, on the inside; this can manifest physically, when he is in a fight;
he is not alone, inside his head;
he was wanted by Akatsuki…
35. Duel: Japan Vs Germany
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 33 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chiyo: Call me old will ya?
CRACK
Kakashi: SPINE!
Itachi: We're supposed to be on now you know...
Kakashi: You are an evil...Evil woman.
SailorStar9: I know, that's why I altered the first chapter of your book just now.
Kakashi: What? (looks back to find the pages are blank, and that the first page is decidedly different from the start) DAMN YO...hey...this is GOOD! Better even!
SailorStar9: And you can't read the rest.
Kakashi:...(turned to stone)...!
Chapter 34: Duel: Japan Vs. Germany
* * *
That night, in the team's hotel...
_Opponent Number 10, Shester._ Genzo jotted down the German team's data. _Shester's right kick; attack from the left side if you wanna win him. If there's a leak, kick the ball out._
"If you're going to pull an all-nighter, I brought coffee." Ami pushed her way into his room.
"Thanks." Genzo took the mug from the tray she placed on his table and took a sip. "That hit the spot."
"Need help?" Ami inquired, grinning. At his look, her grin widened, "You forgot who's the better data-gatherer and all-nighter expert here. Besides," she purred, "Two heads _are_ better than one."
Genzo hid a shiver; her playful mood had _always_ turned him on, it did not help any that his night-lamp illuminated the feminine curves of his significant partner's body through her translucent nightwear. Swallowing a nervous gulp, he focused back to his notes. _Karl-Heinz Schneider..._ he paused. _I first met Schneider when I came to Berlin._
"Sun to Peacock, anybody home?" Ami joked, bringing Genzo out of memory lane as she dangled a wrapped piece of chocolate in front of him.
"That's..." Genzo looked over her shoulder at the opened Meiji Melty Kisses™ box; one of his few indulgences.
"Not so fast!" Ami pulled back, dropping the chocolate cube back into opened container. "Finish your data-gathering first."
"Spoilsport." Genzo muttered and went back to work, a chuckling Ami sipping her hot cocoa with marshmallows.
It was past midnight before the reunited couple had the chance to enjoy the Japan-imported chocolate cubes together.
* * *
The next morning...
"Wakabayashi, is the data ready?" Mikami inquired.
"Yes." Genzo handed the gathered data to the team.
"This is the information collected by Wakabayashi." Mikami stated.
"I took the notes when I was in Germany." Genzo added.
"It's about the German team." Tsubasa beamed.
"Great, it details all the players' good and bad points." Ryo gawked.
"You don't have to remember them all." Ami started. "Just remember your opponent."
"Wakabayashi, there's noting on the goalkeeper." Matsuyama voiced.
"Deuter Müller," Ami started. "The 'Dream Goalkeeper'."
"The 'Dream Goalkeeper'?" Tsubasa echoed.
"I haven't played with him." Genzo nodded. "He is mysterious in Germany."
_It's interesting that even Wakabayashi doesn't know about goalkeepers._ Hyuuga mused. _I don't have the data. I wanna score with my 'Tiger Shot'._
"Listen, let's strive for the final." Mikami declared. "And get the champion, the best in the world. Next is the announcement of the list of players. Forward: Hyuuga, Nita, Sano. Mid-fielder: Oozora, Misaki, Izawa, Sawada. Defender: Matsuyama, Ishizaki, Jito. And the goalkeeper, Wakabayashi. You're the goalkeeper, Wakabayashi Genzo." he confirmed.
"Coach, in this competition..." Genzo voiced.
"Wakabayashi, you'll take over the door of victory." Hyuuga cut in. "I was disappointed with your performance, not just you, all the others. But I know what the coach assigns..."
"Ara, so you heard that." Ami noted, recalling the conversation in Chapter 26.
"When you carry it out, we can quickly grow in a short time." Hyuuga added.
"And Wakashimazu's hand is injured, so he can't play." Matsuyama added. "Now, it's your turn."
"If my hand could move, I wouldn't let you play." Wakashimazu agreed. "But just this once, Wakabayashi."
"Wakabayashi, let's fight together." Tsubasa concurred.
"It's just so easy." Ami grinned at her gaping lover.
"I know." Genzo relented. "I'll play. I will have to take over the championship. We have to win."
"Damn, I'm not selected." Soda cursed.
"That's okay." Ryo assured. "We'll kick for you."
"Let's do it, Captain." Genzo voiced.
"You too, Wakabayashi." Tsubasa took his hand.
"Alright, the Japanese Youth team is moving forward to the championship." Mikami declared.
* * *
Later, in the stadium...
The game started with the German team possessing the ball.
"Come on." Shester challenged, as Misaki headed for him. Bypassing Misaki easily, he charged towards Tsubasa, only to have Tsubasa steal his ball.
"Tsubasa." Misaki beamed.
_Wakabayashi, you..._ Schneider realized.
"I'll stop you." Kaltz slide-tackled in.
"Misaki." Tsubasa leapt over and made his pass. "Good work, Misaki." he caught the pass, the 'Golden Combo' penetrating deeper.
"Come on." Müller declared.
_That keeper..._ Tsubasa gaped, recognizing Müller's stance. _I haven't seen this kind of keeper. I can't find a chance to shoot. Damn, be brave._ "Go!" he fired his shot.
Müller jumped and reached out his hand, grabbing the ball before it dropped.
_My 'Drive Shot' was stopped._ Tsubasa was stunned.
"Müller is really something." Kaltz noted.
"Right." Schneider agreed. "Let's take a look at the situation now."
_Damn..._ Nita cursed as Müller tossed the ball out. _What do you know?_ Taking Müller's bait, he charged. _He can't stop it at this distance._ "Okay." he made his shot, only to have Müller intercept the ball.
"How is that possible?" Nita was shocked.
"Okay, whose turn?" Müller threw the ball out.
"Now, I'll show you." Matsuyama took his turn. _Tsubasa can not decide to go from the up-right and bottom-left._ "'Eagle Shot'!" he fired his shot.
Müller dashed and blocked the shot.
"Okay." Mamoru took the chance and fired his shot.
Müller leapt to catch the ball, just as Hyuuga dashed in. Foot and hand met, with Müller winning the battle of strength.
"Okay." Tsubasa claimed the ball.
"It's so interesting to watch Müller play." Kaltz remarked as he and Shester dashed back to claim the ball. "Don't be too elated." he snapped, Tsubasa having dodged them both and reaching out his leg to trip Tsubasa over.
The whistle sounded, signaling the obvious foul and earning the Japan team a free kick.
"Get out." Müller barked. "I don't need a wall."
_How can we shoot through the outstanding keeper?_ Tsubasa mused, the German team clearing out. _If it's the same kind of shot, you can never score._
"Tsubasa, we failed." Hyuuga admitted. "Never mind, you can score."
"Hyuuga, come over." Tsubasa stated, whispering his plan into Hyuuga's ear.
_Any counterattack is of no use to me._ Müller smirked, adjusting his glove. _Shoot, I'll stop it._
"Okay, I see." Hyuuga understood.
"Let's go." Tsubasa gave the cue, both players charging towards the ball. "Go!" he fell over to the ground, giving the ball a kick forward.
_As the striker, I'm the only one who can break through._ Hyuuga claimed the ball's possession and fired his shot.
Müller knelt down, cushioning the ball's impact with his thighs and stopping the ball right before the goal line.
_Could it be..._ Hyuuga realized. _No._ "Tsubasa, maybe it will be successful. My 'Thunder Pass' will always score."
"It's coming again." Tsubasa noted.
Jito cut into Müller's pass and handed the ball over to Tsubasa.
_If Hyuuga is right, it _will _work._ Tsubasa was confident. "Go!" he fired his shot.
Müller crouched to catch the ball, his attempt causing the ball to bounce out.
_Hyuuga is right._ Tsubasa noted, as Nita charged.
"Nita, shoot again." Hyuuga barked.
"Yes!" Nita fired his shot, only to have Müller reach behind, blocking out the shot.
"Doesn't he have any weaknesses?" Hyuuga cursed.
"I won't give up." Tsubasa swore. "Maybe he really doesn't. But there's no unbreakable wall."
"Tsubasa." Hyuuga blinked. "You're right."
"Hyuuga!" Tsubasa reclaimed the ball.
_Tsubasa, we have the same thought._ Hyuuga mused. "Let's go!"
"Okay!" Tsubasa agreed, both players stopping before Müller, legs raised.
"Go!" both players hollered, combining both 'Drive Shot' and 'Tiger Shot' together.
_I can catch this._ Müller stood firm. _It's here._ He focused and reached out a hand, stopping the ball.
"Damn." Hyuuga cursed. "I won't give up. I'll bet on my name of the 'Ace Striker'. I will show you"
_That's right._ Tsubasa agreed. _We won't give up._
"Coming." Genzo warned as Müller fired a long-distance shot.
"I won't let you!" Jito fought over the ball with the charging German forward.
"Good!" Schneider stepped forth, claiming the ball in mid-air.
"Come on." Genzo stood his ground. _I can see the ball._ He noted, as Schneider brought the ball down.
_It's going to score, Wakabayashi._ Schneider mused and fired his shot.
"Damn!" Genzo cursed, a step behind Schneider and letting the ball fly into the net.
"One point is well enough." Müller declared. "We're destined to win."
"Damn!" Genzo hammered a punch on the grass.
* * *
Omake
The Rookie 9 are _Special_
The Hokage had just dismissed the meeting, and dozens of newly assigned jounin-sensei hurried out of the office, chattering excitedly about their new genin teams.
Three of the jounin, however, tarried behind the others; fake smiles pasted to their faces as they edged past their ebullient colleagues and made their way toward the Hokage's desk. Finally, the office door closed and the voices were silenced.
For about a millisecond.
"Is this some kind of _joke_?" Kakashi exploded, slamming his new team roster onto the desk.
"This is the '_Special Needs_' class! Why the hell are you giving them to _me_?"
"I have to agree, Dad," said Asuma, shaking his head and scowling as he looked at his own list. "These are the _problem_ kids. They shouldn't even have made it _through _the Academy. What were you _thinking_?"
"It's not really my _place_, Hokage-sama," Kurenai hedged, trying not to lose face in front of her two more-experienced peers. "But these… _children _do seem to be the… um, 'bottom of the barrel', as it were. Wouldn't it be better if-"
The Hokage released a controlled pulse of Killing Intent that served to remind all three of the jounin just _who_ exactly was wearing the Big Funny Hat.
"Do you think _I_ like this any more than _you_ do?" he growled.
"You're all bright people - or so I keep _telling _myself," (Kurenai and Asuma both blushed at this - though for entirely different reasons). "_You_ figure it out. These retards are all _clan heirs_, or the next thing to it. It would be political _suicide_ to fail them. That's why they were given only the simplest, bare-bones training at the Academy, and that's why you _will_ pass their teams."
And while they were at it -since they were so 'bright' and all- maybe they would _also_ figure out how they had gotten on the Hokage's shit-list and stuck with these morons in the _first_ place.
"I don't know if it's inbreeding, or fallout from the Kyuubi attack, or something even _more_ insidious,"" the Hokage continued, suddenly feeling every bit of his seventy-plus years. "But somehow, _all _of our major clans have been affected - and god help me, they even managed to _calf _at the same time, too. If our weakness were to ever become public knowledge..."
The room grew chill as each one of them imagined the potential consequences of such a scenario. Not surprisingly, 'Konoha in Flames' seemed to feature prominently in the thoughts of all four.
"But don't worry, it''s not a long-term assignment," the Hokage finally sighed, breaking the moribund silence. "Just babysit them for a couple of months: no real training, and only the lowest D-ranks we can find. Then -when the time is right- I'll cherry-pick an 'appropriate' C-rank; just let the problem take care of itself, and you'll be off the hook."
The three jounin exchanged a knowing look, as though they were privy to an inside-joke. There was a _reason_ the crafty old buzzard was called the 'Professor', after all.
* * *
As they were leaving the office, Kurenai stopped Asuma in the hallway.
"I don't get it. If the other kids are all clan heirs, why is _Naruto_…?" she asked.
Asuma gave her a dubious look. "You know, I was _going _to buy you dinner first; but let's just go straight to your place and get it over with."
"Okay!" she chirped.
* * *
SailorStar9: Because the more I thought about it, the less sense any other explanation made.
36. Roberto's Suggestion
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 34 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Kakashi: *whimper...*
Halibel: Suck it up, pussy.
Chapter 35: Roberto's Suggestion
* * *
"Tsubasa." Katagiri voiced from the side. "Your notebook, page 52."
"Eh? Notebook?" Tsubasa echoed. _Notebook? Is that Roberto's notebook? Roberto's notebook? Lead the rhythm of the game and create opportunities of shooting._ He mused, passing out the ball. _Organizing the whole team. The importance of the mid-fielder is related to his way of practicing._ He caught Misaki's pass. _And the South American style of bringing the ball._ He dodged the forward. "Intercept him!" he barked, chasing Kaltz who had tackled Nita to the ground and stole the ball. _Page 22 details the characteristics of South American soccer, and page 52..._
"I won't let you win!" Mamoru swore, slide-tackling the charging Schneider.
"Damn!" Nita cursed, before being bypassed by the attacking German player.
"I have to stop you." Matsuyama promised.
"I can't let him in." Jito added as he and Ryo came forth.
Blocked out, Schneider made a pass to the incoming Shester, who then fired his shot, Genzo punching the ball out.
"Go, counter!" the keeper barked.
"Let's go, Takeshi." Hyuuga hollered.
The two former Meiwa teammates made a combined shot in mid-air.
_This is of no use to me._ Müller grinned. _What?_ He gaped when the ball shot past.
_Hyuuga and I combine our forces to make a 'Drive Shot'._ Sawada mused.
"Don't you think about it!" Müller reached out to block Misaki's header.
_It's blocked._ Misaki sighed in resignation.
"Misaki, go!" Tsubasa hollered. "Let me assist you! Go!" he propelled Misaki forward, sending the mid-fielder, Müller and the ball into the net. _Katagiri said page 52._ He mused. _I see..._ he realized. _Roberto came to the game._
_In Berlin, he's considered the golden player._ Genzo stood firm as Kaltz dashed forward. _It's me and the attacking Schneider._ He mused, Kaltz having bypassed Hyuuga. _But by average, Kaltz still takes a lead. What will the situation be if Kaltz becomes serious? Both Schneider and I don't know about it._
"Alright." Kaltz rammed into a slide-tackling Misaki. "You're tough."
Schneider then caught the falling ball and readied to shoot.
"There!" Genzo jumped, blocking out the shot.
_Not bad, Wakabayashi._ Schneider mused. _In our last practice, I took a lead. How can I still let hinder my 'Flame Shot'?_
_Come on, Schneider._ Genzo smirked.
Kaltz took the corner kick, sending the ball flying towards the net.
"No way!" Ryo blocked off the shot.
"Now!" Tsubasa barked, Schneider's shot having been deflected by Jito and Matsuyama. "It's Shester." he warned.
"I got it." Shester fired his shot.
"Stop you." Misaki cut in, his foot missing the ball.
Genzo grabbed the ball before it entered the net. "Not bad, Misaki." he remarked. "Let's go!" he kicked the ball out.
"The German team won't stop in their attack." Tsubasa told the team. "They will still come back."
"Let's go!" Shester stole Tsubasa's ball and headed for the goalpost, with Genzo saving shot after shot.
"What do you think?" Genzo barked.
"Damn." Shester cursed, firing another shot, with Genzo saving the ball.
"I can stop shooters other than Schneider." Genzo promised and kicked the ball out.
_I am the only one who can score in Wakabayashi's hand._ Schneider mused.
_Don't be too elated._ Kaltz smirked, stealing the ball from Hyuuga. Bypassing Tsubasa, he then weaved through the Japan defense.
"Don't you think so!" Genzo shot out.
_Shooting isn't just about shooting._ Kaltz grinned, giving the ball a gentle kick, pulling a 'Drop Shot'. "Okay, I'm ready."
With a roar, Genzo dived, blocking out the shot and catching the rebound ball before it passed the goal-line. "This is interesting, Kaltz." he snorted. "I don't have to care about what kind of shot it is, let me enjoy this. Go, Tsubasa." he kicked the ball out.
_Now I see..._ Tsubasa realized, letting the ball drop. _Page 52... page 52, _"Now I see." he beamed. "What's going on, Roberto. Now I seem Roberto." he jumped to dodge the slide-tackle. "Page 52 is about the interests of playing soccer. Now I see." with the ball in his possession, he shot past the German team.
_That guy became fast._ Schneider closed in from behind. _It's dangerous not to stop him. He seems to know something._ "Stop him!"
"Go!" Tsubasa bypassed Kaltz, landing before the goalpost and fired his shot.
"Not so fast!" Müller ran out.
"Go!" Misaki caught the pass and sent the ball flying.
"Damn!" Müller punched the ball out.
"This time..." Tsubasa caught the deflected ball.
"I'll stop you." Schneider closed in, the two captains fighting over the ball.
"Not yet!" Tsubasa snapped, the impact forcing both players off.
"I got it." Kaltz came in to claim the revolving ball. "Not good." he muttered, unsure where the real ball was. "Damn!" he cursed, his stomp breaking the ball's momentum and allowing Tsubasa to steal the ball.
"Good!" Tsubasa rose his leg, wincing as pain shot from his ankle. _After the bump, my leg seems to be injured. What can I do?_
"I will stop you." Müller swore, dashing out. "What?" he gaped when Tsubasa made a backward pass.
"Please, Hyuuga." Tsubasa pleaded.
_I'll bet on everything I have._ Hyuuga readied his shot.
"I won't let you shoot." Schneider closed in.
"Go away!" Hyuuga snapped. "Here's my 'Tiger Shot'!", the ball shooting past Schneider's shoulder and into Müller's outstretched hand, the sheer power making Müller lose his grip and sending the ball into the net.
_I'll make you _pay. Schneider swore.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part One
"And...Cut! OK guys take a break!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura walked off the stage together panting. They had spent the whole morning shooting the fight scene. The director had made them redo the fight scene over and over again until it was perfect.
Sasuke wiped the sweat on his forehead and turned to Sakura. "So, Sakura you wanna run lines with me?" He gave her his best smirk.
Sakura quickly turned away from him. "In your dreams, Sasuke!"
"But don't you have a crush on me?" The smirk had left his face and now it was a look of desperation.
"Oh please. That's only in the anime!"
"Why doesn't anyone want to run lines with me!" Sasuke yelled.
Suddenly Gaara appeared out of nowhere. "If you want Sasuke I'll run lines with you!"
"Umm...It's OK I actually work better...uh...alone." Sasuke quickly tried to get as far away from Gaara as possible.
"Well if you change your mind, just ask me!" Gaara yelled after Sasuke.
"I'd much rather run lines with you Naruto. What do you say Naruto?" Sakura turned the blonde haired boy and smiled sweetly.
"Run lines with Sasuke. I just remembered something I had to do." Naruto didn't wait for Sakura's reply and made his way to the other side of the set. There she was the girl that made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The one that he had been admiring for the longest time. Her name was Hinata. She was standing next to the food table helping herself to a sandwich. Naruto made his way to the table too.
"Hey. Naruto." She greeted calmly.
"Umm...uh...Hi..." Naruto hated himself. Whenever Hinata was around he always started to blush and forget whatever it was that he wanted to stay. It was now or never everyday he had spent his time admiring her, he had to do something.
"You were pretty good this morning at the fight scene." Hinata said coolly after swallowing a mouthful of sandwich.
"Uh...Thank you...Ummm..there's something I want to ask you...I mean It's OK if you don't want to...I just...Well ummm...Do you wanna..." Naruto was cut off somebody had entered the set. Silence filled the whole set and everyone's head turned towards the door. He was here. Rock Lee.
"Hey Lee." Hinata greeted as he walked pass the food table. Lee was probably the most popular guy on the whole set. Almost all the girls had crushes on him.
"Yo..." He answered in a smooth cool voice.
"Lee, can I brush your eyebrows?" Sakura rushed over and looked at him with pure adoration.
"Wait a minute Sakura...I'm going to brush Lee's eyebrows!" Ino appeared out of nowhere she ran next to Lee and looked at him with heart shaped eyes.
"Hey I'm going to do it!" Sakura replied angrily.
"No me!" Ino insisted.
"Please ladies, don't fight over me!" Lee said but it was obvious he was enjoying himself.
"You girls can brush my eyebrows!" Sasuke offered.
"Why would anyone want to brush your eyebrows?" Sakura retorted.
"Tell me then! What does Lee have that I don't have!" Sasuke asked Sakura angrily.
"Those two strong eyebrows of course!" Sakura answered dreamily.
"And those tantalizing eyes!" Ino added.
"Lee, are those eyebrows ready?" Sakura asked. She had a small eyebrow brush in her hand.
"I'm the one that's going to brush Lee's eyebrows!" Ino pushed Sakura aside.
"I am!" Sakura shoved Ino to the side.
"Why doesn't anyone want to brush my eyebrows!" Sasuke yelled out of rage.
Suddenly Gaara appeared out of nowhere. "If you really want someone to brush your eyebrows, I'm willing to!"
"Uhh..it's OK...ummm...I gotta be somewhere...bye!" Sasuke quickly tried to get as far away from Gaara as possible.
"Well, if you ever need anything, ask me!" Gaara yelled at Sasuke.
Sasuke made his way to his dressing room. He stood near his wall mirror and examined his face. Sasuke tried to picture himself with thicker eyebrows. Maybe if he grew his eyebrows the girls would like him better. Would it be a good idea to grow his eyebrows he wondered to himself.
* * *
SailorStar9: Will Sasuke and grow his eyebrows? Will Naruto ever tell Hinata how he feels? Who will brush Lee's eyebrows? Tune in next time...
37. Outstanding Japanese Soccer Team
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 35 goes up and only one review!"?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: Kakashi, why're you here?
Kakashi: You promised you'd give me more pages if I did stuff...Now GIMME!"
Halibel: Apache, Mira Rose, Sun-Sun.
Fraccion: Halibel-sama?
Halibel: Remove him.
Fraccion: At once!"
Kakashi: Now wait just a-ACK NO!" Not the-THOSE ARE MY PANTS!"
SailorStar9: (listening to the screams) They saw the picture of him without his mask didn't they?
Halibel:...yes.
SailorStar9: You're sexy when you're evil...roll camera!"
Apache: (In background) TAKE IT OFF!
Kakashi: But I don't wanna! (Whipcrack, girlish scream) MA BALLZ!
Sun-Sun: Call me queen...
Mira Rose: (Nervous) You're getting a little too comfortable with that thing...
Chapter 36: Outstanding Japanese Soccer Team
* * *
"Let's go!" Schneider claimed the ball, a jolt of pain flashed through his leg. _Was I paralyzed after the crash with Tsubasa?_
"Let me handle this." Ryo dashed forward. "We'll defend this position."
"I'll guard the goal." Genzo assured. "Ishizaki and the others, go intercept the ball."
"I won't let you!" Misaki cut in the German's centering.
"It's the guy again." Kaltz muttered, Misaki having cleared the ball. "He ruined out opportunity."
Schneider caught the corner toss and headed straight for the Japan goal.
"Schneider, I won't lose." Tsubasa swore, despite his injury.
_Go, 'Fire Shot'!_ Schneider fired his shot.
"We will win." Genzo declared, jumping to catch the ball.
"Hyuuga!" Matsuyama sent the ball out when Kaltz cut in, claiming the ball.
"Come on, Schneider." Kaltz remarked.
_Is this the serious Kaltz?_ Genzo wondered as Kaltz bypassed Sawada easily.
"No way!" Jito came forth after Shester caught Kaltz's pass.
"Mark Kaltz!" Genzo barked, Shester having made his pass.
"Stop him." Ryo declared, as he and Matsuyama moved in.
"What?" both defenders gasped when Kaltz passed the ball out.
"What?" Schneider was stunned when Tsubasa headed back before him, blocking his shot's path. "I've got it!" he shifted the ball over to his left leg and fired his shot.
Genzo dived to save the shot, only to have the ball fly pass him into the net.
The match restarted with less than 5 minutes left on the clock.
Having dodged the German's slide-tackle attack, Tsubasa was taken down by Kaltz's air-borne assault.
Leaving Tsubasa on the ground, Kaltz headed towards the Japan field, passing the ball over to Schneider.
Schneider then bypassed the Japan defense, facing Genzo one-on-one.
_Right._ Genzo used the posts as leverage, stopping the ball. "Go, Tsubasa." he kicked the ball out.
_That's right._ Tsubasa got to his feet, claiming the ball.
"Tsubasa, here." Misaki voiced, following closely.
"Misaki." Tsubasa sent the ball out.
"Kojiro, take over!" Misaki dodged the German defender's slide-tackle and passed the ball out.
_I have to be the best._ Hyuuga dodged the pass. _It's your turn, Captain._
"I won't let you." Schneider swore as the ball came underneath Tsubasa's foot.
"Not yet." Tsubasa hissed, taking to the air as Schneider's block sent the ball flying.
Both captains fought for the ball in mid-air, with Tsubasa winning out and firing his shot.
Müller jumped to block the shot, only to have the ball hit the goal bar.
_Not yet._ Tsubasa renewed his attack. "This ball determines the victory.
"I'll block it." Müller swore, diving to stop the ground-borne 'Overhead Kick', only to have the ball course alter and the ball to fly straight up through the net.
Just then, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match and Japan's championship victory.
"Congratulations, Japan Junior Youth." Schneider reached out. "Good job, Tsubasa."
"Schneider." Tsubasa beamed, returning the handshake. "Let's meet at the International Cup."
* * *
On the bench...
"Okay, let's go back." Mikami told the overjoyed team.
The team's cheers were silenced by Ami's startled gasp.
"Roberto..." Tsubasa gaped, turning to where his cousin's eyes had settled on.
"Tsubasa, congratulations." Roberto took off his sunglasses.
"Did you watch the game?" Tsubasa was stunned.
"You did a good job as a mid-field leader and a captain of the whole team." Roberto nodded. "Your dream of being the best in the world, I'd like to give you a hand. Tsubasa, come to Brazil and play soccer there."
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Two
"I'm going to brush Lee's eyebrows!" Sakura snapped at Ino.
"I told you already I'm going to!" Ino pushed Sakura to the side.
"Please ladies stop fighting!"" Lee said. "You can both brush my eyebrows!"
"OK I get the right one and you can get the left one." Ino suggested.
"But I want the right one!" Sakura complained.
"You get the left one!" Ino yelled angrily.
While Ino and Sakura were fighting on who would brush what eyebrow, Naruto was dealing with his own problems.
"What were you saying Naruto?" Hinata asked turning her attention from Lee to Naruto.
Naruto started to blush and he avoided Hinata's gaze. "Uhh...W-well...I just...you know...I-I just wanted to ask you if..."
"Hinata!" Neji!" It's time for your scene!"
"I'm really sorry Naruto I gotta go. Tell me later OK!" Hinata gave him a little wave and quickly made her way to the set.
Naruto sighed to himself. If only he wasn't so shy. If only he had the courage to talk to Hinata without making a fool of himself. Then a great idea jumped into his head. He would advice. But he wouldn't ask just anyone he would ask the smartest, wisest, most brilliant person he knew.
Meanwhile at the other side of the set...
"Your my agent and I told you I want those deals!" Tenten whined into her cellphone. "I told you I'm gonna be the star of Tenten 1/2, Ten-Ten-Oh, and Cardcaptor Tenten."
Suddenly Hinata appeared out of nowhere. "Tenten where the heck is Neji it's time for his scene!"
Tenten pulled the cellphone away from her ears and pointed to a dark corner of the set. "He's over there but you might have a hard time dragging him to the stage!" Tenten then resumed to talking in her cellphone. "I don't care what they say get me those roles!"
Hinata walked over to the place where Tenten was pointing. Hinata found Neji in a ball rolling back and forth. "The itsy bitsy spider went down the water spout..."
"Neji. It's time for our scene. Now why don't you get up." Hinata spoke to him gently.
"Down came the rain and washed the spider out..." Neji continued to rock back and forth on the floor.
"Neji...Please get up!" Hinata was getting desperate.
"Out came the sun and washed up all the rain...And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again...he he he he he he." Neji finished the song and started to laugh softy to himself.
"You're creeping me out. Come on Neji." Hinata grabbed the paranoid boy by his shoulders and started shaking him.
"The itsy bitsy spider...he got washed out...washed out...will he ever get up the water spout...tell me!" Neji quickly grabbed Hinata's collar and started to shake her frantically.
"Yes. Yes he will. Now come on, let's go." Hinata removed Neji's hands from her collar and tried to drag the poor boy to the set.
"The spiders!" spiders!" spiders!" Neji put his hands to his head and started to roll on the floor.
"This is stupid." Hinata sighed. She stood silently as she watched Neji roll on the floor.
Suddenly Tenten appeared next to Hinata. She placed her hand on Hinata's shoulder. "Well there is one way I know..."
"And how is that?" Hinata asked.
"Well..." Tenten started in a devilish voice.
Meanwhile in Sasuke's dressing room...
Sasuke stared at his own reflection at the mirror. He had to find a way to grow his eyebrows so that the ladies would dig him. Growing his own eyebrow would take months. He had to find a way to grow them now. The racked his brain for ideas. There was only person that could help him the only problem was that he was well...scared of that person. Sasuke swallowed hard, he had to do it if not for himself but for all the girls. He had to talk to him. Sasuke had to talk to Gaara.
Sasuke made his way to Gaara's dressing room and reluctantly knocked on the door.
"Just a minute!" Gaara's muffled voice yelled from the room.
"Yes!" Gaara open the door in a frenzy. When Gaara saw it was Sasuke his eyes started to grow wide.
"Did you change your brushing your eyebrows?" Gaara asked enthusiastically.
"Uhh...no...but I do want to ask you a favor..." Sasuke said slowly.
"Please come in." Gaara opened his dressing wide open and escorted Sasuke in.
Sasuke reluctantly followed Gaara into his dressing room. Gaara signaled for Sasuke to sit on a brown chair facing him. It was the one of the strangest places that Sasuke that ever been. One corner of his room was a sandbox and it looked like Gaara was in the middle of making a sand castle. In the other side of the room was closet and some a big wall mirror. On the table in front of the mirror was a big black case.
"So what favor did you exactly want to ask?" A blushing Gaara asked.
Sasuke swallowed hard and decided he should just come out with it. "Gaara, Can I borrow some eyeliner!"
Gaara stared at Sasuke on his face was a confused expression. "Eyeliner? Why?"
"Well it's kind of personal. So can I?" Sasuke asked hopefully.
"Well I guess you can." Gaara walked over the table next to his mirror. He quickly unlatched the black case and opened it. It was one of the most amazing things that Sasuke had ever seen. In the case was rows and rows eyebrow pencils. "OK Sasuke. What color do you want I have 386 different colors. I have Charcoal black, rainbow black, ebony black, Help me I'm dying black, midnight black, dark black, black marble, Tickle-me-black, black oblivion..."
* * *
SailorStar9: What color eyeliner will Sasuke pick? Will Tenten and Hinata ever get Neji to the set? Who will Naruto ask advice from? Will Lee ever get his eyebrows brushed? Well, the World Youth arc is done; next stop, the International Cup.
38. Christmas Day Special
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 36 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 37: Christmas Day Special
* * *
Time passes...
"We're early." Genzo told his partner as the pair stepped into the gymnasium which doubled as the dance hall.
"And the theme of the Graduation Dance is..." Ami's voice trailed off as she blinked at the numerous green and white decorations that were plastered all over the walls, a full-grown Christmas tree completed the setting.
"Christmas Day." Genzo finished, sighing. "I swear the school committee did this on purpose; putting the Graduation Dance on the same day as Christmas Day."
Just then, the music came on, and before anyone knew what happened, Genzo had already dragged Ami to the dance floor.
"You do know you're making us look bad." Ami commented, when Genzo pulled her close for the slow dance number.
Genzo smirked at her, "It's very obvious, Nymph; and you look incredibly stunning tonight."
"Sweet talker." Ami scolded mildly.
"Uh hm." Genzo mumbled, still holding her close. It was not long before the couple grew accustomed to the song rhythm.
Meanwhile, Yuna and Takasa were growling jealously at the pair, as mutterings all over commented on what a perfect couple they'd make.
Three dances later, Ami sank onto a nearby chair in exhaustion. Her Starfire Gem glowed as she remembered what had happened to one Tsukino Usagi. Apparently, the Moon Princess' regret over killing Tuxedo Kaman was quickly overridden by her anger over the 'loss' of the Ginzuishou and its power. The enraged Princess had somehow gotten it into her head that if she challenged the Planetary Senshi and killed them, she would be able to recreate the Ginzuishou once more and rule the Universe.
* * *
"_The throne of the Universe is mine." Moon roared. "The throne was rightfully mine! Because only the strong can lead! My mother was the strongest, not even your parents could defeat her. She passed her teachings to me because she saw my strength. I deserve to rule! This world will belong to me. The Solar System, the stellar systems, the people, they will all bow to me. I grow tired of you servants."_
"_Green is definitely your color; it shows how pathetic you are!" Mars sneered. "I'm glad we managed to retrieve all of our powers."_
"_The throne was mine! Your powers are mine!"_
"_You may have been the strongest, but your ways would have led to the Solar System's destruction. You are too much like that fool, Selenity. She never once thought of the Solar System, only her own ambition!" Pluto snapped._
"_Don't you dare speak of my mother! She was a great leader!" Moon shouted._
"_Pluto, it is useless. She has made her choice. Though it pains me, she must be dealt with." Mercury voiced._
"_Agreed." Uranus nodded and the Planetary Senshi powered up, all eight Senshi summoning their bestial avatars._
_A brief assault later, Moon gasped as her struggling stopped, Uranus' Storm Giant having dealt with the final blow._
_Uranus' __Aesir__ released the Moon Senshi and Uranus looked into her eyes. There was no life in them and she knew that she was dead; the Planetary Blood Debt had been paid._
* * *
"Penny for your thoughts?" Genzo asked, returning with two cups of fruit punch.
"Nothing, really." Ami assured. "Just thinking about how deep the White Moon's power-hunger had ingrained. First Selenity, then her daughter. It made me wonder how Chibi-Usa would turn out if we had let Usagi lived."
"The brat's ambitions would have known no bounds, if her mother was to be Queen of the Universe." Genzo snorted, Ami having filled him in on the Neo-Princess' appearance.
"You're right." Ami sighed. "And Genzo, what are you doing?" she blinked when the goalkeeper went on one knee before her.
The said keeper reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, "After all this time together, I've realized that you are the person I would always want at my side. You've given me nothing but support, care, joy, happiness, and love. So I ask you this…" He opened the box to reveal a small ring. "This was the very ring that my father presented to my mother when he asked…To the girl I love with all my heart, will you marry me?"
Ami blinked, unable to believe her ears. But now, nothing doubted her. Her answer was solid from the very day they renewed the blood oath. She wanted to always be by his side, "Yes…yes, I'll marry you!" Tears were streaming down her eyes as she felt Genzo slide the ring on her finger.
"I knew you would, my Water Nymph." Genzo moved beside her, wiping away her tears of joy. "I knew you would." He moved close and placed his lips upon hers, pulling her close in a strong embrace.
* * *
SailorStar9: And that's a wrap. Read and review.
39. The Golden Age of Hope
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 37 goes up and only one review!"?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Kakashi: (off-screen) THAT'S AN OUT HOLE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!
SailorStar9: (flinches) Yeesh, what have you been teaching those girls?
Halibel: I despise weaklings, and the only ones stronger than me are Barragan and Stark.
SailorStar9: ah...the crotchety old man and the Bleach version of Shikamaru...wonder which one has a harder time getting it up...
Halibel: Besides, Tousen is obviously gay for Aizen, Gin's smile is just plain creepy and Aizen...
SailorStar9: Narcissists, who needs 'em?
Kakashi: (Whimpers in background) This can't possibly get any worse.
Apache: Tsukiagero...CIERVA!
Mira-Rose: Kuichirase...LEONA!
Sun-Sun: Shimekorose...ANACONDA!
Kakashi: (gazing up at the shadowy, leering forms of the released Fraccion)...mother...
Halibel: No (tilts his head off-screen) might want to go easier on him...he's up next.
Apache: (panting) Hai...Halibel-sama...
Mira-Rose: (Panting) We'll...take that...into...consideration...
Sun-Sun: (Even breathed, but flushing) although...he has lasted rather well...
Kakashi: I CAN'T FEEL MY CROTCH!
SailorStar9: Let it never be said I did nothing for Kakashi...nothing GOOD that is.
Halibel: You call making him go at it until It falls off a good thing?
SailorStar9: Hey, I never said I'd be NICE about it...
No cyclopses were harmed during the making of this opening statement...just manhandled by three VERY frustrated arrancar women.
Chapter 38: The Golden Age of Hope
* * *
Time passes, two years later...
"This is memorable." Ryo mused, the young adults having gathered on the Nankatsu school field. "The crew of the winner of the World Youth Cup, we had a fight here in elementary school."
"Yeah." Teppei agreed.
"Then, Tsubasa and Ami transferred here." Ryo added.
"Tsubasa is the best among us." Teppei admitted. "Those two will come back today, right?"
"Yes, today." Ryo confirmed.
"Ishizaki, you don't change." Teppei chided, the reunited males having a friendly tussle with the soccer ball.
"Shut up." Ryo pouted. "We haven't got together for a long time. Now we're all in JFC."
"Tsubasa, Hyuuga, and Wakabayashi are famous people." Teppei added.
"Is he coming back?" Mamoru inquired.
"He will come back." Ryo affirmed. "I told Sanae we will wait here; when he comes home, bring him here without a word. They are here." he turned to the gate.
"Everyone." Tsubasa greeted the group. "You are all back."
"Of course." Ryo replied. "Because you are back, we chose to meet you here. We have been waiting for a long time."
"That's right." Tsubasa agreed. "This is the place we started soccer."
"I knew it." Genzo voiced.
"Wakabayashi." the group turned.
"Long time no see, Tsubasa." Genzo greeted.
"Wakabayashi is also back, so..." Ryo trailed.
"Yup, he's one of the Japanese delegates." Ami supplied.
"You all are delegates?" Ryo whined. "Well, it is possible that Hyuuga and Misaki are back too. We stand on different grounds."
"That's not true." Tsubasa scolded. _I miss this._ He mused, as Ryo and Urabe argued.
"Some things never change." Ami noted amusedly.
"Alright, let's play soccer." Tsubasa declared. "We are all here, don't waste time chatting."
"Yeah." Genzo agreed. "Let's play a small game. Let's see what you have learnt."
"Alright." Ryo took to the field. "Tsubasa, pass the ball to me."
_From Brazil to Spain._ Sanae mused as the two females watched the game on the bench. _And then the Japanese delegate. Although he is getting stronger, Tsubasa is still Tsubasa. No, not just Tsubasa, everyone has not changed._
"Katagiri..." Ryo stopped in mid-step.
"I am here to tell you something." Katagiri sounded.
"You are here to tell us about the match with Holland?" Genzo concluded.
"That's right." Katagiri confirmed. "I am here to tell you something about the match."
"Something about the match?" Genzo echoed.
"I wish every one of you to be the Japanese delegates." Katagiri admitted. "Izawa, Taki, Kisugi, Morisaki, Takasugi ans Ishizaki; you will get the call in five days. Prepare for it."
"I am a delegate..." Ryo blinked as Katagiri drove off.
"What's wrong?" Genzo chided. "You just said you'll be a delegate and be active in the world."
"Let's defeat Holland." Tsubasa declared.
Sanae then noticed something, "Ami, where did you get that ring?" she noticed the plain silver band and knew that Ami never wore jewelry.
"Oh this? Genzo gave it to me. It belonged to his mother. He said that she would have wanted me to have it." Ami flushed as she showed the ring.
"This is nice." Sanae took a closer look and noticed an engraving. "Hmm, the words 'I love you forever'…THIS IS AN ENGAGEMENT RING!" she squealed.
The males froze at Sanae's outburst and Tsubasa looked at his cousin, and then looked back at Genzo, "You planned this, didn't you Wakabayashi?"
"Planned what?" Genzo smirked.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Three
"... ebony black, neon black, electric black, assassin black, lemon black, hearts and stars black, bloody black, midori black, the world is ending black, eternal black, darkness black, black hole black..."
"Yes! I want that one the last one you said!" Sasuke screamed. He couldn't take it anymore Gaara had spent the last 20 minutes listing every single color of eyeliner he had.
"You mean black hole black? Are you sure? But I still have 186 colors to go!" Gaara asked pouting.
"Yes! I'm sure!" Sasuke's patience was running thin.
"OK but you have to promise that you'll give it back!" Gaara pulled out a small golden tube from the black case.
"I promise to give it back." Sasuke eagerly put out his hand for the eyeliner and Gaara reluctantly dropped it in his hand.
Suddenly there came a thumping from the door.
"Just a minute!" Gaara yelled to the door as he got up from his chair. He walked over the door and opened it. Kankurou was standing in the doorway. He was wearing light blue pajamas with white bunnies on it. In his arms was a pink teddy bear and he had his thumb in his mouth.
"Gaara!" Kankurou squeaked as he ran in and hugged Gaara.
"What's wrong?" Gaara asked his brother gently.
"The boogieman is under my bed and he's keeping me awake!" Kankurou said in Gaara's arms.
""Don't worry, I'll fight to protect you from anything. Come on! I'll fight the boogieman!" Gaara assured Kankurou.
Kankurou looked up at his brother with sparkling eyes. "Really! You're so brave Gaara! I hope that one day I can be as brave as you!"
"I'm not brave. I just want to protect you. As a brother, it is my solemn duty to protect you from anything." Gaara hugged his brother tighter.
Sasuke watched the whole scene in disgust. "Uh...Bye you guys...I'll return the eyeliner as soon as possible..." Sasuke quickly left Gaara's room and made his way as far away from the siblings as possible.
Sasuke excitedly made his way back to his dressing room. "Sasuke!" On his way, somebody called his name.
Sasuke froze his tracks. He knew exactly who had called him, he had to hide before it was too late. He looked around for a place.
It was too late. "Sasuke! Sasuke! I've been looking all over for you!" It was Itachi.
"Itachi? So nice to see you!" Sasuke greeted with false joy.
"Even though you tied me up and tried to feed me to crocodiles the last time we were together. I forgive because your my brother! And brothers have to take care of each other! Oh, and I made you some muffins!" Itachi offered Sasuke a muffin from the tray he was holding.
"Oh yeah I'm sorry about that." Sasuke said in a forced laughed as he scratched the back of his neck. "Muffins? Well, no thank you."
"But they're blueberry...and I worked so hard to make them. I just thought that maybe you like some muffins baked with loved..." Itachi looked up at his brother. It looked like he was about to cry.
"OK fine. Just one." Sasuke reluctantly grabbed a muffin and took a small bite.
"Well?" Itachi asked anxiously.
Sasuke swallowed and looked up at his brother. "It's OK I guess..."
Itachi hugged Sasuke tightly. "You really like it! Now I planned the whole day for us! We are going to the zoo, the supermarket, the dry cleaners, the beauty parlor, the park..."
* * *
Meanwhile...
Naruto had to ask the smartest, wisest, most brilliant person he knew. And that person was Gai-sensei.
Naruto found him meditating on the floor outside of his dressing room. "Gai-sensei!"
"It is you. The grasshopper that hops through the fields looking for the single grain of corn that will fill his stomach." He didn't even open his eyes as he greeted Naruto.
Naruto sat besides the meditating teacher. "Umm...Gai-sensei...I have a problem and I was just wondering if you can help me?"
"The world is a cruel and evil place. There is little goodness and truth that stays. Yet once in a while someone is touched with true beauty and only those people shall understand the great wonder that is life." Gai answered.
"Well you see I like this girl and I don't know how I should tell her. What do you think I should do?" Naruto asked shyly.
"In the winter the sparrow flies to the tropical south to where it is warm. He flees and goes to place where he knows he can survive. Then when the snow melts and the new spring dawns he will return the place he calls home." Gai continued to meditate.
"You mean I should just tell her? Thanks for the great advice!" Naruto got up happily and went looking for Hinata.
Somewhere Hinata and Tenten are still trying to get Neji to the set...
"There is one way I know for sure to get Neji to the set." Tenten searched her pockets for something. Finally she pulled out a small silver tube of lip gloss. She applied some glitter pink lip gloss to her lips.
Hinata stared at Tenten with bewilderment. "You're not going to..."
"What? Of course I'm not going to kiss him! My lips were just chapped and why the heck would I kiss someone who has been rolling on the floor for the last five minutes." Tenten answered in a laugh.
Hinata shrugged. "Well at least now he doesn't have to get ready for the fight scene. I mean he's already dirty."
"Oh, as I was saying, there is one person who can probably get him to move." Tenten stared evilly at the boy still rolling on the floor.
"And who is that?" Hinata asked curiously.
"His name is Nara Shikamaru." Tenten answered.
* * *
SailorStar9: Will Gaara fight the boogie man under Kankurou's bed? What the heck is Gai-sensei saying? Will Sasuke escape the wrath of Itachi? Tune in next time...
40. Shingo Aoi Shows Up
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 38 goes up and only one review!"?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Apache: The gray one just left, Halibel-sama.
SailorStar9: Time to earn your porn, Kakashi...(notes Sun-Sun smiling) Hm?
Sun-Sun: (Holds up pilfered Tactics) He'll have to come back for it.
Women are scary, make note.
Chapter 39: Shingo Aoi Shows Up
* * *
In the training ground...
"Gather round." Katagiri declared. "I'm introducing a new candidate who will be training with you; Aoi Shingo. He comes from the Italian FC, Columdea."
"FC Columdea?" Hyuuga echoed.
"Do any of you know him?" Ryo inquired.
"Nice to meet you, I am Aoi Shingo." Aoi introduced himself. "It's wonderful to be a Japan delegate. It's okay if you don't know my name. I haven't attended any national competition up till now. But, I'll keep going. Aoi Shingo won't stop. I won't stop once I start off."
"Cut short the intro, brat." Ami chided. "Otherwise..." she thumbed to her back.
"Crap." Aoi paled as Minako came into view.
"Kid's weird, so that's why we have Mina here." Rei grinned. "Yo, Kojirou."
"Just like Ishizaki." Mamoru joked
"Hey Ken." Makoto smirked. "No exotic captures this time, Mina." she called.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Minako waved as she chased Aoi around the field. "No metal chains, no pitfalls and no deathtraps. Geez, you people make it sound like I want to kill the stupid brat."
"Well, you _did_ hog-tie him the last time." Hotaru deathpanned.
"I'm Oozora Tsubasa." Tsubasa came forward, once the cat-and-mouse chase ended.
"Nice to meet you." Aoi went into 'fan-boy' mode.
"Aoi, three seconds." Minako warned.
"Crap." Aoi immediately paled and the chase was on, _again_.
"So, you girls mind explaining this?" Genzo inquired.
"What, not happy to see us?" Ami joked.
"It's not that." Genzo blinked. "It's just..."
"Team organizer," Ami pointed to Rei. "Publicist." she nodded over to Minako. "Nutritionist." that was directed at Makoto. "Physician and her assistant." she pointed to herself and Hotaru raised her hand.
* * *
Later...
"What is the matter, Wakashimazu?" Genzo stopped in mid-warmup.
"We'll lose the match, no matter what we do." Wakashimazu remarked.
"What do you mean?" Genzo pressed.
"The coach told me that the goalkeeper is Wakabayashi." Wakashimazu replied. "So, I don't need to stay on the team."
"Wait a minute." Aoi voiced. "You can't give up. That is..." he stammered. "I mean, it's wonderful even if you're just a delegate."
"Don't act as if you understand." Wakashimazu barked. "My goal is to be the best goalkeeper in the Japan delegation."
"Wait, Wakashimazu!" Hyuuga fired his shot at the departing keeper.
"He stopped Hyuuga's shot with only one hand." Ryo gaped when Wakashimazu stopped the ball.
* * *
In his room...
"Who is he?" Wakashimazu mused as he watched the practice, Aoi missing his shot.
"One creates his own chance, isn't it?" Makoto started. "Even though the coach doesn't choose you as the goalkeeper, you can create your own chance, can't you? Do you know why Aoi Shingo has been chosen, though he has no actual experience? You were the first choice; having experience in the national competition and on the top of JF. But Aoi is not. He is here because he practices very hard. He chooses a difficult way. This, I heard from Mina when she and Katagiri scouted for potential players all over the world." and narrated Aoi's experiences in Italy. "Aoi got the chance to get in FC Columdea. He got in the team himself. Though there are many difficulties, he overcame all that, demonstrating his strength; the flexibility to overcome all difficulties and the passion for soccer. Determination and skill are the components of Japan's soccer players."
* * *
That night, on the field...
"Practicing shooting?" Wakashimazu asked as Aoi continued his training on the field. "I'll be the goalkeeper." he put on his gloves.
* * *
In the gathering hall...
"What are you looking at, Tsubasa?" Ryo asked, spotting Tsubasa looking out of the window. "Wakashimazu, Aoi." he blinked, following Tsubasa's gaze.
"He practiced very hard in Italy." Hotaru voiced. "Mina told us girls. He practiced double to triple times more than the others."
"Just looking in his eyes, I already know how much he likes soccer." Minako added.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he runs on Energizer batteries." Hotaru joked.
"That's bad, Hotaru, real bad." Ami chuckled.
"I was like him." Ryo admitted.
"Heading to Italy alone, he is amazing." Matsuyama noted.
"You understand why he is chosen, don't you?" Misugi added.
"We can't lose to him." Tsubasa declared.
"Hey, where's Mako?" Minako looked around for the missing Jovian Senshi.
"Where else?" Ami smiled, pointing to the field, Makoto already at the bench, two water bottles in hand when the group heard the door slam shut. "Hyuuga, what did you say to Rei?" she asked.
"Why is it _always_ something I said?" Hyuuga argued, the three girls leveling _the look_ at him. "Fine." he relented. "I just asked her what's bugging her, that's all."
"Hyuuga, you _do_ realize that we females tend to have unexplained mood swings during _certain_ number of days in a month, right?" Minako reminded.
"Understatement." Soda muttered.
"What was that?" Minako glared.
"In short, Hyuuga, Rei's PMS-ing." Ami grinned. "Give her about half an hour to calm down, then put down your manly pride and apologize."
"And you'd better be careful phasing your apology." Hotaru smirked. "I'd _really_ hate to have you castrated."
At that, the males paled instantly; now they had to deal with _five_ PMS-ing females each month.
* * *
The next day...
"Supervisor, coach." Wakashimazu approached. "I am sorry I didn't come to practice."
"Let's begin!" the coach declared.
"Now that the guys are busy, let's get to work, shall we?" Minako told the girls. "Get back to your stations, ladies. Chop, chop! Mako! Do you need any help?"
"No!" the girls chorused.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Four
Naruto happily walked around the set looking for Hinata. With his new found confidence he promised to himself that he would finally tell Hinata that he loved her. As he walked around the set he spotted Kakashi-sensei.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto yelled at the silver haired ninja.
"Why it's one of may favorite students, Naruto!" Kakashi smiled an evil smile as the blonde approached. _Now I've got him! He escaped my last plan, but he won't escape this time! Not when I have devised my plan to take over the world! _
"Have you seen Hinata anywhere?" Naruto asked catching his breath.
"Hahahahahahahaha..." Kakashi laughed like a maniac. _My evil plan to conquer the world 1 failed but my evil plan to conquer the world 2 will surely succeed! _
"Hahahahahahhaha..." Naruto joined in on the laughing.
"Stop that!" Kakashi snapped at Naruto, he quickly obeyed. "Hahahahahahaha...cough...What were you saying?"
"So have you seen Hinata?" Naruto asked again.
"Hinata you say? I'm sorry no." The silver haired ninja answered. _Don't worry Naruto you won't live long enough to see Hinata. Not when I have finished with you! World domination! But first I must kill everyone on the set! Why? Because it's part of the plan! The plan to conquer the world 2!_
"I think that's Hinata over there!" Kakashi pointed behind Naruto's back.
Naruto turned around to look. He searched frantically in the direction that Kakashi had pointed to. "Where? Where? Over where?" _I've got you now Naruto! _Kakashi hovered over Naruto ready to grab him by the neck and choke the life out of him.
Suddenly Naruto turned around. Kakashi quickly hid his hands behind is back as Naruto turned around. "That's not her Kakashi-sensei. That's Kiba!"
"Why it is! My mistake." Kakashi laughed nervously. _I was so close! Naruto I will get you when you least expect it! _
"Thanks Kakashi-sensei but I really need to find Hinata!" Naruto ran away waving.
Kakashi waved back until Naruto was out of sight. _Naruto I will get you one day. But for now I'll work on eliminating someone else! Now where in the world can Sakura be._
Somewhere at the other side of the Naruto set...
"Shikamaru?" Hinata asked confused.
"Yes, if you really want Neji to stop rolling on the floor we have to find Shikamaru." Tenten grabbed Hinata's hand and pulled her towards a hallway. The hallway was aligned with doors. Each door had a golden star and a name on it. She stopped at the door at the end of the hall.
"Shikamaru!" Tenten yelled as he knocked on the door rapidly.
"I'll be there in a second!" Shikamaru's voice replied behind the door.
"Do you really think this is a good a idea?" Hinata asked Tenten.
"Of course it is! Just leave it to me!" Tenten assured.
Shikamaru opened the door, smiling. "Why hello! If it isn't Tenten and Hinata! My, both of you look really swell! Why don't you two come in!"
He opened the door and let the two girls enter his room. It was Hinata's first time in Shikamaru's room and she didn't know what to expect. Her mouth dropped open as she entered. The floor was covered with a plush cream colored carpet. The walls were lined with white wallpaper covered with pink hearts. On one side of the room was a pale blue couch and a heart shaped coffee table made of wood. Flower pots with exotic plants decorated the room and the smell of lavender lingered in the air. Shikamaru signaled for them to sit on the couch.
"May I get you some tea?" Shikamaru politely offered.
"No time actually we are here to ask you for a favor." Tenten replied smiling.
"Gee, I'll see if I can help you any way." Shikamaru smiled.
"Actually Neji wants to talk to you. And you know he's a bit shy and all so...he got us to ask you!" Tenten exclaimed.
"Neji! Why didn't you say so! If it's him then I'll be willing to talk to him. Please wait here a minute!" Shikamaru happily left them and entered the closet.
"How exactly is he going to get Neji to the set?" Hinata whispered at Tenten.
Tenten shrugged to herself. "Neji fears him."
Hinata stared at the closet where Shikamaru entered. She crossed her arms across her chest and mumbled to herself. "I think I'm starting to fear him too."
"Here it is!" Shikamaru finally emerged from the closet. "Isn't it lovely!" Shikamaru held up a beautiful yellow scarf embroidered with the initials NH.
"It's great come on let's go! We don't want to keep Neji waiting!" Tenten and Hinata got up form the couch and exited the room followed by Shikamaru who was holding the yellow scarf.
* * *
Meanwhile...
"...the bookstore, the pet shop, the flower shop, the carnival, and Iots of others!" Itachi exclaimed as he held Sasuke tighter.
"But...uh..." Sasuke racked his brain for an excuse. "I gotta Help Gaara fight the boogieman under Kankurou's bed!"
"The boogieman? Don't be silly little brother! Now come let's go! Don't you want to spend the day with your big brother!" Itachi stopped hugging Sasuke and grabbed his hand. He led Sasuke towards the exit of the Naruto set.
"Itachi look it's a giant green polka-dotted kangaroo!" Sasuke yelled as he pointed behind Itachi.
"Why that's silly giant green polka-dotted kangaroos don't exist!" Itachi laughed.
"A giant green polka-dotted kangaroo eating your blueberry muffins!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"Really? Where? Where is it?" Itachi searched the direction that Sasuke pointed to. Sasuke grabbed a nearby flower pot and hit it hard on his brother's head. Itachi fell on the floor unconscious.
"I'm sorry Itachi...OK maybe I'm not! But sweet dreams brother-dearest!" Sasuke exclaimed to his unconscious brother. He quickly ran back to his dressing room now that he had the eyeliner from Gaara his plan to make the ladies dig him would surely succeed.
Sasuke finally made it to his dressing room panting. There he locked the door and sat behind his wall mirror. Sasuke excitedly opened the tube of eyeliner that Gaara had lent him. Slowly and carefully he applied the eyeliner to his eyebrows until they resembled Lee's eyebrows. When he finished he stared at his work. Now the girls wouldn't be able to resist him.
* * *
SailorStar9: Will Kakashi kill everyone? Will Naruto find Hinata? Will Sasuke's new eyebrows make the girls dig him? Will Shikamaru finally get Neji to the set? Tune in next time...
41. The New Japan National Team!
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 39 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Halibel: Why is it taking so long?
SailorStar9: Pedo-Hebi wanted to get his hair done.
Kakashi: *Busting on the scene* WHERE IS ZE PRECIOUSSSSSS?
Apache: *Holds up papers* Right here big boy, come and gettim-!
Halibel: *Quirking eyebrow as Kakashi pounces on her Fraccionne and starts tearing into them like a rabid wolverine*...
SailorStar9: Amazing what men will do for Pron.
Apache: So...full...
Mira Rose: Every...angle...
Sun-Sun: Four...hours...
SailorStar9: Wow...he really wanted that book back, huh?
Halibel: *Eyes glowing* Get him back here...NAOW!
Chapter 40: The New Japan National Team!
* * *
The next day, the friendly match against Holland started, with Japan kicking off.
_The opponent is Holland._ Tsubasa led the attack. _We have to attack before they take action._
_Tsubasa, don't interfere._ Hyuuga mused. _Let me shoot._
Tsubasa made his pass to Misaki, who then returned the pass.
"Tsubasa, pass." Hyuuga barked, taking the lead.
"Alright." Tsubasa bypassed the Holland defenders. "Hyuuga." he made his pass.
"Take this, Holland." Hyuuga readied his shot. "Get out of my way." he snapped as a defender moved in to stop him. "What?" he gaped when the defender blocked out the shot with his stomach.
Misaki cut in, stealing the ball, only to have Kustapu knocked him off his feet, the defender reclaiming the ball. Kustapu then made a long pass to the forwards, forcing the Japan team to rush back.
"Keep the defense line." Genzo instructed.
"Right." Ryo nodded as he, Jito and Soda came forth to stop William.
"Be careful." Misaki warned, returning to the Japan field. "Damn." he cursed, William having knocked him over, the Holland striker heading straight for the goalpost.
"I'll stop you." Jito swore.
William smirked and made a pass over to Earl Berrut.
Genzo dived, saving the ball when Earl made his shot.
"Alright, Wakabayashi." Tsubasa caught the pass.
"Tsubasa, watch out." Misaki warned, as William tackled Tsubasa to the ground.
"Taki, block tackle." Genzo barked.
William snorted and jumped, dodging Taki and Nita's slide-tackle and made his shot in mid-air.
Genzo reacted, knocking the ball off, only to have Berru Heart reclaim the ball, sending the ball into the undefended net.
Holland was relentless in their assault, sending wave after wave of attack towards the Japan goalpost, Genzo saving each and every shot.
"Hyuuga!" Genzo sent the last saved ball out.
"You want revenge?" William taunted the Japan striker. "I can give you a chance."
"That's what I want." Hyuuga retorted, both strikers decking it out on the field.
"Not good enough, Hyuuga." William stole the ball. "Right." he reclaimed the passed out ball, one of the forwards blocking off Taki.
"Ishizaki, Soda, Jito!" Matsuyama barked, all four defenders closing in to block out Holland's attack.
"I won't let you!" Tsubasa slid in, stealing the ball, only to find himself heavily marked.
Earl reclaimed the ball and passed it over to William.
"William!" Berru barked.
William made the pass and Berru fired his shot.
Tsubasa reacted, clearing the ball.
Holland earned the throw-in, the match restarting as Japan fought to dissimulate the attack.
Genzo dived, blocking off William's shot.
* * *
On the bench...
"This is not good for the heart." Aoi whined. "Coach, I can't stand to see Japan in such a crisis."
"Before 45 minutes are over, no one is to intervene." the coach insisted.
"Aoi, I feel the same." Mitsugi agreed.
"But now, the most important thing is to observe their actions and make a good plan for Japan to fight back in the second half." Rei added.
"That's our job." Mitsugi remarked. "There must be some clues."
* * *
On the field...
"It's over." William declared, slide-tackling Tsubasa to claim the ball.
"Hyuuga!" Tsubasa made his pass in mid-air.
_If I can't rid of this guy, I can't made the shot._ Hyuuga growled, Kustapu blocking his path. _If 'Tiger Shot won't work,, how is this?_ He sent the ball flying over Kustapu's head, only to have the keeper save the shot, as just the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Five
"But I want the right one!" Sakura yelled at Ino. The two had been going at it for the last 30 minutes arguing over who would brush Lee's eyebrows.
"But I thought you wanted the left one!" Ino screamed angrily, eyes popping out.
"You get the left one and I get the right one. Let's settle it at that." Sakura snapped at her platinum blonde rival.
"That's not fair!" Ino protested. She was just about ready to strangle Sakura.
"Ino find Shikamaru and Chouji! Neji and Hinata are taking so long. We'll just do your scene first!"
Sakura smiled evilly at Ino. "Well the director's calling you!" I guess I'll have to brush Lee's eyebrows all myself!" The pink haired Ninja laughed triumphantly.
Ino stuck her tongue out at Sakura in return. "We'll just see next time!" Reluctantly the platinum blonde ninja went about looking for her teammates.
"Lee are you ready!" Sakura squealed happily. "Huh? Where'd he go?" Ino and Sakura had been fighting so long that they hadn't notice that Lee had already left them.
Sakura searched frantically for Lee. The only other person around was Temari, she was sitting on a chair reading a magazine. "Hey! Temari! Did you see where Lee went?"
Temari lazily looked up from her magazine. "Lee? He left about ten minutes ago. He went that way towards Sasuke's dressing room." She pointed to where Lee went and then resumed reading her magazine.
"Thanks!" Sakura thanked Temari and then quickly made her way towards Sasuke's dressing room.
As Sakura made her way, someone called her. "Sakura!" The pink haired ninja stopped in her tracks and turned around to see who called her. Standing behind her was her silver haired teacher, Kakashi. _I've got you now Sakura. You'll never escape my plan! I will eliminate you! This is the end for you!_
* * *
Somewhere else...
"It's under there!" Kankurou squeaked at his red haired brother as he pointed to his bed. Gaara stared at the bed covered with a green dinosaur bed sheet and gulped. He had promised to his brother that he would fight the boogieman under his bed, there was no turning back.
"Don't worry Kankurou! I'll fight the boogieman and make sure he never bothers you again." Gaara assured Kankurou even though he wasn't so sure himself. "You stay here and I'll you know check it out."
Gaara slowly made his way towards his brother's bed. With all his courage, he grabbed the corner of the bed sheet. He gulped and with one swift movement lifted the bed sheet. The red haired ninja took a deep breathe and stuck his head under the bed. Suddenly Gaara was jerked under the bed.
Gaara screamed like a little girl. "OH MY GOSH! I"M GONNA DIE!" Gaara's muffled screams filled the whole room.
Kankurou stared in horror at his bed that was shaking and jerking violently. Kankurou was starting to panic there was only one thing to do. "Mommy. I want my mommy." Kankurou rolled up in a ball in the corner of the room and started to cry for his mommy. He tried to block out his brother's screams.
Suddenly a struggling Gaara emerged from under the bed. His clothes were all ripped, his hair was a mess, and dirt covered his face and body. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" He ran out of the room screaming his head off.
"Gaara, don't leave me!" Kankurou yelled as he quickly followed his screaming brother.
Meanwhile...
* * *
Shikamaru, Tenten, and Hinata made their way to where Neji was last rolling. They found the paranoid boy rolled up in a ball rocking back and forth in a dark corner.
"Here we are and look it's Neji!" Tenten pointed to the dark corner.
"Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O...and on his farm he had some ducks E-I-E-I-O...with a quack quack here..." Neji sang quietly to himself.
"My, our Neji really does have a swell singing voice." Shikamaru commented at Hinata and Tenten as he listened to Neji quack.
"...quack quack there, here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack quack..." Neji continued.
Quickly he made his way to where Neji was singing. "Neji! I made this just for you!" Shikamaru said as he held up the scarf.
Neji stopped his singing and stared hard at Shikamaru and the scarf. "Shi...Shika...Shikamaru!" He screamed and started to claw at the wall behind him, trying to escape.
"I made it just for you and it even has your initials!" Shikamaru wrapped the scarf around tightly around Neji's neck. Maybe a little too tight. The scarf was wrapped so tightly that Neji's eyes were popping out and he was having a hard time breathing.
Neji stopped scratching the wall behind him and started to claw at the yellow scarf that was choking him. "Help me! Aaaaaahhhhhhh!" Neji managed to scream. He ended up on the floor wrestling with the piece of yellow clothes around his neck. "Get it off! Get if off!" He choked out with great difficulty.
"You like it you really like it!" Shikamaru exclaimed happily as he watched Neji roll on the floor.
"How is this suppose to get Neji to the stage again?" Hinata asked as she watched Neji rolling on the floor.
Tenten shrugged and turned her attention from Neji to Hinata. "I don't know...I just thought that maybe Shikamaru could chase Neji to the stage or something."
"I guess there's only one thing left to do." Hinata said to Tenten.
"Leave Neji and Shikamaru then go out for coffee?" Tenten answered calmly.
"I was going to say slap Neji and drag him unconscious to the stage, but that sounds good too." With that Tenten and Hinata left the Neji and Shikamaru and headed for the stage exit.
* * *
SailorStar9: Will Neji be choked to death? What the heck is under Kankorou's bed? What does Kakashi have planned for Sakura? Tune in next time..
42. The Second Half Starts Off
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 40 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Halibel: *Walks in, resurrection form, looking...satisfied* Morning Pervert.
Kakashi: *From Bedroom* MY CROTCH!
SailorStar9: Hey, *eyes bedroom door* He still breathing in there?
Kakashi: *From Bedroom* THE TEETH!
Halibel: *Smirks...displaying a mouth of shark teeth that weren't there a second ago*
SailorStar9:...Moving on! No Jounins were horribly mauled through Kinky Arrancar Sex in the production of this chapter.
Kakashi: SHE LIES!
Halibel: By the way... where is the slacker?
SailorStar9: Recovering in the hospital...why?
-Konoha Shinobi Hospital, in a room the staff jokingly refer to as 'Kakashi's Lovely Suite'-
Kakashi: *Eyes snap open in fear, eying the shadows as several female giggles fill the air*
Kakashi: Oh no...not here...not again!
*The bedsheets rises, Kakashi's eyes widening as he rips the cover back to find Sun-Sun smiling up at him in her resurrection form*
Apache: *In resurrection form* Hey there *Smirks as Sun-Sun coils her tail around his legs, even as Mira-Rose holds down his shoulders* Round two cyclops.
Kakashi: I NEED AN ADULT!
Chapter 40: The Second Half Starts Off
* * *
The second half started, with Misugi replacing Soda on the field.
"Let's go." William told his teammates as the whistle sounded.
Tsubasa quickly stole Holland's ball, only to find himself marked heavily. Finding a gap, he made a pass to Hyuuga.
"How can you stop me?" Hyuuga growled, glaring at William who had knocked him off. "Taki." he blinked when the mid-fielder stole the ball.
Taki made his pass over to Misaki.
_We won't lose this game._ Misaki swore, penetrating deeper into the Holland defense. _We must win it._ Before wincing when he was tripped over, Holland's mid-fielder claiming the ball.
"Stop them!" Nita barked as he and Taki closed in on the approaching Holland attackers.
"I won't let you through." Matsuyama swore, the Holland players having bypassed Nita and Taki. _Here._ He noticed Holland's forward slowing down.
With a glance to the defenders on his sides, Misugi activated his off-side trap, just as William claimed the pass.
_It's your turn, Hyuuga._ Misugi readied the free kick.
_Misugi..._ Hyuuga caught the pass. _I..._ he started his dash. "William!" he headed straight for the Holland striker.
"What?" William gaped when Hyuuga made a pass, right in front of him.
"We can have a game the next time." Hyuuga remarked. "Japan's victory takes priority."
"Hyuuga." Tsubasa passed the ball out.
"Tsubasa." Hyuuga passed the ball back.
Ducking under the incoming William, Tsubasa caught the pass and fired the shot.
"I won't let you." the keeper ran out, saving the ball.
"Damn." Hyuuga cursed, the keeper having sent the ball out.
* * *
On the bench...
"Aoi." the coach called. "Go and prepare."
"Yes!" Aoi beamed. "I can go on any time." he revved up, replacing Taki.
* * *
On the field...
"Go, Aoi." Misugi shouted, tossing Aoi the throw-in.
Skidding to a stop before the approaching Holland forward, Aoi made a break for it towards the opening beside him.
"Don't look around." William snapped, knocking Aoi to the ground, stealing the ball. "It's annoying." jumping past, Nita, he bypassed Misaki easily and headed straight for the Japan goalpost when Aoi returned to the field. "Go away!" he blew Aoi off.
"Ow, ow, ow." Aoi winced.
"What?" William gasped, spotting the ball under Aoi's feet.
"I won't be fooled." Aoi winked. "Hyuuga." he made a long pass.
After a brief tussle, Holland reclaimed the ball, only to have Aoi steal the ball once again and pass to Tsubasa.
"Let's go, Shingo." Tsubasa told him.
"Yes." Aoi nodded and the pair headed straight for the Holland goal. "Tsubasa." he passed the ball back.
"Go, Shingo." Tsubasa made his pass.
"Leave it to me." Aoi jumped up after the ball, catching the falling ball between his feet. "Hyuuga." he got up on the center line. "He's so tall." he gaped at the dashing Kustapu.
Without a word, Kustapu knocked Aoi off and stole the ball.
"Damn!" Aoi jumped back to his feet. "Not yet." he headed back to the Japan field.
William skillfully dodged past Matsuyama, Misugi and Jito in succession, before heading straight for the Japan goal. "What?" he gaped, raising his leg to shoot before noticing Aoi charging back. "Why you!" he fired his shot right into Aoi's face, the impact slowing the ball's speed down and allowing Genzo to catch the ball.
"I am fine." Aoi jumped back to his feet.
"That so?" Genzo smirked. "Then, run!" he kicked the ball out.
"Yes!" Aoi beamed and following the ball's course.
Tsubasa and Misaki traded passes, before finding themselves marked.
_We don't have time._ Tsubasa mused. _Let's go, Misaki._
_Let's try it._ Misaki agreed and made an overhead pass to Tsubasa who had stepped out William's range.
Catching the pass, Tsubasa weaved through the players marking him and headed straight for the goal. _You won't stop me._ He swore, William standing before him and pulled off a 'Santana Turn', passing William. "Go!" he fired his 'Drive Shot'.
"What?" Kustapu gaped, trying to use a heading to clear the ball, when the ball changed its course, turning backwards.
With a roar, Hyuuga closed in with a 'Tiger Header' and forcing the goalkeeper to run out, before he passed the ball out.
"There!" Aoi dashed straight for the ball, pulling the equalizer shot via a header, he himself rolling into the net together with the ball.
The whistle then sounded, signaling the end of the match.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Six
Ino grumbled to herself as she searched the Naruto stage for her teammates. It was so unfair that Sakura got to spend time with Lee and she had to run around the set looking for Chouji and Shikamaru. Finally Ino spotted Chouji standing near the food table talking to Shino.
"I'm sure of it! I'm absolutely positive!" Shino insisted to Chouji.
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever." Chouji answered flatly. Chouji seemed extremely bored with whatever Shino had to say and he seemed to only be half-listening. "This is so annoying." Chouji grumbled to himself.
"Chouji!" Ino screamed at the fat boy as she approached the food table.
"Oh great, it's that troublesome Ino. She's probably here to tell me it's time for our scene. Then she's probably going to drag me all over this stupid stage and look for that idiot Shikamaru." Chouji grumbled to himself.
"Chouji! It's time for our scene and I need to drag you all over this stupid stage and look for that idiot Shikamaru!" Ino exclaimed as she finally reached the food table.
Before Chouji had a chance to tell Ino how troublesome she was, out of nowhere Kiba appeared. He was in such a hurry that he ran into the food table. The whole table flipped over and all the sandwiches, chips, fruits, drinks, and other food flew into the air. All the food landed on Chouji. Shino and Ino were able to avoid the rain of food.
"What exactly do you think your doing?" Chouji asked in monotone. The fat boy was drenched with soda, chips were on his shoulders, and a sandwich was sitting on his head.
Kiba was sitting on the floor staring up at the dirty boy. "Did you see George?" Kiba asked in a panic as he looked up at Chouji.
"George?" Chouji asked annoyed. He dusted the chips on his shoulders and removed the sandwich on his head.
"Yeah! He's my chicken. Did any if you see him?" The dog boy asked as he picked himself of the floor.
Ino thought to himself for a second. "What does he look like?" Ino asked Kiba.
"Well he's about a foot tall, sharp fangs, white feathers, red eyes, invisible." Kiba described.
Shino fixed his sunglasses and faced Kiba. "If your chicken George is missing that means only one thing."
Ino stared wide eyed at the fly boy. "What does it mean?" She asked curiously.
"It means vampires have invaded the Naruto set. They plan to take over the world and make us surrender our toothbrushes. The vampires are strong so they will use their special mind control powers and outrageously big buckets to make us give in. But their plans will not work with me, Aburame Shino, on the case." Suddenly Shino takes out a 2 feet long machine gun.
Kiba and Ino jumped at the sight of the weapon of mass destruction. Chouji just stood there with a frown. "What the heck are you going to do with that!" Ino screamed in terror.
Shino's glasses flashed as he turned to platinum blonde girl. "I'm going vampire hunting." A smirk crept onto his face as he slowly faced his companions he directed the machine gun at Ino, Chouji, and Kiba. "But first I need to make sure that you guys aren't vampires."
"What are you doing? Your not going to brutally murder us are you?" Kiba squeaked.
"I'm too pretty to die!" Ino shrieked as she and Kiba hug each other.
Shino just smiled and pressed the trigger. In an instant Chouji, Kiba, and Ino are drenched in water. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Shino ran away from the wet threesome while wielding his machine gun.
Chouji, Kiba, and Ino stood in stunned silence as they watched Shino run around the set carrying his machine gun.
"I thought he was going to shot us." Ino exclaimed in monotone as she stood in shock.
Chouji wiped his face with his hand and faced Ino. "It's holy water. That was what he was talking about before you came. Something about vampires using buckets to hypnotize people or something."
Finally Ino shrugged to herself and faced Chouji. "Let's go and find Shikamaru, Chouji." Chouji grumbled to himself as he went with Ino. A stunned Kiba stood alone, wet, and next to an upturned food table.
* * *
Meanwhile at the other side of the Naruto set...
"Kakashi-sensei? Do you need something?" Sakura smiled as she asked her silver haired teacher.
"I just wanted to give you this." Kakashi took out a small green bottle and handed it to the pink haired ninja. _When you drink the liquid your body will be filled with poison. The poison will slowly make you sick then after suffering your body will give in and you will surely die. Unless by some miracle you find the antidote. Which I made sure no one will be able to find._
Sakura stared down at the green bottle in her hands. "What is it, Kakashi-sensei?" She asked while tilting the bottle to one side. The slender green bottle was filled with a strange dark liquid and sealed with a cork.
"Uh...well...it's homemade cranberry juice! I just wanted to taste it. If it tastes good then tell me so I can made some more." Kakashi explained in a laugh as he scratched the back of his head nervously. _Drink the poison Sakura. You will be the first person I will eliminate. World Domination! My evil plan to conquer the world 2! Death Destruction! Mayhem!_
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura thanked her teacher as she pocketed the green bottle.
"Aren't you going to taste it?" Kakashi exclaimed as the pink haired ninja ran away.
"I'll drink it later! I just need to ask Sasuke if he saw Lee." Sakura yelled back as she made her way to Sasuke's dressing room. Temari had said that Lee had gone towards Sasuke's dressing room. Now she had to find Lee before Ino came back from doing her scene.
* * *
In Sasuke's dressing room...
Sasuke smiled at his work. His eyebrows now resembled Lee's. All the girls would like him and they wouldn't be able to resist him. Now it was time to show the world the new Uchiha Sasuke. He was going to show the world and all the girls his new look.
Sasuke hopped off his chair and happily made his way to his door. He opened it and stepped outside. Suddenly Shino carrying a machine gun appeared in front of him. This was his chance to ask someone about his new look.
Sasuke opened his mouth to speak but before he could say anything Shino had sent a spray of water his way. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Shino quickly ran away, leaving a soaked and surprised Sasuke.
"Stupid Shino." Sasuke muttered to himself as he wiped his face with his hand.
* * *
SailorStar9: Have vampires invaded the Naruto set? Will Sakura drink the poison and die? How long will Kiba stand in shock? Tune in next time...
43. Battle Against the Rivals
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 42 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: Normally, by this point, I'd have brutally maimed Kakashi in several sordid, crowd pleasing ways. But he's still...attending...to Halibel-sama's Fraccion, and I'm not getting in the way of their Nookie. Let's just say there's a reason Nnoitra's wearing that eye-patch...and it's not entirely because of his hollow hole.
Halibel: Too right, that's for my eyes only.
SailorStar9: To summarize: I won nothing, there, happy now?
Halibel: You review-whore.
SailorStar9: Guilty, as charged.
Kakashi: THAT'S AN OUT HOLE! AN OUT HO-...(sound reaches a pitch beyond human hearing)!
Sun-Sun: Oh my...he was right.
Chapter 42: Battle Against the Rivals
* * *
After the narrow draw against Holland, the team returned to their respective club teams for retraining; Misaki headed back to France, Genzo back to Germany and Aoi back to Italy. Tsubasa headed off to Hawaii to train with Masao and his teacher, whilst Hyuuga, Sawada and Wakashimazu went to pay their first sensei a visit in Okinawa.
* * *
Time passes...
"Tsubasa." Genzo took the long-distance call from Spain. "I thought the game is almost finished. So, what's the score?"
"I didn't make it." Tsubasa admitted.
"You said you didn't make it?" Genzo blinked. "You idiot!" he scolded. "You made that double hat trick and four secondary attacks. How dare you say you didn't make it? If the opposing goalkeeper heard that, he would be mad and cry."
"Sorry." Tsubasa chuckled. "But I made a promise with you already."
"Even in the Second League, it's still professional." Genzo reminded. "It's not so simple, but it should not stop you getting 10 goals and 10 assists in one game."
"That's true." Tsubasa noted.
"With your condition, you will reach soon." Genzo remarked. "It's a deal for completing the test in one year."
"Yeah, I will make it in the next game." Tsubasa promised.
"That's right, you have to get back to the Major League." Genzo agreed. "I will be the next one." he hung up the phone. "I won't let you score in tomorrow's game, Schneider.", snapping his wrist weight.
"That's the fifth one you broke this month, you know that?" Ami sighed, entering the living room with a glass bowl of salad.
"Sorry about that." Genzo turned to his _legally _-married wife.
"But that's Bas for you, always have to be the overachiever." Ami joked. "And I think your muscles are complaining. So, shut up and eat." she stabbed a cherry tomato with a fork.
"Yes madam." Genzo grinned, biting into the vegetable.
"Remind me again why I married you?" Ami's eyes twinkled in jest.
"Very funny." Genzo snorted, taking the bowl from her hands and settling it on the coffee table. "And as for the reminder..." he smirked and pulled his wife onto his lap.
What happened next is up to the readers' imagination because anything more will up the rating of this fic.
* * *
The next day...
The Gruenbald vs. Routburg match started with Gruenbald kicking off. It was not long before Schneider stole the ball. Bypassing the defenders, he paused before the penalty area.
_Wakabayashi, this is a greeting._ Schneider fired his shot.
Reading the ball's course, Genzo saved the ball.
"Only a greeting?" Genzo snorted. "You're too relaxed, Schneider. That's why we have to go all out from the beginning.", and sent the ball out from within the penalty area.
With the forwards heavily marked, Kaltz dashed towards the air-borne ball. Taking to the air, Kaltz sent the ball into the Routburg net.
_From now on, it's our time to see who's the winner._ Genzo mused.
_It's my fault._ Schneider admitted. _I think it's not necessary to greet you with sincerity. But let me return you this present. The game is just starting. I'll give you another one next time. You better get ready._ "To take the storm-like shoots." he barked, firing his shot minutes later.
"I won't let you." Genzo dived to save the ball.
"Being defeated by the score makes them more serious." Kaltz remarked, Genzo saving shot after shot.
_I won't let you shoot in._ Genzo promised, saving yet another ball.
_What?_ Schneider blinked when Kaltz kicked out the passed ball.
"After I got the goal, what I'll do is straightforward." Kaltz grinned. "To stick to you closely."
"Kaltz, I didn't think there would be a day that I would be marked by you." Schneider admitted.
"That's true." Kaltz agreed. "At that time, I also never thought about it, Schneider."
"At that time when we were in the Gruenbald Junior, we were undefeatable." Schneider reminisced. "Kaltz, you sink into the pass too deep." he reminded.
"What did you say?" Kaltz turned to find himself away from the goalpost.
"Batin, move the ball to the goal." Schneider told his teammate.
"I'll leave it to you." Batin made the pass, Schneider and Kaltz charging towards the flying ball.
_Come on, Schneider._ Genzo readied himself, catching the ball with a hand.
Junquan closed in, attempting to score a goal with Genzo rested his other hand on the still turning ball, the two players clashing head-on into the goal pillar.
The referee's whistle sounded, signaling a foul, before sounding a second time, marking the end of the first half.
After intermission, the second half started.
_This is..._ Genzo realized the change in strategy as Routburg made succession passes. _They change the tactic._ "What?" he gasped, his eyes following the ball, before noticing Junquan in front of him.
"There!" Junquan spotted a gap and fired his shot.
"Damn!" Genzo dived, knocking the ball off course.
"What will you do, Kaltz?" Schneider inquired, Routburg having earned the corner kick.
"Shut up." Kaltz snapped. "Damn!" he dashed towards the ball.
"I won't let you." Kaltz slid to block off Batin's pass to Junquan.
Spotting the pass to Schneider, Genzo made his move.
"Sorry, Gen-sen." Kaltz muttered, Schneider having evened the score. "It's because that I didn't keep a close watch on him."
"Everyone, the game is just starting right now." Genzo reminded. "We're only in a tie, we have not yet lost. The real match starts right now. What?" he gaped when Gruenbald swapped two players in at once to mark Batin and Junquan. _Damn._ He cursed, saving a shot. _Such a tactic of tying. What we should do in soccer is to try your best to get scores._
"Minba, pass the ball to me." Schneider broke free of Kaltz. "Let me shoot."
"I won't let you get the ball." Kaltz swore as Minba made the pass.
Genzo punched the falling ball off course before Schneider made his shot.
"It's a boring game." Schneider remarked, Gruenbald having cleared the ball. "Wakabayashi, although I expected to compete with you, I never knew why the result would be that. It's a pity."
"Kaltz." Genzo gaped when Kaltz hammered a kick to Schneider's thigh.
"Schneider, you speak too many fine words today." Kaltz barked. "Neither do we want to kick in such a eluded way."
"Stop, Kaltz." Genzo pulled him back.
"Let me go, Gen-sen." Kaltz insisted. "Schneider, a man like you who kicks the ball so carelessly, has no right to say that."
"Stop, Kaltz." Genzo warned. "I know how you feel, just calm down."
The referee sounded his whistle, pulling out a red card.
"I'm alright." Kaltz relented. "Sorry, Gen-sen."
* * *
Off-side...
Kaltz sank to the ground, having been sent off. "Sorry, Gen-sen. I caused trouble to the team."
"He doesn't blame you, Kaltz." Ami assured, handing the upset player a sports drink. "Genzo, he knows you didn't mean it."
"You came." Kaltz blinked, taking the can.
"Just came back from the gynecologist." Ami replied. "Guess we'll be holding the wedding sooner than we thought."
* * *
On the field...
"Don't give up." Genzo told the team. "Let them know the duel spirit of Gruenbald."
With his encouragement, Gruenbald fought over the ball against Routburg, dragging the game until injury time.
The ball fell underneath Schneider's feet and Schneider prepared to shoot.
Genzo dived, saving Schneider's outside-the-penalty-area shot. "Go!" he kicked the ball out.
The whistle sounded after Domado was knocked to the ground, signaling a foul.
"Move!" Genzo hollered, dashing out of the goalpost. "Go!" he took the free kick.
* * *
Off-side...
"Oh no." Ami gaped when Junquan blocked out the shot.
"Gen-sen, get back quickly." Kaltz barked.
On the field...
Taking the chance of the undefended goalpost, Schneider dashed towards the falling ball, just as Genzo hurried back to the goalpost.
_I won't give up_. Genzo dived towards the ball just as Schneider fired his shot. _I must block this shot._ His last ditch of effort proved useless when the ball shot into the net, millimeters away from his outstretched hand.
The whistle then sounded, signaling the end of the match and Routburg's victory.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Seven
Sakura jogged to Sasuke's dressing. It was vital that she spent time with before Ino came back. As the pink haired ninja quickly made her way to where the dressing rooms were she spotted a black heap on the floor. Puzzled, she bent down to investigate. It was Sasuke's older brother, Itachi. He was unconscious and next to him was a shattered flower vase.
Sakura grabbed hold of Itachi's collar and started to shake him frantically. "Hey! Hey! Wake up! Wake up!" Sakura slapped the unconscious guy trying to bring him back to his senses.
Itachi suddenly opened his eyes. "No more rubber duckies!" He screamed.
"Rubber duckies? What the heck are you talking about! I found you having a nap on the floor! Now exactly what were you doing?" Sakura let go Itachi and stood watching him.
Itachi knelt on the floor trying to remember what happened. "Sasuke. He hit me with a flower vase." Itachi said softly as he rubbed his sore head. "He said there was a green polka-dotted kangaroo eating my blueberry muffins!" He exclaimed as he picked himself off the floor.
"Rubber duckies? Green polka-dotted kangaroos? I think you lost your marbles!" Sakura exclaimed.
"My marbles?" Itachi searched his pockets. "Don't worry my marbles are right here!" Itachi opened his hand and revealed to Sakura four shiny marbles. "I still have my marbles! This is Chi Chi, Cha Cha, Chu Chu, and Sasuke!" Itachi exclaimed happily as he lifted each marble and showed them to Sakura.
Sakura stared at Itachi. "Right...well I got to see Sasuke." Sakura turned around and went on her way.
"Wait! If your going to Sasuke's room take me with you!" Itachi pleaded.
Sakura turned around, thought to herself, and shrugged. "I guess if you really want to." Itachi walked to where Sakura was and they headed to meet Sasuke.
* * *
Near the upturned food table...
A wet Kiba stood silent next to the messy table. He still couldn't forget his encounter with Shino's machine gun. He had seen his life flash before his eyes, before he was drenched with holy water.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Suddenly Gaara ran by screaming his head off.
"Wait for me!" Kankurou exclaimed as he chased after Gaara.
Gaara would have probably ran around the Naruto set the whole day, but as he ran near the food table he slipped on a banana. Gaara fell on the floor face down. Kankurou tried to stop himself but he was too late. He tripped over his brother and landed on top of him.
Kiba snapped out of his trance as Gaara and Kankurou fell to the floor. What the heck was Gaara screaming about? Kiba knelt in front of the Gaara and Kankurou. "Why were screaming?" He asked Gaara.
"The boogieman! He's under Kankurou's bed! He sucked me in! He tried to eat me!" Gaara yelled hysterically.
"The boogieman?" Kiba thought to himself as he helped Kankurou up.
"It was horrible!" Gaara exclaimed as he took Kiba's hand and pulled himself off of the floor.
"Oh my gosh! Maybe it's George!" Kiba yelled happily. "What did you see?"
"Actually I didn't see anything. I was too busy dying!" Gaara shouted wildly. He still seemed affected by the encounter with the boogieman.
"Let's go to Kankurou's room! Maybe the monster is my pet chicken George." Kiba said excitedly.
Worry filled Gaara's face as he looked at Kiba. "Are you sure? I mean it was horrible and scary!"
"Well if it's George then I'll be able to get him out of the bed! Then Kankurou won't be bothered by the boogieman again!" Kiba exclaimed.
Gaara stared at his brother. It was his duty to protect in brother and if that meant playing with the monster under his bed then he would do it. Gaara gulped to himself and nodded.
Gaara, Kankurou, and Kiba made their way to Kankurou's room. They had to find out if the boogieman was really Kiba's pet chicken George.
* * *
Some dark corner of the Naruto set...
Neji was still wrestling with the scarf that Shikamaru had made for him. "Get if off of me! Help!" He choked out.
As Shikamaru stood there he seemed to be filled with joy. He watched in admiration as Neji continued to roll on the floor. "I'm so glad that you liked my gift, Neji!"
"Shikamaru! Shikamaru!" Shikamaru turned to see who had called him. A wet Ino and Chouji was approaching him.
"Shikamaru it's time for our scene!" Ino yelled as she went to where Shikamaru was. An annoyed Chouji also made his way to where they were standing.
Ino stopped what she was saying when she saw Neji rolling in the floor. Chouji, Shikamaru, and Ino stood in a line facing Neji. There heads followed as Neji rolled. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Finally Ino got back to her senses. "Shikamaru I don't want to know what the heck to did to him, but we got to go to the stage right now."
"Yeah. I mean we've been looking around the stupid stage for you." Chouji grumbled.
Shikamaru stared at Ino and Chouji. "Alright then. Let's go!" The he turned his attention from his teammates to Neji. "Don't worry Neji I'll come back when I'm finished with my scene."
Ino, Chouji, and Shikamaru left the Neji and went to the stage.
Neji was left rolling on the floor still trying to get the scarf off his neck. "Help me! I can't breathe!" Neji screamed with difficulty. He continued to claw at the yellow scarf as he rolled on the floor.
Suddenly two dark figures approached the paranoid boy. "We might as well help him." Neji recognized that voice. It was Hinata and besides her was Tenten. They were both sipping ice mochas. Tenten shrugged, knelt down, and took off the scarf with one hard jerk.
"So what now?" Tenten asked as he stood up. Neji was lying on the floor panting. He could finally breathe properly.
Hinata took a another sip from her straw and contemplated on it. "Wanna slap him unconscious?" Hinata asked Tenten calmly.
"How about not." Tenten replied as she watched Neji on the floor.
Hinata shrugged as she played with her straw. "What are we going to do hypnotize him?" Hinata asked half-serious.
Tenten considered it and turned to Hinata. "How do you suppose we could do that?"
* * *
SailorStar9: What will happen on Itachi and Sakura's visit to Sasuke? Is George the boogieman? How will Tenten and Hinata hypnotize Neji? Tune in next time... Well, the anime part is over; next stop, the International Cup and the start of the manga part.
44. Manga World Youth: Book 5
SailorStar9: Relax guys, I'm not dead, just spent the last two days figuring how to start this. Anyhow, this is Chapter 43.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: And no more Kakashi-torture.
Kakashi: YAY!
SailorStar9: From me, that is. Instead...
Eva (from her 'Bonded' fic): "Behemoth!" (Summons Behemoth and the Titan slams his rock on the ground)
Kakashi: (Pales)
Chapter 43: Manga World Youth: Book 5
* * *
In the Japan National Stadium...
"Let's go!" Tsubasa led the injured team into the field, stealing the ball with a violent slide-tackle.
The Taipei team closed in on Tsubasa, intending to regain the ball.
Tsubasa jumped into the air to dodge the assault, launching his trademark 'Overhead Kick'. "Run, Taki!" he barked, sending the ball over.
Taki missed the pass and the ball rolled over to the side line.
With the rest of the team not in peak condition, Tsubasa was forced to fight the match alone.
"Damn, I can't stand these things." Mamoru pulled his bandages off. "We can't lose like this without doing anything. I'm counting on you, Tsubasa." he snatched the ball away, making a sliding-pass.
"My turn!" Ishizaki took the stage.
"Ishizaki!" Tsubasa made the pass over.
Ishizaki barely caught the pass. Finding Taki, Kisugi, Sorimachi and Tsubasa marked, he passed it back to the incoming Matsuyama.
"Go!" Matsuyama fired his 'Eagle Shot', pulling the equalizer. "There, Tsubasa." he made his pass over to Tsubasa who then shook free of his markers.
"Go!" Tsubasa made his shot, reversing the score 2-1 after 20 minutes into the second half.
* * *
The next day...
It was the day of the decisive match: Japan vs. Thailand.
In the locker room...
"I'll be straightforward about it, the champion, Thailand is in our group for the first round of the Asian preliminaries, and I didn't expect this." Gamo Minato, the All Japan Youth's coach, admitted.
"Look, in this match, our formation will focus on the defense." Rei lectured. "Tsubasa, on the first half, you will focus on defense too. You'll defend and defend again, to prevent the opponent from scoring. "Thailand will be disheartened for sure."
This will be our chance against the opponent." Minato took over Listen, we have no other option available against Thailand, they have an explosive attack power. Tsubasa, you will command the team and adapt it given the situation. Understood? You will be the coach on the field."
"Yes." Tsubasa nodded.
* * *
On the field...
"What?" the Japan's defenders gasped when the Konsawatto brothers started circulating the ball between them, instead of their trademark attacking.
Chana caught the pass and made a cross over to Faran, who then fed the ball forward to Sakun.
Sakun then proceeded to make the shot, only to have Tsubasa block off the ball.
Chana caught Faran's toss-in and headed straight for the Japan goalpost.
Takasugi made a charge forward to stop Chana, only to be awarded a foul and earning Thailand a free kick.
Sakun proceeded to make the shot, only to have Tsubasa and Ishizaki counter the shot, the team having been informed beforehand by Misaki's letter.
"Go, Sano!" Tsubasa passed the ball out.
"Right, Tsubasa." Sano charged forward.
"Over here, Sano." Tsubasa caught up.
"I leave it to you, Tsubasa." Sano passed the ball out, avoiding clashing with Bunnark.
Tsubasa caught the ball and made a beeline for the goalpost, scoring a goal with his 'Drive Shot'.
The whistle sounded and Tsubasa was forced back into defense.
"Tsubasa, go up." Matsuyama insisted. "The Konsawatto brothers are shocked since we defended against their sepak takraw shot, and they aren't participating in the attacks. We can defend against Thailand's attacks on our own. This is our chance to aim for a 2nd goal."
"Yes, understood." Tsubasa nodded. "I leave the defense to you, Matsuyama."
Matsuyama caught Mamoru's header and passed it over to Tsubasa.
After bypassing the Konsawatto brothers, Tsubasa headed straight for the goalpost, only to clash head-on with Bunnark.
The Thailand's team captain then hammered a kick into Tsubasa's stomach.
"Tsubasa's life, I have stopped it." Bunnark grinned.
With Tsubasa out, the Konsawatto brothers scored the equalizer with their 'Great Air Rolling Spike' attack.
"Die, Tsubasa!" Bunnark readied his finishing blow.
Tsubasa dodged the shot, the ball rolling off to the side.
"Go, Chana!" Sakun launched his brother over to the ball.
Chana claimed the ball before it reached the goal-line and headed it over to Faran.
Faran was about to make his 'Overhead Shot' when Misugi blocked off the shot. Making a last-minute decision, Faran punted the ball over to Sakun who scored a second goal with a diving shot.
The Thailand team's assault continued, Chana jumping once again at the 25th minute of the first half, faking his shot as he passed the ball over to Sakun.
"Eat my 'Scissors Spike'!" Sakun scored a third goal.
"Everyone defend, and pass it to me." Tsubasa instructed. "This is the only tactic we can use now."
"Fine, let's do that." Matsuyama agreed. "We took 3 goals, so we can't go on with the tactic that Coach Gamo explained before the match. Everyone will defend against Thailand's attack and counter with Tsubasa. This is the best way for us to fight right now."
That decided, the rest of the team fought hard against Thailand's assault, with Matsuyama finally getting the ball to Tsubasa.
"Go, 'Drive Shot'!" Tsubasa fired his shot straight into the incoming Bunnark, only to have Bunnark take on the shot effortlessly.
Both captains then shot up into the air for the ball, with Tsubasa claiming the ball.
"This is the perfect conclusion, Tsubasa." Bunnark smirked, licking off the blood dripping down his forehead, Tsubasa having crashed to the ground once again.
With Tsubasa taken out, Bunnark scored Thailand's fourth goal.
* * *
In the infirmary...
"Get up, Tsubasa." Genzo barked. "For how long are you going to sleep?"
_This voice..._ Tsubasa peered open his eyes. "Wakabayashi! What are you doing here?"
"I didn't come all this way from Germany to see Japan doing in an unpresentable match." Genzo chided. "Of course if I have the Japanese flag on my chest... it's because I came back to fight with you."
"Is this an illusion?" Tsubasa wondered. "But your injured hands..."
"What are you talking about, idiot?" Genzo snapped. "Quickly regain consciousness, Tsubasa. If we want to win the World Youth, All Japan Youth can't lose this match. Since we first met, I always believed that with you to attack, and me to defend, we would manage to change Japanese soccer. Right, Tsubasa?"
"Right!" Tsubasa got up.
* * *
On the field...
"Nice play, Morisaki." Genzo declared on the side, Morisaki having prevented Bunnark's shot.
"Wakabayashi, Tsubasa." Morisaki beamed.
* * *
On the bench...
"Wakabayashi..." Gamo blinked.
"The match is just beginning, Gamo." a four-month pregnant Ami stated. "Genzo is registered, use him for the remaining time if you want All Japan to win."
"Ami, you're..." Rei blinked at Ami's slightly bulging tummy.
"Yes, pregnant." Ami confirmed.
"We girls are _so_ going to have a baby shower." Rei remarked.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Eight
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Shino ran around the Naruto set carrying his machine gun and drenching random people. He stopped and looked around for someone to splash with holy water. Then he saw her. She was sitting just sitting there, so unaware of what he was doing. An evil smiled spread across Shino's face as he tip-toed slowly to his next victim. He fixed his machine gun on her and pressed the trigger.
Temari threw her magazine the air, backflipped out of her chair, and landed kneeling on the floor behind her chair. The spray of water missed her head by inches. "What do you think your doing?" She asked angrily as she stared at him narrow-eyed.
Shino stood straight and fixed his glasses. "'There are vampires on the Naruto set. I'm hunting to see if anyone here is one." She stared hard and Temari. He had bad feeling about her.
Temari stood up, while continuing to glare at Shino. "Well, I'm not one so why don't you go bother someone else."
Now he was positive. "Liar! You are a vampire!" Without a second thought Shino sent another spray of holy water towards the "vampire".
Temari jumped out of the way just in time. She was kneeling on the floor with her head down. As she lifted her head she smiled evilly at Shino. "How did you ever know?" With that fangs grew out of Temari's mouth. She licked her lips and picked herself off the floor.
"You'll never make me surrender my toothbrush!" Shino yelled. He got ready to send the third spray of water when he couldn't move. He tried to move but his body just wouldn't obey. "What did you do to me you dirty vampire!"
Temari just laughed evilly at him. "I thought you knew everything about us. Remember we have special mind control powers. Now I control your body!"
"Well what are you going to do to me now?" He yelled hysterically as he tried to move.
Temari continued to smile evilly at her victim. "The worst thing imaginable."
Suddenly Shino felt a strange sensation going through his body. It was moving by itself. Shino stared at his body in horror he was doing something so horrible words couldn't describe it. "Noooooooooooooooooooo!" Shino screamed. He put his left foot in. He put his left foot out. He put his left foot in and shock it all about. He was doing the hokey pokey and he turned himself around. That was what it was all about.
* * *
Meanwhile...
Sakura and Itachi made their way to Sasuke's dressing room. Then she saw it. It was horrible. Sasuke was standing outside his door. His face. His face was smeared with black.
Sakura made her way to him wide eyed. "Sasuke. If I had known then maybe I would have been a lot nicer to know. Why didn't you tell me!" She wrapped her arms around Sasuke and held him tightly.
Sasuke stood in complete shock. Had it worked? Was it his new eyebrows? What the heck was Sakura talking about? "Sakura...I..." He tried to speak but the words just wouldn't come out.
Sakura looked up with tears in her eyes. "Sasuke why didn't you tell you were dying!"
"I'm dying?" Sasuke asked surprised. Then he looked at his right hand. His hand was covered in black eyeliner. When Shino had soak him he had used his hand to wipe his face. The eyeliner must have smudged in when he wiped his face.
"If I only knew that you were dying from some incurable disease I would have been glad to run lines with you." Sakura exclaimed.
This is what he wanted wasn't it? He wouldn't let this chance slip by. He looked down Sakura sorrowfully. (Insert some sad corny music) "I'm sorry. I just didn't want to make you worry about me." He exclaimed dramatically as he looked into her eyes as she held her hand.
Suddenly Itachi grabbed his little brother and hugged him tightly. Tears were streaming down his face. "Sasuke! Why didn't you tell me about this!" Itachi was hugging Sasuke so tightly that he was having a hard time breathing.
"Too tight. Too tight." Sasuke managed to choke out. If Itachi wouldn't let go soon Sasuke would really be dead.
Finally Itachi released Sasuke. Sasuke placed his hands on his chest and tried to regulate his breathing. "You idiot." Sasuke coughed out.
"Oh no! Sasuke's having a hard time breathing." Sakura exclaimed in horror. "Here this will help!" He pulled Kakashi's cranberry juice out her pocket. Quickly she took of the cork and forced the strange liquid into Sasuke's mouth. After almost being choked to death there was little Sasuke could do to stop Sakura from pouring the strange liquid in his mouth.
"What the..." Sasuke started to feel a strange dizzy feeling and a strange warm sensation flowed throughout his entire body. His head was feeling light and he was starting to lose his balance. The world around him was spinning and everything looked blurry. What had Sakura made me drink? This was the last thing on Sasuke's mind before he feel into blackness.
* * *
Somewhere at the other side of the Naruto set...
There she was. Naruto stood watching her. Hinata was standing next to Tenten drinking an ice mocha. They were both staring down at a panting Neji and having a conversation.
Now all he had to remember was what Gai-sensei had told him earlier. What was it again? Something about grasshoppers in the winter that were returning to the place called home. No that wasn't right. It was people who are touched that search or grains in the south. That wasn't it either. It was about Sparrows hopping through fields trying to understand the great wonder of life. That was about right. Naruto summoned all his courage and approached Hinata.
"...umm...H-hi...Hinata..." Naruto announced in an extremely high girl voice.
Hinata and Tenten turned around at the greeting. When Hinata saw it was Naruto, she smiled to greet him. "Hello, Naruto. Wasn't there something that you had to tell me earlier?"
Naruto felt his hear beating faster and his mouth start to dry up. But this was his chance. His moment to tell Hinata what he really felt for her. All he had to do was remember what Gai-sensei said and everything would be all right. "Well...ummm...grasshoppers...returning to the place called home...and uh...trying to understand the wonder of life...uh...sparrows..." Naruto exclaimed incoherently.
Hinata and Tenten stared at Naruto blankly. What the heck was Naruto saying. "Maybe we should get Shikamaru to help us again." Tenten whispered to Hinata.
Hinata shot an "Are you crazy!" look at Tenten. Tenten just shrugged then decided that watching Neji panting was more interesting than listening to Naruto babble nonsense.
"I'm sorry...it was just that Gai-sensei...ummm advice...then you and I here...me...uh snow melts..." Naruto tired to apologize but again he had trouble forming complete sentences.
* * *
SailorStar9: When will Shino stop dancing the Hokey Pokey? Will Sasuke die? Will Naruto be able to pull himself together? Tune in next time...
45. Manga World Youth: Book 6
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 43 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Halibel: Now where's the wuss?
SailorStar9: (Shrugs and points back)
Halibel: (Wide-eyed and gaping as he watches Kakashi getting pulverized by Behemoth, Tao and Araknos as Eva and Team 7 looked on, popcorn in hand.)
Sasuke: (Winces) Are human bodies meant to _bend_ like that?
Eva: How would I know? Hey, Anko, you're up next.
Anko: Yay! (Turbo-charger on stand-by)
Chapter 44: Manga World Youth: Book 6
_
* * *
This bastard is quite stubborn._ Bunnark snorted when it was declared a change in goalkeepers.
"Remove the wall, it's in my way." Genzo told the defenders, having taken Morisaki's place.
* * *
On the bench...
"Mikami, Wakabayashi's hands, they're alright?" Minato inquired.
"He had some painkiller injections and has both solid tapings on both hands, in these circumstances, he will be able to punch." Ami answered. "However, he won't be able to catch the ball."
"What?" the team chorused.
* * *
On the field...
The Konsawatto brothers charged towards the ball, only to pass it backwards to Bunnark.
"What?" Tsubasa gasped when Bunnark made a forward pass in front.
The Konsawatto jumped, readying a triple 'Overhead Shot'.
"I'll defend All Japan's goal with the best of my ability, you won't be able to score anymore, Thailand Youth." Genzo swore, punching through the triplets. "Leave the defense to me,. You have to score one during the last 5 minutes of the first half, Tsubasa." he sent the ball out.
"Ok, Wakabayashi." Tsubasa caught the pass. Using Sano to complete the one-two, the continuous passes were intercepted by the Thailand team.
With the ball in hand, the Thailand team renewed their assault.
"I have it!" Sakun made his shot, only to be deflected by Genzo.
Chana took over with an 'Overhead Shot', Ishizaki tried to block off the ball with his trademark 'Face Block'. Genzo reacted, punching the ball away.
"These guys are persistent." Genzo growled as Faran renewed the attack in the air. Forward-somersaulting, he blocked off the ball.
Bunnark made a long pass to the Konsawatto brothers, Genzo punching the ball off before Sakun reached the ball. The ball rolled over to the sideline, just as Aoi picked up the fallen ball.
"Sorry for being late, everyone." Aoi declared. "Aoi Shingo arrived just now."
"Aoi, you've returned." the team gaped.
* * *
On the bench...
"Aoi, why are you here only now?" Minato barked.
"Sorry, Gamo, my flight in Italy was delayed." Aoi apologized. "Moreover, on the way here..."
"Ara, so the brat returns." Rei grinned.
"Enough chatter." Minato snapped. "Hurry and get on the field. Referee, substitution!"
"Gamo, what's my position?" Aoi thought to ask.
"You can move as you want." Minato replied. "But for your expiation, you must score one goal."
"Yes!" Aoi beamed.
* * *
On the field...
With Sano substituted, Thailand earned the throw-in, only to have Aoi steal the ball.
"Great Explosion of Mt. Fuji!" Aoi sent the ball into the air to prevent the Thailand players from claiming the ball. Trapping the falling ball, he dodged past his markers and headed out, passing the ball off to Tsubasa.
"Go, Aoi!" Tsubasa made a pass forward.
With a jumping volley, Aoi caught the pass, rolling into the net along with the ball.
Just then, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
Right at the start of the second half, Aoi claimed the ball and headed straight for Bunnark. "Let's go, Bunnark." he declared. "It's a duel."
"Aoi!" Tsubasa warned.
"Eat this, Bunnark." Aoi stated. "This is my new technique, the 'Right-Angle Feint'. Ah... hey!" he blinked, finding the ball missing from underneath his foot. "I haven't perfectly master this technique yet." he admitted.
Tsubasa cut in before Bunnark could clear the ball. "Let's go, Bunnark." he declared. "This time, I accept the one-on-one duel."
"Then, I'll use any means possible to stop you." Bunnark swore as Tsubasa bypassed him with his 'Santana Turn'.
Dodging Bunnark's arm swing, Tsubasa readied an 'Overhead Kick', just as Aoi came in with a jumping volley. With that, the pair scored a goal together.
"Ah, damn." Aoi muttered, Faran having cut in on him.
"Misugi," Genzo voiced, the Thailand team having taken onto the defensive. "The work of a libero is not just to stay in front of his goal."
"I know." Misugi replied.
Though heavily marked, Tsubasa forced his way through Thailand's defense.
"I'll stop your shot!" Bunnark closed in.
_Misugi!_ Tsubasa spotted the defender behind him and made a back-pass.
"I'll stop your shot!" Bunnark jumped into Misugi's ball course when the ball shot over his shoulder and curved straight into the net, pulling the equalizer.
"Go, Aoi." Tsubasa bypassed the Konsawatto brothers and made his pass.
"Like I'll let you!" Bunnark blocked Aoi's ball course.
"I won't give up." Aoi swore and renewed his attack, only to have Bunnark clear the ball, the younger player being blown off by the impact.
5 minutes and counting.
Faran made a pass to Sakun, who let the ball pass between his legs. Chana jumped over the ball, allowing it fly pass to Bunnark.
"There, I leave it to you!" Bunnark made a high pass.
"Go, Chana!" Faran and Sakun propelled their brother towards the ball.
"I'll score the victorious goal!" Chana sent the ball into the net.
Genzo reacted, diving to save the ball, his fingertips brushing against the ball. The ball hit the goalpost and was about to pass the goal-line when Aoi cut in, kicking the ball out.
Matsuyama caught the cleared ball, just as Aoi crashed his forehead onto the goalpost.
"This kind of thing is nothing at all." Aoi assured. "Moreover, we must score quickly." and rocketed off.
"I'm leaving it to you, Tsubasa." Matsuyama made his pass.
Tsubasa then passed the ball to Sorimachi who returned it. Tsubasa caught the returned pass and passed it off to the side, where Aoi had already speeding forward.
"Good, here!" Aoi made his shot beneath the goalkeeper's legs. "This is my special technique, the 'Nutmeg Shot'. No way!" he exclaimed when Chana deflected the shot.
"Not yet!" Tsubasa declared. "The match isn't over yet."
"Right, like Tsubasa said." Takasugi agreed, getting the toss-in. "The match is not over yet."
With the Thailand players closing in, Tsubasa made a 'Flying Drive Shot'. "Aoi, score!" he barked, the ball curving around.
"I won't let you score the victorious goal." Bunnark promised, closing in on the overturned Aoi.
"Here!" Aoi made a no trap roverciata on the ground, the ball shooting between Bunnark's legs, past the goalkeeper's fingertips and into the net, scoring Japan the reversal goal.
With that, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match.
* * *
The next day...
"Tsubasa's going back to Brazil again?" Ryo echoed. "Really, a pro doesn't have time to relax."
"Yeah, but I've realized something after yesterday's match." Tsubasa admitted. "It appears that I have neglected Asian soccer, but yesterday, Thailand taught me that there are many magnificent and strong teams in Asia. So, next time we must not be negligent in the second round. I'm going back to Brazil for our sake, to get stronger. Next time, I'll see you will be in August."
"Yeah, we'll resume our training today." Ryo nodded. "We'll be stronger too when you return. Hyuuga and Misaki will be back for the second round too."
"But, Tsubasa, you won't meet Angeo." Teppei teased.
"She waited, so lonely in Japan for you to come back." Ryo prodded.
"The'yre meeting at the airport." Ami supplied. Saving her cousin from further embarrassment. "And by the way Bas," her eyes twinkled. "You're the honorary godfather."
"Don't I have a say in this?" Tsubasa complained.
"Nope." Genzo grinned at his cousin-in-law.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Nine
Sasuke moaned painfully. He felt like he had been run over by a truck and then dragged 3 miles to a hospital. He couldn't move any part of his burning body. He weakly opened his eyes and tried to adjust his vision. His surroundings were blurry but he managed to see two blurry figures leaning over him. There was a blackish blob and a pinkish one.
"Sasuke? Sasuke? Are you alright?" Sasuke was sure that the voice belonged to Sakura.
"Oh no! Why? Why? Why did this have to happen to my Sasuke?" The second figure wept loudly. Without a doubt Sasuke knew that the cry belonged to his brother, Itachi.
Sasuke let out another painful moan. "Sakura? Sakura…I'm…fine…" Sasuke managed to choke out with a cough. But it was quite obvious with his coarse voice and endless coughing that he wasn't.
"Well if you're fine then I'll leave! I mean I do still have to find Lee! Bye!" With that the pink haired ninja hurried left the room.
"Sakura…uh…wait…" Sasuke tired calling out to Sakura but he was interrupted by an eruption of coughs. He even tried to get up from his bed, but he didn't even get up a few inches and his tired body fell back to the bed.
"Sasuke! Don't try to strain yourself!" Itachi cried. He quickly made his way to his brother's side. Itachi continued to cry hysterically. "Sasuke, why didn't you tell me you were dying?" He softly whispered.
Sasuke opened his mouth to make some rude, nasty comment but the only that came out was another fit of coughs. Why exactly did Sakura make him drink? But he didn't blame Sakura; she was only trying to help. Sasuke blamed Itachi for almost choking him to death.
Finally Itachi seemed to stop bawling. He smiled weakly at Sasuke and exclaimed. "Sasuke, since you're dying and I called some people to visit you."
Sasuke didn't even get time to react and the door of his bedroom burst open. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Why are you dying?" A booming voice cried. A figure leaned over Sasuke and continued to sob. "Sasuke do you recognize me? This is your uncle Kisame. Oh no, the poor boy doesn't even remember me!" Kisame continued to weep.
"There, There." Itachi comforted Kisame by patting him lightly on the back. "I mean it's not like I'm losing my brother or anything…" Itachi couldn't take it anymore he too started to cry again.
Kisame and Itachi hugged each other and sobbed wildly. "Why? Why did it have to be our Sasuke?"
The room was silent except for the low sobbing of Kisame and Itachi and Sasuke's heavy breathing. Then another voice spoke from the door. "I had to see if you really were dying, Sasuke-chan."
Sasuke froze. He knew exactly who that voice belonged to.
* * *
Somewhere near a panting paranoid boy…
"Uh, Hinata…bye…grains and fields…hehehe…got to go…" With that Naruto quickly left a confused Hinata before he could embarrass himself anymore.
Naruto ran behind a wall and caught his breathe. Why did he have to such an idiot? Why couldn't he just tell Hinata what he felt? Why?
"Having some girl problems are we, Naruto?" Naruto looked up to see who had just spoken to him.
"Leave me alone, Lee." Naruto replied weakly. He didn't want anyone witnessing his woe.
"Well if you really wanted I could help you. I could you know teach you everything I know about girls. I mean a lot of girls do like me you know." Lee offered calmly.
Naruto's face lit up. "Do you really mean that Lee?"
"Yeah, Of course I mean it." Lee smiled. "Welcome to Lee's Hunka Macho Lessons."
* * *
Meanwhile…
Gaara, Kiba, and Kankurou stood at the door of Kankurou's bedroom.
"It was right over, under that bed." Gaara squeaked as he pointed to Kankurou's bed. Kankurou fearfully hid behind his brother. Kiba smiled brightly as he stared at the bed.
"I'll just check it." Kiba exclaimed calmly as he headed towards Kankurou's bed. He lifted up the corner of Kankurou's bed and stuck his head in. Suddenly he was engulfed by the bed.
Gaara's eyes widened as he stared in horror bed. Kankurou closed his eyes and hid behind Gaara. What were they going to do?
Gaara was just about to call for help when Kiba called from under the bed. "Hey guys its ok. It's George. It's George my sharp fanged, red eyed, invisible chicken." Kiba giggled and laughed under Kankurou's bed.
Gaara and Kankurou sighed with relief. Then after a few more moments Kiba emerged from under the bed holding air. "Gaara, Kankurou meet my chicken George." Kiba held up his empty hand to show the invisible chicken.
Before Gaara didn't even have time to react and George gave out a ferocious growl and attacked Gaara. George bit Gaara's pants leg and brought him to the floor. Gaara screamed his head off. "Oh no! Please! I'm going to die again!"
Finally the red haired ninja managed to shake off the angry chicken. "Aaaaaaahhhhhh!" In a panic Gaara ran out of the room waving his arms like crazy and screaming.
"Gaara! Wait for me!" Kankurou yelled and ran after his brother and the crazy chicken.
"George!" Kiba yelled and ran after Kankurou, Gaara, and George.
"Please! I don't want to die!" Gaara shrieked like a madman. In his fright Gaara didn't see the 15 foot red brick wall in front of him.
"There you are George!" Finally Kiba managed to catch his chicken the exact moment Gaara ran straight into the brick wall.
"Gaara!" Kankurou cried in terror, running to his brother's side. "Gaara, Gaara, are you alright?" He tried to wake up his unconscious brother.
"Huh? What?" Gaara opened his eyes.
"Is he alright?" Kiba called to Kankurou. He stayed a good distance to make sure that George didn't get another chance to attack Gaara.
"Are you OK? How many pancakes did Temari have for breakfast? What is the speed of light? What color is my underwear? Gaara, are you alright?" Kankurou asked hysterically.
"Two; one blueberry and one chocolate chip, 299,792,458 meters per second or about 186,000 miles per second, and purple with green dinosaurs." Gaara answered weakly. "Gaara? Who's that? Where am I? Who are you? Who am I?"
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Kankurou yelled.
"What is it?" Kiba called, as he petted George from a distance.
"Gaara has…Gaara has…Gaara has appendicitis!" Kankurou cried.
* * *
SailorStar9: Gaara has appendicitis? Who is Sasuke's unknown visitor? Will Lee's Hunka Macho Lessons help Naruto? Tune in next time…
46. Manga World Youth: Book 8
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 44 goes up and only one review! Anyway for everyone's information, Gaara does have amnesia, Kankurou's just an idiot.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Eva: (Munches popcorn) This is getting entertaining.
Hinata: (Moans lustily) Naruto, get back in bed.
Naruto: Yes, madam. (Mutters) She's going to be the death of me one of these days.
Sasuke: (Wide-eyed and agape)
Eva: (Snickers) It's always the silent ones.
Chapter 45: Manga World Youth: Book 8
* * *
Months later...
Hyuuga, Misaki, the Tachibana brothers, Soda, Nita and Jito had returned to the training camp, much stronger than ever. With the entire team gathered, Japan was ready for the second round of the preliminaries.
First match: State of the Former Soviet Republic, Uzbekistan.
* * *
On the field...
_Fine, let's go._ Tsubasa mused as Uzbekistan's captain, Zangfiev started to dribble.
Both captains clashed, with Tsubasa being blown away, but stealing the ball.
"Misaki." Tsubasa passed the ball over.
_Tsubasa._ Misaki blinked, seeing the clash had numbed Tsubasa's leg.
_Sorry Misaki._ Tsubasa apologized, as Misaki charged forward.
* * *
On the bench...
"Taro..." Hotaru smiled, seeing Misaki bypass the Uzbekistan players easily, the younger Senshi having received Misaki's travel postcards.
* * *
On the field...
"I'm leaving it to you, Kojirou." Misaki made his pass.
Hyuuga passed the ball off to the marked Nita, who let the ball pass him to the incoming Aoi.
Aoi then sent the ball into the net.
Uzbekistan restarted the match, the sheer force blowing Aoi off and the ball flew straight towards Genzo.
Genzo trapped the ball with his chest and sent the ball out.
The larger-sized Uzbekistan players managed to reclaim the ball and fired the shot.
Genzo jumped and blocked off the shot with his fists.
"Attack everyone." Hyuuga barked. "We must ease Wakabayashi's burden for his sake. Stop being on the defensive."
At his call, Ishizaki and Matsuyama went on the offensive, passing the ball to Tsubasa and Misaki.
"Go, Soda!" Misaki made the pass.
Soda made an overlap with his 'Razor Centering', sending the ball to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga made a second goal with a header.
The match restarted, with Tsubasa claiming the ball. Faced with his approaching markers, he was forced to pass the ball off to Misaki. Misaki then passed the ball off to Nita, allowing Nita to score with a left-footed 'Jumping Peregrine Falcon Volley'.
After the third goal, the All Japan Youth gained complete control of of the match; even having enough margin to change goalkeepers for the second half.
By the end match whistle, All Japan Youth won the match: 8 to 1.
Furthermore, in addition, Ami, who had been sent to the hospital earlier in the week, gave birth to a pair of fraternal twins, a boy and a girl.
* * *
The next day...
It was time for the All Japan Youth vs. Saudi Arabia match.
The match began with Japan's kick-off.
It was not long before the Saudi team started pressurizing Tsubasa and Misaki with their 'Ant Lion Larva's Pit Defense'.
Tsubasa made a pass to Misaki, who let the ball fly past to the incoming Aoi. Aoi then passed the ball forward to Hyuuga.
"Eh, no way?" Aoi exclaimed, Hyuuga having been caught in the Saudi team's off-side team.
Claiming the ball, the Saudi team proceeded to pass the ball around.
Getting impatient, Nita and Aoi went for the ball, only to have the Saudi team pass the ball off when Tsubasa intercepted the pass.
"Let's go, Misaki!" Tsubasa charged forward.
The Saudi captain, Mark Owairan proceeded to cut Misaki's pass to Tsubasa. Claiming the ball, he made his way to the Japan's side. Jumping to dodge Soda's 'Razor Tackle', he continued his charge. Tripping over the ball, he sent the ball over Misugi's head before bypassing the defender. Catching the falling ball, he made a direct volley towards the goal.
Genzo blocked off the shot, sending the ball into the air which Owairan had anticipated. The Saudi Prince then sent the ball into the net via an 'Overhead Shot'.
Tsubasa charged forward, the ball under his foot. Sending the ball slightly before him, he let Misaki take over.
Stopping before the incoming markers, Misaki then passed the ball off to Tsubasa, who then made a long forward pass to Aoi.
"Here is my 'Right Angle Feint'." Aoi bypassed Owairan.
The Saudi keeper ashed forward, foul-tackling Aoi to the ground and earning himself a yellow card.
"Misaki." Tsubasa, Hyuuga, Misugi and Matsuyama blinked at Misaki's request.
"Go!" Misaki scored the equalizer with his 'Boomerang Shot'.
With the game now tied, Saudi changed their tactic, from the usual slow and continuous passes to fast and continuous passes.
Genzo managed to punch out Owairan's shot.
Suddenly, the whistle sounded, indicating a substitute on the Saudi's side.
Owairan tossed the ball in and Vulcan jumped to claim the ball.
"It's dangerous." Soda remarked. "We must stop this giant."
Vulcan had merely touched both Soda and Takasugi in the air, but it was more than enough to blow them off.
"I won't let you take anymore goals." Genzo jumped in.
Vulcan forced the ball through into the net, only to have Ryo deflect the shot.
Owairan dashed in, sending the ball over Ryo's head.
"Ishizaki, lend me your back." Genzo dived, slamming a fist onto the ball on Ryo's back.
Just then, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
The second half started with Saudi's kick-off.
Owairan passed the ball to Vulcan, who threw Aoi off with his belly and firing his 'Vulcan Gun'.
Genzo dived, punching the ball out with both fists.
"Wakabayashi's hands must be protected by us, by all field players." Tsubasa declared, having returned back to the goalpost. "In order to do this, we must attack."
"Then, come on." Vulcan accepted the challenge. "The 'Genie Vulcan' will smash you."
Tsubasa then pulled a 'Right Angle Feint' on Vulcan, bypassing the giant. Facing off against Owairan, he pulled off a 'Santana Turn'.
Owairan intercepted with an 'Overhead' when Misaki cut in with a jumping volley.
"Tsubasa." Misaki made his pass.
Aoi moved in to catch Tsubasa's pass when Hyuuga barked, "Move out, will you? This ball is for me."
"Wha!" Aoi jumped, letting the ball pass him.
_I can go for it without restrictions._ Hyuuga caught the ball. _This is my 'Raiju Shot'!_
The ball stabbed through the net and into the sky.
After the reversing the score, Minato sent Sano in to replace Nita.
Once on the field, Sano conveyed Minato's instructions to the team.
The match restarted with Jito marking Vulcan, Sano and Aoi pressing hard on the Saudi team.
"I'm counting on you, Tsubasa." Sano stole the ball and made his pass.
"Go!" Tsubasa made a pass to the heavily marked Hyuuga.
Hyuuga dodged past his markers and made a goal with his 'Raiju Shot', sending Vulcan who had returned before the goalpost into the net along with the ball.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Ten
He put his left foot in. He put his left foot out. He put his left foot in and shook it all about. He was doing the hokey pokey and he turned himself around. That was what it was all about. "You witch let go of me!" Shino screamed as he tried in vain to take control of him body.
"Actually the right expression is vampire…remember I'm a vampire not a witch." Temari explained calmly.
"Let go of me you good for nothing mind-controlling vampire." Shino shrieked ignoring whatever Temari was saying.
Before Temari could say anything two figures approached the vampire. It was Hinata and Tenten. They decided to come up with another brilliant plan to get Neji to stop acting like a baby. They had been walking when the heard Shino's high-pitched shrieks. They had followed in and heard Temari's confession. "So you're a mind-controlling vampire," Hinata exclaimed, "that's great!"
"It is?" Temari, Shino, and Tenten exclaimed at the same time.
"Yeah…you can hypnotize Neji and finally make him to the set so that he can finally do our scene." Hinata exclaimed happily.
Temari shrugged. "Are you sure that you're not working with slayer boy here?" Temari pointed a thumb behind her back and pointed at the dancing Shino.
"Does it look like we would be working for _him_?" Tenten glanced at Shino with a look of disgust.
"I guess not. Fine I'll do it." Temari exclaimed.
"Come on let's go to Neji." Tenten lead Temari to where Neji was currently rolling.
"Don't leave me like this!" The still dancing Shino yelled at the three girls.
"What about Shino?" Hinata asked as she caught up with Temari and Tenten.
Temari shrugged as the threesome walked side by side. "Don't worry about him. I just wonder how long it takes him to realize that I stopped controlling him like five minutes ago…"
* * *
Meanwhile in Sasuke's room…
"Why you look awful Sasuke-chan…" The cool voice announced.
It was the one and only Orochimaru. He glided from the door to the side of Sasuke's bed. Sasuke was gripped with horror.
"Sasuke-chan, Why... Why did it have to happen to my son…?" Orochimaru moaned painfully.
"I'm NOT your son! When did I become your son?" Sasuke spat out between coughs.
"Well since your parents were mysteriously murdered I decided to adopt you and Itachi. That's why you are now my son and I am the proud mother of two darling boys."
"You can't do that!" Sasuke choked out after a fit of coughs.
"I can and I did. I even have the adoption papers to prove it." Orochimaru took out an adoption certificate. "I even changed both of your names…"
Sasuke erupted, he blew his top and his eyes popped out of eyes. "Why the heck does my name say Priscilla Sasuke Uchiha!
"Isn't it adorable?" Itachi exclaimed between a sob. "My new name is Chester Itachi Uchiha."
"Anyway don't worry, I will make these last few hours of your life as meaningful as possible…" Orochimaru placed a big pink backpack on the edge of Sasuke's bed. "Here I bought your things."
Orochimaru reached into the frilly pink backpack and took out a stuffed yellow rabbit. "Here Sasuke here's your favorite stuffed animal Mr. Patches!"
"How did you get Mr. Patches? Give him back." Sasuke shrieked.
"Here you go." Orochimaru handed Mr. Patches to Sasuke. He continued to dig through the pink backpack. "Look I found our photo album!" Orochimaru exclaimed as he took out a big blue photo album.
"We don't have a photo album." Sasuke exclaimed flatly. He was dying but he was still sane.
"Well we don't have a _real_ photo album but I did steal pictures of you and Itachi and then used Photoshop to add myself to the picture." Orochimaru quickly sat besides Sasuke and opened the photo album.
"Look it's the time that you threw your first shuriken!" Itachi exclaimed as he pointed to a picture of Sasuke with Orochimaru standing besides him.
"Look it's our family vacation at the beach!" Orochimaru cooed as he pointed to a picture of Sasuke, Itachi, and himself.
Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. "Oh god, please kill me now…"
* * *
Near the row of dressing rooms…
_One down about a million more people to go but it's all going on according to plan. The next person I must eliminate is my arch rival, Gai. _Kakashi made his way to a neat row of dressing rooms. A smile spread across his face as he saw Gai mediating outside his dressing room.
"Why if it isn't my good friend, Maito Gai!" Kakashi greeted him casually. _Eliminating you will be too easy!_
"Kakashi You only the true hearted people will know the truth and only the kind-hearted shall know redemption." Gai exclaimed calmly.
"Well that's nice and all I was just wondering if you would like to have some tea with me?" Kakashi offered the mediating man. _Let's have a cup of tea because it will surely be your last!_
"Well if the wolf's calls to the beautiful blue moon and the rooster to the new emerging sun I don't see why not. I think knowing others is as important as knowing yourself." Finally Gai stopped his mediation and open his eyes.
"Well why don't we go to that new coffee shop, you know Star Lucks? The one that's located just outside the set…" Kakashi suggested. _Oh what a horrible incident it will be. Gai will get run over by a truck after trying to cross the street. It will be a truly terrible accident._
"If that's what will bring sunshine to your dark life my friend." Gai answered as he stood up.
"Well it will. It certainly will…" Kakashi smiled evilly to himself. _If only he knew my top secret evil plans to take over the world! Hahahahahaha!_
* * *
SailorStar9: Will Kakashi's plan finally succeed? Will Temari's mind control power be any help to Neji? Will God finally kill Sasuke? Tune in next time.
47. Manga World Youth: Book 9
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 45 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Lee: Oh, my Blossom!
Sakura: My dear Lotus! (Hug)
Gai: (On top of his summon) AH! The exuberance of youth!
Lee: GAI-SENSEI!
Gai: LEE! (Trademark manly hug plus sunset and crashing wave)
Eva: Argh! We _don't_ need to see that! And Sasuke, don't even try. (Looks over at Sasuke readying the 'Kai' sign) Trust me, it won't work.
Chapter 46: Manga World Youth: Book 9
* * *
"Get me the ball." Owairan barked, quickly feinting past Sano and Aoi.
Misaki intervened, slide-tackling Owairan.
Owairan lost the ball, but his teammate reclaimed it for him and Owairan continued his charge. Leading the attack, he charged towards the goalpost. Dodging past Misugi and Matsuyama, he stood face-to-face against Genzo. At the last second, he made a pass to the side. Vulcan ashed over to receive the pass and send the ball into the undefended goalpost, just as Ryo dived to block off the shot, the ball missing by millimeters just as Aoi cut in, deflecting the shot.
Aoi then sent the ball out to Hyuuga, who started the onslaught with Tsubasa and Misaki following closely. Hyuuga sent the ball to Tsubasa, the All Japan's 'Golden Combi' beginning their scramble. Tsubasa caught the final pass and made a back pass to the approaching Hyuuga. With a 'Raiju Shot' Hyuuga scored the fourth goal and winning All Japan the match.
* * *
In hospital...
"Say hi daddy." Ami gave her husband a tired smile, the two infants asleep in their respective cots.
Genzo looked stunned seeing the babies. He knew they'd be here, but still, something in his mind and heart kicked him hard seeing them for the first time. "They're beautiful." he said, his voice was barely a whisper, his eyes on the babies, and then moved up to meet his wife's eyes. "As are you." He kissed her forehead and looked down at his children…his baby boy and girl.
"Smile." Sanae grinned and Genzo looked up in time to see the camera flash.
* * *
The next day...
The match between All Japan and China begun with China possessing the ball. Using deliberate dribbling, China bypassed the All Japan team and made their first shot.
Genzo dived to save the ball. Without giving the China team time to react, he sent the ball flying out.
Nita's shot missed the net, hitting the goalpost instead.
China reclaimed the ball and renewed their attack.
Genzo caught the ball before China could land a goal.
The referee's whistle sounded, signaling a keeper charge foul.
Seeing Genzo wincing in pain, Tsubasa realized that Genzo had entered the match without the painkiller injections.
Without a word, Genzo sent the ball out.
Misaki caught the pass, dribbled past the China players and handed the ball off the Tsubasa.
Tsubasa scored the first goal with a 'Flying Drive Shot'.
The match restarted with China's striker, Hi Sho attempting to even the score, only to have Genzo save the ball.
Not giving up, China sent a high lop to their forward in front of the goalpost, only to have Hi Sho fall into Misugi's offside trap.
O made a pass back to the team captain, Go Shunjin, who then made a centering to Hi Sho.
The ball was intercepted by Masao who had used Jito as a launching pad to shoot up into the air.
With the ball cleared, Matsuyama claimed the ball and passed it over to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa was about to pass the ball out when Shunjin slide-tackled him.
Not wanting to lose the ball, Tsubasa made an overhead pass to Matsuyama who scored the second goal with his 'Eagle Shot'.
* * *
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Eleven
"Nooooo! Gaara has appendicitis…What am I going to do? What am I going to do?" Kankurou frantically breathed. He sobbed hysterically as he knelt next to his confused brother. Gaara still seemed have no clue what was going on.
"I have an idea!" Kiba exclaimed as he approached the two sand siblings carrying his invisible chicken, George.
"You, get away! Keep that monster away from us!" Kankurou exclaimed as he possessively wrapped an arm around Gaara's neck.
"Can't breathe…choking…choking…." Gaara breathed with difficulty. His eyes were watering and his face had turned red.
"But I know how to cure Gaara! You just have to follow me." Kiba exclaimed as he stopped a good distance away from the pair.
The puppet master thought to himself for a moment. "Fine, we'll follow you. But keep that monster away from Gaara and me!" Kankurou exclaimed apprehensively as he finally released his grip on Gaara. The red-haired boy collapsed on the floor catching his breathe.
Kankurou helped his confused brother up. Reluctantly they followed Kiba to wherever the heck he was taking them.
"Where are we going? Who are you? Who am I again?" Gaara asked as he looked innocently up at Kankurou.
"Why? How am I going to save Gaara?" Kankurou sobbed as they followed Kiba.
Kiba lead them through a line of dressing rooms. He finally stopped in front of a door in the middle of the hallway. "Here we are at my dressing room!"
Kiba opened the door and entered. "Follow me!" Kiba exclaimed at Kankurou and Gaara.
Halfheartedly Kankurou led his puzzled sibling through the door and into Kiba's room.
Kankurou gaped at the room. It was one of the weirdest places he had ever seen. The whole room seemed like it wasn't real, that all the furniture was drawn, and badly drawn at that. All the strange brightly colored furniture seemed to have faces and have strange shapely patterns.
"There you go George." Kiba cooed as he placed his chicken into a cage.
"So how are you going to cure Gaara?" Kankurou said as he continued to stare at the strange place. Gaara seemed even more confused than ever.
"Paw-paw!" Akamaru suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"It's Akamaru!" Kiba exclaimed happily. "Akamaru what do you we should do to cure Gaara?"
"Paw-paw-paw Paw-paw-paw!" Akamaru pressed a paw against the TV screen and made a paw print.
Kiba excitedly approached the paw print. "That's a great idea Akamaru we'll play…"
_Akamaru's Clues!_ A chorus of children replied.
"… to figure out what we need to do to cure Gaara from his appendicitis."
"Who said that? Who said that?" Kankurou exclaimed as he turned around and looked for the speakers.
* * *
Meanwhile…
"Ok, first things first Naruto." Lee exclaimed placidly. They were at Lee's dressing room seated on chairs. Naruto excitedly waited for Lee to teach him how to teach him how to be macho.
"First we have to…" Lee exclaimed slowly.
"We have to…" Naruto said excitedly.
"First we have to watch reruns of the anime series Yu-gi-oh." Lee announced.
"What?" Naruto had fallen off his chair and was climbing back into it.
"Yes you heard me right. The first thing about being cool is learning to talk cool. It's important that whenever you talk you express your feelings for your loyalty, good sportsmanship, and friends. Listen closely to the long winded speeches Yugi gives. By watching Yu-gi-oh you'll learn all you need to know. Plus you can watch the duels that take 3 episodes just to finish." Lee explained. He approached his TV and quickly put in a DVD in to the player.
"Ok first lesson, got to talk cool." Naruto quickly took out a pad a paper to take note of everything that was being said.
* * *
In Sasuke's dressing room…
"And here's the picture of us having ice cream together!" Orochimaru cooed. "Good times. Good times."
"How could it have been a good time when you weren't even there!" Sasuke exclaimed haughtily.
"Oh look! Here's a picture of Sasuke running through the sprinklers naked!' Orochimaru pointed at another picture.
"What? Give that back to me!" Sasuke quickly grabbed the picture and ripped the picture into a million pieces.
"Not to worry I have back-up copies!" Orochimaru exclaimed as he placed another copy of the picture into the photo album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
Sasuke quickly took the copy and torn it up again.
Orochimaru placed another copy of the picture back in the album.
"I can't take it anymore! If god won't kill me, I'll have to kill myself!" Sasuke screamed.
"Now, now Sasuke be good to your mother." Kisame exclaimed while wagging his finger "He works very hard you know."
"I know what will cheer you up Sasuke. Here have another one of my homemade blueberry muffins!" Itachi quickly stuffed a muffin into Sasuke's mouth before he could protest.
Sasuke reluctantly swallowed the muffin that was stuffed into his mouth. But right after eating the blueberry muffin Sasuke suddenly felt better. The headaches and nausea seemed to have disappeared. This was his chance. He quickly sprung up from the bed before anyone could stop him. He quickly ran out of the door of his bedroom.
"Sasuke! You're dying!" Itachi screamed as he ran to chase after his brother.
"Wait for us!" Kisame exclaimed as he followed Itachi.
"I haven't finished showing you our pictures yet." Orochimaru followed Kisame.
_I got to hurry up before those freaks find me!_ Sasuke thought as he raced down the hallway.
Up ahead a certain medical ninja was humming softly to himself. "My, I hope Sasuke likes this life-sized doll of him that I made. I mean it's the least I could do since he's dying and all." Kabuto said to himself as he admired his doll.
_Oh no their right behind me!_ Sasuke exclaimed as he looked back.
Then when Sasuke turned a corner he collided into Kabuto that was to busy admiring his work to watch where he was going.
The collision caused Kabuto to his head on the wall rendering him unconscious. Sasuke on the other hand was too panicked to notice just got up and started running again.
Finally Itachi, Kisame, and Orochimaru caught up and turned the corner. The threesome stared in shock at what they saw.
"Oh no Sasuke's dead!" Itachi exclaimed dramatically.
* * *
SailorStar9: With the help of Yugi will Naruto learn to talk cool? Will Kankurou and Kiba be able to solve Akamaru's clues? Is Sasuke really dead? Tune in next time…
48. Manga World Youth: Book 10
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 46 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Ichigo: (Glares at SailorStar9) Hey, how come we don't get involved in time loops?
Hasu: (Points down to the omake at the bottom)
Ishida Uryū: You want _that_ to happen to us?
Ichigo: Point, and Ishida, (Draws Zangetsu and turns into Hollow Ichigo) Don't touch my sister, or else!
Chapter 47: Manga World Youth: Book 10
* * *
The match restarted with China possessing the ball.
Masao fought over the ball against Shunjin, the impact sending the ball higher into the air.
Misugi took over, fighting over the air-borne ball against Hi Sho.
In a last desperate attempt, Hi Sho passed the ball off, only to have Genzo catch the ball, the ball slipping from his weakening grasp.
Hi Sho grabbed the chance and dived towards the ball, scoring China's first goal with a header.
With a goal in, China renewed their attack, Hi Sho making a middle shot.
Misugi blocked off the attack with his body, the ball returning to China's side.
Having foreseen the pass, Misaki cut in, stealing the ball and making a 'Boomerang Pass' over to Tsubasa.
"I'm counting on you, Hyuuga!" Tsubasa made his pass.
With sheer determination, Hyuuga charged towards the goal with his 'Straight Line Dribble' and scoring All Japan's third goal with a 'Tiger Shot'.
The whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
The second half started with China's Sho Shunko entering the game. With a slide-tackle, he knocked Tsubasa to the ground.
Hyuuga cut in with his 'Tiger Tackle', reclaiming the ball and passing the ball out to Tsubasa.
With their trademark one-two play, Tsubasa and Misaki bypassed the China team, before passing the ball over to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga readied his 'Raiju Shot', just as Shunko cut in with his "Fast Kick Quick Gun'.
Kicking at the same time, the impact caused the ball to shoot up into the air.
Jumping into the air, Shunko sent the ball forward via an overhead volley.
Hi Sho leapt into the air to claim the air-borne ball, with Masao using Jito as a launch pad to intercept, the crash from before having numbed the elder Tachibana's legs and enabling Hi Sho to win the fight.
Genzo dived, punching the ball away to Soda.
Shunko cut in before Soda could react, sending the ball into the undefended net.
The match restarted with All Japan possessing the ball.
However, due to the brilliant cooperation play from China, Tsubasa and Misaki's combi play was dissolved.
Hyuuga cut in aggressively, stealing the ball.
Shunko moved in to intercept, just as Hyuuga readied his shot.
The impact sent the ball straight into All Japan's net, Genzo too stunned to even block the shot. The ball then shot through the net, sinking into the metal panel behind the net and pulling the equalizer.
Determination resolved, Tsubasa bypassed China's players until he faced Shunko one-on-one. He readied his shot, just as Shunko moved in. Tsubasa withheld his leg, just as Shunko prepared to shoot. Unable to stop himself, Shunko made the shot first, Tsubasa countering it with a 'Counter Arrow Shot'. The ball shot past the China keeper, through the net and sank into the metal panel.
The match restarted on China's side until Hyuuga stole the ball and passed it out to Tsubasa.
Knowing the entire team was behind him, Tsubasa shot towards Shunko once again. Trying to feint past Shunko to no avail, Tsubasa back-stepped, readying to shoot.
Shunko countered with a 'Reactive Fast Kick Quick Gun' from the side, the impact blowing Tsubasa away.
Genzo dived, blocking out the shot, reopening his injuries as a result.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Inner Voice
Outer Lee: If I can't do my one thousand push ups, then I have to do one thousand sit ups! If I can't do one thousand sit ups, then I'll do one thousand one handed push ups! If I can't do that-
Inner Lee: **Then we have to do Sakura! If we can't do that, then we go do Ten-ten! If we can't do that, then we go do Hinata! If we can't do that, then we have to do Ino!**
Outer Lee: Oh! What a naughty response! I can't do that! Gai-sensei says that will spoil my youth!
Inner Lee: **No it won't! By doing the girls, we can show them how powerful our youth is!**
Outer Lee: What a great idea that is! (mentally hugs his inner self) Inner Lee!
Inner Lee: (mentally hugs his outer self) **Outer Lee!**
Outer Lee: Inner Lee!
Inner Lee: **Outer Lee!**
Random person passing by #1: How long is he going to hug and feel himself?
Random person passing by #2: I dunno, but I rather not look any longer or else I'll blind myself.
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh come on! You guys know _this_ will happen one day!
49. Manga World Youth: Book 11
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 47 goes up and only one review! Anyway, I made a few minor corrections in Chapter 46; Ami didn't have twin boys, she had a boy and a girl.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: And because of Ichigo's previous comment in the last chapter, our favorite Bleach characters will be starting the intro.
All: What! (All turns chibi and draws various weapons and chase Ichigo around)
Orihime: Kurosaki... everyone... (Wails)
Hasu, Hotaru, Uryū and Hitsugaya: (Sips green tea)
SailorStar9: (Sighs) Getting back to topic...
Ichigo: It's time for our new segment. (Points to 'Bleach Theater' signboard. Curtain closes and chibi Byakuya holds up 'To Be Continued' sign)
Chapter 48: Manga World Youth: Book 11
* * *
After Genzo kicked the ball out, Tsubasa used Jito as a launching pad to boost himself into the air, guarding the ball with his stomach as he landed, before charging straight towards Shunko. Stopping before the incoming striker, Tsubasa prepared to shoot, only to pass the ball backwards to Hyuuga who fired his shot.
Shunko reacted, repelling the shot, only to have Tsubasa force the ball back, the shot stabbing through China's net.
After All Japan's fifth goal, Shunko was forced to the field, Hyuuga's shot having reopened his wound. On the Japan side, Genzo, too was forced off-court.
The match restarted with Misugi gaining possession of the ball before passing it out to Misaki who immediately sent the ball to the front.
Hyuuga caught the air-borne ball, scoring Japan's sixth goal with an 'Overhead Shot'.
The referee's whistle then sounded, signaling the end of the game.
* * *
After returning to Japan...
Despite instructions from the coaches, the team renewed their training, in an attempt to bring themselves up to Tsubasa's level.
"It can't be helped." Ami noted amusedly, her baby girl in hand, Rei carrying the infant's twin brother.
"That's right." Rei agreed, Hyuuga was absent from practice, the 'Tiger' having went visit his hospitalized mother.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Genzo looked at his wife.
"Pot, kettle, black." Ami grinned.
"Point." Genzo smirked.
With the Saudi team defeating China, the Asian Youth Tournament boiled down to: Japan vs. Iraq, Saudi vs. Korea.
"Guys, I'm back." Hyuuga declared. "I made you worry, so I brought a present."
"Wakashimazu." the team gasped at the sight of the returning goalkeeper.
* * *
In the Senayan Stadium in Jakarta...
Wakashimazu had returned to the field, replacing Genzo at the goalpost.
At the whistle, the match against Iraq begun.
Without warning, Misugi activated the offside trap.
Ryo, stunned by the sudden instruction, tripped on the grass, foiling the trap and allowing Iraq to penetrate deeper.
Wakashimazu dashed out, stealing the ball and headed towards the center line.
Hyuuga caught the air-borne pass and made a header over to the charging Nita. Nita let the ball pass to the incoming Aoi who wasted no time in scoring a goal.
Misaki made a sharp rounder pass to Tsubasa, who passed it out to Aoi.
Dashing straight forward, Aoi returned the ball to Tsubasa who then passed it off to Hyuuga, the striker scoring Japan's second goal.
It was not long before Tsubasa made a third goal with his 'Flying Drive Shot'.
With Wakashimazu guarding the goalpost, Japan withstood Iraq's assault for the rest of the match, keeping their 3-0 lead.
The final whistle sounded, earning Japan the ticket to the finals.
After a tough battle, the Saudi vs Korea match ended with Korea winning the game.
* * *
In the finals...
Tsubasa charged, breaking through the Korean defense.
The Korean team captain, I Yonun came forth to stop Tsubasa.
Tsubasa jumped over Yonun's leg, passing the ball backwards to Misaki.
Misaki made a pass forward, Tsubasa scoring Japan's second goal with a 'Rolling Overhead', the team having scored the first goal during the first half.
The final whistle came, declaring Japan the victor of the Asian Youth Tournament and the entry to the World Youth Tournament.
After the press conference...
The team went their separate ways, Aoi returning to Italy, the rest of the team returning back to their respective prefectures.
However, the report in the following morning's newspaper shocked the team; due to the host country, Burunga engaged in civil war, the World Youth Tournament might be cancelled.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts, Naruto Edition
Case #1: Naruto and Hinata
Sailor Moon flashed between the attacking youma, dispatching them quickly thanks to her harsh training in the Hyuuga style of the Gentle Fist.
"Way to go, Sailor Moon!" cheered Tuxedo Kamen from a nearby rooftop, eating yet another bowl of ramen that Sailor Jupiter had prepared.
"N-N-Naruto-kun is watching!" squeaked Sailor Moon, before she passed out.
"Hey! You guys hurt her!" yelled Tuxedo Kamen, hopping down. "Sure, she's a little weird, but why'd ya do that? I'll have to teach you all a lesson! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"You think we could learn to do that?" asked Venus, as the dozens of Tuxedo Kamens began to tear into the invading horde.
"I could get so much studying done with that technique," muttered Mercury.
"Don't even think about it," muttered Neptune, poking Uranus in the ribs.
"Sure, take away my dream," muttered the short-haired Senshi.
"Tux.."
"e..."
"do..."
"Ka..."
"men..."
"Rendan!" cried one shadow clone, as he delivered a strong heel to the back of the youma's head, driving it into the pavement.
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh come on! You guys know _this_ will happen one day!
50. Manga World Youth: Book 12
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 48 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: (Grins mischievously, holding up a 'Bonus: Uryū Week, Part One' signboard)
Uryū: (Enters school cafeteria and faces counter staff) The usua... (Gets cut off by Ichigo who pushes him aside)
Ichigo: Haruno-san! I want an omelette, szechuan tofu, rice and eggplant, two servings of chicken curry, a meat pie and five pears.
Uryū: (Twitching) Oi, Kurosaki... (Tick marks increases) Kurosaki... _you stupid strawberry!_ (Draws Ginrei Kojaku, the increase in Spiritual Power creating a slit in the dimension. Ichigo blocks said bow with his Tensa Zangetsu)
Hasu: (Bangs head repeatedly against wall)
Chapter 49: Manga World Youth: Book 12
* * *
After much discussion in the Japan Soccer Association, it was decided that the World Youth Tournament would be held in Japan.
It was also around that time when Misaki got injured, saving his step-sister from an incoming truck. Hotaru had applied for long-term leave to help him recuperate. Reunited with his now extended family, Misaki accepted his mother's request to care for him until his injury heals.
It was not long before the rest of the World's delegates gathered in Japan.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #2: Kakashi and Shizune
"Where the Hell is he?" yelled Sailor Moon, as she struggled against the youma.
"He knew what time we started, right?" asked Sailor Jupiter.
* * *
SailorStar9: Well, a short chapter here, since nothing else is important.
51. Manga World Youth: Book 13
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 49 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: (Grins mischievously, holding up a 'Bonus: Uryū Week, Part Two' signboard)
Uryū: (Enters school cafeteria and faces counter staff) The usua... (Gets cut off by Ichigo who pushes him aside)
Ichigo: Haruno-san! (Cuts in) Did you hear? There's gonna be a mackerel miso stew contest. I want to train for it, so give me all the mackerel miso stew you've got, please. Yes, all the stew you have on hand. Every bowl. I'll eat it all.
Uryū: (Twitching) Oi, Kurosaki...
Ichigo: Oh, come on Ishida. Can't you share?
Uryū : (Tick marks increases) Kurosaki...
Ichigo: Are you training too, Ishida?
Uryū: I"m gonna break you apart, bitch! (Draws Ginrei Kojaku, Ichigo blocks said bow with his Tensa Zangetsu)
Hasu: (Sighs and swallows another aspirin)
Chapter 50: Manga World Youth: Book 13
* * *
After the introductory banquet, the Japan World Youth Tournament started the next day.
The first match: Japan vs. Mexico.
Tsubasa dribbled through the Mexico team, before making a pass to the right where Aoi was awaiting.
"Idiot, your movements are too tense!" Soda barked, recovering the ball, Aoi having missed the pass. Claiming the ball, he made a back pass to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa made a 'Flying Drive Shot' towards the incoming Aoi who sent the ball straight into Espardas' arms.
Espardas saved the shot and dribbled the ball past the penalty area.
Hyuuga tried to steal the ball with a slide-tackle when Espardas jumped over the striker, dodging the attack. The goalkeeper then sent the ball forward.
Misugi then activated his off-side trap, stopping Mexico's assault.
Matsuyama then sent the ball to Hyuuga via his 'Eagle Shot'.
Hyuuga took the chance and fired his shot into the empty net, only to have Espardas return to the goalpost in the nick of time to save the shot.
Espardas wasted no time in overlapping again. "Eat this, Tsubasa!" he fired a shot straight into Tsubasa's face, forcing Tsubasa to dodge the incoming shot.
The Tachibana twins then used Jito's back as a launchpad to meet the five Mexico forwards head-on in the air, the twins stealing the ball successfully.
Both teams then fought over the ball on the field.
Espardas stepped out of his post, pulling the Japan team's attention away from the '5 Soldiers of the Aztec's Sun'.
The five players set to work, bypassing the Tachibana twins' air-play, sending the ball to the ground where Garcia was waiting.
Garcia wasted no time in firing his 'Big Bang Shot' into the Japan net.
Wakashimazu reacted, punching the ball out.
The match restarted, with Japan defending against Mexico's onslaught.
The first half then ended, with neither side earning a goal.
Knowing that the rest of the 'Aztec's Sun 5' would be able to jump any further, Garcia took matters into his own hands. The giant player grabbed both Tachibana twins' ankles, pulling them to the ground and earning himself a red card.
With Garcia's sacrifice, Mexico went on the offensive, more aggressive than ever.
With the Tachibanas unable to continue, Sano and Sawada were prepared to replace them.
Wakashimazu blocked off the pending air-borne shot, only to have Espardas close in with a 'Jumping Drive Shot'. Wakashimazu jumped to block the shot, when Espardas changed the ball's course with his leg, enabling the ball to enter the undefended net.
But with Mexico scoring the first goal, the Japan's side sent Nita and Sorimachi in to replace the Tachibanas instead.
With Espardas saving each and every shot the Japan team fired, Hyuuga took over the reins, releasing his 'Raiju Shot'. Espardas dived to save the shot, changing the ball's course with a mere brush of his fingertips.
Aoi rushed to throw the corner kick. "Tsubasa!" he sent the ball over.
Tsubasa dodged past the incoming Mexico players, Misugi boosting Tsubasa into the air. Tsubasa sent the ball into the net with a 'Loop Shot'.
Espardas jumped back to save the ball when Aoi dived in, sending the ball and himself into the net with a header, scoring the equalizer.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #3: Naruto and Sakura
"Sailor Moon!" cried out one Dark General. "You may have defeated my forces—though I can honestly say I didn't expect you to literally punch them into pieces—but you will find that your strength is no match for mine!"
"Oh, I love a challenge," smirked Sailor Moon, cracking her knuckles.
"Allow me," grinned Tuxedo Kamen, as he preformed the hand seals. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
The Dark General looked around at the shadow clones. "You think this weak move will get me? I have already discovered a weakness."
Tuxedo Kamen smirked, before he changed his hand seals once more. "Hāremu no Jutsu!"
The shadow clones instantly changed into nude female versions of Naruto, small clouds hiding whatever naughty bits might be exposed, before jumping the Dark General.
"There's no way that much blood could have come from him," muttered Mercury, trying to figure out how one Dark General could pump out that much blood from his nose.
"The Outers are down," muttered Minako, staring at the two Senshi currently in a puddle of their own nasal blood.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO USE YOUR PERVERTED TECHNIQUES AGAIN! GET BACK HERE AND TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT LIKE A MAN, NARUTOOOOOOO!"
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh, come on. You know this is bound to happen.
52. Manga World Youth: Book 14
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 50 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Orihime: (In panic mode) Where's Kurosaki-kun? (Looks around) Where's everyone? (Wails) I'm _sorry_!
Chapter 51: Manga World Youth: Book 14
* * *
At the whistle, the match restarted.
Activating Japan's 'Press Zone', Matsuyama led the attack, passing the ball out to Tsubasa. Tsubasa dodged his attackers, making a pass over to Hyuuga who attempted to score with a 'Jumping Tiger Shot'.
Espardas jumped to save the shot.
Tsubasa reacted, returning the ball back to Hyuuga with a header and enabling the striker to fired a 'Raiju Shot', scoring Japan the victory as the whistle sounded to signal the end of the match.
* * *
The next day...
With the Italian team defeated by the Uruguay team, the stage was set for the Japan vs. Uruguay match.
The match started and Hino Ryoma wasted in using his 'Tornado Shot'.
Tsubasa blocked off the shot with the bottom of his spikes, causing several of his shoe nails to fall off.
Catching the reflected ball, Aoi feinted past the Uruguay team with his 'Right Angle Feint'. Pressed from three sides, Aoi left the ball in Hyuuga's hands, the striker scoring Japan's first goal with a 'Raiju Shot'.
Ryoma made a back pass to his team, only to have Aoi cut in on the pass, penetrating the Uruguay camp with his 'Right Angle Feint', before breaking through the mid-fielders with Hyuuga's 'Straight Line Dribble'. One-on-one with the goalkeeper now, he made a goal with his 'Nutmeg Shot'.
With two goals down, the Uruguay team counter-attacked, with Ramon Victorino and Ryoma leading the attack. With their speed, Victorino and Ryoma bypassed the Japan team, with Victorino making a sliding shot into Japan's net.
Japan retaliated with Tsubasa scoring a third goal via a 'Flying Drive Shot' from the center line. Tsubasa wasted no time in penetrating the Uruguay team, before making a pass to Sawada. The younger player then passed the ball forward to the awaiting Hyuuga who then made Japan's fourth goal with his 'Raiju Shot'.
Getting serious now, Ryoma charged straight towards Japan's camp, blowing Aoi off with the sheer power of his dribbled before coming face-to-face with Hyuuga. Dodging past Hyuuga, Ryoma readied his 'Tornado Shot'.
Wakashimazu stood wide-eyed, unable to see the ball's course and letting the ball go past his groin.
The match restarted, with Tsubasa taking the charging Ryoma head on. Ryoma sent the ball into Tsubasa's stomach, removing the Japan captain and sent the ball to the side.
Buzoo then made a centering back to Ryoma, just as Victorino moved into position.
Ryoma then scored Uruguay's third goal with a 'Jumping Tornado Shot'.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #3: Shizune and...
"Hello," said Tuxedo Kamen, holding a small orange booklet labeled 'Icha Icha Dating Tactics'. "Sorry I'm late, I got lost on a train of thought."
"LIAR!" yelled many of the ninjas.
"Oh," said Kamen. "Did I miss anything?"
"Let me show you what you missed!" yelled a slightly injured Sailor Moon (Shizune), holding a large broadsword.
"Oh, um ... sorry?"
"DIE!"
"Well, he has Kamen's timing about right?" said Saturn, trying to be helpful.
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh, come on. You know this is bound to happen.
53. Manga World Youth: Book 15
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 51 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: (Grins mischievously, holding up a 'Bonus: Uryū Week, Part Three' signboard)
Uryū: (Enters school cafeteria and faces counter staff)
Ichigo: (Jumps in but gets hit by Uryū's Ginrei Kojaku before he speaks)
Uryū: (Twitching) The usual. (As Ichigo slides onto the floor)
Haruno: (Beams) Okay! Here you go! (Hands Uryū mackerel miso stew)
Uryū: (Satisfied 'Not today, I win this time, Kurosaki' smirk)
Hasu: (Pokes unresponsive Ichigo) I think you killed him, hon.
Uryū: Meh, he's like a cockroach. He can't die.
Chapter 52: Manga World Youth: Book 15
* * *
With Hyuuga's heading shot failing, the Uruguay team went on the offensive.
Ryoma readied his 'Tornado Shot', with Aoi jumping in to block off the ball, the shorter teen getting blown off by the sheer force. Instead of making the shot, Ryoma passed the ball out before the Japan defenders could react.
Victorino went for the diving head, tying the score.
The match restarted, with Tsubasa marking Ryoma to prevent him from making his 'Tornado Shot'.
It was not long before the pressure got onto the Japan team, Jito making the accidental own goal.
With Tsubasa taking the lead, Japan attacked.
"Here, Tsubasa!" Ryo overlapped.
Tsubasa passed the ball over, only to have Ryo miss the pass due to the rain making the field wet.
Ryoma took the chance to steal the ball and head straight for the japan goalpost.
Wakashimazu jumped, blocking the 'Jumping Tornado Shot' with both legs. Having defended the Japan goalpost, the goalkeeper charged forward, dribbling the ball onwards.
"A high ball over here, okay, Wakashimazu?" Jito barked.
"There, I'm leaving it to you!" Wakashimazu sent the ball into the air, realizing Jito and Hyuuga had to plan.
"Let's go, Jito!" Hyuuga barked, the huge defender having told him of his plan earlier.
Jito dived, intending to have Hyuuga use his back to fire the 'Raiju Shot', when the striker merely used his back to launch himself higher into the air. Upon landing, the striker fired his 'Descending Raiju Shot', pulling the equalizer.
Unwilling to let the match end in a draw, Ryoma fired his 'Twice Velocity, Two Rotation Tornado Shot'.
At Tsubasa's signal, Nita, Sawada and Aoi blocked the shot together, the sheer power of the shot blowing all three away.
Ryoma jumped, intending to fire a 'Jumping Tornado' when Tsubasa met him in the air, jumping even higher than Ryoma and stealing the ball.
With a glance over at Hyuuga, Tsubasa bypassed the incoming Uruguay players with a 'Juggling Dribble'. Landing on his back, he boosted the incoming Hyuuga into the air with his shoes, allowing the striker to use his 'Jumping Raiju Shot' to pull Japan ahead.
Just then, the whistle sounded, giving Japan the victory.
The Mexico vs. Italy match ended in a 0-0 draw.
* * *
Later...
The last match of the Preliminary League, Japan vs. Italy was underway, with Japan's kick-off.
The Japan team went on full throttle, completely smashing through Italy's defensive stronghold, the 'Catenaccio', with Nita scoring the first goal.
Aoi, too, was on full gear, with 2 assists and a goal.
However, Italy switched in the injured Hernandez and Gentile 30 minutes into the second half.
Aoi performed his 'Right Angle Feint' to bypass Gentile, the libero countering with his 'Right Angle Defense', when Aoi reacted with an upgraded 'Right Angle Tornado Feint'.
In the overhead position, Aoi then fired a 'Nutmeg Overhead' into the Italy goalpost.
Hernandez reacted, stopping the shot despite his injured hands, only to have the ball shot into the net, earning Japan her 4th goal.
The whistle sounded, earning Japan the victory and the ticket to the final Tournament.
Elsewhere, the Germany team was defeated by Sweden; 5-3.
* * *
In the Japan training camp...
Ami watched on, her children in their twin carriages, as Genzo trained to avenge his heavily injured hands on Stefen Levin.
"Sorry Eiji." the young mother took her son out of his carriage. "But as you two can see, your father's being a stubborn idiot. But yes, Eiko," she smiled at her daughter. "That's one of the reasons why I love him."
"Ami," Rei voiced. "Over here."
"What?" Ami breathed in shock after Rei informed her about Matsuyama's decision not to play in tomorrow's match until Fujisawa awoke from her coma after her hit-and-run accident. "I see." she nodded, when her babies wailed. "Guess it's feeding time again." the mother sighed.
Rei chuckled and the two friends entered the building, pushing the carriages along.
"Hotaru sent a letter!" Minako squealed, waving the opened envelope, once the four females were gathered. "And no males, Soda!" she pushed her boyfriend out of the door. "Out _now_!"
"You too, Ken!" Makoto glared at Wakashimazu.
"Fine, I'm going." Wakashimazu muttered, exiting.
"Right, right, right." Soda sighed, following the goalkeeper out.
"Lemme see!" Makoto went into 'giggly-mode', pulling the envelope out of Minako's hands, once the door shut. "Second base already?" she whistled admirably. "That Misaki sure works fast."
"That is to be expected." Rei remarked, as Ami breast-fed her daughter. "After all, Misaki _did_ survive Haruka's 'interrogation'." she smirked.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #4: Sakura and Lee
"Do not worry, Sailor Moon!" cried Tuxedo Mask ... in a green tuxedo. "I shall protect you now and always with my flaming power of youth! Accept these gifts of my affection!" he yelled, before launching his wink-hearts at her.
"Not again!" cried Sailor Moon, as she began to toss and use youma as a shield against the attack/sign of affection, reducing them quickly to dust.
"I thought it was supposed to be Sailor Moon who used attacks shaped like hearts?" asked Neptune.
"THAT IS THE POWER OF ONE FILLED WITH FLAMING YOUTH!" cried Gai.
"AHHHH!" yelled Mercury, jumping into the air in fright, since Gai had said that right behind her.
"Oh, something's flaming, alright," muttered Uranus.
"Are those his real eyebrows?" wondered Saturn.
"Ah, Sailor Uranus, you too can feel Lee's flaming youth!"
Mars merely rubbed her forehead. "I just had to survive, didn't I?"
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh, come on. You know this is bound to happen.
54. Manga World Youth: Book 16
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 52 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Ichigo: (Pouncing past Shiba Kūkaku and Shiba Ganju in the waiting room who were drinking tea)
Uryū: (Draws Seele Schneider as Ichigo pranced past, snorting) Hey Kurosaki! Did you just laugh?
Ichigo: (Grins evilly) I most definitely wasn't thinking that Ishida hasn't shown up in a while, or that I'm glad I haven't seen him. I just felt like laughing.
Uryū: (Twitches increase) Kurosaki!
Ganju: Hey! (Cuts off pending argument) This tea is good. (Sips tea)
Kūkaku: It really is. (Sips tea)
Chapter 53: Manga World Youth: Book 16
* * *
With Matsuyama out of the game, Aoi took the initiative to launch an attack, pulling a 'Right Angle Feint' on Levin. Realizing that Levin could keep up, Aoi switched to his 'Right Angle Tornado Feint' to shake Levin off.
Larsson cut in, stealing the ball and blowing Aoi away.
Misugi slide-tackled, reclaiming the ball.
Levin moved in, retaking the ball, only to find himself marked by Matsuyama's replacement, Akai Tomeya. Stealing Levin's ball, Akai made a pass to Tsubasa in the front, who then made a long pass upfront to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga fired his 'Tiger Volley', only to have Brolin block the shot with his body. Brolin then passed the ball out to Levin, but Akai cut in once more, stealing the ball.
Akai wasted no time in passing the ball to Hyuuga who immediately fired his 'Raiju Shot'.
Brolin blocked off the shot at point-blank range, the deflected ball caught under Levin's foot.
Levin bypassed Hyuuga with Aoi's 'Right Angle Feint', before dodging Akai with his '7 Colors Feint'. Before Genzo, he readied the 'Levin Shot'.
Genzo dived, punching the ball out with an uppercut.
Levin tossed in the corner kick, Brolin receiving the ball and firing his 'Bazooka Gun' towards the Japan net.
Genzo dived, saving the ball.
Larsson moved in, receiving Levin's pass and fired his 'S.S.S aka Speedy, Sliding Shot' towards the Japan net.
Genzo moved out, stopping the shot before it entered.
Fredericks dodged past Ryo, pulling an overhead 'Technical Shot' above Genzo.
Genzo reacted, jumping to stop the overhead loop shot with one hand.
With a sharp backspin, Levin looped the ball over Akai and moved in to claim the dropping ball, before firing his shot.
Genzo reacted, punching the ball out.
Ryo caught the ball and passed it off to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa charged, using Levin's '7 Colors Feint' to bypass the Sweden players and made a 'Bullet Pass' to Hyuuga. But the ball changed its course, turning into a 'Flying Drive Shot' and headed straight for the net.
Galeri reacted, blocking out the shot.
Nita closed in, firing his shot into the undefended net.
Brolin tried to block off the shot but failed, when Larsson deflected the ball.
Aoi came in to get the ball when Fredericks cut in, stealing the ball.
Hyuuga cut in, forcing his 'Jumping Tiger Volley' through.
Brolin stopped the shot with his face and sent the ball out to Levin.
Akai moved in to stop the pass when the ball's course changed. Reacting quickly, Akai cut the pass with an upward face block.
Just then, the whistles sounded, signaling the end of the first half.
Levin wasted no time in using his '7 Colors Feint' on Akai once the second half started.
Nita and Aoi moved in to aid Akai when Levin stopped in his tracks, revealing that he had made a back pass to Brolin.
Akai shot off to mark Levin when Brolin made a pass to Lavelli and Lyung, with Fredericks and Larsson moving in.
Levin, having shook free of Akai, received the pass and made his shot when Tsubasa blocked off the shot. Despite the shot getting blocked out, Levin readied his second shot.
Akai jumped in, stopping the ball with his body.
Levin reclaimed the ball, intent of shooting again.
Akai reacted, deflecting the shot with his shoulder.
The ball returned to Levin, the striker was insistent on scoring.
Akai moved, blocking off the shot with his face.
Tsubasa stopped the ball's return to Levin, stopping it under his foot.
Faking Levin's 'Levin Shot' stance, Tsubasa used the 'Right Angle Feint' to bypass Levin. With Aoi's assistance, both players penetrated into the Sweden field. In front of the goalpost, Tsubasa made a pass to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga dodged past Brolin and proceeded to make a 'Rolling Overhead Shot' when Larsson cut in on the shot.
Aoi closed in, intending to shoot a jumping volley when Fredericks blocked the shot, allowing Brolin to clear the ball.
Levin caught the cleared ball and made a pass to the side to let Akai receive medical treatment.
The match restarted with Tsubasa returning the favor by passing the toss-in to Levin.
The debt settled, Levin wasted no time in firing his shot to which Genzo saved the ball. The Sweden striker quickly reclaimed the ball, shaking off Akai and headed towards the Japan net.
Tsubasa moved in to help Akai fend off the attacking Levin, just as the whistle sounded, marking the end of the second half; the match entering into extra time.
The match restarted in 'Sudden Death' mode, with the returning Matsuyama replacing the injured Akai.
Sweden opened the attack, with Genzo saving each shot.
Levin renewed the assault, Matsuyama marking him closely.
At the charging Levin, Genzo took a bold decision and came out of the penalty area, passing the ball to Matsuyama who then sent the ball out to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa led the team with a zone press, passing the ball out to Matsuyama, who then sent a forward pass to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga then made a pass back to Tsubasa who then fired his 'Skywing Shot', sending the ball through the Sweden net and earning Japan the victory.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #5: Neji and Tenten
"Now this I like," smiled Sailor Moon, as more kunai, daggers, and assorted blades seemed to shoot out of the Ginzuishou. "This is a hell of a lot easier than using scrolls!"
The amount of dead youma and damaged neighborhood could attest to her new joy.
"How..." muttered the Dark General. "How could we be beaten so easily?"
"Destiny," said Tuxedo Kamen, observing his rose. "Fate decided this fight before it even began. And a natural loser like you was never able to defeat a genius like us. Destiny will always be against you, and you cannot change your destiny."
"Oh my god," muttered Jupiter, "he's another Pluto."
"Finally, a love interest for her," smirked Uranus. "Time for him to boldly go where I doubt any man has gone before."
"Dead Scream!"
"YEOWTCH!"
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh, come on. You know this is bound to happen, with all of Neji's 'This is Fate' talk and all.
55. Manga World Youth: Book 17
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 53 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Ichigo: Ishida, let's have a duel.
Uryū: (Glares) What?
Ichigo: (Very confident) I definitely have the confidence to beat you.
Uryū: (Draws Seele Schneider) What did you say?
Ichigo: (Presents fan of black spade cards) Royal Straight Flush.
Uryū: (Twitches) Hey, what the hell's this?
Ichigo: (Shrugs) An easy game, huh?
Uryū: (Explodes and throws table off) I won't play these stupid western games!
Curtain closes and Part B starts.
Orihime: (Pounces in) Kurosaki-kun, let's have a duel.
Ichigo: (Spreads cards in hand) Old maid, huh?
Hasu: (Blinks in surprise) Uryū's trying out, too?
Ichigo: (Teases after Uryū draws a card from Sano's hand) Ishida's the old maid! It suits him.
Uryū: (Explodes and swings Seele Schneider) Shut the hell up, stupid Kurosaki!
Chapter 54: Manga World Youth: Book 17
* * *
In the Japan training camp...
"So, it's tomorrow then." Ami remarked.
"Yeah, the finals against Brazil." Genzo agreed. "Yes, Eiji," he nodded at his gargling son in the carriage. "Japan will win tomorrow. What the..." he blinked when Ami lifted Eiko up to give him a baby kiss on the cheek.
"Baby kisses," Ami chuckled at his expression. "For good luck." putting Eiko beside her brother, she added, "And one from your wife."
"Hm..." was all Genzo could mutter as he drew his wife in for a deep kiss.
Elsewhere, the other three pairs of lovers were going third base on each other.
And let's just leave that to that, shall we?
* * *
The next day...
The finals begun with Japan's kick-off.
Tsubasa wasted no time in bypassing Santana and was prepared to fire his 'Skywing Shot' when the Brazilian team tackled him.
Claiming the ball, the Brazilian team counter-attacked.
Volante Duhgo proceeded to fire his shot, Jito blocking the ball with his body.
Blanco claimed the deflected ball and passed it on to Silva, who sent it out to the incoming Giorgi.
Giorgi immediately fired his shot.
Genzo dived, punching off the ball to Ryo who sent it to Tsubasa.
However, the Brazilian team had foreseen this and cut in on the pass.
Volante Marcio, having made the cut, sent the ball to Santana.
Pulling off two consecutive 'Santana Turns' on Misugi and Matsuyama, he headed for the penalty area. With a 'Rolling Overhead Shot', he proceeded to shoot.
Genzo dived, catching the ball.
Senardo cut in on Nita and headed straight for the Japan field.
Ryo blocked off Senardo's shot with his 'Face Block'.
Blanco caught the deflected ball and fired a middle shot, only to have Soda block off the shot.
Volante Marcio jumped to claim the ball, intending to score with a jumping volley. Misugi cut in, blocking off the shot.
Santana claimed the ball next, beginning the attack with Leo in tow.
Leo passed the ball out to Santana before the Japan team cornered him.
Santana the fired his powered 'Rolling Overhead Shot' wen Tsubasa cut in, attempting to cut off the shot. But the sheer power of the shot threw Tsubasa onto the goalpost. Using the goalpost, he sent the ball forward to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga wasted no time in firing his 'Raiju Shot'.
Salinas jumped, saving the ball and the goalkeeper sent the ball out.
The Brazilian team circulated the ball, before passing it onto the unmarked Santana.
Santana then proceeded to score with a 'Skywing Shot' of his own.
Genzo dived, stopping the shot and forcing the first half to end with a 0-0 draw.
The second half started, with Brazil putting Pepe in.
Santana wasted no time in firing his 'Skywing Shot' towards Japan's goal.
Pepe jumped in, marking Tsubasa and passing the ball off to Leo on the side who then sent it back to Santana.
Santana then proceeded to make his shot.
Genzo dived out, catching the ball when Santana shot pass the goalkeeper, sending the ball into the undefended net.
Aoi dived, trying to save the ball, but failed and allowing Brazil to score the first goal of the game.
The whistle then sounded, signaling a substitute as Japan sent Misaki in to replace Sano.
Santana cut in on Tsubasa and Misaki's combo play, stealing the ball.
With Pepe and Leo in tow, the three forwards made their passes.
Having the ball passed back to him, Santana made a 'Tornado Arrow Skywing Shot' towards Japan's net.
Genzo jumped, punching the shot with both hands and wasted no time in sending the ball towards Tsubasa.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #6: Hanabi and Naruto
"Where's Sailor Moon?" asked Saturn, as Tuxedo Kamen proceeded to tear into the youma ranks with blue balls of swirling energy.
"Fūton: Rasenshuriken!" Tuxedo Kamen yelled, as the youma were suddenly encased in a swirling dome.
"Um ... she got sick," said Hinata, leaning against a closet door she had just come out of.
"You better go heal him," said Mercury. "His arm just suffered severe cellular damage."
"Why? Isn't he healing himself?" asked Venus.
"Hey, I'm still in High School, give me a break!" yelled Mercury.
"Someone needs a boyfriend," muttered the Senshi of Love.
"I can help with that." Uryū poked his head in. "You done here, Mercury?"
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh, come on. You know this is bound to happen. Okay, now this chapter is down and one more chapter plus the epilogue before this mega fic ends, for good.
56. Manga World Youth: Book 18
SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 53 goes up and only one review! Well, this is the last chapter of this fic.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Uryū: You want me to list off the characters in the show? (Snorts) How annoying. I'm only going to say this once, so listen up (Reads off list): Ishida Uryū, Inoue Orihime, Sado Yasutora, Kurosaki Ichigo, Kuchiki Rukia, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, Sasakibe Chōjirō, Suì-Fēng, Ōmaeda Marechiyo, Ichimaru Gin, Izuru Kira, Unohana Retsu, Kotetsu Isane, Aizen Sōsuke, Hinamori Momo, Kuchiki Byakuya, Abarai Renji, Komamura Sajin, Iba Tetsuzaemon, Kyōraku Shunsui, Ise Nano, Tōsen Kaname, Hisagi Shūhei, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Matsumoto Rangiku, Zaraki Kenpachi, Kusajishi Yachiru, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Kurotsuchi Nemu, Ukitake Jūshirō, Kotetsu Kiyone, Kotsubaki Sentarō, Kariya Jin, Koga Gō, Sōma Yoshino, Hō and Ban, Utagawa Ryō, Mabashi, Ugaki, Yoshi, Cain, Sawatari, etc... (Lets out an exhausted breath)
Curtain closes and Orihime pops up.
Orihime: Ishida-kun forgot to mention Hotaru's squad and the other seats of the Gotei 13.
Hasu: (Looks at Ichigo grinning evilly after the curtain parts slightly to reveal Uryū with a new list.) How cruel.
Uryū: (Exits from stage) You freaking strawberry!
Ichigo: (Takes off running)
Chapter 54: Manga World Youth: Book 18
* * *
The match resumed, with Tsubasa and Misaki taking the lead.
Brazil moved in to intercept with Tsubasa and Misaki's combi play, with Aoi cut in, stealing the pass and introducing to Brazil, the Japan's 'Golden Trio'.
Aoi pulled a 'Right Angle Feint' on the Brazilian players, but leaving the ball purposely behind for Tsubasa to pick up.
Tsubasa took over the ball, using a 'Right Angle Feint' on his pursuers before passing the ball out to Misaki who immediately sent the ball out to the incoming Soda. Soda then sent the ball right to Hyuuga.
Blocking out the defending Casagrande, Hyuuga sent the ball Nita's way.
Alberto blocked out Nita's shot, passing the ball off to Giorgi.
However, Matsuyama came in, blocking off Giorgi's pass.
Misugi took over the ball, sending the ball floating over Alberto's head and towards Hyuuga.
Hyuuga reacted by passing the ball off via an overhead
Tsubasa and Misaki closed in with a 'Double Overhead Shot'.
Salinas dashed out to stop the shot, Misaki countered with an aerial assist, launching Tsubasa towards the rotating ball.
Tsubasa caught the ball with his stomach.
Aoi, Nita, Hyuuga, Ryo and Jito came to Tsubasa's rescue, the five players pushing Tsubasa into the net, along with the ball and pulling off the equalizer.
Aoi wasted no time in stealing the ball once the match restarted before passing the ball out to Tsubasa and Misaki in the front.
Tsubasa and Misaki then fooled the Brazilian players by making a back pass to Hyuuga.
Hyuuga then sent a 'Raiju Pass' to the front.
Tsubasa and Misaki then sent the ball into the net with a 'Flash Raiju Shot', the ball shooting through the Brazil net.
After having Misaki leave the field, the mid-fielder having reopened his wounds, the Brazil side sent out their No. 10, Natureza and the countdown began.
Tsubasa attacked first, both No. 10 players performing the '7 Colors Feint' to confuse the other when Natureza suddenly passed Tsubasa after the countdown hit 0.
Genzo then realized that Natureza had kicked the ball into the air during his '7 Colors Feint'.
Jumping into the air, Natureza readied to shoot.
Genzo dashed out of the goalpost to stop the shot when the ball's course curved, hitting the ground before getting reflected into the undefended net.
With Misaki out of the game, Hyuuga took over the mid-fielder's position and charged straight for the Brazil net when Natureza cut in, stealing the ball.
Natureza then slid past the sliding Tsubasa and headed for the Japan field, passing the ball to Santana.
With Leo in tow, Santana bypassed Aoi and Matsuyama and was about to pass the ball to Natureza when Ryo blocked off the pass.
The ball went back to Santana who then proceeded to make another pass when Natureza and Tsubasa both went for the pass when Genzo cut in, catching the ball.
With Genzo and Ryo out of the game to tend to their injuries, Urabe took Ryo's spot and Wakashimazu replacing Genzo on the field.
Aoi took up the spot Misaki and Hyuuga left behind.
With a command from Tsubasa, the entire team went up into the Brazil field, the final 'Sink or Swim' play.
Still having the ball, Aoi pulled off a '180 Degree Feint', a '30 Degree Turn', a '100 Degree Feint', and then a '80 Degree Feint' to bypass his defenders.
A 'Tiger Tackle' from Hyuuga from the back forced the breakthrough.
Misaki fought over the ball with Santana, despite his injuries, with Misaki winning the fight.
With everyone's feelings backing him, Tsubasa went for the ball, clashing with Natureza one-on-one.
Natureza tried to steal the ball in mid-air, but missed his chance when Tsubasa sent the ball higher into the air with a 'Overhead Shot', sending the ball into the net and earning Japan the victory.
* * *
"Taro!" Hotaru jump-tackled her boyfriend, the team having received their gold medals.
"Firefly..." Misaki choked. "Injured person here..."
"Oops." Hotaru blushed.
"Thank god Haruka isn't here." Rei joked.
"Otherwise," Makoto snickered.
"Misaki will have a horde of katanas greeting him." Minako chuckled.
"Now boys," Ami giggled. "Go soak up all the glory." she pointed to the chanting audience. "God knows you'll need it."
"That's low, Ames." Genzo smirked. "Really low."
* * *
Epilogue
Hyuuga, having proposed to Rei after the World Youth victory, had joined Aoi and Akai in Italy's Juventus.
Genzo returned to Germany for rehabilitation on his hands, bringing his family along.
Misaki was waiting for his leg to heal before heading off to France with Hotaru, and that's despite Haruka's, Michiru's and Setsuna's protestations. But hey, if he can survive Haruka's
interrogation, he'd probably be able to live through Setsuna's 'Time Splinter', right?
Wakashimazu went back to Yokohama Flugels, dragging Makoto with him.
Soda returned to Ganba Osaka with Minako.
The others, too, had also began to walk their own road.
And as for Tsubasa, after leaving Sao Paulo, he headed for Barcelona with his wife, Sanae.
The chapter ends with a photograph of Tsubasa and Sanae's wedding, wailing infants notwithstanding.
* * *
Omake
The Naruto Omake Files: Sailor Moon Tryouts Naruto Edition
Case #7: Ebisu and Tayuya
"What the (beep)!" yelled Sailor Moon, as Tuxedo Kamen collapsed in a pool of his own blood. "These (beep) youma only used that (beep) Naruto's (beep) perverted jutsu and this little (beep) (beep) (beep) is out like a (beep) virgin!"
"What's she saying?" asked Saturn, as she had three sets of hands over her ears.
"And what's up with all the (beep) (beep) youma on this (beep) (beep) plane of existence? Where the (beep) do you (beep) Senshi get these (beep) (beep) youma for this (beep) (beep) (beep) (beep) test?"
"Mercury, what's a (beep) (beep)?" asked Saturn, displaying how well she could read lips.
Got to love the Japanese Educational System.
"Get your (beep) (beep) up you worthless (beep) (beep) man! Can't you see I'm in (beep) (beep) trouble here, or are you so (beep) (beep) (beep) that your (beep) (beep) (beep) can't (beep) (beep), you (beep) (beep) (beep) (beep)!"
"There goes our fan-base," muttered Jupiter.
* * *
SailorStar9: Oh, come on. You know this is bound to happen. This fic is _officially_ done!
End file.
| fanfiction |
galaxy interactions are common at the present epoch .
nearby examples are the magellanic - clouds milky - way ( e.g. @xcite ) and the sagittarius - dwarf - galaxy milky - way @xcite systems .
galaxy interactions were much more common in the past though , and the milky way probably carries some scars from a more active past .
evidence for this is the probable existence of the thick disc @xcite as well as probable tidal debris in the halo ( e.g. @xcite ) .
however , the number and strength of collisions of the milky way with small companion galaxies remains to be quantified .
interesting limits are provided by the metallicity distribution of halo stars @xcite and the longevity of halo phase - space structure @xcite .
the suspected tidal debris surrounding the milky way consists of individual globular clusters and nine known dwarf spheroidal ( dsph ) satellite galaxies , which are approximately aligned on a few great circles .
their masses ( @xmath0 , e.g. @xcite ) are too small for dynamical friction in an extended galactic dark halo to significantly affect their distribution over a hubble time .
their orbital distribution must be primordial , apart from orbital precession in a possibly non - spherical dark halo ( e.g. @xcite ) . inferring the genesis of the dsph satellites is of greatest importance .
their kinematical , structural and photometric properties can be interpreted to imply that these small ( @xmath1 kpc ) and very faint ( @xmath2 ) collision - less stellar systems are completely dark - matter dominated , in which case they ought to be relics from early cosmic structure formation .
the alternative interpretation is that the dsph satellites are remnants of galaxies without dark matter , apart from burned - out stars @xcite .
such remnants arise naturally after removal of roughly 99 per cent of the stars through periodic tidal harassment , if their orbital eccentricities are large ( @xmath3 ) .
the proper motion of two dsph satellites has been measured recently @xcite . however , present estimates of orbital eccentricities are , unfortunately , too inaccurate to exclude the alternative interpretation , because the combined uncertainties in proper - motion measurements and in the mass distribution of the milky way are too large ( e.g. @xcite ) . for recent reviews on the dark matter
content of dsph galaxies see @xcite and @xcite .
both interpretations have significant implications for the nature of dark matter .
the former would imply that large amounts of dark matter ( @xmath4 ) must be containable within the tight phase - space limits defined by the dsph satellites .
the latter interpretation is consistent with the absence of dark matter in reasonably well - understood dynamical systems that are smaller in extend than a few kpc .
examples of such systems are the galactic disc ( e.g. @xcite ) and star clusters .
globular clusters contain about the same number of stars as dsph satellites , but they can not be their precursors .
this is because the metallicity distribution and the star - formation history are irreconcilably more complex in dsph satellites ( e.g. @xcite ) . also , globular clusters with @xmath5 stars and half - light radii @xmath6 pc are stable against tidal destruction over a hubble time because their tidal radii are @xmath7 pc , even if the perigalactic distance is @xmath8 kpc @xcite .
the precursor of a dsph satellite must , if this latter interpretation is correct , have ( i ) essentially no dark matter , ( ii ) @xmath9 stars for significant tidal de - population within a hubble time to leave a recognisable _ remnant _ , ( iii ) a characteristic radius roughly comparable to the tidal radius at peri - galacticon for susceptibility to tidal damage , and ( iv ) an apparently complex star - formation and metal - enrichment history . such a system is _ collision - less _ , because the half - mass relaxation time is longer than a hubble time .
can such a dwarf galaxy be created naturally ?
the hint provided by the significantly non - isotropic distribution of the galactic dsph satellites may be the key to the answer @xcite .
theoretical computations that shed light on the formation of satellite galaxies in tidal tails are discussed in section [ sec : mods ] .
observational evidence is presented in section [ sec : obs ] , and section [ sec : concl ] contains the conclusions .
tidal tails are pulled out from galaxies if these are tidally disturbed .
the length and mass of the tidal tails depend on the strength of the interaction and on the mass and extend of the dark halos surrounding the interacting galaxies @xcite .
dwarf galaxies , with masses @xmath10 , are expected to form within tidal tails , because only objects with such masses can become gravitationally unstable towards collapse during a sufficiently strong galaxy interaction that churns up the stellar and gaseous velocity dispersions @xcite .
also , the interaction of gas - rich tidal tails with the inter - galactic medium may lead to gravitational instabilities near the ends of tidal tails @xcite .
the tidal field of the merged or merging galaxies also limits the mass of self - gravitating tidal - tail clumps . _ if _ , _ how _ and _ where _ tidal tails produce self - gravitating clumps is an extremely hard question to study theoretically because of computational limitations .
the largest number of particles that can be used to represent a disc galaxy is , at present , roughly @xmath11 .
grid methods in principle allow more particles , but are not so well suited for the simulation of non - planar tidal deformations that can extend over distances larger by orders - of - magnitude than the thickness of the unperturbed galaxy s disc .
the particle density along a tidal tail is small , and it is difficult to asses if the condensations that form within the computer tails are physical or merely artifacts that result from local poisson fluctuations and swing amplification ( see e.g. @xcite ) .
gas plays a major role in the formation of self - gravitating objects in tidal tails , because dissipation forces the gas to accumulate near the centre of a gravitational instability thereby enhancing it and leading to star - formation
. however , the numerical treatment of hydrodynamics is a serious challenge , and usually recourse to simple but computationally tractable approximations is required .
@xcite use a combined n - body and smooth - particle - hydrodynamics ( sph ) code to model self - consistently two colliding milky - way - type disc galaxies .
the galaxies are each represented by about 37000 stellar and 8000 sph particles .
the trajectory is initially parabolic with a pericenter distance of 8 kpc , and the discs are not co - planar . extended tidal features develop after the first encounter .
the relative orbit decays due to dynamical friction between the dark halos and the galaxies meet again about 380 myr after the first passage .
coalescence occurs approximately 500 myr after the first passage , but the tidal tails continue expanding . in the expanding tidal tails , @xcite count 23 bound condensations that contain at least 12 particles ( @xmath10 ) .
the objects condense at distances larger than about 40 kpc from the merged galaxies .
the most massive of these consists of about 360 particles , has a half - mass radius of 760 pc and a mass of approximately @xmath12 , 25 per cent of which is in the form of gas that is more centrally concentrated than the stellar particles .
less than 5 per cent of the mass of this object is in the form of dark matter from the parent galaxy s halo .
@xcite use a two - dimensional n - body and sticky - particle code .
a self - consistent particle and gas disc is embedded in a rigid bulge and dark halo potential .
about 63000 stellar particles and 31000 sticky particles represent the disc .
the perturber is approximated by a point mass with the same mass as the galaxy , and is allowed to pass by in the disc plane on a hyperbolic orbit with a pericenter distance of about 20 kpc .
tidal tails form quickly and wrap up in the inner parts of the disc where the gas particles sink to the centre . in the outer parts of the disc
the tidal arms expand .
the overall appearance is strikingly similar to the hubble space telescope images of the antennae galaxies @xcite .
many self - gravitating objects condense in the stretching tidal arms , the most massive of which consists of about 250 gas particles with a mass of about @xmath13 .
this object is composed mostly of gas , with old stellar particles contributing only about 40 per cent .
further simulations show that in order for tidal - tail condensations with masses of about @xmath14 to form , perturber masses of at least about 20 per cent of the galaxy mass are needed .
however , it may be possible that less massive tidal - tail condensations develop for even smaller perturbers in simulations with higher resolution .
the authors estimate that the mass of the perturber should be about 1.4 times the mass of the galaxy for the outer - most tidal - tail condensations to be expelled into inter - galactic space . that the tidal debris , including the freshly assembled dwarf galaxies , can end on bound eccentric orbits about the merged remnant galaxy is demonstrated by @xcite .
that star - formation on dwarf - galaxy scales occurs in tidal tails has been known for some time . for example , @xcite show that a gas - rich dwarf galaxy appears to be forming about 100 kpc from the parent galaxy at the tip of one tidal tail in the antennae galaxies .
this dwarf galaxy has a mass of about @xmath15 , as estimated from the hi gas content and from the velocity dispersion using 21 cm observations , and a diameter of about 15 kpc , and is actively forming ob stars . in an r - band ccd imaging survey of 42 hickson compact groups ,
@xcite find 42 candidate dwarf galaxies in tidal tails .
these dwarfs have masses of @xmath16 estimated by assuming a mass - to - light ratio of unity , have diameters of a few kpc and lie at projected distances of a few tens of kpc from the parent galaxies .
the authors estimate that such dwarf galaxies contribute significantly ( 3050 per cent ) to the number of dwarf galaxies in groups .
further observational evidence for the formation of giant ( @xmath17 ) gas clouds in interacting galaxies is discussed by @xcite . in their very interesting review of observational evidence for the formation of dwarf galaxies in tidal tails , @xcite also consider the metallicity brightness correlation .
bright galactic dsph satellites are more metal rich than faint satellites , and this correlation is also evident for elliptical galaxies and isolated dwarf galaxies @xcite .
@xcite show that their sample of tidal dwarf galaxies does not exhibit this correlation .
the tidal dwarfs are relatively metal rich ( approximately one third solar ) because they inherit the pre - enriched gas from the parent disc galaxy .
interacting gas - rich disc galaxies expel tidal tails that may fragment at distances of many tens of kpc from the parent galaxies .
the formation of such tidal - tail fragments is now well documented in theory and by observation .
the fragments are gas rich , and form massive stars hundreds of myr after the interaction .
self - consistent models with dark matter demonstrate that the dark matter content of such fragments is insignificant , and the simulations also suggest that the fragments are gravitationally bound objects .
the masses of the fragments lie in the range @xmath18 and they have diameters of 110 kpc .
galaxy interactions involving any mass ratio can lead to the formation of fragmenting tidal tails .
however , only interactions involving two large galaxies , one of them by necessity a disc galaxy , will form massive star - forming tidal - tail condensations that may be expelled into inter - galactic space .
the tidal - tail dwarf galaxies consist of a complex mixture of stellar populations .
they are composed of stars born in the parent galaxy as well as of stars formed during the formation of the tidal tail condensation .
complex self - enrichment is likely to occur , and it is perhaps possible that some episodic star formation over time - scales of gyrs may result if the tidal dwarf falls back towards the merger remnant thereby acquiring additional gas .
such a bound tidal - tail dwarf galaxy will be repeatedly harassed by tidal forces , and will ultimately evolve to a dsph - like satellite .
small isolated spheroidal galaxies , such as tucana , would be essentially without dark matter if they are tidal debris on unbound orbits .
such systems should have small dynamical @xmath19 ratios .
however , significant problems remain .
it is unclear if the observed tidal - tail `` dwarf galaxies '' are really gravitationally bound objects once star - formation ceases .
projects are under way with r. andersen and m. fellhauer to investigate if vigorous star formation and assembly in a tidal field can produce such systems .
furthermore , it must be demonstrated that such aged dwarfs have sizes and masses that make them possible precursors of galactic dsph satellites , if the latter are to have been born in an early interaction of the milky way with some other galaxy . also , it is not clear if the early milky way could have suffered an interaction with another galaxy that was sufficiently strong to produce tidal arms , but not destructive of the galactic disc .
the early gas - rich galactic disc may have reformed rapidly after such a perturbation , and the central bulge may have acquired mass from the radial gas flows during the interaction .
furthermore , it must be shown that tidal debris remains bound to the milky way on orbits with eccentricities @xmath3 . finally , it is at present not clear how the observed correlation between brightness and metal abundance of the dsph satellites can be accounted for .
metallicity - gradients in the early galactic disc and self - enrichment , in dependence of the tidal - dwarf galaxy s mass , may play a role , but the small masses make gas confinement difficult .
da costa g.s . , 1998 , in stellar astrophysics for the local group : a first step to the universe , proceedings of the viiith canary islands winter school , eds a. aparicio , a. herrero , ( cambridge : cambridge university press ) , in press .
scholz r .- d .
, irwin m.j . , 1994 , in : astronomy from wide - field imaging , iau symp .
161 , eds .
macgillivray , e.b .
thomson , b.m .
lasker , i.n .
reid , d.f .
malin , r.m .
west , h. lorenz , kluwer , dordrecht , p.535 | arxiv |
Fullmetal Alchemist, Harry Potter 1. Chapter One
**Chapter 1**
White. It was all he saw. Vast fields of only white. Which was up? Down? There were no floors, no ceilings… just _white. _He turned around, facing an all too familiar object. _The gate. _How many times has he been here? Two? No, three times. He chuckled bitterly. Why Beside it was an ethereal body with a foreboding aura. _Truth._ It took his brother's body, his teacher's organs, Colonel Bastard's eyesight.. and two of his limbs… He was prepared to give up the thing that gave him grief made him grow up before the right time came… his alchemy.
"I want my brother back." He demanded.
"Oh, what do you have in return then?"
"This big thing right here." Edward pointed to the gate behind him.
"Are you sure? If you lose this then you would lose your ability to do alchemy."
"I'm sure." Truth grinned.
"I'm sorry Mis-ter Al-che-mist, but that isn't enough for our deal."
"What!?_"_
"Why? Well, if you lose it then it's like… running away. It's more of your gain than mine." Truth smirked.
"Well, what do you want from me then?"
"Your world. Your existence."
"I accept. Anything to help Al." Truth grinned widely.
"Oh and a bonus Mister Alchemist, I'll return your teacher's organs and your superior's sight. But remember, everything has a price."
"Now what?"
"I'm going to send you to another world. Somewhere where magic exists."
"What is this 'magic' you talk about?"
"You'll know."
The last thing he saw was the gate opening, the little black hands pulling him in.
==0==0==0==
Sacha was having the best day of her life. The kids in the orphanage had been very nice to her. They cleaned the orphanage when she was still just asleep, and when she woke up, the kids were bringing her breakfast! And when she was bargaining for a good price in the market, she was treated by some stranger! And lastly, she got the last piece of Humbleberry Pie from the bakery, which was the best and they made only fifteen pieces per day! _It's a good thing I left the Wizarding world before I couldn't leave anymore, especially with You-know-who on the loose._
The woman was walking towards the orphanage when she saw a boy fall in the corner of her eye. _It's just a boy._ She sighed in relief_But where did he come from..? I'd better treat him, he looks tired._
==0==0==0==
Everything was spinning. What had happened? Oh, he was _transported _into a new _world._ He tried standing up.
_Wait. _He _felt _his_right arm _and his _left leg_, what had happened? He looked for something that resembled a mirror. He saw a glass window. He could see himself. His automail wasn't there. There was his arm. _Real flesh _arm. What had happened? Why were his limbs back? Why was it there? And he looked like he was younger than he really was. The scars weren't there. _I went back in time? Hmmm… Probable, not impossible… Where am I? Certainly not Drachma, not Risembool, not Central either… Where is this place?_ He then remembered his conversation with truth. _Well then. That means I… can't go back anymore. But, at least… Al…_
He tried standing up, but failed miserably. He wobbled toward a wall to support himself. _Why was it harder to walk on two flesh legs? It was supposed to be easier!_ After a few moments, he regained his balance. Having an automail for four years had its irks. And sometimes he was content to have automail instead of his flesh arm. Like the time when Ling poured a kettle of boiling water to his right arm.("Stupid Ling." Ed muttered) That would've burned!
He was hungry. Not just hungry, he was starving. He walked for a few hours,trying to find a place to rest. Maybe after he slept, he'd regain some of his energy. He went near the grass, contemplating on whether he would transmute it to bread or not. It might've been tasteless, but he'd have to stick with it. He clapped his hands and promptly blacked out.
==0==0==0==
He opened his eyes. It took him a while to regain his vision, and when he opened them, he saw a Light-brown colored ceiling. What happened? He was in a bed of some sort. There were old and rickety chairs, he was on a bed. He had bandages on his arm and on his cheek. _A hospital? No... This place doesn't smell like anesthetic. It isn't Where…? _There were some children around him. Children? Oh, he was just a child here too.
"Look! He's awake!" A little black haired girl shouted. It ringed in his ears. It reminded him of Winry. _Winry._ He saddened at the thought. _This is for Al!_ He reminded himself. _Don't think about things like these!_
A little brunette boy ran to the door and shouted. "Mish Sacha! Mish Sacha! He'sh awake!" _Sacha? Who…?_
==0==0==0==
Sacha was preparing the kid's dinner. There were just a total of fifteen kids in the orphanage; 6 pre-teens, 4 1-2 year olds and five troublemaking five year olds. It was just so much work! she had started cooking early, for if she started later then the cooking would be rushed, (which she wanted to avoid as much as possible). Her thoughts kept heading to the kid who just collapsed. His hair was golden. One which she hasn't seen before. Yes, she's seen blondes before, but that was an exception. Blondes were quite usual in the neighborhood, but golden hair was not. It existed in the fairy tales about nobles and fake 'magic' worlds. Gold strewn hair? Impossible.
A shout from upstairs informed her that the boy was already awake. She turned the stove off and removed her mittens. The she hurried upstairs.
"Oh, so you're awake already." She said with a smile. The boy was facing the window so there was no telling what the expression of the boy was.
"Um, where am I miss? I mean, country and all." He gazed outside the window, his hair rustled by the soft morning breeze. His voice was soft, like what Sacha used to comfort crying children… How did he learn to use that voice? Or maybe it was just how he really spoke…
"Country? You don't know where you are?" That was weird, how can the kid not know he was in London?
"We're in London right now. The Flower Top Orphanage." She smiled at the name. The orphanage didn't really have a name. The neighborhood kid's called it flower- top because the orphanage had a big sunflower on its roof. And the name kind of stuck. No one had any objections though, so it was put in as 'The Flower-Top Orphanage '
"Um… Thanks. And another question please? Then you can start asking your own."
"Sure!" She said brightly, but how did the kid know how she had questions? Okay, the kid is freaking her out now.
"Do you know what Amestris is?" The kid looked at her. Her breath hitched. His eyes were the color of _molten gold_. She know that only werewolves had gold eyes, but not that kind. Werewolves had grayish-yellow eyes. His eyes were striking… and it held knowledge far beyond a child's… There was also sadness and pain… Only has she seen these eyes in Aurors that went through countless deaths… She gave herself a mental shake. _This kid must have trauma or something…_
"Amestris? I've never heard of it. I'm sorry."
"Thanks…" the kid looked down once more. _That means I'm not in my world anymore, huh?_
"Okay then! Now for mine!" She smiled. "Do you know how old you are?"
"No." Came the quick response. He couldn't exactly say he was sixteen. He wasn't even sure how old his body was.
"How can you not know your age?" She looked at him incredulously.
"I've never really paid any attention to it. Anyway miss, what year is it now?" It was true though. Even back in Amestris, he never celebrated his birthday. He'd only remember his birthday because Gracia would invite him to Elysia's birthday.(They'd 'celebrate' it on the same day.) It was saddening that Hughes… left. Gracia looked a lot more like his mother when Hohenheim left. And it was frustrating. But he couldn't do anything about it. He just made himself to look like he was having fun. He looked at himself in the mirror. Judging from his hair length and his _height_. He still refuses to call himself short… He looked exactly the same on
"Um… 1995."
"1995 huh?" He made a quick mental calculation and found out that he was 80 years old. Then he just based it on his appearance. Nobody would believe him if he told otherwise. Amestris had a different time than here then? Or he was transported in time and dimension.
"Well, based on my _birthday_, I'm still 5 years old." He mused.
He became a very good liar and debater because of the meetings in the military. He also had full control over his emotions already, it was a must to keep a stony face while facing military ranks. But he prefers not to and still kind of shouts whenever he was called small. He reached the rank Colonel and was bombarded with paperwork. Then he knew the reason Mustang hated it so much. Mustang also proceeded in his rising. _Too bad for him, the higher the rank the more paperwork_. He smirked at the thought. At least, _now_ he didn't have mountain loads of paperwork to deal with. He always divided his work with Al. Though at first he didn't want Al to do anything for him, but Al insisted and he could never say no to his little brother.
"5 years?"
"Yup. That seems right."
"Well then, you have a family right?" she sounded hopeful. He nearly snorted.
"No." _But I have a little brother in another dimension._ He added word parents brought a weird taste to his mouth, Yes he had forgiven Hohenheim for leaving them. Yes, for his mother he had also moved on. But something still sends a pang in his heart to think about them.
"I'm… sorry." He just smiled at the apology.
"It's fine, Miss. You didn't know. You don't have to worry about me, I've already forgotten about them anyway." She looked forlornly at Edward. Oh how he hated being pitied.
"If you say so… Hey! How about you stay here? This is an orphanage after all. We're running low on cash right now, but we can make space for another friend!" He smirked at the mention of cash. He would do something about it.
"Thank you." He smiled once more. His stomach growled. He hadn't realized he was _that_ humgry! He flushed.
"It seems your stomach wants food."
"Hehe… Sorry for the trouble." He rubbed the back of his had sheepishly.
"It's fine." She smiled as she led Edward downstairs.
The rest of the day was uneventful, save for the eventual questions what was his name, how old was he and the like. He didn't quite like the attention, but it wasn't very annoying.
He went to his room. It was small, but it was enough space for his… _smaller_ body. He put a rug in the bottom of the door and closed the curtains, just to make sure no light would escape the room. He put the rusty spoon on the floor. Running a quick circle in mind, he placed his hand near the spoon. A bright light flashed and a completely silver spoon replaced it. _That's good. At least Alchemy works here._
**Two weeks later…**
"Edward! You sure you're not coming?" Sacha bellowed.
"Yes, Sacha. I'm sure." The other kids were going to the zoo. Because for some reason, Sacha was given two dozens of free passes for said trip. He had seen animals before and he wasn't excited to do so. And for same said reason, he had the whole house to himself. _I'd better start fixing stuff!_
After that, he surveyed the whole orphanage and saw that there were chairs with broken legs, leaking sinks, flickering bulbs, rusty silverware, and very old walls and ceilings. He had to do something about it.
First, he went to the kitchen. Almost everything was rusted. It was a miracle that the kids weren't having symptoms of sickness. Oxidation wasn't very friendly to children's stomachs. He then gathered every single silverware and utensils. Placed them on the floor. He thought for a while. What was the best material for such things? He never really paid any attention to those things, so he decided to use the alloy that Winry was fond of using. She said that it last longer than most alloys. And Edward didn't doubt that. His Automail after all had never once rusted. Destroyed _completely, _yes, but not rusted. A flash of light conquered the room. Afterwards, every single utensil was as good as new. He smiled at himself.
He then proceeded to fix every single thing he could while the others were gone. The chairs were broken. He could vouch for that. He once tried to sit on said chair and it collapsed on his weight. His downside hurt. He went to the benches. He tried to find out the best proportion for the bench, and he found that he was lacking materials. It was quite a good thing that they lived just on the edge of a seemingly 'haunted' forest as the other kids called it. The only problem was, how he could bring it without anyone noticing?
He ran to the forest completely irritated with himself. His endurance wasn't even enough for a short sprint! He'd have to start doing workouts. His muscles weren't toned, and he didn't have the muscle memory for fighting. Who knows what might happen with Truth governing the world?
He found a Mahogany Tree. _Hmm, this thing shouldn't be able to grow here._ But he didn't question it. He used alchemy to transmute it to a box with wheels the leaves and little branches weren't given a second look. He then dragged it all the way to the orphanage. Nobody gave him a 'suspicious' stare. After all he was just a no name kid dragging an empty box. When he reached the orphanage, he was breathing quite hard. He then continued to make the benches sturdier. It didn't need paint. He made sure of that. After the benches, he also fixed the tables.
He touched the wall and it was brittle. He then completed a circle in his mind. He reinforced it with steel and more cement. Then he smoothened it.
He then went to the backyard. He sat on the edge of the backyard with a piece of the road in front of him. This was the last thing he was to do. He then placed his hands beside the piece of cement and after a blinding flash of light, the cement turned into a few bars of gold. _The economy wouldn't be unstabilized if I do just a little right?_ He made sure to make the gold impure, not _pure _gold. That was the biggest mistake alchemists did when transmuting gold. It was also obvious (to specialists- which Edward was) that it was made Alchemically.Carrying the gold, he hurried to the kitchen table and placed said gold in a piece of cloth. He hurried to the study. It was nearly time they would come back from the trip. He didn't need any evidence pointing out that he fixed the orphanage. He opened the drawers and got a pen and paper.
Satisfied with his work, he stayed in the study and pulled out several maps. It would be nice if he could acquaint himself with this new world. He also saw a semi-interesting thick book. He opened it midway and found that that book wasn't for little kids. He dragged it to the center of the study.
The Book's title was… _Hogwarts: A History._
==0==0==0==
Sacha was exhausted. The zoo was fun with the kids but they were so energetic and it was hard to keep an eye out for all of them. Edward could help in restraining the kids, she didn't know how he did it, but she sometimes relied on Edward to take care of the kids his age. It was a good thing they were about to go home. She was worried for Edward. The kid was peculiar sometimes… okay maybe a lot of times. The boy had read through the entire study within two weeks and he acted like it was just what he usually does. Such a very diligent kid! He was also talented.
They went down from the bus and went inside the house. The lights were already turned off and it was already dark. She ushered everyone to their rooms for them to get some rest. They hadn't eaten dinner yet so she would have to wake them up later. She went to the kitchen to prepare the food. But she was surprised to see that there was already food and an Edward still stirring the soup in a big pot.
"Edward!"
"Sacha. You're back already?" He grinned. He pulled out the big ladle and took a sip.
"Perfect." He murmured.
"You know how to cook?" She stared at him. This kid was talented! He read books at a pace even adults would be envious of. He could cook as well!
"Hehe… What do you think?"
Sacha grabbed a spoon and tasted the soup. She froze. It was wonderful. Perfect to say the least!
"I just grabbed the cookbook there, so I think it's a bit awful."
"Awful? This is delicious, Edward!" She almost jumped in excitement. "What else did you cook?"
As everyone was eating, Sacha could help but notice the changes in the kitchen and dining area. The pots and pans were as good as new and the tables and chairs looked like they were newly bought. Why, she even found a bag of gold in the kitchen table! The person who had given it to them had left a note. _Thank you for taking care of the children. Take this as a donation for the orphanage. PS: Did you like your new Utensils and furniture?_ She was extremely thankful to the stranger who helped the orphanage. But the identity of the man was still unknown. But why had the man waited for them to be out of the house to act? Maybe Ed saw someone…
"Ed!" She called. Edward was eating his food and there was a little notebook and pen
"Huh?" His head moved toward the voice.
"Come here." He jumped off the bench and walked towards the caretaker.
"Did you see someone… that did some things to the orphanage?"
He shook his head as childishly as he could. "No one. But maybe I didn't see him because I was hunting rabbits in the forest…" he mumbled, perfecting his alibi of: 'maybe someone else was here'. This was nice.
"Oh…" She paused. "Wait. You went _hunting_ for _rabbits_?"
"Of course. Where did you think I got the meat? There wasn't any in the refrigerator." He said casually, running a hand through his hair.
"B-but! You're still just five!" She almost shouted. What was wrong with hunting?
"_Already _five. I'm safe, and that's all there is to it. Besides, the rabbit hole was just near the orphanage. Nothing harmful there." He said trying to reign in his annoyance.
"Anyway, I'm still hungry so I'll fill my stomach till it bursts!" He grinned and scampered to his seat.
Edward smiled. The look on Sacha's face when she saw the gold… Hah! Priceless! But he didn't expect Sacha to nearly cry. He sighed… He missed Al…
==0==0==0==
He was about to sleep when a glimmer of something caught his eye. He stood up, went to the little table and his room. There it was.
His State Alchemist Watch.
**This is already edited. There was a deleted line somewhere and I have no idea where it went. And most of my other chapters have those stuff too. Missing line breaks are such a bother! **
**A/N: I'm going to let Edward be used to the world first before making him a student and well, we can't exactly avoid meetings with certain characters, oh and I won't do short jokes. It just wastes time and, well, for me it's not very funny, if I'm the one writing it. In the manga/anime it is, yes… but when you're just narrating it… well… But! No worries! He still gets angry at it, he doesn't just shout. It _is _after all _ingrained._**
**A/N(2): All of the line breaks I installed were deleted, but good readers _would _know where they break, right? Well, when I read my own work, It seemed chaotic with the missing Line breaks… And I didn't even use transitional words! How silly of me. Line breaks remove the hassle don't you think? And from here on out, I'm just gonna use other types of linebreaks. _Hopefully_ they won't get deleted anymore.**
**I like the new FFnet. no need to open another window for a review... Hehe**
==0==0==0==
_Reviews are appreciated!_**
**
2. Chapter Two
**Chapter 2**
How did it get there? Something to remind me… about what I lost? Damn you Truth. But… I'm thankful… For giving me something to remind me… that I'm not from this world…
He opened the watch. The reminder of that day. He looked at the watch itself. And he saw Al… in a hospital room. He seemed… poignant… not the usual cheery Alphonse. _Of course. To them, he died._ The 'General' entered the room. _Heh, Mustang. _The pictures were heartbreaking… knowing that he left them. But it was reassuring that the deal with Truth worked. Izumi was there too. He couldn't hear what they were talking about. But…judging by the look on their faces… It was soemthing… sad... He wanted to cry out that he was alive… but at least… He would be able to see Al…
He gazed at the watch, watching his little brother…
But wait… _Why?_ Why did… he give this to me? This is priceless… A mirror between the dimensions? He'd have to search this up tomorrow. He slid it into his pocket and stayed up all night wondering about the possibilities of the pocketwatch.
And he had a new objective: learning to lipread.
==0==0==0==
Edward wasn't one for school. His intellect was well beyond what people would call normal. Yes he had gone to school. When he was _five._ Yes. He was five right _now_. But he didn't give a damn. He knew more than his teachers, they were extremely slow paced and Edward hated it. He often skipped classes to go to the village library and stay there until he knew classes were over. (Sacha scolded him for skipping, but he just tuned it out, completing several circles in his mind balancing them, adding complexities until Sacha noticed he wasn't listening.) The library had helped him a lot in coping with the advanced technology. Weird thing was, they were treating _plastic _prosthetic like they were extremely wonderful _a gift for mankind_ they say. _Psht, if Winry was here, she'd be happy to ramble on and on and on about how the automail works. These guys are idiots._ (If only he studied into it… He'd be filthy rich.) The motions were very limited unlike the automail Winry makes for him. He was both frustrated and amused that the people around him were complete idiots. They knew next to nothing about Chemistry. (This he found out was the closest to Alchemy in this world.) The molecular structure of everything came to him easily while even _experts_ couldn't identify the material without touching the object! He could perform alchemy _while_ dodging _projectiles_ and they couldn't even properly _add_. When he was their age he already knew the periodic table _by heart_! It was frustrating!
Sacha had talked him into going to school, 'make friends' she says. Friends? Hell, he couldn't even _find_ someone who could talk to him without spacing out or carrying the conversation to something very annoying. Like candies. Sodas. _Cartoons. _No, seriously. He was the _only_ kid in his class not interested in cartoons… So why the hell would a sixteen year old boy be interested in cartoons? Just imagining it made him shudder.
He avoided people, created circles in class (to look like he was taking down notes), practiced Xingese writings (people here called it Chinese) and tried using Alkahestry that Mei taught them (him and Al) before the battle with The Father, just in case their alchemy didn't work. He didn't exactly excel in it, they were after all only taught for 6 weeks. Said branch was very different from what he's used to. Everytime he was bored, he threw sharp objects to create the pentagram, then find the 'Vein of The Dragon' and run the equations in his mind. Alkahestry wasn't that different from Alchemy. It just required more guidance from the alchemist. People's reactions to it still made him laugh. (One was when he created a hole in the ground the size of an unnaturally large shoe, a lot of people trip at it. It was surprising, and he found it extremely amusing.)
His pocket watch was always with him and it wasn't working as a clock. He had convinced Sacha that he would go to the Clock shop to get it repaired. It was the only memento that was from Amestris. It also amplified the alchemical energy that he could use. Meaning, without the pocketwatch, Ed would tire more easily.
He glanced at the clock. From what he had observed, the clock only showed Al and the others if he thinks about that person when he opened the watch. The last time, he willed himself to look at Winry and snapped the pocketwatch then came blushing furiously afterwards… She was in the _shower. _He'd have to have better timing… If Winry knew… The _wrench_ would take revenge. Ha shuddered at the thought.
He took it to a clockwork shop and they were completely baffled by the technology. They had asked him whether or not it was his and he just glared at them. The glare was very intimidating for someone his apparent age. They had explained that it was very valuable and the clockwork was very antique. The shopkeeper tried to ask him where he bought it and then he snickered.
"Hm? This _pure silver _watch you ask? Maybe I passed a state" -_Alchemist Military-_ "exam and was given this as proof I did?" He said, knowing that they wouldn't take a kid seriously. The man laughed…
"Sure, kid. And you're the youngest?" The man said mockingly Edward smiled at the man. _He had no idea. _
The shop had changed the clockwork but Edward glared at them when they charged him 4 pounds for the pocket watch.
"Seriously, sir? The metal's all brittle and the hinges are loose. Even the battery's nearly dead. This won't even last a few weeks in my care!What a_ swindler_." He shouted at the keeper.
"Haha, You have a good eye kid." The shop keeper was perplexed, How had the kid known he did a sloppy job? He was never caught! Okay so there was this one time… And this… And there was this time when… _so what it happens a lot!?_ It was supposed to go: 'Mister! This is faulty! You can have it!'
Edward jumped to sit at the counter table then leveled a stare at the man. "Hn… Bet you would tell me it's no good then you'll end up buying it from me. 2 pounds. _Fix it._" He said with his 'Colonel' tone. He inwardly snickered at how the man visibly paled in front of a little kid. He would enjoy using this glare very much. Now he knew why Mustang loved manipulating people.
The man fixed his watch. When he returned it, it was as good as new.
"Thanks, old man!" he said as he walked away. The man sighed in relief. _Can't believe I was outsmarted by a kid…_
==0==0==0==
On Edward's way back to the orphanage, he saw some weird looking people wearing weird clothes. Coats? No. _Curtains? Probably._ What else could they be? Speaking of _clothes_…
Sacha gave Edward 10 pounds for his trip. Which he admitted was more than he needed, but he _had_ been helping around, so Sacha probably gave him the money to thank him. He went to the fabric store and found some red cloth. He wouldn't wear it, of course, It was just something… in case… he got bloodied or something… Okay! He missed his coat. But he'd look silly wearing it with his body right now, so he decided to postpone it for later. He could always wear it anytime.
Edward wasn't sure on where to spend his money on. And he still wasn't used to the currency. He usually just based it on how much candies cost. But this country's economy was high so the little coins and the bigger coins were confusing. He didn't want to exactly research it; he figured it would come with time. (In the end, it took him a few weeks.)
He also knew he shouldn't purchase books available in large quantities; they would just be a burden to him and he could stack the knowledge in his brain. He wasn't a researcher at twelve for nothing. He had already caught up with the latest technology. Cell-phones, which were more convenient than walkie talkies the military sent out. And cars that were… very advanced compared to what they had back in Amestris. He scavenged the community library for books on Alchemy. And was disgusted that there wasn't a single proper book on alchemy. _How could they have advanced technology but no alchemy? This is bordering ridiculous. _He thought with a long suffering sigh.
He looked rather intimidating. He was reading up on 'World History'(he wasn't very interested, but knowing what happened to this world would help him have topics of conversation) and had 'Advanced Chemistry', 'Robotics', 'Software Programming' on the pile on his right and piles of other books on his left. He had almost finished his last shelf in the library and the boredom was to come. He should ask Sacha where the next library was. He closed the last book in the library that was worth reading.
==0==0==0==
He was so bored that he even _considered _reading the children's books. He was frustrated and annoyed, so he started walking back home. He considered writing his supposed research but pushed away that thought. _No. This place doesn't need alchemy._ He resigned himself to finding a worthy _university…_ maybe start building rockets? That would be nice, except, no one would take him seriously with his apparent age. So, he was stuck doing nothing for several months. That bored him to the extremes.
Then an idea hit him. Maybe he could attend formal training in martial arts! He was still skinny, but due to his daily morning exercises and stretches, he seemed more toned. That would be a wonderful idea! I just have to do this! He grinned triumphantly. He went to the orphanage kitchen to ask Sacha about the classes.
"Sacha! Can I attend Martial arts classes?" Edward intoned.
"Martial arts, kid? You little runt?" Edward nearly burst into his usual tantrum. He breathed. _ I'm tall for my age! Well… apparent age._
"Yeah!" he said brightly. Truly excited to get training.
"Oh? Well, we don't have the funds, so you'll have to find a decent instructor that would charge for free." She said ruefully.
"So can I? I'm going to look for an instructor myself!" He asked once more.
"Just don't get yourself in trouble, you hear?" Sacha commanded with a chuckle..
"Yes, sir!" He offered a protocol salute.
==0==0==0==
His trainings daily were rigorous, but no one in the house knew he was even exercising. He would do a proper cool down and let his breathing slow before he left his room. He would wake up at 3am and start his workout routine. At 5, he ran around the orphanage, one additional lap weekly to build up his endurance. And he switched his routine of running around the orphanage to running around the neighborhood, memorizing streets, turns, junctions, so he wouldn't get lost. One said occasion, he wandered farther than he was supposed to. A street called… _Little Whinging_. He still couldn't believe that he was in a different world. Yes he had accepted so, but he was still uneasy. Did Truth do as he said? But why just send me here? Magic? He scowled.
Then he noticed something. A big.. _walrus?_ Was beating up a kid way smaller than _him_. He had to do something about that. He walked toward the bullies while the walrus picked the smaller one off the ground.
"Hey, big guy. You have fun bullying the poor kid?" He taunted. The bullied kid was relatively short. _Smaller than him ._ The thought made his mood become lighter. The kid had glasses -ones that were nearly _falling apart- _covering his green eyes. Black hair was mushed, courtesy of the walrus.
"Heh. Little kid, you shoodent pick on meh. Yah might get hurt." Big walrus said as he dropped the kid. "Whatcha gunna do? Cry to yar mama?" Edward was trying not to send his fist flying. The walrus had guts.
"I'm sorry, but going to the _police_ would be more appropriate." He said coolly. "And you fat ass will be sent flying if you don't." The walrus cracked his knuckles. _Two could play that game. _ He did as well, waay louder that the walrus'.
He placed himself in a stance his teacher drilled into him. Glaring daggers at the walrus.
"Bring it!" He declared.
"Heh, Dun come cryin to yah mama when you end up losing, punk!" Walrus said grinning widely _Oh? You're the one who's gonna 'come cryin to yah mama' Idiot._
He knew he needed to hold back. The kid obviously doesn't have any training. He advanced, jumped and sent a punch to the big kid's face intentionally breaking the kid's nose.
"Why you!" The kid was obviously pissed off. He was holding his now bleeding nose. He launched at Edward with his full body, expecting to hit. Ed side stepped the attack and the fatso ended up crashing to the floor _headfirst._ Edward was chuckling by now. The kid absolutely looked ridiculous!
The kid stood up. "You're gunna pay for this, punk!" _Oh please, even Al could make a better taunt than that!_Okay maybe he was knew Al wasn't like that… _ Al…_ He made a little dismissing glance and scurried away from Ed. Running with his tail between his legs.
"Umm… Thank you…" A little uncertain voice called. He turned. _Oh. I forgot about the kid…I should really pay more attention._
"No problem." Edward brushed him off.
"Umm…" The boy was certainly very shy. If Ed was going to spend time with him, he'd have to make this kid more confident.
"Oh, my name's Edward. Call me Ed."
"H-Harry." He said quietly. What was wrong with this kid? He sighed.
"Anyway, those cuts and bruises must sting. Come with me! I'll help you get cleaned up!" He offered the ki… Harry.
"But… I need to hurry back. My Aunt would punish me if they know I haven't cooked their lunch yet." He said sheepishly, adjusting his broken glasses.
"Heh, making children do the work for them, psh. You should treat those first. Who cares about that, if they're angry at you for not doing slave work, then let them. But how about you come with me to the orphanage first?"
"O-orphanage?" He asked owlishly.
"You're not going to stay there for good, you know. Besides, they have medical kits there." Ed said as he assisted Harry from his position on the floor.
"Uhm… Thanks…" _This guy's not used to kindness eh? _Edward scowled. _What kind of human would make their nephew a live slave-like life? His Aunt, duh._
==0==0==0==
Edward guided Harry to the orphanage. Giving him support. He had taken a quick look over and found that the bullied had a dislocated ankle and several cuts and bruises all over his body.
"Sacha!" He called as he always did. No answer. _Guess they're out._
"I'll bring you to the kitchen. The medical kit's there." He said reassuringly. Harry nodded quietly.
When they reached the kitchen, he let harry sir on a chair. He took out the medical kit and a piece of paper and a Sharpie marker. The cuts and bruises would stay for a while. He would use Alkahestry to close the cuts and makes the bruises less painful and colorful. He opened the kit with practiced ease and took out cottons and alcohol.
"Cover your eyes. This would _look_ painful." He can't just let the kid know he had some strange power. The kid obeyed willingly and put his hand on his eyes. _Good. That would shield the light enough,_
He quickly drew a pentagram on the paper and placed it underneath the low chair harry was sitting on, and activated it. Harry's cuts disappeared, and the bruises turned back to the skin's normal pallor.
"Feel better?" He asked.
"Uh… Yeah.. How did you…?" He asked. _I adjusted your immune levels, made it react immediately to your injuries, then put it back to regain homeostasis. _Ed snickered. It would be fun to see how he would react but it would be bad in the long run.
"S'a secret." He smirked. "Would you want me to escort you home? You might be a little dazed."
"I'm fine." He adjusted his broken glasses once more. Edward frowned thoughtfully. A few seconds of silence passed. No one was talking nor moving
"Give me your glasses." He finally said.
"Umm… why?" Harry said a little startled.
"Hehe… You'll know. Just give it!" He said handing out his palm. Harry reluctantly gave his glasses to Edward. Edward went to the dining area, leaving Harry in the Kitchen.
"Eye-grade?" He shouted. Forgetting that he would change the glasses if it would be useable.
"Umm… It's.." Harry told Edward his Eye-grade.(A/n I have no idea what harry's eye-grade is .)
Edward ran to the study placed the glasses on the table. A flash of light, then it was repaired.
==0==0==0==
Edward escorted Harry to his house. When the door opened, he saw another walrus. _Good grief! How many Walruses are in this town?_ He shook his head… He'd have to research a _cure_ for this…
Edward gave them a very bright smile and told them that he'd like to be friends with Harry. They seemed incredulous at first, but when Edward told them he was the son of a very respected Chemist, they backed off, smiling . ("Social Climbers…" Ed grumbled. Harry looked at him confused.) Inviting him to dinner. Ed declined. Sacha would have his head if he just left without a note.
"Bye Harry! See you later!" Ed hollered, while jogging away. He grinned._ Being a pretend five year old is fun!_
==0==0==0==
_Reviews? Questions? Disclaimer etc are supposed to be…here? Okay then, I don't own FMA or HP ok? Good. People should know we writers don't own these said stories._
_Criticisms are appreciated. Be as blunt as you like. I won't take it negatively._
_I've edited some of the other parts, but it's going to be easier to read, now that I reattached the linebreaks._
3. Chapter Three
**Chapter 3**
Edward was annoyed. The colleges were kind of low to not let him in. It was kind of annoying for them to laugh at him. Saying he was nothing but an _airheaded_ brat. He's smarter than most of those idiots!
"You got some business here? Well, screw you. Anyone here might've let you in, but not on my watch brat."
They weren't friendly to him, well, he could accept that, because who would want to be outsmarted by a kid who is more than three times younger? Even Mustang had - albeit grudgingly - accepted the fact that Edward surpassed a lot of his fellow officers in terms of military capabilities. He was never really one to make his own image anyway. He went to the next known College in the neighborhood. Silently hoping that they wouldn't throw him out this time. He wanted to learn new things. The anatomy of the human body was something he knew a lot about. But it was only partial. He wanted to know more about the healing techniques to able to apply it in Alkahestry. Who knows? No one said this neighborhood was completely safe. He wanted to save lives. And the town library didn't have the right type of information for it. He needed to go somewhere with enough books. Like Central's library. Which, to his disdain, was only accessible to those who had a State Alchemist watch. It was one of the reasons he chose to join the military. Funding and Intel being two he mostly needed.
He shuttled to the building. Amused by the surprised looks everyone was giving him. "Kid! No running in the hallways!" one shouted. Some didn't even pay any heed to him like it happened every day. _Maybe some of the teachers bring their children to school._ He went to the lobby, taking quick directions from the floor plans. _Right there, left… left once more then second on the left corridor._ Then took off once more.
He stopped on the place where the library was. He stopped for a while. Then slowed his breathing. _I shouldn't have ran…_ The he entered. He froze. The library was monstrous! Not as big as Central's… but still! He was so excited. He would read every single book in here. He walked slowly inhaling the scent of olden books, _the scent of knowledge_.
"Hey, kid." A raspy voice sounded from his right.
"Huh?" he said intelligently, looking at the source of the voice. It was from an old woman, late fifties. Graying hair and thin rimmed glasses. _Probably the librarian._
"You do know you aren't allowed in here right?" she said. He was disappointed.
"Why the hell am I not allowed? Libraries are supposed to be open to the public." He grumbled. Low enough that was for the library.
"Heh, if you aren't from here, kid, you need a letter from either a teacher or the supervisor to let you use this place. They would be kind enough to do that and the letter would last till the paper disintegrates." The librarian said humorously. "Though I have no idea what reading material you might want to read here since all of these books tackle subjects even the _seniors_ can't understand."
"Thank you miss." He bowed respectfully. _It would__n't be a good idea to get on the bad side of someone who I might see everyday…_ He then ran to the lobby once more. Memorizing the map. _Teacher's lounge… lounge… There it is! Room 112._ He decided not to rush. It was still early. He walked casually, his sense of direction was something he took pride in. He seldom got lost, but it was more of luck – so to say the _lack_ of it – that he did. After a few minutes, he spotted the teacher's lounge. He knocked once. No answer. He knocked again. Still none. So he decided to see if it was unlocked or not. To his surprise it _wasn't. _He entered and saw no one. _Huh… Now how am I supposed to get that f***ing slip?_ He looked around, looking for something that would resemble a human being.
No such luck. He sighed. What was he to do when everything he planned lacked resources or people to contact? It annoyed him to no end. He turned to leave when something caught his eye. It was a chalkboard with several problems and their corresponding answers. But something felt wrong. He read through the problems and their supposed answers, nothing was right! It was maddening how the people in this world couldn't solve such simple problems. _Who the hell answered this? _He took the eraser and started erasing the 'answers'. Then he started solving them just for the heck of it. He knew he didn't have any benefits in doing so, but figured it was enough to ease his boredom. He liked thinking critically. _Borrow 1… sigma…psi7 multiplied by… all over…_
He wrote the answers on the board with frightening speed, erasing and rewriting things here and there, double checking everything if they were right or wrong. After several long minutes, he wiped his brow and admired his work. _That's better. Though,my mind finished it earlier..._ He left the room, his boredom sated, and fished out his pocketwatch.
He didn't notice the teacher who had seen everything he did.
==0==0==0==
4. Chapter Four
**Chapter 4**
Ed shuffled in his seat. He took one of the isolated tables to eat in peace. He got hungry and went to the cafeteria to buy something without milk in it. He ordered two cups of rice, three steak strips, a corn salad, several lettuce leafs, Caesar dressing, and orange juice. The cafeteria lady looked at him fondly. Most of the kids never ordered vegetables, but Ed wanted to have a balanced diet. He burns more calories than the average five-year old so he needed to eat more. Exercising needed a lot of proteins and vitamins. He finished his rice as he ravenously divided the food into mouthfuls. He was about to gobble a lettuce leaf when a voice called out to him.
"Hello little kid."A man no older than…wait…
"H-Havoc?" He gaped. _Why was he here? Oh… okay… double. Relax Ed. He isn't Lt. Havoc._
"Oh? You know my name? I must be famous!" Edward choked on air. Trying to suppress his laughter. He really acted like the Havoc he knew.
"But at least, call me Professor Havoc. I worked hard for it!" He smiled brightly.
Edward chuckled. But sadly, he wasn't the same Havoc he knew. He had long since figured out that most of the People from Amestris had their doubles here. And while having familiar face around was comforting, they didn't hold the same sadness and knowledge as the ones from Amestris.
"Okay then, _Professor _Havoc. What can my humble self do to be of service?" Edward said, smiling politely. Using the tone Col-_General_ used when talking to people who piss him off.
"Man! You sound like Roy!" He chuckled, Patting Edward a little too hard for his comfort. "I already like you, kid." _Mustang has a double?_ He sighed. It would be hard to call him 'Roy' instead of 'Bastard' or 'Colonel'.
"I am not a kid!" Oh How he sounded like one.
"Sure you aren't. Anyway, I saw what you did in the lounge." He said, his eyes trailing dangerously, dropping his bright and carefree demeanor. Now this seemed more like Havoc when he was assigned to interrogate someone. It was a good thing that Edward was already immune to it. He'd been interrogated by Havoc one too many times already.
_Lounge?_ Hmmm… "That problem?" He asked, to make sure. It was a simple problem most alchemist could solve easily. It had a painstakingly long procedure, but other than that, it was really simple. You just need to learn the fundamentals and how to apply them. Simple as pie.
"Yeah. How long have you been learning, kid?"
"Since the day I could read." Ed said casually.
"How old are you?"
"You should be able to guess, you know. Being a Doctor and all."
"Haha, you're right. But I just want to make sure. You could be a ten year old for all I care."
"Do I look like ten to you?" He stopped himself. "I'm sixte- five!"_ Ed! You are five years old!_
"FIVE!?" Havoc exclaimed, unbelieving. That earned a few stares from the people around them.
Edward laughed heartily. _If only you knew._
"You don't believe me, do you?" Edward gave him a second to regain his composure.
"Y-you're serious?"
"I don't joke." Edward said seriously. Breaking the tense atmosphere by gobbling his lettuce, then munching on his carrots.
"You… you…"Havoc didn't seem to be able to make up his mind. "Come with me." He dragged Edward by the collar.
Edward glared. "You! I haven't finished my food yet!" Ed shouted angrily.
"Finish it later!" Havoc said with a smile.
"If I don't finish it, you're going to treat me to a restaurant of my choice!"
"Fine! Just come with me, brat." Havoc said, unaware of the danger that was coming to his precious wallet.
==0==0==0==
"So… What am I supposed to do again?" Edward asked uncertainly. Glancing at the papers in front of him. The was a single sheet on top of a folder. The sheet had circles aligned in four a row. With the first four English Letters labeling each. It was obviously a test answer sheet and questionnaire.
"Answer these test questions." Havoc commanded. Ed sighed. If he was still back in Amestris, he could pull rank to avoid this… Sadly, he wasn't a Colonel here…
"Alright. No time limit?" He caved.
"Just make sure you finish it." Ed blinked. Of _course _he would.
He browsed through the folders and found that it contained at least 200 questions. He opened it to the first page and started shading. Havoc was watching him intently. He finished in about an hour and Havoc silently took the answer sheet with a contemplating look on his face.
He took out a paper which had holes in it. _Probably the template._
He took his time checking, and Ed was getting bored. He sighed and opened his pocketwatch, thinking about Al. He was still learning how to lipread but he could make out most words already. It would come. Al's mannerisms were familiar but it would at least take a few more months till he would become proficient in the practice. But he was patient. And thankful that he was given such a gift. He was a little annoyed that he had to spend his precious time waiting. He should've brought his Research journal! Well at least _then _he'd have something productive to do.
A shuffling of papers alerted Ed that Havoc had finished checking his work. He snickered at the disbelieving face Havoc made.
"Y-you're… serious?" Havoc muttered. "I nearly _failed_ this exam… scraping 50%... And I'm a _professor_."
"Aww… Don't worry, Havoc. I won't tell anyone…" Ed chided. It would be amusing to be a college student at five.
"Kid! You're called a genius aren't you?"He said obviously still in shock.
"They call me a prodigy, but I don't get it. My friends and brother calls me stupid all the time…" he said obliviously, snickering at the fish-eyed face Havoc had.
"I'll vouch for you." Edward paused.
"Vouch?" Ed asked confusedly "Anyway, I only want to have access to your college's library. I've finished the city library, well except for the children's books, but I still want to learn about healing techniques and pressure points and stuff…"
"Yes, yes." Havoc drew a yellow slip of paper from under his desk and signed it with a grace the other Havoc never bothered to have.
"Here, your library slip. Laminate it so it doesn't get wet. I'd hate to sign another one of those." Ed smiled widely _Finally! Library, here I come!_
"Oh, and by the way, I want to eat at L'Renioulle's for dinner." Havoc paled.
==0==0==0==
Havoc wasn't having a very wonderful day. Firstly, he got dumped by another girl. Secondly, most of his students were incompetent. Lastly, He lost a bet to Mustang. He tried to woo another girl, but he didn't have any luck. He was a Professor in the Technological Institute Majoring in Communication networks.
It took him several years to achieve status, but all his hardwork paid off! Now, he had a house to himself, a car and most importantly, a degree! But he still had a long way to go. A lot of the things he did still didn't make sense. _It would come with time._ He thought. He entered the teacher's lounge and found a kid writing on the chalkboard. He smiled. Maybe the kid thought it nice to draw. But when he looked closer, his eyes bugged out. The kid was solving a problem his co-worker had spent _days_ to understand. He watched in rapt fascination. He would love to have the kid as his student!
A few minutes into the problem, the kid paused and rechecked his work. The kid beamed and put down his chalk and eraser. The handwriting was surprisingly legible and the lines were immaculately straight. Did the kid practice this? He looked over the problem and found that _he_ had a hard time understanding the theorems and the solution. Who was that kid? He tried to remember the kid's features, but he only saw the back of his head. And remembered that the kid was blonde. _Who said blondes were dumb?_ He truly wanted to protest about that stereotyping, but resisted. It wouldn't do good to make society your enemy.
He searched the canteen for the kid and he was greeted a lot. Who knew he was so popular? His eyes darted from blonde to blonde, searching for the kid.
"Jean!" a voice called.
"Oh. Marge, hello." He said distractedly.
"Oh. You're like that now? Ignoring me?"
"Oh! Of course not! It's just… I'm looking for someone." He said, shifting his attention to his friend.
"I can probably help. But you have to do something for me first!"
"No thanks. The last time you asked me to do something, I was completely humiliated. Noo way.." Havoc raised his arms in front of his head.
"Aww… You're no fun! Anyway," a cough. "what do you say about quitting smoking? You're a professor now. You should be more concentrated on your health!"
"Maybe next time." Havoc lighted a cigarette and puffed out smoke.
"Do not smoke in the cafeteria! This is a non smoking area." Marge said, hitting the backside of Havoc's head. The cigarette fell on the floor, becoming unusable. Havoc whimpered muttering something like 'My cigarette!'
"Okaayy… I get it! Stop Hitting me!"
After an exchange of a few more pleasantries, Havoc asked Marge to help him look for the little blonde kid.
"You know, you're really blind." Marge said with a chuckle.
"What do you mean?" Havoc asked, his hands in his pocket.
"He's right behind us you know." Havoc smiled sheepishly.
"Oops… Thanks for the help." He patted Marge's
He went near the kid, leaving an exasperated Marge behind.
He liked the kid. He was witty and has a larger vocabulary than any five year old he'd encountered. He reminded him of one of his friends. He didn't know what got into him, but he dragged the kid out, promising to treat him to a restaurant. He agreed for no specific reason. Kids usually had cheap tastes, so he didn't really worry about having holes in his wallet.
He gave a questionnaire for thied year college students to the little kid, just to test how wide his reading material spread out. There were some history questions, chemistry, physics, trigonometry, and some and other miscellaneous questions that didn't mean anything. Havoc was hit by the miscellaneous questions hard. He wasn't a very wide reader, just skimming on the parts that didn't involve his profession. And it was not fun.
Edward was answering the question fast. Real fast. He was given at least three hours for the examinations and Edward finished within an _hour_. It was unbelievable. He should expect more surprising stuff later.
After checking the paper. His reaction was: What. The. Hell!? The kid answered almost everything correctly. Missing some miscellaneous questions, that revolved around music. It was a little degrading. Being beaten by a five-ear old wouldn't go well for his popularity...
And it turns out, the kid just wanted a library pass! Good grief. And now the kid wanted _him _to eat at L'Renoiulle's. The expensive French restaurant downtown. He thought the kid wouls ask McDonalds or something… Gah. Oh how he hated his life.
==0==0==0==
Edward was walking with an extra bounce in his steps. He was so happy he could finally enter the library! Hah! Take that, stupid University! He entered the library and jumped up to the librarian's counter.
"Here." He presented the laminated pass to the librarian. The librarian barely gave him a glance as she took the card and stamped a hot plate on it. The plastic had become embedded with the university logo. The librarian returned it to him and continued doing writing on whatever it was.
He stopped for a while, inhaling the scent of the library. The smell of knowledge, old books and newly printed ones. He was excited! He went near the nearest bookshelf and picked out the book on the lowest divide. He sa down on the floor and started reading.
He didn't know how much time passed, nor did he remember how many books he had read, but it was enlightening. He would finish this shelf in a week or so if his plans weren't destroyed by anyone or anything and he was satisfied.
==0==0==0==
It was already dark outside and Sacha was getting worried. Normally, Edward would be home by six and it was already nearly Seven! She paced, _What if Edward got kidnapped?_ She didn't want to admit it, but she didn't want to go outside the orphanage at night. She had one too many unpleasant experiences as a wizard. She went to the study, hoping that Edward was there, reading a newly purchased book or something. Sadly, her hopes were crushed. Ed wasn't there. She checked his room and still… She felt something tugging at the bottom of her skirt.
"Miss Sacha?" A little voice called. It was Lin. One of the 5 year olds.
"Oh, what is it dear?" Shesat down, petting Lin's head.
"Ed told me, tell you that he go in the University." She said quietly. "Library, he says."
Sacha facepalmed. Of course! Ed and hi libraries…
"Thanks for telling me." Lin nodded and scurried off to bed.
Sacha sighed. Why did she volunteer for this again?
==0==0==0==
_New chapter! Yay! How I love reviews. The internet connection at home sucks.I didn't have anything to do, so voila! _
5. Chapter Five
**A/N As you can see, I'm getting very impatient with the story development, so I'm going to have a six-year timeskip. My internet access is limited right now and I have nothing better to do than write. And of course, I finished this more than two weeks ago, but I kinda passed the notebook I summarized the chapter for something on school, and I didn't want to change it, so I waited... I'm going to explain what happened in those six years as flashbacks and/or a short explanation. :)**
Enjoy!
==0==0==0==
Chapter Five
Edward wasn't having a hard time in adjusting to his new life. The past few years had been fun. At eight, he became a respected chemist. At ten, he was on his way to having his own laboratory.(He got sponsored big time, even though his lab was improperly equipped, it wasn't such a big deal if you had alchemy) He had been debating whether or not he would become a teacher in college(There had been some problems with the Dean regarding his age, but with Alter!Mustang's blackma-err... persuasion, the Dean accepted). Amusingly, no one even tried to spite him because he was young_, too young_ in fact.
His first year was incredibly amusing. People kept thinking he was lost and always guided him to the gate exit. He would humor them and when they reached the exit, he would thank them. Then he shows up at the classroom. As their _professor_. It was fun to see them gawking at him.
Edward's first classes tended not to be taken seriously. Maybe because they thought that since a little kid could get it, meant that they could easily do it. What they didn't know was that Edward was a genius and a merciless slave driver. He seldom finishes a class without having each and every single one of his students understand the concepts and principles he had discussed. He doesn't let the students out of the classroom if they do not understand. He always makes sure that the details had been drilled into his pupil's brains. Edward always sent out essays, mostly having the students review and measure the information they processed in the lecture. Edward was dubbed 'The Little Terror' and he snapped at the unfortunate students who happened to be talking in the immediate area, glaring at them murderously. (He hissed "I'm. Not. _Short._" The next day, he sped up the lecture as at a pace he knew only he -and a few others- could keep up with. He openly showed how pissed off he was. Since then the students never mentioned his lack of height, and Edward was glad for it.)
He was well known in the campus, but he barely gave his supposed fame any attention. But he found that seeing people older than him know less than he did quite amusing and frustrating. He knew he was considered a genius but seeing people so _incompetent_... Well, sure, the professors were competent, but it was rare for anyone else to excel. His head got a little bloated at that, but he hid it well, only Al would notice it. Only his inner Al kept his head from bursting. Edward could never say no to his little brother.
The meeting with the Military counterparts was sad and sentimental. Mustang was the same egotistic, elitist bastard he remembered. Mustang did not know him... and it was a little saddening. They were the same, picking on his small stature every chance he got. The moment he saw Hughes, he nearly cried. Ed didn't even remember what his voice sounded like... Hughes died way too early in the war with the Homunculus and Edward missed him. He didn't even complain when Hughes kept bragging about Gracia, his beloved Girlfriend. In fact, he even smiled, acknowledged and pushed Hughes on. They would make a good match, and Ed just wanted Elysia to exist already. Everyone looked at him as if he'd grown another head, but dismissed it as childish curiosity.
He chuckled bitterly. The emotional scars everyone sustained in Amestris was considerably heavier. It was inevitable though. These people were never sent to the Ishbal war front lines. They have never taken a life before... As for Edward though... He'd witnessed war. It was despicable. Once or twice, he didn't want to remember, he was forced to kill. He didn't know how to react to his first kill. He didn't know how to cope with it and his brain refused to function properly. He got over it when Mustang nearly literally charred him to understand that what happened, happened. Nothing could do anything about it. Sometimes the bastard wasn't such a bastard. But he was still annoying.
When he found friends in the military's doubles, he moved out of the orphanage and stayed at the college dorms. Hughes had called it a scholarship but Ed doubted that it was one. He visited Sacha once every few weeks. The orphanage had grown on him. And he was grateful.
Right now, Edward was in his laboratory, researching for the best solution for a cheap and manageable superconductor. He had the fundamental characteristics down and the base metals were already chosen. There was just a little problem about the ratio of the trace metals that would make up the superconductor. It needed to have the right malleability, and shouldn't be too soft. It was his latest project. And with no immediate goals, he just went through life to enjoy it. He knew that alchemy couldn't send him back. Truth was just a bastard like that. He tried to last a month without researching or doing anything scientific. And it seemed that he could not. He got frustrated. And it was his decision to do something that might benefit this world. His world. This was his world now. Unless some higher being decide to send him back; highly unlikely.
He had finalized the base metal when he heard a tapping by the window. _What?_ Was his first thought.
He went nearer to the sound and found an Barn owl. He decided to ignore it, but he noticed that it brought something. He opened the window and petted the owl once(to make sure it was tame). And the owl surprisingly purred. He didn't know if it was normal for owls to purr, so he didn't give it any attention. He took the letter. He skimmed it once, twice, and sighed. Useless. Magic? Witchcraft? And seriously, _Dumbledore?_ He'd at least get extra paper for research. Top quality Paper was getting harder and harder to find. And this was just... Wow. Why would anyone send this type of paper as prank materials? It was way too costly.
In the days that followed, several more letters arrived and he was getting annoyed. The stupid owl had sent twenty four letters in total and Ed wasn't stupid enough to think that this was still a prank. There was something fishy going on. He tried to reason that this was not good.(Once he thought that maybe one of his self proclaimed 'rivals' had the wits to try and throw him off rhythm by doing this. And how he was succeeding. Though Ed doubted someone would spend their money on useless pranks) A lot of wasted ink and paper. He sighed. He wanted people to be more aware of their actions. Ed decided to humor the render and replied:
_'To whom it may concern,
I'm sorry, but this is getting old. I mean really _really_ old. It's not that I'm not thankful for the high quality paper you so kindly supply me with, it's just... Irrational. I also demand you to stop this wasteful bombardment. You've killed more trees than I have liked.
P.S. If you however do believe that magic really does exist, please verify it by coming yourself or by proxy, whatever suits your taste.
Edward Elric'
_He let out a satisfied smile. That would probably make the sender stop.
He did a double take though, how was he supposed to send a letter back? A moment later, he decided that the owl was probably trained to ferry mail. It always stayed awhile after delivering the letters, and it was creepy.
A few days later, he found himself staring dumbly at an old woman by his doorstep. _What on earth?_
"You are Mister Edward Elric correct? I am Minerva McGonagall, A professor at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Pleased to meet you." Edward blinked. It took him awhile to regain his composure. What? This is...
"You... mean... You think magic is real? What a load of bull-"
"Language!" McGonagall was stern. She was scarily similar to teacher, and it doesn't bid him any good. He had also met Izumi's double at a nearby dojo. She taught Judo, Karate and Aikido. Edward was terrified. But at least his teacher's double wasn't as powerful and as skilled. Ed could probably beat this one in his sixteen year old body. But that didn't mean she could be taken lightly. Relearning the movements were hellish. His body wasn't acclimated to his mind yet and he sometimes did maneuvers that his younger body couldn't yet execute. But with a little extra conditioning, he didn't have to wait long to regain his strength, speed and stamina. When he turned Ten, he had reached fifth degree black already, At eleven, he reached seventh. Izumi wasn't as scary but her mere presence still scared the life out if him. Not that he would admit though... To train the mind, you must first train the body. He'd never forget that. He stopped his musings when he remembered that the 'professor' was still there. He did some estimates and he hasn't been dazed for too long. He wasn't embarrassed.
"Would you like to come in? It's a little messy..." He gestured inside and McGonagall followed.
Minerva was surprised. When she was sent to make sure a muggleborn would accept magic existed, she didn't expect a very _unchildlike_ type of living. The boy's room didn't have any toys, posters and such. The place was filled with papers, obviously notes. Notes for what, she didn't know. The bed was made perfectly. It was too Spartan.
"Any preferences for your drinks?" He started casually.
"I don't know any muggle drinks."
"Muggle?"
"Non magical beings." Ed rolled his eyes, and muttered something. 'senile' was what she could make out, and she smiled. Muggleborns usually accepted magic after some demonstrations and she wished he would too.
"Coffee then." He went toward the kitchen, heating some black liquid. Minerva took an unsuspecting piece of paper and read through it. It was gibberish to her, but it was amazingly intricate. Even if she wasn't well-versed in Muggle related studies, she could tell that it wasn't usual for an eleven year old to be able to do these. Ed came back with a tray in hand, two cups resting top of it.
"So, you believe in magic?" Straight to the point.
"Yes. And I went here to make sure that you attend Hogwarts."
"I don't believe this nonsense. Magic does not exist." he stated calmly. He was cut off by the floating of the tray. The china made some porcelainic sounds and it dropped back down to his table with a clank.
"Impossible! This... " his mind worked furiously, nothing. slammed on the table. Levitation!? What the hell. Where was the equivalence? Things don't float on their own! Strings? None. Balancing of two equally same charged substance? Nope. Rejection force of two positively or negatively charged...
"This doesn't follow equivalent exchange!" he hissed. "Impossible."
"I assure you Mr. Elric, this is in fact, quite real."
"That could be a fluke for all I care. How do I know you aren't some con artist?"
McGonagall said some words in a foreign tongue and the chair turned into a dog. It looked like Den- minus the automail.
"How dare you!" He hissed furiously. He stood up, his up in anger.
"No one gave you the right to play with lives!" The professor just raised an eyebrow.
"I assure you, Mr. Elric, the dog isn't in any pai-"
"To hell with this!"
"They can be turned back." she said, reverting the dog back in as a chair.
"How...?"
Ed breathed, trying to calm himself. Magic can't exist! If it did then... _Everything_ was... But there were no other explanations. He sighed. Giving it a chance won't hurt, right?
"Let's say I believe in this 'magic' of yours, what's in it for me?" McGonagall smiled. He was already considering the existence of magic. It would be easy from this point on. But... What could coax such a reaction from the blonde?
"You would learn how to harness your innate magic and it comes in handy." Ed snorted.
"So you're... 'wizards'," He paused... Magic. There wasn't anymore ways to go across The Gate with Alchemy... But maybe if magic exists... he might be able to get home! There was a way! He couldn't wait!
"What facilities do you have?" His eyes burned with a newfound determination. He would get home, no matter what!
"We have a Quidditch field," She hoped he would be interested. After all, most of the kids his age only thought about Quidditch. But sadly, he didn't even ask what it was! "all sorts of classrooms, a library, the dorms, the-"
"How big is your library?" he asked excitedly. How peculiar. Why an interest in the library when he could have Quidditch?
"The biggest in the state." she stated.
"Well then, enroll me or whatever. When does the term start?"
The deal was closed. He'd have to quit his teaching job though. He'd miss it. But it would be a change. He hasn't been a student since he was mentally five! At least he could relax. There wasn't any rush. He'd be normal for once.
"September. We'll go to Diagon Alley for supplies two weeks from now. Keep your day free. The supply lists are in the letters… that you kept receiving."
"The paper was nice by the way." Edward said with a slight smirk. McGonagall merely smiled.
"Well, then, it was nice meeting you."
Ed guided the teacher to the door and remembered... Sacha had a book about Hogwarts. He'd consult her when he had a chance. Right now, he had doubles to pacify his leaving.
==0==0==0==
Edward visited Sacha two days after his conversation with McGonagall. His mind was swirling with possibilities. Was Sacha a wizard? He'd have to confirm it. He didn't bother to knock, expecting Sacha to be home.
"Sacha, I've come to visit!" He called. Several little kids ran up to him.
"Edward niisan is back!"
"Edward!"
"What took you so long?" was endearing.
"Is Sacha here?"
"Miss Sacha said she would just go out to buy some coffee. Lara spilled the powder on the floor."
"It was an accident! You pushed me!" the child dubbed Lara started to storm around.
"I did not!"
"Did Too!"
"DID NOT!"
"DID TOO!"
"Now, now, would you want Sacha to have extra problems, now do you?" He scolded.
"No..." They answered simutaneously.
"Good." He patted their heads and smiled. He talked a bit with the kids and started to loosen up. A few more minutes and The door opened. Edward made aome shushing noises and sneaked up on Sacha.
"Why, nice of you to visit Miss." He whispered imitating a deeper voice. Sacha tensed and reached for something. Ed caught her hand and she looked up. Sacha breathed with relief.
"Don't do that! You scared the wits out of me!"
"Yeah, like thats fun at all."
"Edward!" She sighed "Would you join us for dinner? The kids would be happy to be able to dine with you again."
"Nah, I just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought I ought to drop by." Ed said with a smile.
"I would probably stay here 'til five" Ed chuckled, glancing at a wall clock. Two hours. "And I have some questions later." His tone calm.
Sacha just smiled. "How about we talk while I cook? I can multitask."
"I'll help." Ed fell into pace with Sacha. Ed was still a good head shorter than Sacha. But he still hadn't hit his growth spurt so it was fine. At least he didn't have an extra body to sustain anymore.(He still hadn't found proof to that theory, but it was highly possible.) And he didn't have the extra weight from his automail to stunt his growth.
He entered the kitchen and asked:
"What are you going to cook?"
"Just stew."
"Well, I'll start filling the pot then,"
After putting on a black apron, Edward pulled the pot by the sink and started filling it up. He saw Sacha slicing up carrots and cabbages. He smiled and shifted the weight of the pot in his hands and positioned the pot on the stove. He tried to turn on the stove, and found that it had no gas anymore. He glanced at Sacha. She was still busy. Ed disconnected the gas tank from the stove and dragged it with him to the outside. Hearing the sounds of movement, Sacha looked at him.
"What are you going to do?" She wiped her hand on her apron.
"I'll just refill this thing. It won't take long." He tapped the empty metal container. Then exited the kitchen through the back door.
He sat there, and analyzed the components of the cooking gasoline. He took some herbs and stuff to make it more efficient too. He clapped his hands and touched the assortment of objects. A flash of blue light, engulfed the container. Ed stood up, satisfied, and he heaved the thing up with a little effort. He went back inside, reconnecting the tube, just as Sacha was adding the vegetables to the pot.
"Where did you get that from?" Sacha asked curiously.
"S'a secret. It won't be a secret if I tell you." Ed smiled cheekily.
After setting the heat to mediim, she picked up a ladle and started stirring.
"You had some questions?"
"Yeah. McGonagall visited." She froze. And then smiled brightly.
"You're a wizard!" she said excitedly.
"That answers that." He said in an amused tone
"When are you going to Diagon Alley?" Sacha asked rather excitedly. She hadn't bee there for ages!
"Next Friday." Sacha sighed dejectedly.
"I won't be able to come..."
"It's not like I was inviting you anyway."
"Hey! That's mean!"
"Anyway, do you have any informative books about that place? Bonktarts was it?"
"Hogwarts!" she corrected a little indignantly.
"Yeah, yeah. Mustards." Sacha just rolled her eyes.
==0==0==0==
"Yo, pipsqueak." a familiar figure was leaning on the door to his dormroom. It was still awkward to see him not wearing I military uniform.
"Shut up, Mustang." He recoiled instinctively.
"So... You're going to a school school abroad?"
"... Something like that." Mustang's smile became dangerous.
"Do you know how much I money I invested just to let you teach?"
"Approximately £500." Edward said, a matter of factly. Ed fished out his keys and slotted one to the doorknob. The door opened to reveal a very messily neat room.
"Sometimes I wonder how the hell you manage knowing a lot of things and still don't get head splitting headaches."
"I've been through worse."
"Of course you have." he said pleasantly sarcastic.
"Oh, have you ever tried politics and/or the military? That would fit you more than being a professor."
"I have enough ability and experience to top most of them, and I'm not satisfied with the workings of the government, I have plans, but no initiative." Mustang smiled, gracefully sitting down on Ed's couch.
"Colonel... I remember you called me that the first time. Why would you though?"
"Haha... Sorry... You just remind me of someone." Ed smiled sheepishly.
"From the military." Mustang deadpanned.
"Yep." Ed smiled. Ed weighed down his options. It would be nice to have a confidante to his secrets. Mustang had been tight lipped about secrets. Like when Hughes... Died... Or... He breathed. It would be nice to have an anchor. But he decided it could wait.
"Anyway, I'll be 'shopping' for school stuff later this week..."
"The Oh so Great Edward Elric? Going shopping? Apocalypse!"
"Shut up Mustang."
"Any progress?" He asked. Shuffling several papers on his work desk. Probably the superconductor.
"Oh, I'm just adding the finishing touches. The trace metals are already near perfect ratio. I'd add more, but it's going to get too stiff and hard to manipulate."
"Wouldn't it be better to not make it too… what's the term? Ah, '_conducting'_?"
"No, the output would be reduced by 2.32%. If I play my cards right, it would end up having more than 3% more than usual. Wat… if I add more carbon here, then maybe the Aluminum would…" The ravenette stared at him amusedly. Ed pulled out a paper and started constructing several equations. Mumblig about bonds and insulations.
"AHA! There! Finally! You're a genius!" He was grinning widely.
"I don't get why _I_ am the genius, I hardly did anything."
"I wasn't talking to you!" Ed snapped. "But I've got it. Just need to put it formally… Then present it to the college, then… Coouldn't you just say you were the one who… 'invented' this? It'd save me the trouble."
"Hah, I wouldn't take the credit even if it made me famous. Though I've been wondering… How did someone as little as you finish something people all around had been trying to find?"
"LITTLE?! I AM NOT SHORT!"
==0==0==0==
_And that's a wrap! Next chapter is Shopping in Diagon Alley, maybe meeting some others..._
_Oh and like what I said above, I've finished this more than two weeks prior to the posting. I'm just lazy. Very much so. I've also started to write the next chapter so it'll hopefully come up soon._
_I kinda went around my word at the first chapters here… hehe… said I won't make Ed be too indignant about his height… BUT I COULDN'T HELP IT! The characters write themselves, you know? Bah._
_Reviews and comments are greatly appreciated_
6. Chapter Six
**A/N: Another Chapter! I'm finally starting The Hogwarts stuff. I haven't watched a single HP movie, nor have I finished any books. I'm relying solely on just the things I've read on other Xovers, so please feel free to point out what's wrong and what doesn't make any sense. I don't have my facts straight. Also, feel free to make suggestions. And if you have any reservations about how I write, I'm sorry, but it is likely changing, I'm not sure if that's good or bad. And some if the things that might have happened (in the story), didn't or isn't going to happen(because of lack of information), please tell me. So this is effectively AU. Also, since my first language isn't English, there might be some misuses of adjectives and maybe some spelling errors, so please be patient with me. I'm more than a little partial to researching for this fic since I only write this for fun and to shoo away boredom.**
**A/N 2: I noticed that I have been neglecting my fic in place of my own reading agendas, so I think It's about time I updated... Hehe... I ain't busy by any stretch of your imagination, but I think the largest contributing factor is my laziness...**
**And to answer someone's question,
# Yes. I forgot about Harry. XD**
**Enjoy!**
==0==0==0==
CHAPTER 6
Edward didn't know what to expect. He knew 'magic' existed. But it still didn't change the fact that they don't follow any rules! He sighed. The universe should have already collapsed by excessive use of those sticks! He sighed. This was going to take a lot of getting used to. He'd need to make sure his brain wouldn't fry with the amount of Universal Rules twisting. He sighed. Thus just wasn't that easy on his sanity. He sighed again... He'd been sighing waay too often for his liking.
Edward massaged his temples, this day was just too stressful! This morning had been the worst! A slimy black guy, weirdly similar to Mustang (obviously not the Colonel's counterpart since he had met him before) without the greasiness. Saying his name was Propeller Sufferous Snake... or something and also that he'll escort his 'responsibility' to shopping. He was told to touch a _worn sock_. He was incredulous at first, but put it in: 'Weird-things-needed-to-be-explained' list since plenty if things that didn't make sense kept on happening. He complied, and then in a moment they were there, the next... his stomach was twisting in a heavy knot and appeared somewhere unfamiliar. A noisy street with people to be specific. A lot of them. The noises were pounding on his disoriented brain, so he focused on breathing. He was given little time to get rid of his nausea and it annoyed him to no ends. It was apparently called 'Diagon Alley', filled with different colored robes of different people. He would've fitted in like a shoe had he worn his signature red cloak.
They went to the bank, Gringotts, first. He had noticed little fellas with weird anatomy configuration and felt the anger in his chest rise. Were they crazy?
"What are you thinking!? _Chimeras_!?" He hissed.
"No, Mister Elric, they're _goblins._ Have you or have you not studied magical creatures before? Chimeras are a third eagle a third lion and a third-" The Snake-ish man replied calmly, getting cut off.
"What the hell? Goblins? You've got some explaining to do."
The only thing he explained was that they were 'magical' and would learn about it in school. He grunted in annoyance.
The blonde was given a velvet money pouch that was relatively large. According to its composition, weight and density, it weighed more than the average coins, but he could carry it without much of a problem; though when the blonde had lifted the bag, the alchemist was surprised to find that it was lighter than expected. Had he miscalculated on the weight? But he was sure this certain type gold should be... He sent a glance at the black-haired man and saw that he had fingered his glorified twig; he shrugged it off figuring that the stick had something to do with it.
After a few narrowed glances to the creatures, they left the bank and hey headed to the bookstore, Flourish & Blotts, purchasing the needed curricular books. But Ed had other ideas. He had taken a LOT of other books, some things that might help and some for research. When he had taken all of the books he wanted, the cashier had looked at him oddly as he purchased the books. The greasy haired man sent him an oddly curious look. He just replied with a questioning glance.
"That's too many books, Elric." He had said disapprovingly but obviously amused.
Edward had just huffed, but complied.
When they neared the counter, he spotted a book with a Xerxian title, reading 'Potions'. _Xerxes. _The origin of Alchemy. Thoroughly interested, he took it and browsed. It really was in Xerxian... and it described the general layout of Central, Drachma... wait... Central? _Drachma?_ He reskimmed it and found that it was a coded formula. He snuck it in his purchases, he'd decode that later.
When Sufferous had told him to find a pet, the dimension hopper had been hesitant, but had settled with a red chick that seemed too small ("Small!?") for it's kind. His 'escort' had told him -rather curiously- it was a 'Finnick's' but had too little information to care. It was unusual judging from the man's reaction. The crimson bird was rather tame, in complete opposite to its owner. It had taken a liking to the golden eyed alchemist, it had been
Having his clothes outfitted was a different story, he had outright refused to wear anything resembling a uniform. The military back home(There he became a little broody) had allowed him(grudgingly) that he didn't have to wear the uniform. After a few minutes of a rather loud shouting match between the tailor and Ed - it was one sided really and the tailor was winning- Ed had complied, reasoning to himself that he could 'improve' it with his alchemy.
Getting a 'wand' was little bit more troublesome since the alchemist was still foreign to the concept of magic. They had gone to a place called Ollivander's, but Edward was too enthralled by the supernatural that he just didn't care. His supposed escort had chosen to wait outside the shop, saying that the shopkeeper had preferred it when the customer/s went inside alone. The old man in the shop was creepy as hell, but hey, he dealt with too many lunatics to let it get to him. The ma- Ollivander -as he had introduced himself- had asked for his dominant hand which was apparently both, for having an automail had honed both of his hands in dominancy, but settled for his right. He had no idea of how many wands he tried. One had made a coat rack burst into flames, another had made all the windows in his immediate area shatter. Edward apologized profusely, but the wandmaker shrugged it offhandedly, saying it was fine. In fact the crazy old man looked like he was enjoying it! Oh how right he was. After who knows how long, the wandmaker went to the back of his shop saying he had something. The shopkeeper had reemerged from the back area with a furnished black box that had gold trimmings on it. Edward sighed in relief when a few sparks if gold had erupted from its tips.
"Twelve inches, Phoenix feather, and the wood from the mythical Tree of Eve. It is said that this wand prophesizes the chosen one, but who knows... To have a wand such as this to choose you, you must have a kind and pure heart."
The blonde rolled his eyes. Pure? Kind? Him? Oh the irony.
"I have had this for several decades, but it has only now had found its owner. I was afraid that such a wand wouldn't be useable. But now my fears are unfounded."
The Alchemist exited the store feeling a little lightheaded. Having to shift from dark places to insanely lit ones were always nauseating. They had gone to the Leaky Cauldron for rest. The Professor had told him that he would go to a place called 9 3/4 Platform on King's Cross Station in two weeks time.
Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes. Dropping to a bed, he just hoped didn't have any nightmares.
True to his wishes, he had a fulfilling dreamless sleep.
The next morning was rather bleak. He had eaten a rather healthy breakfast(he refused to eat junkfood) , but that was it. He started to read the textbooks he had bought. In the book "Hogwarts: a History"(dubbed 'Thick Book'), The alias 'You-Know-Who' came out a few times, every time, he had to refrain to roll his eyes, really, was their government so terrified of a single person just because he could kill with two words? And to not even mention the _name?_ Ridiculous, but apparently, the 'Wizarding Community' didn't think so. The system of this part of the society was awfully crooked. Why weren't the completely obviously corrupt people been overthrown if... _Ugh._ He groaned. _I've spent too much time around Mustang. _
The Charms book was useless save for some list of spells and their effects. It only contained the 'hows' and 'whats' and not the 'whys'. No logical theories and helpful historical constructive reasons.
Herbology was slightly overwhelming, discussing about plants that he never knew existed and with the most ridiculous names. Potions had his interest peaked more than any other subject, it was very similar to alchemy in its precision. It needed little to none use of the glorified twigs and he was grateful. There were plenty more subjects but his interest had waned totally by the time he read about telling the future and such gibberish, a load of crock. That was impossible. Nothing is set in stone. You could always run and redirect it no matter. It was nigh improbable, bordering impossible. He closed the books, sighing in boredom, and piled them up in the trunk that was given to him, sealing it shut with alchemy. He gazed outside seeing the sun had already set, he collapsed onto the bed, letting sleep take over him.
Two weeks later, he found himself in front of a rather... Blank space. 9 3/4? Does that even exist? Well, yeah, according to the Thick History Book it did. He waited for other people to come so as to not make a fool of himself. He checked his pocketwatch. It was still early into the morning. He spotted a familiar tuft of black hair and he sauntered to it's owner.
"Harry!" Ed called, rather reservedly. After reading the Thick History Book, he had found the name Harry Potter more than a few times and, after a few minutes of data compressing, he had discovered that the Harry he had met and befriended had been the same person. Speaking of friendships, Harry had looked up to Ed when he was 'saved' from the bullies. They had also discovered that they went to the same grade-school but that didn't last long since Ed was technically just going there for credit. They- Ed at least- had kept in contact through letters and such. But once he had abruptly stopped receiving letters from the emerald eyed boy, he had become suspicious. It turned out that his Aunt had been withholding the letters. Highly irritated, he had stormed into the unsuspecting house and threatened to report them to the police for child abuse and ran away screaming 'abusive adopted families' over and over again while being chased-but utterly failing. That had to be one of the most fun things he had done as a kid. Pleased to say, Harry had nearly died of laughter. But sadly, it wasn't taken to court. It was _him_ who was reprimanded. And he just tuned out the scolding he got from the police.
"Ed!" The boy in brightened considerably.
"So, The-Boy-Who-Lived eh?" Edward teased.
"Don't even start..." Harry groaned.
"Sorry, sorry. Just couldn't help it." Ed grinned unrepentantly.
"So does this mean you're a wizard too?" Harry asked excitedly.
The blonde gave him a deadpanned look saying 'What do you think?'
Harry flushed. "Oi!"
The blonde laughed.
They continued on with their small talk. Harry seemed relaxed and comfortable around the blonde's company then they spotted a family of redheads huddling forwards the platform.
Surprisingly one just walked through it. They both gaped. What!?
They sauntered near and exchanged pleasantries. When Harry introduced himself, he gained a bit of awed looks, then squirmed. Amusingly, Ed didn't do anything and just took amusement to his squirming friend. The eldest redhead - Molly or something told then that the wall connected them the Station itself. Ed and Harry looked incredulous at the aspect, but eventually gave in.
"Running your first time might help." The homey woman said.
Ed had no qualms about doing it, seeing as the Thick Book had told him all about things he needed to know about the school he was going to. Of course, it was obvious that Harry didn't even bother reading it at all. He was never the book nerd-slash-genius Edward was.
He walked through the wall, feeling little shivers and tingles through his body as he passed. The next moment he was aware, he was greeted by a grand, bustling train station. Compared to Central's trains, it was plenty majestic. There had been a little commotion that started with a blonde that had been particularly nasty. Something Muffles was his name. The bully had two lackeys. They weren't particularly intimidating since he had practice with Sid (Izumi's husband) who in turn was less intimidating than their Teacher, Izumi herself. Needless to say when the condescending brat started spouting about how 'high up' his father was, Ed stopped hearing his little brother's voice in his head that said not to pummel the guy to the ground and nearly did so had Harry not restrained him(it was a rather feeble attempt but it was the thought that counts).
A rolling table had been brought in and there was this candy called 'All Flavor beans'. Ed took one, spit it out and gagged.
"What'd you get mate? Booger? Vomit?" Ron asked slyly.
"Worse!" Ed took a bottle of water and chugged it down. "Milk." He said with disdain.
"What's wrong with milk?" A brown haired girl asked.
"Are you kidding me? Milk comes from a cow! And Cows are _evil_!"
And apart from an incident that Ron gained a broken nose from a comment on a certain blonde's height, the rest of the ride was fairly peaceful. And most of the people in that certain compartment had learned not to even mention the blonde's stature near him. Or ever for that matter. The midget seemed to know if he was being called short. ("Stupid narrator" he grumbled.)
It gave him an opportunity to live a life as a kid again. With friends his apparent age- not the real one since he was about 21 already.
The train was near when a bushy haired girl had told them to wear the robes. Ed ignored her. He was scared of women, sure, after all the only women(except his mom) he actually was in contact often were scary as hell. Hawkeye wouldn't hesitate to shoot him. Winry would hit him with her oh-so-trustworthy wrench(he really regretted buying her that mech set). Izumi... Ed shuddered. Best not to think of that. Maybe Gracia wasn't, but he didn't want to take any chances. After all, protective moms were the worst kind of women to go against.
Really, this was going to be one of the most interesting thing that happened since Father tried to make himself the perfect being yadda yadda. And he'd relish every moment. But who's not to say that he won't go back? He_ would_… eventually.
_Damn._ He got attached.
==0==0==
_Fairly short, and not much dialogues. Anyway, reviews anyone?_
End file.
| fanfiction |
what is the neccessity of the 2pi coefficients in the fourier transform?
I notice that in whatever kind of expression of fourier transformation, we always have some coefficients like 2pi in the equation. And I can't see any reason there. Is there anyone who may give me some enlightment about that? And fourier tranform can be used to represent delta function. If I give up the coefficients, will that affect the deduced delta function?
The reason usually given is that we should want the following equation to hold,
$$\int\_{\mathbb{R}}\mathcal{F}\mathcal{F}^\*=\int\_{\mathbb{R}}ff^\*$$
Where $\mathcal{F}$ is the Fourier transform of $f$, and ${}^\*$ is complex conjugation. If you work out the integrals you will see the need for a normalization factor.
| stackexchange/physics |
The Kalvøyrevet Bridge is a cantilever bridge in the municipality of Herøy in Nordland county, Norway. The concrete bridge is long, and the main span is . The bridge connects the small islands of Kalvøya and Hestøya and it was built as a part of Norwegian County Road 166 which connects the larger islands of Indre Øksningan and Ytre Øksningan with the rest of Herøy Municipality.
See also
List of bridges in Norway
List of bridges in Norway by length
List of bridges
List of bridges by length
References
Category:Herøy, Nordland
Category:Road bridges in Nordland | wikipedia |
How to draw glucose using a Fischer projection?
I asked how to draw glucose as a Fischer projection from its given chair conformation but all I got was an unsatisfactory ad hoc explanation involving rotation of my neck muscles to somehow see where the hydroxyl groups were. How does one actually draw a Fischer projection of a sugar molecule from its chair conformation? 
[Here](https://biochemjm.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/fischer-and-haworth-projections-anomers/) is a web page that shows how to interpret the position from the structure.
The UP groups go to the left side of the backbone and the DOWN groups go to the right side.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's 1. Chapter 1: Prelude
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Unfolding Future
Chapter 1:
"Nero!" a gruff voice from the pitch-black cried. "Some guy called 'X' is here!"
"Who's X?" grumbled Nero, slowly opening his eyes and yawning.
"You know, that white-haired dude, long spiky hair, dark-brown trench coat. He says to get up and get ready for the Duel Academy Entrance Exam."
"Oh, him?" muttered Nero lethargically. _Did he change his name or something?_
"What's up, Nero?" a young man greeted casually, entering Nero's room.
"'Sup-"
"Remember, it's 'X,' now," he interrupted quickly. With half-focused eyes, Nero blinked and tried to glare at him, but resigned quickly.
"Why 'X?'" he asked as he rose from bed and began his morning rituals.
"It's an awesome name, don't you think?" Nero blinked; instead of responding, he squirted excessive amounts of hair gel onto his hands and applied it to his untidy. black hair, allowing it to spike primarily up and to the left side. After putting on his gray hoodie, he took a belt with a small box and fastened it to his waist.
"You're here early. You must be really excited."
"Who's not?" X asserted as they walked out the door. Outside, the rising sun illuminated the city of Satellite in an ambivalent light. The two of them continued down the rusting stairway.
At the bottom of the stairway onto the cracked sidewalk, Nero aloofly tucked his hands behind his head. "It's kind of a pain, though. Duels are supposed to be for fun."
"Dueling is going to get boring if there isn't anything to gain."
"What's there to gain?"
"I'm aiming for reputation. Duan wants to fight stronger people. Think about what you have to gain."
"I can understand why Duan wants to fight stronger people, but why are you aiming for more rep?"
"Isn't it natural to try to become more well-known?"
"Uh, no? Some of us like the quiet life, you know?"
X's tone dropped to a harsh low. "You'll always live under the shadow of the Ushiyama family if you don't make a name for yourself."
A brief silence fell on them. Nero lightly scratched his head. "...Are we picking up Duan next?
"Yep. Let's roll."
* * *
><p><p>
_Today is a very exciting day for me. We're going to take the practical exam at Duel Academy. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep last night. In fact, I'm still shaking from-_
"Wake up!" bellowed a voice. The young man opened his eyes to find himself being shaken vigorously by a white, spiky-haired man.
"Ungh," he groaned, "A dream?"
"Duan, wake up already!" demanded X.
"Okay, I'm a-" Duan's voice trailed off as his vision became blurry and blacked out.
"Nero." Promptly, Nero dumped a bucket of water onto Duan's face. He quickly sprung out of bed, shivering.
"C-cold," muttered Duan, his teeth chattering. "What time is-" he glanced at the clock. "Oh! It's already eight!"
"Hurry up or we're going to be late!"
"It's good to see you, Nero. I was hoping you would come."
"Yeah, you won't go without us, right? What would have happened if I didn't come?"
"It's enough to participate in the Entrance Exam. I don't need to actually enter Duel Academy. Did you find your reason to go to Duel Academy?"
Nero scratched his head in shallow contemplation. "Kinda. It'd be nice to get out of the house."
"It's okay, you don't have to find your reason right away."
"I'm going though, since you're too homesick to leave without us."
"Thanks. Now, where's my deck?" He hastily picked up the black jacket he was sleeping with and a set of thinly-framed glasses and wore them. Then, Duan took the deck of cards on the table and placed it in the inside pocket of his jacket. "Let me get the money for the bus."
"I got it," said X hastily.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, let's go."
* * *
><p><p>
X, Duan, and Nero all hurried onto the bus to New Domino City. After sitting down, they gazed at the window at Daedalus Bridge, the connection between New Domino City and Satellite over the blue ocean. They looked back at Satellite, on the shore of the United States, seeming increasingly smaller and smaller as they traveled away.
"So why did you change your name to X?" asked Duan.
"I didn't like my old name, and doesn't X just sound cool?"
"...Yeah," agreed Duan tentatively. "Why now of all times?"
"This is a new start, you know? This is our chance to escape being a resident of Satellite and to become well-respected in New Domino City. To put away our past and reach for our future!"
"It's not really that bad to be a resident of Satellite, though," remarked Duan thoughtfully.
"We've got nothing going for us in Satellite, though. If we don't take this path, we won't catch up with the other pros. Plus, it's not like there were many strong duelists in Satellite, anyways. It's why you wanted to fight at the Entrance Exam, right?"
"I suppose." Duan closed his eyes, recalling all of the duels he had been through, but an image of a pitch-black dragon with metallic claws and stubby wings remained vividly in his mind. In his memory, he stood between it and a man in a black cloak, surrounded by a ruined structure. The man's vile smile widened as he pointed at the projections of face-down cards surrounding him. With one glance at his face-down cards, he saw razors immediately fly towards them and serrated them before the cards shattered into pixels. After Duan's face-down cards vanished, he watched the man in the black cloak cackle before pointing at him. On that man's signal, the dragon spewed dark vapors that enveloped him. "I won't lose. I will definitely make that miracle occur!"
"Pft! You don't need a miracle to win; you're strong enough already to win without one."
"Oh, lucky! Guys, look! I found 20 bucks!" Nero waved a 20 dollar bill in front of the two of them. Duan shook his head, dumb-folded by his good fortune.
"Read the atmosphere," stated X after snatching the bill from Nero's hands. "Nero is lucky enough to win, I guess. I don't know about myself."
"If you believe in yourself and your cards, then a miracle will definitely occur!" Duan said almost automatically.
X's eyes narrowed, his expressing sliding down in disapproval. "Don't tell me you still believe in the heart of the cards."
"Well, I think it does have some truth to it," said Duan thoughtfully. "It basically means to have confidence, courage." X didn't respond.
A massive island filled with large buildings, the largest one towering high into the sky, labeled "KC", came into view. The bus drove off the bridge onto the island. Many signs floating by read "Welcome to New Domino City!" Nero's eyes scanned the surroundings before being overwhelmed by all of the flashing lights and bustling activity. Satellite seemed pale in comparison to New Domino City's livelihood. Everyone and everything seemed to sparkle.
"Next stop, Duel Academy," said a voice over the intercom.
"We're here!" shouted X, unable to hold his excitement. "This, you guys, is where we go pro!"
"Yeah," said Nero dully.
"The people at New Domino City may be much stronger than we imagined," said Duan.
"We'll be fine," said X dismissively. "You said that we should have confidence in ourselves, right? We're the best in Satellite anyway!"
Duan nodded in acknowledgment slowly and watched X and Nero leave. "There are those stronger than even me," he uttered under his breath before following them out.
After getting off the bus, the three of them followed the crowding young students to a towering glass building. At the front, it was labeled "DA" in large, cursive letters. The three of them stood at the end of the crowd of students.
"This place is huge," commented X.
Nero peered forward, then drooped his head. "This line is huge. How long as we going to wait?"
"Probably a while," replied Duan. Nero's head drooped again.
"We could have avoided this if you didn't oversleep," remarked X irritably.
"Sorry." Duan's head drooped as well.
"It's cool." Nero raised his head and patted Duan's shoulder.
After straightening his posture, Duan peered at the crowd ahead of him. "There are a lot of people entering, though."
"They're all from New Domino City," X commented after a quick glance of the crowd. "Just how many people are there?"
"How can you tell?" asked Nero.
"Look at how we dress. Then, look at them."
From a quick glance, Nero noticed the vast majority of students cleanly dressed; many of them were in suits or buttoned-up shirts, and for those who weren't; their clothes had no wrinkles, no stains, no frays, and bright, unfaded colors. "Oh, I get it. What about people from Satellite?"
"I see one, maybe two?" The people who seemed like they came from Satellite were rare, but they stuck out in the crowd because of their tattered, dirty clothes and unkempt hair. "They're like a black stain in the midst of a bright picture."
"Well, yeah, but you sound like you're insulting us Satellite folks."
"Hey, I'm not going to pretend that I'm proud of being from Satellite. I didn't really like it much there."
Nero took a glance at Duan, who was looking away distantly. Turning back to X, he merely shrugged. "Whatever you say."
* * *
><p><p>
When it was finally their turn, X stepped forward to the counter. "I'd like to register, please," he requested.
"Your name?" the receptionist asked.
"X," he replied coolly.
"X?" she repeated. "Like the letter X?"
"Yep." She paused briefly, then searched through the few cards remaining.
"Did you register as 'X?'" whispered Duan with a small hint of concern. X gave Duan a grin and a nod. Duan face-palmed. "You've decided to change your name from the start."
"Okay, X, you're letter A. Here's your temporary card and a Duel Disk." She handed him a card with his likeness, number, and name on it, along with an arm-sized contraption. It had several slots shaped like the cards they carried, along with several buttons on its underside. The top part had a red globe of lustrous, thick glass and surrounding it, what appeared to them to be cooling vents. X slid the bottom part of the duel disk onto his left arm, allowing it to lock in place.
"I'm X, not 'A,'" he added quickly.
"Your room is inside," the receptionist stated, ignoring X and pointing to her left. "Follow one of the guides and you'll reach the waiting room." X entered the building and waited on Duan and Nero.
"I wish we could use our Duel Disks," said X when Duan and Nero walked through the sliding doors.
Nero stared at his Duel Disk in disappointment. "Me too. They don't have our blood, sweat, and tears on them."
"It can't be helped," stated Duan. "We have to make modifications so that they'll register with the Duel Academy's network."
"What nonsense are you spouting, Duan?" said Nero, raising his voice for a falsely dramatic effect.
"Uh, never mind," Duan said quickly. "This place is huge, though."
"This room is bigger than my apartment," remarked Nero. Like the rest of New Domino City, Duel Academy looked extremely tidy; white, perfectly smooth walls, a metallic, lustrous floor, well-polished glass windows, and brightly illuminating lights.
"This is only the first floor. How many floors are there?"
"I think about 20? 30?" remarked X. "The outside looked pretty impressive, but the inside of the building looks bigger than the outside."
"We got different letters, right?" He glanced at his card, which was labeled "C," then at Nero and X.
X gave Duan and Nero an acknowledging nod. "I'll meet you all on the winning side."
"Good luck, guys," said Nero.
"Same here," Duan said. The three of them walked their separate ways.
* * *
><p><p>
X entered the waiting room, filled with students looking over their decks and pacing around. Even the lockers in what X believed to be the locker room were highly polished, appearing very lustrous even in the ambient lighting. He sat down at an open spot on the bench. _I wonder how the Mist Valley deck plays. Even though I know what the examiner's deck is like, I don't know any of the cards. How do I prepare for it?_
"'Sup, brotha," said the man sitting next to him. X turned to him. One glance showed that he too, was a resident of Satellite. His clothes were even more worn out than his, and the loosely fitting jacket adorned with blunted spikes, his tarnishing silver-colored ring, and the seemingly irrationally-placed bald spots around his spiky hair reminded X of one of those gangsters that always lurked around Satellite. "There are way more chicks here than I thought," he said idly. X did not reply. "What deck do you use?"
"None of your business," he replied tersely.
"What? If I tell you what deck I used, would you tell me?"
"Nope."
"What gives, bro?" he demanded angrily. "Think you're special or something?" X turned and glared at him with a rune glowing in his left eye. "Whoa! What are you?"
"Rune Eyes."
"Oh, so you really are special, I see," the man said, attempting to speak nonchalantly, but X could hear the underlying jealousy in his tone. "Which part of New Domino City did you come from?"
"I'm from Satellite."
"What? I could have sworn you were from New Domino."
"What's it to you?"
"Honestly, Satellite ain't that bad. I haven't been there, but the rumors about it are total BS."
_This guy isn't from Satellite? _"Rumors?"
"You know, Satellite people are nothing but a bunch of thugs, criminals, poor people that are going downhill."
"Don't compare me to them."
"Whoa, insulting your own crib?"
"Just because I was from Satellite doesn't mean that I have to love every last bit of it. I'm different from them."
"Hey, hey, you need to learn some manners. Even if you don't like it, you should at least defend the place where your father-"
At the mention of the word, "father," X abruptly rose from his seat with wrinkled eyebrows and irate expression. His voice became threateningly coarse as he spat out, "Don't. Talk. About. My. Father."
"Okay, okay; chill, bro," the student said nervously, backing up and raising his hands.
"Shut up."
Those words triggered an overwhelming irritation in the student's mind, causing him to stand up with a similar angry expression. "Hey! You wanna have a go here?" The student brandished his Duel Disk and slid his deck into a slot. Just before X reached for his deck in his trench coat, an assistant called out a number. "I'll remember you," he said before stepping out the door. "The name's Lance." X merely watched him leave, then sat down and waited.
* * *
><p><p>
Duan stepped into the waiting room anxiously. A male student sat, crowded among many female students. His clean clothes and well-groomed blonde hair and fair skin gave him the air of an aristocrat. Even the people surrounded him gave off that same air, with their brightly colored, glittering dresses.
"Just Judgment!" he proclaimed coolly. The female students instantly squealed in response.
"So popular," mused Duan to himself. He glanced at himself, tattered clothes, fading green shirt with blotches of bleached spots scattered about, and well-worn slacks with rips at the bottom of the slacks and across his knees. He felt the social distance between him and the blonde student unsettling.
A lone girl sitting away from the crowd scoffed. "Hmph, how ridiculous." Her scowl on her full lips and wrinkled eyebrows gave off an intimidating air. She was also dressed cleanly, a dark-brown one-piece dress, but she seemed far more humbled than the other New Domino City residents; she sat down more casually and crossed her arms.
"Oh, are you ready for the exam?" asked Duan as he approached her slowly.
She glanced once at him from top to bottom, then lowered her arms. "The opponent is Flamvells," she replied. "They don't stand a chance."
"Flamvells?" Duan had oftly heard of the archtype of cards, but he wasn't familiar with their playing style. "How did you know that?" She raised her eyebrow slowly.
"Did you not read the email you got after applying to Duel Academy?"
"Oh, that email?" Duan's mind wandered to the moment that they got the email allowing them to take the practical exam for Duel Academy. "I didn't read the deck list. My friends and I weren't too fond of reading the deck lists of the people we were about to face."
"You do know that the point of this is to see if you could study and prepare against a specific opponent, right?" Duan's eyes averted sheepishly, then regained eye contact with her.
"Oh, I didn't read that part either," he said with a small nervous chuckle. "I'll just trust in my deck."
"May I see it?"
"Sure." Duan handed her his deck of cards. She shifted through them, quickly, at first, then again carefully, raising her eyebrow at each card she saw. "How can you be so sure?" she asked before returning Duan's deck. "I've never seen a deck like this."
"This deck and I have fought many battles together."
Before she could speak, the assistant called out a number. "That's me." The girl stood up and walked slowly out the door, waving casually. "My name is Percia. Good luck."
"My name's Duan! Nice meeting you! I hope to see you again soon!" As he stood up to wave good-bye, he noticed that she was much shorter than the assistant. When she left the room, Duan lined himself with the assistant and compared her height with his own. "She's a lot shorter than she seems."
* * *
><p><p>
Nero entered his waiting room, a large lecture hall. While looking for a place to sit down, he noticed a dark-haired girl sitting by herself. Like the other people he'd seen so far, she was cleanly dressed, but the most noticeable feature to him was her well-endowed figure revealed by her frilly, black dress. The other duelists seemed to avoid her. He didn't know why, so he approached her and waved. She gave him a tart smile.
"Hello there," she said with a small giggle. "I've had my eye on you for a while."
Surprised but somewhat flattered, Nero raised an eyebrow but returned a meek smile. "You have?"
"Do you handle pain well?"
Nero's smile immediately dropped as he began to back away slowly. "Uh, no?"
She giggled again. "Too bad. I've wanted you to become my toy." Nero stood up, but she tugged the sleeve of his hoodie. "What about your two cute friends from Satellite?" she mentioned, then Nero's face began to pale. "I've heard that Satellite people are very durable. Oh, who should I pick? The tall, durable one, or the short, fragile one? Maybe I could have them both!" While repeating herself, she began to drool slightly while shaking her head like a shy little girl.
Nero tugged himself away from her grasp. "I don't know what you're talking about! What's a Satellite?"
"The Eye of Wdjat knows everything," announced the girl as Nero took a step away from her. She pointed at the marking drawn by eyeliner.
"What's an 'Eye of Wdjat?'" Abruptly, the girl stood up, her face no longer wearing that tart smile.
"You're a duelist and you don't know what the Eye of Wdjat is?" She took a deep breath and began to rattle off facts rapidly, but an assistant interrupted, calling out a number. "Oh, that's me." Her expression returned to normal, including that tart smile. "I'll save this lesson for another time. Toodle-loo, cute Warrior Deck boy."
Sighing, Nero collapsed into his chair. "Warrior Deck boy? Does she know about our cards?" Thinking about it, he wasn't able to draw any conclusions and shrugged. "Eh, whatever."
* * *
><p><p>
"Last participant!" the assistant called. X, Duan, and Nero stood up and stepped out of the waiting room, anxious to take the practical exam. "Do you know the rules, entrant?"
"Yeah," the three of them answered as they entered the nearly empty, but vast arena. The arena had been split into eight subdivisions by metallic walls, each subdivision the size of a small gym. They only saw a handful of spectators sitting by, many of them with their arms folded or slouching slightly.
"There is no time limit. You pass automatically if you win, but the examiner may still pass you based on your performance if you lose." The assistants signaled X, Duan, and Nero to enter the separate sections of the arena.
_Good, _X thought to himself._ Even if I don't win, I can still make a good impression on the examiner. That's what I do best, anyways._
"There won't be any need," stated Duan. "I'll fight like I always do and win."
_ The re-run of episode 250 of "Duel Monsters: The King of Games" is coming up tonight, _ Nero mused to himself._ Oh, pass me based on performance? Well, that's cool and all, but I'd rather win._
2. Duel Chapter 1: X's Entrance Duel
Sub-Chapter 1.1:
Before X, a man in a gray suit, his head completely bald except for his light-brown eyebrows and goatee, approached him.
"I am Mr. Gil," he stated. "I will be your test examiner. Are you ready?"
"Ready," replied X with a nod. He placed his deck in a slot inside his duel disk; it shuffled his deck briefly before locking it in place. Both players drew five cards.
"Let's begin. I will go first." Mr. Gil drew a card with a swish. "Will you show me your courage?"
"Courage?" X repeated quizzically. "What does 'courage' have to do with dueling?"
"You will see. I begin by summoning Mist Valley Falcon!" When Mr. Gil placed his card on a slot in his duel disk, the card's image projected before a monster, a towering, white-haired, dark-skinned well-built man who wore a tight-fitting sleeveless shirt. A holographic rectangle briefly displayed "Attack: 2000."
"I activate the Spell, Terraforming!" Another quick swish and its image projected onto the field. "I can add one Field Spell Card to my hand. I choose Divine Wind of Mist Valley." Terraforming's image faded to Divine Wind of Mist Valley's, a green-bordered card with a golden bright wing followed by an aurora. "I'll activate the Field Spell Card I've just added to my hand!" With another flash of light, the room became filled with radiant glitter, but nothing else appeared. "Turn, end."
"It's my turn! Draw!" X glanced at Mist Valley Falcon. _I can't defeat Mist Valley Falcon with any of the cards in my hand right now._ "I set one monster and two spell or trap cards." A card's face-down image materialized horizontally along with two more vertically right below it. Your move."
"Are you afraid?"
"Shut up and go," X replied curtly.
"How rude. It's my turn." With another swish, Mr. Gil drew another card from his deck. "I summon Mist Valley Thunderbird!" The card's image appeared before many flashes of light revealed a giant yellow bird with a fan of extruding feathers similar to a peacock. With a flap of its wings, it cawed. "I Special Summon the Tuner monter, Genex Ally Birdman by returning Mist Valley Thunderbird to my hand." A strong wind buffeted Mist Valley Thunderbird before it disappeared, revealing a small, robotic bird with a disproportionately large head and beak. "If it's Special Summoned by returning a WIND monster, it gains 500 attack!" With a beep, the number in the box increased until it reached 1900.
"Mist Valley Thunderbird's effect activates! When it's returned to my hand, it's Special Summoned back to the field. Of course, this prevents it from attacking, but that's okay." X already grew irritated at the wind effects that accompanied this teacher's deck as Mist Valley Thunderbird flew back to its former position. "Furthermore, Divine Wind of Mist Valley's effect activates! If a WIND monster returns to my hand, I can Special Summon one level four WIND monster from my deck! I Special Summon another Tuner monster, Mist Valley Shaman!"
X glared at the newly summoned monster, a woman dressed in a tight, dark-purple clothing and talons for arms and legs. "That's obnoxious," he commented. "Two Tuner Monsters. A double Synchro Summon?"
"No. Mist Valley Falcon attacks your face-down monster by returning Divine Wind of Mist Valley to my hand!" A gust of wind scattered the glittering golden dust and aurora before Mist Valley Falcon leaped into the air, striking at the face-down card. In response, it flipped over, revealing a large, hippopotamus-faced creature with its arms crossed and several floating shields surrounding it. A box materialized "Defense: 2100." Mist Valley Falcon's sword struck a shield and recoiled off.
"Gladiator Beast Hoplomus's 2100 defense beats even your 2000 Attack power Mist Valley Falcon." Mr. Gil's Life Point display appeared next to him and decreased slowly until it read "Life: 7900."
"No matter! I'll end my Battle Phase."
"Gladiator Beast Hoplomus's effect activates. At the end of the Battle Phase when it has battled this turn, I return it to my deck and Special Summon another Gladiator Beast Monster!" Hoplomus reached out and switched places with a small, green creature with a turtle face and blue armor. "Come out, little guy! Gladiator Beast Secutor!"
"Secutor," Mr. Gil started to repeat to himself. "I suppose that takes a little bit of courage to play."
"And?"
"I play again Divine Wind of Mist Valley!" Once again, the golden glitter and aurora of light appeared and surrounded the two players. "I activate Mist Valley Shaman's effect! I return Mist Valley Thunderbird to my hand and have Mist Valley Shaman gain 500 attack until the End Phase."
"Not that it really matters."
"Divine Wind of Mist Valley and Mist Valley Thunderbird's effects activate!"
"Again?"
"Mist Valley Thunderbird returns to the field, while Divine Wind of Mist Valley Special Summons a Level four WIND monster from my deck! Come out, Reborn Tengu!" A man with crow-like features flew in with Mist Valley Thunderbird and cawed.
"That's really obnoxious."
"Tuning! My level four Mist Valley Falcon to my level three Tuner Genex Ally Birdman!" Genex Ally Birdman rose slightly and turned into three green rings of light, which surrounded Mist Valley Falcon briefly, then enveloped into a flash of light. "Synchro Summon! Mist Valley Thunder Lord!" An green ogre clad in similar garments as Mist Valley Falcon appeared in a clap of thunder.
"Argh, there's still another one."
"Tuning! My level four Reborn Tengu to my level three Tuner Mist Valley Shaman!" Mist Valley Shaman and Reborn Tengu followed suit. "The holy light of protection, shine now and become eternal life! Synchro Summon! A regal birth, Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Another light flashed, then a slender, serpent-shaped blue dragon roared as it descended to the field. Its featured seemed fairy-like, with human-shaped arms, golden armor, a red mask, and fairy-like wings.
"Reborn Tengu's effect activates! If it is removed from the field, I Special Summon another one from my deck! Ancient Fairy Dragon's effect activates! Once per turn, I destroy all Field Spell Cards and gain 1000 life points. Plane Back!" With another roar, the golden glitter and aurora faded away. "I then add another Divine Wind of Mist Valley to my hand! I'll activate it, of course.
"Then, I'll activate Mist Valley Thunder Lord's effect! I return Mist Valley Thunderbird to increase its attack by 500. Divine Wind of Mist Valley's effect activates! I Special Summon another Mist Valley Falcon! I set one Spell or Trap Card. Turn, end!"
X gave an exasperated sigh, having lost count of how many effects Mr. Gil has activated. By the time Mr. Gil's turn was over, his field was completely filled with monsters. "Your obnoxiousness is almost Duan's level." He didn't expect such long-winded combos from a tester, especially when he considered himself, Duan, and Nero among the best duelists. "It's my turn." _I'll let his monsters trigger my Gladiator Beasts' effects._ "I set one monster and one spell or trap. Your move."
"It's my turn. Draw! I tribute Reborn Tengu and Mist Valley Falcon to Summon Mist Valley Apex Avian!" As he spoke, Reborn Tengu and Mist Valley Falcon shifted into two bursts of light and intertwined together until another bird, similar in color scheme as Mist Valley Thunderbird, flapped enormous wings as it landed, towering over even his Mist Valley Thunder Lord "Again, I activate Mist Valley Thunder Lord's effect! I return Mist Valley Thunderbird hand, then have it gain 500 attack until the end of my turn. Divine Wind of Mist Valley's effect activates! I Special Summon another Mist Valley Falcon! Furthermore, I activate Ancient Fairy Dragon's effect again! Plane Back!" As the golden mist and aurora faded away again, Mr. Gil's Life Point Display beeped until the number rose to 9900. "I'll add another Divine Wind of Mist Valley to my hand and play it, of course.
"Battle! Mist Valley Falcon attacks Gladiator Beast Secutor by returning Divine Wind of Mist Valley to my hand!"
X pushed a button on his Duel Disk, revealing one of his face-down cards on the field. "Trap activation! Defensive Tactics! Gladiator Beast monsters I control can't be destroyed by battle. The damage that I take also becomes zero, not that it matters, since they're in defense mode."
"Mist Valley Apex Avian's effect activates! I return one monster to my hand to negate the activation of a card effect you control! I select my Mist Valley Thunderbird! The Mandate of Lightning!"
"What?" As Mist Valley Thunderbird ascended into the heavens, a lightning bolt struck X's Defensive Tactics card, shattering it into little pixels. Mist Valley Falcon continued its attack, cutting Gladiator Beast Secutor in two before it too, shattered into little pixels.
"By using Thunderbird, I can continuously negate all of your spells, traps, and monster effects." Again, Mist Valley Thunderbird flew back into its former position with a caw. "This is my Mist Valley lockdown! Unless you show me your courage, you can't defeat me!" he declared. "Ancient Fairy Dragon attacks your face-down monster!" A breath of light streamed towards the face-down monster, revealing a half-man, half-tiger creature before it became illuminated by the light stream and exploded. "Mist Valley Thunder Lord! Direct Attack!"
The ogre-like monster reeled its enormous fist back, dived towards X, and threw a punch with a loud clap of thunder. X flew back and tumbled until he slid to a slow stop. "Augh!" He groaned as the Life Point display next to him dwindled to 4900.
"Mist Valley Apex Avian attacks your Life Points directly!" Before X could stand back up, Mist Valley Apex Avian cawed and a bolt of lightning struck him; his Life Point display then dropped to 2200. Apart from the tumbling, the attacks didn't actually hurt much; X only really felt a small sting as through struck by some static electricity. "Turn, end!"
_At this rate, I'll lose without being able to fight back. The entrance exam is a lot tougher than I thought. How are the others doing?_ X took a moment to glance around._ Whoa, Shooting Star Dragon, Red Nova Dragon! The assistant said they'll still consider our ability even if we lose. Are we not supposed to win after all? Then why did they set us up with such impossible opponents?_
"Come on! Let's go!" X heard Nero shout in the opposite direction.
_That was Nero. There are a bunch of monsters in his direction. It's not quite Shooting Star Dragon and Red Nova Dragon, but there's Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier._
"It's true that not one card in this deck could defeat Red Nova Dragon or Shooting Star Dragon at the same time," X heard Duan shout. "However! Mark my words, I will destroy them! It's my turn! Draw!"
_That was Duan. He's facing off against those two? Those guys are immune to almost every card in his deck. How's he going to destroy them? Is the best we can do is to make a good impression?_
"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Gil. "If you've already given up on winning and just making a good impression, then I won't acknowledge your courage."
"Shut up!" X snapped in return. "It's my turn!" X's eyes began to glow as he drew his card.
Mr. Freedus instantly recognized the glowing symbol in his eyes. "Rune Eyes," he muttered. "I can see that you're something special, I won't pass you just because of that."
_Gladiator Beast War Chariot. This negates the effect of effect monsters, but would it work? Will it negate an effect that negates other effects?_ "I summon Gladiator Beast Equeste." A centaur-like creature, well-built and well-armored like his other Gladiator Beast brethren, galloped onto the field with his shield brandished and long hair flowing. "I set one card face-down. Turn, end." _What is he talking about by courage? If I could at least figure that out, then I could make that good impression._
"It's my turn! Draw! I set one face-down card. Battle! Mist Valley Falcon attacks Gladiator Beast Equeste by returning the face-down card I've just placed! Guided Wind Slash!"
"Trap card, activate! Defensive Tactics!"
"Mist Valley Apex Avian's effect activates! I return Mist Valley Thunderbird to my hand to negate your trap! The Mandate of Lightning!"
"Counter Trap, activate! Gladiator Beast War Chariot!" _Please work. For the love of Odin, please work._
Mr. Gil paused briefly, then smirked. "Congratulations." _That wasn't quite what I was looking for, but close enough. _"You passed."
"Yes! Gladiator Beast War Chariot allows me to negate the activation of an effect monster's effect and destroy it!" A metal chariot armed with a giant spike at the center materialized under Gladiator Beast Equeste. Aiming itself at Mist Valley Apex Avian, the chariot sped up until it rushed through, shattering Mist Valley Apex Avian into little pixels. Mist Valley Falcon continued its attack, leaping into the air to strike Equeste, but his shield parried the strike harmlessly.
"I can no longer do anything for my Battle Phase."
"At the end of the Battle Phase, if Gladiator Beast Equeste battled, I can tag it out to Special Summon another Gladiator Beast! Come forth, Gladiator Beast Bestiari!" Replacing Equeste, another humanoid creature, this time, a green birdlike man flew in. "Gladiator Beast Bestiari's effect activates! If it's been Special Summoned this way, I destroy one Spell or Trap on the field! I pick Divine Wind of Mist Valley!" The gentle golden swirl and aurora suddenly scattered when Gladiator Beast Bestiari zoomed past Mr. Gil.
"That's my last one. I set one card. Turn, end."
"It's my turn! Draw! I summon Gladiator Beast Darius!" A violet-colored man with a horse face holding a whip appeared. "Gladiator Beast Bestiari, Gladiator Beast Darius, Contact Fusion!"
"Contact Fusion, a type of Fusion Summon by returning the Fusion Material monsters to the deck. It's only accessible by certain monsters such as the one before me."
"I return those two to the deck to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!" Gyzarus flew in similarly to Bestiari. They bore similar appearances, only that Gyzarus wore blue armor instead of Bestiari's green. A small rectangle displayed its 2400 Attack points. "When Gladiator Beast Gyzarus is successfully summoned this way, I destroy two cards you control! I select Mist Valley Thunder Lord and your face-down card!" Mr. Gil merely saw a blur before the ogre and the face-down card below it shattered into pixels.
"Do your worst. I'm not afraid."
"Gladiator Beast Gyzarus attacks Mist Valley Thunderbird! X Dive!" Gyzarus split into two blurs and dived through Mist Valley Thunderbird in an "X" shape, rending it into fours before it shattered. Mr. Gil's Life Point display dropped to 8600.
"At the end of the Battle Phase, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus can return to the Extra Deck to Special Summon two Gladiator Beast monsters! Come, Gladiator Beast Murmillo and Gladiator Beast Darius! Murmillo and Darius's effects activate! I bring back Gladiator Beast Laquari and then destroy Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Darius pulled the fallen Laquari from the graveyard while the fish-like Murmillo's shoulder cannons launched, striking Ancient Fairy Dragon. She shrieked before scattering into pixels.
"Once more! Contact Fusion! Come forth, my strongest monster! Gladiator Beast Heraklinos!" Heraklinos appeared at first glance similar to Laquari, but he bore a collage of parts from the other Gladiator Beasts that appeared so far, bearing a shield and an axe. A box briefly appeared, sporting Heraklinos's 3000 attack points. "I set one spell or trap card. Your move."
* * *
><p><p>
While the last duels were occurring, four figures in black cloaks watched on.
"What do you think of those three, my Queen?" asked one of the hooded figures.
"Two of them look promising, 'X' and Nero." she answered.
"What's that guy Duan running?" asked another figure. "It's been a while since I've seen most of those cards."
"It's most likely just his random cards put together and labeled a deck," the Queen quickly stated, dismissing it.
The third hooded figure smirked. "Trap card deck. It's annoying, but it's easy to overwhelm."
"Did you fight a deck like that before?" asked the first figure.
"Yeah, I did. That deck doesn't have a lot of rare cards." On Duan's field, a white dragon with lean muscles materialized onto the field. "I see, Stardust Dragon. This one is different than the one I've fought before."
"Stardust Dragon isn't very rare now, though," remarked the second cloaked figure.
"Observe them," ordered the Queen. After tying her blonde hair into a ponytail, she took the hood of her cloak and slipped it on.
"You think they'll win?" The Queen said nothing and walked off. "Cold. Those two, though, have some pretty rare cards."
"They seem pretty strong, especially that X," commented the first cloaked figure.
"If they pass, the Queen will be pleased to hunt such powerful prey."
* * *
><p><p>
On the opposite side of the arena, another group of students watched.
"What do you think, my King?" one of them asked.
"That Gladiator Beast user interests me," replied the King. "The other two don't seem that strong. What's that guy's name?"
Another person peered at the screen. "Apparently, he's registered as X."
The King then peered at X, noticing something glowing in his eye. "Rune Eyes? I see. He'll be the one to challenge me." With a grand, regal tone, he stood up and shouted, "X!"
"What?"
"I am 'Z,' King of Games!" he declared while his peers dropped their jaws. "Come challenge me when your rank reaches mine!"
_Rank? Z? Someone copied me._
"I see that the King himself chose you as his rival," said Mr. Gil. "You are special indeed, but I won't let you pass just because of that. It's my turn! Draw! Come at me! Turn, end!"
_He didn't bother to switch Mist Valley Falcon to Defense Mode. I guess he doesn't want me to destroy it with a weaker monster. _"It's my turn! I summon Gladiator Beast Laquari! Gladiator Beast Heraklinos attacks Mist Valley Falcon!" Heraklinos' jet pack suddenly activated in full force, then speeding through Mist Valley Falcon with its axe. "Gladiator Beast Laquari attacks directly!" Laquari grabbed its spiked hoop and lashed it at Mr. Gil; he grunted in pain as the spike struck him, though no wound was visible. His Life Points dropped first to 7600, then 5800.
"I tag out Laquari to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Equeste! Equeste's effect activates! If I Special Summon it this way, I can add one Gladiator Beast card to my hand. I select Gladiator Beast War Chariot!" The centaur-like creature reached into X's Duel Disk, dragged out the chariot it used earlier, and tossed it into the sky. "I set one card. Turn, end!"
"It's my turn! Draw!" X watched Mr. Gil play the card he drew immediately. "Spell card, activate! Mystical Space Typhoon! I'll destroy your face-down Gladiator Beast War Chariot!"
"Gladiator Beast Heraklinos' effect activates! I discard one card from my hand to negate the activation of a Spell or Trap card and destroy it!" X took the last card in his hand and placed it in a slot on his Duel Disk, watching as Heraklinos fired a bolt from the bottom of his axe, shattering Mystical Space Typhoon into countless pixels.
"You're out of cards in your hand! Spell card, activate! Monster Reborn! I bring back Mist Valley Falcon! I then summon the Tuner monster, Mist Valley Soldier!" A man with wings and a traditional blue robe appeared, armed with two curved daggers. "Tuning, Mist Valley Falcon to Mist Valley Soldier! Synchro Summon! Come! Colossal Fighter!" A tan-colored statue-like humanoid with massive arms and legs stepped forward, atypical of the monsters Mr. Gil summoned so far. "Battle! Colossal Fighter attacks Gladiator Beast Equeste!"
"Trap card, activate! Dimensional Prison! The attacking monster is removed from play!" Colossal Fighter watched in horror as a dimensional rip sucked it in, starting with its fist, then its head, then the rest of its body.
_The card he set near the beginning of the Duel. _"Turn, end!"
"It's my turn. Draw! I summon Gladiator Beast Samnite." The saber-toothed tiger with a humanoid body frame leaped in with a roar. "It's game."
"The test isn't over until you defeat me."
X sighed. "Direct attack! Gladiator Beast Heraklinos, Gladiator Beast Equeste! Gladiator Beast Samnite!"
Mr. Gil merely stood staunchly as the three monsters all rushed and struck him at once. The display on his Life Points let out a beep as it dwindled to zero. "Congratulations. You passed." X wiped the sweat off his brow. "Here's your prize." He handed X three copies of "Mist Valley Soldier." Before X began to walk to the exit, Mr. Gil leaned in near his ear. "I have yet to acknowledge your courage. Be sure to show it to me in class."
Outside the arena, Duan and Nero stood by, waiting.
"Well?" X asked.
Duan nodded. "I passed."
"Me too!" interjected Nero. The three glanced at each other, unable to hide their excitement.
"Yeah!" X bellowed at the top of his lungs, pumping his fist into the air. "We're gonna go pro!"
"Party at Duan's Place!" yelled Nero, equally as loud.
"Wait, I gotta get-" Duan stopped in mid-sentence as a hooded figure walked past him. His voice dropped to a strained murmur. "That blonde hair tied into a ponytail, those blue eyes covered by her glasses, her face..."
"What's wrong, Duan?"
"No, it's nothing," he said slowly. "Excuse me for a moment!" He turned around and dashed off.
"Duan, wait!" They followed him, but Duan quickly left their sights.
"Wait!" cried Duan at the cloaked figure. It didn't respond or comply; instead, it darted away. "Kayla! Wait!" He made a sudden turn at a hallway before nearly running into a female student. "Excuse me!" he yelled quickly as he ran off.
"There's no doubt about it," the cloaked figured whispered fearfully, watching Duan run past her. "It's the student that I've killed years ago. Why is he here before me now? I'm afraid to face him."
"Let me duel you!" she heard Duan shout from the distance. "Kayla!"
"He wants revenge. What should I do?" Kayla took a single step towards him, but froze, collapsing on her knees.
Extra 1:
_I am Rachel, a second year at Duel Academy. I am the REAL Queen of Games, not that wannabe, Kayla. Just because she currently has that title doesn't mean that she's the Queen! Putting that aside, I wonder who I should make do my bidding? There are so many good first years to-_
"Excuse me!" Duan hastily yelled as he sprinted past her.
Rachel fumed. "How rude! Address me as the Queen of Games!" Duan didn't respond; by the time she finished her sentence, he was already out of sight. _Hmph! I won't let that boy do my bidding even if he begged me to!_
"Whoa!" X collided with her, knocking her down.
"Ack!" She groaned. "Nothing but rude people tod-" Hastily, X took her by her shoulders and placed her back on her feet.
"Sorry," he said quickly before glancing around. "Crap, we lost him!"
"So strong," she said dreamily, gazing at the disgruntled X. To her, his entire face seemed to sparkle, his eyes piercing through her heart. _Is this fate? I think I've fallen in love!_ She squealed. _Who is he, my knight?_ "May I have your name, sir?"
"I am the Future King, X," he replied, paying little attention to her. "Did you see a short guy run really fast?"
"He went that way."
"Okay, thanks."
"She's pretty hot, isn't she?" Nero commented shortly after they ran off.
>"Yeah."<p>
Rachel squealed again. "He said 'Future King!' That means," her voice trailed off as her delusions took over. Images of X on a throne with her by his side filled Rachel's head. "Oh, his name is so mysterious!"
"Is that.. a second year?" Percia said to herself when she turned the corner and saw a girl in a school uniform ogling off in the distance. "What's she doing? That's so creepy. Crazy second-years. How ridiculous." As Percia turned to leave, she halted as a sudden realization paled her face. "Wait! Are all second years crazy like that? Am I going to become like that too if I stay here for too long?" Her mind wandered off to an image of her shaking her head like a shy little girl, emanating hearts and drooling slightly, and another image of her laughing evilly while several men kissed her feet. "Maybe going here is a bad idea after all..."
Card Reference:
Terraforming
Normal Spell Card
Add 1 Field Spell card from your deck to your hand.
Mist Valley Divine Wind
Field Spell Card
Once per turn, if a WIND monster was returned to your hand, you can Special Summon a Level 4 WIND monster from your deck.
Tip: This card normally states that you can use this effect once per turn, but if it is removed from the field, such as with Mist Valley Falcon's effect, then play it again, you can use its effect once more.
Mist Valley Falcon
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 2000/1200
Winged-Beast/Effect:
This card cannot attack unless you return 1 card you control to its owner's hand.
Mist Valley Thunderbird
Level 3
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1100/700
Thunder/Effect:
When this face-up card on the field returns to the hand, Special Summon it. This card cannot attack during the turn it was Special Summoned by this effect.
Genex Ally Birdman
Level 3
DARK
ATK/DEF: 1400/400
Machine/Tuner/Effect
You can return 1 face-up monster you control to the hand to Special Summon this card from your hand and this card gains 500 ATK if it was a WIND monster you returned. If this card is Special Summoned with this effect, remove it from play when it is removed from the field.
Mist Valley Shaman
Level 3
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1200/1200
Winged-Beast/Tuner/Effect
Once per turn, you can return 1 other monster you control to the hand, to have this card gain 500 ATK until the End Phase.
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
Level 4
Earth
ATK/DEF: 700/2100
Rock/Effect
If this card was Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, its original DEF becomes 2400. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can shuffle it into the Deck; Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Hoplomus".
Gladiator Beast Secutor
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 400/300
Reptile/Effect
If this card was Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, then at the end of any Battle Phase in which this card attacked or was attacked, Special Summon 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Secutor".
Reborn Tengu
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1700/600
Beast-Warrior/Effect
When this card is removed from the field, Special Summon 1 "Reborn Tengu" from your Deck.
Mist Valley Thunder Lord
Level 7
WIND
ATK/DEF: 2600/2400
Thunder/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner "Mist Valley" monsters
Once per turn, you can select and return 1 card you control to the hand, and this card gains 500 ATK until the End Phase. This effect can be activated during either player's turn.
Ancient Fairy Dragon
Level 7
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 2100/3000
Dragon/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can destroy all Field Spell Cards on the field and gain 1000 Life Points. Afterwards, you can add 1 Field Spell Card to your hand. Once per turn, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 monster from your hand, but you cannot conduct your Battle Phase the turn you activate this effect.
Mist Valley Apex Avian
Level 7
WIND
ATK/DEF: 2700/2000
Winged-Beast/Effect
When an effect is activated, you can select 1 face-up "Mist Valley" card you control. Return that "Mist Valley" card to its owner's hand, negate the effect's activation, and destroy the card whose effect was activated.
Defensive Tactics
Normal Trap Card
Activate only if you control a "Gladiator Beast" monster. Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle this turn, and any Battle Damage you take is reduced to 0. Put this card on the bottom of your Deck.
Gladiator Beast Equeste
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1600/1200
Winged Beast/Effect
When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, add 1 "Gladiator Beast" card from your Graveyard to your hand. At the end of the Battle Phase, If this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Equeste".
Gladiator Beast War Chariot
Counter Trap Card
Activate only if you control a "Gladiator Beast" monster. Negate the activation of an Effect Monster's effect, and destroy it.
Gladiator Beast Bestiari
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1500/600
Winged-Beast/Effect
When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card on the field. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Bestiari".
Gladiator Beast Darius
Level 4
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 1700/300
Beast-Warrior/Effect
When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, you can select 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Graveyard and Special Summon it. That monster's effect(s) is negated, and it is returned to your Deck when this card is removed from the field. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Darius".
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
Level 6
WIND
ATK/DEF: 2400/1500
Winged-Beast/Fusion/Effect
"Gladiator Beast Bestiari" + 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster
This card can only be Special Summoned from your Fusion Deck by returning the above cards you control to the Deck. (You do not use "Polymerization".) When this card is Special Summoned, you can destroy up to 2 cards on the field. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return this card to the Fusion Deck to Special Summon 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Bestiari".
Gladiator Beast Laquari
Level 4
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 1800/400
Beast-Warrior/Effect
When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, its original ATK is 2100. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Laquari".
Gladiator Beast Murmillo
Level 3
WATER
ATK/DEF: 800/400
Fish/Effect
When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, destroy 1 face-up monster. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Murmillo".
Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
Level 8
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 3000/
Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect
"Gladiator Beast Laquari" + 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters
This card can only be Special Summoned from your Extra Deck, by returning the above cards you control to the Deck. (You do not use "Polymerization".) You can discard 1 card from your hand to negate the activation of a Spell or Trap Card and destroy it. You can use this effect during either player's turn.
Mystical Space Typhoon
Quick-Play Spell Card
Destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card on the field.
Monster Reborn
Spell Card
Special Summon 1 monster from either player's graveyard.
Mist Valley Soldier
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1700/300
Winged-Beast/Tuner/Effect
While you control this face-up card, any opponent's monster that battles this card, but is not destroyed by battle, returns to its owner's hand at the end of the Damage Step.
Colossal Fighter
Level 8
DARK
ATK/DEF: 2800/1000
Warrior/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
This card gains 100 ATK for every Warrior-Type monster in any Graveyard. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 Warrior-Type monster from either player's Graveyard.
Dimensional Prison
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when your opponent declares an attack. Remove from play the attacking monster.
Gladiator Beast Samnite
Level 3
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 1600/1200
Beast/Effect
If this card was Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast" monster, when this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can add 1 "Gladiator Beast" card from your Deck to your hand. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Samnite".
3. Duel Chapter 2: Duan's Entrance Duel
Sub-Chapter 1.2:
A dark-skinned man, balding at the crown, with a lab coat over his buttoned-up shirt and slacks approached Duan.
"I am Mr. Freedus, and I will be your test examiner. Are you ready?"
"Yes," replied Duan, placing his deck in a slot inside his duel disk; it shuffled his deck. His normal, nearly constant smile faded away; his face mostly relaxed except for his slightly wrinkled eyebrows. Both players drew five cards from their deck.
"I will begin," announced Mr. Freedus as he drew a card with a swish. "I set one monster and end my turn." With a flick of his wrist, he placed a card face-down horizontally on his duel disk. Its image projected to the space between them. "Show me your strength, student."
"It's my turn! Draw!" With another swish, Duan drew a card and stared at it intently before placing it in his hand. "I summon Slate Warrior!" When Duan placed his card on a slot in his duel disk, the card's image projected before a monster, a blue human-shaped creature with yellow armor and detached limbs floating together, materialized in sparks of light. A holographic rectangle briefly displayed "Attack: 1900."
"Battle! Slate Warrior attacks your face-down monster!" At Duan's command, the monster raised its staff and shot a blade of wind at the face-down card. It revealed a monkey, with a flaming mane and a box briefly displaying "Defense: 200." Surprised by the sudden blast of wind, the monkey shrieked before it shattered into many little pixels. "A common trait among Flamvell monsters is that they all have 200 Defense."
"If Flamvell Poun is destroyed as a result of battle, I can add one FIRE monster with 200 Defense to my hand," stated Mr. Freedus. A holographic menu box popped up, displaying the list of eligible monsters to put in his hand. He tapped the menu box, and a card stuck itself out from his deck. He pulled it out and revealed "Flamvell Baby" before adding it to his hand.
Duan glanced at his hand and at the field. He knew what was going to happen next, but he couldn't stop it. "Turn, end!" he announced. Mr. Freedus drew his next card.
"I summon Flamvell Firedog!" A two-headed dog, black with red veins, resembling magma emerged from the card's projection onto the field. A box displaying "Attack: 1900" appeared briefly before it.
"Normally, two monsters with the same attack would destroy each other when they battle, but," Duan said to himself, allowing his voice to trail off, knowing what will happen next.
"I activate Flamvell Baby's effect! By discarding it from my hand, a FIRE monster on my side of the field gains 400 attack until the end of my turn!" A small sprite with a flaming body and a mischievous grin appeared in front of Flamvell Firedog and surrounded it with flames. The box that displayed Flamvell Firedog's Attack Points appeared again, then dialed up its contents until it read "Attack: 2300."
"Flamvell Firedog attacks Slate Warrior!" It howled, then rushed towards Duan's Slate Warrior; it brandished its staff and shot its blast of wind. Flamvell Firedog, with increased vigor, bit Slate Warrior's armor, causing it to shatter into many pixels and the blue body to decompose into ooze that remained on Flamvell Firedog.
A box appeared next to Duan, displaying "Life Points: 8000," then decreased until it read "Life Points: 7600." "Slate Warrior's effect activates! If a monster destroys it by battle, that monster loses 500 attack!" _That effect seems to be wasted, though._
"Flamvell Firedog's effect activates! If it destroys a monster by battle, I can Special Summon a monster with 200 Defense except for Flamvell Firedog from my deck! Come forth, the Tuner monster, Flamvell Magician!" As Flamvell Firedog howled, a purple-skinned, mostly bald (except for a ponytail of flaming red hair) man appeared, carrying a burning staff.
"His Battle Phase isn't over," muttered Duan to himself.
"Flamvell Magician attacks your Life Points directly!" It cackled before a spiral of flames engulfed Duan. His body instinctively raised his arms to block, even though only a blast of hot wind and a mild, discomforting heat wave blew past him. The box appeared again and displayed Duan's Life Points at 6200. Mr. Freedus's turn isn't over; Duan knew that Mr. Freedus still wanted to do at least one more thing.
"Tuning! My level four Flamvell Firedog to my level four Flamvell Magician!" Flamvell Magician rose slightly and turned into four photons of light, which surrounded Flamvell Firedog. "Clustering wishes will become a new shining star. Become its path its light shines on! Synchro Summon!" As he grandly announced those words, Flamvell Firedog became enveloped into a flash of light. "Take Flight, Stardust Dragon!" A shrieking roar reverberated from the pillar of light as it dispersed into small glimmers, revealing a white dragon with a very tight, lean body frame. The holographic rectangle read "Attack: 2500" briefly. "I set 1 spell or trap card and end my turn." A single face-down card appeared below Stardust Dragon.
"It's my turn!" announced Duan, staring down the dragon before him. "Draw!" He glanced at the card and glanced at his hand. _No monster in my hand or even in his main deck could defeat Stardust Dragon's raw 2500 attack points. _Duan peered at Stardust Dragon, then at a slot in his Duel Disk containing four cards. "I set one monster and three spell or trap cards. Turn, end!"
Mr. Freedus simply drew and grinned widely. "Watch carefully, Duan. This is what you lack."
"Huh?" _Did he draw a card that would press his advantage?_
"I activate the Spell card, Rekindling! I Special Summon as many FIRE monsters with 200 Defense as possible. However, they're removed from play at the end of my turn."
"What?" Duan didn't expect this to occur. He knew what Mr. Freedus was aiming for, but he didn't expect it to happen. Not like this. Flamvell Baby, Flamvell Poun, Flamvell Firedog, and Flamvell Magician all materialized in several glimmers of light and flame.
"Tuning! My level four Flamvell Firedog to level four Tuner Flamvell Magician!" Flamvell Magician again, rose slightly and turned into four rings of green light, which surrounded Flamvell Firedog. "The ruler's heartbeat will file through here! Bear witness to its creation-shaking power! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Red Dragon Archfiend!" A flash of light revealed another towering dragon, red, similar in build as Stardust Dragon except much more muscular. It brandished its curled horns and razor-sharp metallic claws before roaring, revealing its rows of canines.
Duan watched stoically as Mr. Freedus announced the words "Tuning" almost repeatedly. "Tuning! My level one Flamvell Poun to my level one tuner Flamvell Baby! Gathering wishes will call out a new speed's horizon! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! The Power of Hope, Synchro Tuner, Formula Synchron!" Resembling a racecar, Formula Synchron appeared in a flash of light. "When Formula Synchron is Synchro Summoned, I can draw one card!" He gleefully drew his card with a fwip, his excitement unable to be contained.
"Tuning! My level eight Stardust Dragon to my level two Synchro Tuner Formula Synchron! Clustering crystal dreams will open the door to a new evolution! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Be born, Shooting Star Dragon!" Two monsters, one with 3300 Attack Points, and one with 3000 Attack Points both appeared to his side of the field. Shooting Star Dragon flew in, leaving a trail of glimmer in its wake. Its colossal size and deep screeching roar awed Duan.
While Duan began to formulate a plan to defeat the two dragons, Mr. Freedus pressed a button on his duel disk, revealing one of his face-down cards. "Trap Card, activate! Call of the Haunted! I select one monster from my Graveyard and Special Summon it in Attack Position!" A wisp of smoke rose from Call of the Haunted's image.
"No way, you're going to do another Synchro Summon?"
"Come back, Flamvell Baby!" Flamvell Baby appeared once again, tethered to Call of the Haunted by the wisp of smoke. "I summon the Tuner monster, Flamvell Archer!" A man, well-built, with a flaming-red mane of hair, stepped forward, wielding a flaming bow and arrow. "Double Tuning! My level eight Red Dragon Archfiend to my level three Tuner Monster Flamvell Archer, and my Level one Tuner Monster Flamvell Baby!" Flamvell Archer and Flamvell Baby both dematerialized into a flaming-red ring of light, surrounding Red Dragon Archfiend. "The King and the Devil, here and now shall become as one. A raging spirit! Lift up the very cries of creation itself! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Red Nova Dragon!" Duan merely peered up helplessly at Red Nova Dragon unveiled itself from a screen of flame. Its deep roar as it entered shook the atmosphere around him.
"Red Nova's Dragon's attack increases by 500 for each tuner monster in the Graveyard." Duan began to count off the Tuner monsters that Mr. Freedus used during this duel. "Formula Synchron, Flamvell Baby, Flamvell Archer, and Flamvell Magician. That's 2000 more attack points." Duan began to tremble. _Two of the strongest monsters in all of Duel Monsters, both summoned in one turn. This is the power of the Flamvell deck, huh?_
"Exactly! I activate Shooting Star Dragon's effect! I reveal the top five cards of my deck and can attack for each tuner monster revealed!" Mr. Freedus picked up five cards from his deck and showed them to Duan. He saw "Solemn Warning", "Pot of Duality", "Flamvell Archer", "Flamvell Magician", and "Bottomless Trap Hole". "I've revealed two Tuner monsters! That means I get two attacks!"
"Trap Card, activate! Threatening Roar! You can't declare an attack this turn!" Several sonic waves began to reverberate from Duan.
"How naive! I activate the Trap Card, Trap Stun! It negates all other traps this turn!" A jolt of electricity struck the image of Duan's Threatening Roar, causing the sonic waves to scatter. "Shooting Star Dragon, attack! Stardust Mirage!" Shooting Star Dragon split into five brightly hued versions of itself as it flew in and dive-bombed towards Duan.
Duan's face-down monster, a mask-shaped yellow object with a red-crossed-shaped scar, revealed itself briefly before exploding after being hit by one of the copies of Shooting Star Dragon, enveloping Duan in a cloud of dust. "Mask of Darkness's Flip Effect activates at this time! I add one Trap Card from my graveyard to my hand. I select Threatening Roar!" When the dust cleared, the image of Threatening Roar appeared where Mask of Darkness lay before it faded out.
"Shooting Star Dragon still has another attack! Go!" Duan's eyes turned to the four remaining copies of Shooting Star Dragon. He raised his arms to block the impact again, watching three of them zoom past him and the fourth tackled him, sending him reeling. As he hastily returned to his feet, his Life Point display dwindled to 2900. "Red Nova Dragon, direct attack! Burning Soul!" Duan glanced at Red Nova Dragon as it began to spin and emit spiraling red flares around its body. _His field is clear. His traps won't work. Too bad, kid. It was over when you let me pull out my two dragons. _It drew in ominously closer.
"If a trap won't work, I'll activate the Quick-Play Spell, Scapegoat! I Special Summon four Sheep Tokens in defense mode!" Four balls of fur, each with stubby legs, small horns, and a serene, peaceful expression all materialized before Duan, merely floating by.
Duan's unexpected card choice took Mr. Freedus aback, but he realized that it wasn't game-breaking. "Fine, I'll attack a Sheep Token instead!" The massive Red Nova Dragon spun into a sheep token, obliterating it. The other three seemed to pay no mind to their fallen comrade. "I end my turn. Do you see it, Duan? Do you see what you lack?"
"It's true that not one card in this deck could defeat Red Nova Dragon or Shooting Star Dragon at the same time. However! Mark my words, I will destroy them!" _Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand's effect negates the effects of any LIGHT or DARK monster it battles. Shooting Star Dragon and Red Nova Dragon are LIGHT and DARK monsters respectively. If I can draw it, then with some support, I might be able to do it. _"It's my turn. Draw!" He glanced at the card he just drew, but merely added it to his hand.
"You're still trembling. I can't blame you for being afraid."
"I'm not afraid," said Duan quietly. "This duel has resounded with my heart. It's been a while since I had such a challenge. Will all duelists here at Duel Academy fight this way?"
"Before you talk about the other duelists, you've got to overcome what you lack!"
_It'll be okay. I didn't draw the card I need, but I'll overcome power with my courage and knowledge. _"I summon my own Tuner monster, Junk Synchron!" A small, mechanical-looking figure wearing an orange plate, and on its back seemed to be some sort of motor and ignition. "Junk Synchron's effect activates! When Junk Synchron is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a level two or lower monster in Defense Position, but its effects are negated! Come back to me, Mask of Darkness!" Mask of Darkness rose from a blue circle, the same shape as it was before Shooting Star Dragon destroyed it.
"A Synchro Summon? No, it can't be-!" _Is that kid planning on Summoning Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier? He has two cards in his hand, which is just enough to take Shooting Star Dragon and Red Nova Dragon out of the game._
"Tuning!" chanted Duan. "My three level one Sheep Tokens, my level two Mask of Darkness, and my level three Junk Synchron!" Junk Synchron pulled its ignition on its back and transformed into three rings of green light. Then, the Sheep Tokens and Mask of Darkness lined up together "Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon!" Before Duan placed his Stardust Dragon on his Duel Disk, he wondered what battle position it should take. _Should I play it safe and put it in Defense mode? If I played it in Attack Position, Mr. Freedus would think that I was up to something._
"Stardust Dragon? This is unexpected." _I guess that kid doesn't have such a rare card after all._ "You could of kept those Sheep Tokens and stayed alive for another turn, maybe, but you've given that up. I've yet to figure out what deck you're using, but maybe you've given up? I hope you're not trying to make a good impression on me, since you've already failed that area."
_This will absolutely work. In fact, this has to work, or my chances of winning will disappear. _"I'm counting on you, Stardust Dragon!" cried Duan, ignoring Mr. Freedus, playing Stardust Dragon in Attack position. Like Mr. Freedus's Stardust Dragon earlier, it entered in a flash of light with a screeching roar. "I set two spell or trap cards face-down. Turn, end!"
"It's my turn." _His Stardust Dragon is in Attack mode. If I attack him with Red Nova Dragon, I'll win the duel. It's that face-down card that I'm worried about. It could be "Dimensional Prison," a trap card that removes the attacking monster from play. That card doesn't destroy, so it would bypass both Shooting Star Dragon's and Red Nova Dragon's effect. He must be baiting me into attacking with Red Nova Dragon. _ "Shooting Star Dragon! Attack your inferior counterpart! Stardust Mirage!" Again, Shooting Star Dragon split into five different images and jettisoned towards Duan's Stardust Dragon.
Duan watched three of the images zoom past him, then he pushed a button on his Duel Disk. "Trap card, activate! Sakuretsu Armor!" Stardust Dragon's body began to emit an aura of wind.
"Oh? Not Threatening Roar?" _Ha! This is even better than I imagined! This amateur duelist is using Dimensional Prison's weaker counterpart, a card that destroys the attacking monster, an effect that neither Shooting Star Dragon nor Red Nova Dragon need to worry about._ Shooting Star Dragon's effect activates! Once per turn, I can negate the activation of a card effect that destroys a card on the field and destroy it!" The fourth image Shooting Star Dragon stopped briefly to brandish and reel back its claw.
"Stardust Dragon's effect activates!"
"What?"
"I tribute Stardust Dragon to negate the activation of a card effect that destroys a card on the field and destroy it! Go, Stardust Dragon! Victim Sanctuary!" Stardust Dragon began to fade away into rising, glittering dust, catching Shooting Star Dragon as it went to strike Stardust Dragon, causing it and the other image to shatter into pixels.
"You've, you've trapped me! If I didn't activate Shooting Star Dragon's effect, it would have been destroyed anyways. Was this your aim all along? Red Nova-"
"Trap, activate! Threatening Roar! Your monsters can't attack this turn!" Again, the sonic waves began to resound; Red Nova Dragon suddenly had second thoughts about attacking.
"I end my turn."
"When Stardust Dragon uses its effect successfully, I can Special Summon it back to my side of the field at the end of turn!" The glimmers of light began to gather back, returning Stardust Dragon to the field. "It's my turn! Draw!" _You're here!_ "I set a monster card, then I activate Book of Taiyou!" A face-down card followed by the image of an orange book with its cover resembling a wall of an Egyptian monument projected onto the field. "This card flips a face-down monster to face-up Attack Position! I flip over Brain Jacker!" The image of a sun on the center of the book lit up and opened its eye, and the face-down monster rose and revealed a brain-shaped creature with bat-like arms and claws. A single eye protruded from its frontal lobes.
"No! This means..."
"Brain Jacker's Flip Effect activates! I equip it to one of your monsters and take control of it!" Brain Jacker flew straight for Red Nova Dragon's head and disappeared; it roared dully before flying to Duan's side of the field. "I only have one Tuner monster in my graveyard. Red Nova Dragon only gains 500 attack points." A display briefly appeared next to Red Nova Dragon, first displaying "Attack: 5500" before the number reduced to 4000.
"Stardust Dragon! Attack Mr. Freedus's life points directly! Reverberate! Shooting Sonic!" Stardust Dragon leaned back, and roared, shooting a white, translucent stream of energy before Mr. Freedus raised his arms to block the virtual dust. "Red Nova Dragon! Attack! Burning Soul!" Mr. Freedus's eyes gaped as Red Nova Dragon spun in a flaming spiral, sending him reeling across the arena. His Life Points dwindled from a perfect 8000 to a mere 1500.
Mr. Freedus groaned as he stood back up. "No way, you defeated Shooting Star Dragon and took control of Red Nova Dragon."
"Turn, end!" Mr. Freedus said nothing as he drew his card with a swish. "A side effect of Brain Jacker's effect causes you to gain 500 Life Points at each Standby Phase." Mr. Freedus's Life Points increased to 2000. Ignoring Duan, he played the card he drew immediately.
"I'll activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, Mystical Space Typhoon! It destroys one Spell or Trap Card on the field. Since Brain Jacker is equipped to Red Nova Dragon, it's a valid target for my Mystical Space Typhoon!"
"Stardust Dragon's effect activates! Victim Sanctuary!" Once again, Stardust Dragon dematerialized into glimmers of light before the cyclone reached Red Nova Dragon's head, causing the two to disperse each other.
"Right, right." Mr. Freedus then smirked. "This is the moment I've been waiting for!"
"What?" _Is he going to play his last trump card?_
"I activate another Rekindling! I can Special Summon back my army of monsters!" Once again, Mr. Freedus's monsters appeared in glimmers of light and flame. For the first time during the duel, Duan smirked.
"This is the moment I'VE been waiting for!" he declared before pushing a button on his Duel Disk.
"What?"
"Trap card, activate! Needle Ceiling!" As he flipped over his face-down card, a stone slab parallel to the ceiling with massive needles protruding from it materialized. "This card can only be activated if there are four or more monsters on the field. It will destroy all face-up monsters!"
"No way! You'll take out both of our monsters!"The stone slab fell, crushing first Duan's Red Nova Dragon, then the rest of Mr. Freedus's monsters, which growled in pain before they ruptured into pixels. _Was he aiming for this from the start? He did say "I will destroy both of them." The face-__down card had been there since his second turn. Did he read that far ahead? _"I set one card and end my turn."
"Stardust Dragon returns to the field during the End Phase." Duan's expression blanked out again. _I just need a card that can allow me to deal 2000 points of damage. Any card, Junk Synchron, Debris Dragon, or even Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand will do._ "It's my turn. Draw!" Duan glanced at the orange glimmer as he drew his card and played it immediately._ "_I summon Diskblade Rider and activate its effect! Once per turn, I remove a Normal Trap card from my graveyard, 'Threatening Roar,' from play to have it gain 500 attack until the end of your next turn." A blue circle opened, then a green human-shaped monster on a motorcycle with rather large wheels drove in. It took Threatening Roar in its hand and placed it inside a slot on a motorcycle before revving its engine, causing its Attack to climb from 1700 up to 2200.
_ I've lost. Even if I use my trap card now, it won't change the duel's outcome. _"Congratulations," Mr. Freedus said slowly.
"Battle!" Duan continued, ignoring Mr. Freedus. "Stardust Dragon!"
"You passed."
"Reverberate, Shooting Sonic!" Once again, Stardust Dragon leaned back and roared one last time before it shot a white, translucent stream of energy at Mr. Freedus, who stood forlornly. His Life Point display beeped as it dropped to zero. The holograms faded.
"Welcome to Duel Academy," said Mr. Freedus humbly. "Here's your reward." He pulled out a few copies of "Flamvell Magician" and presented it to Duan. When he reached and grasped the cards, Mr. Freedus held onto them for a moment before letting go.
"Thank you," Duan said hastily before walking to the exit. Before he reached the exit, he glanced over at the other arenas. "I wonder how they're doing."
"Excuse me," a voice called. "Your name is Duan, right?"
"Yes, that's me," Duan replied automatically, turning to the approaching figure carrying a strange contraption. As the figure stepped closer, the whirring sound from the contraption became more rapid. "And you are?"
To Duan's surprise, the figure kneeled down and bowed deeply while continuing to hold the contraption in the figure's hand. "Please, I have a request of you!"
"Huh?"
Extra 1.2
"When will it be that boy's turn?" grumbled Percia, gazing at the arena. "I want to see him duel. I can't believe I've waited this long." Her impulses commanded her to stand and shout, "DUAN, YOU IDIOT! COWARD! LIAR!" All eyes suddenly fell on her, freezing her in place. "Er, um.."
"Pipe down!" cried a teacher's voice. Percia sheepishly sat back down.
Meanwhile, inside the waiting room, Duan suddenly sprung upwards, half-dazed. "Ah! I'm awake!" He glanced around and noticed only a handful of individuals remaining. Some of them looked at him quizzically, but he paid no mind. "Oh, it's almost my turn!"
* * *
><p><p>
"What? He let that bald guy get his combo out? He didn't Synchro Summon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier? Does he want to lose?" Percia sat on the edge of her seat, anticipating Duan's next move. At the corner of her eye, she noticed a girl wearing a Duel Academy uniform under her black cloak, gazing suspiciously at the duel. "Who are you?"
The girl's face paled for a moment, then regained its composure. "I am the Queen of Games! Bow to me and kiss my feet! Ohohohohoho!" Percia ignored her, merely continuing to watch the duel. "Watching that duel carefully?"
"What's it to you? What are you doing here, watching Duan's duel?"
Her face paled again. "Uh, look! He's got Stardust Dragon!"
"Huh? I know that." Percia glanced over to the Duel before glancing back to the Queen.
"Hide!" she whispered as she rolled down a piece of wallpaper resembling the wall behind her. By the time Percia glanced back over towards the Queen, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Wait, where'd that second-year go?" She scanned the area hastily before returning to watch the rest of the Duel.
* * *
><p><p>
The Queen gave a deep sigh of relief and allowed the piece of wallpaper to roll down harmlessly. "Whew, I didn't think he was going to win for a moment."
A quick glimpse of the Queen caused Percia to turn around. "Huh? You've been here all along?" An awkward silence fell upon the two, as the Queen racked her brains for ideas out of this awkward situation.
"Uh, look! Junk Warrior!"
"Huh? The duel's over, there's no Junk Warrior!" As Percia peeked over her shoulder to make sure, the Queen disappeared again. Percia searched and searched, but the Queen was nowhere to be found. "Hmph, how ridiculous. Crazy second-year."
Card Reference:
Slate Warrior
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1900/400
Fiend/Effect:
FLIP: Increase the ATK and DEF of this card by 500 points. Decrease the ATK and DEF of a monster that destroys this card by battle.
Flamvell Poun
Level 1
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 200/200
Pyro/Effect:
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can select and add 1 monster with 200 DEF from your Deck to your hand.
Flamvell Firedog
Level 4
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 1900/200
Beast/Effect:
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 FIRE monster with 200 or less DEF from your Deck, except "Flamvell Firedog".
Flamvell Baby
Level 1
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 800/200
Pyro/Tuner/Effect
During your Main Phase, you can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard to select 1 face-up FIRE monster you control and have it gain 400 ATK.
Flamvell Magician
Level 4
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 1400/200
Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect
While you control an "Ally of Justice" monster(s), this card gains 400 ATK.
Stardust Dragon
Level 8
WIND
ATK/DEF: 2500/2000
Dragon/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can Tribute this card to negate the activation of a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect that destroys a card(s) on the field, and destroy that card. If you negate an effect this way, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard during the End Phase.
Rekindling
Normal Spell Card
Special Summon from your Graveyard as many FIRE monsters as possible with 200 DEF. During the End Phase, remove from play all monsters that were Special Summoned by this effect.
Red Dragon Archfiend
Level 8
DARK
ATK/DEF: 3000/2000
Dragon/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
If this card attacks a Defense Position monster your opponent controls, destroy all Defense Position monsters your opponent controls after damage calculation. During the End Phase, destroy all other monsters you control that did not declare an attack this turn.
Formula Synchron
Level 2
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 200/1500
Machine/Synchro/Tuner/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 non-Tuner monster
When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can draw 1 card. During your opponent's Main Phase, you can Synchro Summon using this face-up card you control as a Synchro Material Monster.
Shooting Star Dragon
Level 10
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 3300/2500
Dragon/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner Synchro Monster + "Stardust Dragon"
Each of these effects can be activated once per turn:
* Reveal the top 5 cards of your Deck. Shuffle them back in, and this card's maximum number of attacks this turn is equal to the number of Tuner monsters revealed.
* Negate the activation of an effect that would destroy a card(s) on the field, and destroy that card.
* When your opponent's monster declares an attack you can select it, then remove this card from play and negate the attack. During the End Phase, Special Summon this card that was removed from play by this effect.
Call of the Haunted
Continuous Trap Card
Select 1 monster from your graveyard and Special Summon it in face-up Attack Position. When this card is removed from the field, destroy the monster. When the monster is destroyed, destroy this card.
Flamvell Archer
Level 3
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 1000/200
Pyro/Tuner/Effect
Once per turn, you can Tribute 1 face-up Pyro-Type monster you control to have all face-up "Flamvell" monsters on the field gain 800 ATK until the End Phase.
Red Nova Dragon
Level 12
DARK
ATK/DEF: 3500/3000
Dragon/Synchro/Effect
2 Tuners + "Red Dragon Archfiend"
This card gains 500 ATK for each Tuner monster in your Graveyard. This card cannot be destroyed by the effects of your opponent's Spells, Traps, or monsters. When your opponent's monster declares an attack, you can select it, then remove this card from play and negate the attack. During the End Phase, Special Summon this card that was removed by this effect.
Threatening Roar
Normal Trap Card
Your opponent cannot declare an attack this turn.
Trap Stun
Normal Trap Card
Negate the effects of all other Trap Cards on the field during this turn.
Mask of Darkness
Level 2
DARK
ATK/DEF: 900/400
Fiend/Effect
FLIP: Add 1 Trap card from your graveyard to your hand.
Scapegoat
Quick-Play Spell Card
If you activate this card, you cannot Summon other monsters this turn. Special Summon 4 "Sheep Tokens" (Beast-Type/EARTH/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0) in Defense Position. The "Sheep Tokens" cannot be used as a Tribute for a Tribute Summon (or Set).
Junk Synchron
Level 3
DARK
ATK/DEF: 1300/500
Warrior/Tuner/Effect
When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower monster from your Graveyard in face-up Defense Position. That monster's effect(s) is negated.
Sakuretsu Armor
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when your opponent's monster declares an attack. Destroy the attacking monster.
Book of Taiyou
Normal Spell Card
Flip one face-down Defense Position monster to face-up Attack Position.
Brain Jacker
Level 2
DARK
ATK/DEF: 200/900
Fiend/Effect
FLIP: Equip this card to a monster on your opponent's side of the field and treat it as an Equip Spell Card. Take control of the monster that is equipped with this card. Increase your opponent's Life Points by 500 during each of his/her Standby Phases.
Mystical Space Typhoon
Quick-Play Spell Card
Destroy 1 Spell or Trap on the field.
Needle Ceiling
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when there are 4 or more monsters on the field. Destroy all face-up monsters on the field.
Diskblade Rider
Level 4
WIND
ATK/DEF: 1700/1500
Fiend/Effect
Once per turn, you can remove from play 1 Normal Trap Card from your Graveyard to increase this card's ATK by 500 until the End Phase of your opponent's turn.
4. Duel Chapter 3: Nero's Entrance Duel
Sub-Chapter 1.3:
A towering woman with blue hair tied back in a formal violet dress approached Nero. Her heavily rimmed glasses and her swaying figure as she approached Nero gave her an air of class and overwhelming wisdom.
"I am Ms. Jadis. I will be your test examiner. Are you ready?"
"Yup," replied Nero. He placed his deck in a slot inside his Duel Disk; it shuffled his deck briefly before locking it in place. Both players drew five cards.
"Let's begin. I will go first." She drew with a soft swish. "I set one monster and one spell or trap card." As she spoke, the face-down cards materialized onto the field. "Turn, end. Show me your knowledge, student."
"It's my turn! I summon Marauding Captain!" As Nero placed the card on his Duel Disk, its image projected to the field, and then a man leaped in, sporting two swords, a plate of armor, and a flowing cape that settled as he landed. "When Marauding Captain is summoned, I can Special Summon one level four or lower monster from my hand! Come out, Command Knight!" A blue portal opened before a woman with long blonde hair and a red color-schemed well-decorated outfit leaped in.
"Warriors? It has indeed been long since I have seen them used. Command Knight's effect will increase the Attack of all Warrior monsters by 400." Both Command Knight's and Marauding Captain's Attacks displayed "Attack: 1200" before rising to 1600.
"Marauding Captain attacks your face-down monster!" Immediately, Marauding Captain brandished its two swords and rushed the face-down card. A bird revealed itself and displayed "Defense: 500" briefly before being chopped in half, scattering into many little pixels.
"Blizzed, Defender of the Ice Barrier's effect activates. When it's destroyed by battle, I draw one card." With a gentle swish, she drew a card from her deck, glanced at it, then added it to her hand.
"Command Knight! Direct attack!" On Nero's command, Command Knight drew her highly decorative rapier and lunged towards Ms. Jadis.
"Trap, activation. Dimensional Prison. I simply remove the attacking monster from play." Before Command Knight's sword reached Ms. Jadis, a dimensional ripped appeared in front of her. The rip absorbed Command Knight's sword, then the rest of her followed suit.
"Dick move! I set two face-down cards. That's all."
"How vulgar. It's my turn." She glanced at the card she just drew, then placed it in a slot on her Duel Disk. "I activate the Spell Card, Magic Triangle of the Ice Barrier! I will reveal three Ice Barrier monsters to you, then destroy one of your monsters, and finally, Special Summon one of them." She revealed Strategist of the Ice Barrier, General Grunard of the Ice Barrier, General Gantala of the Ice Barrier. The image of those three monsters appeared around Marauding Captain; his eyes darted around in panic before he groaned in pain and shattered into pixels, then General Gantala, a bald, dark-skinned man with a blue snowflake-shaped marking on his head and back, stepped onto the field. His clothes revealed his upper, well-toned physique, and his left arm was enveloped in a blue flame. A text box appeared briefly, revealing its 2700 Attack. The other two simply faded.
"Dick move!" _Stupid Bald Guy._
"Does your language not cease to be vulgar?" Before Nero could retort, she continued to speak. "However, I have more to do; I summon Strategist of the Ice Barrier." A venerable man with a long mustache, scholarly robes, and a cone-shaped hat ambled onto the field. Briefly, another text box with the words: "Attack: 1600" appeared. "I'll activate his effect! I discard one Ice Barrier monster to draw one card!" She revealed General Grunard of the Ice Barrier, then slid it into the top slot on her Duel Disk before drawing one card from her deck.
_I wonder what was the point of that._
"Battle! General Gantala of the Ice Barrier, direct attack!" The blue flame on General Gantala's hand flared as he rushed towards Nero to deliver a spear-hand strike at his chest.
"Go, Magic Cylinder!" As General Gantala struck, two red cylinders materialized right in front of Nero. One absorbed Gentala's blow; the other aimed itself at Ms. Jadis.
"A Trap card that negates the attack and inflicts damage equal to the attacking monster's attack." Ms. Jadis merely watched as the red cylinder pointed towards her shot a white beam of light and her Life Point display appeared, displaying "Life Points: 8000" before dropping to 5300. "Strategist of the Ice Barrier, Direct Attack!" The venerable man flicked his wrist, and talismans flew towards Nero; they stuck to him before exploding, causing his Life Point Display to read 6400. "At the end of my turn, General Gantala of the Ice Barrier is able to Special Summon one Ice Barrier Monster from my graveyard. Come back, General Grunard of the Ice Barrier!"
"What?" _A weirdo.. a weirdo in weirdo blue snowflake armor with a weirdo giant blue sword appeared.. And it's got 2800 Attack! She's already got two high leveled monsters on the field. I better draw something good._
"It's your turn."
"Yes it is! Draw!" Ms. Jadis noticed a green glimmer as Nero, with a single sweeping motion, drew his card and played it. "I activate the spell card, Sword of Revealing Light!" With several clinging sounds, sword-shaped lights fell from the sky and pinned themselves onto Ms. Jadis's field.
"Those swords will prevent me from attacking for three of my turns as long as Swords of Revealing Light remains on the field."
"I set one monster and one Spell or Trap card, then end my turn."
"It's my turn. Draw. I summon Samurai of the Ice Barrier." A man in light, ice-blue ancient Eastern armor and helmet materialized with his sword pointed at Nero. "Then, with General Grunard's effect, I can summon another "Ice Barrier" monster this turn. Come out, the Tuner monster, Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier." A dark-skinned man with a very lean build, a Nordic hat, and a staff with a snowflake-shaped tip landed in a gust of cold wind.
"What's a Tuner monster again?"
Ms. Jadis sighed. "Are you not knowledgeable about one of the most powerful mechanics of this game? Allow me to show you what you lack. Tuning! My level four Samurai of the Ice Barrier to my level two Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier!" Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier turned into two rings of green light and surrounded the outline of Samurai of the Ice Barrier. "The spear of living ice, I unseal thee. Become the weapon of legend and breathe death upon my foe! Synchro Summon! Oh, Armament of God! Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!" In a flash of light, an ice-blue serpent slithered in, massive, at least four times the size of General Gantala of the Ice Barrier. Its breath constantly seemed to condensate. A text box appeared briefly and displayed "Attack: 2300".
"Whoa, what is that card?"
"Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier's effect activates!" declared Ms. Jadis, ignoring Nero. "I discard any number of cards in my hand to return the the same amount back to your hand! Blizzard Wind! I return Swords of Revealing Light and your face-down card back to your hand!" Brionac roared, then a sudden rush of chilling wind blew away the sword-shaped lights and Nero's face-down card.
"You're allowed to do that?"
"Battle! Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, attack his face-down monster! Absolute Zero Flare!" Brionac slowly opened its mouth and spewed a light-blue wind. Nero's face-down monster flipped itself over, revealing a young woman with dirty-blonde hair and green clothing; over it was a tattered brown mantle and a hat. She raised her sword to defend herself, but the ice overtook her and shattered her into pixels.
"When Warrior Lady of the Wasteland is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon an EARTH Warrior-type with 1500 Attack points or less from my deck. I bring out another Warrior Lady of the Wasteland!" A card slid out from Nero's deck, then he pulled it out and placed it on his Duel Disk horizontally. However, its image wouldn't project onto the screen. Nero scratched his head before turning it 90 degrees. Warrior Lady of the Wasteland leaped onto the field with her sword brandished and ready to attack. A text box displayed briefly her 1100 Attack points. "Why can't I place this in Defense mode?"
"You forgot to mention that it only brings out monsters in Attack position. Strategist of the Ice Barrier! Attack Warrior Lady of the Wasteland!" Strategist of the Ice Barrier flicked his wrist once more, and talismans flew towards Warrior Lady of the Wasteland. She screamed before exploding violently into pixels, then Nero's Life Point Display dwindled to 5900.
"Again!" Nero swiftly placed the third copy of Warrior Lady of the Wasteland on his Duel Disk, projecting her image to the field.
"General Gantala of the Ice Barrier attacks Warrior Lady of the Wasteland!" General Gantala ignited his open hand and struck the third Warrior Lady of the Wasteland, causing Nero's Life to drop to 4300.
"Oh crap. What monster do I pull out now?" He skimmed through the holographic menu box that listed the remaining EARTH Warrior-type monsters with 1500 Attack or less. "Um, go! Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!" A blonde-haired elf in light green armor hurried where the last Warrior Lady of the Wasteland was defeated, brandishing his longsword. A small display read "Attack: 1400".
"Very well. General Grunard of the Ice Barrier attacks Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!"
"He can't be destroyed in battle by a monster of 1900 attack points or more!" General Grunard raised his massive ice sword and struck Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, but instead of shattering into pixels, he tumbled until he slid back on his feet.
"However, you still take the battle damage!" Nero's Life Points dwindled to 2900. "At the end of my turn, Gantala's effect allows me to Special Summon an Ice Barrier monster from the graveyard. Come back, Defender of the Ice Barrier!" A fox-like monster with icicles protruding along the top of its tail appeared. A brief box appeared, displaying "Defense: 1600."
"Oh, okay." _I can't lose. This is the most important duel I've ever had. Duan said that he won't go unless all three of us makes it. There's no doubt he would make it, but I'm not nearly as strong as him. I don't want to be the one holding him back when he can do great things._
"Come on, let's go! Draw!" Nero glanced at the card he just drew and played it immediately. "I play the Continuous Spell Card, Solidarity! Since all the monsters in my Graveyard are Warriors, the attack of all Warriors on my side of the field goes up by 800!" Obnoxious Celtic Guardian's Attack climbed to 2200. "I then play the Swords of Revealing Light!" Once more, several sword-shaped lights pinned down Ms. Jadis's monsters. "Obnoxious Celtic Guardian! Attack!" Obnoxious Celtic Guardian's sword became encased in ice; rather than attacking, he spent his efforts futilely trying to smash the ice. "Huh? What's wrong?"
>"When there's another Ice Barrier on my side of the field, your monsters with attack greater than Defender of the Ice Barrier's Defense can't attack!"<p>
"What? DICK MOVE!" Nero sighed before glancing over the field, his hand now empty.
"Honestly, what were you thinking, rushing in without taking note of my monster effects?"
_It doesn't seem like I've made a good impression. _"Well, that's all, then."
"It's my turn. Draw. Tuning!"
"Huh?" _I still don't quite understand what's she's doing. How does she know what monster's a Tuner? How does she know what monster to pull out? Why are Synchro Monster cards white? Does she spend her time coming up with Summon chants like Duan and X do?_
"My level four Strategist of the Ice Barrier to my level three Tuner Defender of the Ice Barrier!" Defender of the Ice Barrier turned into three rings of green light and surrounded the outline of Strategist of the Ice Barrier. "The spear of divine ice, I unseal thee. Become the weapon of legend and strike my foes without fail! Synchro Summon! Oh, Armament of God! Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!" With a flash of blue light, a creature made of dark-blue ice stood on its four legs and raised its frozen wings before it roared.
"Another one.."
"Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier's effect activates! I discard up to two cards and destroy an equal number of cards on the field. I discard the last card in my hand to destroy Swords of Revealing Light! Divine Ice Lance!" Gungnir roared once more before icicles appeared from the sky and impaled the image of Swords of Revealing Light, causing the sword-shaped lights to fade out.
"Uh-oh."
"Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! Attack!"
"Oh crap, oh crap-brr!" Obnoxious Celtic Guardian braced himself for before a cold stream chilled him and Nero, and then his Life Points dropped to 2800.
"Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! Attack! Divine Ice Lance!"
"Wait, do I have something down-ow!" Gungnir roared, then icicles rapidly rose from the surface, plowing through Obnoxious Celtic Guardian and Nero. His Life Points dropped to 2500.
"General Gantala of the Ice Barrier! Attack!"
"Oh! Trap, activate! Kunai with Chain! I equip it to Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, and it gains 500 Attack!" Obnoxious Celtic Guardian's Attack climbed up to 2700 when a bladed sickle attached to a chain appeared in his free hand. "Oh, crap! I forgot about switching General Bald Guy to defense mode!"
"How rude! It's General Gantala, not 'Bald Guy!'"
"He's still bald!" Nero insisted. General Gantala thrust his hand at the Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, but it caught Gantala with its new weapon, and then countered with its sword, causing General Gantala to shatter into pixels. "Oh, it worked out in the end."
"General Grunard attacks Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!" Again, General Grunard struck Obnoxious Celtic Guardian with its wide blue sword, causing him to groan and then tumble until he stood back on his feet. Nero's Life Point display read 2400. "Turn, end."
"Stupid General Weirdo."
Ms. Jadis's patience seemed to vanish as she fumed and brandished her finger at him. "He's NOT General Weirdo! It's Grunard! You do not insult my cards, you buffoon!"
"He's still a weirdo."
"Go already!"
"Okay, okay, you don't have to rush me." Nero had no cards in his hand. He glanced at his deck, slowly placed his hand on it, closed his eyes, then drew. When his eyes opened, he played the card he drew immediately. "I activate the Spell Card, Cup of Ace!" The card's image projected to the field, revealing a golden goblet.
Ms. Jadis's jaw dropped. "No, really?"
"Uh, yeah. Please be heads, please be heads." The goblet spun rapidly for a long ten seconds before rolling across the field. The two duelists watched it with anticipation.
"If I lose because of this..." Ms. Jadis's voice trailed off as the goblet unceremoniously landed face-up, indicating Heads.
"YEAH! With Cup of Ace's effect, I draw two cards!" Nero took the top two cards of his deck and added them to his empty hand. "I activate my face-down Spell Card, The Warrior Returning Alive! I can add a Warrior-Type monster from my graveyard to my hand. I add Marauding Captain!"
"That was the card I returned to his hand? If I didn't overestimate you, I would have won!"
"Then, I summon Marauding Captain! With its effect, I Special Summon my Ace monster, Mataza the Zapper!" After Marauding Captain appeared to the field, he once again raised his sword; a blue portal opened before a young man in Eastern green armor with his black hair tied back into a ponytail leaped through. When he landed, his Attack Display read 1300 before climbing up to 2100 due to Solidarity's effect.
"What the." _Mataza the Zapper's effect allows it to attack twice, but I'm not sure how that's an Ace card. _"However, Mataza the Zapper and Marauding Captain will only be destroyed by my monsters next turn."
>"I equip Mataza the Zapper with the Spell Card, United We Stand! Mataza the Zapper gains 800 Attack points for every monster on my side of the field. That's 2400 Attack points." Mataza the Zapper glowed a golden color as his Attack climbed to 4500.<p>
"That means.." Ms. Jadis immediately realized she was going to lose.
"Obnoxious Celtic Guardian! Attack Brionac!" Ms. Jadis's Life Points read 4900. "Mataza the Zapper! Attack General Weirdo-"
"IT'S GENERAL GRUNARD!"
"Grunard and Gungnir! Secret Technique, Four-Dimensional Cut!" Mataza the Zapper simply landed past them and sheathed his sword; General Grunard and Gungnir both received several sword slashes before shattering into pixels. Her Life Points dwindled to 1100.
"Marauding Captain! Direct attack!" He leaped into the air once more with his two swords drawn, then descended and slashed at Ms. Jadis, who fell to her knees when her Life Point display gave a low beep as it dropped to zero.
"My reputation.. my reputation as a teacher is over." Her head drooped while she spoke. "Congratulations, you passed. Welcome to Duel Academy."
"YEAH!" He swung his arms up and down, then strutted across the arena triumphantly.
Ms. Jadis took a step, then paused to allow Nero to calm down. "..Here's your prize." Ms. Jadis took some cards from a pocket on her violet dress and handed them to Nero. "Be sure to learn how to Synchro Summon before coming to class."
"Did I make a good impression?" asked Nero optimistically.
"You passed," she uttered in a low voice. "You should be happy enough with that." Nero avoided her unnerving glare and hurried towards the exit.
"Congratulations on passing, Nero Ushiyama" a feminine voice behind him said. Nero turned around to find a student facing the direction he was walking towards. He couldn't see much of her, just her thick, waist-long blue hair and a slender figure. "Your fight was in vain, however. Your friend would have ended up going even if you had you stayed home."
_When'd she pop up behind me? I didn't even notice her! _"What are you talking about?"
"Your promise, right?" the student said, continuing to face away from Nero.
_Another weird lady who knows too much? _"How do you know about our promise?"
"They call me the Oracle. It's not too late to back down. You don't have to go if you don't want to. I will absolutely see to it that your friend goes. He and your other friend will suffer if you go with them to Duel Academy."
Nero took out a coin and flicked it high in the air. It fell to the ground, landing on an eye, indicating heads. "I'm going with him, no matter what you say."
"A two-sided coin." The Oracle raised her hand over where her face appeared to be and chuckled almost cynically. "Interesting. It's okay, either way. Go on, Duan is waiting for you. X will join your celebration soon." She waved casually with the back of her hand as she ambled away. Nero merely shrugged and continued in the opposite direction.
Just before he opened the door, he heard Duan's voice say, "I'll meet you after school on the first day."
When Nero walked out the door, he saw Duan waving at a distant figure. _Of course, it's no surprise that Duan's already here, but who was he talking to?_ He turned around and approached Nero.
"Well?" Duan asked.
"I won!"
"Congratulations!"
"Oh, what about X? You're not going without him too, are you?"
"Right. It looked like he was having some trouble. I've heard that Section A had the most failed students so far."
"Eh, he'll be fine," Nero said dismissively.
"You say that so confidently now."
"You can say it's a good feeling."
Duan scratched his head thoughtfully. "Well, it's better to believe in him anyways."
Extra 1.3
After hours of scurrying around Duel Academy with no sign of the hooded figure, Duan took a moment to catch his breath. "I'm lost. Where am I?" He ambled slowly into a few condensed hallways before stopping. "Is someone crying?"
"I can't believe I lost to someone who used a Warrior Deck and Cup of Ace!" a feminine voice cried in between sobs.
"Warrior Deck? Cup of Ace?" Duan's mind immediately thought of Nero, who used such a combination.
"What?" she suddenly shouted, causing Duan to flinch. "You're breaking up with me? WHY? Don't hang up!"
"I don't know if I should ask her for directions or not. She seems so distressed."
"Is someone here?" Duan heard her say quickly and softly.
_Whoa, she regained her composure quickly. _"Um, hello. Did something happen?"
"No, it's nothing. Please, come in." Duan obliged, opening the door and walking in slowly. He glanced at Ms. Jadis's face; he eyes seemed somewhat puffy but her tears had already been dried, then he examined the room.
"This is a pretty room." Around him, several star ornaments hung from the ceiling, several shelves of vintage books hugged the walls, a desk with neatly stacked paperwork sitting on one of its corners. The lighting itself is bright, though scattered by the crystal stars.
"Thank you, and you are?"
"Duan."
"A pleasure to meet you, Duan. I am Ms. Jadis, and I will be teaching History to the first years this semester. I was one of the test examiners. Did you recently pass?"
"Yes, I dueled against Mr. Freedus, I believe." She petted her chin and peered at Duan.
"Could you by chance be the 'idiot, coward, liar, poverty-stricken' duelist that he was talking about?"
"Huh? Did he say all of that?"
"He only mentioned poverty-stricken as he came back from testing. A spectator from the stands called you the rest."
"Who would call me such a thing?"
"Would you like to duel? One may call you such things, but in a duel, your true nature shows."
"Oh, sure." While Duan thought he should really ask for directions back to the entrance, he pulled his deck out of his Duel Disk, thinking there is no sense to to project holograms in such a small room. Ms. Jadis followed suit.
Several minutes later.
"Junk Warrior!" Duan declared. He tapped the white-colored card near him and pointed to Ms. Jadis. "Attack! Scrap Fist!" Ms. Jadis glanced at a sheet of paper she used to keep track of their Life Points, then threw it up in air.
"What?" Her voice returned to its shrill, distressed tone as she lost her temperament. "First, I lose to a random no-brained duelist, then I lose to a random, poverty-stricken deck?"
"Er, my deck really isn't all that random, and please don't call it poverty-stricken."
"Yes it is! It has no archetype, it's littered with random, common cards that mainly focused on destroying cards, and yet," her distressed voice suddenly returned to normal, "You have a proper strategy that worked well for that deck. Congratulations. Here." Ms. Jadis pulled out a card from a drawer her desk and handed it to him.
"Thank you!" Duan glanced at the orange-bordered card labeled "Geomancer of the Ice Barrier" before placing it inside his jacket pocket.
A creaking noise from behind caused the two of them to turn their attention to the door. "Duan?" Nero called out in between his exhausted breathing. X walked in, also out of breath. "Why'd you run off?"
Duan raised his hand to greet them. "Oh, hey guys."
Her face immediately paled at the sight of Nero. "WHAT? You're friends with, with, with that Duelist?" The three of them froze in place and turned their heads to face the now distressed Ms. Jadis.
"Uh, yes?"
"NOOOOOO! Get out! Get out!" As she furiously signaled them to leave, Nero, Duan, and X hastily obeyed, scurrying out the door.
"Nero, what did you do to her?" asked Duan while exchanging glances with X.
Nero shrugged. "I dunno. Adults never were that sensible."
"I hope she's not going to be our teacher," X commented. "Let's head back."
Card Reference:
Marauding Captain
Level 3
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 1200/400
Warrior/Effect
Your opponent cannot select another Warrior-Type monster you control as an attack target. When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your hand.
Command Knight
Level 4
FIRE
ATK/DEF: 1200/1900
Warrior/Effect
All Warrior-Type monsters you control gain 400 ATK. If you control another monster, your opponent cannot target this face-up card for an attack.
Blizzed, Defender of the Ice Barrier
Level 1
WATER
ATK/DEF: 300/500
Aqua/Effect
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, draw 1 card.
Dimensional Prison
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack. Remove the attacking monster from play.
Magic Triangle of the Ice Barrier
Normal Spell Card
Reveal 3 "Ice Barrier" monsters with different names in your hand to select 1 card your opponent controls. Destroy the opponent's card and Special Summon 1 "Ice Barrier" monster from your hand.
General Gantala of the Ice Barrier
Level 7
WATER
ATK/DEF: 2700/2000
Warrior/Effect
Once per turn, during your End Phase, you can select and Special Summon 1 "Ice Barrier" monster from your Graveyard, except "General Gantala of the Ice Barrier".
Magic Cylinder
Normal Trap Card
Negate the attack of 1 monster your opponent controls and inflict damage to your opponent equal to its ATK.
General Grunard of the Ice Barrier
Level 8
WATER
ATK/DEF: 2800/1000
Warrior/Effect
During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 "Ice Barrier" monster in addition to your Normal Summon or Set. This effect can only be used once per turn.
Swords of Revealing Light
Normal Spell Card
Flip all monster your opponent controls face-up. This card remains on the field for 3 of your opponent's turns. While this card is face-up on the field, monsters your opponent controls cannot declare an attack.
Samurai of the Ice Barrier
Level 4
WATER
ATK/DEF: 1800/1500
Warrior/Effect
When this card on the field is changed from face-up Attack Position to face-up Defense Position, destroy it and draw 1 card.
Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier
Level 2
WATER
ATK/DEF: 1300/0
Aqua/Tuner/Effect
While you control another "Ice Barrier" monster, Level 4 or higher monsters cannot declare an attack.
Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
Level 6
WATER
ATK/DEF: 2300/1400
Sea-Serpent/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can discard any number of cards to the Graveyard to target the same number of cards on the field; return those targets to the hand.
Warrior Lady of the Wasteland
Level 4
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 1100/1200
Warrior/Effect
When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 EARTH Warrior-Type monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck, in face-up Attack Position.
Obnoxious Celtic Guard
Level 4
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 1400/1200
Warrior/Effect
This card cannot be destroyed by battle with a monster that has 1900 ATK or more.
Defender of the Ice Barrier
Level 3
WATER
ATK/DEF: 200/1600
Aqua/Tuner/Effect
While you control another face-up "Ice Barrier" monster, monsters your opponent controls cannot declare an attack if their ATK is greater than or equal to this card's DEF.
Solidarity
Continuous Spell Card
If you have only 1 original (printed) Type of monster in your Graveyard, face-up monsters you control with the same Type gain 800 ATK.
Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
Level 7
WATER
ATK/DEF: 2500/1700
Dragon/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner WATER monsters
Once per turn: You can discard up to 2 cards to the Graveyard to target the same number of cards your opponent controls; destroy them.
Kunai with Chain
Normal Trap Card
Chose 1 or both of these effects.
*Activate only when an opponent's monster attacks. Change the attacking monster to Defense Position.
*Equip this card to a monster you control. It gains 500 ATK.
Cup of Ace
Normal Spell Card
Toss a coin.
* Heads: Draw 2 cards.
* Tails: Your opponent draws 2 cards.
The Warrior Returning Alive
Normal Spell Card
Select one Warrior-Type monster in your Graveyard and add it to your hand.
Mataza the Zapper
Level 4
DARK
ATK/DEF: 1300/800
Warrior/Effect
This monster can attack twice during the same Battle Phase. Control of this card cannot switch.
United We Stand
Equip Spell Card
The equipped monster gains 800 ATK and DEF for each face-up monster you control.
5. Chapter 2: Intermission
Chapter 2:
"WHAT?" X's sudden exclamation caused Duan and Nero to flinch. "You're telling me that Mist Valley Apex Avian's effect could only be activated once per Chain?"
"What's a Chain?" asked Nero.
>"Well, Nero, it's a-"<p>
"Duan! You're telling me that I could have used my Dimensional Prison right after Mist Valley Apex Avian's effect-negating thingy activates, and it'd be okay?"
"Yeah," replied Duan slowly. "That's what he meant by lacking courage, I believe."
"Oh." X grimaced and shook his head. "Did the other teachers say that you lacked anything else?"
"Knowledge," replied Nero. "Sure, I'm not that smart compared to you two, but that witch was talking about how important being smart is."
"What happened during the Duel?"
When Nero briefly described his duel, X interrupted the moment Nero mentioned "Cup of Ace". "WHAT? You used Cup of Ace and won?"
"Yeah, what's the big deal?"
"Lucky as usual."
"You got them shiny eyes."
"They're Rune Eyes!" X regained his composure and turned to Duan. "What did your examiner say you lacked, Duan?"
"Well, it can't be knowledge, that's for sure."
"Power," replied Duan, then he scrunched his face slightly in irritation. "Plus, he called me impoverished."
"That's true, though. How'd did you beat Red Nova Dragon and Shooting Star Dragon?" While they took a left turn out of Duel Academy, Duan explained to them a complicated exploit that he took advantage of. "Of course you'd use Stardust Dragon. The look on his face must have been priceless."
"Stardust Dragon's like your Ace, right?" asked Nero.
Duan's voice sounded slightly distant when he spoke. "Yeah, something like that. I have others that are Ace cards, too."
"We move into the dorms at the end of the week, right?" asked X.
>"Yeah, I believe so."<p>
"I can't wait!"
"Oh yeah." Nero pulled out the white-background cards he obtained from Ms. Jadis and showed them to Duan. "Here you go, Mr. Impoverished."
Duan grimaced at Nero, then glanced at those cards. "These cards are Brionac and Gungnir?" His eyes widened in surprise.
"I want those!" interjected X, moving in front of Duan before he could reach for those cards.
"Uh." Nero scratched his head. "I just figured he'd want those cards more."
"It's Gungnir!" X yelled fervently. "Odin's frickin' spear! And Brionac is a spear, too!"
"It's alright, Nero," Duan said again in a distant voice. "I'll be fine even without them. I'm happy enough with Stardust Dragon, but thanks anyhow."
"See? Duan's okay with it!"
After a brief pause, Nero reluctantly handed X the two white cards. "Uh, okay then, here."
X nodded at Nero, then at Duan. "We'll meet up again?"
* * *
>"Let's head back and pack up."<p><p>
Nero pulled out a large suitcase. He took several of his favorite clothes and stuffed them in hastily, then picked up his uniform and frowned. The well-embroidered, high-class jacket especially displeased him. _Why did they have to have uniforms? Doesn't everyone hate looking the same?_ He stuffed it in along with the rest of his clothes.
Then, Nero grabbed a binder and opened it, his eyes turned to the taped-together card that had been cleanly cut in two. Nero's memory wandered off for a brief moment, remembering when his card was cut apart by his angry father. _Even if I get another one of you, I won't forget._ Nero then carefully closed and placed the binder in the suitcase.
He rolled down a poster and gazed at the decorative Eastern sword before putting the rolled-up poster in the suitcase. Then, Nero took a few electronic chips containing his favorite e-comics and put them in a small plastic bag. The last thing he placed in his bag was his toiletries.
As he walked over to the bathroom, his foot stumbled on the Duel Disk lying on the floor. He picked it up and compared it to the Academy-assigned Duel Disk on his arm. The tattered but fully functional, fully circular Duel Disk held together memories of the three of them spent gathering parts for X's and Nero's Duel Disks. Nero smiled contentedly before placing it inside the large suitcase and zipped it up. _I hope we can mod them again soon, so we can use them at Duel Academy._ With one last at his emptied room, he took the handle of the suitcase and walked out the door.
"Leaving, son?" asked a gruff masculine voice from behind Nero just before he reached for the doorknob of the front door.
"Yeah," he replied, continuing to face the door.
"You're the son of the legendary pro duelist. Don't forget that, and carry yourself well."
"I'm not like you, Pops."
"Yeah, yeah, you'll create your own legacy, right? But, you know? That's how Great-Gramps started out; 'I'll create a new legacy for the Ushiyama Clan!' he said."
Nero turned around and pointed in the old man's direction. "Just you wait! I'll show you!"
His father grinned. "That's more like it. Go on, now!" Nero gave an acknowledging nod, then he opened the front door and left.
* * *
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X immediately unzipped two suitcases and set them down, opened. He took his favorite t-shirts, many of them bearing his new name, and jeans, all similar-looking, and placed them in a suitcase, instantly filling it up. X took his new uniform and grimaced at its high-society look. He did not like the buttoned-up white shirt nor did he like the beige slacks. He especially despised the tie. X placed it in his suitcase, hoping that he would get more chances to wear casual clothing.
As he peered at the walls, X debated on taking his posters with him. In the end, he took down the poster that had an image of three young men all with cards in their hands crossed together, labeled "Duel Monsters Documentary: Bonds Beyond Time" and another poster labeled "Classical Retro Saints" with its likeness of a band performing.
Afterward, X walked towards his bed and raised it, revealing his vast collection of cards. He took the box of cards labeled "Stock", a minute portion of his vast collection of cards, then placed the bed back. He collected some of his favorite figurines, one of Ancient Gear Golem, one of Gaia the Fierce Knight, and Alkana Knight Joker. X skimmed over his vintage bookcase and selected his favorite comics to pack up. Finally, he took his Duel Disk and toiletries and placed them in his second suitcase.
_I will carry out my destiny, the destiny that you left behind. _X grabbed his suitcases and walked out the empty room without looking back.
X made his way to the living room, where a middle-aged woman sat watching TV. "Mom, I'm leaving."
She immediately turned off the TV, stood up, and approached X. "I can't believe you're leaving so soon. Just like your father-"
"That man who abandoned us is no father of mine!" snapped X.
His mother's face fell sullen. "It must run in the family to leave home like this."
"That man left home to run away from his destiny, thrusting that responsibility onto us! I won't do the same. I'll carry out that destiny that he left behind!"
"Son, don't hurry so much to grow up." She stepped forward to embrace him. "The Aesir may have picked you, but you're still only 16 years old. Just promise your mother to put your teenage years before your destiny, okay?"
"...Goodbye; I'll keep in touch."
"Goodbye, son."
X took one last look at his mother, who smiled weakly. She waved at him; he slowly waved back, then proceeded towards the door and left.
* * *
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_Monster effects would resolve in the following order if they activated at the same time,_ Duan read from a vintage book. _The opponent's optional effect, then the turn player's, then the opponent's mandatory..._ Duan's thoughts trailed off as he turned the page. With a deep sigh, he closed the book and pulled a tattered suitcase close to the table.
Duan gazed at his room, a nearly empty room with wooden walls, a small futon, a bucket, and a bookshelf. He first took his unused cards, an old cardboard box, slightly larger than his two hands, filled with them, and placed them into the suitcase in a corner. Then, he took a well-polished steel case, opened it up, took both stacks of cards and shifted through their contents.
_ That was really Kayla, right? Why did she run? Does she hate me? That loss I've suffered four years ago; I'll not make the same mistake again._ Duan glanced at the deck in his Duel Disk, then replaced the two decks and closed the box before placing it into a nearby book bag.
Duan placed his toiletries and uniform in the suitcase before zipping it up, then took a Duel Disk, aged and tattered, unlike the Academy-assigned Duel Disk already on his arm, and walked out the door.
He proceeded towards the end of the hallway and knocked on the door. An elderly woman with white hair braided together at the bottom and a pink gown answered the door. She signaled him to enter, then closed the door softly behind her.
"Did you finish packing?" she asked.
Duan nodded. "Thanks for taking care of me for all of these years. Here." He passed his Duel Disk to her.
"This is the Duel Disk that you've worked so hard on! Why-" As Duan raised his left arm to interrupt her, he pointed to the Academy-assigned Duel Disk on his arm.
"Let the others use it. I won't need it while I'm at Duel Academy.
"Won't you say goodbye to them?"
Duan glanced at the door. "I have, already. It'll be harder if I did it now."
"Come back, okay?"
"I will. Don't worry. I'll visit every once in a while. Take care, Ms. Kokoro." Duan walked out the door, waving casually. Only when he left the building and peered at the slight glimmer of the rising sun did he turn around. A statue of Stardust Dragon stood in front of the small building. "Goodbye, St. Martha's orphanage."
* * *
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The three of them walked towards the front desk. Duan stepped forward. "Hello, we're newly accepted students and we're here to move into the dorms," he said.
"You three are?" one of the receptionists asked.
"I'm Duan, that's Nero, and that's.. X." The four receptionists exchanged glances, then huddled together. They whispered barely inaudibly to each other. "Um, excuse me?"
"Just a moment!" The girls broke the huddle and pulled out a can filled with straws.
"Why are they drawing straws?" asked X.
"Where'd they get them?" asked Nero.
The receptionist they spoke to drooped her head as she revealed her straw with the red tip. She regained her posture and signaled the three of them to follow her. "Come with me, you three. I will take you to your dorm."
Duan noticed her hand trembling. "Ma'am, you're shaking?"
"Nonsense! It's just your imagination." She laughed forcefully. The three of them exchanged glances before following the receptionist.
"Why are we leaving Duel Academy?" asked X as they walked out the gates.
"Your dormitories are here, away from Duel Academy," she explained. They continued until they reached a more run-down portion of New Domino City, not unlike the appearance of Satellite. "We've had a lot more successful entrants than usual. This is the only place left, and it's been recently remodeled."
"This place looks kind of shady," commented X. _So there are places like Satellite here in New Domino City, too..._
"This place feels like home." Nero received a scowl from X and the receptionist. "What? Satellite has all those weird-looking people, too, and this place is pretty run-down."
They continued until they reached an unlabeled, two-story building. The receptionist slid open the door. X was the first to step in. "So this is our dorm. Kind of disappointing."
"I miss Duel Academy already; this place isn't nearly as shiny."
As they continued further in, they took the elevator to the second floor. When the door opened, a venerable man with a large build and his arms crossed stood by, waiting. "Who's he?"
"Let me introduce you to the Room Manager, Mr. Tanner."
"So it's just you three?" His booming voice caused the rest to wince. "I can't believe I wasted time remodeling for just the three of you!"
"Um, Mr. Tanner?" The receptionist's voice became soft and timid.
"Listen! I'm going to make you work while you're here! Just because you've become a Duel Academy preppie doesn't mean you can get away without any work!"
"Can you believe this guy?" X commented.
Nero nodded in agreement. "So loud and bossy; old geezers are always like this."
"LISTEN!" His increasingly booming voice caused the three of them to flinch in surprise. "Dueling is everything, even here! We decide what happens here by dueling! If you think you can beat me, step up to the plate. If you win, I'll cook and clean and whatever. If you lose, though! You'll be wishing you'd have stayed home. Let's get working now."
"Huh? We'll duel you." Duan brandished his Duel Disk.
"Listen, four-eyes! Just because you've spent some time at some library doesn't automatically make you a good duelist. You shouldn't let your 'brains' tell you otherwise."
"Uh, okay."
A few minutes later.
"Mataza the Zapper!" declared Nero. "Attack Jirai Gumbo! Four-Dimensional Cut!" Mataza leaped past a giant orange spider and sheathed his sword. The cut marks appeared on Jirai Gumbo, and then it shattered into pixels. Mr. Tanner's Duel Disk gave a low beep as his Life Point display dropped to zero.
"WHAT? This was my great-grandpa's deck! How could I lose to all three of you?" He gave a heavy sigh, then lowered his booming voice. "Very well. A duelist must abide by his honor."
X high-fived Nero. "Nice work, guys."
"HOWEVER!" The three of them jumped again. "You have three rules! Don't make a mess that you can't clean! Don't bring girls in! Don't sneak out at night!" Duan nodded, while the other two exchanged glances.
"Let me show you your rooms, okay?" said the receptionist.
"At least we get our own rooms," stated X with a small sigh. He glanced at the walls; compared to Duel Academy's stunning glass and state-of-the-art walls, the walls of this dorm seemed well-aged and teemed with cracks. "This is a complete downgrade from home, though."
"What now?" asked Nero.
"Well, tomorrow, there's supposed to be an event for the students," commented the receptionist.
"Where's it at?" asked X.
"New Domino City's beach."
"The beach?" Nero's imagination ran rampant; well-endowed girls in skintight bikinis, frolicking all over the beach filled his head.
"Did you pack some swimming trunks?" asked X.
"YEAH!" Nero immediately rustled through his belongings and pulled out a pair of blue swimming trunks.
Duan groaned. "I don't have any."
"Here, you can borrow my spare." Again he pulled out a small piece of white cloth and handed it to Duan. "This is the only thing that would fit you anyways."
He glared at the small cloth, then at Nero. "A loincloth?"
"Come on, it'll look good on you. It's better than going naked." Duan's gazed distantly as he pictured himself wearing the loincloth. When Duan winced, Nero snorted.
"Nero!"
"I can't help myself," he said between chortles. "You know how I am."
"Right, you can't help but laugh at other people's woe, but I'm not going to wear the loincloth."
"Going to swim in your birthday suit?"
X joined Nero's chortles. "You'll be popular with the girls... Probably."
Duan's mind immediately imagined a scene where Securities arrived at the beach and arrested him. As they put him away in the police car, he could hear crowds of people screaming "pervert" and other obscene names. "No!"
"Clothes on?"
"No!" Duan hastily turned to the receptionist. "In any case, thank you for leading us here. You must be busy, so we'll let you go."
To Duan's surprise, instead of standing up to leave, she fidgeted sheepishly. "Well, you see... I am the D.A.I.M.O.N. Dormitory's assigned Community Leader, Nora Upton, a third year."
"Oh," said X monotonously.
"Oh," repeated Nero. They stared at each other in awkward silence, unsure if they should be pleased or upset. "What does the Community Leader do?"
"The Community Leader helps organize events for their respective dorm and is kind of a role model for the students, listening to their problems if necessary." Duan turned to Nora. "Is that right, Nora?"
"...Um, yes!" she affirmed with nervous laughter. "Anyways, Mr. Tanner will take you to the beach tomorrow. In the meantime, please settle in and fill out these forms."
* * *
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As X, Duan, and Nero walked out of Mr. Tanner's car, they noticed several buses lined up as well. "The other students are coming?" asked X.
"Those are the first-years from the boys' dorm," pointed out Duan. X and Nero looked indifferently at the boys of varying shapes and sizes departing from the buses.
"And the girls?"
Duan pointed towards another group of buses, unloading many girls, also of varying shapes and sizes; many of them have already put their swimsuits on.
"Whoaaaaaa, there are surprisingly a lot of hot girls here!" exclaimed Nero. "All in swimsuits!"
"Duan, want to watch our stuff for us?"
"Sure." He watched the two of them undress, revealing their swimming trunks underneath. "Shouldn't you guys go shower beforehand? And we've eaten beforehand, too."
"You sound like an old woman, Duan," remarked Nero.
"We'll be fine," X said confidently. "Let's go!"
With a sigh, Duan watched the two of them run towards the ocean. He pulled out an umbrella and a towel from X's backpack. "I didn't think they'd pack these, too."
In the ocean, X and Nero swam through the various waves. To their disappointment, most of the nearby women were in groups greater than three. They glanced around, then heard a whirring noise. Further down, they could see two motorboats with two duelists tethered behind them speeding in an area marked by buoys.
"Whoa, what's with the motorboats?" queried Nero, squinting at them.
"I think that's a Turbo Duel," replied X after a brief pause.
"Card games on motorboats." Both of them snorted.
Behind them, the two heard a masculine voice cackle. "Those guys are weak." The two turn around to see a relatively lean-built man with dark-brown hair. "I could beat the crap out of them in a blink of an eye. That goes for anyone else in the ocean!"
Nero raised his hand towards X before he could speak. "X, calm down. It's just a passerby weirdo."
"Who are you calling weirdo, weak sauce?"
"Let's just beat the crap out of him." Nero and X turned to Orion, cracking their knuckles.
"Challenging me to a duel?" The man snickered. "That's the biggest mistake you'll ever make. The moment you've crossed my path, you were bound to lose! I am Orion, otherwise known as Kaiser!"
"What's a Kaiser?" asked Nero.
"It means 'King!' I'm the King! Got it?"
Nero turned to X. "Wasn't there another King who called your name?"
"You heard that? The examiner recognized that guy as the King, too." Both X and Nero contemplated for a moment, then he turned to Orion. "What year are you?"
"I'm a first year!"
"Definitely not King. Let's ignore this guy; he's all talk." Before they could swim away, a loud scream caught the group's attention. When they turned around to see the source of the scream, they saw a blonde-haired woman in a ponytail and a red bikini fleeing from a familiar figure, fully clothed.
"What's the commotion over there?" Nero's eyes followed the two figures running.
"Is that Duan? He's chasing after that blonde girl."
"How dare he chase after my lovely-lovely Queen!" Orion hastily swam away in their direction.
"What? That's the Queen?" X's eyes followed the fleeing woman, accompanied by newly formed group of men chasing Duan. "A little unsightly..."
"She's hot!" interjected Nero.
"Why is Duan chasing after her?"
"I didn't know Duan had a hobby for chasing women, but shouldn't we follow him?"
X nodded. "Yeah."
* * *
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As Duan sat down on a towel, he stared distantly at X and Nero skillfully swim deep into the ocean. _I guess I'll do my usual._ His expression faded, leaving only his cold stare. Duan extracted his deck from his Duel Disk and laid the cards in a four-by-ten set. He took out the cards that he recently obtained and peered at his deck; then Dduan took a card from a row, an orange-bordered card called "Future Samurai", then replaced it with one of his newest cards. A faint image of a woman, in blue-green magician's robes, a golden circlet and handcuffs, long, layered, wavy-black hair, and a pale scythe with a translucent blade appeared in his mind. He peered again, and reached for his "Slate Warrior"-
"Mind if I sit here, Duan?" a feminine voice asked. Duan flinched, his expression returning to normal, and then he glanced at the source of the voice. A familiar girl, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a long skirt and wearing her usual scowl, approached him.
"Percia, right?" said Duan while hastily gathering up the cards in his deck. Her face seemed paler than usual, but her expression was otherwise normal. Duan beamed. "Congratulations on passing!"
"Didn't I say that the 'Flamvells' didn't stand a chance?" she said in a condescending tone. Duan let out a polite chuckle. "...I watched your duel."
"Oh? You did?" His eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise.
"I was just interested in your deck," Percia said hastily. "I didn't think that you'd win after letting Baldie pull out Red Nova Dragon and Shooting Star Dragon. That looked like a fun duel."
He chuckled again. "Yes, it was very fun. I almost didn't win, but that's what made it fun."
"...Do you always have fun duels like that?" asked Percia in an unusually docile tone.
"I used to." Duan's small smile relaxed to an emotionless expression. "I used several different decks, but I've put my focus onto this one." His thoughts returned to the deck in his steel case, the deck that he no longer used. "I didn't want to lose anymore, but I still wanted to take a different path from everyone and have fun. Only when I find a truly worthy opponent can I have a fun duel nowadays." An awkward silence fell between the two, as Percia turned away, unable to respond.
A few minutes passed in awkward silence, then Percia spoke. "Why aren't you swimming with your friends?"
"I can't swim, and I don't have swimming trunks," replied Duan sheepishly, reverting to the fetal position. "What about you?"
"It's embarrassing to wear a swimsuit in front of everyone," she also replied sheepishly, taking a similar position. "I only came because the Community Leader made me."
Duan's eyes wandered to a familiar face; she was in her leotard, but he recognized the figure as the hooded woman from before, currently wearing a pink leotard. He rose slowly.
Percia turned slightly to face him. "Duan, would you-"
"Percia, could you watch our stuff for me?" he asked hastily. Before she could answer, he darted off towards the blonde-haired woman. Percia's jaw dropped slightly as her eyes followed him.
"like... to.. duel..?" Her voice trailed off, watching Duan sprint away.
"Wait just a moment!" he yelled. The nearby people put their eyes on him. The woman's face paled before she fled from him.
"Hmph, how ridiculous."
"Kayla!" he cried as he sped towards her. _If I could only duel her, that mistake I've made four years ago... I'll duel you with all I have!_
"Nooooo! My heart's not ready!" As she shrieked, Duan shuddered as he felt malicious glares from the eyes of several people.
"Pervert!" he heard them say. Duan peeked behind and found a crowd of men vigorously chasing after him.
"Get away from her!" a lean, brown-haired man yelled, sprinting straight towards him.
"You won't stop me!" He took a twist and turned 90 degrees, then kicked the sand, but instead of pushing him away, his foot sank. With an "umph," Duan found the brown-haired man pinning him down. The other men, satisfied with Duan's apprehension, scattered.
"What are you doing to my lovely-lovely Queen?"
Duan struggled, but couldn't slip under the weight of the man. He looked over his shoulder, then at Orion. "She's the Queen? Who are you?"
"I'm the Kaiser and Rare Hunter, Orion! Bow before me and grovel!"
Duan's tone darkened slightly. "Rare Hunter?"
"I'm an underling of the Queen of Games, the Rare Huntress Kayla! I've noticed that you've been trying to approach the Queen with your ill intentions!"
"So Kayla is still a Rare Hunter." Duan's voice trailed off; he barely heard Orion speak.
"You're a pervert, a lowlife, filth below our beloved Queen!" Orion swiftly pointed at him. "I challenge you to a Duel! If I win, you better stay away from the Queen as well as fork over your deck."
At the word "Duel", Duan's head turned to Orion. "May I make a request, then?"
"It's not like you're going to win, so make any request you'd like!"
"Leave the Rare Hunters if you lose."
"Fine with me." Orion's attention then turned towards the motorboats that quickly sped by. "Let's... try something interesting?"
"Huh?"
"We'll have a Turbo Duel!"
"What?" Duan's face paled as he turned his head to the ocean. "On those motorboats?"
"Well, that means at least we get to participate," said a familiar masculine voice.
Duan turned to see X and Nero approaching him. "What do you mean?"
"We'll be the ones driving," stated X with a wide grin.
"You guys are going to have me duel?"
"Yep."
"You know how to Turbo Duel, right?" asked Nero.
"Yeah," replied Duan thoughtfully. "It's true that my deck has the fewest Spell Cards, but none of our decks were really made for Turbo Duels."
"Here we go. Who's going to drive that guy's motorboat, though?
"Us!" said two masculine voices in unison. The group turned to the source of the voice; two men, one with a crew-cut, the other with short, spiky hair hastily stepped forward.
The group all raised their eyebrows at their spontaneous appearance, but X spoke first. "Who are you guys?"
"We are the Queen's henchmen!" declared the guy with the crew-cut. "I am 'Y'!"
"There's another one who copied me," he grumbled.
"I am Carl!"
"The new guy seems pretty confident in his skill," said Y, peering at X. "It's best that you don't underestimate him; you sure you don't want to switch out that kid for someone else?"
"He'll be fine," stated X.
Y leaned towards Orion's ear. "Hey, Kaiser," he whispered. "This is your chance to prove yourself. That short guy over there doesn't actually have a lot of rare cards, but don't underestimate him. He used some weird tricks."
"If you win, we'll give you a good word to the Queen about being a henchman," added Carl.
Duan and Orion attached the tether to their Duel Disks and their feet to the surfboard. They glanced at their Duel Disks anxiously.
"I'm ready," said Duan. "This will be my first time Turbo Dueling."
Orion glanced at him, then at his motorboat. "Me too. I can't wait to become the Queen's henchman!"
"I thought you were already the Queen's hench-maaaaaaaaannnnn?" The motorboats sped from the dock towards the track of buoys. When Duan caught his breath, he found himself surprised at how easily he kept his balance while keeping his Duel Disk raised. He took a brief minute to enjoy the rush of the rapidly blowing wind buffeting his hair and jacket.
"Speed World 2, set!" Duan and Orion both announced. A hologram materialized from their Duel Disks, indicating the start of a Turbo Duel and displayed information about their statistics, including their Life Points and a new row of twelve markings labeled SPC. Another hologram extrapolated from their Duel Disks and covered the area in a purple hue. "Duel!"
6. Duel Chapter 4: Versus Kaiser?
Chapter 2.1:
"The first one who reaches the curve goes first!" hollered Y.
"Come on!" At the corner of his eye, X saw Carl throw various objects, including a net, a harpoon, and whatever else he could find at the opposing motorboat, while Y slammed his motorboat into X's. Duan held onto his Duel Disk while swaying precariously to maintain balance.
"Hey, knock it off!" Nero returned fire, throwing many stray objects at Y; he hastily reeled his motorboat back until he was out of Nero's throwing range. He heard the accelerator pedal slammed as they zoomed past Y's motorboat through the curve. "Yes!"
"You call yourselves the Queen's henchman?" shouted Orion, shaking his fist at his motorboat. "You suck! I can do better than that!"
"Shut up!" shouted back Y. "I'd love for you to try driving this thing AND dueling!"
"Let's begin already," stated Duan through the microphone. The two duelists drew five cards. Duan gave a sigh of relief, then his expression faded away.
Back at the beach, Percia watched two motorboats leave the port; one with the fully clothed Duan tethered to the end. "One minute, he's chasing after a girl, the other, he gets caught up in a Turbo Duel." She contemplated for a moment, then she pushed a button on her Duel Disk. "Duel Watch Mode, set." From her Duel Disk, a hologram appeared, displaying the two duelists' statistics, including their Life Points, both currently at 8000. "This is a good chance to see the deck in action again."
"It's my turn! Draw!" Duan and Orion both heard a beep from their Duel Disks. When they glanced at their display, they noticed one of the twelve markings lined up next to the word "SPC" lit. Duan glanced quickly at the card he just drew, then placed it on the Duel Disk face-down horizontally. "I set one monster, then two spell or trap cards." As he spoke, he slid two more cards into slots on the Duel Disk; their likeness materialized in front of the gliding motorboat. "Turn, end!"
"It's the Great Kaiser's turn!" After he drew his card and added it to his hand, he heard another beep from his Duel Disk; the second marking next to the "SPC:" label lit.
"Is it me, or are we going a bit faster?" asked Nero.
"I think it's the Speed Counters," replied X. "Duan! Why are we getting Speed Counters?"
"At the start of every turn, during the Standby Phase, both of us gain one Speed Counter," answered Duan.
"When you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon Cyber Dragon from my hand!" shouted Orion with glee as he slapped his card on his Duel Disk. A silver-colored, mechanical snake-shaped monster slithered in from the materializing blue circle. Its grinding screech shook the waves around him. Once in its position, a text box displayed its 2100 Attack points. "Next, I summon Cyber Dragon Zwei!" Another mechanical snake-shaped monster slid in, with a golden tint. It shrieked, then fell from Orion's view. "What? Where'd my monster go?"
"Trap Hole! This card destroys a monster that you Normal Summon or Flip Summon a monster with 1000 Attack points or more."
"Well, whatever; Zwei isn't that strong anyways." He took the card on the Duel Disk and slid it into the graveyard.
"It's odd to see a pitfall in the middle of the ocean," commented Y.
"Cyber Dragon attacks your face-down monster! Evolution Burst!" As he pointed to Duan's face-down monster, Cyber Dragon leaned back and spewed white flames.
"Trap card, activate! Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! This card negates the attack of the attacking monster, and instead of sending Scrap-Iron Scarecrow to the graveyard, it's set back face-down!" One of Duan's face-down cards raised slowly, revealing a strange figure made of junk metal. The right lens of its goggle glowed red, attached to an unpainted football helmet, a white scarf wrapped around its simple metal frame held up by a piece of a railroad track with a hair dryer on one end and two stakes on another. The white flames deflected off the contraption harmlessly, then it flipped itself back down.
"Gr, stalling is for weak sauces! Your move."
"It's my turn! Draw!" Once again, Duan heard another beep, indicating the third marking lit. He proceeded to flipped over the face-down Monster card on his Duel Disk and turned it 90 degrees to Attack position. "I Flip Summon Man-Eater Bug! Its Flip Effect activates! I destroy one monster on the field; I select Cyber Dragon!" The moment the face-down card projected onto the screen flipped over, a shadow emerged and sped in Orion's direction. Cyber Dragon let out a shriek before the two of them looked up and saw a brown, horned beetle-like bug, bearing its fangs, on Cyber Dragon's mechanical neck before it shattered into pixels. A text box displayed Man-Eater Bug's 450 Attack briefly.
"What? To humiliate my monster this way!" Orion shook his fist holding the destroyed Cyber Dragon card at Duan, but he paid no mind.
"Battle! Man-Eater Bug attacks your Life Points directly!" Orion watched as Man-Eater Bug lunged towards him, struck him with its claws, and return to its original position. His Life Points dropped to 7550.
"That small fry attack won't take down the Great Kaiser!"
"I summon Cyber Valley!" Another mechanical snake-shaped monster appeared, with hollowed out eyes and red orbs lined up on its underside.
"Hey, you're stealing my cards, man!"
"Shut up, already!" shouted X through the microphone.
Duan scratched the side of his forehead with his free hand, then continued as though he heard nothing. "I activate Cyber Valley's effect! I remove from play Man-Eater Bug and Cyber Valley to draw two cards!" When he spoke, the monsters on his field faded into a light, then they illuminated his deck, cuing him to draw two cards. "I set two spell or trap cards. Turn, end!"
"You idiotic copycat, I'll make you pay for stealing my card!"
"Let it go, X," said Nero before X could speak. "Duan doesn't seem to care."
"It's the Great Kaiser's Turn! I also Summon Cyber Valley and activate its other effect!" Another mechanical snake, identical to the one Duan just summoned, materialized to the field. "By removing from play this card and one monster in my hand, I can put a card on the top of my deck. I select my Cyber Dragon!" Like Duan's Cyber Valley, it faded into a light. Afterwards, Duan could see an opaque image of Cyber Dragon slithering into Orion's Duel Disk. "I set one spell or trap card. That's all."
"It's my turn! Draw!" After the fifth marking was lit, indicating five Speed Counters, Duan felt the motorboat speeding up to the point where the wind blasted sharply against his face. _We're going pretty fast now... This is kind of making me dizzy. _"I summon Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand!" A robot with a drill on its head, shoulders, elbows, back, and right arm whirred as it stepped through the blue circle.
"A level four monster with 2100 Attack Points? Go! Cyber Shadow Gardna!" His face-down card flipped itself over, revealing a pile of gray goo; it trudged forward slightly. A text box displayed briefly its Attack of zero.
_A Trap card Monster with zero Attack points. It sounds like it has the DARK attribute. Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand's effect allows it to negate the effects of LIGHT and DARK monsters it battles._ "Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand, attack Cyber Shadow Gardna! Chaos-Rending Drill!" With a grunt, the robot activated its drill and rocketed towards the goo.
"Cyber Shadow Gardna's effect activates! If it's attacked, then it gains Attack and Defense of the monster equal to the attacking monster until the End Phase!"
"Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand's effect activates! It negates the effects of any LIGHT and DARK monsters it battles!"
"It's an EARTH monster, you idiot."
"Ah." Duan glanced through the text written on the projection of the card. Sure enough, in capitalized letters, he saw the word "EARTH" on the card. "Then Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand's effect won't work." He watched stoically as the black pool mimicked Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand's appearance; both struck each other with their respective drills and exploded into pixels.
"That's rare; Duan didn't read the card's effect carefully," commented X.
Nero gave an exaggerated shocked expression. "That's the end of the world!"
"Turn... end." Duan's head drooped, filled with dull pain.
From the projection, Percia could see Duan clutching his stomach with his hand as he began to kneel over slightly. "Wait, that's motion sickness? Why is he there if he knows he's going to get sick?"
"What's the matter, weak sauce? Can't handle a little spin?"
"You okay, there?" asked X from the microphone. Only an extended groan responded. "Guess not."
"It's the Great Kaiser's turn! I Summon Proto Cyber Dragon!" Another mechanical snake-shaped monster with electricity crackling along the loose wires along its underside. "Then, I activate the Speed Spell – Speed Fusion!"
"He had a Speed Spell all along?" X remembered Orion saying that this was his first Turbo Duel; he didn't think that Orion was already prepared.
"Is Duan at a disadvantage?" asked Nero.
"He uses mostly traps, though; I doubt that he'll even play a spell."
"I can activate this if I have four or more Speed Counters." Duan glanced briefly at the SPC label on the hologram screen, counting out six of those marks. "I combine my Proto Cyber Dragon, which is called Cyber Dragon while it's face-up on the field, and my Cyber Dragon in my hand to Fusion Summon Cyber Twin Dragon!" The two mechanical snakes swirled into a single, two-headed snake.
"Ugh.."_ What traps did I place? I don't want to risk getting worse by looking down._
"Cyber Twin Dragon! Direct Attack! Evolution Twin Burst!" While Duan eyes were shut, he groped for a button on his Duel Disk, but a sudden jerk caused him to lose balance briefly, and at the same time, Cyber Twin Dragon's white flames enveloped him.
Duan's Life Points dropped to 5200. He continued to clutch his stomach while holding onto the tether. "Urgh..." Duan's eyes shut, hoping to avoid the dizziness, but it was no use; the dull, throbbing pain overtook his head and stomach.
"Cyber Twin Dragon can attack twice in the same Battle Phase!" The second head of Cyber Twin Dragon reeled back before releasing a second stream of white flame.
Duan hastily open his eyes and reached for a button on his Duel Disk. "Trap, activation! Scrap-Iron Scarecrow! Again, this card negates an attack, then it's set face-down!" Once again, the metal scarecrow rose slowly and deflected the white flames harmlessly, then setting itself.
"Gr!" Orion glared frustratingly at Duan. "You and your stupid traps! Go already!"
"It's my turn... Draw!" When he drew his card, an image of a woman with dark-brown hair and a greenish blue robe appeared in his mind. He glanced at the green-bordered card in his hand, then at an orange-bordered card. _I need this monster alive. He's got one card in his hand. I can do this!_ "I set one monster, then activate the Spell Card, Book of Taiyou!" A face-down card followed by the image of an orange book with its cover resembling a wall of an Egyptian monument projected onto the field. "I use its effect to flip over Old Vindictive Magician!" The image of a sun on the center of the book lit up and opened its eye, and the face-down monster rose and revealed an orange, hunched over old geezer with a stone attached to its back. It rose and cackled before floating alongside the motorboat.
"Duan played a regular Spell Card?" commented Percia. "And that Book of Taiyou as well. Why is he in a hurry to use Old Vindictive Magician's effect? He have easily let Cyber Twin Dragon attack it while it's face-down."
"Since I played a Spell card that's not a Speed Spell, the effect of Speed World 2 causes me to take 2000 damage!" His Duel Disk discharged a backlash of shock, covering Duan. His Life Point display on his Duel Disk read 3200. "Old Vindictive Magician's effect activates! Like Man-Eater Bug, its Flip Effect allows me to destroy one monster on your side of the field! My target is Cyber Twin Dragon!" Its cackle accented before its stone on its back lit up. The geezer pointed at Cyber Twin Dragon, discharging a black wave, which struck the Cyber Twin Dragon and shattered it into pixels.
"What?" Orion shouted angrily. "You face-downs are starting to irritate me!"
When Duan looked at the cards he placed face-down, he felt a gurgle from his stomach. "...Turn, end."
"You've crossed me for the last time! I'll turn you into dust!" He drew his card hastily, but did not notice Duan's finger positioned on a button on his Duel Disk. The SPC label on both of their Duel Disks had eight markings. "I activate the Speed Spell – Shift Down! By removing six Speed Counters from Speed World 2, I draw two cards!" When he slid the card into a slot on his Duel Disk, Duan heard six low beeps. He looked at the screen projected by his Duel Disk and saw Orion's markings near his SPC label shut off until two remained lit. Orion moved his arm dramatically; his grin widened before he drew his two cards.
"Hmm?" Carl petted his chin after watching Orion's projection draw two cards. "How sly."
"You saw it too?" Y shrugged. "It's a bit of overkill, though."
"At last! My cards have answered my wrath!" Orion revealed two green-bordered cards and slid one of them into a slot on his Duel Disk. "I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Future Fusion! I use Fusion Material Monsters from my deck and send them to graveyard. In two turns, I can Fusion Summon the monster I select. I select Chimeratech Overdragon!" A swirl materialized above him, sucking up various machine-type monsters. An image of a multi-headed hydra-like machine flashed briefly before it disappeared.
"He used regular Spell Cards, too?" Percia watched the discharge animation from Orion's Duel Disk, then his Life Points dropping to 5550.
"You've sent almost all of your monsters to the graveyard, but by two turns, it'll be too late," remarked Duan. _Plus, Chimeratech Overdragon's effect sends all other cards on his side of the field to the graveyard; if Future Fusion is removed from the field, so is the monster summoned by its effect._
"And that's why I'm not waiting two turns! I activate the Spell Card, Overload Fusion! This card allows me to fuse monsters in my graveyard together for a DARK Machine-type monster! Again, I select Chimeratech Overdragon!"
>"Another regular Spell Card?" Once again, the discharge from his Duel Disk dropped Orion's Life Points to 3550. "But.. this could be bad for Duan."<p>
"The fusion materials are Cyber Dragon and any number of Machine-Type monsters!" A black swirl spun above his graveyard, sucking in all of the monsters he put in his graveyard. "Come out, my ultimate monster, Chimeratech Overdragon!" Orion pulled a violet card out of the side of his Duel Disk, raised it aloft, and slammed it on his Duel Disk. "Chimeratech Overdragon gains Attack points equal to the fusion material monsters used times 800! He also gets to attack as many monsters as the fusion materials used! Do you know what this means?"
"Hurry up," mumbled Duan, paying no heed to the field.
"I removed from play 20 monsters for this Fusion Summon! That means 16,000 Attack points and 20 monster attacks!"
X watched in terror as the multi-headed behemoth mechanical creature descended, displayed a text box of "Attack: 0", and beeped as the number in the text box rose to 16,000. "That's obnoxious..." He found himself trembling uncontrollably.
"Duan's going to be okay, right?" asked Nero, his voice slightly quivering.
"He didn't set any new traps," replied X as he looked at the unresponsive Duan. "He's only got Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, which would block one of his 20 attacks. If he had something, he would have played it against Cyber Twin Dragon."
"A side effect of Chimeratech Overdragon causes it to destroy all cards on my side of the field when it's summoned, but that's-" Suddenly, Chimeratech Overdragon let out several shrieks before being sucked into the ocean. "What? Where'd my Chimeratech Overdragon go?"
"Bottomless Trap Hole," muttered Duan as he pushed a button on his Duel Disk. The expression on Orion's face stiffened and paled, his jaw dropped, and his eyes widened in shock. "I can activate this when you summon a monster with 1500 Attack points or more; the summoned monsters are destroyed and removed from the game."
"Destroyed.. and removed from the game? That mean it doesn't go to the graveyard.. it goes poof? Poof.." Orion continued to say "poof" in brain-dead repetition.
"That idiot." Y shook his head.
_This is my last chance to make a coherent move. I might be too sick to duel after this. _The faint image of a woman in a blue-green magician's robe became clear in his mind. "It's my turn... Draw!" Without looking at the card he drew, he placed it into his hand, then took another card and placed it on his Duel Disk. "I summon my newest monster, the Tuner monster, Flamvell Magician!"
Percia's eyes widened in surprise as she watched a purple-skinned man with a flaming goatee hop onto the field. _Flamvell Magician? That's the card that we got as a prize for defeated Mr. Freedus! What is it doing there..?_
"Tuning! My Level two Old Vindictive Magician to my Level four Tuner Flamvell Magician!" The monsters dematerialized into glimmers and a set of four green holographic rings surrounded the remaining two glimmers. "When magic resonates with one another, a new song will unravel the Hero's unyielding resolution! Synchro Summon! Today's Ace card, the Whirlwind of the Night, Tempest Magician!" As he finished his chant, a flash of light revealed a flock of scattering bats, revealing the woman that Duan had imagined. She brandished her translucent-bladed scythe and floated onto the field, gliding alongside the motorboat. A text box appeared briefly, displaying her 2200 Attack points.
"When did Duan get another Ace card?" asked Nero.
"That's obnoxious that Duan slipped that card in his deck."
"What? Why?" Nero's bewildered look turned to X, who stoically watched the projection.
"You'll see," he replied dryly.
"When Tempest Magician is Synchro Summoned, she gains one Spell Counter!" A single orb containing a triangle-shaped marking materialized and lit up, orbiting Tempest Magician.
"What are those Spell Counters for?"
"Keep watching."
"Tempest Magician, direct attack! Symphony of Arcana!" When Duan swiftly tapped the card and pointed at Orion, Tempest Magician raised her scythe and lunged towards Orion. He yelped as she slashed past him, dropping his Life Points to 1350.
"That's not enough!" Orion cried.
_Just a bit more, me. _Duan clutched his head as throbbing pain there intensified. "I activate Tempest Magician's effect! Once per turn, I discard any number of cards to place the same amount of Spell Counters on my monsters!"
"Okay, and?"
"I discard my entire hand." Duan raised his tethered Duel Disk and slid two cards in the graveyard slot. "With these two cards, that makes two Spell Counters on Tempest Magician!" Two more stones joined the lone stone orbiting her.
"I still don't get it."
"That poor fool won't know what hit him," remarked X.
"What's going on, X?" shouted Nero. "I don't understand!"
"Just keep watching!"
"I activate Tempest Magician's second effect! I remove all Spell Counters on the field and inflict damage equal to the amount of Spell Counters I've removed times 500! There are three Spell Counters, so I inflict 1500 points of damage!" Her scythe vanished, and then she clasped her hands together. As she began to sing, the stones began to vibrate violently.
"No!" Orion could only gawk as those stones suddenly rocketed towards him before exploding. With a low beep, Orion's Life Points dropped to zero, and his motorboat came to a halt.
Y gave a resigned sigh. "That's game. Should have known he was all talk."
"Nice work!" shouted X.
"Shore, now," groaned Duan, who began to turn pale.
* * *
><p><p>
"That duel didn't count!" shouted Orion. "You cheated!"
"Let's argue later. I'm going to rest."
After X watched Duan stagger off, he turned to Orion. "How did he cheat? He played legit!"
"Uh, X, let's just leave it-" When Nero tried to raise a reassuring hand to X, he brushed it aside.
"You guys were the ones who threw stuff at us!"
"Hey, rematch me!" Orion ordered, but Duan merely continued to trudge off. "If you don't challenge me, that means it's an automatic loss!" No response. "I'll be taking your deck now!"
"Hey, if you da-" Before Orion took off, a feminine figure stood before him; her arms crossed.
"The Queen? Please, just a moment! I'm about to bring my offering to you!" He began to hurry off towards Duan's direction.
"You're fired," he heard the Queen say flatly.
Orion stopped in his tracks and turned to the Queen. "What? He cheated! I saved you!"
"I was leading him into a trap. I watched the duel; he won, fair and square. However, YOU cheated; I saw you slip in the last two cards you played. I have no wish to see your face again, ex-Rare Hunter." The Queen left Orion, who fell on his knees.
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooo! He cheated! He killed my Ace monster with a stupid card!"
X let out an exasperated sigh. "Still going on about that? You heard your 'Queen'; YOU'RE the one that cheated!"
"You got guts to cheat in front of our Queen, especially since she absolutely hates cheaters," said Carl.
"Last year, Carl tried to cheat in front of our Queen to impress her, but then she wouldn't talk to him for a month," added Y.
"That was so cold.."
"The Kaiser is unstoppable!" he wailed. "Unbeatable! There's no way I could lose! He cheated, forfeited! He won't play a rematch with me! That guy's a coward!"
* * *
><p><p>
Percia watched a figure stagger slowly in her direction. "Duan?"
"Hey Percia, sorry for making watch my stuff for so long." Before Percia could respond, he collapsed on the towel and closed his eyes.
"Hmph, how ridiculous." She turned away for a minute, but then she shifted her eyes towards him. _I think I understand your deck now. That duelist was weak, but it's clear to me. You're an interesting duelist._ Her eyes closed, and an image of a dragon with black, segmented, armor-like scales and red eyes appeared in her mind. _Would even he be able to use that card?_
"Even if you're here to seek revenge, you're so vulnerable," she heard a feminine voice say. When she opened her eyes, she saw the woman that Duan was chasing unbuttoning his jacket; her expression solemn.
"What are you doing, pervert?" Her solemn expression immediately faded as the woman turned to Percia slowly.
Then, she sneered hastily. "Ohohohohohohohoho! It's a Queen's privilege to do as she pleases with those under her!"
"I won't let you touch a helpless person!" Before Percia lunged at her, the Queen brandished a card in front of Percia's face. She stopped hastily and peered at the card. "..Miracle's Wake?" Percia's eyes moved toward the Queen, whose expression returned to its solemn smile.
She placed the card in his jacket and gazed at him, seemingly entranced. "I don't know if you'll use this card or not for your revenge, but use it well. I know you can. You're growing, even now. Just wait, Duan; eventually, I will set the stage for the two of us. Until then, prepare well."
"What are you talking about?" However, Percia's words evoked no response from her.
"You don't need to forgive me for my sins. It's a miracle that we can even see each other again, even like this. Will you disappear forever from my life after you get your revenge? I'm afraid, Duan, of the time we'll part again. Just let me stay like this, to watch you from afar, for a little while longer."
"Hey, what do you mean by all of that?" yelled Percia. Abruptly, the Queen broke her trance-like stare, stood up, and dashed off. "Wait!" Again, she paid no heed to her. _Revenge? Sins? What happened to Duan? This is his business, though... Even if I know, it won't change anything. At the same time, I can't just leave it like this. Should I ask? Would he even tell me?_
A small groan caught Percia's attention; Duan rose slightly with a mildly disgruntled look on his face. "Hey, Percia," he said, slurring his words slightly.
_The Queen was watching Duan's Duel last time, too. Who is he to her? Why is he seeking revenge? What is her sin? There is so much that I don't know. _"...Duan."
"Mm?" When his vision focused on her, he saw her face mildly flushed.
"I... you.." Anxiously fidgeting, she closed her eyes, contemplating. _Why is she helping him even if he's seeking revenge? That Miracle's Wake isn't a card that is often used; why would she give that to him? She is that confident that he would use it? _"I want you to tell me more about you!"
"Huh?" a different masculine voice said.
Percia opened her eyes and her flushed face immediately paled at the sight of X and Nero. "Um, no, that came out wrong; what I meant to say was-"
"That's a confession," stated X, widely grinning.
Nero shook the bewildered, silent Duan. "I want my springtime of youth to come, too, Duan!"
_Out of all the people who had to hear that, it just had to be them. I.. _Trembling profusely, Percia rose. Their eyes were on her."NOOOOOOOOOO!" Duan merely looked dumb-folded at the sight of Percia fleeing at top speed while X and Nero collapsed in laughter.
Card Reference:
An (*) indicates that the card's effect has been changed from its original effect in the anime/TCG.
Speed World 2*
Field Spell Card
If a Spell Card other than a Speed Spell Card is activated, its controller takes 2000 damage. During each player's Standby Phases, each player places 1 Speed Counter of their own on this card (up to 12 each). You can remove Speed Counters of your own and reveal 1 Speed Spell Card in your hand to apply the following effects.
* 4 Counters: Inflict 800 damage to your opponent.
* 7 Counters: Draw 1 card.
* 10 Counters: Destroy 1 card on the field.
Cyber Dragon
Level 5
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 2100/800
Machine/Effect
If your opponent controls a monster and you don't, you can Special Summon this card from your hand.
Cyber Dragon Zwei
Level 4
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 1500/1000
Machine/Effect
If this card attacks an opponent's monster, this card gains 300 ATK during the Damage Step only. Once per turn, you can reveal 1 Spell Card in your hand to treat this card's name as "Cyber Dragon" until the End Phase. This card's name is treated as "Cyber Dragon" while in the Graveyard.
Scrap-Iron Scarecrow
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack. Negate the attack, and Set this card face-down again instead of sending it to the Graveyard.
Man-Eater Bug
Level 2
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 450/600
Insect/Effect
FLIP: Destroy 1 monster on the field.
Cyber Valley
Level 1
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 0/0
You can use 1 of the following 3 effects.
*When this card is selected as an attack target by an opponent's monster, you can remove this card from play to draw 1 card and end the Battle Phase.
*You can remove from play this card and 1 face-up monster you control, then draw 2 cards.
*You can remove from play this card and 1 card from your hand, and place 1 card from your Graveyard on the top of your deck.
Koa'ki Meiru Powerhand
Level 4
EARTH
ATK/DEF: 2100/1600
Machine/Effect
During each of your End Phases, destroy this card unless you send 1 "Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru" from your hand to the Graveyard or reveal 1 Normal Trap Card from your hand. If this card battles with a LIGHT or DARK monster, that monster's effect(s) is negated during the Battle Phase, while this card remains on the field.
Cyber Shadow Gardna
Continuous Trap Card
Activate only during your opponent's Main Phase. After activation, Special Summon this card; it is treated as an Effect Monster Card (Machine-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK ?/DEF ?). (This card is still treated as a Trap Card.) If this card is selected as an attack target, the ATK and DEF of this card become the ATK and DEF of the attacking monster. This card is Set in its Spell & Trap Card Zone during your opponent's End Phase.
Proto-Cyber Dragon
Level 3
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 1100/600
Machine/Effect
This card's name becomes "Cyber Dragon" while face-up on the field.
Speed Spell- Speed Fusion*
Normal Spell Card
This card's name is always treated as "Polymerization". Activate only while you have 4 or more Speed Counters. Send Fusion Material Monsters from your hand or field listed on a Fusion Monster to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck.
Cyber Twin Dragon
Level 8
LIGHT
ATK/DEF: 2800/2100
Machine/Fusion/Effect
Cyber Dragon + Cyber Dragon
A Fusion Summon of this card can only be done with the above Fusion Material Monsters. This card can attack twice during each Battle Phase.
Old Vindictive Magician
Level 2
DARK
ATK/DEF: 450/600
Spellcaster/Effect
FLIP: Destroy 1 monster on your opponent's side of the field.
Speed Spell - Shift Down*
Normal Spell Card
Activate only by removing 6 Speed Counters. Draw 2 cards from your deck.
Future Fusion
Continuous Spell Card
Reveal 1 Fusion Monster in your Extra Deck and send, from your Main Deck to the Graveyard, the Fusion Material Monsters that are listed on that Fusion Monster Card. During your 2nd Standby Phase after this card's activation, Special Summon 1 of that Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck and target it with this card. (This Special Summon is treated as a Fusion Summon.) When this card leaves the field, destroy that target. When that target is destroyed, destroy this card.
Overload Fusion
Normal Spell Card
Remove from play, from your side of the field or your Graveyard, Fusion Material Monsters that are listed on a DARK Machine-Type Fusion Monster Card, and Special Summon that 1 Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck. (This Special Summon is treated as a Fusion Summon.)
Chimeratech Overdragon
Level 9
DARK
ATK/DEF: ?/?
Machine/Fusion/Effect
"Cyber Dragon" + 1 or more Machine-Type monsters
This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. When this card is Fusion Summoned, send all other cards you control to the Graveyard. The original ATK and DEF of this card are each 800 × the number of Fusion Material Monsters used for its Fusion Summon. Each turn, this card can attack as many of your opponent's monsters as the number of Fusion Material Monsters used for its Fusion Summon.
Bottomless Trap Hole
Normal Trap Card
Activate only when your opponent Summons a monster with 1500 or more ATK. Destroy and remove from play the monster(s).
Tempest Magician
Level 6
ATK/DEF: 2200/1400
Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Spellcaster-Type monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, place 1 Spell Counter on it. Once per turn, you can discard any number of cards to place 1 Spell Cards on a monster(s) you control for each card you discarded. You can remove all Spell Counters on hte field to inflict 500 damage to your opponent for each removed Spell Counter.
7. Chapter 3: Duel Academy
Chapter 3:
The glimmer of the sun lit the D.A.I.M.O.N. residents' rooms. X rose slowly from his bed and dragged his feet to the door. When he left his room, he saw Nero, still groggy and in his blue pajamas. After giving each other acknowledging nods, they approached the room to the far left. They opened the door and approached the slumbering Duan, still fully clothed with his jacket over him as a makeshift blanket.
"WAKE UP!" X shouted in Duan's ear, causing him to spring forward, sitting in an upright position, though his eyes still closed. "Today's the first day of school!"
"Right," mumbled Duan, slurring his voice somewhat. "I'm awake." However, his eyes remained shut, and his figure began to hunch over.
"DUAN! THAT GIRL AT THE BEACH IS HERE!" shouted Nero, again in Duan's ear.
"Okay, okay, I get it already." He began to stretch his arms after pushing himself off the bed. "My head must still be a bit woozy, I'm hearing thumps-"
A crashing noise shook them as Mr. Tanner rushed headfirst through the now flying metal door. "DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO BRING GIRLS IN?"
"He.. bull rushed the door.."
"Where is she?"
"Mr. Tanner, that was a joke," said X.
"I, Buster Tanner, won't stop until I search the nook and cranny of this entire room!" He flipped over the bed, flinging Duan's tattered jacket to the floor. When Duan picked up his jacket, a card fell on the floor.
"Hmm? What's this?" He picked it up and read the card's name aloud. "Miracle's Wake?"
"Whoa, when'd you get that card?" asked Nero.
"I don't know. I would remember a card like this if I had it. It's an interesting card, but it doesn't see much use."
"Lucky! My luck is finally rubbing off of me!"
_But who slipped it in? The only person that I know was around me when I wasn't paying attention to my jacket was Percia from yesterday, but thanks to these guys, I don't know if I can approach her._ For the time being, Duan placed it back in his jacket pocket.
After flipping the contents of the room upside-down, Mr. Tanner gave a sigh of relief. "Consider yourself lucky, four-eyes. I'll be watching you." He glanced at the detached, bent metal door. "You won't be needing that for a while."
"R-right. Let's get ready for school."
X and Mr. Tanner proceeded out of the room. Nero glanced at the emptied suitcase and then the rest of his room. _His old Duel Disk isn't there anymore. Did he leave it behind?_
"Nero, did you need something?" asked Duan as he began to take off his shirt.
"You don't have boobs," he replied quickly.
"Leave my boobs alone."
"Haha, you said boobs." As Nero continued to chuckle, Duan glared at him. "Hey, hey, I'm just playing around."
"I know, don't worry." Duan's glare shifted back to a small smile before Nero left the room to change.
Duan peered at himself in the mirror. _This is the first time I've worn such nice clothing. It feels really different than my usual clothes. _He took a small whiff. _It has the new smell on it, too. The slacks aren't as comfortable as my usual pair of pants, but I think with time, it'll adjust. I do like that they included this jacket, though. Teal is a nice color, too._
The three of them walked out of their respective rooms, each seeing each other wearing the same uniform.
"Man, I hate this uniform!" grumbled Nero.
"Me too." X couldn't stop grimacing at his uniform. "I feel like a preppie."
"It's the nicest thing I've ever worn," commented Duan.
"Your opinion doesn't count." X, continuing to grimace, proceeded to the dining room. Nero shrugged before following him. Duan grimaced and followed as well.
* * *
><p><p>
"Orion's deck is a copy of another duelist who was called Kaiser," said Duan in between slurps of his cup ramen.
"What?" X looked at Duan, puzzled. "You sure?"
"Almost card for card, with a few adjustments here and there, mostly for Turbo Duels, I presume."
"He was pretty much all talk. He can't even build his own deck!"
"But you needed Duan's help to build yours," commented Nero.
"Hey! I'm different; I change the deck enough to make it mine."
"Copying established decks has been on the rise lately," said Mr. Tanner.
"Really?" X looked at Mr. Tanner in surprise, not expecting him to join this conversation. "Most of the people we fought in Satellite have some pretty original decks."
"Satellite? Don't make me laugh. Listen! Most people there can't afford a lot of powerful cards. Here in New Domino City, original decks are rare. I have one-"
"But you suck," interjected Nero.
"Listen! Back in the day, everyone's deck was different. Then they started mass-producing all those rare cards." Abruptly, he pointed at Duan, who flinched slightly. "You got Stardust Dragon, right, four-eyes? Back then, there was only one copy owned by the hero Yusei Fudo. Now, everyone and their mom has a copy."
"So you're saying that everyone has a copied established deck and that it's impossible to win without one?" said X.
"Pretty much."
>Duan opened his mouth to speak, but the front door suddenly opened, revealing a familiar figure. "Good morning?" it said timidly.<p>
"Good morning, Nora," said Duan hastily. X, Nero, and Mr. Tanner gave her acknowledging glances.
"I'm here to give you a tour of campus before your first class."
"We've already seen most of Duel Academy," remarked X.
"Um, it's mandatory?" X, Duan, and Nero exchanged glances. "Let's get this over with; I don't want to do this as much as you three do."
* * *
><p><p>
Nora took the three of them to Duel Academy, where she joined another group of students. X and Nero paid little attention to the droning words of the assistants.
A plump man in the same uniform as them, a crown, a large glove enveloping his left hand, and a scepter in his right hand approached them. His regal gown over his uniform swayed before he stopped before them. "Greetings, new Duelists," he stated regally.
Nora took a low bow. "Good day, Your Majesty." The rest of the group followed suit except for X and Nero, who merely stood there casually.
"Looks like we've already picked up some clowns." He glanced over at Nero and faced X, who returned a disgruntled look.
"Why should we bow to you?"
"I knew that from the moment I laid my eyes on you two, you'll be trouble."
"You forgot someone," piqued Nero before he tapped Duan's arm and signaled him to look up. "Duan, stop bowing."
"Huh? What?" He glanced around and noticed X and Nero standing, but the rest still bowed. "Oh, okay."
"The rest of you can carry on," Nero added quickly as one other person began to rise slowly.
The King glanced down at the unassuming person. "That small fry?"
"He's really strong," said X, raising his left arm with his Duel Disk. "The three of us will all surpass you." A brief pause fell on them. Then, the King began to chortle.
"How entertaining!" he said in between chortles. "Remember, I'll only challenge you if you reach my rank. The average first-year duelist only manages to rank up to 100 by the end of the semester. My rank is a perfect 600."
"Um, what just happened?" Duan asked, noticing the tension between the King, X, and Nero.
"I am Z, the King of Games! From here on out, you are all my subjects. If you dare oppose my rule, reach my rank and duel me!" As the King walked off, Nero gave him a rude gesture. The rest of the group stopped bowing. A handful spoke amongst themselves, but the assistants hastily continued the tour.
"Why did you pick a fight with the King of Games?" asked Duan in a hushed voice.
"He started it; he pointed to me and told me to challenge him. Not even Odin knows why he picked me, but I guess it's because I'm pretty impressive."
"He's annoying," commented Nero, "and fat."
"Don't comment on his size." Duan frowned disapprovingly at him.
"And you're short."
"I wonder if he has a copied deck like Mr. Tanner said," remarked X before Duan could respond.
"To be the King, I would imagine it would take more than just a copied deck to win," stated Duan while continuing to scowl at Nero. "It may even be that others will copy his deck to try to have an even chance of winning."
"That kind of sucks to have clones of your deck trying to take your title of King." X grimaced at the mental image in his head of waves of duelists coming at him using the same cards.
* * *
><p><p>
"What are our schedules like?" asked X after the tour.
"Our first class is History first thing in the morning?" Nero stared at the screen on his Duel Disk, reading over it again. "Ugh."
"History, so that means-" Duan's voice trailed off as he found a familiar face, a girl with a stern frown and thick, dark-brown hair. She was wearing the school uniform, a maroon-colored burgundy coat over a white buttoned-up shirt and black skirt. "Good morning, Percia!" When she turned around, she began to raise her hand to greet Duan, but when her eyes met X's and Nero's, she quickly turned away, opened the door, marched into the classroom, and slammed the door shut.
"Re-jec-ted!" Nero boomed in a low, almost crackling voice.
"She's still mad about the misunderstanding you two caused."
X shrugged. "If she can't handle us, she's not worth it."
Duan opened the door with a small sigh and headed into the classroom. Long rows of tables filled the room; many students have already crowded in; some have started dueling without their Duel Disks. When the looked around, they saw only one set of three empty seats, in the front. X and Nero both grimaced at the idea of sitting in the front of the classroom.
As they reluctantly walked to the seats and sat down, a woman walked into the classroom towards the center desk. "Settle down!" The students immediately put away their belongings and faced her. "Good morning, class."
"Good morning, Ms. Jadis," she heard one voice say. Ms. Jadis glanced at the front desk and paled at the sight of Duan waving his hand with a small smile, Nero raising his eyebrows in acknowledgment, and X nodding his head. She began to tremble, but with a quick clearing of her throat, she regained her composure.
"Welcome to Duel Academy. I am your homeroom teacher, Ms. Jadis. When I call out your name, please acknowledge your existence." One by one, she called out names in apparent alphabetical order and allowed the students to announce their presence. X wondered how she would handle his name. However, she called neither Duan's, Nero's, nor his name by the time she reached the end of the list. "Did I miss anyone?"
Duan raised his hand slightly. "Um, you missed-"
"Good." Ms. Jadis's eyes completely strayed away from the three of them. "Let's begin by going over the syllabus."
"So this is how she's gonna play?" muttered X under his breath.
A student with long, black hair and an oddly drawn marking over her eye in eyeliner in the middle of the classroom stood up hastily and raised her hand. "Oh! Are we going to study Egyptian History?" The students, including Duan and X, turned their attention onto her. They noticed her attention briefly aimed at them, flashing a tart smile before turning to Ms. Jadis. Nero prodded the two of them to pull their attention away from her.
"Um, yes. However, we must cover the significance of the study of civilization in relation to Duel Monsters."
"Card games in ancient civilizations," muttered Nero with a small snort, then chortles.
"That's not funny," whispered Duan.
"Yeah it is!" X joined Nero's failed attempts to stifle their laughter.
"X!" shouted Ms. Jadis pointing at him. "You of all people should know the importance of ancient civilizations, you who bear the Rune Eyes, a relic of Nordic civilization. Also-"
While she rattled on about Nordic civilization, X's vision blurred. He blinked; however, instead of the classroom in view, he saw the arena he was previously at. Someone was at the opposite side of him; he couldn't see that person's face clearly, but saw Gladiator Beast Heraklinos in front of the person. Then, he saw himself point at it and felt himself speak, but no words came out. A colossal figure appeared before him and raised a weapon, a war hammer. "Call us," he heard it say. When X looked down, he saw a white-bordered card; he reached for it, but when he blinked, his vision returned to the classroom.
"X, your Rune Eyes are glowing!" he heard Duan whisper.
"It sounds like you have something to say about the importance of dueling in the modern world," said Ms. Jadis crossly.
Before X could retort, Duan stood from his desk. "Duel Academy was founded by Seto Kaiba, which became the foundation of New Domino City after the Zero Reverse incident destroyed Domino City. New Domino City's economy, as a result, heavily utilized Duel Monsters, where even job interviews are conducted through dueling and the police force, Security, used Turbo Duels to subdue criminals."
"...That is acceptable," she said after a brief pause. "You may be seated."
Duan leaned slightly towards X and whispered. "You okay?"
"When did we change the subject to modern times?" queried X, rubbing his discomforted temples.
"I'm so lost," piqued Nero.
"It seems that you two would like to to talk about how this relates to ancient civilization." Her eyes glanced at Duan, whose hand was immediately raised. "I appreciate your participation, but you cannot always cover for their inattention." Disappointed, Duan's head and raised hand drooped.
"Uh..." X and Nero exchanged glances. No other words would come out of X's mouth.
"It doesn't?" said Nero slowly. "What does what happened then have to do with what's happening now?" X face-palmed; Ms. Jadis shook her head.
"In Ancient Egypt, Pharaohs played Shadow Games, which Duel Monsters is based off of, for various reasons; wealth, settling conflicts, struggling for power, and keeping the peace are among the various reasons they had. This model can be seen in other civilizations after an extended amount of development. Thus, by studying civilization, we can study the modern world as well." Her eyes glanced away towards the clock briefly. "As time is almost up; I will give you your homework assignment. Read pages 10-27 of 'The Origin of the Dark Magician' and prepare for discussion." Abruptly, she pointed at X and Nero. "You two! Reread those pages and answer the questions at the end; you'll be leading tomorrow's discussion! Class dismissed!"
The three of them followed the other students out the classroom; X and Nero eyed the teacher, who was preoccupied with preparing for the next class. Once outside and out of sight of the classroom, they both fumed in frustration."
"What's her frickin' problem?" X shouted. "I can't believe she gave us extra homework just because we couldn't answer a question. What DID you do to her, Nero?"
"I dunno!" cried Nero. "All I did was beat her! …And called what's-its-name bald... And that other one a weirdo... And used Cup of Ace... And yelled out Dick move..."
"I can kind of see why now," muttered X, then he turned to Duan. "About that destiny I was supposed to fulfill..."
"What destiny?"
X pulled out three white-bordered cards and showed them to Nero. "I have to fight using these."
"More white monsters!" He exclaimed in a melodramatic tone. "Wait, when'd you get these? I've never even seen you Synchro Summon."
"Inherited from the man who abandoned his destiny," replied X harshly. "I don't have the required cards to play them, but that will change soon."
"Let me see them."
Before Nero could reach for the cards, X slid them back into his Duel Disk. "No. Ask Duan if you want to know about them."
"Well, Duan, what DO they do?"
"Well, Thor, Lord of the Aesir is a Synch-"
"Just kidding, Duan! I don't really care."
Duan frowned and glared at Nero, failing to suppress his irritation. "Oh, we need to go this way."
"Right. I'll see you in a bit." X gave the two of them an acknowledging nod and walked the other direction.
* * *
><p><p>
Already, X began to dread the next class, Modern Literature, without Nero or Duan. When he walked into the classroom, the attention of the students fell on him.
"Hey, it's the student the King chose," he heard among the excited whispers that broke out.
_Rumors spread pretty fast. At this rate, we'll be quite well-known throughout the school._ X approached the seat near the back and sat there.
One of the students approached him, setting up a chair near X and sitting down, leaning forward slightly. "You must be pretty strong. What deck are you running?"
"Not telling," he replied flatly.
"What? Why?"
"Why should I?"
X heard another student amble towards him."His deck is Gladiator Beasts," he announced. "However, it's very weak. I'm not sure what the King sees in you."
X felt his anger swelling; not only did the person reveal what his deck was, he had the nerve to insult it. "Who are you?"
"I am Jest Marcus." Like every other student, he was wearing the male student uniform, but his tidy, brown hair seemed to shine, and X almost gagged at Jest's extremely strong cologne. "Like you, I use Gladiator Beasts, but yours is much more inferior."
"Class is starting!" a small, feminine voice announced, but the students did not turn towards the young woman entering the classroom.
"I mean, come on, who uses Defensive Tactics?" The student continued to speak, hardly facing X. "It's like a restricted version of Waboku."
"I am Mrs.-"
"Plus, who uses Gladiator Beast Secutor? If you draw it, then it's useless."
X slammed his desk, startling the timid young woman at the front of the classroom. "My deck works, okay? Got a problem with that?"
"Why not listen to him?" another feminine voice said. X turned to the source of the voice; a brunette with pale skin, heavy makeup, and a very small figure walking towards Jest.
"Um, class?" the woman whimpered.
"Stay out of this," X snapped at the student's direction, which included the whimpering woman's.
"If you want to win, you have to use the right cards," the student continued to say. "That's what Jest has taught me."
"It wouldn't feel like it's my deck, though," X said slowly.
"Why are you so concerned with that? If you lose, it's no fun, but if you win, then it's okay, right? I mean, really, what's the point in losing?"
Those words caused X to recall Mr. Tanner's words. _Mr. Tanner said something similar; it's difficult to win without a copied deck... Even though it's frustrating, they're right.. There isn't any point in fighting if there's no way to win. Losing won't convince anyone._ He fell silent, his expression crestfallen.
"He wants to be creative, Eri, but creativity doesn't win you games," Jest announced with a small sneer. "Consistency, speed, and power do. Luck, belief, and whatever don't hold up a candle to that. Unless you build the right deck the right way, you won't even have a chance of winning."
_If you believe in yourself and your cards, then a miracle will definitely occur!_ Duan's words abruptly echoed through X's mind.
"Let's duel!" X hastily brandished his Duel Disk. "I'll prove it to you that I can win!"
"How about a ranked duel, then?"
"A ranked duel?"
"You don't know what a ranked duel is? Well, we'll just put it this way. Your reputation's at stake."
"Fine with me!"
"Class? Um, class still needs to start." However, the class's attention remained fixated on X and Jest.
* * *
><p><p>
A few minutes after Duan walked off to his math class, X approached Nero. Both of them gave each other acknowledging nods. "How was class?" asked X.
"Meh, we ended up holding buckets of water for the entire time because we were a minute late," replied Nero with a feeble shrug. At the sight of Nero's arms shaking like a leaf, X winced. "What about you?"
"These students at Duel Academy are all like Mr. Tanner said, a bunch of preps."
"Yeah, I got that feeling a while back."
"It irritates me that we can't do anything about it."
Before they entered the next classroom, he felt something tap his shoulder. X turned around to see a familiar hooded figure. "Yo, it's me, Y," the hooded figure said with a brief wave.
_He was that guy who was with that annoying Kaiser-wannabe. _"What do you want?"
"How's Duel Academy?"
"Full of preps," X said bitterly.
"Yeah, that's the true nature of Duel Academy, of New Domino City for the most part, too."
"True nature?"
"Yeah." He glanced at Nero briefly, then faced X. "I saw both of your entrance duels. You three weren't so bad; the Queen even recognized both of your strengths."
"The Queen was watching us?"
"She even knew you guys were going to win, so she didn't stay long. The Queen has interest in you two. Why don't you two join the Rare Hunters? Maybe you could teach these stuck-up folks a lesson."
"Don't you guys steal cards?"
"Yeah, but we really only target certain types of people. In fact, the types of people we target happen to be who you call 'preps'. They just happen to be most of the people here at school."
"I'm listening."
"We're an organization that punishes the rich and corrupt members of New Domino City. You're from Satellite, right? You see how different it is now. The hero, Yusei Fudo, tried to close the gap between the rich and the poor, and for a while, it worked, but now it's almost back the way it was. However, think of people like you from Satellite, who are trying to make a name out for themselves. If you join us, you'll definitely be well-known. Even the King is afraid of our Queen, after all."
"You mean, the real King rather than the wannabe?"
The thought of Orion made X and Y both face-palm. "Sorry about that. He was a new one; didn't think he would be so.. stupid."
"Why is the real King afraid of the Queen? The Queen should be traditionally weaker than the King, right?"
"The Queen of Games got her title while she was in her first year after defeating the previous Queen that the King appointed."
"Appointed?"
"If you take both the title of King and Queen, then you can appoint someone to be your partner. The woman that the King appointed to be Queen was indeed strong, but our Queen was stronger, much stronger. Perhaps the King is afraid that she will take the King's title, too."
"I see. I'll think about it," X said after a long pause.
Those words caught Nero's fleeting attention; his eyes now focused on X rather than the walls. "X? I thought you were all goody two-shoes, too."
"If it means I can do something about these preps, then being a Rare Hunter might be a good choice."
"Very well. When you're ready to join, contact me." He handed X and Nero a sheet of paper. On it was his email. "The Queen might even take that other duelist, what's-his-name, in if you both join. He's actually not that bad, even though it was.. that idiot that he dueled." Both X and Y face-palmed again. After a full minute, Y regained his composure and casually waved goodbye. X simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"Are you really thinking of joining?" Nero's mind immediately thought of Duan's disapproving frown.
"I'd love to teach these guys a lesson. Plus, the chance to get some rare cards is a nice plus."
"Let's see if Duan will join," Nero said distantly.
"Of course he will; he'll do pretty much anything. You're joining too, right?"
"Uh..." Averting his gaze, Nero scratched his head.
"We've been through a lot, so it would be bad to separate now," X said in a low voice.
Nero reached for the coin in his pocket and gripped it briefly, but a forlorn expression fell on his face. "I'll think about it," he said slowly, releasing the coin and following X into the next class. _It kind of sounds like a pain..._
* * *
><p><p>
30 minutes passed by; X and Nero slumped over with no sign of Duan. "He's late," grumbled X. "Should I call him again?"
"You called him a million times already." Nero slumped over the table with a groan. "If you sent me that many messages, I would have said 'screw it' and flaked." _"I'll meet you after school." Is that what he's doing right now?_ "Hey, don't you think that he's busy?"
"No way!" said X dismissively. "What could he be doing that's so important?"
"Hey, sorry I'm late!" X and Nero turned to the source of the voice and saw Duan, approaching with cards and a sheet of paper in hand. After he reached them, he slipped the items into his jacket.
"Where were you?" asked X. "We've been waiting desperately for you."
"Sorry, I had something that I had to do," replied Duan. "What's so important that you would spam my inbox over?"
"Could you come up with a deck list for the Nordic Deck?"
"Shouldn't you build that one for yourself?" Duan's mind returned to the morning conversation with Mr. Tanner.
"I have better things to spend my time on. Plus, you know way more about Duel Monsters than me."
_Is my time really that less important?_ "I haven't done any research on Nordic monsters, though."
"Try to get it done by tomorrow."
_Tomorrow isn't a lot of time. Will I be able to fulfill that request and-_
"Duan, sorry to keep putting more things to do on you, but could you help us with our homework?" asked Nero.
"Oh, sure. What do you need help with?" Nero raised his eyebrows and wrinkled his forehead, frowning at him. "Oh, everything."
As Duan placed his book bag on the table, X spoke up. "Oh yeah, what's a ranked duel?"
"You haven't read the Student Handbook yet?"
"Just tell me what it is," he said crossly.
Duan sighed and pulled out a paper copy of the Student Handbook from his book bag. He flipped a few pages and recited the words there. "The ranking system is a guideline on how strong a duelist is, determined by the wins and losses against others of varying ranks. The higher-ranked your opponent, the more rank you get by winning, and the lower-ranked your opponent is, the less rank you get. You also get certain perks such as reduced cost of booster packs after a certain rank."
"Just what I need."
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm going to have a ranked Duel in two days."
"What happened?" X explained the classroom fiasco to Duan. "You screwed up class with an argument." Duan shook his head. "I can't believe you picked a fight with someone already."
"Hey, he started it," retorted X.
"Even if he did-"
"I gotta defend my honor. You have to do this sometimes."
"But-"
"You have to do this sometimes," he repeated. Duan sighed before starting his homework.
End file.
| fanfiction |
Mass Effect 1. Chapter 1
**Dark Cadence - 1**
**Summary: Shepard is being followed. From small space ports to the Citadel. Question is: Who is it and Why?**
**Inspired by a prompt over on the Mass Effect Kink Meme. Yes, this is the second one with this pairing. I'll probably fill more for this pairing over there, so if you want you can leave a prompt for these two at the meme, it's anonymous.**
There was a whirr as a ship started up that steadily grew louder until it joined all the other ships coming and going from the port.
Shepard watched from the railing above the main entrance. The Normandy was currently in there as well getting fuel so they could jump into solar systems and look for stranded people, as well as items for the Crucible. It was taking longer than usual though because of lack of supplies in this space port but they hadn't had enough fuel to get to another. So they were stuck here, for now anyways.
She pushed from the railing, turning to walk through the thick crowds that held her shipmates in them as well, somewhere. It would still be an hour until they needed to be back on the ship though so she didn't bother looking for them as she squeezed past people. It appeared that no one was looking at her uniform and then getting out of the way like they tended to do at the Citadel. Everyone was just hurrying to get their supplies, return to their ship, and get as far away from the Reapers as possible. Except no where was safe from them and this running didn't help matters very much. Now more recruits for the Alliance and it's allies would be helpful.
There was a light pressure on her shoulder and Shepard turned slightly to get out of the way of whoever it was but the hand stayed on the spot. "Excuse me-" she began, turning her head to glance over her shoulder but the hand moved now, following the curve of her upper back to her other shoulder before falling away completely. Shepard glanced quickly to her other side but whoever it had been was now lost in the crowd.
With a frown she turned back around to continue towards the shops in the hope that some still had good gun upgrades lying around.
2. Chapter 2
**Dark Cadence - 2**
**Sorry for the wait.**
Her back was itching. Ever since she was in the crowd at that space port she felt like eyes were on her everywhere she went. It made her skin crawl each time she went into a crowd, fully expecting the same person to be within it. To brush up against her in some casual way but then linger there too long. The feeling only increased when she had to move out of the lights. In fact, it got worse.
She was breaking out in a cold sweat now even though it was close to ninety-six degrees and she was wearing her uniform that might as well have added four more degrees with its layers. Shepard brushed off some of the sweat from her brow as she set a brisk pace in the warm air, staying in the shadows as a way to escape the heat. Her skin only felt sticky though as she kept it up. Somehow the cold of the liquid on her skin unnerved her even more.
This was the Citadel. She shouldn't be worrying about some random person she had never seen before. Not that she could remember anyway.
Maybe it had all just been an accident. Maybe that pause hadn't been purposeful, that touch along her back... Maybe they had started to push past her and realized they were going the wrong way and had turned because of that. Perhaps the hand had stayed on her because the person thought the crowd would jostle them over if they didn't grab onto _something_.
Though why did that something have to be her?
3. Chapter 3
**Dark Cadence - 3**
She kept pondering the question as she walked.
It's not like there hadn't been other people all around her. You had to shove your way through them. If just a bit more pressure had been applied, forceful pressure that is she would have believed someone was doing just that to her in their rush to get out of the sea of refugees.
As it was there was no ocean surrounding her now. Actually... Shepard glanced around, stopping when she found no other pedestrians in this part of the Citadel. Not a soul, and that uncomfortable, undeniable feeling that someone was watching her had just grown with this realization.
"Kasumi?" She voiced the name of the skilled thief into the warm evening air. "This isn't funny." Her gaze moved slowly around as she waited for the woman's voice to filter through her ear piece. When a minute had passed and there was still nothing she glanced into the shadows, turning in place as she called for her companions. "Garrus? Javik? Tali? Liara?" She didn't bother with EDI and Joker, they were both at the movies today. Waiting another second she asked the empty passage hopefully, "Kaidan?"
Still no response. She could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed, even with her heavy breathing disrupting the quiet.
There was a ghost of air against her back then, something - a hand - sweeping her hair to the side and then the gust was gone.
She turned around quickly, hand up on the hair that had been moved, keeping it in place as she tried to catch sight of what it had been. The corridor in front of her was empty. She tried again, hoping one of them would be there and answer her. Hopefully drunk and laughing at her foolishness. Thinking that someone was actually following her. "Jack? Miranda? Grunt?" In a last ditch effort she tried, "Aria?"
Silence.
She let out a breath she had been holding. Just the air then, it was most likely the vents were just being faulty-
The back of her neck was wet, warm. A tongue collecting the cold drops of her sweat and she froze for a moment.
Then she was turning, throwing an arm behind her to catch the person, but it flew through empty air. That feeling on her neck was no longer present. There was just a voice hanging in the air, "Shepard," it hissed.
4. Chapter 4
**Dark Cadence - 4**
The voice had sent her feet into motion.
Boots hitting the ground with a thud that echoed all around her, ricocheting off the flat metal and concrete. Her breath was coming fast as she raced away from the alley, the voice. She made her way out of the cool shadows and into the searing heat no longer caring when sweat ran down her skin.
As long as she didn't feel him licking it off her skin again she could care less about the heat. She had gotten out of that desolate place and that's all that mattered.
No feet had followed after her. She would have heard it if that was the case.
Nothing but laughter from the man when she sprinted away. That man, whoever he was was just playing with her. She felt her blood heat up even more as she pushed through the crowd of people, no longer liking them after what happened the last time.
After what had just happened barely a minute ago.
She burst through the throng and onto the dock, quick to enter the vacant Normandy and ride the elevator up to her quarters.
When the doors swung open she took a moment to breathe, drinking in the air until her eyes fell on a form on her couch while she descended the stairs of her cabin at a much slower pace. A scream ripped through the air and it was up and moving. Arms wrapping around her, lips placed on her cheek, soft murmuring in her ear to quiet down.
_He's here!_
She was practically in sobs when the voice broke through, "Shepard! Shepard, are you okay? What happened?"
Her eyes widened, staring at him. "Kaidan?" It wasn't that man. She threw her arms around him, crying in relief until he calmed her down and she told him about how she had thought someone was following her since a few weeks ago at the station. How she always felt eyes on her when she got off the Normandy and this time the man had started touching her again, but in more intimate ways.
By the time she was done she lay in his arms on the bed, looking up at the ceiling instead of him. She should have mentioned her suspicions earlier so that this wouldn't have happened...
"It's not your fault." It was like he was reading her mind. "Next time you go out just make sure either me or one of the crew is with you so he can't do this again. If he does try anything even then we will catch the bastard." She nodded her head, to feel his fingers on her chin, turning her face until she was looking up at him. "I promise you that this won't continue any further."
End file.
| fanfiction |
Jaap-Derk Buma (Den Haag, 27 augustus 1972) is een voormalige Nederlandse hockeyer. Hij speelde 143 officiële interlands (negentien doelpunten) voor de Nederlandse hockeyploeg.
De razendsnelle aanvaller maakte zijn debuut op 5 november 1994 in de oefeninterland België-Nederland (1-8). Zijn laatste interland speelde hij op 9 maart 2002 bij het wereldkampioenschap in Kuala Lumpur: de troostfinale Nederland-Zuid-Korea (2-1). In dat duel maakte Buma het winnende doelpunt (golden goal).
Hij speelde achtereenvolgens voor HC Klein Zwitserland, HC Bloemendaal, Amsterdam en BH & BC Breda. Met die laatste club dwong hij in het voorjaar van 2004 promotie af naar de hoofdklasse door HC Tilburg in de play-offs (best-of-three) te verslaan. Dat wapenfeit was voor de spits evenwel geen aanleiding zijn carrière te verlengen: hij besloot te stoppen met tophockey.
Jaap-Erik Buma is de zoon van oud-international Edo Buma (1946), die deel uitmaakte van het Nederlandse team, dat op de Olympische Spelen in Mexico-Stad op de 5de plaats eindigde.
Internationale erelijst
Nederlands hockeyer
Nederlands olympisch kampioen | slim_pajama |
Frozen Regulations — A Frozen Subreddit User Fanfic
"You green turds have got _nothing_ to be proud of!" Elsa cringed at the harshness of the Assistant Commissioner's tone. The fat man was pounding his fist on his desk, staring down the line of new officers like a bull ready to charge. "This case was _peanuts_ and you turned it into _soufflé_! Never in my my time on the force have I seen such a crew of screw-ups!"
"B-but we have the guy in custody, sir." There was a deathly silence following Officer Borovicz's nervous and ill-advised statement.
The Commissioner leaned forward in his chair, the pressure on his belly causing veins to bulge in his neck. "Do you want a cookie, Borovicz? Because I can get you a friggin cookie; I'll wrap in the _shredsof that family's peace of mind_!" He slammed his table again, knocking over his pen holder. "How do you manage to get a civ family taken hostage _in their own apartment_? How does _anyone_ let that happen!?"
"Commish," Officer Freeman said, her voice just as shaky as Borovicz's had been, "we didn't mean for it to—"
"Whether you meant it or not, it happened, private! Now we have S.W.A.T. teams to pay for having to mobilize, ambulances to pay for transporting that poor family to the hospital, _and_...we have some decisions to make."
"Decisions?" Borovicz sounded like his throat was seized completely.
The Commissioner leaned back in his chair. "Decisions, Borovicz; clean your ears out." He adjusted a couple papers around on his desk. "The three of you were assigned as a team to give you all a better chance to survive out on detail, and you've proven you aren't ready for detail yet. There _will_ be punishments for letting a routine arrest get so far out of hand. Two of you will be re-assigned to desk work until we can find a proper veteran officer to show you the ropes again. One of you, the one behind the _brilliant_ idea to capture the perp that ended up leading to this fiasco, will receive a different punishment." He steepled his fingers. "First, though, we need to know who is responsible for what; any takers?"
"It was Winters! The whole thing was her doing, sir!"
The Commissioner looked shocked. "Borovicz, you're just going to throw Officer Winters under the bus to save your own skin? No wonder your unit broke down!"
"No, sir, it really was Winters," Freeman said.
"You too, Freeman? God above, don't you care about your partner? Winters got top marks through the academy, she's a killer mark, and she was hand-picked by the Commissioner himself to serve on our force. She _knows_ police protocol; I don't believe either of you." The Assistant Commissioner's eyes turned to Elsa. "Speak up, Officer Winters! Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
Elsa pulled on her index finger. "It...it was…" She trailed off, barely whispering the end of her sentence.
The Commissioner leaned forward again. "I'm sure the K-9 units know all about it now, Winters, but you still have to tell _me_."
"It was my decision, sir." Elsa relived the moment when the criminal had brandished something from within their coat, and Elsa had shouted for her partners to duck. Borovicz had called out that it wasn't a weapon, but Elsa ordered him to stay down. Freeman agreed with Borovicz, saying the object hadn't looked anything like a gun, but Elsa insisted that she had seen a weapon and the three of them needed to stay under cover until they could confirm who was right. When she had looked, however, the perp had taken off. With four possible exits, Elsa had decided the best course of action would be to split up between the three doors the perp had most likely used. After two minutes of attempting to locate the perp, they had found nothing. They regrouped, and took off in their cruisers to try and re-engage. Borovicz had found him, and chased him into an apartment building. Inside, the perp had taken a family hostage, and the ensuing mess ultimately led to where she was now.
And, to top it off, the thing the perp had pulled out of his coat wasn't a gun, or any other weapon; it had been a balled up pair of gloves.
The Assistant Commissioner's face dropped. "You're serious?" Elsa nodded. "Winters, you know that you went against everything you'd been taught about unit tactics, right?" Elsa nodded. The Assistant Commissioner picked up a paper from his desk, huffing air out of his cheeks. "Well, why don't you just break off my foot and jam it into my mouth yourself," he said, handing her the paper.
Elsa took it from him. "What is this?"
"It's your new schedule; you're taking remedial academy courses. One month, no pay. Your first lesson is at oh-seven-hundred tomorrow, don't be late."
Elsa looked up and down the piece of paper. Clear as day, it was nothing more than a course schedule. Elsa saluted and turned and left the room, folding the paper neatly and putting it in her pocket. She folded her arms and rubbed her own shoulders, the station seeming much colder than it had been before. Normally, she liked cold, but this cold was unnatural. She hadn't felt this cold since that night five years ago; the night that she had already remembered once today.
She had been walking back to her apartment from class late one night, when this same sort of chill had fallen over her. It was oppressive, worrying, and harsh. It was a chill that she couldn't ignore, so she had turned around to see what it was that was weighing this cold upon her, only to find there was a man following her. He had reached into his coat and pulled out a knife; that was what had come into Elsa's mind today when the perp she had been ordered to arrest put his hand into his coat. She remembered being backed up against a building and ordered her to hand over her valuables. She had been too scared to do anything, and the man had gotten angrier and angrier. She started shaking her, grabbing her, prodding her with the butt of his knife, touching her in places he shouldn't. Elsa hadn't known what to do, and she hadn't been able to scream or cry for help. She had been petrified. The situation was growing more and more threatening, and Elsa had accepted that she was going to end up at the mercy of the attacker, when suddenly, from seemingly nowhere—
"Woah!" The man's voice shocked Elsa back to reality as she found herself face-first in another officer's badge. She bounced off him like he was made of bricks, stumbling across the hall and watching the tile floors race up towards her. An arm wrapped around her waist, suspending her prone for a moment, before levering her back onto her feet. "Keep an eye on the road, private," the other officer said, "you're lucky I was able to catch you! This place gets busy around this time of day, it'd suit you well to—wait...Officer 'Winters'?" Elsa's eyes darted from the man's badge to his name patch, finally resting on his face. "Elsa Winters? Oh my God, how have you been?"
"/u/.../u/M1schK4?" The night of Elsa's attack, just as things looked their worst, the man with the knife had been tackled to the ground by an off-duty police officer. That officer was /u/M1schK4, a recent graduate from the academy who was on his way back to his own apartment when he happened to see the incident unfolding. /u/M1schK4 didn't have cuffs, but he managed to restrain the attacker and call in a cruiser to take the man away. He took Elsa back to her apartment and made sure she was okay to be home for the night. Elsa had been very quiet that night, barely even murmuring her thanks to /u/M1schK4 before slipping back into her home, but her mind had been made up even as early as the walk back home. She had felt a need to prove herself, to learn how to stand up on her own, to make /u/M1schK4 notice that she could be strong too. She wanted /u/M1schK4 to notice her, to pay him back for what he did. So she worked her way into the police academy, applying herself vigorously and graduating top of her class. /u/M1schK4 had checked in with her once or twice after the attack, bringing her some homemade soup or another tupperware-meal and asking how she was doing, but Elsa had been just as quiet as she was before. Once he stopped dropping by, she made up her mind that if she ever saw him again, she wanted to tell him what she felt, to tell him that he was the reason she was going on and that he was...special to her. Never had she imagined that she would end up assigned to the same department as the very man she was trying to work to impress, but now that he was standing right in front of her, she found it hard to breathe.
"Right! I'm glad you remember me! And I remember _you_ too, of course!" /u/M1schK4 laid a hand on her shoulder. "I didn't know you'd entered the academy; you must have _flown_ through the courses! It's only been, what, five years?"
"Yea, five years." _He _does _remember_. Elsa afforded a small smile.
"That's incredible," /u/M1schK4 said, "congratulations! And you're stationed in my precinct too, that's great!" He motioned towards the stripes on his shoulder. "I'm up to Captain now; last time I saw you I was in your shoes."
"Captain?"
/u/M1schK4 nodded. "That's right! Looks like you'll be working for me now!"
Elsa shook her head. "I'm not...um...I'm not going to be working." She took the papers out of her pocket and unfolded them. "I have orders to take remedial training; no pay."
/u/M1schK4 took the papers from her. "Really? What for?"
Elsa pursed her lips. "I don't…" _I can't tell him. He can't know I messed up._
"That's fine," /u/M1schK4 said, handing Elsa the papers back, "I'll just look through your reports later." Elsa felt her heart beat in a panic. /u/M1schK4 smiled. "Or, if you feel like telling me tomorrow morning, I can wait until then." Elsa looked at /u/M1schK4, confused. He pointed towards her course schedule. "I was curious as to who it was that needed my remedial courses, but now I know that it's you. I guess I'll be seeing you bright and early tomorrow!"
"Wait, what?"
"I'm the officer in charge of remedial training, so you'll be taking all those courses with me." He saluted quickly. "Lucky for you, I'm a pretty easy grader." He slipped past her and continued on his way down the hall. "It's great to see you again, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning! Don't be late!"
Elsa watched him go with an ache in her throat. She glanced up and down the hall, checking to see if any other officers were coming before she slumped back against the wall and slid down to the floor slowly. _This can't be happening_, she thought. Now /u/M1schK4 was going to be privy to the fact that she had messed up on her first big assignment, rendering the sentiment of her hard work to try and live up to the service he had done for her worthless. _And he's a Captain now, directly over me?_ She felt a tear well up in her eye. _That's so...unfair._ Rules were rules, and there were _many_ rules surrounding what would happen now that /u/M1schK4 was one of her commanding officers; a second strike against her, and a second blow to her heart. Elsa closed her eyes and felt her tears drop onto her thighs. She crumpled her papers in her fist. _Why now? Why like this? This isn't what I wanted; it should have been_—
"Elsa?" It was Freeman. "Elsa, are you okay?"
Elsa stood up quickly and wiped her eyes. "Yea, I'm fine. It's fine." She stuffed the course schedule hurriedly into her pocket.
Freeman reached out to touch Elsa's arm. "Sis, were you crying?" Freeman was one of Elsa's only friends from the academy, and the girl had taken to calling Elsa "Sis" once they had graduated.
Elsa pulled away from Freeman's outstretched hand. "I'm fine, I just need to go home." She turned and started walking towards the locker rooms, ready to get her stuff and wallow in the solitude of her apartment.
"Elsa, I'm sorry you have to take those training courses again; it won't be that bad, you can do all that with your eyes closed. One mistake doesn't mean you're a bad cop, it just means you'r—"
"This isn't about that, Katie!" Elsa recoiled from the bitterness of her own words. She sighed, shaking her head. "I just want to go home." She turned back towards the locker rooms. "I'll see you tomorrow, Katie."
Freeman didn't say anything more.
* * *
Elsa felt sick to her stomach. It _wasn't_ from the two pints of Haagen Dazs she had eaten in front of the TV last night, funnily enough; though she did feel sort of guilty that her dinner had been so stereotypical of the "sad lonely girl" trope. It _wasn't_ from watching the city tryouts of American Idol while she was stuffing herself with ice cream, even though Elsa knew she could probably do better than half of those morons. It was because she had just spent an hour and a half in one of the conference rooms with /u/M1schK4, pretending not to be dying inside every time their eyes had accidentally met.
He had started the morning by bringing up that he had read the report from her incident the other day. "I get why you would have been so cautious of a weapon," he had said gently—_Patronizingly_, Elsa couldn't help thinking— "it's not that big of a deal to be cautious." _It's a big enough deal to put me here, though_.
The lesson itself was simple, a refresher course in field procedure. Freeman had been right, Elsa could have recalled the information with her eyes closed. She _wished_ her eyes could have been closed, though; it would have spared her the agony of having to see /u/M1schK4 standing in front of her while she knew that she had no way of redeeming herself to him now. He was her Captain, and now her training officer as well. Her chance to tell him how she had felt for the past five years was gone.
She took her cup of water-thin coffee and sat down in the corner of the break room to try and be alone for a minute. He took out her phone and plugged in her headphones, scrolling through her music and finding something calming; an atmospheric track she had downloaded off of some guy's YouTube channel. A piano began playing over the sounds of waves rolling onto a beach, and Elsa closed her eyes. The cup of coffee was warm in her hands, and she could feel the steam wafting out of the rim of the styrofoam cup and up into her face. It felt like the rays of the sun shining down on her as she sat on the beach, and the piano was gently floating her along the water as though she were weightless. She let her eyes peel open again.
/u/M1schK4 was seated across the table from her.
She fumbled her phone clumsily, trying to pause the music as he opened his mouth to speak. She managed to catch the end of his sentence. "...headphones you have there," he said, smiling. "I've been sitting here for a minute or so now and you didn't move an inch."
Elsa felt her face turn bright red as she stuffed her phone and earbuds into her pocket. "I, um, I like music," she said timidly, biting her tongue in disappointment with how foolish she must have sounded.
/u/M1schK4 just kept smiling. "That's awesome," he said, "I'm known to dabble a bit myself. What were you listening to?"
"N-nothing," Elsa said quickly. She shook her head. "I mean, nothing _special_. Just some...stuff I found online; piano stuff."
"You like classical music?"
"Yes." She turned her coffee cup on the table. "And other stuff, too." _Is he…?_
"I'm not super into classical music," /u/M1schK4 said, leaning his chair back on two legs and scratching the top of his head. "Like, I don't listen to it all the time, I mean; I love a good piano piece, though. I like real instruments playing as opposed to that electronic stuff."
Elsa uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. "M-me too," she murmured, hiding her face behind her cup as she took a sip of the dreadfully weak coffee. She couldn't remember ever feeling this _nervous_ before. Tests in school were easy, learning to drive was a cakewalk. But sitting three feet from the man that had saved her life? Agonizingly unbearable. And what was he _doing_, anyway? He was too smiley for normal chit-chat. _He's _way _too smiley for small talk. He couldn't be_… Elsa chided herself for being so silly. _It's just the ice cream messing with my brain_, she thought, _that'll teach me to eat sugar for dinner_.
/u/M1schK4 cleared his throat. "So, Elsa." She shifted in her seat, eyes looking anywhere but into his. He put all four legs of his chair back down on the ground. "We can start the next class any time you want," he said, putting a hand up to his mouth, like he was telling her a secret. "There's no point in making you stay here all day for these dumb lessons; that first session convinced me you're pretty much going to blow through these things anyway, might as well get them over-with and head out early. What do you say?"
Elsa took another sip of coffee-water. "Okay," she muttered, sliding out of her chair and shuffling back towards the classroom. _Anything to stop this torture_.
Including the break for lunch, the other three lessons scheduled for today finished just after two o'clock. Elsa had taken her lunch break in the women's locker room, since she had the feeling /u/M1schK4 was going to try and eat with her after what had happened during the coffee break that morning. _It's not that I don't _want _to eat with him_, she had told herself, _I just..._can't _eat with him_. She didn't want to subject herself to more agony than she was already enduring. She changed back into her civ clothes and exited the locker room, ready to go back to her apartment and waste the rest of the afternoon in a way that would cost her as little money as possible; she wasn't going to be paid for a whole month as part of her punishment. As she pulled her baseball cap down over her forehead, though, she heard /u/M1schK4's voice call out from behind her.
"Winters!" She groaned quietly, stopping and turning cautiously to see him approach through a pack of officers discussing something about getting new uniforms. "Elsa, wait," he said as he drew closer, "I have something to ask you." He paused, possibly waiting for Elsa to say something, but when there was no response he continued with his thought. "I have some reports to finish and a couple other things to take care of here, but I wanted to ask; do you want to go for dinner tonight, maybe get some Thai or something? I think it might be fun to catch up, y'know?"
Elsa felt her pulse freeze in her veins. "Y-you wh—um...go...um…" /u/M1schK4 raised an eyebrow. "I—um—I...money. I-I-I'm on unpaid leave now, I don't know if—"
"Oh, that's okay, I can spot you tonight, no problem!" He clapped his hands together. "Whaddaya say? Want to give it a try?"
Elsa's jaw flapped noiselessly. _This is a date. He's asking you on a date. In no universe is this _not _a date._ She felt her palms get sweaty, her neck start to flush red. It was so _cold_ in the station. _You can't go, it's against regulation. He's your Captain, he's your trainer. Commanding officers can't date their cadets, it's against regulations._ She closed her mouth, frowning as the thoughts kept flowing.
_You'll disappoint him._
_He's just asking because he pities you; he knows you're a screw-up cop, you can't hide it._
_That's why _he's _giving _you _remedial training, because _he's _the one who saves lives._
He's _the hero, not you. _He's _what it means to be strong, not you_.
_You'd just hold him back._
_He doesn't deserve the indignity of dealing with you._
"I-I-I can't. I'm sorry." Elsa saluted and spun on her heel. She heard /u/M1schK4 call after her, but she grabbed the brim of her cap and squeezed it as far down her face as it would go.
It was the only way for her to hide the fact that she was crying. "Stupid," she said to herself. _Why can't you just behave like a normal human being?_
* * *
The next two days of lessons were even worse than the first. Elsa knew why, too; the air between herself and /u/M1schK4 had become sour. He still smiled when she walked in for the morning session, said good morning, and handed her one of the croissants he said he got from the breakfast tray in the other conference room. He still asked her if she needed a break, or if she wanted to just power through the rest of the day's sessions and go home early. He still sat with her on breaks and drank coffee. But it was different than what he'd done that first day.
Now, there was no chat, just business.
Elsa could tell that something was different since she had clumsily rejected his offer to go out for dinner. If he tried chatting to her now, it was only about stuff they had just covered in the lessons. He didn't ask her about her music, or what she watched on TV last night, or how her trip home was, or anything. It was all strictly business.
Elsa felt, in a way, disappointed by that. _Don't fool yourself, it's not like you'd interest him with anything you possibly could have to say._ But despite what she thought, there was still a part of her that..._wanted_ the attention, _wanted_ to share with him. As awkward as it had been when he had asked about the music she had listened to, Elsa felt like that was the sort of thing she wanted more of from /u/M1schK4. She wanted to just..._be with him_. Be _around_ him. Be involved with him and the things he did. She wanted to talk to him, to _know_ him. He'd done so much for her, and she wanted nothing more than to have the opportunity to give it back tenfold.
But he didn't deserve to be burdened by her, so she let him be as quiet as he wanted. It wasn't her decision to make whether or not /u/M1schK4 wanted to let her know about who he was, and she wasn't going to over-step her bounds as an unpaid cadet and insert herself where she didn't belong.
Elsa shut her apartment door behind her after returning from her third day of remedial lessons. She dropped her bag on the table and hung her cap on the coatrack, kicking off her shoes and walking over to the calendar in the kitchen. She picked up a pen from the counter and crossed off the current day. She sighed. "Only twenty-eight more days of hell left."
She turned on the TV and curled up on the couch, cuddling her favorite panda bear pillow to her chest and flipping over to a movie channel to catch the middle of _Bourne Identity_. She stuffed her face into her pillow, exhaling heavily. She turned the bear around and looked straight in the beady, black button eyes. "I need more _you_ in my life, buddy," she said to it quietly, "you're pretty good at letting stuff happen and keeping on with just being cute." She squeezed the pillow tightly, digging her chin into the top of the bear's head. "Do you want to try teaching me that? How to be cute, I mean?" The bear stayed quiet. Elsa shrugged. "I'll take that as a maybe."
Eventually, the movie ended and Elsa got up to make herself some popcorn. With the steaming bag in hand, she settled back into the rut she had worn in her couch and cocooned herself in a blanket to watch the next movie to come up: _Fever Pitch_. Elsa didn't care much for baseball, or sports in general, but her arms were wrapped too tightly around the panda pillow and her fingers too buttery from the popcorn to bother changing the channel now. She watched Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore watch baseball games and grow as a couple until the credits rolled. She felt so tired; the empty bag of popcorn had fallen onto the floor and she was resting her head on the arm of her sofa like it weighed a ton. _I must have a lot on my mind_, she joked to herself, affording a small smirk. She closed her eyes for a moment, considering just going and laying in bed for the rest of the night despite the fact that it was barely even five o'clock. It wasn't like she had any other plans.
A knock on her door begged to differ. Elsa heaved herself to her feet and walked over to the knob, taking a hold of it and swinging the door open. Her eyes practically popped out of her head.
"Hey, glad I caught you." /u/M1schK4 smiled down at her, peeking over her head at the depths of her apartment. "Your file was attached to your incident report, and I noticed your address hadn't changed since the last time we saw each other, so I figured it would be easy for me to drop by."
"Wh-what are you doing? Don't you...have work?"
/u/M1schK4 waved his hand, alerting Elsa that he was carrying a plastic bag printed with the words "Thank You Come Again" in big red letters. "Work-schmerk," /u/M1schK4 said, "I can finish the paperwork later. It's Friday night! Why not enjoy it?" He raised the bag up in front of her face. "Since you weren't too keen on going out, I thought why not have a night in, right?"
"No!" Elsa looked over her shoulder in a panic, realizing quite suddenly that her apartment was a complete pigsty. She turned back to /u/M1schK4, closing the door a bit. "No, I can't. Sorry, I…" She searched for more words, but the failed to come to her. /u/M1schK4's face fell.
"Why not?" He leaned to the side slightly, peering over her head again more conspicuously. "Do you have something going on in there?"
"No, I just—"
"Did I do something to offend you? If I did, I'm _really_ sorry; I'd like to know how to make it up to you."
"It's not...no, I—"
"Do you not like Thai?"
"_No!_" Elsa said forcefully. Her hand was shaking violently on the doorknob, and in the quiet that followed her outburst she could hear the latch jiggling. She took a deep breath. "We just _can't_, /u/M1schK4!" She shut the door in his face. slumping against it and collapsing to the ground. It felt like every system in her body was failing. Her heart was pounding out of her chest. Her eyes were burning, watering, crying. Her hands shook like tremors as she brought them slowly to her mouth and bit down on the tips of her fingers. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself away, trying to find a way to transport herself to that calm and peaceful beach she had heard in that song a few days ago. _Stupid, stupid, _stupid. _You _know _he's not going to take "no" for an answer_.
More thumping on her door proved her conscience right almost immediately. "Elsa? Elsa, open up, please!" /u/M1schK4 waited less than a second before knocking again. "Elsa, I want to talk to you; there's something going on that I don't understand, and I need to ask you about it. Please open your door." Elsa tried to call back to him, to tell him to go away, but all that came out was a small squeak. /u/M1schK4 continued knocking. "Elsa? Elsa!" He paused, the knocking ceasing. A part of Elsa believed that he had actually left.
She was proved wrong when his voice sounded out again.
"Elsa? Don't make me do it."
Elsa shook her head.
Another few moments' pause.
"Officer Winters! This is your Captain, Officer /u/M1schK4; open the door!"
Elsa shook her head even more vigorously.
"Officer Winters, I have reason to suspect that your apartment is currently housing some suspicious activity, and I would like to ask you kindly to consent to a brief search."
_Stop, please._
"I know you can hear me, Officer Winters. This is your commanding officer ordering you to open this door!"
Elsa started clawing her way up the wall, struggling back to her feet. _I can't believe it. I can't believe this is happening._
"Winters, if you don't open this door, I'll come back in fifteen minutes with a warrant and _make_ you open it!"
Elsa threw the door open with such force the doorknob crashed into the cabinets in the kitchen. "_Fine_!" She felt her fingers digging in to her palms. She turned away from him, clawing at her own eyes. "Fine, come in the stupid apartment!" Her voice was creaky and hoarse. "It's a huge mess, though, put your bag on the table and sit down; I need to clean up a bit." She didn't see him come in, but she heard the takeout bag crinkle onto the table and the door close behind her.
"Thank you." /u/M1schK4's voice was low, soft.
Elsa wiped her cheeks. "I have...I have, like, Verizon channels and AMC. The r-remote's on the coffee table. Just...just let me clean some stuff up." /u/M1schK4 tiptoed around her and made his way to the couch, and Elsa turned to move all her junk off of the dining table. She heard the channel change as she scooped the coats, bags, and books into her arms. She shuffled to her bedroom and dropped the things on her bed, which was unmade and already covered in clothes. She slammed the bedroom door shut as she returned to the main part of the house, seeing /u/M1schK4 looking slowly around the room, ignoring the sports newscast blaring from the TV.
"I've never been in here before," he said gently, as innocently as possible. "I've seen the outside of your door a few times, but you've never let me in."
Elsa scowled as she picked up some dishes from the coffee table. "Yea, well, have a good look while you can."
/u/M1schK4 shrugged. "I never said it wasn't nice, you know. And it's not really that messy either; now, if we were at _my_ place? Boy, I'll tell you, you'd need a pickaxe to dig through some of the crap I have laying—"
"Why are you here?" Elsa slammed the cups and bowls she had collected down on the kitchen counter. /u/M1schK4 looked over at her, confused. She tapped her fingers on the counter. "I don't remember inviting you over, you just looked up my address and invited yourself."
/u/M1schK4 blinked. "I already told you; you didn't want to go out to eat, so I brought some takeout so we could catch up in here."
"I thought _I_ told _you_ that I didn't want to do that." Elsa felt her eyes start to water again. "Or did you not hear me?"
"No, I heard you," /u/M1schK4 replied, "but I also heard something that made me really worried." He turned off the TV, tossing the remote aside on the couch. He looked Elsa straight in the eyes. "Are you okay, Elsa?"
Elsa bit her lower lip, frowning. "Yes."
/u/M1schK4 raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"I said _yes_."
"When did you eat two pints of ice cream?" He nodded towards the kitchen.
Elsa spun around, noticing now that the two empty Haagen Dasz containers were sitting on the counter, one of them still housing the spoon she had used to devour them with. She turned sheepishly back to /u/M1schK4. "Over the past few days," she lied, "just snacking during commercials and stuff."
"That's kind of a lot."
Elsa furrowed her brow. "Thanks for that," she said angrily.
/u/M1schK4 slapped himself in the forehead. "No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that it seems like emotional eating, and based on the other vibes I'm getting from you, it makes me think that something's going on." Elsa crossed her arms. "Elsa, you can tell me if something's wrong. I want you to feel like you can talk to me about stuff."
"We _can't_, /u/M1schK4, you know that."
/u/M1schK4 shook his head. "No, I don't know 'that.' What is 'that?' What 'can't we?'"
"You _know_! You _know_ regulation!"
"What does regulation have anything to do with this?"
"What?"
/u/M1schK4 stood up from the couch and walked over to the table, leaning on the back of one of the chairs. "Elsa, why do _you_ think I'm here?"
_Oh my god._ Elsa shook her head, covering her mouth and walking across the room to the couch. _Oh my god, you're so stupid. You are so _stupid_!Of _course _he was never trying to hit on you; he's too perfect to do that._ She dove head-first into the couch, arm reaching out frantically for her panda bear pillow. _He never even _thought _about hitting on you. He never even _dreamed _it! But your stupid butt couldn't see that, obviously. It's always about you, you, you and what _you _want._
"Elsa?" /u/M1schK4 turned and approached the couch slowly. "What's wrong?" Elsa's response was directly into the couch cushions, rendering it incomprehensible. /u/M1schK4 sighed. "You can _talk to me_, Elsa. Please, I just want to understand."
"_I screwed up, okay?!_" Elsa flipped over and flailed her arms around childishly, pounding the couch with her fists. "_There_, I said it! Are you happy now? You're _perfect_, and I'm a wreck! That's what's wrong, /u/M1schK4!"
"Are you talking about the hostage thing that got you taken off pay? Elsa, that's just part of being a cop, things happen; you handled it better than any other cadet could have. You don't need to take it so hard."
"That's easy for you to say! You're a Captain! You've been saving lives for years! I just want to save lives too, but I _can't do it_!"
"You've had _one_ assignment, Elsa! You can't judge your abilities on _one_ stupid assignment!"
"_Your_ first assignment went better than that!"
"My first assignment?"
"Yea!"
"What do you think my first assignment was?"
Elsa blinked. "Are you...kidding?"
/u/M1schK4 shook his head. He sat down on the coffee table. "You know what happened the first time I went on patrol? I got called to backup a car chase, and I wrapped my cruiser around a telephone pole." He grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling it away from his neck and revealing a massive patch of scars around his collar bone. "I shattered my collar bone, broke six ribs, and dislocated my shoulder. If the glass from the window had hit two inches to the left, it would have ripped my lungs to shreds. And I was one of the better drivers in my cadet class, too." He let go of his shirt. "That was my first patrol. That was why I stopped coming to see you after the night I helped you out; I was in the hospital." Elsa pulled her pillow in to her chest, sliding her heels up to her rear and squeezing her knees tightly. "Helping you out was something that just..._happened_. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. This time, though, it'd be because you're my _friend_. And I'd kick the _crap_ out of anyone who tried assaulting one of my officers."
Elsa was crying. She didn't care any more. "Your friend…" Her voice sounded far away, hollow.
"We're _friends_, Elsa." /u/M1schK4 smiled. He reached out a hand and placed it gently on her knee. "And you're right; I _do_ know what regulation says. I'll tell you right out front, that's not what's on my mind right now. As long as we're patrolling in the same precinct, we're going to have to be professional." He patted her knee. "Can you be okay with that?" Elsa didn't respond. /u/M1schK4 sighed. "I'd like to get to know you more. Maybe I get transferred, maybe you get promoted to Captain across town, or maybe something else. Right?" Elsa looked up at him. He shrugged. "I'm not saying I'd _never_…"
Elsa's heart leaped into her throat. "You're the reason I became a cop." The words left her tongue before she could even think.
/u/M1schK4's smile faltered for a second. "I'm...really?"
Elsa felt her face turn bright red. _No hiding it now, genius._ She nodded pitifully. "I wanted to be brave like you. I wanted to help people like you'd helped me. I wanted to show you that I can be strong."
/u/M1schK4 shook his head. "Elsa, I knew you were strong. You went home that night like nothing had happened at all. It wasn't because you were numb, it was because you were strong enough to put it behind you. And every time I came back to check in on you, I could see the same thing." He rubbed her knee with his thumb. "I'm honored that I inspired you to change your life and take on something new. It means a lot that I could move someone as strong as you."
Elsa bit her pillow. She felt more tears roll down her cheeks. /u/M1schK4 smiled. She felt her ears burn. _You can be his friend, that's more than good enough_. She spat out the furry cushion and murmured, "The, um...is the food going cold?"
/u/M1schK4 looked over his shoulder at the bag of takeout on the table. "Oh," he said, "are you hungry?" He stood up and went over to the bag, pulling out one of the styrofoam boxes and opening it up. He put a finger into a mound of rice. "I could zap it for a few seconds, I guess. Is the microwave—?"
"Over the sink," Elsa said, nodding in the direction of the appliance. /u/M1schK4 spun around comically, finally zeroing in on the little black box housed amongst the cabinets. Elsa afforded a small smile. She uncurled herself from around her pillow and stood up, wiping her cheeks dry of tears. She shuffled her way to the kitchen, where /u/M1schK4 was finishing up punching in the numbers on the microwave. "u/M1schK4?"
"Hmm?" He turned around.
Elsa took a deep breath. She stepped forward, arms outstretched, and wrapped the man in a hug. She heard his breath seize in his chest, which made her smile a bit. It wasn't panic, or fear, but pleasant surprise. "I'm sorry to make you worry."
u/M1schK4 patted her on the back. "It's okay; I'll worry about my friends any day."
Elsa released him, stepping back quickly as she felt the invisible iron curtain of police regulation slam shut between them. She was smiling broadly, though. u/M1schK4 was as well. "And, thanks for coming to check on me," she said quietly. "I...didn't know I needed you to."
He nodded. "Any time." The microwave beeped, and he turned to remove the warmed-up takeout. He peered over his shoulder at her. "That smile looks good on you," he said slyly, "you should wear it more often."
Elsa giggled, running a hand through her hair and gathering it over one shoulder. "Stop it," she replied. u/M1schK4 laughed, putting the other takeout box in the microwave and punching the buttons again. Elsa felt her face come to rest in a grin. _We both know,_ she thought, _it's only a matter of time_.
_One day, everything will finally fall in line._
* * *
A looser interpretation of the song you requested, u/M1schK4, but I hope you liked it just the same:
"As Long As You're Mine" from Wicked: YouTube /watch?v=z4tWBetHvsA
Thanks for reading! :)
End file.
| fanfiction |
Why does strength of bond matter if melting only affects the the intermolecular of the molecules
So as I've been told, when a substance melts, the actual bonds of the substance aren't broken, only the IMFs (inter-molecular forces). So why is it that metal groups decrease in melting points going down when they should be increasing because more shells exist thus ions in the lattice will be larger so more IMFs therefore it takes more energy to overcome. Instead, I'm being told that since the metallic bonds get weaker due to less attraction between electron sea and the positive ion, melting point decreases.
Could someone please help me figure out what I'm missing here?
Depending whether you have a molecular, metallic or ionic compound, the independently moving particles in the liquid state are molecules, atoms and ions, respectively.
So for a molecular solid, you have to break the intermolecular forces to turn it into a liquid (or make them non-persistent so that the interaction partners can change over time).
For a metallic solid, you have to break the metal bonds intermittently so that the atoms can move in the liquid.
For an ionic solid, you have to break the ionic interactions intermittently so that the ions can move in the liquid.
Finally, for a network covalent solid, you would have to break covalent bonds to liquify it. For this reason, there is no liquid state of diamonds.
>
> So why is it that metal groups decrease in melting points going down [...]
>
>
>
According to [Jim Clark](https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Chemical_Bonding/Fundamentals_of_Chemical_Bonding/Metallic_Bonding):
>
> The strength of a metallic bond depends on three things:
>
>
> 1. The number of electrons that become delocalized from the metal
> 2. The charge of the cation (metal).
> 3. The size of the cation.
>
>
>
>
> why is it that metal groups decrease in melting points going down
>
>
>
This isn't quite true for all metals. I think the only metals that behave like like this are the alkali metals. Group 6 metals increase in melting point. Calcium has a higher melting point than Magnesium. Etc.
>
> more shells exist thus ions in the lattice will be larger so more IMFs
> therefore it takes more energy to overcome
>
>
>
I assume that shells here mean the electron shells. An atom having more electron shells usually causes it to have higher polarizability. And an atom that has higher polarizability has stronger dispersion forces. As a result, it will have higher melting point in comparison. Noble gases illustrate this. These compounds are inert and only interact with each other through weak intermolecular forces. Thus, radon has the highest melting point and neon has the lowest melting point. So you are right in this regard.
Metal atoms, however, share electrons with each other through something known as the metallic bond. Which is not an intermolecular force. A metallic bond is more like a covalent bond. There are a variety of factors that influence the strength of a metallic bond, as noted in Karten's answer.
>
> the metallic bonds get weaker due to less attraction between electron sea and the positive ion
>
>
>
This isn't true for several metals either. Galium has a lower melting point than Indium.
And many transition metals do not obey this trend either.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Schistura similis is a species of ray-finned fish, a stone age, in the genus Schistura. It occurs in the Mae Nam Noi drainage, a tributary of the Salween which forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar. The species has only been recorded in Thailand but most likely occurs in Myanmar too. It has been recorded in streams with a moderate to fast current, in riffles, over substrates consisting of gravel to stone.
References
S
Category:Fish described in 1990 | wikipedia |
In a coordinate change $\frac{\partial \tilde x_\lambda }{\partial x_\mu } = \frac{\partial x^\mu }{\partial \tilde x^\lambda}$?
So I was verifying wether $\partial\_\mu \partial^\mu$ is a scalar. To do this I used the chain rule:
$$\frac{\partial }{\partial x^\mu} = \frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{\partial x^\mu}\frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x^\nu}, \qquad \frac{\partial }{\partial x\_\mu} = \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{\partial x\_\mu}\frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda}. $$
Bringing them together
$$\frac{\partial }{\partial x^\mu} \frac{\partial }{\partial x\_\mu} = \left( \frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{\partial x^\mu}\frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x^\nu}\right) \left( \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{\partial x\_\mu}\frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda}\right) =
\frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{\partial x^\mu} \frac{\partial^2 \tilde x\_\lambda }{\partial x\_\mu \partial \tilde x^\nu}\frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda} +
\frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{\partial x^\mu} \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{\partial x\_\mu } \frac{\partial}{\partial \tilde x^\nu} \frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda}.$$
The first term in the right hand side (RHS) must be zero (right?), and we can get it by using the chain rule and changing the derivative $x\_\mu$ by one with respect to some $\tilde x\_\kappa$, this would give a Kronecker delta which derived must be zero. Now the second term in the RHS, should be
$$ \delta^\nu\_\lambda \frac{\partial}{\partial \tilde x^\nu} \frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda} = \frac{\partial}{\partial \tilde x^\nu} \frac{\partial }{\partial \tilde x\_\nu},$$
but this would imply that
$$\frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{\partial x^\mu} \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{\partial x\_\mu } = \delta^\nu\_\lambda \Rightarrow \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{\partial x\_\mu } = \frac{\partial x^\mu }{\partial \tilde x^\lambda}.$$
My question is: is this last equation correct? And could you give a proof?
So far I have done the same thing using $\partial\_\mu T^\mu = \partial^\mu T\_\mu$, and the LHS of the equation is simple, but in the RHS again the derivatives with respect to $x\_\mu$ makes the problem equation necessary:
$$ \frac{\partial }{ \partial x\_\mu} T\_\mu = \left( \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{ \partial x\_\mu} \frac{\partial }{ \partial \tilde x\_\lambda} \right) \left( \frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{ \partial x^\mu} \tilde T\_\nu \right) =
\underbrace{ \frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{ \partial x\_\mu}\frac{\partial^2 \tilde x^\nu }{ \partial \tilde x\_\lambda \partial x^\mu} \tilde T\_\nu }\_{=0}
+
\frac{\partial \tilde x\_\lambda }{ \partial x\_\mu}\frac{\partial \tilde x^\nu }{ \partial x^\mu} \frac{\partial }{ \partial \tilde x\_\lambda } \tilde T\_\nu $$
and
$$\frac{\partial }{ \partial x\_\mu} T\_\mu = \frac{\partial }{ \partial \tilde x\_\nu} \tilde T\_\nu. $$
I guess that this does not constitute a proof. So again my question:
Is the identity true in general? Could you give a proof?
Thank you!
$\partial^\mu$ is not $\partial/\partial x\_\lambda$. There is no such thing as $x\_\lambda$. Instead $\partial^\mu \equiv g^{\mu\nu}\partial\_\nu$. In curvilinear coordintes $\partial\_\mu \partial^\mu$ is not a scalar. The useful combination is the Laplacian acting on scalars which is
$$
\nabla^2 \varphi= \frac 1{\sqrt g}\partial\_\mu (\sqrt{g} g^{\mu\nu} \partial\_\nu\varphi).
$$
Your identity is false. Here is a simple counter example in 2D switching between cartesian and polar coordinates: $(x^1,x^2)=(x,y)$ and $(\tilde{x}^1,\tilde{x}^2)=(r,\theta)$.
A simple calculation yields
$$
\frac{\partial \tilde{x}^1}{\partial x^2} = \frac{\partial r}{\partial y} = \frac{y}{r},
$$
as well as
$$
\frac{\partial x^1}{\partial \tilde{x}^2} = \frac{\partial x}{\partial \theta} = - y .
$$
Clearly we have $\frac{\partial \tilde{x}^1}{\partial x^2} \neq \frac{\partial x^1}{\partial \tilde{x}^2}$, which contradicts your proposed relation.
| stackexchange/physics |
For what processes is Mayer's formula applicable?
I know that
$$C\_p - C\_V = R, \label{eqn:1}\tag{1}$$
but I have also seen
$$C\_p - C\_V = R/M \label{eqn:2}\tag{2}$$
being used in case of ideal gas.
In what cases \eqref{eqn:1} is used and in what cases \eqref{eqn:2} is used?
The former difference is for molar heat capacity in J/K/mol, the latter for specific heat capacity J/K/kg, or J/K/g, depending on M unit.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
The iron law of oligarchy is a political theory, first developed by the German sociologist Robert Michels in his 1911 book, Political Parties. It asserts that rule by an elite, or oligarchy, is inevitable as an iron law within any democratic organization as part of the tactical and technical necessities of organization.
Michels's theory states that all complex organizations, regardless of how democratic they are when started, eventually develop into oligarchies. Michels observed that since no sufficiently large and complex organization can function purely as a direct democracy, power within an organization will always get delegated to individuals within that group, elected or otherwise.
Using anecdotes from political parties and trade unions struggling to operate democratically to build his argument in 1911, Michels addressed the application of this law to representative democracy, and stated: Who says organization, says oligarchy. He went on to state that Historical evolution mocks all the prophylactic measures that have been adopted for the prevention of oligarchy.
According to Michels all organizations eventually come to be run by a leadership class, who often function as paid administrators, executives, spokespersons or political strategists for the organization. Far from being servants of the masses, Michels argues this leadership class, rather than the organization's membership, will inevitably grow to dominate the organization's power structures. By controlling who has access to information, those in power can centralize their power successfully, often with little accountability, due to the apathy, indifference and non-participation most rank and file members have in relation to their organization's decision-making processes. Michels argues that democratic attempts to hold leadership positions accountable are prone to fail, since with power comes the ability to reward loyalty, the ability to control information about the organization, and the ability to control what procedures the organization follows when making decisions. All of these mechanisms can be used to strongly influence the outcome of any decisions made 'democratically' by members.
Michels stated that the official goal of representative democracy of eliminating elite rule was impossible, that representative democracy is a façade legitimizing the rule of a particular elite, and that elite rule, which he refers to as oligarchy, is inevitable. Later Michels migrated to Italy and joined Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party, as he believed this was the next legitimate step of modern societies. The thesis became popular once more in post-war America with the publication of Union Democracy: The Internal Politics of the International Typographical Union 1956 and during the red scare brought about by McCarthyism.
History
In 1911 Robert Michels argued that paradoxically the socialist parties of Europe, despite their democratic ideology and provisions for mass participation, seemed to be dominated by their leaders just like traditional conservative parties. Michels' conclusion was that the problem lay in the very nature of organizations. The more liberal and democratic modern era allowed the formation of organizations with innovative and revolutionary goals, but as such organizations become more complex, they became less and less democratic and revolutionary. Michels formulated the Iron Law of Oligarchy: Who says organization, says oligarchy.
At the time Michels formulated his Law, he was an anarcho-syndicalist. He later became an important ideologue of Benito Mussolini's fascist regime in Italy, teaching economics at the University of Perugia.
Reasons
Michels stressed several factors that underlie the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Darcy K. Leach summarized them briefly as: Bureaucracy happens. If bureaucracy happens, power rises. Power corrupts. Any large organization, Michels pointed out, has to create a bureaucracy in order to maintain its efficiency as it becomes largermany decisions have to be made daily that cannot be made by large numbers of disorganized people. For the organization to function effectively, centralization has to occur and power will end up in the hands of a few. Those fewthe oligarchywill use all means necessary to preserve and further increase their power.
According to Michels, this process is further compounded as delegation is necessary in any large organization, as thousandssometimes hundreds of thousandsof members cannot make decisions via participatory democracy. This has to-date been dictated by the lack of technological means for large numbers of people to meet and debate, and also by matters related to crowd psychology, as Michels argued that people feel a need to be led. Delegation, however, leads to specializationto the development of knowledge bases, skills and resources among a leadershipwhich further alienates the leadership from the rank and file and entrenches the leadership in office. Michels also argued that for leaders in organizations, The desire to dominate . . . is universal. These are elementary psychological facts. Thus, they were prone to seek power and dominance.
Bureaucratization and specialization are the driving processes behind the Iron Law. They result in the rise of a group of professional administrators in a hierarchical organization, which in turn leads to the rationalization and routinization of authority and decision-making, a process described first and perhaps best by Max Weber, later by John Kenneth Galbraith, and to a lesser and more cynical extent by the Peter Principle.
Bureaucracy by design leads to centralization of power by the leaders. Leaders also have control over sanctions and rewards. They tend to promote those who share their opinions, which inevitably leads to self-perpetuating oligarchy. People achieve leadership positions because they have above-average political skill see charismatic authority. As they advance in their careers, their power and prestige increases. Leaders control the information that flows down the channels of communication, censoring what they do not want the rank-and-file to know. Leaders will also dedicate significant resources to persuade the rank-and-file of the rightness of their views. This is compatible with most societies: people are taught to obey those in positions of authority. Therefore, the rank and file show little initiative, and wait for the leaders to exercise their judgment and issue directives to follow.
Implications
The iron law of oligarchy states that all forms of organization, regardless of how democratic they may be at the start, will eventually and inevitably develop oligarchic tendencies, thus making true democracy practically and theoretically impossible, especially in large groups and complex organizations. The relative structural fluidity in a small-scale democracy succumbs to social viscosity in a large-scale organization. According to the iron law, democracy and large-scale organization are incompatible.
Examples and exceptions
An example that Michels used in his book was Germany's Social Democratic Party.
Labour Unions and Lipset's Union Democracy
One of the best known exceptions to the iron law of oligarchy is the now defunct International Typographical Union, described by Seymour Martin Lipset in his 1956 book, Union Democracy. Lipset suggests a number of factors that existed in the ITU that are allegedly responsible for countering this tendency toward bureaucratic oligarchy. The first and perhaps most important has to do with the way the union was founded. Unlike many other unions e.g., the CIO's United Steel Workers of America USWA, and numerous other craft unions which were organized from the top down, the ITU had a number of large, strong, local unions who valued their autonomy, which existed long before the international was formed. This local autonomy was strengthened by the economy of the printing industry which operated in largely local and regional markets, with little competition from other geographical areas. Large locals continued to jealously guard this autonomy against encroachments by international officers. Second, the existence of factions helped place a check on the oligarchic tendencies that existed at the national headquarters. Leaders that are unchecked tend to develop larger salaries and more sumptuous lifestyles, making them unwilling to go back to their previous jobs. But with a powerful out faction ready to expose profligacy, no leaders dared take overly generous personal remuneration. These two factors were compelling in the ITU case.
Lipset and his collaborators also cite a number of other factors which are specific to craft unions in general and the printing crafts in particular, including the homogeneity of the membership, with respect to their work and lifestyles, their identification with their craft, their more middle class lifestyle and pay. For this latter point he draws upon Aristotle who argued that a democratic polity was most likely where there was a large, stable middle class, and the extremes of wealth and poverty were not great. Finally, the authors note the irregular work hours which led shopmates to spend more of their leisure time together. These latter factors are less persuasive, since they do not apply to many industrial forms of organization, where the greatest amount of trade union democracy has developed in recent times.
University Student Unions
Titus Gregory uses Michels iron law to describe how the democratic centralist structure of the Canadian Federation of Students, consisting of individual student unions, encourages oligarchy.
Titus Gregory argues that University Students' union today exhibit both oligarchical and democratic tendencies. Unlike unions they have an ideologically diverse membership, and frequently have competitive democratic elections covered by independent campus media who guard their independence. These factors are strongly democratizing influences, creating conditions similar to those described by Lipset about the ITU. However, Gregory argues student unions can also be highly undemocratic and oligarchical as a result of the transient membership of the students involved. Every year between one quarter and one half of the membership turns over, and Gregory argues this creates a situation where elected student leaders become dependent on student union staff for institutional memory and guidance. Since many students' unions extract compulsory fees from their transient membership, and many smaller colleges and/or commuter campus can extract this money with little accountability, oligarchical behaviour becomes encouraged. For example, Gregory points out how often student union election rules operate under tyrannical rules and regulations that are used frequently by those in power to disqualify or exclude would-be election challengers. Gregory concludes that students' unions can resist the iron law of oligarchy if they have an engaged student community, an independent student media, a strong tradition of freedom of information, and an unbiased elections authority capable of administrating elections fairly.
Wikipedia
Research by Bradi Heaberlin and Simon DeDeo has found that the evolution of Wikipedia's network of norms over time is consistent with the iron law of oligarchy. Their quantitative analysis is based on data-mining over a decade of article and user information. It shows the emergence of an oligarchy derived from competencies in five significant clusters: administration, article quality, collaboration, formatting, and content policy. Heaberlin and DeDeo note, The encyclopedias core norms address universal principles, such as neutrality, verifiability, civility, and consensus. The ambiguity and interpretability of these abstract concepts may drive them to decouple from each other over time.
Reception
In 1954, Maurice Duverger expressed general agreement with Michels's thesis. In a 1966 article, political scientist Dankwart Rustow described Michels's thesis as a brilliantly fallacious argument a fortiori. Rustow stated that the experience of the Social Democratic parties of Europe could not be generalized for other political parties. Josiah Ober argues in Democracy and Knowledge that the experience of ancient Athens shows Michels's argument does not hold true; Athens was a large participatory democracy, yet it outperformed its hierarchical rivals.
According to a 2000 article, To the extent that contemporary scholars ask at all about social movement organizations, they tend to reinforce Michelss claim that bureaucratized, established organizations are more conservative in goals and tactics, though usually without explicitly engaging the iron law debate. The study however found that the iron law was malleable, and that established labor unions could under certain circumstances revitalize and experience radical change in line with its members' desires.
According to a 2005 study, Despite almost a century of scholarly debate on this question... there is still no consensus about whether and under what conditions Michelss claim holds true. One criticism is that power does not necessarily corrupt the leadership of organizations, and that the structure of organizations can check leaders. Another criticism is that Michels does not outline the conditions under which his thesis could be falsified nor a clear definition of what constitutes oligarchy.
Other
The Iron Law of Oligarchy is similar to the concept in The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism, a fictional book in the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four 1949 by George Orwell. The book begins:
See also
Celine's Second Law
Elite theory
Iron Law of Bureaucracy Jerry Pournelle
O'Sullivan's First Law
Plato's Five Regimes
Post-democracy
Public Choice
Sortition
The World Is Flat
Notes
References
Michels, Robert. 1915. Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy. Translated into English by Eden Paul and Cedar Paul. New York: The Free Press. From the 1911 German source.
Robert Michels und das eherne Gesetz der Oligarchie by Gustav Wagner in Wer wählt, hat seine Stimme abgegeben Graswurzel Revolution pp. 28.
Nodia, Ghia. Democracys Inevitable Elites. Journal of Democracy 31, no. 1 2020: 7587.
External links
Political Parties by Robert Michels in PDF
Verstehen: Max Weber's Home Page By Frank W. Elwell. 'Oligarchy' section describes the Law. Last accessed on 27 May 2006.
Category:Political science theories
Category:Sociological theories
Category:Oligarchy
Category:Elite theory
Category:Militaryindustrial complex
Category:1911 introductions | wikipedia |
ongoing projects and future projects in various disciplines like earth sciences , astronomy , climate variability , cancer research ( e.g. coral , swot , wise , lsst , ska , jasd , aacr ) [ 1][2][3][4][5][6][7 ] are destined to produce the enormous catalogs which will be geographically distributed .
as the amount of data available at various geographically distributed sources is increasing rapidly , traditional centralized techniques for performing data analytics are proving to be insufficient for handling this data avalanche [ 8 ] .
downloading and processing all the data at a single location results in increased communication as well as infrastructural costs [ 9 ] . bringing these massive data sets which are distributed geographically to a centralized site
is almost impossible due to the limited bandwidth when compared with the size of the data . and
also solving a problem with large number of dimensions at a central site is not practical as it is computationally expensive . analyzing these massive data
can not be achieved unless the algorithms are capable of handling the decentralized data [ 8 ] .
these data sets might be distributed in two different ways either horizontally or vertically [ 10 ] . in horizontal partition
the number of attributes / dimensions are constant at all n different locations but the number of instances may vary . whereas in vertical partition the number of instances are constant at all n different locations but number of dimensions may vary . in this paper the data is partitioned in vertical manner .
the analysis of these vertically partitioned geographically distributed data sets assume that the data should fit into main memory which is a challenge task in terms of scalability .
estimation of covariance matrix analyses how the data is related among the dimensions .
the task of estimating the covariance matrix of the data sets demand the data to be available at one centralized site [ 15 ] . in this paper covariance matrix is estimated for vertically partitioned data in a decentralized manner without brining the data to a centralized site .
the proposed distributed approach is compared with the centralized method by bringing the distributed data to one central site .
the estimation of covariance matrix is achieved both in centralized and distributed approach .
the experimental analysis shows how our distributed approach is better than the normal approach in terms of speed - up with exactly same solution .
results are analyzed by considering various partitions of mfeat data set [ 18 ] .
the rest of the organization of the paper is as follows .
section 2 introduces the related work . in section 3 preliminaries and notations
are briefly described . in section 4
we present our distributed approach for distributed covariance matrix ( dcm ) and also discusses the speed - up of our approach when compared with centralized version . in section 5
we present the experimental analysis of our algorithm . at the end in section 6
the conclusions of the paper are mentioned .
estimation of covariance based on divide and conquer approach is discussed by nik et.al in which the computational cost is reduced [ 11 ] .
a regularization and blocking estimator of high dimensional covariance is discussed by et .
al using barndorff nielson hansen estimator [ 12 ] .
modified cholesky decomposition and other decomposition methods are discussed for the estimation of covariance by zheng hao for high dimensional data with limited sample size [ 13 ] .
qi guo et .
al proposed a divide conquer approach based on feature space decomposition for classification [ 14 ] .
the significance of distributed estimation of parameters over centralized method is discussed and belief propagation algorithm is investigated by du jain [ 15 ] .
l1-regularized gaussian maximum likelihood estimator ( mle ) is discussed by cho et.al in recovering a sparse inverse covariance matrix for high - dimensional data which statistically guarantees using a single machine [ 16 ] .
al discussed the distributed approach for multi classification using svm without bringing data to a centralized site.[17 ]
the statistical analysis of the data sets usually investigates the dimensions , to see if there is any relationship between them .
covariance is themeasurement , to find out how much the dimensions vary from the mean with respect to each other .
+ the covariance of two dimensions x , y can be compute as @xmath0 where @xmath1 and @xmath2 are the mean of the dimensions x and y respectively .
covariance is always computed between the two dimensions .
if the data contains more than two dimensions , there is a requirement to calculate more than one covariance measurement .
the standard way to get the covariance values between the different dimensions of the data set is to compute them all and put them in a matrix .
the covariance matrix for a set of data with k dimensions is : @xmath3 where @xmath4 is a matrix with @xmath5 rows and @xmath5 columns , and @xmath6 is the @xmath7 dimension . if we have an @xmath5-dimensional data set , then the matrix is a square matrix of @xmath5 dimensions and each value in the matrix is the computed covariance between two distinct dimensions .
consider for an imaginary @xmath5 dimensional data set , using the dimensions @xmath8 , then , the covariance matrix has @xmath5 rows and @xmath5 columns , and the values are : the _ covariance matrix _
@xmath9 is an @xmath10 matrix which can be written as follows .
@xmath11 along the main diagonal , the covariance value is between one of the dimensions and itself .
these are nothing but the variances for that dimension .
the other point is that since @xmath12 the matrix is symmetrical about the main diagonal .
the data be distributed among t sites with equal number of instances but varied in number of dimensions i.e. vertically partitioned data . 1 .
let the data is distributed among t sites and the sites are labeled as @xmath13 .
+ @xmath14_{l \times m } = ( x_0 , x_1 , x_2 , ......... x_{t-1})\ ] ] + where data @xmath15 is a @xmath16 matrix residing at the site @xmath17 and @xmath18 2 .
calculate the local covariances @xmath19 at all t sites parallely .
3 . if the number of sites are only 2 , either send the corresponding data from @xmath20 to @xmath21 or from @xmath21 to @xmath22 and calculate the cross covariances .
if the number of sites are more than 2 , calculate the cross covariances @xmath23 by sending the corresponding data @xmath15 of @xmath17 to the site @xmath24 as follows . * if the number of sites are even , @xmath25 * * for @xmath26 to @xmath27 * * * @xmath28 = immediate @xmath29 predecessor sites * * for @xmath30 to @xmath31 * * * @xmath28 = immediate @xmath32 predecessor sites * if the number of sites are odd , @xmath33 * * for @xmath34 to @xmath35 * * * @xmath28 = immediate @xmath32 predecessor sites 5 .
merge the local and cross covariances to get the global covariance matrix .
6 . estimate the eigen components of the global covariance matrix .
* input : * data @xmath15 of all the sites @xmath17 + * output : * eigen vectors compute @xmath36 mean of all columns of @xmath15 data compute the covariance matrix @xmath37 where , @xmath38 is the mean of the @xmath39 and @xmath40 column of the the @xmath15 matrix .
send @xmath41 of @xmath20 to @xmath42 and calculate the cross covariances @xmath43
send @xmath15 of @xmath44 to @xmath45 as follows p = k j= * predecessor(p ) * print(j ) p = j p = k j=*predecessor(p ) * print(j ) p = j p = k j=*predecessor(p ) * print(j ) p = j compute the cross covariances @xmath46 merge the local and cross covariances to make the global covariance matrix @xmath47 estimate the eigen vectors @xmath48 where , @xmath49 is the eigen vector of eigen value @xmath50 and @xmath51 is the identity matrix of the same order of @xmath52 * input : * node @xmath5 + * output : * predecessor node return@xmath53 return@xmath54 the architecture of the proposed approach is shown in figure 1 , where the global covariance matrix is computed by merging the local and cross covariances .
let us consider 3 nodes @xmath55 , @xmath56 , @xmath57 .
the node @xmath55 consists of two columns labeled by x , y .
the node @xmath56 also consists of two columns labeled by z , w .
the node @xmath57 consists of single column labeled by v. the covariance matrix by centralized approach would be ( considering only upper triangular matrix as covariance is symmetric ) : @xmath58 local covariance of @xmath55 , say @xmath59 @xmath60 local covariance of @xmath56 , say @xmath61 @xmath62 local covariance of @xmath57 , say @xmath63 @xmath64 cross covariance of @xmath55 and @xmath56 , say @xmath65 @xmath66 cross covariance of @xmath56 and @xmath57 , say @xmath67 @xmath68 cross covariance of @xmath55 and @xmath57 , say @xmath69 @xmath70 global covariance matrix by merging the local and cross covariances as given below would be equivalent to the matrix calculated by centralized approach . @xmath71
the data is communicated among the sites in such a manner so that the resources are used in an efficient way .
the computational load is also balanced among the sites to have the good speed - up .
when the number of sites are even i.e. @xmath72 , the first @xmath73 sites will receive the data from their immediate @xmath74 predecessors .
then the remaining @xmath73 sites will receive the data from their immediate @xmath73 predecessors .
sharing of this data by communicating among the sites is illustrated in figure 2 , when the number of sites say t = 4 . here
the value of r = 2 .
so the first 2 sites @xmath20 and @xmath21 will receive the data from its immediate @xmath74 predecessors i.e. @xmath20 will receive data from @xmath75 and @xmath21 will receive data from @xmath20 .
the next 2 sites @xmath76 and @xmath75 will receive the data from its immediate @xmath73 predecessors i.e. @xmath76 will receive the data from @xmath21 , @xmath20 and @xmath21 will receive the data from @xmath20 , @xmath77 . when the number of sites are odd , all the @xmath78 sites will receive the data from their immediate @xmath73 predecessors .
sharing of this data by communicating among the sites is illustrated in figure 3 , when the number of sites say t = 5 . here
the value of r = 2 .
so all the 5 sites from @xmath20 to @xmath77 will receive the data from its immediate @xmath73 predecessors i.e. @xmath20 will receive the data from @xmath77 and @xmath75 , @xmath21 will receive the data from @xmath20 and @xmath77 , @xmath76 will receive the data from @xmath21 and @xmath20 , @xmath75 will receive data from @xmath76 and @xmath21
. therefore the number of transfers of the sites of the data will be at most r in all the cases .
it is not required that all the sites should have the data of remaining sites .
in centralized version let the data is available in a single matrix @xmath14_{l \times m } = ( x_0 , x_1 , x_2 , ......... x_{t-1})\ ] ] where data @xmath15 is a @xmath16 matrix residing at the site @xmath17 and @xmath18 let the computational time of centralized approach is denoted as @xmath79 @xmath80 as the data is distributed among t sites and the sites are labeled as @xmath13 .
@xmath14_{l \times m } = ( x_0 , x_1 , x_2 , ......... x_{t-1})\ ] ] let computational time of global / distributed covariance matrix is denoted as @xmath81 , computational time of ( local covariances ) as @xmath82 , computational time of ( cross covariances ) as @xmath83 and the communication cost as @xmath84 @xmath85 @xmath86 where
i is the predecessors of k as explained in the 4th step of section iv.a let us denote the speed - up by s @xmath87
@xmath88 consider the t sites with each of @xmath89 columns of data .
@xmath90 @xmath91 @xmath92 @xmath93 @xmath94 * case1 : * @xmath25 ( even ) @xmath95 @xmath96 * case2 : * @xmath97 ( odd ) @xmath98 @xmath99 in both the cases speed - up will be at least @xmath32 times .
site to @xmath100 site .
] site to @xmath100 site . ]
we implemented the algorithm with the data set mfeat , taken from uci machine learning repository https://archive.ics.uci.edu/ml/datasets.html .
mfeat data consists of 2000 rows and are distributed in six data files as follows [ 18 ] : 1 .
mfeat - fac : 216 profile correlations ; 2 .
mfeat - fou : 76 fourier coefficients of the character ; 3 .
mfeat - kar : 64 karhunen love coefficients ; 4 .
mfeat - mor : 6 morphological features ; 5 .
mfeat - pix : 240 pixel averages in 2 x 3 windows ; 6 .
mfeat - zer : 47 zernike moments .
the algorithm is implemented using java agent development framework ( jade ) [ 19 ] .
each site data is downloaded to a node which are connected over the network .
so the number of computational nodes is equal to the number of sites .
the communication is established among them using jade to transfer the data . in our analysis
the vertical partitions are considered from 2 to 6 which is shown in table 1 .
the computational time of local and cross covariances are shown in table ii- table vi for the partitions 6 , 5 , 4 , 3 , 2 respectively .
the cross covariances are chosen as explained in section iv.a , step 4 . in table vii
the communication cost for a given site for sending its predecessors data is shown . in table viii , the computational time of centralized and distributed approaches
are compared .
the computational time of distributed approach is calculated from table ii - table vi and from table vii for various partitions as explained in section iv.c.2 . in our analysis dcm
is compared with centralized approach , the result is exactly same as shown in fig 4 . because we are not losing any data but getting the distributed covariance matrix by merging the local and cross covariances .
the speed - up is shown in fig 5 .
it is observed that the speed - up is increasing with the number of partitions hence scalable .
this is because of increase in parallel computations along with the number of partitions .
there is an elevation in speed up when the number of partitions are @xmath101 5 which promises that it works well even with number of partitions are increasing . [ cols="^,^,^,^,<",options="header " , ]
we propose an algorithm dcm which estimates the global covariance matrix by merging the local and cross covariances that are distributed at different nodes / sites .
experimental results show that the result of dcm is exactly same as the centralized approach with good speed - up .
the final output of dcm is same as centralized approach because we are not losing any data .
the computational time of dcm is decreasing along the increased number of partitions .
dcm is also capable of handling large data sets based on parallel calculations of vertical partitions , hence scalable .
the speed - up can be further increased by making number of columns equal at every node / site and also computing the cross covariances parallely within the node / site .
we are thankful for the support provided by the department of csis , bits - pilani , k.k .
birla goa campus to carry out the experimental analysis and also to sreejith.v , bits - pilani , k.k.birla goa campus for useful discussions .
kanishka bhaduri , kamalika das , kirk borne et al _ scalable , asynchronous , distributed eigen - monitoring of astronomy data streams _
1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emproceedings of the 2009 siam international conference on data mining .
pp 247 - 258 .
m weske , m shacid , c godart(eds ) _ data in astronomy : from the pipeline to the virtual observatory 1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emwise 2007 workshops , lncs 4832 , pp 52 - 62 .
_ h dutta , c giannella , k borne et al . _
distributed top - k outlier detection from astronomy catalogs using the demac system _ 1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emin proceedings of sdm07 , 2007 , pp 473 - 478 .
cj hsieh , is dhillon , p ravikumar , a banerjee _ _ a divide - and - conquer procedure for sparse inverse covariance estimation__1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emadvances in neural information processing systems 25 , 2012 pages 2330 - 2338 .
nikolaus hautsch1 , lada m. kyj and roel c. a. oomen _ a blocking and regularization approach to high - dimensional realized covariance estimation_.1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emjournal of applied econometrics volume 27 , issue 4 , pages 625645 , june / july 2012 .
hsieh , cho - jui and sustik , matyas a and dhillon , inderjit s and ravikumar , pradeep k and poldrack , russell _ sparse inverse covariance estimation for a million variables _ 1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emadvances in neural information processing systems 26 , 2013 .
aruna govada , bhavul gauri , sanjay.k.sahay _ distributed multi - class svm for large data sets _
1em plus 0.5em minus 0.4emproceedings of the third international symposium on women in computing and informatics cochi , india august 10 - 13,2015 , pages 54 - 58 published by acm . | arxiv |
Hurrah! The first Big Brother of the year has kicked off on Channel 5 tonight.
Celebrity Big Brother 2013 has started, and the housemates are all settled in, ready for weeks of arguments, tantrums, bitching, tasks, nominating, manipulating and possibly a little bit of romance.
Who can forget the last CBB, won by Julian Clary. We had the opening night with a hilarious secret task for Cheryl Fergison and Julie Goodyear, the explosive but awesome Jasmine Lennard and the little romantic situation caused by The Situation, Danica Thrall, Prince Lorenzo, Ashley McKenzie and Rhian Sugden. Oh, and it was also the series that made us realise Samantha Brick is actually a pretty cool chick.
So who have we got this year? This series the house will be occupied by a variety of celebrities like Steps star Claire Richards, jockey Frankie Dettori, the X Factor's Rylan Clark and stars of The Hills, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.
You've also got your token Page 3 girl, Lacey Banghard, and someone who has dated Simon Cowell at some point, Paula Hamilton, going into the stunning house.
Click through the pages for a full list of housemates and to read all about them.
WTF! Heidi and Spencer are back together?! | slim_pajama |
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Tulalip Resort Casino's new Italian steakhouse serves fresh, affordable dishes in fun, inviting atmosphere
Posted on July 3, 2018 by Kim Kalliber
By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News
A few short years ago, the Tulalip Resort Casino (TRC) released a number of renovation plans to update the venues, restaurants, resort rooms and gift shops to a more modern design. Since then, Club Impulse has been replaced by the Draft Sports Bar and Grill, a consolidation of two gift shops led to the opening of Journey's East, and the relocation of the poker room provided the space for the popular pizza joint, Blazing Paddles. The resort rooms have received makeovers featuring beautiful Tulalip artwork in each room, and a new lounge welcomes resort guests as they arrive from a long day of travel. TRC's latest endeavor, however, might be its biggest change yet, transforming their highly-popular and extravagant fine-dining restaurant, Tulalip Bay, into an urban eatery that welcomes gamblers, nightlifers, wine connoisseurs and families alike, named Tula Bene Pastaria + Chophouse.
"It's a livelier space," expressed Tula Bene Chef and GM, Jeremy Taisey. "Formally it was fine-dining, very intimate and quiet. We tried to create a more fun atmosphere where you can come in, sit down with friends, have some wine, have some great food and relax and enjoy company. And we strive to make the food a part of that conversation. It's a lot more open but it still has a certain intimacy at the same time. And the way we approach the food in the kitchen is to bring it back to the basics, get rid of all the fancy stuff and keep it clean and simple. The atmosphere is casual and fun, the food is presented nice, we have a lot of great wines and the pricing is affordable for our guests. We want to give the guests fine dining without them realizing it's fine dining."
With delicious dishes including a variety of steaks, chops, burgers and pastas, the restaurant's new menu is sure to have something for everyone in your party. A number of meals and drinks are made tableside, adding to the fun experience.
"Tulalip Bay had a fine-dining theme and even though I want the food to be just as good, I want Tula Bene to be more of a fun restaurant, something that's more approachable and that people will leave saying, we had a good time," expresses Tulalip Resort Casino Executive Chef, Perry Mascitti.
The Tula Bene menu was created by a team that included Chef Perry, Chef Jeremy, TRC Sommelier Tommy Thompson and TRC Food and Beverage Director Lisa Severn. Once an idea for a dish was agreed upon, Chef Jeremy took to the kitchen to create the recipe from scratch, using only fresh ingredients and local meat for the dishes.
"It's focused on Italian cuisine, everything is made fresh to order," Chef Jeremy expresses. "Some of our signature items would be our lobster ravioli, which is very unique in that there's a lot of lobster that actually goes into it. We bring in seventy live lobsters a week for the restaurant. We have a real commitment to freshness. Our steaks are all hand-cut here in the kitchen, we have custom dry-aged steak, we have wagyu steaks. Our beet salad is fantastic, it has a great balance of roasted beets and all these different flavors and has a really nice presentation. For our salmon carpaccio we cure our salmon in-house. We bring in all of our fish whole, nothing is pre-fileted, we break everything down here. Again, it's just that commitment to quality and freshness.
"We used to be fine-dining and at the heart all of these guys are fine-dine cooks and chefs, so to go causal was a bit of a challenge," he continues. "Our mantra is, we don't do easy, we make easy happen through hard work and learning. When a guest comes into the restaurant and orders, it may appear simple or something easy to cook, but really these guys do about four to five hours of prep every day before we open. For an example, all of our peas are fava beans. We bring them in whole and shell them by hand, it takes hours and hours of work. It's easy to buy a bag of frozen peas, but we're very committed to quality and freshness and letting the flavors shine through."
Sommelier, Tommy Thompson spoke of the many wines offered at Tula Bene. With two wine cellars, the restaurant certainly has wide variety of red and whites for their guests.
"We're wine-centric," says Tommy. "We have a pretty cool selection of wine for people looking for an experience. We have the Italian wines, thirteen of those, and thirteen international wines as well. We have keg wines with Italian and Washington fruit. You're not paying for the fluff, the bottle, the cork, the wrap, but you're getting high-end fruit. There's a stigma about wine, that it's pinky out and high-end only, and we're here to challenge that and say just relax and enjoy a damn good glass of juice with Washington fruit for around eight-dollars a glass."
Tula Bene features a full bar located near the gaming floor, separating the machines and the restaurant. The famous Chihuly glass chandelier that hung at the heart of Tulalip Bay is still in place, highlighting the stylish new floor plan. Tommy also paired a few of his favorite wines with a couple new Tula Bene menu items to suggest to the guests upon their first visit to the restaurant.
"Chef Jeremy and his team put together an excellent menu and did a fantastic job," he states. "One of the most simple foods is the French fry and they took it and put out the best parmesan fries, it's ridiculous, they're addicting. My favorite wine to go with that would be a killer prosecco. Fries and bubbles are perfect together. I'm also currently geeking out on a wine called Domain Mercouri. It's a white wine from Greece and it's grown in volcanic soils, so it gets ripe but retains really good acidity, that goes great with the pancetta wrapped halibut."
Since Tula Bene's recent opening on June 14, the restaurant has received several great reviews. Chef Jeremy, Chef Perry and Tommy all expressed the joy they feel when seeing a family have a great time while at the restaurant.
"The main course I want to serve here is fun and a fun experience, the sharing experience," says Chef Perry. "To see our guests come in for great food and leave with great memories, I think that's what's most important. It's always nice when people say, we had great food in your restaurant, but it's always that much better when we get a guest who leaves saying they had a great experience."
For further details and to view the Tula Bene Pastaria + Chophouse menu, please visit www.TulalipResortCasino.com
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, News, Top Story, Tulalip News | Tagged dining, Restaurant, Tula Bene, Tulalip, Tulalip Resort Casino
The 'Sioux Chef' Is Putting Pre-Colonization Food Back On The Menu
Posted on October 8, 2014 by Kim Kalliber
Like most chefs, Sean Sherman practically lives in the kitchen. But in his spare time, this member of the Oglala Lakota tribe has been on a quest to identify the foods his ancestors ate on the Great Plains before European settlers appeared on the scene. After years of researching and experimenting with "pre-colonization" foods, he's preparing to open a restaurant in the Twin Cities this winter that showcases those foods, reborn for contemporary palates.
Sherman, who calls himself the Sioux Chef, grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It's where he first started to learn about the traditional foods of the Plains, whether it was hunting animals like pronghorn antelope and grouse,or picking chokecherries for wojapi, a berry soup.
"We were close to the Badlands and its sand hills, which is not the best growing area by far," says Sherman, who's now 40. "But we would also spend weeks in the Black Hills, crawling around and learning stuff."
Sherman's grandfather was among the first Native American children to go to mission schools on the reservation, and he was one of Sherman's first teachers. Forced assimilation during the 19th and early 20th century wiped out much of Native American food culture across the country. When his grandfather died when Sherman was 18, he was left with many unanswered questions.
In the meantime, Sherman worked his way up in the restaurant world, eventually becoming an executive chef at Minneapolis' La Bodega in 2000. Around the same time, he had the idea to write a Lakota cookbook. Although there were some Native American cookbooks already on the market, he says he found that most of them focused on the Southwest or made too many generalizations about food across regions and tribes.
When he tried to learn more about the wild game — and especially the plants — native to the Great Plains, he came up short. He says many Americans don't have a sense of the Lakota diet beyond bison or frybread. (Frybread is actually a fairly recent addition and has a complicated history.)
"There wasn't a lot of information out there, so I devised my own [research] plan," he says. "I spent years studying wild edibles and ethnobotany."
He learned more from oral histories and also started reading historical first-contact accounts written by Europeans, although they weren't always helpful.
"A lot of those first-contact reports focused on what the men were doing [hunting], not on what the women were doing — processing all of the food," he says.
One of his breakthroughs came when he lived in Mexico for a while. He discovered that the traditional methods of drying and grinding food in that region were similar to those his tribe had once used, and indigenous people all across North America were working with ingredients like corn, beans and squash.
Back in Minnesota, he continued to try and piece together a picture of the traditional diet of the local Dakota and Ojibwe tribes. He also spent a lot of time traveling across the state, adding more staples to his growing list, including bison, venison, rabbit, river and lake fish, trout, duck, quail, maple sugar, sage, sumac, plums, timpsula or wild turnip, wild rice, purslane, amaranth, maize, and various wildflowers.
Identifying the ingredients has only been half of the challenge, however. He's also had to figure out how to preserve everything. He's relied mostly on a food dehydrator (for efficiency), but he's also experimented with drying by sun and wood fire.
"I want to figure out how I can use wild flavors in season, because they might be gone in a two-week period," he says. "The biggest part of the Native American cuisine is just that method of preserving foods. That's what people were doing during the whole summer season — preparing for the next long winter."
Sherman started Sioux Chef as a catering business in Minneapolis and hopes to open his restaurant sometime this winter in the Twin Cities. He says the area's diverse population and vibrant food scene offer the "best platform to showcase what we can do with these foods."
Some chefs have tried similar concepts in other regions. Nephi Craig brings Apache and Navajo influences to the food he prepares at the Sunrise Park Resort Hotel in Arizona. The Misitam Cafe in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., has won national acclaim.
Sherman says his restaurant will feature a seasonal menu with family-style dishes, like wild rice flatbread, cedar-braised bison, smoked turkey wasna, seared walleye with sumac and maple sugar and balsam fir iced tea. Most of his ingredients will be sourced from local farms. Some farms, like Wozupi, work with local tribes to grow indigenous plants and preserve heirloom seeds.
Sherman says his goal is to bring a sophisticated touch to traditional ingredients, and he hopes it will be a way to share old traditions with new diners. "We need this kind of restaurant all over the place," he says.
But other groups on reservations are interested in reviving pre-colonization foods to reincorporate them into local diets. The Traditional Western Apache Diet Project and the Crow Creek Fresh Food Initiative are offshoots of a food sovereignty movement that is picking up steam on several reservations around the country. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture also found that several indigenous foods that aren't widely consumed anymore are highly nutritious.
If his restaurant is successful, Sherman hopes he can expand the concept and create similar ones across the country, training young Native American chefs in keeping their tribes' best culinary traditions alive.
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Top Story | Tagged Native American, Native American chefs, Restaurant, Sean Sherman, Sioux Chef
Journey Into Asian Cuisine at the Tulalip Resort Casino
Posted on March 12, 2014 by Kim Kalliber
Tribal employee, Andrew Gobin enjoys a Spicy Tuna roll and a California roll at the new Tulalip Resort Casino restaurant, Journey's East. Photo/Monica Brown
By Monica Brown, Tulalip News
The new Tulalip Resort Casino restaurant Journey's East is just that, a journey into Asian cuisine. The small menu encompasses a wide array of flavors and textures and lists peculiar items such as century eggs and sweet potato noodles. Most items will be familiar though like dumplings, Pad Thai, Chow Mein, Tempura and Mongolian beef.
When you are seated at Journey's East you are given a menu and a pot of tea to enjoy at your leisure. The menu may have some complicated items to understand if you have never heard of them, but they are all derived from the Asian culture and may be a variation of something you have already enjoyed before. From the Sake (rice wine) to the noodles, many items on the menu contain some form of rice, which is a main staple in many Asian countries, the rest of the menu ingredients are simple variations of meats, vegetables and sauces.
One item on the menu that may have some intimidated is the sushi and should not be confused with sashimi, which is a type of sushi. Sushi is a generic term for vinegared rice that is combined with other toppings and fillings such as seaweed, vegetables and some sort of meat such as seafood or tofu and may be raw or cooked. There are many types of sushi, sashimi is a distinct type that has sliced fresh fish placed atop vinegared rice and is enjoyed raw.
If you have any questions about menu items, the wait staff is very knowledgeable and can explain everything about the food that you'd like to know more about, or you can always use Google. As for the sushi, some rolls do have raw fish, if that is not something you desire, check with your waiter about which rolls are raw and which are not.
The restaurant furnishing is minimalist, the décor geometric. Seating can be limited; if you have a party of 5 or more, making a reservation would be beneficial. To make a reservation visit the Tulalip Casino Journey's East website and click the Reservations button or by calling during restaurant hours. Journey's East has a to go option and the menu is available on the website at, http://www.tulalipresortcasino.com/Dining/JourneysEast.
Restaurant hours are 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Wednesday – Monday (closed Tuesdays). For questions or reservations, call 360-716-1880. For cuisine to go call 360-716-1766.
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Local News | Tagged Asian Cuisine, Journeys East, Restaurant, sushi, Tulalip Resort Casino
Ivar's Birthday Wishes and More Fishes
Ivar's Birthday Bargain: $1.08 Menu Items Served up on March 19; plus free cake pops for the first 108 guests.
SEATTLE, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — He recently missed having a ferry named in his honor, but Ivar Haglund would have never missed a chance to shell-ebrate with a party! In that spirit, on Tuesday, March 19, all Ivar's Seafood Restaurants, including Seafood Bars and full service restaurants throughout Washington State, will commemorate what would have been Ivar Haglund's 108th birthday by offering special $1.08 dining deals in honor of their "flounder."
Ivar's Birthday Offer (March 19, 2013). (PRNewsFoto/Ivar's Seafood Restaurants)
As part of Ivar's annual birthday festivities, throughout the day guests can purchase one full-priced entree and receive a second entree from a special birthday menu for just $1.08, simply by exclaiming "Happy Birthday, Ivar" when placing the order. In addition to the birthday discounts, Ivar's will also treat the first 108 guests at each of its locations to a delicious blueberry birthday cake pop, one of Haglund's favorite flavors.
To add to the festivities, Ivar's is also hosting a two-week "Ivar Haglund Birthday Video and Photo Contest" (March 6-20) on its Facebook page. Fans can enter by uploading a creative video or photo wishing happy birthday to Haglund, for a chance to net a $108 Ivar's gift card or other great prizes. Winners will be selected based on originality and creativity by a panel of Ivar's judges. Enter at www.facebook.com/IvarsRestaurants by March 20.
Ivar Haglund began the popular restaurant chain bearing his name in 1938, when he opened a fish and chips stand at his Seattle aquarium, which was located on the Waterfront at Pier 3 (now Pier 54). He was well known for his popular radio ditties, as well as his comical stunts such as clam eating contests, taking advantage of a train-car syrup spill, and an Ivar's clam postage stamp. He passed away in 1985 just shy of his 80th birthday. The history behind Ivar Haglund can be found on Ivar's website. This year also marks a significant milestone, as it's the company's 75th anniversary, with more details revealed later this spring.
The birthday bargain is available all day long at any of the 23 Ivar's Seafood Bars throughout the state, excluding stadium locations. All Ivar's full service locations are also in on the action, including Ivar's Acres of Clams on Seattle's waterfront, Ivar's Salmon House on north Lake Union, and Ivar's Mukilteo Landing overlooking Possession Sound.
About Ivar's
Ivar's Seafood Restaurants began on Seattle's waterfront in 1938. Today, there are 23 Ivar's fast casual Seafood Bars and three full-service restaurants: Ivar's Acres of Clams, Ivar's Salmon House and Ivar's Mukilteo Landing. Ivar's Seafood, Soup and Sauce Company markets and sells its award-winning soups, chowders and sauces both nationally and internationally. The company also operates regional stadium concessions including Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field, KeyArena, Bank of America Arena, Husky Stadium and Cheney Stadium. Learn more at http://www.ivars.com/.
SOURCE Ivar's Seafood Restaurants
Posted in News | Tagged Ivar Haglund, Ivars, Restaurant
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The water resources management system in Uruguay has been influenced by the general sense of water as an abundant resource in the country. Average annual rainfall is 1,182 mm, representing a contribution of 210 km3 annually throughout its territory. In 2002, the per capita renewable water resources was 41,065 cubic meters, way above the world average 8,467 m3 in 2006. Uruguay also shares one of the largest groundwater reserves in the world, the Guarani Aquifer, with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay. The Guarani aquifer covers 1,200,000 square kilometers and has a storage capacity of 40,000 km3.
The institutional framework for water resources management consists of sectoral governmental agencies at the national and regional level. The Water Code, Decree No 14.859 of 1978, establishes the legal framework for water resources management in Uruguay completed by sectoral laws for agriculture, industrial water use, energy production and water supply and sanitation.
Water resources base
Surface and groundwater resources
Uruguay has six major watersheds, Uruguay River, Plata River, Atlantic, Merin Lake, Negro River and Santa Lucía River. All watersheds in Uruguay but Santa Lucia share water with other countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Surface water is the main supplier of water for irrigation 87, domestic 11 and industrial use 2. Irrigation is the main water user by watershed, except in the Santa Lucia River domestic use and the Plata River industrial use.
Groundwater resources supply water to some small urban settlements and small and medium scale irrigation systems in the interior. The most important groundwater reserves in Paraguay in terms of capacity are the Guaraní and the Raigon Aquifer. The Guarani aquifer is one of the largest groundwater reserves in the world, covering 1,200,000 km2 throughout Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Guarani Aquifer has a storage capacity of 40,000 cubic kilometers. With an estimated annual recharge rate of 160250 km3 and more than 40 km3 available for consumption, the Guaraní aquifer could supply daily 300 liters of water per capita to 360 million people.
The neighbor countries are implementing an Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management project together with the Organization of American States and the World Bank.
Source: Ministerio de Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente
Storage capacity
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Uruguay River and the Negro River have the largest concentration of Uruguays big dams, aimed mostly at hydropower generation, with a total storage capacity of 17.3 km3. Large dams in Uruguay include:
the Salto Grande dam on the Uruguay River on the border with Argentina, inaugurated in 1979, with a 1,890 MW power plant and a storage capacity of 5 km3
the Rincón del Bonete dam on the Negro River, inaugurated in 1945, with a 160 MW power plant and the largest reservoir in the country with a storage capacity of 8.8 km3
the Baygorria dam on the Negro River, inaugurated in 1960, with a 108 MW power plant and a storage capacity of 0.6 km3
the Palmar dam on the Negro River, inaugurated in 1980, with a 333 MW power plant and a storage capacity of 2.85 km3
Other medium dams for industrial and irrigation purposes are located in the Santa Lucia River Canelón Grande Dam, Rocha Department India Muerta Dam and Minas de Corrales. In addition, there are many small private minor reservoirs throughout the country aimed mostly at irrigation with an estimated storage capacity of 1.4 km3.
Water quality
The Ministry of Housing, Territorial Organization and Environmental MVOTMA for its acronym in Spanish considers that water quality in Uruguay is slowly decreasing due to the release of untreated effluents from industries and cities as well as agricultural runoff. In addition, uncontrolled groundwater use can lead to pollution or overexploitation of aquifers. In the Departments of Canelones and Maldonado, overexploitation has cause sea water intrusion into coastal aquifers and bacterial contamination.
Water resources management by sector
Drinking water and sanitation
Uruguay is the only country in Latin America that has achieved quasi universal coverage of access to safe drinking water supply and adequate sanitation. Water service quality is considered good, with practically all localities in Uruguay receiving disinfected water on a continuous basis. 70 of wastewater collected by the national utility was treated. Given these achievements, the government's priority is to improve the efficiency of services and to expand access to sewerage, where appropriate, in areas where on-site sanitation is used.
Water and sanitation coverage in Uruguay 2004
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme JMP/2006. Data for water and sanitation based on the WHO World Health Survey 2003.
Irrigation and drainage
Uruguay has approximately 181,000 hectares ha equipped for irrigation or about 12.8 of the total agricultural land, 1,412,000ha. The private sector has been the main investor of irrigation infrastructure in Uruguay. The public sector has contributed in some irrigation projects such as Canelón Grande 1 100 ha, Colonia España 815 ha, Chingolo, Tomás Berreta 360 ha, Corrales 3 500 ha, Aguas Blancas 125 ha, and India Muerta. Since 1996, the Natural Resources Management and Irrigation Development Project PRENADER for its acronym in Spanish has promoted irrigation techniques and built several hydraulic infrastructures such as small dams and groundwater pumping systems aimed at supplying water for irrigation.
Hydropower
The electricity sector in Uruguay has a strong participation of the public sector. According to 2002 data, energy supply is dominated by hydropower generation 51, followed by crude oil 34, wood 11, biomass 3 and natural gas 1. Three hydropower plants on the Negro River and one binational plant with Argentina on the Uruguay River generate most of the hydropower in Uruguay see above under water storage for a list of the dams. The possibility of building new plants is constrained by Uruguays geographic characteristics.
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems, especially fisheries, contribute to Uruguayan economic growth. In 2003, fisheries accounted for 0,3 of GDP, 4.6 of total exports or US$100 million and employed directly 2,000 and indirectly over 11,000 workers. Most of Uruguayan captures come from the Plata River and the Atlantic Ocean. According to MVOTMA, most of fish species captured for exports are close to maximum sustainable catch.
The neighbor countries are implementing an Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management project together with the Organization of American States and the World Bank. See video
Legal and institutional framework
Legal framework
The Water Code, Decree No 14.859 of 1978, establishes the legal framework for water resources management in Uruguay. The Water Code grants sole ownership and managerial responsibilities of superficial and groundwater resources to national and municipal government, including the establishment of water user fees. The Water Code however maintains water property rights to private owners issued prior to the enactment of the Water Code, if registered appropriately. Uruguayan government grants water use rights through concessions and permits based on quantity, end purpose, and general interest related to water use.
The Water Code is not an integral piece of legislation. Sectoral laws establish specific provisions for agriculture, industrial, energy production and water supply and sanitation completing the legal framework for water resources management in Uruguay.
Institutional framework
The National Water Authority in Uruguay is the executive branch of the Uruguayan Government together with the Public Works and Transport Ministry MTOP for its acronym in Spanish and the MVOTMA. The executive branch of the Uruguayan government is responsible for designing and implementing the water resources management national policy, granting water user rights, establishing priorities for water use by regions or watersheds giving priority to drinking water, establishing water user fees, and developing the Water Code through regulation. According to the Water Code, the State shall promote the study, preservation and integrated sustainable use of water.
The MTOP, through its National Hydrographic Directorate, is responsible for the operation of the water network, execution of hydraulic works, and management of irrigation systems. The MTOP, through its Hydraulic Division, also engages in the processing of licenses and concessions, and the operation of the National Hydrological Data Bank
The MVOTMA, through its National Environmental Directorate DINAMA for its acronym in Spanish, is responsible for monitoring water quality as well as protecting water resources against environmental degradation. The MVOTMA is also in charge of supervising infrastructural development vis a vis Uruguayan environmental safeguards as well as granting pollution rights.
The National Directorate for Mining Activities and Geology conducts feasibility studies for groundwater exploration and measures groundwater quantity and quality. The Soil and Water Division of the National Directorate for Natural Renewable Resources is responsible for water and soil management for irrigated agriculture though water quality monitoring and erosion and land degradation control. Finally, the National Water and Sanitation Company OSE for its acronym in Spanish is in charge of water supply and sanitation in all Uruguay except in the department of Montevideo which is the Mayors responsibility.
Government strategy
In 1978, the Water Code made the Uruguayan Government responsible for designing and implementing a national water resources policy. However, in 2008 the government is still debating together with public and private stakeholders over the specifics of the National Policy. According to the La Republica University, despite the existence of a regulatory body like the Water Code, regulations and programs, there is not a defined organizational context or lines of action established by a national water Policy.
Economic aspects
Water pricing
The Water Code of 1978 incorporated the concept of a water fee for the use of public water art. 3. Later irrigation legislation reiterated the principle of paying for water in Uruguay. However, the Uruguayan Government has not yet established a methodology to determine fees for different users, so that water abstraction from the environment remains free. Recognizing water as an economic good is considered a good practice internationally and is part of the Dublin Statement for Integrated Water Resources Management.
External cooperation
The World Bank has contributed with Uruguay government in several projects related to water resources management. In the context of the Natural Resources Management and Irrigation Development Project a soil and water management strategy was formulated and implemented to increase, diversify and maintain agricultural production and exports of individual farmers. As a result of the project, over 2,400 farmers made investments to increase by almost 20 the irrigated areas in the country from 35,000 hectares to a total of 190,000 hectares, where land devoted to irrigated rice crops accounted for almost 77 of the total. Despite the fact that irrigated rice fields still maintain a relatively high importance, the Project decisively supported diversification. The expansion of irrigated rice fields 19,000 hectares financed by the project was almost fully related to the expansion of cattle breeding systems, a process by which the irrigated rice and forage crops were integrated to the use of the soil in rotation with pastures. In addition, the expansion of irrigated areas for the production of fruits and vegetables supported by the project 16,000 hectares represented an increase of over 100 regarding the initial area where these products were grown which contributed to a considerable growth in the production of high-value crops and non-traditional exports.
Also, the first phase of the National Water and Sanitation Company OSE modernization and systems rehabilitation project was supported by a 27 million US dollars loan approved in June 2000. OSE was able to successfully implement and disseminate an in-house reference system that compares performance of the water utility in 21 cities, on the basis of eight service quality indicators. In addition, the first phase helped improve sewer coverage in another 12 cities of the interior by expandingaccording to demandthe sewerage systems. Finally, three new sewage treatment plants were built in the cities of Minas, Treinta y Tres and Durazno, with a total capacity to serve 60,000 users.
The Inter-American Development Bank has recently approved a consultancy service to design a mixed public company to provide stormwater drainage services for Ciudad de la Costa. The IDB was a strong supporter of several water supply and sanitation projects during the 1990s. Some of these efforts included the creation of a National Sanitation Program, an Urban Recovery Program, and Sanitation to Montevideo and Metropolitan Areas.
The pulp mill conflict with Argentina
The pulp mill conflict between Argentina and Uruguay is an ongoing conflict between private citizens, organizations, and the governments of these two South American countries about the construction of two pulp mills on the Uruguay River. The Argentinian side of the conflict is concerned about the environmental and social impacts of pulp byproducts as well as the lack of prior consultation of the Uruguayan Gonverment according to the international water sharing treaty signed by both countries. Uruguay, on the other hand, claims that Argentina was informed of the projects, yet the treaty does not require Argentinian's approval to be implemented and that the technology used in the mills would avoid polluting the river.
As a diplomatic, economic, and public relations conflict between both parties, the dispute has also affected tourism and transportation as well as the otherwise amicable relations between the two countries. The feud is unprecedented between the two countries, which have shared historical and cultural ties.
Potential climate change impacts
The Uruguayan Second Communication to the UNFCCC includes and assessment of the vulnerability of water resources to the likely impacts of Climate Change. The assessment, which is also part of the National Program for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change PMEGEMA for its acronym in Spanish, states that river basins with high water resources demand and limited hydraulic infrastructure will likely be the systems affected the most by Climate Change. These impacts will be worsened by the lack of an efficient, integrated water resources management system country wide. Also, according to the Second Communication climate scenarios show that there will be likely an increased demand of water vis a vis supply, but this ratio is far from compromising Uruguays water resources, except form the Merin Laggon basin, where current water balance is already stressed.
Floods magnitude and frequency is likely to increase due to intense precipitation and land use change, especially around urban areas. Groundwater recharge will also be affected by change on precipitation, although it is not expected to be substantially lower. However, MVOTMA expects an increase in groundwater use in the future due to an increased water demand for irrigation and industrial purposes. Higher demand could increase pressure in already stressed systems such as the Raigon Aquifer and Southern areas where there is a need for groundwater integrated management systems.
See also
Water supply and sanitation in Uruguay
References
Uruguay
Category:Water in Uruguay | wikipedia |
The Catholic League LHSAA district 9-5A is a high school sports league in the Greater New Orleans area.
History
The history of the Catholic League can be traced back to 1895, but the first season of the Catholic League as we know it was in 1955. The league is named for having mostly New Orleans' oldest and biggest Catholic schools, though some public schools have played in the league as well.
Chalmette High School in St. Bernard Parish had the longest tenure of any public school in the Catholic League. Chalmette was admitted to the Catholic League, then District 6-AAAA, in 1970 and stayed for 18 years. Chalmette was an all-boys school through the 1987-88 school year, but played one more year in the league after admitting girls, since the LHSAA reclassifies schools in November of even-numbered years for the following two school terms. Chalmette exited the Catholic League for the 1989-90 school year, then dropped out of the highest classification when the LHSAA added a new classification for the 1991-92 term. The Owls did not rejoin the Catholic League until 2007, when Chalmette became the lone high school in St. Bernard following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and thus had a 5A enrollment.
In 1992, the LHSAA's first classification plan for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 school years would have dissolved the Catholic League, spreading the seven schools amongst three districts and mixing them with public schools from Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. The plan drew serious objections from both Catholic and public schools: the Catholic League schools were afraid of significant financial losses, since public schools generally have far less fan support than Catholic schools; and the public schools feared competitive imbalance. Eventually, the Catholic League was kept intact, with Slidell High School added, a move which was sharply criticized by the St. Tammany Parish school board and Slidell supporters, who were angered to see longtime rivalries with fellow St. Tammany schools Covington and Mandeville placed on hiatus. Slidell was moved out of the Catholic League and back into a St. Tammany-based district in 1995-96.
In 2010, LHSAA enrollment figures dropped Archbishop Shaw High School and St. Augustine High School into class 4A, leaving the district with three Catholic schools which had to be combined with three public schools to form a new district.
WLAE-TV 32 in New Orleans has produced a documentary named Glory Days, with part 1, focusing on the 1950s and 60s, airing in November 2010, and part 2 airing in September 2012, which tells the tale of the 1970s, when the Catholic League was regarded as the toughest high school sporting district in America. More parts are planned.
2010 dissolution
The LHSAA passed a rule in 2005 designed to limit schools with low enrollments playing up in class, believing that football powers such as John Curtis Christian School and Evangel Christian Academy were using 4A and 5A status, respectively, to attract students to their schools. Curtis was dropped to 2A in 2005, and Evangel to 1A before moving up to 2A in 2007. The effects of this rule shook up the Catholic League. De La Salle, which became a co-educational school in the 1992-93 school year, dropped out voluntarily after the 2002-2003 school year after being a member of the league since 1955. Archbishop Shaw left the league after 2005, and Holy Cross, with enrollment declining since Katrina and its school nearly destroyed by the levee breaches along the Industrial Canal, moved down to 4A for 2007 and further down to 3A for 2009. The league, left with four schools and in danger of being combined with a nearby Jefferson Parish public school league, accepted public school and former member Chalmette High School to bring itself back to five schools and remain a standalone league.
Reclassification in 2009 added Archbishop Shaw back into the Catholic League, as their enrollment increased over the 5A threshold. It allowed Chalmette High School to move to a neighboring district of Jefferson Parish public schools where they hoped to be more competitive.
The lingering effects of Katrina and a nationwide recession affected enrollment at St. Augustine and Archbishop Shaw enough to drop the two schools to class 4A in the 2010 reclassification, effective for the fall 2011 school semester. As a result, three 5A Catholic League schools would be left in the New Orleans area. Jesuit principal Michael Giambellaca authored a proposal to call a special LHSAA meeting mainly to vote to allow schools to play above their enrollment classification, but his proposal was defeated.
The new district proposal featured Jesuit, Brother Martin, and Archbishop Rummel combined with the 5A Jefferson Parish Public School athletic district of John Ehret, L.W. Higgins, West Jefferson, Alfred Bonnabel, and Grace King, as well as public school and former Catholic League member Chalmette. There was some debate as to whether the new district could still be called a Catholic League, but games between the Catholic schools and former members now in 4A would still probably be referred to as Catholic League games.
On November 10, 2010, the LHSAA approved the final districts for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. Brother Martin, Jesuit and Rummel joined a Class 5A district with Chalmette, Grace King and West Jefferson Grace King will not play a district schedule in football. Bonnabel, John Ehret and Higgins were assigned to a different 5A district with Destrehan, Hahnville and East St. John high schools to the west.
For the 2011 and 2012 football seasons, Rummel maintained its rivalry games with Holy Cross, St. Augustine and Shaw, although the Shaw-Rummel games were canceled by tropical systems, Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 and Hurricane Isaac in 2012. Jesuit played Holy Cross and Shaw, but not St. Augustine, and Brother Martin only played St. Augustine, continuing the rivalry between the Gentilly schools.
Catholic League reforms for 2013
At its January 2012 convention, the LHSAA approved a new proposal by Giambelluca which allowed schools to play up from their enrollment-based classification by one class, effective with the 2013-14 school year.
When the LHSAA began its reclassification for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years in November 2012, Holy Cross, St. Augustine and Shaw all declared they would play up from 4A to 5A. The LHSAA placed those three schools with Brother Martin, Jesuit and Rummel in the new District 9-5A to re-form the Catholic League. All-girls Catholic schools Chapelle, Dominican and Mount Carmel were also placed in the district. The plan was approved by the LHSAA Executive Committee on December 12.
Grace King and West Jefferson were placed in District 8-5A with the other Jefferson Parish schools in 5A: Bonnabel, Higgins, John Ehret and Helen Cox, which opted to play up from 4A. Destrehan, East St. John and Hahnville were placed in District 7-5A with schools from the Houma-Thibodaux area: Central Lafourche, H.L. Bourgeois, South Lafourche, Terrebonne and Thibodaux. Chalmette administrators appealed to be placed in the Jefferson Parish district 8-5A, but not without some dissent from their fanbase.
John Curtis joins
In November 2014, John Curtis football coach and school headmaster J.T. Curtis Jr. declared the Patriots would play up to Class 5A in all sports. The LHSAA placed John Curtis in the Catholic League, making it the first private non-Catholic school to become a member.
For the 2014 football season, Curtis played in a Class 2A district during the regular season, but played in the Division I select state playoffs, which included the six then-current members of the Catholic League, as well as Evangel; St. Paul's, a Catholic all-boys school in Covington; and two co-educational Catholic schools in Lafayette, St. Thomas More and Teurlings Catholic. The Patriots lost the Division I championship game to Jesuit, 17-14.
Current members effective with 2017-18 school year
Archbishop Shaw 19632005; 20092011; 2013
Archbishop Rummel 1963
Jesuit 1955
John Curtis Christian 2015
St. Augustine 19672011; 2013
Brother Martin 1969
Holy Cross 19552007; 2013
Former members
De La Salle 19552003
Redemptorist 19551973
Slidell public 19931995
Cor Jesu 19651968
Terrebonne public 19641965
Thibodaux public 19641965
South Terrebonne public 19641965
Holy Name of Mary 1957
St. Aloysius 19551968
Chalmette public 19701989, 20072009, 20112013
West Jefferson public 20112013
Grace King public, non-football 20112013
NOTE: Cor Jesu and St. Aloysius consolidated after the 1968-69 school year to form Brother Martin.
Football champions since 1955
Bold indicates that the team won the state championship. Italic indicates that the team was state runner-up.
Archbishop Shaw 19 1976, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
St. Augustine 16 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2010, 2013
Archbishop Rummel 16 1973, 1974, 1980, 1985, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015
Jesuit 15 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1981, 1984, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011
Brother Martin 10 1971, 1972, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1992, 2007, 2008
Holy Cross 8 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1983, 1995, 2002
De La Salle 4 1957, 1961, 1968, 1969
John Curtis 3 2016, 2017, 2018
Redemptorist 2 1956, 1957
Terrebonne 2 1964, 1965 only public school to win share of Catholic League championship
St. Aloysius 2 1955, 1957
In addition, the following teams have played for the state championship without winning district:
1963: Jesuit
1978: Jesuit
1987: Shaw won state championship
1989: Brother Martin
2000: Shaw
2013: Rummel won state championship
2014: Jesuit won state championship
The state championships won by the Catholic League
Jesuit; 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1953, 1960, 2014
St. Augustine; 1975, 1978, 1979
Archbishop Rummel; 2012, 2013
Holy Cross; 1945, 1963
Archbishop Shaw; 1987
Brother Martin; 1971
John Curtis; 2018
Holy Name of Mary won in a lower division in 1955, two years before their only season in the Catholic League.
The last Catholic League team to win the state championship was Jesuit in 2014.
Three state championship games, in 1963 Holy Cross 13, Jesuit 6, 1971 Brother Martin 23, St. Augustine 0 and 1978 St. Augustine 14, Jesuit 7, have been all-Catholic League affairs. Each game drew more than 25,000 fans; the 1978 Jesuit-St. Augustine game drew more than 42,000 in the first state championship game to be contested in the Louisiana Superdome.
Highest classification basketball state champions
Jesuit 8 1939, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1964, 1965, 1966, 2001
Brother Martin 6 1970, 1971, 1974, 2004, 2005, 2010
St. Aloysius 6 1941, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953
St. Augustine 5 1983, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2011
De La Salle 5 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1986
Holy Cross 3 1942, 1943, 1945
Archbishop Rummel 2 1977, 1978
Archbishop Shaw 2 1989, 1997
In 2000, Archbishop Shaw won the 5-A championship game but was later forced to forfeit the game.
Highest classification baseball state champions
Jesuit 20 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1961, 1979, 1980, 1985, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2011
De La Salle 6 1958, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1977, 1988
Archbishop Rummel 5 1974, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1997
St. Aloysius 4 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
Holy Cross 2 1944, 1969
Brother Martin 2 1984, 1996
John Curtis 2 2017, 2018
Soccer state champions
Jesuit 12 1984, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018
De La Salle 3 1977, 1982, 1997
Brother Martin 2 2000, 2001
Archbishop Rummel 2 1968, 1974
Holy Cross 2 1973; 2018 Div. II
Redemptorist 1 1971
State wrestling champions
Holy Cross 25 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1983, 1988, 2017 Holy Cross won Division II wrestling titles in 2009 and 2011
Jesuit 23 1951, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009
Brother Martin 19 1979, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
De La Salle 3 1969, 1970, 1971
Rummel 1 2011
Girls' Catholic League
The following schools were members of a parallel 5A Catholic League for girls' sports in the New Orleans area.
Mount Carmel Academy
Archbishop Chapelle
Dominican
Former Girls' Catholic League members
Academy of Our Lady consolidation of Archbishop Blenk and Immaculata High Schools dropped to 4A
Ursuline Academy dropped to 3A
References
External links
Site focusing on Jesuit-Holy Cross rivalry, the oldest in Louisiana, dating back to 1922
The Catholic League site of the film Glory Days, chronicling the heyday of the Catholic League in the 1970s
Category:Louisiana high school sports conferences
Category:High school sports conferences and leagues in the United States
Catholic league
Category:1955 establishments in Louisiana
Category:Catholic sports organizations | wikipedia |
Q: How to pass properties from object binding to a subview as a normal state variable I have a view with an object binding to a model. Now I want to extract a subview. When I define the same object binding on the subview everything works. But as the subview is a primitive view, I would like to only have a state variable instead of the full object binding.
Unfortunately, my subview doesn't update when the property of the model changes.
Some code (simplified):
private struct ControlButtons : View {
@ObjectBinding var timerViewModel: TimerViewModel
var body: some View {
JumpBackButton(isDisabled: timerViewModel.isAtStart, jumpAction: { self.timerViewModel.jumpBack() })
}
}
struct JumpBackButton: View {
@State var isDisabled = false
var jumpAction: () -> Void
var body: some View {
Button(action: { self.jumpAction() }) {
Image(systemName: "backward.end")
}.buttonStyle(.plain).padding().disabled(isDisabled)
}
}
A: @State are not designed to be passed any value. In fact, Apple recommends we declare them private, to avoid making such a mistake.
@State variables are meant to be used for a source of truth. If the value comes from the outside, it is not a source of truth then! I recommend you watch the WWDC2019 session: Data Flow with SwiftUI.
If your view needs data from outside, then it needs to point to it through a @Binding, @ObjectBinding, or @EnvironmentOBject
| slim_pajama |
estabelecer os limites superiores para mudanas em vef1 , capacidade
vital lenta ( cvl ) , cvf e capacidade inspiratria ( ci ) aps o uso de placebo em
pacientes com obstruo ao fluxo areo .
cento e dois adultos com obstruo ao fluxo areo ( vef1 = 62 19% do
previsto ) foram includos neste estudo .
todos os participantes realizaram manobras
de cvl e cvf antes e depois do uso de spray de placebo . as
mudanas
em vef1 , cvl , cvf e ci foram expressas em valores absolutos ,
porcentagem de variao em relao aos valores basais e porcentagem dos valores
previstos , e foram calculados os ic95% e os percentis 95 .
a anlise fatorial foi
realizada a fim de determinar como essas alteraes se agrupavam .
considerando os ic95% e percentis 95 e aps o arredondamento dos valores ,
obtivemos os seguintes limites superiores para resposta significante :
vef1 = 0,20 l , cvf = 0,20 l , cvl = 0,25 l e ci = 0,30 l ( em valores
absolutos ) ; vef1 = 12% , cvf = 7% , cvl = 10% e ci = 15% ( em porcentagem
de variao em relao aos valores basais ) e vef1 = 7% , cvf = 6% , cvl =
7% e ci = 12% ( em porcentagem dos valores previstos ) .
em pacientes com obstruo ao fluxo areo , a ci apresenta maior variabilidade do
que a cvf e a cvl .
para a ci , valores maiores que 0,30 l e 15% de variao em
relao ao valor basal devem ser considerados significantes .
para cvf , valores
maiores que 0,20l e 7% de variao em relao ao valor basal so significantes .
alternativamente , alteraes de mais de 0,20 l e 7% do previsto no vef1
e na cvf devem ser consideradas significantes .
na anlise fatorial , os parmetros
espiromtricos se agruparam em trs dimenses , expressando mudanas no fluxo ,
volume e hiperinsuflao dinmica .
in patients with airflow obstruction , changes in spirometric values after bronchodilator
use are indicative of reversibility if they exceed the natural variability . on the basis
of two landmark studies ,
first the american thoracic society
( ats )
and later the ats / european respiratory society
( ers )
issued statements in which they recommended that an absolute
change of 200 ml and a relative change of 12% from baseline values be used in order to
classify bronchodilator response as significant .
those values have also been reported as
being indicative of significant changes in fvc after bronchodilator use ,
being widely used .
changes occurring after bronchodilator use can also be expressed in terms of the
percentage of predicted values .
in two studies ,
fev1 values higher than 6.0% were recommended .
in one of
those studies ,
an fvc value of 6.0% was recommended .
the relief of dyspnea and the increase in exercise performance after bronchodilator use
in patients with airflow obstruction are due to a reduction in lung hyperinflation , as
evidenced by increased inspiratory capacity ( ic ) , increased vital capacity , or
both .
to our knowledge , a small , single - center study
is the only study in which the limits of variation in ic after placebo administration
were evaluated .
although studies have suggested a cut - off point for ic
based on a relevant increase in exercise performance ,
it remains to be
shown whether such values exceed the normal variability .
changes in spirometric parameters after bronchodilator use can express variations in
flow , volume , or both .
the objective of the present study was to establish the upper
limits for changes in slow vital capacity ( svc ) and fvc after placebo administration in
a large sample of patients with airflow obstruction , as well as to determine how those
parameters clustered on factor analysis .
the present study was conducted in a referral pulmonary function laboratory in the city
of so paulo , brazil .
all of the patients who were found to have obstructive disease were asked to return to
the laboratory for further spirometry after having discontinued the use of short- and
long - acting 2 agonists ( for 12 h and for 24 h , respectively ) and of
short- and long - acting theophylline preparations ( for 24 h and for 48 h ,
respectively ) .
all of the study participants gave written informed consent , and the study protocol was
approved by the local research ethics committee .
a total of 102 adults with airflow obstruction ( asthma , copd , or both ) performed svc
maneuvers and , subsequently , fvc maneuvers .
airflow obstruction was characterized by an fev1/fvc ratio below the
5th percentile of the predicted value .
the spirometric tests were performed with a sensormedics spirometer ( vmax229d ;
sensormedics , yorba linda , ca , usa ) , which was calibrated daily .
all svc and fvc
measurements were performed in accordance with the ats / ers criteria ,
svc
being assessed during an expiratory maneuver .
the difference between the
highest svc value and the second highest svc value was < 0.150 l. for svc , the
largest value obtained from at least three acceptable maneuvers was recorded . for ic ,
the difference between the largest ic
value and the second largest ic value was < 0.100 l. for ic , the values derived from
the largest svc were reported .
the reference values for forced spirometry and ic were
those reported in studies conducted in brazil .
within 15 min after the
administration of four sprays of placebo , all tests were repeated in the same order , and
the same acceptability and reproducibility criteria were applied .
general data are expressed as mean sd . the spirometric changes occurring after placebo
administration are expressed as follows : absolute ( post - baseline ) values ; percentage of
change from baseline values ( post - baseline 100/baseline ) ; and percentage of predicted
values ( post - baseline 100/predicted ) .
the distribution of absolute changes induced by placebo was tested for normality by the
kolmogorov - smirnov test and the shapiro - wilk test , as well as by analysis of normality
plots , the skewness coefficient , the kurtosis coefficient , extreme values , and outliers
being assessed .
outliers were not excluded from the analysis . although
the variations in svc and ic showed normal distribution , the variations in
fev1 and fvc did not .
the correlations of the different expressions of spirometric changes after placebo
administration with anthropometric variables were determined by spearman 's test .
a
two - tailed t - test was used for between - group comparisons . for factor analysis ,
factors
with an eigenvalue > 1 on principal component analysis were included in varimax
rotation . for the final model , a scree plot was employed for factor selection , and three
factors were retained . the next step was to construct a new factor matrix in order to
examine the weight assigned to each variable per factor .
all statistical analyses were performed with the ibm spss statistics software package ,
version 17.0 ( ibm corporation , armonk , ny , usa ) .
the clinical and spirometric data before the administration of placebo are shown in
table 1 .
females predominated , as did patients with a diagnosis of asthma . in 17 , 35 ,
and 50 of the patients , respectively , fev1 was 40% of the predicted value ,
40 - 59% of the predicted value , and 60% of the predicted value .
table 1clinical data and pulmonary function test results before the
administration of placebo in 102 patients with airflow obstruction.variableresultgender
male , n39
female , n63age ( years ) , mean sd55 11smoking status
nonsmoker , n50
former smoker , n42
current smoker , n10diagnosis
copd , n34
asthma , n64
copd and asthma , n4fev1/fvc% ( % of predicted ) mean sd56 12vc ( % of predicted ) , mean sd89 17fvc ( % of predicted ) , mean sd88 17fev1 ( % of predicted ) , mean sd62 19ic ( % of predicted ) , mean sd83 18ic : inspiratory capacity
: inspiratory capacity there were differences between asthma and copd patients in terms of the baseline
percentage of predicted fev1 ( fev1% ) .
in the 64 patients with
asthma , fev1% was 65.3 18.5 , compared with 54.1 19.8 in the 34 copd
patients ( t = 2.78 ; p = 0.006 ) .
however , the absolute variation in fev1 after
the administration of placebo was similar between the two groups of patients : 0.043
0.122 ml in the patients with asthma and 0.009 0.133 ml in those with copd ( t = 1.29 ;
p = 0.20 ) .
there were no differences between males and females in terms of the absolute changes in
fev1 ( 0.045 0.147 ml vs. 0.043 0.147 ml ; t = 1.50 ; p = 0.124 ) .
on one - sample analysis , there was no evidence of any learning effect , the mean changes
after the administration of placebo being nonsignificantly different from zero .
table 2 shows the means , 95% cis , and 95th
percentiles for svc , ic , fvc , and fev1 after the administration of placebo ,
in terms of absolute values , percentage of change from baseline values , and percentage
of predicted values . after rounding the values derived from these two methods , we
obtained significant values for changes in the spirometric parameters under study ( table 3 ) .
table 2mean variations , 95% cis , and 95th percentiles for the absolute values ,
percentage of change from baseline values , and percentage of predicted values
for spirometric parameters after placebo administration.parameter absolute% of change from baseline% of predictedmean95% ci95th percentilemean95% ci95th percentilemean95% ci95th percentilesvc 0.0300.2370.2220.8909.57.50.9207.46.0ic0.0060.2830.3170.03414.115.40.11411.212.5fvc0.0120.1980.2270.2837.36.50.2136.35.6fev1
0.0200.1920.1590.79612.312.70.5497.37.4svc : slow vital capacity;ic : inspiratory capacity
: slow vital capacity ; : inspiratory capacity
table 3significant variations for absolute values , percentage of change from
baseline values , and percentage of predicted values for spirometric parameters
after placebo administration.variationabsolute% of change from baseline% of predictedsvc0.25107ic0.301512fvc0.2076fev1
0.20127svc : slow vital capacityic : inspiratory capacity
: slow vital capacity : inspiratory capacity spearman 's test revealed no significant correlation between changes in the spirometric
parameters and their initial values ( data not shown ) . similarly , there were no
correlations between changes in the spirometric parameters and age or between changes in
the spirometric parameters and height .
significant correlations were found between changes in fev1 and changes in
fvc ( rs = 0.62 ; p < 0.001 ) , between changes in svc and changes in fvc
( rs = 0.40 ; p < 0.001 ) , and between changes in scv and changes in ic
( rs = 0.22 ; p = 0.017 ) . by factor analysis ,
three factors were selected
from the scree plot , explaining 92.5% of the total variance of changes after the
administration of placebo .
the first factor included changes in fev1 and fvc ,
the second factor included changes in svc and fvc , and the third factor included changes
in ic only ( table 4 ) .
table 4rotated component matrix for variations in spirometric parameters after
placebo administration.parametercomponent123fev1
0.935fvc0.8660.304svc0.976ic0.994svc : slow vital capacityic : inspiratory capacity
: slow vital capacity : inspiratory capacity
in the present study , we propose upper limits for random short - term variations in
parameters assessed by svc and fvc maneuvers in a sample of patients with airflow
obstruction .
the variations in fev1 were found to be the same as those found
in previous studies .
however , values for variations in fvc , when expressed as percentage
of change from baseline values , were lower .
this is the first study to derive values for
changes in svc and ic from a large sample .
regarding the use of bronchodilators in a pulmonary function laboratory
setting ,
some questions remain :
what are the most appropriate parameters to express bronchodilator
response?what is the best way to express the changes occurring after medication use?what is the threshold that correlates with clinically significant outcomes ?
what are the most appropriate parameters to express bronchodilator
response ? what is the best way to express the changes occurring after medication use ?
what is the threshold that correlates with clinically significant outcomes ? because it has the greatest sensitivity , the lowest variability , and the best
reproducibility , fev1 is the most widely used spirometric
parameter .
the ats and the ers proposed fev1 and fvc
increases of at least 0.20 l and of 12% of change from baseline values
on
the basis of two studies .
one of those studies evaluated the changes
occurring after the administration of placebo in 40 patients .
the 95% ci
for fev1 was 0.18 l when expressed in absolute values and 12.3% when
expressed as percentage of change from baseline values . in the present study , these
values were 0.19 l and 12.3% , respectively , and , when derived from the 95th percentile ,
0.16 and 12.7% . in patients with low fev1 values ,
the change in
fev1 after bronchodilator use commonly exceeds the limit of 12% of change
from the baseline value .
therefore , it has been suggested that absolute and relative
changes should be considered when evaluating the bronchodilator response . in the same
study ,
the upper limits for fvc
were 0.34 l ( absolute value ) and 14.9%
( percentage of change from the baseline value ) . in the present study ,
the fvc values
derived from the 95% ci were 0.20 l and 7.3% , whereas those derived from the 95th
percentile were 0.23 l and 6.5% . after rounding these values ,
we propose that the upper
limits be set at 0.20 l and 7% . the ats and the ats / ers
have stated that
the variations in fvc should be the same as those in fev1 , probably on the
basis of the expected short - term variability in fev1 and fvc in spirometric
maneuvers .
although the upper limit for absolute changes in fvc found in the present
study is similar to those suggested by the ats , the values for the percentage of change
from baseline values are much lower .
this will increase the sensitivity of fvc for
detecting changes in lung function in a pulmonary function laboratory setting .
in
another study ,
150 patients with obstructive disease underwent two
spirometric tests , 20 minutes apart .
the increases in fev1 and fvc required
in order to exclude a random variation by 95% ci were 0.16 l and 0.33 l , respectively .
in a more recent study , fev1 and fvc variations were evaluated after the
administration of placebo in 98 patients with copd .
the upper limit was
found to be 0.18 l for fev1 and 0.28 l for fvc .
the most common ways of expressing the bronchodilator response are absolute changes ,
percentage of change from baseline values , and percentage of predicted values .
measurements based on predicted values have the best reproducibility and are the least
dependent on baseline values .
the values derived in the present study
suggest that increases 7% in the predicted fvc and fev1 values exceed the
natural variability and can therefore be considered significant . for the sake of the
reproducibility of the maneuvers , we believe that changes 0.20 l should also be
present in order to characterize a significant response to bronchodilator use .
the bronchodilator response evaluated by fev1 has few , if any , clinical
implications for copd .
the lack of response in a laboratory setting does not
translate to a lack of clinical response to bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroids ,
as evaluated by short - term relief of dyspnea , long - term relief of dyspnea , improved
quality of life , improved exercise capacity , and changes in
fev1 .
two types of studies have been used in order to derive cut - off points intended to
characterize a significant bronchodilator response .
post - bronchodilator variations can
be considered significant if they exceed those observed in individuals without lung
disease or if they exceed the spontaneous variation observed after the administration of
placebo in patients with airflow limitation , such as those investigated in the present
study . in individuals without lung disease , fev1 increases by less than 10%
after bronchodilator use .
this cut - off point has been used for
distinguishing between asthma and copd patients in some studies .
however , this limit can be exceeded in some patients with copd , especially if a
combination of beta - agonists and anticholinergic agents is used .
airway obstruction leads to progressive air trapping during exhalation , as well as
leading to hyperinflation .
these changes result in reduced resting ic , increased work of
breathing , and lower exercise tolerance .
dynamic hyperinflation has been
shown to be an independent predictor of decreased daily physical activity and mortality
due to respiratory failure in patients with copd .
it
is possible that patients with copd who do not show a significant response to
bronchodilators as assessed by flow ( fev1 ) will show a significant lung
volume response as assessed by increased svc and ic .
increased ic has
been associated with decreased hyperinflation and improved exercise
tolerance .
many studies involving different classes of
bronchodilators have shown associations among increased ic , improved exercise tolerance ,
and reduced dyspnea in copd patients .
however , changes in ic after
placebo administration are poorly characterized . in a study involving 26 patients with
asthma or copd ,
the proposed limit for ic changes after placebo administration was a 9%
increase from baseline values or 220 ml .
in two studies ,
an increase of
more than 0.3 l in ic was associated with a significant improvement in exercise
tolerance in patients with copd .
in the present study , ic increases of
more than 15% in relation to the baseline values , of more than 12% in the predicted
values , and of 0.3 l
were found to constitute the upper limit for ic after the
administration of placebo , values that are similar to those found in those
studies .
for svc , increases of more than 0.25 l , of more than 10% in
relation to baseline values , or of more than 7% in the predicted values can be
considered significant .
when
post - bronchodilator changes in fev1 are proportional to the
post - bronchodilator changes in fvc , they can reflect lung volume recruitment and should
be considered volume responses .
although fev1 and fvc are
volume measurements , post - bronchodilator variations in these measurements can reflect
increased expiratory flow .
an isolated post - bronchodilator variation in fev1
probably reflects bronchial dilation primarily of the central airways , whereas an
isolated post - bronchodilator variation in fvc is indicative of bronchial dilation
primarily of the peripheral airways .
patients with more severe airflow obstruction
commonly show an isolated fvc response ,
which reflects the emptying of
very slow lung compartments .
therefore , fev1 and fvc both also reflect
changes in flow , albeit in different segments of the tracheobronchial tree .
it is
therefore not surprising that we found a correlation between fev1 changes and
fvc changes in the present study , those changes having shared a common factor ( factor 1 )
on factor analysis .
in addition , fvc correlated and clustered with svc on factor
analysis ( factor 2 ) .
interestingly , our factor analysis showed no association between variations in ic and
variations in svc , although a significant but weak correlation was found between those
two variables . in patients with lung hyperinflation , a reduction in rv
is expected after
the use of a bronchodilator , reflected by an increase in svc .
however ,
studies including unselected patients have found a poor but significant correlation
between variations in rv and variations in svc .
it is known that tlc can
decrease after bronchodilator use , and this interferes with the abovementioned
correlation .
the changes in svc after bronchodilator use are inferior
to the variation in ic in predicting exercise capacity improvement in copd
patients .
the real operational limit for volume expansion in air
flow during exercise is ic rather than svc .
although fvc also increases with the
reduction in rv after bronchodilator use , fvc is inferior to svc because it is
influenced by thoracic gas compression during forced expiration ( as is fev1 ) .
one of the possible limitations of the present study is the inclusion of a large
proportion of female asthma patients with mild airflow obstruction .
however , there were
no differences between the patients with asthma and those with copd in terms of the
variations in the parameters studied , and there were no correlations between
fev1% and the variation in fev1 after the administration of
placebo . in conclusion , we established cut - off points for changes in parameters derived from svc
and fvc maneuvers performed after the administration of placebo in a large sample of
patients with airflow obstruction . on factor analysis , these parameters clustered into
three dimensions , expressing changes in flows , volumes , and dynamic hyperinflation . | pubmed |
sensor networks are used to monitor large or hazardous environments , for purposes ranging from oceanographic research to security in airports , industrial plants , and other complex infrastructures . in order to provide the best _ coverage _ of the assigned environment
, sensors have to be deployed at suitable locations .
as sensors are prone to failures in collecting and transmitting data , the robustness of the obtained coverage performance is a natural concern : thus , we consider in this paper the problem of placing _
unreliable _ sensors in a given environment in order to provide the optimal coverage of it .
coverage optimization and related problems of optimal facility location have been studied by the operations research community for a long time , often using concepts from geometric optimization and computational geometry @xcite . during the past decade , conditions for sensor networks to provide a certain level of coverage have been found in a variety of situations , which include both random and deterministic placement strategies @xcite .
many available results allow sensors to fail or to spend time in a sleeping mode to save energy : in fact , these two scenarios can be given a unified treatment @xcite using probabilistic methods @xcite .
however , it appears that the issue of the optimality of such placements , although recognized as central , has been left in the background @xcite .
control scientists have also become interested in these topics , after realizing that feedback control can enable the autonomous deployment of self - propelled sensors @xcite .
the main references for this research are the book @xcite and the related papers @xcite , while very recent developments include @xcite .
most literature from the control community assumes sensors to behave reliably , but recent results are making clear that this assumption is not free from risks .
in fact , sensor failures deteriorate the performance of the sensor network and it is not even clear if optimal solutions derived for the case without failures retain good properties in other cases .
indeed , simulations reported in @xcite show the solutions that are optimal in the presence of failure are qualitatively different from those optimal in the fully reliable case . the common sense countermeasure to failing sensors is adding some redundancy and letting more than one sensor `` responsible '' for covering a certain region of the environment , so that they can back up each other in case a failure occurs . to this aim
, sensors can cluster into groups , such that the members of each group have the same location .
this approach has been exploited by corts @xcite , under the assumption that the number of failed sensors is precisely _
known_. as a consequence , the number of clusters in the optimal solution is directly determined by this number . in this paper
, we consider the problem of _ optimal disk - coverage in a one - dimensional environment by unreliable sensors _
, under a probabilistic failure model that does not assume any _ a priori _ information about the number or the location of the failures .
rather , we assume that sensors fail independently and with the same probability .
we then aim to minimize , in expectation , the largest distance between a point in the environment and an active sensor .
this cost function was already used in @xcite , which was motivated by random field estimation @xcite .
it is consistent with the spirit of standard coverage questions in sensor networks , in which one is interested in guaranteeing a full coverage of the environment using a given number of sensors with a certain coverage radius @xcite .
note that it also corresponds to the classical problem of facility location , where a number of facilities have to service customers in a given area and want to optimize the worst - case servicing delay ( * ? ? ?
* ch . 2 ) . regarding the choice of the environment , most prior works about sensor networks
have chosen two - dimensional settings .
in contrast , our choice of working in dimension one allows us to achieve sharper characterizations and results about optimality , both asymptotical and for finite networks
. results of this kind are scarce in the literature , even if one - dimensional settings have often been studied , both in classical @xcite and recent works @xcite .
our first result
theorem [ prop : linprog ] states that the problem at hand is equivalent to a linear program , albeit with a number of variables growing exponentially with the number of sensors .
this fact allows for a computational solution that is tractable if the number of sensors is not large .
secondly , we show that for large number of sensors @xmath0 , the cost of the equispaced placement decreases to zero with leading term @xmath1 , where @xmath2 is the probability of failure . in theorem
[ th : equispace - logn ] , we provide analytic bounds on the optimal cost and prove that the equispaced placement is nearly optimal : the ratio between its cost and the optimal cost tend to 1 when @xmath0 grows .
by contrast , we show in theorem [ thm : random ] that a random placement has a larger cost of order @xmath3 .
the almost optimality of the deterministic placement and its strict difference with the random placement had not been noticed before in the literature .
our analysis also bear consequences for the failure model adopted by corts @xcite : for instance , we show that the equispaced placement is nearly optimal in this case as well . finally , we note that our results extend and refine those recently presented by some of the authors in @xcite , where a similar model of unreliable coverage was proposed .
the rest of the paper is organized as follows . the formal definition of the problem is presented in [ sect : prob_def ] . translation to a linear optimization problem is shown in [ sect : linprog ] . in [ sect : perf_equi ] we assess the performance of the equispaced placement .
[ sect : extreme_p ] we analyze the special cases when the failure probabilities are close to 0 or to 1 .
[ sect : random ] deals with the case of random sensor placement .
in [ sect : cortes ] we adapt our results to the failure model by corts .
conclusions are drawn in
[ sect : conclusion ] .
we assume that we have a set of sensors indexed in @xmath4={\{1,\dots , n\}}$ ] which have to cover the interval @xmath5 $ ] .
since sensors may fail , we consider for each placement @xmath6^n$ ] the coverage cost defined as the largest distance between a point in @xmath5 $ ] and its closest _ active _ ( not failing ) sensor . to formalize this notion , we let @xmath7 denote the set of active sensors
: we will use @xmath8 to denote the cardinality of @xmath7 and @xmath9 to denote the @xmath10 smallest index present in the set @xmath7 , for @xmath11 .
we also call @xmath12^{|a|}$ ] the restriction of the vector @xmath13 to those entries for which the corresponding sensors are active .
the cost incurred when the set of sensors @xmath7 is active is thus @xmath14 } \min_{j \in a } | s - x_j |.\ ] ] to be formally complete , we assign the arbitrary cost @xmath15 to the situation where all sensors fail .
this convention has no effect when we seek to optimize the locations of the sensors , as locations are irrelevant when they all fail .
observe that if no sensor fails ( @xmath16 $ ] ) , then the cost reduces to @xmath17 } \min_{j \in [ n ] } | s - x_j |.\ ] ] in this case , it is known that the equispaced placement of @xmath0 sensors , namely @xmath18 is the optimal solution and achieves a cost @xmath19 .
since we assume that failures are random , we define the event @xmath20 and we consider the _ expected value _ of the cost @xmath21 , which is @xmath22 } } { \mathbb{p}}(e_a ) c_0(x_a),\ ] ] where @xmath23 is the probability of @xmath24 . in the rest of this paper , with the exception of [ sect : cortes ] , we assume that each sensor fails with probability @xmath2 , independently from the others .
consequently , @xmath25 we are then ready to formally state our optimization problem .
[ prob : mainprob ] for given @xmath26 and @xmath27 , find @xmath28^n$ ] that minimizes the cost with . in what follows we assume , for simplicity and without loosing generality , that @xmath13 is ordered @xmath29 .
this assumption implies that @xmath30
a solution of problem [ prob : mainprob ] can be numerically computed by means of the following result , that shows its equivalence to a suitable linear program .
[ prop : linprog ] let @xmath27 and @xmath26 .
the ( ordered ) vector @xmath28^n$ ] is an optimal solution of problem [ prob : mainprob ] if and only if there exists a vector @xmath31 such that @xmath32 is an optimal solution to the following linear program : @xmath33,~a\neq\emptyset,\nonumber\\ & w_a \geq \frac{1}{2}(x_{a_{k+1}}- x_{a_k } ) , \hspace{.2 cm } \text{for } k = 1,\dots,|a|-1 , \label{constr : def_cost_normal_in_thm_linprog}\\ & w_a \geq x_{a_1},w_a \geq 1-x_{a_{|a|}}.\label{constr : def_cost_boundary_in_thm_linprog}\end{aligned}\ ] ] as the constant term @xmath34 can be ignored when looking for the @xmath13 minimizing @xmath35 , problem [ prob : mainprob ] is equivalent to @xmath36,a\neq\emptyset } { \mathbb{p}}(e_a ) c_0(x_a).\ ] ] since @xmath37 for every @xmath7 , this problem is in turn equivalent to @xmath36,a\neq\emptyset } { \mathbb{p}}(e_a ) w_a \text { s.t . }
w_a \geq c_0(x_a ) \text { for every } a\neq \emptyset,\ ] ] that is , to under the constraints and @xmath38 for every @xmath39 .
thanks to , the constraint @xmath38 can be separated in @xmath40 , @xmath41 , and @xmath42 for @xmath43 , that is , in and , which achieves our proof . the formulation as a linear program implies that the optimal solution corresponds to one of the vertices of the polytope defined by the constraints . unfortunately , the number of such constraints is exponentially large in the number of sensors and thus the program becomes quickly intractable .
nevertheless , we are able to calculate the optimal placements as long as @xmath0 is not too large . in figure
[ fig : sim12 ] we illustrate the evolution of the optimal placement for problem [ prob : mainprob ] as a function of @xmath2 .
we can see that the dependence on @xmath2 is rather complex and it is not clear how , or if , one could provide a simple exact description of the optimal location of the sensors as a function of @xmath0 and @xmath2 . still , in
[ sect : extreme_p ] we will show that the equispaced placement is optimal when @xmath2 is near 0 and a single cluster at @xmath44 is optimal when @xmath2 is near 1 .
observe that the the optimal @xmath13 is a piecewise constant function of @xmath2 .
this feature can actually be explained by the structure of the linear program in theorem [ prop : linprog ] .
indeed , one can see that the constraints do not depend on @xmath2 , which only affects the cost function . for any @xmath2
, one can thus always find an optimal @xmath32 among the finitely many vertices of the polytope defined by these constraints .
it is therefore natural to observe only finitely many different optimal solutions . [ ] [ ] [ 1][0]@xmath2 for @xmath45 sensors and
varying @xmath2.,title="fig : " ]
[ sec : perf_equidist ] the difficulty of providing explicit formulas or efficient computational methods to solve problem [ prob : mainprob ] motivates us to investigate the properties of simple near - optimal solutions .
we concentrate on the equispaced placement , which we have seen to be optimal in case of no failures , achieving a cost @xmath19 . in the case of positive failure probability
, we can prove that the cost of the equispaced placement is nearly optimal .
[ th : equispace - logn ] let @xmath26 and let @xmath46 denote the optimal placement for this @xmath2 .
then , @xmath47 and for every @xmath27 @xmath48 equation is illustrated in figure [ fig : rand - vs - equi ] ( [ sect : random ] ) .
a few relevant observations follow from this theorem : ( i ) the order of growth of @xmath49 is only worse than the order of @xmath50 by a logarithmic factor ; ( ii ) @xmath51 asymptotically achieves the optimal cost , since @xmath52 ; and ( iii ) the difference in cost between @xmath51 and the optimum can be estimated at finite @xmath0 , too .
consequently , the equispaced placement can be seen as a valid heuristic solution , when finding an exact solution proves to be intractable .
the rest of this section is devoted to prove theorem [ th : equispace - logn ] .
we first prove equation in [ sect - proof - paolo ] : its proof is based on classical results about the properties of the runs of consecutive ones in sequences of bernoulli trials .
next , in
[ sec : line - circle ] we prove ; the proof of this formula relies on an alternative version of problem [ prob : mainprob ] defined on the circle , for which the equispaced solution is actually optimal .
let @xmath53 be the maximum number of sensors which fail `` in a row '' , _
i.e. _ , the length of the longest run of failures over @xmath0 sensors .
the random variable @xmath53 is closely related to the cost , as we detail below . on the other hand ,
the distribution of @xmath53 and its asymptotic behavior for large @xmath0 are well studied in the literature , due to their relevance in combinatorics @xcite .
the following lemma , taken from @xcite , characterizes the asymptotic behavior of @xmath54 $ ] .
[ lemma : rn - properties ] let @xmath53 be defined as above and @xmath26 .
then , for @xmath55 , @xmath56=\frac1{\log{p^{-1}}}\log{n } + \frac{\log(1\!-\!p)}{\log{p^{-1 } } } + \frac\gamma{\log{p^{-1 } } } -\frac12+r_{p}(n)+o(1 ) \,,\ ] ] where @xmath57 is the euler - mascheroni constant and @xmath58 is a periodic function which remains bounded and , more precisely , satisfies for all @xmath0 @xmath59 recall that we denote by @xmath7 the set of active sensors and that the sensors are sorted according to their location .
the cost @xmath49 is tightly related with the lengths of runs of failures , and in particular the maximum run - length . for a given
set @xmath7 of active sensors , denote by @xmath60 the longest run - length of failures for that set @xmath7 ( elements of @xmath4 $ ] not in @xmath7 ) : @xmath60 is thus the realization of @xmath53 corresponding to @xmath7 .
notice that if @xmath61 and @xmath62 , then the coverage cost is precisely determined by the longest run of failures , since @xmath63 .
however , when a failure occurs in sensors @xmath64 or @xmath0 ( or both ) , the runs of failures involving border sensors contribute to the cost by a larger amount .
denote by @xmath65 and @xmath66 the lengths of the runs of failures involving the initial sensor 1 and the final sensor @xmath0 , respectively , namely , @xmath67 and @xmath68 for @xmath69 , and @xmath70 for @xmath71 .
now notice that , for all @xmath69 , @xmath72 for the case where @xmath71 , recall that @xmath73 .
hence , for all @xmath7 , we have the following bounds : @xmath74 and @xmath75 the bounds on the averaged cost @xmath49 are then obtained by taking the expectation .
notice that , with the failure model from problem [ prob : mainprob ] the maximum run - length @xmath60 is the above - described random variable @xmath53 , and hence its average satisfies lemma [ lemma : rn - properties ] . for the initial and final run - lengths , they are truncated geometric r.v.s , in the following sense .
let @xmath76 be a geometric r.v .
of parameter @xmath2 , namely @xmath77 .
now notice that @xmath78 and @xmath79 are equal to @xmath80 for @xmath81 , to @xmath82 for @xmath83 and to @xmath84 for larger @xmath85 , so that @xmath86 .
we can now conclude the proof : for the lower bound @xmath87 while for the upper bound @xmath88 in order to complete the proof of theorem [ th : equispace - logn ] we introduce a proxy model . instead of covering the unit interval , this time we attempt to find a good coverage on a circle with circumference 1 .
if we represent the locations by values in @xmath5 $ ] , this means that the distance between two points @xmath89 $ ] is @xmath90 . employing this distance to determine the cost as in leads to define the following problem .
[ prob : circle ] for given @xmath26 and @xmath27 , find @xmath6^n$ ] that minimizes @xmath91 } { \mathbb{p}}(e_a ) \tilde c_0(x_a ) , $ ] where @xmath92 and @xmath93 problem [ prob : circle ] can also be formulated as a linear problem ; a result similar to theorem [ prop : linprog ] with a minor modification to constraints can be proved exactly in the same way .
let @xmath27 and @xmath26 .
the ( ordered ) vector @xmath28^n$ ] is the optimal solution of problem [ prob : circle ] if and only if there exists a vector @xmath31 such that @xmath32 is an optimal solution to the following linear program : @xmath94,~a\neq \emptyset,\nonumber\\ & w_a \geq \frac{1}{2}(x_{a_{k+1}}- x_{a_k } ) , \hspace{.2 cm } \text{for } k = 1,\dots,|a|-1,\nonumber\\ & w_a \geq \frac{1}{2 } ( 1- x_{a_{{\left|a\right| } } } + x_{a_1}).\label{const_cycle_boundary}\end{aligned}\ ] ] we now show that the equispaced solution @xmath51 is the optimal sensor placement for the circle
. we will then relate it to the original problem on the line .
[ prop : equidist_optimal_cycle ] the equispaced sensor placement @xmath51 is the only optimal sensor placement ( up to translation ) on the circle for problem [ prob : circle ] .
the linear program nature of the problem allows us to combine different sensor placements . given @xmath95 and @xmath96 we may form @xmath97
this is a valid point of the polytope of constraints , and the cost is between the cost of the two initial placements . on the other hand , using the symmetry of the circle it follows that the rotation of @xmath13 ( formally a translation modulo 1 ) does not change the associated cost , even though @xmath98 may need to be changed appropriately . without loss of generality , we assume thus @xmath99 .
let us fix an initial @xmath95 and define the rotated versions @xmath100 such that @xmath101 becomes @xmath102 .
for every @xmath103 we have the corresponding best @xmath104 which all give the same cost .
we want a closer look on their average @xmath105 using our previous observations , this is a valid sensor placement and @xmath106 has the same cost as any @xmath104 .
but what is this @xmath46 ? let us check the distance of two consecutive sensors ( out of bound indices and distances have to be interpreted appropriately ) : @xmath107 therefore @xmath108 .
this already shows that the equispaced placement is optimal .
we now show that it is the only optimal solution .
+ for the sensor placement @xmath46 the accompanying @xmath106 is not necessarily the best possible .
we claim that whenever @xmath109 is not equispaced , there is a @xmath110 such that @xmath111 is valid and strictly cheaper than @xmath95 .
when @xmath13 is not equispaced , it means that there are two consecutive sensors which are more than @xmath112 apart . in other words ,
@xmath113}>1/(2n)$ ] . by the construction
above , we get @xmath114}=w_{[n]}>1/(2n)$ ] . on the other hand , we know that we can decrease @xmath114}$ ] to @xmath115 for the equispaced placement without violating any constraints
. define @xmath116 } & = 1/(2n),\\ \tilde{w}^*_{a } & = w^*_{a } \quad \text{otherwise . }
\end{aligned}\ ] ] this way @xmath111 is a valid point of the polytope .
the costs of the different settings compare as follows : @xmath117 this becomes a strict inequality whenever @xmath118)>0 $ ] .
consequently @xmath118)>0 $ ] is a sufficient condition for @xmath119 to be the strong optimum .
this condition obviously holds for independent failures which concludes our proof .
[ rem : xeq - optimal ] the same proof shows that @xmath51 is an optimal sensor placement for any variation of problem [ prob : circle ] where @xmath23 is independent of the positions of the sensors and invariant under permutation .
moreover , if there is a nonzero probability that all sensors are active , it is the only optimal placement , up to translations .
next , we show that the optimal cost of our initial problem [ prob : mainprob ] lies between the cost @xmath120 of the ( optimal ) equispaced solution @xmath51 for problem [ prob : circle ] on the circle and the cost @xmath49 of the same distribution for problem [ prob : mainprob ] . for this purpose , we need the following lemma providing a bound on the difference of cost for each set @xmath7 of active sensors , which will also prove useful later . [
lem : compare_circle_line_one_set ] let @xmath7 be a non - empty set of active sensors and @xmath121 their positions .
there holds @xmath122 moreover , if @xmath123 , then @xmath124 .
consider .
adding the average of the first two terms in the set on which the maximum is taken does not affect the value of the maximum .
we have therefore @xmath125 observe that every quantity appearing in the definition @xmath126 also appears in .
therefore , we have @xmath127 .
moreover , in case this inequality is strict , @xmath128 must be equal to one of the elements that appear in but not in , that is , either @xmath129 or @xmath130 .
[ lem:3bounds ] let @xmath46 be an optimal solution to problem [ prob : mainprob ] for given @xmath0 and @xmath2 .
there holds @xmath131 the inequality @xmath132 follows from the optimality of @xmath46 for problem [ prob : mainprob ] .
similarly , @xmath133 follows from the optimality of @xmath51 for problem [ prob : circle ] proved in theorem [ prop : equidist_optimal_cycle ] .
finally , since @xmath134 , it follows from lemma [ lem : compare_circle_line_one_set ] that @xmath135 for every @xmath13 , and in particular that @xmath136 .
thanks to lemma [ lem:3bounds ] , now we just have to evaluate the difference between the cost of the equispaced solution @xmath51 in problems [ prob : mainprob ] and [ prob : circle ] .
[ lem : bound_eq_line - eq_circle ] for any @xmath27 , @xmath26 , there holds @xmath137 we first consider a ( non - empty ) set of active sensors @xmath7 and find a bound on the difference of cost @xmath138 .
observe first that @xmath139 , and therefore that @xmath140 in all cases .
suppose now that @xmath141 and @xmath142 are different .
it follows in that case from lemma [ lem : compare_circle_line_one_set ] that @xmath143 , and that @xmath144 whenever @xmath145 , we have thus @xmath146 when @xmath147 , the inequality also holds since the right - hand side of is non - negative .
we now sum the inequality over all events and use the symmetry of our problem to obtain @xmath148 where the event @xmath149 implicitly implies that @xmath7 is non - empty .
observe that the probability for the @xmath150 sensor to be the first active one is @xmath151 .
therefore , the expression @xmath152 is the expected value of a truncated geometric random variable ( i.e. a geometric random variable whose value is set to 0 if it exceeds @xmath0 ) , and is bounded by @xmath153 .
reintroducing this into leads to the desired result @xmath154 .
the inequality in theorem [ th : equispace - logn ] follows then from the combination of lemmas [ lem:3bounds ] and [ lem : bound_eq_line - eq_circle ] .
in this section , we study the optimal placement when @xmath2 takes on extreme values , either close to 0 or to 1 .
our first result gives the optimal placements under such conditions .
[ prop : neighborhoods ] if @xmath2 is in a neighborhood of 0 , then the equispaced placement @xmath51 is optimal .
similarly , if @xmath2 is in a neighborhood of 1 , then the optimal placement is @xmath155 , where @xmath156 for all @xmath157 $ ] . [
prp : pnearextreme ] we rely on the linear program formulation in [ sect : linprog ] .
we have seen that the polytope of constraints is independent of @xmath2 , and that the cost vector evolves continuously with @xmath2 .
for @xmath158 we know that the unique optimal solution is @xmath51 .
this means that for any other vertex @xmath13 of the polytope of constraints we have @xmath159 let us denote the set of vertices of the polytope of constraints by @xmath160 . knowing that @xmath160 is finite , we get @xmath161 the strict inequality and the continuity of the cost function with respect to @xmath2 imply that , for a sufficiently small perturbation of the cost vector , @xmath51 will remain the optimal placement . in other words
, @xmath51 is optimal as long as @xmath2 is in a sufficiently small neighborhood of 0 . for large failure probability @xmath162
the most relevant events are those with just one active sensor , in the sense that any @xmath7 with size two or more has @xmath163 .
then , @xmath164 this holds for any placement @xmath13 , so in particular for all @xmath165 .
clearly @xmath155 is strictly optimal concerning the main term @xmath166 . recalling that @xmath160 is finite
, this implies that one can find a sufficiently small @xmath167 such that , for all @xmath168 , @xmath169 for all @xmath170 , i.e. , @xmath155 is optimal .
the next two results provide estimates on the sizes of the neighborhoods in proposition [ prop : neighborhoods ] , showing that their sizes asymptotically vanish as @xmath0 diverges .
their proofs , presented in appendices [ ap : propequidistsmall ] and [ ap : propequidistlarge ] , rely on comparing @xmath51 and @xmath155 with alternative placements , and showing that the former are not optimal when @xmath2 differs from respectively 0 or 1 by more than a certain value that decays in @xmath171 .
the neighborhood of 0 where @xmath51 is optimal is at most @xmath172 long , with some constant @xmath173 .
[ prop : equidistsmallp ] the neighborhood of 1 where the single cluster placement @xmath155 is optimal is at most @xmath174 long .
[ prop : equidistlargep ] the proof of proposition [ prop : equidistlargep ] actually shows the slightly stronger result that @xmath155 is sub - optimal for any @xmath175 . in other words
, it does not become optimal again for smaller values of @xmath2 .
in this section we consider a random placement @xmath176 of the sensors .
more precisely , the positions @xmath177 , @xmath178 , @xmath179 are i.i.d .
random variables , uniformly distributed in the interval @xmath5 $ ] .
notice that ( differently from @xmath13 in the rest of the paper ) , here @xmath176 has entries which are not ordered , so that the cost definition in applies , while the one in does not .
the following result describes the asymptotic behavior of @xmath180 $ ] , where @xmath181 denotes expectation with respect to the random positions of sensors .
note that the cost @xmath35 defined in is itself averaged with respect to sensor failures .
[ thm : random ] let @xmath176 be the above - defined random sensor placement .
then , @xmath182 = \frac{1}{2(1-p ) } \frac{\log n}{n } + o\!\left(\frac{1}{n}\right ) \qquad \text{for $ n\to\infty$ } \,.\ ] ] from theorem [ thm : random ] we can argue that @xmath180 $ ] has the same order of growth as @xmath49 , but with a larger constant , thus leading to an asymptotically worse performance : this comparison is illustrated in figure [ fig : rand - vs - equi ] .
the rest of the section describes the main steps of the proof , while some lengthier details are postponed to the appendix .
$ ] , @xmath49 , and their approximations according to theorems [ thm : random ] and [ th : equispace - logn ] , respectively .
the expected costs are simulated as monte carlo averages over 100 independent realizations of the placements and of the failures , taking @xmath183 . ] from the definition in and by linearity of expectation , @xmath184 = \sum_{a \subseteq [ n ] } { \mathbb{p}}(e_a ) { \mathbb{e}}[c_0({{x^{\textup{rand}}}}_a ) ] \,.\ ] ] the key remark is that all sets @xmath7 having the same cardinality @xmath185 have the same average cost @xmath186 $ ] , which corresponds to the average cost of a vector of @xmath185 active sensors in random positions .
then , we define @xmath187 as a vector with @xmath185 entries @xmath188 , i.i.d .
uniform in @xmath5 $ ] . with this notation , @xmath186 = { \mathbb{e}}[c_0({{x^{\textup{rand,$m$}}}})]$ ] with @xmath189 , so that @xmath190 = \sum_{m=0}^n { \mathbb{p}}(|a|=m ) { \mathbb{e}}[c_0({{x^{\textup{rand,$m$ } } } } ) ] \,.\ ] ] hence , we focus on finding bounds for @xmath191 $ ] . to do so , we make use of classic results about lengths of segments when cutting a rope at random points , as described below .
we introduce the notation @xmath192 for the lengths of the segments obtained when cutting the @xmath5 $ ] interval at points from @xmath187 .
more precisely , let @xmath193 be the vector obtained re - ordering entries of @xmath187 in non - decreasing order ; also define @xmath194 and @xmath195 ; finally define @xmath196 , for @xmath197 .
the average cost @xmath191 $ ] is related to the distribution of the segment lengths @xmath192 , as follows .
[ lemma : ec0randm - rope ] for any @xmath198 , @xmath199 = \int_0 ^ 1 { \mathbb{p}}(c_0({{x^{\textup{rand,$m$}}}})>v ) \mathrm{d}v \ , , \ ] ] where @xmath200 . by computing the expectation as the integral of the survival function , immediately follows . from
applied to @xmath201 , we have @xmath202 , which implies the second equality
. we will then take advantage of the following result about the distribution of the segment lengths @xmath192 .
[ lem : cuttingrope ] let @xmath192 be the above - defined segment lengths .
given @xmath203 non - negative parameters @xmath204 such that @xmath205 , and distinct indices @xmath206 $ ] , then @xmath207 the above lemmas , together with inclusion - exclusion principle , allow us to find the following bounds for @xmath208 $ ] .
the bounds involve the harmonic numbers @xmath209 .
the details of the proof are given in appendix [ ap : boundsec0 ] .
[ lemma : bounds - ec0xrandm ] for all @xmath210 , @xmath211 \ge \frac{h_{m+1}}{2(m+1 ) } \,.\ ] ] moreover , for all @xmath212 , @xmath211 \le \frac{h_{m-1 } + 4}{2(m+1 ) } \,.\ ] ] then , using lemma [ lemma : bounds - ec0xrandm ] , we can find the following bounds for @xmath213 .
the proof is described in detail in appendix [ ap : boundscxrand ] .
[ lemma : bounds - cxrand ] for any @xmath214 , @xmath182 \ge ( 1 - e^{-2 { \varepsilon}^2 n } ) \frac{h_{\lceil ( 1-p+{\varepsilon})n \rceil}}{2 \lceil(1-p+{\varepsilon})n \rceil } \,.\ ] ] moreover , for any @xmath215 , @xmath182 \le e^{-2 { \varepsilon}^2 n } + \frac{h_{\lceil ( 1-p-{\varepsilon})n \rceil } + 4}{2 \lceil ( 1-p-{\varepsilon})n \rceil + 2 } \,.\ ] ] the statement of theorem [ thm : random ] follows from lemma [ lemma : bounds - cxrand ] , by taking @xmath216 and by exploiting the fact that the asymptotic growth of harmonic numbers is @xmath217 for @xmath218 .
as mentioned in the introduction , the paper @xcite studies the coverage problem in one - dimension with the following failure model for the sensors .
the number of failing sensors is known ( and indicated with @xmath85 ) but _ which _ sensors fail is unknown and random : more precisely , the set of the @xmath85 failing sensors is sampled from a uniform distribution over the subsets of @xmath219 with @xmath85 elements .
the problem can be summarized as follows .
[ prob : cortes ] for given positive integers @xmath220 with @xmath221 , find @xmath6^n$ ] that minimizes @xmath222 where @xmath223 is defined by and @xmath224 if @xmath225 and 0 otherwise .
observe that the only difference with our problem [ prob : mainprob ] is that the probabilities @xmath23 have changed .
the following lemma indicates how the corts model can be approximated by the independent failure model .
[ lem : bound_cortes_indep ] for any @xmath6^n$ ] , @xmath221 and @xmath226 , @xmath227 were we use the notation @xmath228 for the cost of corts model and @xmath229 for the independent failure model .
problem [ prob : cortes ] involves uniformly randomly selecting a subset @xmath7 of @xmath85 failed sensors among @xmath0 possible ones .
one way of doing this is to first build a set @xmath230 obtained by selecting independently every sensor with a probability @xmath2 .
then , if @xmath231 , one obtains @xmath7 by removing @xmath232 uniformly randomly selected sensors from @xmath230 . if on the other hand @xmath233 , one adds @xmath234 randomly selected sensors to @xmath230 .
observe that @xmath7 then always contains @xmath85 sensors , and that all sets @xmath7 with cardinality @xmath85 are equiprobable , so it is a valid selection process with respect to problem [ prob : cortes ] .
the cost of @xmath13 can be decomposed as the contributions of the event @xmath235 and @xmath236 .
@xmath237 when @xmath236 , the set @xmath7 contains the set @xmath230 from which it was built , and the cost @xmath128 is thus smaller than or equal to @xmath238 . as a result , @xmath239 . on the other hand ,
the cost @xmath238 is always bounded by 1 , and thus there always holds @xmath240 .
in particular , @xmath241 . reintroducing these two bounds in yields @xmath242 where the last inequality follows from the fact that the sets @xmath230 are built by randomly taking each sensor with a probability @xmath2 as in problem [ prob : mainprob ] . now the size of @xmath230 follows a binomial distribution with parameters @xmath0 and @xmath2 .
hoeffding s inequality implies then that @xmath243 . taking @xmath244 , we obtain @xmath245 , and the upper bound of this lemma follows then from .
the lower bound is obtained in a parallel way .
results analogous to those presented in the previous sections can then be obtained for the model in @xcite .
we collect them in the following theorem .
@xmath246 * * linear program . *
theorem [ prop : linprog ] is directly valid for problem [ prob : cortes ] . *
* asymptotic cost of @xmath51 . * for fixed @xmath247 and @xmath55
, @xmath49 approximates @xmath248 more precisely , for any @xmath249 we have @xmath250 where the @xmath171 term can depend on @xmath251 and @xmath247 . *
* near - optimality of @xmath51 .
* let @xmath46 be the optimal solution to problem [ prob : cortes ] .
there holds @xmath252 * * asymptotic cost of @xmath176 . *
the average cost of the random placement has the asymptotic behavior @xmath182 = \frac{\log m}{2 m } + o\left ( \frac{1}{m } \right ) \ ; \text{for $ m \to \infty$ } \,,\ ] ] where @xmath253 is the number of active sensors .
\(a ) the proof of theorem [ prop : linprog ] does not depend on the values of the probabilities @xmath23 .
it applies thus directly to other models of probabilities , including that of problem [ prob : cortes ] .
moreover , the polytope of admissible solutions does not depend on @xmath23 either .
therefore , whenever the optimal solution is unique , it must belong to the ( finite ) set of vertices of that polytope , independently of the model .
\(b ) this part of the result is obtained by combining the bound in theorem [ th : equispace - logn ] with lemma [ lem : bound_cortes_indep ] .
\(c ) the proof follows the reasoning held in [ sec : perf_equidist ] .
specifically we can introduce a variation of problem [ prob : cortes ] on the circle .
as explained in remark [ rem : xeq - optimal ] , proposition [ prop : equidist_optimal_cycle ] implies then that @xmath51 is an optimal solution of that problem ( though not necessarily the only one since the probability for all sensors to be active is zero if @xmath254 ) . lemmas [ lem : compare_circle_line_one_set ] and [ lem:3bounds ] can then directly be extended with the same proof , so that @xmath255 .
the bound ( c ) follows then from a variation of lemma [ lem : bound_eq_line - eq_circle ] showing that @xmath256 .
\(d ) similarly to the proof of theorem [ thm : random ] , we get @xmath257 for any @xmath7 with @xmath258 , and hence also @xmath259 . then
, applying lemma [ lemma : bounds - ec0xrandm ] , we get @xmath260 which concludes the proof . our results on the asymptotic behavior of solutions to problem [ prob : cortes ]
complement those in @xcite , which focus on general properties of the optimization problem and on deriving explicit formulas for certain values of @xmath261 .
in this paper we have presented our findings on a new model of coverage by unreliable sensors , which extends the well - known disk - coverage problem to allow for independent sensor failures .
we have shown that the resulting optimization problem is a linear program , thus solvable by standard methods . however , since the space of possible solutions grows exponentially with the size of the problem , we do not know whether a solution can be found in a polynomial time .
although the optimal solution can possibly be hard to find , and even if its properties are difficult to describe precisely , we have been able to present a suboptimal solution which asymptotically achieves the optimal performance as the number of sensors grows to infinity . remarkably , this near - optimal solution is just the equispaced placement , which is optimal in the case without failures .
we have also compared the performance of random sensor placement to the equispaced setting to find that there is a constant factor deterioration of the cost : nevertheless , the rate of growth is the same as the number of sensors increases .
this paper opens several research directions .
the first natural direction is the extension to higher dimensions .
as mentioned in the introduction , the coverage performance of two - dimensional sensor networks has been extensively investigated . consistently with the results in @xcite and some preliminary results that we have obtained , we believe that both @xmath49 and @xmath262 are asymptotically proportional to @xmath263 . however , characterising the proportionality constant and its optimality is an open question .
in fact , our optimality analysis hinges on the assumption of dimension one : crucially , the linear programming characterisation is unlikely to effectively extend to higher dimensions .
secondly , in this paper we have chosen a min - max disk - coverage cost : different cost functions would lead to interesting alternative problems .
for instance , one can consider the weighted integral of a non - decreasing function of the distance to the closest sensor .
thirdly , one might consider the case of heterogeneous sensors , where the failure probability can depend on the sensor itself or on its location
. finally , a challenging question is finding feedback control laws that enable autonomous deployment of self - propelled sensors , in such a way to take random failure into account .
this problem has been recently studied in relation to corts model in @xcite , but is completely open for the failure model proposed in this paper .
we propose the alternative sensor placement @xmath264 and we show that , for some @xmath265 and for sufficiently large @xmath0 , this placement gives a better ( expected ) cost than @xmath51 . in order to do so
, we estimate the cost difference @xmath266 .
we first compare the cost difference for any fixed set of active sensors @xmath7 . if @xmath7 is empty , the two costs are trivially the same .
now consider a non - empty fixed @xmath7 , and let @xmath85 be the length of the longest sequence of consecutive failed sensors among the _ middle _ ones @xmath267 . in the following
, we are going to prove the following bounds : * @xmath268 ; * if @xmath269 and sensor 1 fails , then @xmath270 .
both bounds are based on the following observation : @xmath271 where @xmath272 is the longest between the runs of failures involving the first and last sensor .
notice that @xmath273 . to prove ( a ) ,
consider two cases .
if @xmath274 , then both maxima in are achieved by the term involving @xmath85 , and @xmath275 . if @xmath276 , then both maxima in are achieved by the term involving @xmath277 , and @xmath278 ; the claim then follows using in the numerator the bounds @xmath279 and @xmath280 ( the latter is true since by definition @xmath281 ) . to prove ( b ) , notice that the assumption that sensor 1 fails implies @xmath282 ; also recall that @xmath279 , and that by assumption @xmath283 , so that we have @xmath284 . in this case , both maxima in are achieved by the term involving @xmath277 , and @xmath285 ; the claim follows from the bound @xmath286 .
now we come back to the averaged costs .
we denote by @xmath287 the set of sets @xmath7 for which the longest sequence of failed sensors among the middle ones has length @xmath85 , and by @xmath288 the set of sets @xmath7 for which the sensor @xmath64 fails .
we study @xmath289 \,.\ ] ] for all terms with @xmath290 , we use the bound ( a ) to get @xmath291 \le i_k$ ] . for @xmath292 and @xmath293
, we separate the case where sensor 1 fails or is active : @xmath294 \\ = & \sum_{k=0}^{1 } { \mathbb{p}}(e_k\cap f_1 ) { \mathbb{e } } [ c_0({{x^{\textup{alt}}}}_a ) - c_0({{x^{\textup{eq}}}}_a ) | e_k\cap f_1 ] + \sum_{k=0}^{1 } { \mathbb{p}}(e_k\cap \bar f_1 ) { \mathbb{e } } [ c_0({{x^{\textup{alt}}}}_a ) - c_0({{x^{\textup{eq}}}}_a ) | e_k\cap \bar f_1 ] .\end{aligned}\ ] ] for the first term , we can use the tighter bound ( b ) , to get @xmath295 \le -j$ ] ; for the second term we use bound ( a ) , together with the remark that @xmath296 , to get @xmath297 \le i_1 $ ] .
notice that @xmath298 and @xmath299 are disjoint , and that @xmath288 is and independent event from any @xmath287 since sensor failures are independent by assumption , with @xmath300 .
hence , we have @xmath301 \le - { \mathbb{p}}(e_0 \cup e_1 ) p j$ ] and @xmath302 \le { \mathbb{p}}(e_0 \cup e_1 ) ( 1-p ) i_1 $ ] . collecting all terms
, we have @xmath303 which we can re - write as @xmath304 we now show that @xmath305 are both negative when @xmath306 for a suitable @xmath307 and sufficiently large @xmath0 .
substituting the values of @xmath308 and @xmath309 in @xmath310 leads to @xmath311 which is negative for sufficiently large @xmath0 when @xmath312 for any @xmath313 . to analyze @xmath314 , we start by bounding @xmath315 .
there are @xmath316 possible sequences of @xmath85 consecutive middle sensors and the probability that all the sensors fail in one such sequence is @xmath317 .
therefore , @xmath318 and as a consequence @xmath319 the first part of inequality allows bounding the first term in @xmath314 : @xmath320 re - introducing this bound in @xmath314 and using leads then to @xmath321 choosing @xmath265 for any positive @xmath307 , the expression in the parentheses converges to @xmath322 as @xmath323 .
therefore it is negative for large enough @xmath0 , which is what we needed .
now , let us fix some @xmath324 .
we have shown above that there exists a @xmath325 such that , for any @xmath326 , if @xmath327 then @xmath328 .
this shows that for @xmath326 the size of the neighborhood of @xmath158 where @xmath51 is optimal is at most @xmath329 . on the other hand , for @xmath330 , trivially the size of such neighborhood
is at most @xmath331 .
hence , for any @xmath0 , such size is at most @xmath172 with @xmath332 .
the result is trivial for @xmath333 , so we assume in the sequel that @xmath334 .
we compare the cost of the single cluster with another candidate with three clusters as follows .
+ ( 0,0)(8,0 ) ; ( 2,0 ) circle [ radius = 0.05 ] ; ( 4,0 ) circle [ radius = 0.05 ] ; ( 6,0 ) circle [ radius = 0.05 ] ; at ( 2,-.1 ) @xmath85 ; at ( 4,-.1 ) @xmath335 ; at ( 6,-.1 ) @xmath85 ; at ( 0,.1 ) @xmath84 ; at ( 2,.1 ) @xmath336 ; at ( 4,.1 ) @xmath44 ; at ( 6,.1 ) @xmath337 ; at ( 8,.1 ) @xmath64 ; the numbers below the dots indicate the number of sensors aggregated at that point , @xmath85 will be chosen later . if we show that this new placement is better than the single cluster for a certain @xmath2 , it implies that having a single cluster is not optimal . for the single cluster ,
the cost is always @xmath44 . for the three clusters we get [ cols="^ , < "
, ] + we get less than @xmath44 in expectation if the probability of getting @xmath336 is higher than getting @xmath337 .
the relation needed for the probabilities is @xmath338 multiplying by @xmath339 this is equivalent to @xmath340 we need to confirm this inequality with an appropriate choice of @xmath85 . if @xmath341 , then holds with @xmath293 ( and @xmath334 )
otherwise , observe that @xmath342 we have to choose @xmath317 from the sequence @xmath343 .
this sequence starts at @xmath344 and ends at @xmath345 , and the ratio of consequent elements is greater than @xmath346 .
therefore there is an element @xmath317 in the interval @xmath347 .
the left hand side of is a quadratic function in @xmath317 so it is easy to verify that @xmath348 combining this with we arrive at , which completes our proof .
we start by proving the lower bound . the case @xmath349 is true , since in this case the cost is 1 , and @xmath350 so that @xmath351 . then consider @xmath198 . from lemma [ lemma : ec0randm - rope ]
we obtain the following lower bound @xmath352 using inclusion - exclusion principle and applying lemma [ lem : cuttingrope ] with @xmath353 , we obtain @xmath354 then , substituting this in , we get @xmath355 by computing @xmath356 and recalling that @xmath357 , we end the proof of the lower bound . for the upper bound we proceed similarly . by lemma [ lemma : ec0randm - rope ] and
the union bound , we get @xmath358 and then , by lemma [ lem : cuttingrope ] @xmath359 and by the same lemma together with inclusion - exclusion principle , @xmath360 from this and using , we get @xmath361 which proves the upper bound .
to get the lower bound , we consider . by discarding terms with large @xmath185 and using lemma [ lemma : bounds - ec0xrandm ]
, we get @xmath362 it is easy to show that @xmath363 is decreasing with @xmath185 , so that @xmath364 then , @xmath365 and , by hoeffding inequality , @xmath366 , which ends the proof of the lower bound . for the upper bound , we proceed similarly . from now on , we assume that @xmath367 ; notice that the bound is trivially true otherwise .
we consider and we split the summation in two terms : a first term with @xmath368 , in which we use the trivial bound @xmath369 , and the remaining sum in which we use the upper bound from lemma [ lemma : bounds - ec0xrandm ] , as follows @xmath370 by hoeffding inequality , @xmath371 . for the second term , it is easy to show that @xmath372 is decreasing with @xmath185 and hence @xmath373 finally we use the trivial bound @xmath374 .
then , the formulation of the upper bound stated in the proposition , which is slightly weaker but has the advantage of not explicitly requiring to assume @xmath367 , is obtained since @xmath375 and in the denominator @xmath376 . | arxiv |
according to quantum theory , a physical system can exist in a coherent superposition of distinct values of a single physical observable .
one such superposition is over the number of particles present in the system .
such fock - space coherence ( fsc ) has been recently and controllably demonstrated in bosonic systems .
@xcite the lifetime of these novel states may be considerably enhanced due to the near quenching of single - particle relaxation channels .
this mitigation of both decay and decoherence is a prime requisite , for example , in the demonstration of scalable quantum information processing architectures . in fermionic systems such as charge carriers in a quantum dot ,
the influence of fock states on the dynamics and transport properties has been investigated @xcite but not the coherence properties of the states themselves . here
we show that coherent fermionic fock states in multilevel quantum dots can exhibit decoherence times at least an order of magnitude greater @xcite than the more conventional hilbert - space coherence ( hsc ) between states with fixed particle number .
this estimate remains valid even in the presence of a strong perturbation such as resonant tunnelling transport through the system as well as coupling to a bosonic bath .
our fully non - markovian calculations reveal a memory - kernel whose elements factorise into non - interacting blocks , one of which contains all of the fock - coherence .
our results are independent of the number of tunnelling pathways available through the system , although more than one seems necessary , indicating that an interference effect may be responsible for the robustness of these states .
our results further demonstrate how novel quantum states can exhibit remarkably useful properties given careful
though not prohibitive tuning of bias , level spacing , and barrier anisotropy of the system .
our model is that of a single quantum dot weakly coupled to biased source and drain semi - infinite leads , such that only a small number of electronic channels are available for transport .
we also consider particle - preserving relaxation through a coupling to a bosonic reservoir ( phonons , for example ) .
the total hamiltonian is given by @xmath0 where @xmath1 describes the source and drain leads as non - interacting fermion systems shifted by the bias voltage @xmath2 .
the creation and annihilation operators for the source ( drain ) leads are @xmath3 , respectively , and @xmath4 are the respective single - particle energies .
the quantum dot in the non - interacting regime is given by @xmath5 , where @xmath6 and @xmath7 are system creation and annihilation operators , and the single - particle energies @xmath8 are all shifted by the applied gate voltage , @xmath9 .
for the sake of clarity we neglected coulomb interactions throughout the paper , as these are not expected to qualitatively change the results beyond an energy - level renormalization .
@xcite the coupling to the electronic reservoirs is described by a tunnelling hamiltonian , @xmath10 , where @xmath11 is an energy - independent tunnelling coefficient for a particle tunnelling from the single - particle state @xmath12 in the dot to the source ( drain ) reservoir @xcite .
we consider the qualitative effects of a boson - mediated relaxation on the fsc , and introduce a bosonic reservoir and its interaction with the quantum dot , described respectively by @xmath13 , and @xmath14 , where @xmath15 is a generic coupling coefficient containing the details of a specific electron - boson interaction .
the non - markovian time evolution of the quantum dot is considered in the weak coupling approximation ( born approximation ) , where terms up to second order in the interaction hamiltonians @xmath16 and @xmath17 are kept .
the generalized master equation for the reduced density matrix @xcite is given by @xmath18 where the total memory kernel @xmath19 describing the dynamics of the system can be explicitly derived @xcite directly from the microscopic hamiltonian eq .
( [ eq : htotal ] ) . under a weak coupling approximation @xmath19 can be written as the sum of a transport - dependent ( @xmath20 ) and relaxation - dependent ( @xmath21 ) transition tensors , @xmath22 the absence of bilinear terms in the interaction hamiltonians @xmath16 and @xmath17 is due to the trace over the electronic reservoirs , where terms of the form @xmath23 .
the transition tensor @xmath20 due to electronic transport is given by , [ eq : memory_kernel ] @xmath24 \right .
\\ + & \left .
k^r_{\beta\alpha } \left [ \omega^{\alpha \ * } _ { \phi_b,\mu^r}(t ) \delta^{\alpha\beta}_{abcd } - \omega^{\alpha \ * } _ { \phi_t,\mu^r}(t ) \delta^{\alpha\beta}_{dcba } \right ] \right\ } , \end{aligned}\ ] ] with , @xmath25 and where the latin indexes denote many - body system states , greek indexes denote single - particle states , and @xmath26 denotes the source and drain leads .
both leads are assumed to be metallic with occupied - state energies lying between a lower bound @xmath27 and the lead s chemical potential @xmath28 , and unoccupied - state energies lying between the lead s chemical potential and an upper bound @xmath29 .
the range between the bounds @xmath27 and @xmath29 are taken to be large relative to the characteristic energies of the system .
finally , @xmath30 denotes the density of states in lead @xmath31 , and the frequencies @xmath32 .
similarly , the transition tensor due to boson - mediated relaxation is given by [ eq : boson_kernel ] @xmath33 \end{aligned}\ ] ] where , @xmath34 and @xmath35 is the density of states of the boson reservoir .
the transport and relaxation transition tensors presented in eqs .
( [ eq : memory_kernel ] , [ eq : boson_kernel ] ) , are for a general number of available transport channels . for @xmath36 transport channels ,
a minimum of @xmath37 dynamical states are required , yielding @xmath38 density matrix elements and @xmath39 transition tensor components determining the dynamics of the system ; despite symmetry - induced reductions in the number of independent components , the computational cost nevertheless increases exponentially with the number of channels . in what follows ,
we focus on the simplest non - trivial case of two available transport channels .
( a ) basis states for the two - channel case , defined as @xmath40 , @xmath41 , @xmath42 , and @xmath43 .
( b ) representation of the non - zero memory kernel elements for the case of two transport channels . in the figure ,
the matrix elements represent the contributions to the dynamics between the reduced density matrix elements shown in the outermost row and column , due to transport ( @xmath20 ) , bosonic relaxation ( @xmath21 ) , or both
. not all elements of @xmath44 are depicted ; missing elements are the complex conjugates of those present . ]
the two - channel model is schematically depicted in fig .
[ fig:2ch]a .
states @xmath45 , @xmath46 , and @xmath47 respectively denote ground states with @xmath48 , @xmath49 , and @xmath50 confined particles and state @xmath51 denotes an @xmath49-particle excited state .
this is an experimentally accessible regime .
@xcite the non - vanishing components of the memory kernel are shown in fig .
[ fig:2ch]b .
the cell in the row labelled @xmath52 and column @xmath53 indicates whether the element @xmath44 is zero ( empty cell ) or depends on a combination of transport ( @xmath20 ) or boson - mediated relaxation ( @xmath21 ) .
for example , only transport contributes to @xmath54 , only bosonic relaxation contributes to @xmath55 , both transport and bosonic relaxation contribute to @xmath56 , and @xmath57 vanishes .
elements not depicted in the figure may be inferred through the relation @xmath58 for @xmath59 and @xmath60 . @xcite as expected , the only transitions where relaxation alone ( @xmath21 ) carries the dynamics are between states with the same number of particles ( @xmath46 and @xmath51 in this case ) . in this matrix representation of the tensor @xmath44
, two decoupled sub - matrices are apparent .
the upper sub - matrix represents dynamics among population probabilities and coherence in states with identical particle number ( hsc ) .
the lower block describes coherence between states differing by one particle .
thus , the lower block describes the evolution of the fsc and is decoupled from the hsc .
the decoupling of the fsc dynamics is not a result of the number of channels involved .
for example , increasing the bias to allow more transport channels will increase the number of relevant elements of @xmath44 .
the structure that emerges is similar to that depicted in fig .
[ fig:2ch]b , but the blocks themselves increase in both size and number ; the fsc blocks remain decoupled from the hsc . fundamentally , the structure is due to the fact that fermions can not be individually created or destroyed through a scattering event ( as opposed to bosonic systems ) . since a bosonic bath does not alter the structure of the transition tensor , and since the time scale set by resonant tunnelling is generally much faster than that set by the bosonic coupling , we shall restrict ourselves to the transport problem and neglect the bosons in the remainder
a solution to the evolution equations , eq .
( [ eq : rho_dot_born ] ) , is obtained @xcite by moving to laplace space and using the convolution theorem to transform the integrodifferential equations to a coupled set of algebraic equations .
we numerically uncouple these equations and then transform back to the time domain by means of a bromwich integral @xcite .
the present transport model is described by seven parameters : fermi energy @xmath61 , bias voltage @xmath62 , gate voltage @xmath9 , energy - level spacing @xmath63 , orbital anisotropy @xmath64 , @xcite barrier asymmetry @xmath65 , and overall tunnel - coupling strength set by @xmath66 .
the orbital anisotropy @xmath67 describes differences in the tunnel coupling strength to different orbitals in the system .
we define _ edge _ and _ core
_ orbitals by the relative strength of their coupling to the reservoirs owing to the detailed shape of the wave function and the relative penetration into the tunnelling barriers .
@xcite in relation to the 2-channel case illustrated in fig .
[ fig:2ch]a , we denote orbitals @xmath68 and @xmath69 as the edge and core orbitals respectively
. [ cols="^,^,^,^,^,^,^,^",options="header " , ] in what follows , we plot our results as a function of one or two parameters while fixing the others to a set of standard values . "
the standard values of the parameters are given in table [ tab:1 ] , which exhaustively describes our energetic configuration .
for example , the two orbital levels have an energy of @xmath70 .
( a ) time evolution of the fsc element @xmath71 as a function of the orbital anisotropy @xmath67
. a resonance in the fsc is observed at an anisotropy of @xmath72 that maintains a persistent coherence well beyond the expected decoherence time .
( b ) fourier transform of the results in ( a ) .
a linear dependence between frequency and @xmath67 is evident .
a spike in the low frequency amplitude occurs at the resonant anisotropy of @xmath73 . from this peak
, we obtain the resonant frequency as given by eq .
( [ eq : res_frequency ] ) . ]
we focus on the density - matrix element @xmath71 which describes the fsc between the @xmath74 and the @xmath49-particle ground states .
( see fig .
[ fig:2ch]a . )
the initial conditions for the density - matrix have an effect only on the amplitude of oscillations of the fsc , and not on the presence or location of a resonance .
thus , for the results presented here we choose a homogeneous initial fsc distribution as @xmath75 . the time evolution of the fsc element @xmath71 is shown in fig . [ fig : oa_fft]a as a function of orbital anisotropy @xmath67 ( horizontal axis ) , where @xmath76 with @xmath77 . for all but
a narrow range around @xmath72 , the coherence drops off rapidly , within approximately 3 ps , corresponding to only a few tunnelling events ( @xmath78 ps ) .
this mirrors the decay found in the hsc , @xcite described , for example , by the matrix element @xmath79 .
remarkably , at an orbital anisotropy of @xmath72 , we observe a resonance in the fsc .
the coherent oscillations persist for a far greater length of time .
this resonance is unique to the fsc elements of @xmath80 ; they do not occur in either the hsc or the population probabilities @xmath81 .
to our knowledge , this is the first demonstration of a resonance in the fock - space coherence of an open quantum system of fermions .
figure [ fig : oa_fft]b shows the fourier spectrum of the time - domain results shown in fig . [ fig : oa_fft]a . at a given @xmath67 ,
two frequencies dominate the spectrum .
one is a high - frequency component which decreases linearly with @xmath67 .
this is the frequency related to the fast decay of the hsc , the population probabilities , and the fsc at very short times .
there is also a low - frequency component evident in fig .
[ fig : oa_fft]b , corresponding to slow envelope oscillations . the resonance , clearly seen as the spike in fig .
[ fig : oa_fft]b , occurs on this low - frequency line .
the resonant orbital anisotropy @xmath82 depends on the opacity of the source and drain barriers as well as on the overall strength of the tunnel couplings .
figure [ fig : oa_coup]a shows @xmath83 in the long - time limit ( defined as the time beyond which the transients have decayed approximately 10 ps in the present case ) as a function of both orbital anisotropy @xmath67 and barrier asymmetry @xmath84 .
the evident peak ( resonance ) in the amplitude of @xmath83 at this long - time limit gives the position of the resonant orbital anisotropy as a function of the barrier asymmetry .
we observe a strong relationship between @xmath84 and @xmath82 whose form is obtained from an empirical analysis ( discussed later in this paper ) , and shown superimposed on the calculated data on fig [ fig : oa_coup]a .
a similar dependence is also obtained between the resonant orbital anisotropy and the overall tunnelling strength .
in contrast , the dependence of @xmath82 on the energetics is rather weak .
figure [ fig : oa_coup]b , for example , shows the fsc resonance , again in the long - time limit , as a function of orbital anisotropy @xmath67 and level spacing @xmath85 , and exhibits a linear and much weaker dependence of @xmath82 on @xmath86 .
( similar results are seen in the dependence of @xmath82 on the bias voltage @xmath2 , and gate voltage @xmath87 . ) ( a ) fsc element @xmath83 in the long - time limit as a function of orbital anisotropy @xmath67 , and barrier asymmetry @xmath84 .
the ridge denotes the resonance .
( b ) fsc element @xmath83 at the long - time limit as a function of orbital anisotropy and energy level spacing .
the fits displayed in both plots where produced according to eq .
( [ eq : epsilon_resonant ] ) . ]
as might be expected , the energetics of the system do play a role in the frequency of the coherent oscillations .
figure [ fig : deltae_res ] plots the time evolution of the fsc element @xmath71 as a function of the orbital level spacing @xmath86 for a resonant anisotropy @xmath88 .
the patterns seen in figure [ fig : deltae_res ] are suggestive of a coherent interference effect between tunnelling pathways as the source of the resonance .
the strongest constructive interference for this set of parameters occurs for @xmath89 mev .
time evolution of the fsc element @xmath71 as a function of the level spacing within the bias window , and for a resonant orbital anisotropy @xmath73 . ]
we have empirically deduced that the dominant frequencies @xmath90 evident in fig .
[ fig : oa_fft]b depend on the energy and coupling system parameters in the following way : @xmath91 we have further empirically deduced that the resonant frequency @xmath92 , also evident in fig . [
fig : oa_fft]b , depends on the energetics of the system in the following way : @xmath93 at resonance , eqs .
( [ eq : frequency ] ) and ( [ eq : res_frequency ] ) describe the same frequency . equating them yields the resonance anisotropy @xmath82 as a function of the fermi energy , level - spacing , bias voltage , gate voltage , coupling strength , and barrier anisotropy : @xmath94 the fits to the numerical results presented in figs .
[ fig : oa_coup]a and [ fig : oa_coup]b were produced according to eq .
( [ eq : epsilon_resonant ] ) .
note that there are no free fitting parameters in this result .
these result may be used as an experimental guide when searching for this fsc resonance , as novel methods to extract electronic thz oscillations ( equivalent to picosecond - range periods ) are becoming accessible either by indirect electrooptical methods @xcite or by means of high - tc superconductor devices @xcite .
in order to address the source of the fsc resonance in our model , we consider the formation of a bound state between the quantum dot and the reservoirs .
@xcite such a bound state may arise when the presence of a coupling term between the system and environment reduces the total energy . defining the bound state of the qd and the reservoirs as @xmath95 , where @xmath96 denotes
the state of the qd , and @xmath97 denotes the continuum of reservoir states for @xmath98 , we solve the eigenvalue equation @xmath99 for the total energy of the @xmath100 , with the total hamiltonian @xmath101 given by eq .
[ eq : htotal ] . for a @xmath102-channel case ,
the solution to the eigenvalue equation has the form , @xcite , @xmath103p_{n'}=e p_n.\ ] ] we note that the integration limits over the reservoirs become truncated by the single creation and annihilation operators of the tunneling hamiltonian to @xmath104 for removing a particle from , and @xmath105 for adding a particle to , reservoir @xmath31 .
therefore , the solution is found to be of the form , @xmath106[i_{\alpha,\beta , e_3}+i_{\beta,\alpha , e_1}]}{e_2-e-[i_{\alpha,\alpha , e_1}+i_{\beta,\beta , e_3}]}=e,\ ] ] with , @xmath107\right].\ ] ] the existence of a bound state requires that @xmath108 has at minimum one real solution for @xmath109 , which is equivalent to @xmath110 being satisfied . for the case of the transcendental equation , eq .
[ eq : transcendental ] , we find that the left hand side is monotonically decreasing with @xmath100 , and the right hand side linearly increases with @xmath100 , therefore there can be at most one solution where l.h.s .
= r.h.s . , and thus only one bound state . in the case of @xmath110 , we also see that under the approximation of energy - independent coupling coefficients , the integrals over @xmath111 appearing in eq .
[ eq : integrals ] lead to terms of the form @xmath112 . using this , along with recalling the coupling anisotropies
@xmath113 and @xmath114 in order to define all coupling coefficients in terms of @xmath115 : @xmath116 , we find the following form for @xmath67 , @xmath117 where @xmath118 is an algebraic function of all the energy parameters . the important feature to point out in eq .
[ eq : varepsilon2 ] is the overall similarity with eq .
[ eq : epsilon_resonant ] .
the fact that a similar relationship between the coupling and anisotropy parameters of the system has been found from two very different approaches is remarkable : the creation of the relationship out of empirical analysis of the gme for the open system , and the analytical derivation from a bound state analysis of the eigenvalue equation .
the formation of the bound state can be linked to an interference effect between transmission resonances due to the presence of several transport channels in the system a feature eluded to in fig .
[ fig : deltae_res ] .
resonances of this type have been observed in diverse systems such as in quantum billiards , @xcite laser induced continuum structures in atoms , @xcite and quantum dots .
@xcite in these works , it has been revealed that the formation of bound states in the continuum is directly related to the shape of the system and anisotropy of the coupling parameters .
this point is specifically reflected in our findings as we only observe the fsc resonance under coupling anisotropies .
these coupling anisotropies may play the role of a path difference between the channels , where specific path differences may quench transport through the system in an effect akin to negative differential conductance .
@xcite in such a case the fsc is enhanced forming a resonance since the dominant decoherence pathways are also effectively quenched .
this may also help explain the presence of the single dominant resonance in the range of the orbital anisotropy in our model , since only a specific energy and coupling configuration will lead to transport quenching .
in conclusion , we have shown that the fsc of a fermionic system can be decoupled from the evolution of the population probabilities and the hsc of the system , even under the presence of boson - mediated relaxation and single - particle exchange with a bath .
we demonstrated a resonant regime in this fsc where the decoherence times extend far beyond that of the hsc , and we have been able to relate these results to an analytically derived relationship in the coupling parameters of the system arising from the formation of a bound state between the system and reservoirs .
we anticipate the primary difficulty in the experimental confirmation of our theory to be the establishment of the fsc in the first instance .
what we have shown here is that such a fsc can exhibit a remarkable , robust , and long - lived resonance even in the presence of ordinarily very destructive perturbations such as particles tunnelling into and out of the system .
a plausible configuration to obtain this fsc resonance effect is one where the particle reservoirs are macroscopic systems in thermodynamic equilibrium , as envisioned in the present work , and whose description is properly and most conveniently characterised by a particle density ( not particle number ) in a grand canonical ensemble .
subsequent experimental and further theoretical efforts extending this work may shed light on the fundamental problem of decoherence , and on quantum information processing in a semiconductor environment . | arxiv |
Efficiency of heat exchanger
During the practical work we were studying singular, multibular and plate heat exchangers, for all of them we got efficiency more than 100%, is it possible or what affects to efficiency?
We calculated heat efficiency by dividing heat balance of cold water to heat balance of hot water.
Thanks in advance!
Heat exchanger efficiency is generally defined as its “effectiveness” in transferring a given amount of heat from one fluid at a high temperature to another fluid at a lower temperature; this is the actual amount heat transferred divided by the optimum amount of heat that can be transferred. For a counter flow heat exchanger, the optimum is achieved when $T\_{hot \enspace in} = T\_{cold \enspace out}$ where $T\_{hot \enspace in}$ is the inlet temperature of the fluid to be cooled and $T\_{cold \enspace out}$ is the outlet temperature of the fluid that receives the heat. The actual amount of heat transferred is less because $T\_{hot \enspace in} > T\_{cold \enspace out}$.
For details, see numerous on-line descriptions of heat exchanger efficiency.
| stackexchange/physics |
Posted inCovering the Police
SF could be held liable for the wrongful conviction of Maurice Caldwell
Maurice Caldwell's case against an SFPD officer for his wrongful conviction has grown stronger, as a jury will now consider whether the city enabled the officer's actions
by Julian Mark January 12, 2021 January 13, 2021
Illustration by Molly Oleson
A case brought by Maurice Caldwell, who was incarcerated 20 years for murder before his conviction was overturned in 2010, is proceeding against the San Francisco police officer who allegedly railroaded him into prison.
Now, a jury will decide not only whether former SFPD Commander Kitt Crenshaw fabricated evidence against Caldwell — but whether the city was "indifferent" to prior misconduct complaints against Crenshaw before he became involved in Caldwell's case.
In a recent decision, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu ruled that a jury could find that the City of San Francisco was so lax toward the citizen complaints against Crenshaw — and SFPD officers writ large — that Crenshaw felt he could fabricate evidence against Caldwell without consequence.
During a Dec. 2 hearing, Ryu "tentatively" set the trial date for April 15.
In 2012, Caldwell sued Crenshaw and the SFPD, alleging that SFPD officers played an outsized role in securing a wrongful conviction against Caldwell in the killing of a man named Judy Acosta in June, 1990, during a botched drug buy in the Alemany projects.
In his lawsuit, Caldwell alleges that, following Acosta's homicide, Crenshaw targeted him while investigating the incident, put Caldwell in handcuffs and took him to the home of a witness while she was being interviewed by another police officer about the killing. Caldwell alleges that Crenshaw did this intentionally to manipulate the witness into identifying Caldwell as one of the killers. Only weeks later, the witness identified Caldwell.
Caldwell's lawsuit also alleges that Crenshaw was driven by animus for Caldwell. The two had encountered each other numerous times before the murder. Only five months before Acosta's murder, Caldwell had filed a complaint against Crenshaw, then a narcotics sergeant, for allegedly choking and beating Caldwell and promising to "kill" him and "get the drop on" him.
Maurice Caldwell had his conviction overturned a decade ago. The City Attorney says he's still a killer.
August 20, 2020 February 9, 2021
Since Caldwell filed his lawsuit some eight years ago, the case has encountered various twists and turns.
In March 2016, a federal judge barred Caldwell's lawsuit from going to trial. But Caldwell appealed that decision, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in May, 2018, ruled that Caldwell could pursue his case against Crenshaw. It would be left for the lower courts to decide whether the City of San Francisco could also be held liable for Crenshaw's alleged actions.
On Dec. 23, 2020, Ryu ruled that the city could indeed be held liable — that a jury could determine if the city acted with "deliberate indifference" to the 25 complaints filed against Crenshaw in the three years before he allegedly prompted a witness to identify Caldwell as one of Acosta's killers.
"…a reasonable jury could consider the evidence described above and conclude that there was an obvious need for San Francisco to take different action to protect the constitutional rights of its citizens," Ryu wrote in her order.
"This evidence includes the significant number of citizen complaints against Crenshaw in the three-year period before Caldwell's arrest, including complaints about retaliation and threats of violence, fabrication of evidence, excessive force, and abusive behavior, none of which were sustained or resulted in any discipline," she continued.
Part II: Exoneree Maurice Caldwell says SFPD coerced testimony and railroaded him into prison. The City Attorney still insists he's guilty of murder.
On top of broadening the scope of Caldwell's case, the allegations also shed light on the foundations of the SFPD's disciplinary system.
To support his allegations that the city should also be held liable along with Crenshaw, Caldwell submitted testimony from police practices expert Russell Fischer, a former chief of criminal investigations at the Miami-Dade Police Department.
After reviewing 66 complaints filed against Crenshaw with the Office of Citizen Complaints throughout his decadeslong career with the SFPD, Fischer concluded that "the internal investigation and disciplinary functions based on investigations for citizen complaints [were] virtually meaningless … as of 1990."
Fischer added that from the years 1988 to 1990, discipline was imposed in, at most, 1.7 percent of cases investigated by Office of Citizen Complaints. The statistics "show a discipline system that is not effective," Fischer wrote.
In 2016, the Office of Citizen Complaints was rebranded as the Department of Police Accountability. Although the watchdog presently finds wrongdoing more often than its predecessor did in the early '90s (it sustained 19 percent of cases in 2019), those findings often result in little or no discipline.
"The jury will realize that it's not just this one officer on trial, but the city," said Terry Gross, one of Caldwell's lawyers. "We get to show … that [Crenshaw] did this because the city allowed him to — encouraged him to."
John Coté, a spokesman for the City Attorney, felt differently. "There is no merit to this lawsuit," he said in an email. "The vast majority of his case has already been thrown out. We will continue to defend taxpayers and the public funds from baseless lawsuits."
Julian Mark
[email protected]
Julian grew up in the East Bay and moved to San Francisco in 2014. Before joining Mission Local, he wrote for the East Bay Express, the SF Bay Guardian, and the San Francisco Business Times.
More by Julian Mark
The best way to defend taxpayers from lawsuits is to actually fix the culture of abuse and impunity that shelters corrupt and abusive cops from consequences while we pay out the nose for settlement after settlement for their victims. Love to see the push to make the city responsible for this. It'll hurt now, sure. But when money is on the line, suddenly everyone has an excuse to pay attention.
Dennis Waterman says:
I am seeing countless parrallels in departmental procedures between the SFPD and the SBCSD (San Bernardino County Sheriff Department), especially as it pertains to the case of Daniel Lee Waterman (FSB1104537) in which Yucaipa Sheriff Detective Daniel Whitten intentionally and knowingly fabricated and falsified his official investigative reports that were used in a felony criminal case (one with a life sentence in the balance) to deliberatly falsely implicate an innocent man. A man who the officer knew was innocent of his charges, as Det Whitten was already in posession of evidence exculpitory to his defense.
[Evidence contrary to that which he had reported and testified to during Mr Waterman's criminal trial.]
Along with this evidence, is trial transcript evidence involving the trial court judge (J. David Mazurek) personally tampering with the prosecutions star witnesses trial testimony. Testimony in which the judge dictates to the witness "what and when to say it" to change her previously given testimony to now implicate Mr Waterman, instead of Joe Johnson as she had previously testified to.
Trial transcipt evidence also has the prosecutor (DDA David Tulcan) involved in conspiring to aid in these previously mentioned evidence tampering by the judge when he states "we have to have had a reason we were placing Ms Johnson in protective custody. "I could represent that" she came to me,,,,,,,,, At that time, II placed her in protective custody,,,,,,,,because she was in fear of Mr Waterman and for her life,,,,,,,.
All lies! The discocery evidence proves this.
Both departments has zero fear of accountability for their obvious wrongful illegal actions.
They have zero respect for "we the people" or "the law".
They have no cencern for the lives that they deliberately destroy for no other reason than to get that "win". Disgusting.
Danny Cello says:
Does a " low conviction rate " by the citizen's complaint office equal a " non effective system" ? According to the expert it is a fact. Is there any chance that complaints simply are not founded on facts? The rebranded office now solicits complaints to keep the paychecks coming. Most of the sustained complaints are generated by them. They get the smallest of General Order violations to get the stats to keep them afloat. The expert knows that too.
Side note: Commander Kitt Crenshaw, who spent nearly 32 years on the force and accumulated 66 citizen complaints during that time, receives a pension of more than $200k/year. I wouldn't deny any public servant their hard-earned pension. I only note it to suggest the bar for behavior while on the job should be high, and, *if* SF has a system that allows officers can act with near impunity, then its taxpayers aren't getting their money's worth.
Why doesn't Mission Local mention the race of Kitt Crenshaw?
Certainly that is a factor in all police misconduct cases.
KM says:
Because he is Black. If Crenshaw were White, it would have been in the headline.
Isiah harris says:
Exposing sacramento district attorneys office dept of justice & California state bar
Doug Benson says:
The false allegations based on fabricated evidence by the SFPD against Maurice Caldwell resulted in his incarceration for 21 years. The California attorney's office has, for ten years, fought paying Maurice compensation due him for his more than two decades of false imprisonment and has continued along with the San Francisco attorneys office to slander him and refuse to compensate him for their continued crimes against him. The Denial of Due process- for the past ten years-is as inexcusable and undeniable as the outrageous conduct of the SFPD. No amount of $ can adequately compensate for what has occurred here, but justice should result in the transfer of tens of millions of $ and multiple attorneys being disbarred and some doing time for violation of Brady's rights. | slim_pajama |
Jahn-Teller Metal : The new state of matter
Recently it came in the [news](https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=jahn+teller+matter&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ei=y8pWVeziGIPs8AXgz4GAAw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=643#tbm=nws&q=jahn+teller+metal) that scientists have discovered a new state of matter called **Jahn-Teller metal**. I tried reading up on it but couldn't understand it clearly.
Please explain in simple terms why this is a new state of matter and/or what's so special about it.
The Jahn-Teller metal is not one of the 3 (or 4 including plasma) states that occur naturally on Earth; this state allows a metal to have the properties of an insulator and a superconductor.
It is an intermediate state of matter confirming the Jahn-Teller distortion; by interacting with certain electrons (a more detailed description can be found in [this Science Advances magazine article](http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/3/e1500059/), a distorted crystalline structure allows a solid depicting characteristics of an insulator to also becomes a conductor.
The main breakthrough this brings is having a superconductors. Superconductors are extremely useful because they possess zero resistance, except the conditions require them to be cooled to extreme temperatures.
This state nonetheless suggests reproducing superconductors at a less extreme temperature.
Making it an economic way to make efficient electronics.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Moscow Five is a Russian esports organization founded in 2001. The organization currently has a professional League of Legends team. On 16 December 2011, Moscow Five created what one could describe as one of the most successful international teams in the history of League of Legends. In 2013 former Moscow Five owner Dmitry ddd1ms Smilianets was arrested for his alleged involvement in one of the largest hacking and data breach schemes history in a global operation by the FBI's Cyber Division. Moscow Five's League of Legends team quickly reformed as Gambit Gaming under Pikiner's leadership.
Moscow Five returned to the professional League of Legends scene in 2014 and 2019 with new CIS teams.
Counter-Strike
Moscow Five's Counter-Strike team won bronze at the 2011 World Cyber Games.
League of Legends
Current CIS roster
Former EU LCS roster
Notable achievements
3rd4th Season 2 World Championship
1st IEM Season VI - World Championship
References
External links
Category:2001 establishments in Russia
Category:Esports teams based in Russia
Category:Defunct and inactive Dota teams
Category:Defunct and inactive Counter-Strike teams
Category:Former European League of Legends Championship Series teams
Category:Former League of Legends Continental League teams
Category:Moscow Five players
Category:Esports teams established in 2001 | wikipedia |
FRED Watch Quickie TV Review: Stranger Things Season 3 (2019)
STRANGER THINGS SCOOPS IT FOR A THIRD TIME!
I'm a Kendall Richardson and welcome to FRED Watch, where we review everything from the mainstream to the obscure. Today's series is the third season of Stranger Things…
21 Laps Entertainment / Monkey Massacre / Netflix
In the summer of 1985, the new and contentious Starcourt Mall has become the focal point of Hawkins. Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is conflicted over Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike's (Finn Wolfhard) budding relationship, while Joyce (Winona Ryder) considers moving out of town for better prospects.
However, strange power fluctuations trigger Will's (Noah Schnapp) awareness of something otherworldly, while Eleven and Max (Sadie Sink) sense something is off about the town's residents. Despite having closed the portal to the Upside Down, the girls fear that they are all in danger from it still…
I'd say it's official: Stranger Things has replaced Game of Thrones as the world's most popular TV show. Season three has already become the most watched thing on Netflix and, at the time of writing, has only been out for a week. But there is good reason for this. The two-year wait between seasons was a long one, so anticipations and expectations were high. And given its completely natural binge-ability, it really feels like an eight-hour movie, and one that is paced extremely well. Also, we are addicted to the nostalgia fix Stranger Things is more than happy to provide. It offers so much more than just basic escapism like other films and TV shows do; for many it returns them to their childhood and brings happy memories flooding back. But enough of why Stranger Things is so successful, let's get into the nitty gritty of season three…
The creators of this excellent series, the Duffer brothers, are in complete control and know exactly what they're doing. The big challenge this season, a part from finding a new way to enter the Upside Down, or rather the Upside Down enter our world, was dealing with the kids growing up. It's been less than a year since the events of season two, yet so much has changed. The older kids, Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), are all graduated from high school and working adult jobs. Well, as adult as one can get dressed as a sailor working in an ice cream store. Here is where we meet the wonderful Robin (breakout star Maya Hawke), the perfect foil for Steve's ego and just an amazing character in her own right. Hawke is definitely a major highlight of season three, which is no surprise given her famous parentage: Mum is Uma Thurman and Dad is Ethan Hawke. Keery is hilarious as Steve Harrington in this environment, trying and failing miserably to pick up girls, and I love his budding bromance with young Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). Steve's career path aside, this season did so well in reiterating why Nancy and Jonathan got together. Now both interns at the local Hawkins newspaper, the pair make an excellent journalistic team as well as a romantic couple, with both actors absolutely crushing it with their performances. Despite appearances, there are no damsels in distress in this show, with Dyer's Nancy taking that trope and shoving it where the sun don't shine.
As for our younger heroes, puberty is definitely happening, and the Duffer brothers have truly captured the innocence and awkwardness of it all. El (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) are now an inseparable couple, much to the chagrin of all their loved ones, especially temper-prone Hopper (David Harbour), who is now in full parent mode as El's adoptive father. Brown and Wolfhard make an endearing on screen team, with the actors capturing the highs and lows of teen romance perfectly. Max (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) pair off as well, but are less intense than El and Mike. Hell, even Dustin gets a girl in the form of Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo). This, unfortunately, leaves poor Will (Noah Schnapp) alone and he only ever wants to play D&D. Given everything that Will has been through, you really feel for him this season and kind of start hating the rest of the gang a bit for pushing him to the side. The entire essence of high school is portrayed wonderfully.
The story of this season is so well written, as it is told through three separate sub plots that all link up in the season's final episode. The combination of Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper was so entertaining, and their dynamic was thoroughly enjoyable. Joyce herself has come such a long way from the hysterical mother she was in season one and it is so good to see her become stronger through all these tragic experiences. Speaking of character growth, Billy (Dacre Montgomery) had a really surprising arc this season and your thoughts on him as a character will definitely be changed by the time the final credits roll. Big bad Mind Flayer's physical presence was terrifying to be sure, but it felt so much more foreboding and sinister when in its shadow form in season two. Nevertheless, the evil creature was once again an epic villain, leaving so much more destruction in its wake than ever before.
There is so much to love within season three, including things beyond the acting and story. Of course the nostalgia is at an all-time high with this season, as the fashion and pop culture references take full advantage of the 1985 setting. Standouts include El and Max's mall shopping spree (I seriously love those outfits), the music naturally, and the cinema in the mall, showing classics like Day of the Dead, Cocoon, and of course one of 1985's biggest films, Back to the Future. Watching Stranger Things is basically like travelling through time as it is, and I cannot wait for season four to bring us straight back to that decade we all love so much. 5 / 5
Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Dacre Montgomery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Cara Buono, Joe Chrest, Andrey Ivchenko, Brett Gelman, Cary Elwes, Peggy Miley, Jake Busey, Francesca Reale, Michael Park, Alec Utgoff, Rob Morgan, John Reynolds, Arthur Darbinyan, Misha Kuznetsov
Directors: The Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, Uta Briesewitz. | Writers: The Duffer Brothers, William Bridges, Kate Trefey, Curtis Gwinn | Producers: Dan Cohen, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Rand Geiger, Shawn Levy, Iain Paterson, Emily Morris, Curtis Gwinn, William Bridges, Paula Kramer | Music: Kyle Dixon, Michael Stein | Cinematographer: Tim Ives | Editors: Nat Fuller, Dean Zimmerman
Let us know what you thought of this season in the comments!
I've been a Kendall Richardson and you've just experienced FRED Watch.
Tags: 1980s, Back To the Future, Caleb McLaughlin, Charlie Heaton, Cocoon, Dacre Montgomery, David Harbour, Day of the Dead, Finn Wolfhard, FRED Watch, Game of Thrones, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, Kendall Richardson, Matt Duffer, Maya Hawke, Millie Bobby Brown, Natalia Dyer, Netflix, Noah Schnapp, Ross Duffer, Sadie Sink, Stranger Things, Stranger Things 3, television, The Duffer Brothers, TV, Winona Ryder | slim_pajama |
entanglement is a key resource in many practical applications using quantum mechanics @xcite .
usually entanglement is thought to exist between the degrees of freedom of two , or more , well localised quanta , such as photons or massive particles .
when particles are well separated , they are distinguishable from one another and can thus be assigned labels .
entanglement between the particles is then well defined since their hilbert space has a tensor product structure . however ,
if the de broglie wavelengths of identical particles begin to overlap , the particles become indistinguishable and one can no longer assign a label to each particle .
the concept of standard particle entanglement breaks down as the hilbert space no longer has the required tensor product structure ; it is a projection onto the symmetric or antisymmetric subspaces ( depending on the particle statistics ) @xcite .
while entanglement between indistinguishable particles can still be correctly defined by taking a set of detectors into account @xcite , another method to recover a tensor product hilbert space is to move into the formalism of second quantisation . here , in the so called fock basis
, one defines a complete set of single particle states and counts the number of excitations in each .
the corresponding mode structure has a tensor product hilbert space and hence entanglement of modes is a meaningful concept .
entanglement can therefore exist between modes occupied by particles @xcite .
the modes can be energy eigenmodes or perhaps more relevant to quantum communication or information processing protocols are spatial modes . in the following section
, we will discuss in more detail the mode structure for a simple many - body system .
the particles may be massless , i.e. photons , or massive , such as those found in ultra - cold gases .
mode entanglement of photons has been considered in a number of works @xcite and is usually limited to the single photon regime @xcite . the experimental confirmation of the mode entanglement of a single photon via a bell like test was obtained in 2004 @xcite and the multipartite entanglement of one photon distributed between four optical modes was characterized using uncertainty relations in an interferometric setup in 2009 @xcite . for massive particles ,
the existence of entanglement between spatial modes becomes less clear @xcite .
this is due to a particle number superselection rule @xcite , that forbids isolated systems from existing in a superposition of eigenstates of different mass .
hence , for modes occupied by massive particles the system density operator , @xmath0 , can not contain any off - diagonal terms that connect states of different particle number .
any measurements made on the spatial modes are also restricted to the subspace of fixed particle number .
since the correlations of entanglement are locally basis independent , they can be confirmed via for instance a bell inequality , where one should measure each subsystem locally in at least two basis .
for spatial modes , the particle number is one such basis , however to measure in a second , rotated basis , measurements of superpositions of different numbers of particles are required . for an isolated system
, such superposition measurements are forbidden due to the number of particles in the system being fixed . until recently it was unresolved how to measure modes of a massive bosonic field in any way other than in the particle number basis . and
this is why it has been debated @xcite whether mode entanglement is as ` genuine ' as particle entanglement or whether it is just a mathematical feature of the quantum state .
recent research has , however , shown that superselection rules @xcite can be overcome locally by using a suitable reference frame @xcite .
the reference frame required to rotate spatial modes away from the particle number basis is a coherent reservoir of particles such as a bose - einstein condensate ( bec ) . by using such a reservoir , one can create , at least in principle , superpositions of different numbers of particles @xcite .
thus , it is predicted that mode entanglement of a single massive particle is , indeed , as genuine as particle entanglement @xcite .
specific schemes for bell inequality tests of mode entanglement of one @xcite , and more @xcite , massive particles have been given .
another question is whether mode entanglement can be used for quantum communication and quantum information processing .
this is an interesting point , as mode entanglement occurs naturally in coherent ultra - cold bosonic gases @xcite . if one could harness this entanglement for practical applications
, it could by - pass the need to create complicated entangled states manually .
a first step to understanding the usefulness of the mode entanglement of just a single massive particle came in a recent paper @xcite , which gave a scheme for implementing the quantum dense coding protocol .
dense coding @xcite allows the transmission of two classical bits of information via one qubit ; in order to achieve the full quantum channel capacity a maximally entangled bell state is initially required and full bell state analysis is needed .
it was shown @xcite that the linear photonic dense coding channel capacity could be achieved without a bec reservoir and that with a bec reservoir the full quantum dense coding protocol could be implemented . while it was briefly mentioned in @xcite that the teleportation of a quantum state of a spatial mode should also be possible , no detailed scheme was given .
it is the aim of this paper , to provide such a scheme .
quantum teleportation @xcite is a key protocol in quantum information science and has been fruitfully demonstrated in experiments with a number of different physical implementations @xcite . in @xcite , a qubit ( or optical mode ) consisting of the vacuum and one photon states was teleported using the entanglement of a single photon in a superposition of two spatial modes .
even though the creation of a superposition of different numbers of photons is not strictly forbidden by a superselection rule as it is with massive particles , there is still the problem of how to keep track of the phase between the two different photon number states .
@xcite solved this by teleporting a mode that was entangled to another one . in other words , the single photon was coherently distributed across the mode to be teleported and an ancilla mode .
this ancilla optical mode actually played the role of a phase reference in a similar way to how the bec reservoir will play the role of a phase reference in our scheme here .
one motivation to study a teleportation scheme using the mode entanglement of a single massive particle is to allow for direct comparisons of quantum information processing with different physical systems .
moreover , from a fundamental viewpoint , it is interesting to clearly demonstrate that mode entanglement of massive particles is , in principle , useful entanglement - and can actually be used in a very similar way to particle entanglement - for quantum information processing despite the particle number superselection rule . in particular , in this paper we will see that in contrast to the dense coding scheme of @xcite , where the full channel capacity was attainable , here an arbitrary state of a quantum mode is only reliably teleported half of the time .
this is due to an additional phase locking criterion that arises from having a total of three modes in the teleportation scheme as opposed to the two modes that are required for dense coding .
this illustrates subtle intricacies of teleportation with mode entanglement of a massive particle that are not present in the particle entanglement case .
we begin in the subsequent section , by reviewing the concept of mode entanglement . in section ( [ sec : tele1 ] ) , we detail how to teleport the unknown state of a spatial mode using a single massive particle distributed coherently across two spatial modes .
we begin next by introducing the concept of spatial mode entanglement in more detail .
we will start by detailing the mode structure of a bosonic system and then use a simple example of mode entanglement to illustrate the differences between it and particle entanglement .
finally , we will explain some results concerning mode entanglement of bose gases at zero and finite temperatures .
note that we will consider in this paper only mode entanglement of bosonic fields ; for a discussion of mode entanglement in fermionic systems see , for example , this paper @xcite by aharonov and vaidman .
consider a confining volume , @xmath1 , whose energy eigenmodes , labelled by @xmath2 , can be ` excited ' by applying creation operators , @xmath3 , on the vacuum state , @xmath4 , where @xmath5=\delta_{kl}$ ] .
an excitation is ` a particle ' with corresponding energy @xmath6 , where @xmath7 is the frequency of the @xmath2-th energy eigenmode . as mentioned already , instead of describing the system using its energy modes , it is often desirable to use a different set of modes , such as the _ spatial modes_. the description of the system in space is obtained by a transformation via the energy eigenfunctions , @xmath8 , where @xmath9 is the @xmath2-th energy eigenfunction and @xmath10 creates a particle at point , @xmath11 , in space .
it follows that @xmath12=\delta(x - x')$ ] .
populating an energy mode with a particle is thus equivalent to populating all spatial modes , i.e. all points in space , in a superposed manner .
to illustrate the differences between particle and mode entanglement , we take two non - interacting bosons trapped in a confining volume at zero temperature . in first quantisation ,
i.e. in the language that one would use to describe particle entanglement , the wavefunction is the symmetrized product , @xmath13 , where @xmath14 is the ground state of the confining potential .
no entanglement exists between the particles , since indistinguishability forbids us from assigning to any particle a specific set of degrees of freedom .
in other words , the state space of the two particles is a projection onto the symmetric subspace , whereas a tensor product hilbert space , @xmath15 , is required to define entanglement between the subsystems .
conversely , in second quantisation one can define a pair of spatial modes , @xmath16 and @xmath17 , where each mode occupies half the confining geometry .
since both the particles are _ coherently _ distributed over these modes , the system is described by the entangled state , @xmath18 where @xmath19 creates a particle in mode @xmath20 ( @xmath21 is a so called detector profile that gives weighting to the points in space ) , @xmath22 span the state space @xmath23 and @xmath24 denotes the number of particles in mode @xmath16 and @xmath25 the number particles in mode @xmath17 ( with @xmath26 ) . from this example
it is clear that entanglement is contingent on the choice of modes @xcite , but provided that like here a suitable choice is made , investigating entanglement between _ distinguishable _ modes circumvents the difficulties of defining entanglement between indistinguishable particles @xcite
. spatial mode entanglement of an non - interacting bec at zero temperature was first considered by simon @xcite .
he and others @xcite found that mode entanglement existed between regions of space if the gas had an uncertainty in particle number below a given level .
that is , if the gas is best described by a coherent state , @xmath27 ( or mixtures there of ) , there is no entanglement between spatial modes . on the other hand ,
if a uniform gas is of a fixed particle number , @xmath28 , there is @xmath29 amount of entanglement ( as measured by the von neumann entropy ) , between two equal sized modes . anders _
@xcite used a thermodynamical entanglement witness to show that spatial mode entanglement only exists across an entire bose gas below the critical temperature for bec .
spatial entanglement between two and more modes of an interacting bose gas at finite - temperature with a fixed ( but possibly unknown ) number of particles was considered by goold _
@xcite , who demonstrated that mode entanglement is present in a gas when the coherence length of the particles extends over the modes .
more specifically , there is a direct link between single - particle reduced density matrix @xcite ( i.e. the visibility of interference fringes ) between different regions of the gas and spatial mode entanglement .
this means that the natural mode entanglement of a bec has already been detected in experiments such as @xcite , albeit indirectly .
more recently , mode entanglement generated by a single exciton was predicted to exist between different sites in the photosynthetic fmo complex @xcite , ( as a result of the experimentally verified quantum coherence in the molecule ) , demonstrating that this type of entanglement is relevant even in biological systems .
since mode entanglement exists naturally within many systems , it is important to ask whether , at least in principle , this type of entanglement is useful entanglement .
we will address the question by providing a scheme to show that a single massive particle that is coherently distributed over two spatial modes can , at least theoretically , be used to teleport the unknown quantum state of a spatial mode perfectly half of the time in spite of the superselection rule . in the following , we will first introduce a hamiltonian whose parameters can be switched on and off to perform the gates .
we will show that in order to overcome the superselection rule and to rotate the modes away from the particle number basis , a bose - einstein condensate should be used as a particle reservoir and also as a phase reference throughout the teleportation protocol .
we will end by introducing the quantum circuit that allows to perform the teleportation protocol .
the standard qubit teleportation protocol @xcite between two parties , @xmath16 for alice and @xmath17 for bob , can be split up into four parts : + ( i ) * preparation stage * : the preparation of an unknown quantum state by a third party , charlie , and also the distribution of an entangled bell state between alice and bob , + ( ii ) * bell state measurement by alice * : the prepared qubit is passed to alice who then makes a bell state measurement on this and her portion of the entangled state and records the measurement outcome , + ( iii ) * transmission of classical information * : alice sends bob two bits of classical information that indicate which of the four bell states was measured , and + ( iv ) * single mode rotation by bob * : bob uses the classical information to select which operation to perform on his qubit leaving him with the original unknown quantum state .
+ we will now detail how to perform the four steps using mode entanglement of a single massive particle .
+ + the system consists of three spatial modes , @xmath30 , @xmath16 and @xmath17 . mode @xmath30 will be placed in an unknown state , which will be teleported to mode @xmath17 .
modes @xmath16 and @xmath17 will be in the maximally entangled state formed from a single particle .
the system is described by the bose - hubbard model with additional coupling of each mode to the bec reservoir .
the hamiltonian is written as follows @xmath31 the first two terms represent the coupling between the modes , @xmath16 and @xmath17 , and also modes , @xmath30 and @xmath16 .
modes @xmath30 and @xmath17 do not interact throughout the entire protocol .
the coupling between the modes can be turned on and off by varying the tunneling matrix element @xmath32 ( @xmath33 ) by increasing / decreasing the height of the potential barriers between the wells by altering the intensity of the trapping laser .
the parameter @xmath34 is the onsite interaction term , which is continuously set to be much larger than the other energy scale in the hamiltonian .
this is achieved by ensuring that each potential is tightly confined in all three directions , as is the case for atomic quantum dots @xcite .
the resulting large nonlinear repulsive interaction between the particles means that only zero or one particles can exist in the mode at any instance .
in other words , by maintaining a high repulsivity between the particles the modes are forced to behave like qubits .
the next three terms in the hamiltonian are the free energies @xmath35 of the individual modes .
the standard setting throughout the protocol will be @xmath36 , but to change the phases of the modes relative to one another , a potential bias can be applied to a mode using , for instance , a dispersive laser pulse .
the final set of terms in the hamiltonian correspond to the coupling of each individual mode to the bec reservoir .
we consider a raman laser set up , which couples the two different trapping states of the system and reservoir atoms @xcite .
the parameter , @xmath37 , is the effective rabi frequency , where @xmath38 is the wavefunction of the bec , @xmath39 is the wavefunction of the atom in mode @xmath30 and @xmath40 is the usual rabi frequency
. we will now discuss the implementation of the single - mode and two - mode gates that will be used in the teleportation protocol . a phase gate , for instance a pauli @xmath41 operation ,
can be applied to mode @xmath42 by altering the energy , @xmath43 , relative to the free energies for the other modes for a given time , @xmath44 .
the corresponding unitary operation on the mode is @xmath45 , which if applied for @xmath46 performs the @xmath41 gate , @xmath47 . during this operation ,
the couplings between the modes themselves and between the modes and the bec are switched off .
we would also like to rotate the state of an individual mode between the @xmath48 and @xmath49 eigenstates . to do this
we need to couple to the bec reservoir by applying the raman pulse for a time , @xmath44 .
we take here a uniform non - interacting bec described by a mixture of coherent states , @xmath50 , where @xmath51 is the average number of particles in the condensate and @xmath52 is the condensate phase . for a nummerical analysis of a single mode , i.e. an atomic quantum dot ,
coupled to a superfluid reservoir of interacting particles see @xcite . note
that when calculating it suffices to use the coherent state , @xmath53 , with one realisation of the phase @xmath52 and to apply the twirling operator , @xmath54=\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{d\theta}{2\pi}[\hat\rho_l]$ ] , to obtain the quantum state of laboratory as seen by bob ( here @xmath55 is the density operator for the total system and laboratory @xcite ) . note that , unlike the dense coding scheme @xcite , alice and bob do not necessarily need to use the same bec for their operations in this teleportation scheme .
the unitary evolution governed by @xmath56 , transforms the occupation number of the modes as follows @xmath57 . by coupling the modes to the bec for various times , @xmath44
, single mode number rotation gates can be performed .
we also need a two mode entangling gate to allow for bell state analysis .
a c - phase type gate between two of the modes , @xmath58 , is performed as follows .
since we consider a large onsite interaction strength throughout this protocol , the bosons behave like spin - polarised fermions .
one can see this by associating the two particle number states , @xmath48 and @xmath49 , of each mode with the up / down spin half degree of freedom .
the bosonic hamiltonian , @xmath59 , becomes equivalent to the quantum xx spin model , which in turn can be mapped via the jordan - wigner transformation to @xmath60 , where @xmath61 and @xmath62 are fermionic creation and annihilation operators for mode , @xmath63 that anti - commute , @xmath64 @xcite .
once the system is in this regime , the barrier between the modes , @xmath42 and @xmath2 , is lowered for time , @xmath65 , so that the particles exchange position .
this ensures that the @xmath66 term picks up a minus sign @xmath67 , due to the anti - commutation relations @xcite .
the other three states transform as , @xmath68 @xmath69 and @xmath70 .
we now present the circuit diagram for the teleportation protocol , see fig .
( [ fig : teleportation_circuit ] ) , referring to the four steps outlined at the start of this section .
the three modes and the bec are represented in the figure by the four horizontal lines in the diagram and the gates are represented as boxes . + + .
the _ bell state measurement _ on modes @xmath30 and @xmath16 by alice is outlined in the centre portion of the circuit . the last part of the circuit details the _ final rotation _ on mode @xmath17 by bob .
further details will be discussed in the text .
, width=432 ] * the preparation stage : * a third party , charlie , prepares a spatial mode ( @xmath30 ) in an unknown quantum state by performing a single - mode number rotation ( green in the diagram [ section ( [ sec : number - rotation ] ) ] ) and a single - mode phase gate ( red in the diagram [ section ( [ sec : phase ] ) ] ) for the chosen amounts of time .
initially , mode @xmath30 , is in the vacuum state @xmath71 , so that the two gates rotate it to the state @xmath72 , where @xmath73 and @xmath74 and @xmath75 .
the potential barrier between modes @xmath30 and @xmath16 remains high throughout this stage .
an entangled bell state shared between alice and bob is also required for the protocol .
to obtain such a state a single massive particle needs to be coherently distributed over the two modes if the single neutral atom initially starts in mode @xmath16 , lowering the barrier to mode @xmath17 for time @xmath76 creates the state @xmath77 .
+ + * the bell state measurement : * spatial mode @xmath30 is now passed to alice , who performs bell state analysis on modes , @xmath30 and @xmath16 .
bob is in possession of mode @xmath17 . a measurement in the bell state basis proceeds as follows : \(1 ) modes @xmath30 and @xmath16 should be within close proximity of one another and the potential barrier between them is high so that tunneling is fully suppressed .
mode @xmath16 is rotated away from the particle number basis by coupling to a bec reservoir via the raman laser set - up for time @xmath78 as denoted by the yellow gate in the circuit diagram [ see section ( [ sec : number - rotation ] ) ] .
note that the bec here does not necessarily need to be the same as the one used by charlie to create the initial state of mode @xmath30 .
this results in the transformations , @xmath79 and @xmath80 .
for instance , the @xmath81 bell state transforms ( without normalisation ) to @xmath82 .
the other bell states transform in a similar way .
\(2 ) then , a c - phase type gate [ see section ( [ sec : two - mode - gate ] ) ] is applied by lowering the potential barrier between modes @xmath30 and @xmath16 for time @xmath65 so that the bosons swap positions .
this is illustrated by the pale blue gate in the circuit diagram . by continuing the example in the previous step
, one can see that this transformation works in the following way : @xmath83 .
\(3 ) in order to rotate modes , @xmath30 and @xmath16 , to the particle number basis for the read - out , each should be coupled to the bec reservoir for time , @xmath84 , as in step ( 2 ) .
for example , the state , @xmath85 , after c - phase type gate above becomes @xmath86 .
hence a measurement of zero particles in both modes means that the quantum state , @xmath87 has been teleported to bob .
a measurement of @xmath88 corresponds to the state , @xmath89 , being teleported to bob s mode .
note that the teleported states both also have phases which are correlated to the bec , which means if they are to be used for other purposes then the _ same _ bec would be needed to ensure phase matched conditions . however ,
if there is one particle in mode @xmath30 after this final rotation , the teleportation has not succeeded .
this is due to the fact that after steps ( 1)-(3 ) , the states , @xmath90 , are rotated to @xmath91 .
since one does not know the phase , @xmath52 of the condensate , one has to average over all realisations of it , i.e. apply the twirling operator to determine the quantum state of the laboratory , which accounts for our ignorance .
this leaves mode @xmath16 in the maximally mixed state so that it is impossible to say which of the two operators , @xmath92 and @xmath93 , should be applied to recover the original state , @xmath94 , even in principle .
+ + * transmission of classical information and final single - mode rotation * : alice thus sends one of three messages to bob according to the outcome of her measurement .
bob obtains the unknown quantum state half of the time upon the following transformations : latexmath:[\[\begin{aligned } where the first column corresponds to the bell state alice measured , the second column to the particle number measurements in mode @xmath30 and @xmath16 ( and also the classical bits that she sends ) and the third column to bob s operation on mode @xmath17 .
the @xmath41 operation is applied to mode @xmath17 by changing the phase of the mode [ as in section ( [ sec : phase ] ) ] for time @xmath96 where @xmath97 is the energy bias of mode @xmath17 .
this concludes the teleportation protocol for a unknown quantum state of a spatial mode .
in this paper , we have discussed the teleportation of an unknown state of a spatial mode using a mode entangled state formed from a single particle .
we modeled the modes as qubits by considering tightly confined potentials , with zero or one particles representing the qubit degrees of freedom .
we have given an explicit scheme for creating an arbitrary state of a spatial mode despite the particle number superselection rule , by coupling to a bec reservoir .
we have shown that one can reliably distinguish two of the four bell states , with the other two grouped together .
this is due to the fact that we do not know the phase of the bec reservoir , which is still classically correlated to the state after the bell state analysis .
however , the teleportation of a general unknown ( two - level ) state of a spatial mode is still achieved half of the time , which would never be possible if we could not locally bypass the superselection rule in the first place .
this contrasts with a dense coding scheme using the mode entanglement of a single particle ( see @xcite ) . in this scheme
, one can always discriminate all four bell states .
the difference between the two schemes arises from the difference in symmetries of the encoding ( or preparation ) and decoding ( or bell state analysis ) processes in the two protocols . in the dense coding protocol
, there are only two modes and alice can initially couple her mode to the bec to rotate to one of the two states , @xmath98 ) . in doing so , the phase of these states becomes classically correlated to the phase of the bec , @xmath52 .
alice then passes her mode to bob , who performs bell state analysis as was outlined above to find which bell state alice sent . because the phase of the bec is already present in @xmath99 it cancels with the phase that is picked up again from the bec during the bell state measurement .
thus all four bell states are reliably distinguishable from one another .
on the other hand , in the teleportation scheme , there are necessarily three modes . initially the mode that will be subsequently teleported to bob
is rotated to an arbitrary state and becomes classically correlated to the phase of the bec
_ this phase will stay present in the state of this mode as it is teleported to bob and does not feature in the bell state analysis_. bell state analysis is then performed on this and one mode of the entangled state . however , the phases that are picked up from the bec in the bell state analysis do not have any phases to cancel with , unlike in the case of the dense coding scheme .
so while we have access to all of the gates that are required to perform the teleportation protocol , because we can not know the phase of the bec , even in principle , we do not teleport the spatial mode all of the time .
this paper has illustrated how mode entanglement of massive particles does not behave exactly like particle entanglement despite the fact that one can locally overcome the particle number superselection rule .
future work should focus on extending this scheme to consider the teleportation of a general @xmath100 level state of a spatial mode using the natural entanglement in becs . | arxiv |
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Bay Saint Louis is about the most charming place in Mississippi. It took me years to discover "Old Town". I simply assumed my commute down Highway 90 was all of Bay Saint Louis. By all accounts, the fast food restaurants, retail stores and the likes are up on the main road, but the heart of the city begins on Main Street. At Main Street and Beach Boulevard you will find Hancock County's original bank, a harbor, restaurants with local cuisine, mom and pop shoppes, antiques, and if you stray a few steps any direction - tons of cottages and historic homes. Come visit soon.
In 2015, SmartAsset.com ranked Bay St. Louis among one of the Top 10 most affordable beach communities. It said that not only is it affordable, but they also liked the historic architecture throughout the town. Bay St Louis is becoming a desirable place to call home.
The Carroll House is tucked away in a late 1800's cottage in the heart of Bay St. Louis. It was recently voted as one of the Top 10 B&B's in the State of Mississippi, which is a huge accolade. It prides itself on luxurious rooms, gourmet dining, and huge doses of southern hospitality, which is what makes it such a fan favorite of locals and guests alike. Located in the heart of Old Town Bay St. Louis, The Carroll House is within walking distance to many of the local hot spots.
If you take Beach Boulevard to the very end, you will end up in the Silver Slipper parking lot. This little gem is tucked away from the rest of the world, and it is a quaint casino with very good customer service. The newest addition to this casino is its hotel. Its plush rooms offer views of the beaches and bayous. The casino also offers hotel packages that can include golf and/or fishing charters. The Silver Slipper's RV park is beachfront, and very close to the state park. Silver Slipper offers three different dining options and they have some of the best crab legs on their buffet.
Saint Stanislaus College (commonly called SSC) is an excellent high school for young men in Bay St. Louis. It is a private, all-boys school, and it is the only Coast school that offers boarding facilities to its students. It caters to local students and boarders from all over the world.
Their college preparatory program helps boys to excel in all academics while also grooming them to be gentlemen of great character. SSC also offers many sports programs, and many of these compete on the state level for championships. Their unique summer camp has programs that cater to boys and girls up to age 15, and include arts/crafts, swimming, sailing, archery, among many others. Another fun fact of this high school is it's mascot, the Rock-a-Chaw. A Rock-a-chaw is a fierce little sand burr, and it is artfully depicted on most of their literature.
Our Lady Academy is a private, all-girl school in Bay St. Louis. It excels in creating dynamic women that are grounded in independent thinking, sports and academics. OLA focuses on the unique qualities of each girl, and strives to help them reach their full potential in business and community. I attended this school from 7th-12th grade, and loved every aspect of it. There is a great sense of community within the campus. With the small class size, there is personalized attention that students get from the teachers to help them excel in whatever their passion may be!
Not only is Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast one of the largest employers in Bay St. Louis, it also offers a little bit of something for everyone. Hollywood Casino is home to The Bridges Golf Course, an Arnold Palmer designed signature course. It is also the first resort course to obtain the Audubon International's Certified Silver Signature Status. This accolade rewards their efforts of creating and maintaining a golf course in harmony with nature and natural habitats. Hollywood Casino also offers an RV park, hotel, marina and lazy river. Not to mention gaming, weekend entertainment and delicious restaurant choices. They also run a round-trip trolley service to various places in Old Town Bay St. Louis. This is a great way to take a leisurely tour of the city!
The Silver Slipper Casino is a beachfront casino that has recently added a hotel! Locals and tourists go to enjoy live music, fine dining, assorted buffet food, over 961 slots, 28 table games, and a keno parlor. Come find what you enjoy to do!
One of the tourist and locals favorite venues is our 14 story waterfront hotel, the Hollywood Casino. This is situated on an Arnold Palmer golf course minutes away from the Gulf Coast beaches. They offer live music, a pool, a lazy river, and a hotel.
Bay St Louis has a ton of coastal Southern charm and it's trending! Southern Living Magazine named Bay St. Louis one of their 50 Best Places in the South in 2016! Budget Travel Magazine named it one of the "Coolest Small Towns in America" in 2013 and Coastal Living Magazine named Bay St. Louis one of the top ten small beach towns in the country for 2010!
Bay St. Louis Truly Is "A Place Apart"
The motto "A Place Apart" could not be more fitting for Bay St. Louis. Voted one of America's Coolest Small Towns (by Budget Travel), Bay St. Louis is rich in personality, history, festivals and the arts. Whether you are enjoying Blues Music, eating great seafood on the beach, or strolling through the local art galleries, Bay St. Louis is a wonderful and vibrant place to be. There is always something to do and experience here! | slim_pajama |
Beijing railway station , or simply Beijing station , is a passenger railway station in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The station is located just southeast of the city centre inside the Second Ring Road with Beijing Station Street to the north and the remnants of the city wall between Chongwenmen and Dongbianmen to the south. The Beijing railway station opened in 1959 and was the largest train station in China at the time. Though superseded by the larger Beijing West and Beijing South stations, this station remains the only one located inside the old walled city. Trains entering and leaving the station pass by the Dongbianmen corner tower. With gilded eaves and soaring clock towers, the architecture of the railway blends traditional Chinese and socialist realist influence.
Generally, trains for northeast China Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin on the BeijingHarbin railway, for Shandong Jinan, Qingdao and the Yangtze River Delta Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou on the BeijingShanghai railway and some for Inner and the Republic of Mongolia depart from this station. Some international lines notably the railway line linking Beijing to Moscow and to Pyongyang, North Korea DPRK, amongst others, also depart from this station.
The Beijing Subway's first line used to terminate at Beijing railway station from 1969 to 1981. The subway station is now a stop on Line 2. More than 30 Beijing bus and Beijing trolleybus routes stop at or near the railway station.
History
Predecessor station
The Beijing railway station's predecessor was the Zhengyangmen railway station, also called the Beijing station, which was located due west, just outside Zhengyangmen also known as Qianmen, a gate in the city wall directly south of Tiananmen Square. The Zhengyangmen railway station was built in 1901 and served as the terminus of the Kaiping Tramway and Imperial Railways of North China, also known as the BeijingShanhaiguan Railway until 1959 when the station closed after the opening of the current Beijing railway station and has become part of the China Railway Museum.
Design and construction
To commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1958 began the planning and construction of ten large-scale projects, known as the Ten Great Buildings to showcase the new outlook of the country and the Beijing railway station was amongst the projects undertaken.
In late October 1958, according to the early 1950 Beijing municipal government's construction and planning records, the design arrangements for the new railway station was commenced. The station's design was assigned to the Ministry of Railway Institute's third department now the Third Railway Survey and Design Institute Group Co. Ltd with the station house building chaired by then renowned architects Yang Tingbao and Chen Deng'ao , the National Building and Industry Department and the Nanjing Institute of Architectural Design were to cooperate in the design tasks. The station's design progressed rapidly and by early December the same year, the whole design proposal was completed. On December 10, the design proposal was approved by the Central Committee. The then Premier Zhou Enlai was also very concerned about the design and construction of the new Beijing railway station, and dealt with aspects concerning the direction and positioning of station names to the layout of the VIP room environment. In determining the design program proposal, Zhou Enlai proposed that turrets be built on each of the two wings of the main building and this suggestion was adopted.
On January 20, 1959 the construction of the new station commenced with the number of construction workers reaching up to two million people during the peak stage and project investment amounted to 57.82 million yuan. Soviet experts were also hired to give technical guidance at the construction sites. In just over seven months, the project was completed on September 10, 1959. The new Beijing railway station covered an area of two hundred and fifty thousand square meters, the Station House Building site covered an area of 46,700 square meters, the station plaza comprised an area of forty thousand square meters. Chairman Mao Zedong wrote the calligraphic characters in the station sign.
The Beijing railway station was one of the largest construction projects in mainland China during that time with modern facilities and it was also China's first large modern railway terminal. At the time of completion, the station has a twelve tracks and six railway platforms with canopies attached to them. The Station house building faced south and the architecture included both a Chinese traditional style and the Soviet Stalinist architecture。The twelve passenger waiting rooms comprised a total area of fourteen thousand square meters and was able to accommodate 14,000 waiting passengers. The inner complex of the Main Station Building contained a passenger waiting room, mother and child waiting room, movie theater, recreation hall, visitors' restaurants, post office, clinic and other facilities. Installed on the roof of the Station House were two marble clock faces and every morning from 7am to 9pm the bell sounded punctually and The East Is Red song is played out.
The Beijing station equipment was considered to be relatively advanced at its -time with four AC2-59 type escalators installed in the interior; the joint design and production of the escalators were coordinated by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Elevator Company. The four sets of escalators were replaced during the 1980 and again during 1990; the most recent replacement of the elevators occurred in early 2005 - the design being a product of Otis Company.
Operation
China Railway
After the completion of the new Beijing railway station, its transport capacity far exceeded the formerly used East railway station and it played an increasing role in heavy transport tasks, and today it is still Beijing's most important passenger railway station, and has the largest station traffic in China. The number of trains and traffic has also increased year by year: In 1959 there were 33 train lines; in 1966 there were forty train lines; in 1978 there were sixty-one train lines; in 1985 there were seventy-eight train lines; and by 1993 there were eighty-two train lines. During the late 1950s, the number of passengers using the railway transportation system was six million people a year, in the late 1960 it was eight million people a year, in the late 1970 it reached fifteen million a year, and after the Chinese economic reform period, the usage soared to more than thirty million people. To alleviate the transport pressure on the Beijing railway station, the Beijing Municipal Government and the Ministry of Railways in 1980 started the planning and construction of Beijing's second passenger station and hence the Beijing West railway station was completed in 1996, which provided transportation links for the BeijingGuangzhou Railway and BeijingKowloon Railway helped alleviate pressure on the Beijing railway station - this led to a reduction in passenger traffic for the Beijing railway station to twenty million people。
Since 1976, the Beijing railway station had begun a series of upgrades to the passenger service facilities, for example a computer system had been set up for processing tickets, a TV monitoring screen, wireless communication, automatic broadcasting system, and extensions made to the railway platform expanded its length from 497 to 603 metres in order to meet the needs of the expanding transportation flow. In 1988, the Shanghai Electric Clock Factory installed China's first large screen display system in the Beijing railway station square. Between May 1998 and September 1999, the Ministry of Railways implemented a seismic strengthening project to the Beijing railway station and also introduced new passenger features such as a central air conditioning system, passenger guidance system, multi-functional radio broadcasting system. Since June 18, 2003, the Beijing railway station began an expansion of two new sites, comprising an area of 20,513 square meters and includes a specialized large parcel luggage line., renovations included the removal of the concrete canopy, alterations to the steel arch station poles, and alterations to the original site raised it from 1 to 1.2 meters,.
In June 2008, in order to meet the needs of the Beijing Olympic Games, bilingual signs were created at the Beijing railway station to facilitate an overall increase in foreign tourists travelling to the games, in addition to putting up the Beijing Railway Station, several other signs were also erected at station entrances, exits and ticket booths。
Beijing Subway
The Beijing railway station is a transportation hub in Beijing.
Beijing Subway: Line 2 stops at the Beijing railway station, with Entrance D on the station plaza.
Beijing Bus routes and stops near the station:
Beijing Station East 250 m east of the station plaza: 9, 10, 20, 25, 29, 39, 52, 59, 122, 203, 204, 209, 403, 420, 434, 637, 638, 639, 666, 668, 673, 674, 729, 804, 805, 827, 829, 938, 957
Beijing Station West 280 m west of the station plaza: 103, 104, 208, 209, 211, 673
Beijing Station Front Street 290 m north of the station plaza: 9, 24, 204, 673, 674, 729, 804,
Beijing Station Intersection East on Chang'an Avenue, 600 m north of the station plaza: 1, 52, 90, 99, 120, 126, 205, 208, 420, 637, 666, 728,
Jianguomen Bridge South 900 m east of the station plaza on the Second Ring Road: 25, 39, 43, 44, 52, 122, 434, 637, 638, 750,
Beijing Airport Bus Route 3 has a terminus located about 300 m east of the station plaza.
Bus route numbers in bold denotes bus terminus.
Station Layout
Exits
Sister stations
:
Seoul Station
:
Tokyo Station Concluded since 1980
Ueno Station Concluded since 1980
Notes
External links
Official site
Beijing Train Schedule
Category:Railway stations opened in 1959
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1959
Category:Contemporary Chinese architecture
Category:Railway stations in Dongcheng District, Beijing
Category:Beijing Subway stations in Dongcheng District | wikipedia |
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