The girl stood in a fighting stance.   "You'll never defeat me, demon!" 
she said defiantly.

	The demon chuckled behind his faceless black mask.  "We'll see about 
that."  He pointed and a line of shadow cracked towards her like a whip. She 
dodged it and ran forward, pressing her right palm to her shield.  The demon 
put a hand up and the she found herself being pressed back by a wave of 
darkness.  She cried out in pain, falling backwards.  "Not very impressive," 
the demon snorted.

	The girl shook her head vigorously then looked up at the demon, eyes 
shining with determination.  "Like I said before," she began, standing 
shakily, "I will not be defeated."

	"I like it when my prey struggles.  It makes things so much more 
interesting," the demon purred.  The girl could hear the smile in his voice.  
She shuddered involuntarily.  "Now... catch!"  The demon hurled a ball of 
darkness at her.  She raised her shield to block, preparing herself for 
impact...

	It dissipated harmlessly against the silver.  As the demon paused in 
surprise, the girl ran forward, instinctively bringing her right palm to 
touch the gems in the center of the shield.  Her eyes glazed over for a 
moment as she chanted, "Power of the Dream Realm, grant me the weapon needed 
to purge the land of this unclean one!"  She pulled her hand back a bit and a 
gleaming golden-white sword appeared.  She lashed at the demon, who overcame 
his shock in time to dodge.

	With a hasty hand gesture, the black wind once again pressed the girl 
back.  But this time, she raised her sword and cut through it: gold and 
white shining against flowing black.  He backed up, hoping to buy time, but 
was stopped when the sword slid cleanly into his chest.  He fell as the 
magical girl pulled her sword from him.

	Dream Warrior Miwako looked at the fallen but still breathing demon and 
sighed.  "I wish I didn't have to do this," she whispered to herself as she 
raised her sword and shut her eyes.  With one smooth motion she brought it 
down, the sword easily cutting through the demon's neck and beheading him.  
She slowly opened one eye, making sure she did the job correctly, and was 
surprised to see his body become a dark mist which was swirling in on itself 
and condensing into a floating black gem.

	"What...?" she murmured in astonishment.  She reached out to touch it, 
but a hole opened beneath the gem in midair swallowed it.  She was about to 
inspect the hole when she heard slow, deliberate clapping.

	"Bravo, bravo," a voice said from behind her.  Miwako spun around to 
see a man (or what she assumed to be a man) wearing a smiling harlequin mask 
and a patchwork cloak.  He lowered his hands and approached her.  "So you're 
Hiro's new toy.  Hmm... I haven't seen a Dream Warrior in years.  Yes, many 
years.  He must be getting quite desperate by now."  Miwako could just hear 
the smirk on his lips, and it grated her ears.  She pointed her sword at him.

	"Are you a member of the Loki Cult?"

	The man giggled and stopped just an inch short of the pointy glowing 
doom.  "Oh, hardly.  I'm just me."

	The Dream Warrior slowly lowered her sword, but still kept it in a 
ready position.  "And who are you?"

	"A man."  He nodded to himself as if he needed reassurance.  "I am a 
man playing the game."  He looked to the sky for a moment, then back at the 
Dream Warrior.  "And I know who you are!" he crowed, pointing a finger at 
her.

	The girl blinked.  "Me?"

	"Yes!" he cried with delight.  "I know all about you, Arai Miwako, 
Dream Warrior."

	"How... how do you know my name?"

	The man giggled again.  "I'm going to give you some advice, Dream 
Warrior," he said, his voice turning in an instant from amused to serious.  
"This one was merely a scout.  The ones you fight outside of your dreams will 
be much harder."  He paused for a moment to look at his wrist.  "Oh, look at 
the time.  I have to go."  He turned his face back up from his nonexistent 
watch and started fading away.  "Ta ta!"

	"Hey, wait!  You didn't answer my question!" Dream Warrior Miwako 
shouted, grabbing at Fable's patchwork arm.  Her hand passed right through.  
"Wait!"

* * * * *

Nightmare Fighter Yumeko

Chapter 4: Pain and Water

* * * * *

	Yumeko listened to the birds chirping and groaned.  She slowly opened 
her eyes, letting the light in bit by bit.  They felt so heavy.  Eventually, 
though, she got to the point where they were completely open and she had a 
lovely view of her plain, white ceiling.  "Damn birds.  They should all be 
shot."  She sat up with a tired sigh and blinked at her clock.  She was late 
for school.

	She shook her head and got out of bed, walking to her desk.  Grabbing 
the notebook, she opened it to an empty page and frowned.  She took a pen, 
uncapped it, and wrote, "Nothing.  Woke up exhausted."  Yumeko snapped the 
notebook shut, checked her calendar, and nodded.  It was three years to the 
day in which she had her last dreamless night.  She'd think it an odd 
coincidence, but now that she was the Nightmare Fighter, was anything a 
coincidence anymore?

	After going through her standard morning ritual (getting dressed, 
brushing teeth, and showering), Yumeko padded her way downstairs.  She made 
her way to the front door quickly and silently, grabbing her jacket from the 
hook that was installed beside it.  With a slight creak, she opened the door.

	"Hey, where're ya goin', Yume-chan?"

	The girl in question turned towards the voice.  "I'm going to school, 
Father," she said calmly.

	Yumeko's father wiped a hand on his stained shirt and half stumbled in 
her general direction.  "Aww... keep an old man company," he begged.

	She could smell the alcohol on his breath.  "I'm sorry, Father.  I'm 
late enough as it is."

	"Come on, Yume-chan.  Who'll miss you at school, anyway?"  He tugged at 
her arm.  "Please?"

	Yumeko pulled her arm back in disgust.  "No.  Now go clean yourself 
up."  She whirled around and stepped out the door, shutting it quietly and 
ignoring her father's pleas for company.  Another drink or two and hed pass 
out.

	Squinting her eyes in pain, she reached into her coat pocket and 
grabbed a pair of sunglasses.  Yumeko always did dislike overly sunny days, 
and this one only served to make her headache worse.  She sighed and started 
walking to school, only to pause.  She didn't feel like putting up with 
Seiko, and she was late for school anyway.  Any work she missed could easily 
be caught up on.  With a nod to herself, she turned and headed towards the 
subway station.

	After all, who would miss her at school, anyway?

* * * * *

	Misako turned the corner at breakneck speed.  She was late!  She really 
couldn't afford sleeping in, not with her grades being as low as they were.  
But she and Keiji had to make sure Yumeko was taken care of; she didn't quite 
trust that Tsugi guy.  He seemed kind of suspicious to her.

	She slowed down as the school came into view.  It really was a gorgeous 
day.  A pity she'd have to waste it by having to stand outside of class 
holding buckets the entire time.  Misako sighed as she slowed a bit more.  
School didn't sound so appealing anymore, but she had to see how Yumeko was 
doing, especially after what happened last night.

	The punch came as a complete surprise.  Misako's eyes widened as she 
doubled over, dropping her books so she could clutch her stomach.  "Where is 
Kobayashi?" a familiar voice asked.

	"She's... she's not here right now," Misako gasped out as she tried to 
recompose herself.

	"I know that."  A kick was delivered to Misako's side and she fell.  
"But you're her friend, and I want to know where she is."  Misako watched a 
pair of school shoes approach, only to stop in front of her face.  "Tell me."

	Misako shook her head to stop the ringing and pulled herself into a 
fighting stance.  "I don't know where Yumeko is, Seiko.  Maybe she's at 
school, like you should be."  She took a quick glance around.  The flunkies 
were nowhere to be seen.

	Seiko scowled.  "She isn't.  And you know where she is.  Tell me.  
Now!"

	"No," Misako replied.  She smiled.

	With a scream, Seiko launched herself at Misako, who blocked the 
oncoming punch with a wince.  Seiko was stronger than she looked.  The 
angered girl didn't stop there, though, and included a few more punches, all 
of which were blocked.

	Misako grinned idiotically.  Here she was, fighting Seiko of all 
people, in a one on one match.  No flunkies to get in the way of things, and 
not even Yumeko... she'd finally be able to find out if she was better than 
Seiko or not.  She blocked another punch (those punches were strong!), saw an 
opening, and attacked with one of her own, confident it would get in.

	It was caught.  Misako started in surprise; Seiko never seemed that 
fast when she fought Yumeko.  The other girl smiled sadistically at Misako's 
expression and aimed a kick for her already sensitive stomach.  Seiko let go 
of Misako's fist at just the right time, which meant she fell to the 
pavement.  Hard.

	"Do you want to continue this?" Seiko sneered.  "Or are you going to 
tell me?"

	Misako got back on her feet, trying her best to ignore her complaining 
stomach.  "I see no reason to tell you anything."

	Seiko's eyes flashed dangerously.  "If you won't tell me, then playtime 
is over!"

	She was there before Misako could even blink, punching and kicking in 
deadly combinations.  Misako blocked as many as she could, but a few got 
through.  They were glancing hits because she was trying her best to dodge, 
but hits nonetheless.  She panicked, as she knew she couldn't keep this up 
much longer.  The second she saw Seiko slow she threw a hasty punch.

	It never hit its target.  Seiko sidestepped it easily and performed a 
leg sweep on Misako.  Her head hit the ground with a sickening, hollow sound.  
"Tell me!  Tell me now!" Seiko shouted.  Misako could practically feel the 
other girl moving closer to her.  She tried to get up, but it was in vain.  
Her body refused to cooperate.  She shut her eyes and bit her lip in pain as 
she felt the kicks rain down on her.  One after another after another after 
another...

	And then it stopped.  Misako vaguely heard yelling.  And arguing.  She 
wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth all that came out was 
a groan.  Then there was shouting and footsteps moving closer, and she could 
feel herself being lifted up...  "It's okay, Misako," a reassuring voice 
soothed, "Open your eyes."

	She did.  Keiji looked down at her, smiling warmly.  She smiled back, 
only vaguely listening to Seiko and Takuya (she was pretty sure it was him) 
yelling about something.  "How do you feel?" Keiji asked.

	"Hurt.  Seiko..."

	"Don't worry, Misako.  We're going to get you out of here."  Keiji 
smiled at her again, then turned his attention to the arguing pair.  "Takuya!  
We've got to get her to the nurse!"

	"-even think about doing that to Misako again!" the boy finished.  He 
ran over to Keiji and Misako.  "Misako!  Are you all right?"

	Keiji took over before Misako even had a chance to answer.  "We have to 
get her to the school nurse.  Now."  He started carrying her to the school 
entrance, Takuya not far behind.

	Seiko frowned as she watched the trio leave.  Apparently Misako didn't 
know where Yumeko was, after all.  She didn't like it.  She didn't like it at 
all, and she'd been meaning to... talk with Yumeko ever since she saw Seiji 
and her disappear in an alley.

	She didn't hear from Seiji again.

	"You wish for revenge?" a quiet voice asked.

	"What?" Seiko looked behind her to the source of the voice: a petite 
girl dressed in the same school uniform she wore.  She had unnaturally pale 
skin and deep, black hair.  The girl smiled a smile full of perfect, white 
teeth that didn't quite reach her eyes.

	"I said you wish for revenge.  I can tell by your expression."

	"What do you want?" Seiko growled.

	The girl looked insufferably smug.  "To help you, of course.  Here."  
Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out a small white envelope and tossed it 
to Seiko, who caught it by reflex.  "A proposition for you.  From the Loki 
Cult."

	Seiko looked down at the envelope and turned it over in her hands.  
"Why are you helping me?" she asked as she inspected it.  She looked up.  
"Who are--" She stopped.

	The girl was gone.

* * * * *

	Miwako entered the nurse's office with a sigh.  She was not having a 
good day.  She was normally a good student, but paying attention in class was 
a chore; she couldn't get that dream out of her head.  And even if she didn't 
care about her grades, being sent into the hall with buckets on the first day 
was a bit embarrassing.

	Then things only went from bad to worse.  She got lost trying to find 
her way back to the classroom from the cafeteria, and while wandering (and 
thinking about the dream) a pair of boys who were running down the hall 
shoved her from behind.  They apologized, saying that they were late for 
class, and one--Takuya?--even offered to walk her to the nurse.  Miwako 
declined, as she figured she could get to the nurse on her own.

	So there she was, fifteen minutes later.  She looked around nervously 
and would have probably stood there for quite some time if the woman behind 
the desk had not waved her over.

	"Why are you here?" she asked.

	"Um... I was knocked over in the hall and skinned my knees," Miwako 
explained.

	"Let me see that," the secretary commanded as she leaned over the desk.  
"It's not so bad.  You should do something about the bleeding, though.  
Bandages are in that room."  She pointed at a closed door across the office.  
"Help yourself.  Oh, and try to be quiet.  A young woman is resting in 
there."

	Miwako nodded and approached the door.  She opened it without a sound, 
practically tiptoeing into the dark room so she wouldn't wake the person on 
the cot.  After a moment's hesitation, she opened the cabinet and grabbed a 
box full of bandages.  She turned to leave but was stopped by the rustle of 
blankets and the flickering of light overhead.  "So, what are you in for?" 
the girl on the cot asked.

	"Well, I got knocked over in the hall and--what happened to you?  
You're a mess!" Miwako gasped when she turned to see the figure on the cot.  
She was covered with cuts and bruises, and had a rather heavy bandage wrapped 
around her head.

	"Just a fight," the girl shrugged off Miwako's comment as she sat up, 
holding her side and wincing.

	"Just a fight nothing!" Miwako cried as she ran to the girl's side.  
"How did this happen?"

	"Ah..."  The other girl paused and looked down at the covers.  "Do you 
know about Seiko?"

	Miwako shook her head.  "I'm new here.  Just arrived today."

	"You are?  We almost never get new people around here... my name's 
Tanaka Misako.  What's yours?"

	"Arai Miwako."

	"Really?" Misako beamed.  "That's so cool!  We have almost the same 
name!"

	"Yeah."  Miwako grinned.  "I guess we do."  She applied iodine to her 
knees, wincing at the sting the fluid caused.

	They sat in silence for a few moments, Misako watching Miwako bandage 
her knees.  That is, until Misako noticed her new friend's orange-red hair.  
"That looks so natural.  Where did you have it done?" Misako asked with 
interest as she peered at Miwako's hair.

	"What do you mean?"  Miwako didn't look up from her work.

	"Your hair!"

	Miwako laughed.  "It is natural.  I don't know why, because everyone 
else in my family has dark hair... maybe it's a recessive gene on both 
sides."  She turned her head to Misako.  "How about yours?"

	"It's not natural, I'll tell you that much," Misako explained proudly 
as she brought a hand up to finger her blond locks.  "I did it myself.  
Salons are too expensive."

	"Tell me about it."  Miwako finished with the bandages and set them 
back in the kit.  She turned her attention to Misako.  "So what happened to 
you?"

	"Well, there's this girl named Seiko and-"

	"Miwako!"

	The girls turned their attention to the doorway, where a young man with 
white hair and deep violet eyes stood.  "Miwako!  I was looking all over for 
you," he said worriedly.

	"I'm okay, Hiro, really.  Don't worry about me.  Just skinned my knees 
is all," Miwako replied.  "I'll be out after I put away these bandages, 
okay?"

	"All right.  I'll wait outside."  Hiro nodded to the other girl.  
"Tanaka-san.  Sorry to hear about what happened with Seiko today."

	"I'll be okay," Misako said with a small smile.  Hiro nodded again and 
stepped back out of the room.  Leaning forward and peering through the 
doorway, Misako watched him leave the office.  She looked back at Miwako.  
"How do you know him?"

	"He's my cousin," Miwako lied expertly as she placed the box back in 
the cabinet.  "I'm staying at his house."

	"I see."

	"I'd better be going now.  It is my first day of class, and I missed 
enough already."  Miwako grinned at her new friend.  "See you after school?"

	"Sure.  I'll show you around," Misako waved Miwako off.

	"Get plenty of rest," Miwako ordered as she shut the door after her.

* * * * *

	The sea was a little too calm that day, Yumeko decided.  She could 
still feel the salty spray as she watched the ships, but the water wasn't 
angry like it usually was when she visited.  It was quiet and still and 
peaceful instead, with the sun half-shining on its surface (thanks to smog).  
Picturesque, almost.

	Yumeko hated it.  So instead of watching the water like she normally 
did, she turned her attention to the cargo ships.  Her stormy gray eyes 
followed the massive, powerful things as they moved slowly towards and away 
from the docks.  She sighed and fiddled with her scepter-turned-pendant.  
Sometimes... just to get away...  Yumeko shook her head and turned away, 
beginning her walk back to the subway station.  Shinichi'd be home soon.

* * * * *

	Stepping out of the subway car, Yumeko took a quick look around.  She 
checked the time, nodded, and started pushing her way out of the station; it 
wouldn't do for her to be late.  She was almost out when she spotted a 
shadowed, drunken man sleeping against the wall.  While a sight like this 
normally wouldn't have earned a second glance, but something about the shadow 
seemed *wrong* somehow. Terribly, horribly wrong.

	Taking a few steps back, Yumeko turned and ran to the nearest bathroom, 
resisting the urge to transform.  She bowled over a number of surprised, 
staring males and ran into the nearest stall, immediately locking it shut.  
Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, she reached up and took the scepter 
from around her neck.  "Let the dream begin," she half-whispered, "Let the 
power commence!  My power, by right and birth, the power of the Dream Realm!"  
An almost familiar sensation of darkness surrounded and filled her... for a 
moment she thought she would lose herself in it, and then in an instant it 
was gone.

	The Nightmare Fighter stood where the schoolgirl once was.  She 
unlocked the stall and made her way out, nearly blushing as she realized she 
was in the men's bathroom.  Sprinting out the door, Yumeko ran towards the 
drunk.  She almost laughed as she slipped through the crowd, taking full 
advantage of her enhanced abilities.

	The shadow wasn't just a shadow anymore--it was a dark, roiling cloud, 
swirling around the sleeping man.  The Nightmare Fighter gaped for a moment, 
then came to her senses and concentrated.  The dark aura formed around her, 
and a tentacle lashed out and slammed into the cloud.  She swore she could 
hear it scream in pain.  It writhed and twisted in on itself, slowly becoming 
a vaguely humanoid figure.

	Yumeko readied the scepter and started building up power.  The shadow 
creature withdrew its clawed hand from the man's face and turned to look at 
the magical girl through feral, narrow eyes.  She almost took a step back; 
its gaze was so intense.  The demon hissed once and ran.

	Nightmare Fighter Yumeko blinked.  She glanced down at the man, then 
gave chase.

* * * * *

	"So this Seiko hurt you like that?  I'm so sorry," Miwako said 
sympathetically as she and Misako walked down the street.

	Misako shrugged.  "I probably should have known better," she sighed.  
"I still want to get her for that, though."

	"Really.  Oooh!  I hate bullies," Miwako fumed.

	"It's okay.  Really.  Don't worry about it."  Misako patted Miwako on 
the shoulder.  She stopped.  "Here we are."

	Miwako took one look and whistled.  "So your friend Yumeko lives here?  
Nice place."

	Misako nodded.  "She's pretty well off."  She walked up to the door and 
knocked politely.

	A smattering of footsteps could be heard from the other side of the 
wall, and the door opened with a slight creak.  A pair of large brown eyes 
stared at the two girls.  The owner of those eyes smiled hesitantly.  "Hi 
Misako."

	"Hello, Shinichi," Misako greeted as she squatted so she was face to 
face with the boy.  "Is Yumeko-san home?"

	The boy mutely shook his head.

	Misako cast a worried glance up at Miwako, then turned her attention 
back to the boy.  "How about your father?  Is he home?"

	Shinichi paused for a moment, looking up at Miwako and then back at 
Misako.  The second girl smiled reassuringly at him.  He shook his head.

	Straightening up, Misako sighed and addressed Miwako.  "Something's 
very, very wrong here.  Yumeko would never leave Shinichi home alone."

	The other girl nodded and looked down at the boy.  "Where do you think 
she could have gone?" she asked with concern.

	"I don't know.  Maybe to that bar she likes so much or--"

	"Hey!"  The two girls turned to see Hiro running up the street.  
"Miwako," he panted.  "I have to talk to you.  It's about--"

	"Can't you see I'm busy?" Miwako snapped.  "I have to help Misako find 
her friend."

	Hiro shook his head.  "It's about family."

	Miwako glared at Hiro.  Hiro glared back.  Misako stepped in between 
them.  "Um," she began intelligently, "I can take care of things here.  You 
go help your family, Miwako-san."  She lightly nudged Shinichi.  "Come on, 
sweetie.  Let's call Keiji, hmm?"

	Shinichi nodded and stepped back into the house; Misako followed him 
in.  As she turned to shut the door, though, she mouthed 'thank you' to 
Miwako and gave her a thumbs-up.  Miwako smiled and returned with a 'good 
luck'.  The door closed with a soft click.

	The spirit guide fixed his penetrating, violet gaze on Miwako.  The 
girl returned it with equal force.  Hiro sighed.  "Follow me."

	He led her to a dark, secluded alley.  "There's been an attack at the 
subway station.  The Loki Cult's gaining in power, and we can't afford to let 
this slip by."  He looked at his charge sternly.

	Miwako took the silver broach off her uniform.  "I understand, Hiro.  
I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier, it's just..."

	Hiro's gaze softened.  "You want to help your friends, right?  This is 
the best way to do it.  Transform, Dream Warrior!"

	She nodded and turned the broach over in her hands, then chanted, "Let 
the dream begin... let the power commence! My power, by right and birth, the 
power of the Dream Realm!"

	Less than a minute later, Dream Warrior Miwako and her spirit bird were 
well on their way to the subway station.  Fable smiled.

* * * * *

Author's Notes:

Wai!  It's done!

Deepest apologies for not getting this in sooner.  I hope this chapter was 
worth it, though... I know I put a lot of work into it. ^_^

Muchas gracias goes to all my prereaders.  Once again, I've had a lot... I'll 
see if I can list them this time, though: Ravi, Phoebe, Chris, and ColdFury.  
Thanks also goes to Woofer for proofreading, Damien for (once again) forcing 
me into a queue, and John for starting this.

Thank you much for reading!

Ardweden - ardweden@netscape.net
1/24/00

Beware the Radish
http://www.mit.edu/~johne/btr/