("Brilliant Future" by Okiayu Ryuutarou)

" So let me get this straight, " Duo said, as they walked through the crowded streets of Tokyo sometime later, after Duo had left a scrawled note in purple gel pen about the situation and left with Riva and Wufei. " You know you gotta collect a whole bunch of people from different 'dimensions' but you don't know to what purpose or what you're supposed to do when you finish the list? "

" Not a clue. "

" Then... " Duo broke off, processing some other information. " Then how do you know that what you're doing is even a good thing?! "

She shrugged. " Good or bad, I gotta do it. Besides, it's fun! "

" You've got a really twisted sense of fun, girl. "

" I know. " She paused outside a vet clinic, " ah, here we go. " She entered without another word, leaving Duo and Wufei to stare at each other on the sidewalk.

Wufei was positively seething. " Why are we following that onna around? " he demanded.

Duo shook his head. " She had us cornered Wu-man. Besides, we get a break and she's feeding us. For all we know these guys she's gathering up will be stronger 'n us and we can just sit back and let them do whatever we're supposed to be doing. "

Wufei glared at him. " Doubtful. " He stalked into the clinic with Duo on his heels.

Riva was standing at the counter talking to a secretary. As Duo and Wufei entered, a tall man with glasses and short black hair walked up to Riva and they exchanged greetings.

Duo blinked as the man's voice reached his ears. " Zechs? "

" That's not Zechs, " Wufei interjected bitterly, " just sounds like him. "

" Think that's this Sumeragi person? "

Riva handed the man an envelope. " Could you give this to Sumeragi-san for me, please? "

" Nope. Not him. "

" I'm meeting Subaru for lunch in an hour. I'll give it to him then. "

" Arigatou! " Riva turned and walked past Duo and Wufei to leave the clinic. They followed immediately. Out in the street she turned to face them again and they noted with some amount of aprehension the manic glitter had returned. " You two go to the clock tower in the middle of the Tenth Street District Park and wait for Subaru. I've got something to take care of. "

" Why should we do anything you say? " demanded Wufei stubbornly.

" You like the folding metal chair, Wuchan? " she inquired innocently.

Wufei fumed yet again. " I hate you. "

" Good. mwa! " she blew a kiss that thoroughly affronted him before taking off running down the street. Soon she had disappeared into the crowd of people, and Duo and Wufei were left to themselves.

Eventually Duo started for the Tenth Street District. " In any case, Wufei, we can't get back to where we're supposed to be without her. Come on... "

**

(insert song: "Trust" by Salia)

The Tenth Street District of Tokyo was well known for it's share of strange happenings. The Park in that area was no exception. Just as Duo and Wufei entered it, they felt distinctly creepy and watched as a pillar of golden light shot into the sky. Hearing a little girl scream, Duo and Wufei took off running towards the pillar.

Rounding a corner, Duo and Wufei ended up at the base of the pillar, which was a little girl wearing a deep navy fuku. She had thick pink pigtails bursting out of buns that looked like rabbit ears. She was screaming bloody murder with her eyes shut and a glowing crescent moon standing out on her forehead. Standing around her were four women dressed in flamboyant outfits.

Loudmouth that he was, Duo saw it as his business to interfere. " Oi! What are you doin' to that little girl?! "

Petz glared at him. " Get lost. This is none of your concern. "

Duo scowled. " Come on Wufei, we can take 'em! "

Wufei crossed his arms and scoffed. " I'm not fighting women. "

Duo rolled his eyes. " Oh come on, look at them Wu! They're ~obviously~ crossdressers. "

Coan clenched one well manicured fist and spun to face the two boys, her ragged black tutu rustling as she moved. " Ex-CUSE me? I'll make you eat those words! "

And so the fight began.

**

(insert song: "Recollect" from Gravitation)
 

  Dear Subaru Sumeragi;
 I am sending you on a journey. (heehee, I got it right this time)
 You're not necessarily going to the west, but you will be going
 somewhere, for some sort of purpose. I'm afraid I can't tell you
 much right now, simply because I don't know yet. ^^ Please go
 to the Tenth Street District Park to meet up with two other boys
 who will be going with you. After this, part of the fun will be
 trying to find the rest yourselves. I only came along this time
 because there was something I wanted to do here.
 I hope that you will accompany me on this journey.
  Sincerely, Riva Allard

 PS If you refuse, I will subject you to the folding metal chair
 and take you anyway. ^_^

Subaru Sumeragi was a sweet young boy of about sixteen years of age. He had wide, trusting green eyes and thick black hair. He always wore gloves due to a curse a certain bastard had put on him when he was little. But because his sister was a queen of fashion, his gloves always worked with his outfit, so no one paid it much mind. As he walked down the street towards Tenth Street District Park, he read the note Seishirou had handed him and contemplated over what it could possibly mean.

**

(insert song: "Earth as a Character Gallery" from Shoujo Kakumei Utena)

She leveled the kitana blade at his smirking face and scowled. " You're gonna be mean to Subaru in the future! Prepare to
die! "

" Aren't you supposed to get revenge for something after it happens? " he asked serenely.

" Logic is for sissies! " Running forward, Riva attacked Seishirou... and promptly got her ass kicked.

**

(insert song: "Believer" by Chantel Kreviazuk)

Coan was kicking and scratching at Duo. (well, more like the air around Duo, but whatever) She was huffing in frustration at the lithe boy who evaded her every attack. " I'll- " claw " -show- " huff " -you- " kick " -a- " tackle.. that fails
" -CROSSDRESSER! "

" I'm already looking at one, obaba!! " Duo teased and graced her with agabe. He looked over to see how Wufei was doing while Coan picked herself off the ground.

Wufei had already knocked Bertie unconscious and thrown Petz into the fountain. He was having trouble with Avery however, as the woman in orange had a whip. The very thought of hentai implications that whip had kept giving Wufei nosebleeds, and that was hindering his attacks.

The little girl was sitting by the fountain staring at them. Her scream had finally died away, taking with it the pillar of golden light. A faint flush came to her face. " I have two handsome guys fighting for me... " she trailed off happily, " Usagi only ever gets
one. " She giggled like the evil little rabbit she was.

Speaking of Usagi, she and the other Sailorsenshi ended up there around that time. They didn't even have time to spout their speeches before the Four Sisters cut their losses and took off. Immediately after, Duo took off for the clock tower. " Come on Wufei, we gotta meet this Subaru person! "

Five girls in Sailor fukus and one little girl watched them run off, completely stupified.

" Chibiusa...? " Sailormars trailed off, " Who were those guys? "

" I have no idea. But they saved me. "

**

(insert song: "A Wonderland only for You" from CLAMP in Wonderland)

Duo and Wufei reached the clock tower, panting and gasping for breath. Duo leaned against the tower and sighed noisily.
" Remind me to kill Riva. "

" Hn, " Wufei managed in agreement.

" Ano... Sumimasen? "

" Ehn? " Duo looked up at the boy in the red coat and hat.

Subaru smiled weakly. " I'm supposed to meet a Riva Allard here... "

A red haired girl suddenly ran past them, in a mad dash for who knew what. She was yelling at the top of her lungs, " O-Parts! O-Parts! " in one hell of a mood killer.

A man wearing a long black cape followed her with two children on his heels. Desperately he called after her, " Inaho-chan! "

Duo and Subaru blinked.

" Zechs? "  " Seishirousan? "

Wufei sighed.

**

(insert song: "Don't Be Discouraged" by Megumi Hayashibara)

Riva stood up quickly and raised her fist into the air. " Victory shall be mine!! You- " she pointed at Seishirou with the same hand, " -demon born in the dark! In the name of God I seal you here! CHECKMATE!! "

Seishirou looked at his shoulder, noting what she'd thrown at him. Flatly he said, " It's a thumb-ta-- " Said thumb-tack sucked him in and turned into a chess pawn.

Riva dove forward and caught the pawn. Winking at no one in particular (she was alone in the room afterall) she said cutely, " Collection Complete! "

**

Somewhere else, Kanoe sighed and felt impending doom for the Dragons of Earth

**

(insert song: "My All" by To Destination)

" Kombanwa!! "

The three boys at the clock tower turned to watch her approach. She looked terrible, with blood soaking through her shirt and running down her arm. There was some smeared across her face and in her hair. Subaru stood in complete shock, Wufei looked disgusted, but Duo was the only one to rush forward and demand,

" WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?! "

" I got my ass kicked! " Riva replied.

" I can see that! "

Riva leaned against the shoulder he offered and smiled at Subaru. " Dou... Subarukun? Will you come along? "

" She makes it sound like it really is a choice, " Wufei muttered.

Subaru looked at him, and then at Riva. " Well, from what Duosan and Wufeisan have said, I don't really have a choice do I? Ano... I'd just like to let Hokuto and Seishirousan know before I go... "

" I've already let Hokuto know, and as for Seishirou... " she tossed him the chess piece. " No need to worry about him any more. "

Subaru's eyes widened as he caught the chess piece. " Seishirousan?! "

Duo looked down at Riva. " So where to next? "

" Well, I need to go recouperate. But I'm sending you guys to Chikyuu version Toriyama-003.7 on Heavan's Platform. Shouldn't be too hard to find who you're looking for there. "

" Who are we looking for? " Duo asked suspiciously.

**

Next Chapter: Beware the Grasshopper King!