Hikaru Gosunkugi knew immediately that something was wrong when he stepped into the courtyard of Furinkan High that overcast morning. Though the spider sense remained dormant - eerily so - Gosunkugi didn't know why he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen. Or already had. Maybe it was because he was still upset over his breakup with Miku. Breakup? Was it really that? He had never thought of Miku and himself as a couple. Had they been? Not that it means anything now, Hikaru silently groused. I just stepped on whatever could have been between us. It was for the best, regardless of what I decided to do about Spiderman. "Excuse me, young man." "Yes?" Gosunkugi's heart leapt into his neck when the uniformed cop came walking over. A hundred thoughts tried to cross his mind all at once, many of them along the lines that the jig was up and the cops knew who Spiderman was. The world around him came into crystal focus for the first time in days. Furinkan students stood about, whispering and murmuring to each other. Many faces were pale and frightened, some streaked with tears. The feeling that something was very wrong with the world suddenly became a cold certainty. The officer stopped before him, a tall and gangly man in a koban uniform. "I'm Patrolman Tetsuo Koji," he said with a small dip of the head and shoulders. "Hikaru Gosunkugi." He couldn't keep the nervousness from showing in his voice. "I need to ask you a few questions about the victim." "VICTIM?! What victim?!" "Don't you watch the news?" "Not often." But you better believe I'll catch it before I leave the apartment from now on, Gosunkugi didn't say. Officer Koji clucked his tongue once before explaining. "Early this morning, we were called about a body discovered in a dumpster." "Oh, no... Do you know who it was?" "We've identified him as one Hiroshi Sakamoto, who attends school here." Officer Koji held up a school photo. Gosunkugi couldn't speak as the blood drained from his face. He had seen Hiroshi only yesterday, in the hallway... "Do you know him?" "I know who he is, yeah, but we never really talked." "I see," Koji said. "You said your name was..." "Hikaru Gosunkugi." "Yes, thank you. A detective will be speaking to you about this matter within the next day or two." "Why? I'm not a..." "We have no suspects yet, Gosunkugi-san," Koji said, sounding slightly exasperated. "We are merely questioning all of the late Sakamoto's friends and schoolmates." "Oh. Sorry about that." "Don't worry about it." "I'll answer any questions this detective may have, but I don't know how much help it'll be." "Thank you. We'll be in touch." Koji then turned and stopped another student without another word to Hikaru. "I don't believe it," Gosunkugi said as he turned away from the policeman. Hiroshi? Dead? *Murder*? Who in the world would want the guy dead? Why? Being a horny high school pervert wouldn't put him on anyone's hit list. If that was so, then a lot of Furinkan men would be dead. I wonder how Daisuke's taking the news, Hikaru thought. Not very well, probably. And what about Ranma? Weren't Hiroshi and Daisuke friends of his? That time in the hall yesterday... The spider sense blasted in his skull. Gosunkugi froze in mid-step as his brain screamed and his nerves froze all at once. The muscles of his neck forced his head to the right and he saw her again, a vision of unearthly beauty in a plain Furinkan uniform for girls, and the irrational fear peaked. The silvery-grey eyes passed over him without slowing, again staring at seemingly nothing and seemingly everything simultaneously. Gosunkugi's eyes traced the curve of her delicate jawline, stopping at a few flecks of red on the otherwise unmarred flesh. The wind roared, a sound of horrible anguish that battered his mind and nearly weakened his knees. The girl slowly turned away and vanished around the corner of the school. The spider sense died away at once, leaving Hikaru trembling in its wake. That girl. Who the hell was she? Why did she set off his spider sense like that? It had never reacted so strongly to anyone or anything before. What was so dangerous about her? But it wasn't just that. The very sight of her terrified him nearly into whimpering. Why only him? Why was it that every other guy who looked at her seemed mad with lust like Hiroshi had been... Hiroshi! She had been in the hall that day. She had looked directly at him as she passed. He had seemed as smitten with her as the other guys in the hall had been. What was her name? How come no one could recall it? Why didn't anyone know where she lived, or where she came from? Whose class was she in? Why... What am I thinking? Gosunkugi's head gradually began to clear itself. He was just jumping to conclusions. That was it. So he didn't know who the new girl was. So she kept to herself a lot. So what? It wasn't like she killed Hiroshi. Right? Sure. Hikaru shook himself once and walked the rest of the way to his first class of the day, busily trying to ignore what his imagination was telling him. But for a brief moment, he had been sure that the wind had sounded like Hiroshi's voice crying out, and that those red spots on her jaw had been blood... ------------------------------------- "Ranma?" He didn't turn around. "Ranma, are you okay?" "Yeah. I guess." Akane stepped around into his view. She had been crying, Ranma saw. He wanted to, himself. But men didn't cry. Besides, tears would do no good. "No, you're not. Hiroshi was your friend." "Yeah." It was odd. Hiroshi and Daisuke, while they hung around him a lot, seemed more like background images than people involved in his life. He talked with them, even made a few jokes, but nothing more than that. Ranma found himself surprised that Hiroshi and Daisuke were really the closest things to friends he had. "Man, I wanna find who did that to him!" "Ranma, let the police handle it," Akane replied. "They'll find whoever killed Hiroshi." "I just can't believe it. I can't believe he's gone." "Have you seen Daisuke anywere?" "No. I'm gonna check out his house after school." "I'll come, too," Akane said, "if you want." "Yeah. Thanks." Akane looked at him and saw the tears wanting to be shed. Ranma, macho jerk that he was, of course wouldn't let them fall. Akane wanted to scream at his emotional constipation at times. Hiroshi was his friend. If Sayuri or Yuka had died, Akane would have been beside herself with grief. Ranma didn't need to hear a lecture on how to express his feelings, and Akane knew it. If he wanted to talk about this - and he needed to - he would have to do it on his own. Learning that a friend had been murdered was never an easy thing, and Akane was grateful that it was a lesson she had never been taught. ----------------------------------------------- Hikaru Gosunkugi looked out the lone window of his bedroom. Everything seemed unchanged at four in the afternoon from several hours earlier. He hated gloomy weather, despite what the few who spoke of him might think. It never changed; just an interminable span of hours before night fell. No morning or afternoon, just grey. It was a hell of a day for someone to die. Maybe I should go to the memorial tomorrow, he thought while the computer booted up. Students would go into Furinkan's auditorium and pay their respects to Hiroshi's spirit. As for the family wake, he would definitely not attend. He hadn't known the guy that well, and he would feel rather awkward in such a place. Once his OS loaded he double-clicked on the web browser icon. The dial- up went as smoothly as could be expected. While he really wanted a cable modem or a DSL connection, he didn't have the funds. Beggars couldn't be choosers, however, so he took what he could get. The website for the Japan News Network loaded in a few seconds and he began a search for Hiroshi Sakamoto. Hikaru didn't know what made him do it. Morbid curiosity, maybe? A need to know? Someone in his class had been murdered. Who could blame him for wanting to find out more? Gosunkugi was led to an article from the Tokyo Sun Times and - after clicking off a pop-up ad for a subscription - delved in. He skipped the gaudy headline, searching for any information about the event itself. "The body of Hiroshi Sakamoto, a student at Furinkan High in Nerima Ward, was discovered this morning at approximately three a.m. The body was hidden in a garbage dumpster, and was discovered by a local garbageman. "The garbageman, Matsuhara Izumi, phoned the police immediately after finding the corpse. Nerima Homicide has no leads or suspects as of yet, but are vigorously following any and all leads. "This homicide is the first Nerima Ward has seen in over sixty years, and also the most brutal. Nerima Koban is witholding any concrete details, but it is known that the remains were found horribly mutilated. "When asked, Izumi told this reporter that 'The body... [it] was all mangled and torn... as if something had eaten him.' "We will keep our readers updated as new details about this unusual case come to light. In the meantime..." Gosukugi stopped reading. Hiroshi had been... eaten? What the hell? Hikaru couldn't help the severe cold that froze his spine. Who... *what* could have done that? Had some animal escaped from the zoo? If so, then why hadn't a notice been put up? He thought back to the last time he had seen Hiroshi alive. He had been in the hall at recess, a full seventeen hours before his body had been found. Hikaru growled in frustration. Why was he chasing himself in circles? This was a police matter. It was their job to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. That task did not fall on Hikaru Gosunkugi. No, that wasn't it. The memory of the rubble falling on those helpless people kept replaying itself in his mind's eye. What if it happened again? How could he live with himself? What if Hiroshi's just the first? Gosunkugi's brain asked before he could silence it. What if someone else gets killed? Is it your problem *then*? He rose from the swivel chair and strode over to the mirror which sat on his dresser. The face in the glass stared back as he and his reflection studied each other. "Looks like I've changed a lot," he said to the mirror. The face was no longer pale and drawn. Those dark circles beneath his eyes - at one time his only real trademark feature - were entirely gone. In their place was firm and healthy skin. His jawline was more defined, the sunken cheeks filled in nicely. "The uniform's almost too small for me now, too." It was true. beneath his tee shirt was pronounced muscle tone. Broader shoulders, actual pectoral muscle. Hikaru ran his hands over his abdomen. Yep, he practically had the washboard abs all those fitness and martial arts nuts had. His arms were no longer spindly and weak. While his biceps were by no means bulging, the muscle there was lean and strong. *Very* strong. "I gotta admit it," he said. "That spider bite really changed me." He actually had the body he had always wanted. He looked down at his wrists, at the web-shooters that were embedded within, and grimaced. "Yeah. It really changed me." Hikaru wished that they weren't there. Mechanical web-shooters that could be removed would have been great. How the hell would he explain *these* to a doctor? More than clinging to walls, more than practically meta-human strength and agility, more than that damn erratic spider sense, the web-shooters in his wrists were undeniable proof that he was different from any other guy. Gosunkugi briefly wondered why they were in his arms to begin with. Didn't spiders spin their silk from their rear ends? "Heh. Hehheh." Wouldn't *that* be something? Him, in those tights, swinging on webs shot from his ass. "So," he said to his reflection, "what about this? My powers won't go away." The image in the glass said nothing in reply, instead mimicking his every blink. Hikaru turned to stare at the closet which held his costume. He could almost feel it calling to him. Could he really give it all up? Should he? Again? "I have to," he whispered to the closed door. As Spiderman, he had caused the deaths of ten people. The twenty million yen bounty was meaningless. He had won a few battles and had put out a few fires, but in the light of causing so many deaths at once - or even one at all - did those victories mean anything? If it weren't for Spiderman, Miku would have died. If it weren't for Spiderman, others would have been killed, too. That woman so long ago, whom he had saved from a pair of would-be rapists in that alley. Sayuri, who would have been alone against Keiichi and his goons. What happened to Keiichi, Gan, and Morita? He hadn't seen a trace of them since he had stuck the first to the wall over Furinkan's front entrance. They no longer attended school, he knew that much. Then there were the girls whom Tatsu Ishikawa had made into his personal slaves. Sachiko and the others were still alive. Hikaru didn't know how much of that could be attributed to him, but Spiderman had helped save them. Poor Yukio hadn't made it, sadly, but the others were still alive. "I guess Spiderman has done some good." At least he could always remember that. "But, I can't endanger any more innocent lives. I just can't." --------------------------------------------- Samanosuke Ichijiro re-read the information which had been gathered concerning the late Hiroshi Sakamoto's schoolmates. The detective fervently hoped that this murder was an isolated incident, but knew deep inside that it likely wasn't. If he had learned anything from his time in the American FBI, it was that murders such as this were indicitave of a serial killer. Japan had not seen such a thing. Officially, anyway. But every place on earth had its fair share of psychopaths. Duty in the New York station of the FBI had shown him that. The city - one of the largest on earth - was a melting pot of several cultures. Lunatics came in every color and race, as he had well learned. He briefly recalled another officer he had met once in America, Agent William Pate. He was now on loan to Odaiba Koban. The American was more than a competent investigator, and a certifiably good guy to boot. Should the need arise, Samanosuke would contact him. But, for now, he had a ton of names to pore over. The transfer back to Nerima Ward had been as jarring as his first exposure to American law enforcement. The fact that he had been allowed - even encouraged - to carry a gun with him no matter where he went had taken a lot of getting used to. Now that he was back in Japan, not having one made him feel almost naked. There was something about the feel of a concealed - and legal - 9mm Beretta that made him feel much safer on the mean streets. He really missed it. His first few months back had been a joke. Nerima Homicide had not had a case such as this in six decades. Sure, people died, but the main bulk of Nerima Koban's work was vandalism and destruction of property. Given the martial arts loons which called the ward home, not many on the regular force were very eager to serve any citations. He had seen the insults on Hiroshi Sakamoto's body up close and personal. The damage done had been nothing short of horrendous. The coroners- imported from Tokyo General Hospial - had determined that the mutilation had begun pre-mortem. "This psycho motherfucker ate you alive," he muttered into the empty office. Not even in America had he ever encountered anything like that. The corpse had been tested for drugs, saliva, foreign tissue, the whole nine yards. The results were due back by Saturday. It was Tuesday, and the brass of Tokyo Koban were demanding results. It was typical. They were still cops, but all the red tape and ass-kissing had blurred their memory of how real police work was done. One name stood out on the list. Hikaru Gosunkugi had been accused of voyeurism and tresspassing a couple of times before moving to Nerima over a year ago, but without enough probable cause for any kind of investigation. Neither were serious offenses, but it warranted putting a red flag by his name. Something else about him stirred in Samanosuke's memory. Wasn't Hikaru Gosunkugi the one who had started taking Spiderman photos for the newspapers? Yeah, he was. Most high schools in Japan didn't allow their students to take part-time jobs for fear of work interfering with study. Furinkan was likely no different, which meant that Gosunkugi had taken those snaps freelance. Some students disregarded such restrictions, but did so at their own risk. Detective Ichijiro made a note to speak to Hikaru Gosunkugi at his earliest opportunity. "What kept you?" he asked when the door to his office opened. "Sorry. Interviewing all those students took longer than I thought," Akira Nomura replied. Akira was two years Samanosuke's junior, still green in Nerima Homicide. The rail-thin and gaunt man had been put there fresh out of the academy and the senior detective had been saddled with him without preamble. It wasn't so bad, however. Despite being green, Akira knew that procedure wasn't everything. Samanosuke liked that in a rookie; it was damn rare. "Find anything interesting?" "Not many people in Furinkan were overly friendly with him or his friend Daisuke. A lot of them mentioned how they hung around with a guy named Ranma Saotome." "Martial artist, lives in the Tendo Dojo. One tough cookie, he is." Samanosuke knew Saotome's file well. He wasn't a criminal by any means, but his martial arts prowess had impressed and even intimidated just about every beat cop in Nerima Koban. "Got a bad habit of getting into some real knock-down drag-out brawls." "When do we question him?" Akira asked. "Soon," Samanosuke answered. "I got another name I'm going to hit first." "Oh? Who?" "Hikaru Gosunkugi." "Why him?" "He has a couple of voyeurism counts on him." "That's not much." "No, but it's all we've got." "You don't think he..." "Right now, Akira, I'm not making any conclusions." "I see." ----------------------------------------------- "It's kinda scary, isn't it?" Gensao Kenjiro asked the girl on his arm. "Not as long as you're here, Gen-chan," she replied. Gensao couldn't believe his luck. This girl - a total hottie from Heaven - was clinging to him as the two walked away from the lights of the park. He had been by himself, walking home after band practice, and then she had appeared. Gensao, whom had never possessed the courage necessary to ask a girl out, had been stunned silly when this vision of loveliness had approached him and asked if he wanted some company for the night. He had seen her in Furinkan here and there, but she wasn't in his class. Lorelei was a total mystery, and that only added to her otherworldy allure. "Don't worry, Lorelei," Gensao said. "No killer's gonna get to you when I'm here." He had always wanted to play the hero and now was a golden opportunity to do just that. "Ooohh... I love strong men." "Uh-huh-huh-huh..." This was cool... "Do you know how much I love strong men like you?" she asked. Her voice, so sultry and sweet, sang in his ears and made his blood boil. "Uh...." "Let me show you," Lorelei said as she ran a delicate hand down his abdomen and toward his crotch... He followed her into the darkness of the trees. Ten minutes later, his screams split the night. No one heard. No one was there to help as the shrieks of horror and agony faded, replaced with the sound of ripping flesh and guttural laughter. ------------------------------------------------ Gosunkugi awoke and - after a quick shower - toasted two raspberry pop- tarts and clicked the television on. If nothing else, he had to at least keep up with the news. Hiroshi's death had come as an unwelcome and nasty surprise, and he intended not to be caught unawares again. He entered the kitchen for two more toaster pastries. "Our top story," the anchorman said somberly, "is another brutal and sadistic murder in Nerima Ward." "WHAT?!" Gosunkugi yelled, racing toward the TV and glueing his eyes to the screen. "Gensao Kenjiro, a freshman at Furinkan High School, was found in Nerima Park this morning. His body was horribly mutilated, according to sources, like the body of Hiroshi Sakamoto..." "Oh, God..." Another one. Hikaru stared at the photo of Gensao Kenjiro, committing every detail to memory. The face was unfamiliar, a double chin and thick glasses showing that this guy was likely not too popular among his peers. One more dead, Hikaru's conscience said. Is this your concern yet? Oh, shut the hell up. Make me. "Nerima Homicide refuses to release any more details," the news anchor said, "but it is clear to anyone with eyes in his head that the normally quiet ward of Nerima has been visited by a serial killer. In the studio this morning is..." Gosunkugi muted the television, his next pair of pop-tarts totally forgotten. This was by no means an isolated incident. There was someone out there stalking the male students of Furinkan High. A dangerous predator, who killed for... what? Revenge? Pleasure? What had Hiroshi and Gensao done to deserve such wrath as this? Hikaru knew nothing of serial murders, and wasn't even sure if this was like that. The police would know far more about it that he did. They would find who was behind these two killings. Right? It wasn't as if they needed help. The image of that girl came unbidden to his mind. Had she been with Gensao? He hadn't seen her around him, hadn't even seen the guy's face before today. Something deep inside whispered in a nasty voice that this was just the start of it. ------------------------------------------------------------ Doctor Octavius stood before the now fully-assembled prototype. Each system had been checked, re-checked, and checked yet again for good measure. The external design he had left unchanged, a meter-long proton accelerator from which a beam of light would emerge - as defined by the ultra-sophisticated computers which controlled it - to impact the target and make rapid changes on the genetic level. No matter how he looked at it, Otto couldn't help but think of it as a futuristic weapon. Not that such an image was very far off the mark. In the right hands, this device could bring entire nations to their knees. Otto smiled at that thought. Who would laugh at him then? Who would dare mock the man who had changed the landscape of genetic science? And he wouldn't stop there. No, such thoughts were better saved for later. But not too much later. His old apprentice, Ryo Sanzaki, had discovered something truly amazing. Whether by accident or design didn't matter, for this technology was now in the possession of its rightful owner. The more Otto Octavius looked at the available evidence, the more likely it seemed that his wall-crawling nemesis was actually a product of this achievement. Doctor Octopus smiled. He had the perfect idea for a test. All he needed was a worthy specimen. --------------------------------------- Doctor Ryo Sanzaki could hardly believe it. Otto Octavius was here! The man whom he had once jokingly called "Doctor Octopus" had come to Japan. Ryo re-read the news article, shocked at how his former teacher had become a wanted criminal. "Otto," he breathed as he stared down to the newspaper which lay on his desk. "What happened to you?" Ryo recalled it all as if it were yesterday rather than fifteen years ago. Genetic engineering and bio- pharmaceuticals were not even buzzwords back then. Such things were still science fiction back in 1987, so far as the general public and major corproations were concerned. In those days - a decade and a half younger and a few pounds lighter - he had been an idealistic youth convinced that such things *were* possible. He had met Doctor Otto Octavius at a seminar on medicine in 1985, and discovered that he had a shared passion with the older, and more recognized, man. They both believed that the human body could be manipulated on the most basic level; the combinations of adenine, thymene, guanine, and cytocine which comprised DNA in every organic creature. With Otto's connections, the two had managed to land a research grant from Gen-U-Tech, at the time a leader in organic sciences. It was there that Otto had revealed to Ryo one of his innovations, four cybernetic tentacles which extended from a metal belt at his waist. From the controls on the front, Otto could manipulate those arms as easily as if they were the ones attached to his shoulders. Over the span of three years, Ryo had learned much from the older man. Finally, they had made a design which contained unlimited promise. A device which worked on the principles of the then-new laser technology to manipulate DNA. Unfortunately, Gen-U-Tech had chosen that time to pull the plug on the research. The two of them had been devastated. Otto had vanished soon after and Ryo had returned to Japan. From time to time, Ryo had heard rumors of Otto Octavius trying to re-establish the research grant with other corporations. None of them had accepted. After six months, Otto seemed to vanish entirely. Then, in late 1998, Gen-U-Tech had been bought out by Shikon Pharmaceuticals. The company - based out of Kansai - had run across Ryo and Otto's works. It was then that they had approached him to work on recombinant genetics again. Octavius, on the other hand, had not been included. Ryo had jumped at the chance to continue his life's work. And then, several months ago, his work had been stolen and the funding cut again. As such, Ryo Sanzaki was reduced to teaching college freshmen the basics of genetics and organic sciences. Ryo ended his bitter trip down memory lane. The research was dead. Someone else would make the discoveries he and Otto Octavius had made long ago. That fresh, young face would get all the credit. The most Ryo could hope for that it was one of his students who made them. Fate could be a real bastard, but if it had to be this way... Enough, he thought sourly. I've got a class in twenty minutes. ------------------------------------------------ The fear in the air was like an electrical charge which crawled along the skin and left the fine hairs erect. Hikaru glanced to each face he passed and was met only with apprehension and fear. Two of their own were dead in less than forty-eight hours, and each was wondering if there would be a third. As he strode toward the front doors of the school, Gosunkugi couldn't help but brace for his spider sense. It seemed that every time he walked into the school it went off and that strange girl appeared. There had to be a connection. There was no longer any doubt in his mind about it. He just hoped no one would corner him into trying to explain it. Right on cue! He thought when the sense started blaring. He fought down the fear as he allowed the feeling to guide his eyes to the far corner of the school. She was there, but something was different. Her gaze wasn't unfocused this time, but locked on a figure which approached her. A girl? He thought. She was his height, and clearly uncomfortable in the dress Furinkan made its female students wear. Her hair was cropped shorter than was stylish, as if she were trying to emulate a guy. She glanced about once as if to see if anyone was looking at her. Either she didn't see Hikaru looking at her, or she didn't notice, but he knew her. Natsuki Ichimonji, that was her name. She was like Hikaru in many ways, a loner and a misfit. Some people whispered rather nasty rumors about her, rumors which Gosunkugi ignored as much as he did the ones about himself. Why was she walking toward that other girl? After a few moments, the two vanished around the side of the school. Were the rumors about Natsuki true? Gosunkugi checked his watch and found that he had twenty minutes before the final bell for the start of classes. Plenty of time if he moved fast enough. I must be nuts, he thought as he ran off toward where the two girls disappeared. What if I'm all wrong about this? No. I'm not wrong. Something really bad is going on here. Hikaru rounded the corner, surprised to find no one there. The spider sense stopped even before he rounded the next corner and the next. "Where the hell did they go?" he asked the air. How fast could they have been moving? At the pace he had been going, he should have caught up to them by now. Gosunkugi looked about the mostly open space behind the school. There weren't many places one could hide out here. Unless those two could run like the wind, they had to be around. "Gosunkugi!" "Yes, Miss Hinako?" he asked as he saw her step around the edge of the main building in front of him. Her adult body threatened to burst free of the far-too-small dress she wore. What unlucky sap had been on the wrong end of one of her ki-draining punishments? Gosunkugi hoped he wouldn't be next. He had seen for himself what happened when the teacher drained unusual energy. "What are you doing here?" "I." Uh-oh. "I thought I saw a couple of students sneaking back here." "I don't see anyone." "I don't either. Maybe it was my imagination." This was just not good. "Get to class, Gosunkugi. You've only got fifteen minutes." "Yes, Miss Hinako." Hikaru walked back around the route he had taken, silently cursing. That girl had appeared yet again, and he had lost her. Now that he had been spotted by a teacher, he had no chance of following her further. Whatever was going on here, it had to be bigger than what the cops were thinking. Natsuki stepped into the darkened equipment shed, trembling from excitement. She had prayed to the kami for this for so long. The interior was too dark to see where Lorelei had hidden, but Natsuki could smell her perfume, like jasmine and eucalyptus. Others spread rumors about her, but Natsuki ignored them. She was gay, of that she hadn't had any doubts since she had hit puberty. She had kept it silent, for fear of how her parents would react. They had already arranged a marriage between her and a boy named Takasato, and were dead set on seeing it happen. They wouldn't take the news of her orientation very well. Over the years, Natsuki had felt trapped. She preferred the soft curves of a woman over the hard, angular body of a man. The marriage was, for all intents and purposes, more for their own benefit than hers. Takasato's family was descended from ancient Samurai, and wealthy to boot. Natsuki had no love for him, or for any man. She had been doubtful of her chances for finding a girl who thought like her. And then Lorelei had appeared. Natsuki had no idea where she came from, but the attraction was unmistakable. She had fallen in love. And then she had talked to Lorelei, and found that the girl shared her interests. Lorelei was gay as well, flirting with guys only to allay suspicions. Natsuki could definitely relate. "I'm glad you came," Lorelei's sultry voice said from the shadows. She stepped into what light managed to get through the dirt-caked windows. Natsuki's breath was taken away in an instant at the beautiful face, and at the body her fantasies imagined was beneath. "How could I refuse?" Natsuki replied as she stepped closer to Lorelei. The nearness of this woman was a heady feeling, overpowering any inhibitions she had. She had lusted for this girl from the moment she had laid eyes on her. "I've hidden this from my family for so long," Lorelei said as the two drew nearer. "I've always wanted to explore." "So have I." All doubts vanished in a white-hot flame of animal lust. This was Natsuki's first time. She had read stories and had seen movies, but none of that could compare to actually living out one's dearest desires. The first touch of Lorelei's hands on her shoulders drew a gasp from Natsuki, sending her heart racing in her chest. Her every nerve seemed to come alive with anticipation and desire while Lorelei's silvery eyes held her own captive. Natsuki was helpless to resist as those delicate hands caressed her breasts through the material of her uniform before moving to her back and drawing her closer. "Mmmmmm." the feel of Lorelei's soft lips on her own was sublime. Nothing else mattered, only the woman in her arms. To hell with her family and the arranged marriage, this was who and what she was. Then came the pain, so sudden and intense that her heart nearly stopped. The kiss ended, and Natsuki saw Lorelei's eyes. They were no longer that beautiful silver color, but a sickly shade of green. Her lips were split in an evil leer, pointed fangs peeking from between. "Is this good for you, too?" Lorelei asked. Natsuki barely heard, only dimly aware now that blood was running freely down her back. The last thing Natsuki Ichimonji saw was those wicked fangs bearing down on her flesh. The creature which called itself Lorelei stared down at the mangled and ruined form that was once the body of a mortal female. The demoness had almost forgotten how exquisite the flesh tasted, how the blood of these humans made her feel so alive. On the blasted plains of hell, there were no such treats as these and here there were so many! It could feed as long as it wished! But it had to be careful. The sheep were now well aware that a wolf was among them. Not all mortals were as weak as the rest. Some of them held great power and were not to be taken lightly. Like that strange boy. He had seen her when she had not wanted to be seen. That alone was an odd thing, but the smell of his ki was even stranger. He was not another demon, of that Lorelei was fairly certain, but not entirely human, either. A half-breed, perhaps? No, the smell of demon was not on him at all. His energy was strange, but powerful. In that respect, he was like the others she had felt in Nerima. On par with the boy who turned into a girl, that Ranma. Oh, how Lorelei wanted to feast on his flesh. No. She would save him for last. Why eat the most delicious meal before first sampling the appetizers? Unlike Ranma, that boy could see her regardless if she cloaked herself from other mortals. That made him dangerous. That also made him appealing. His name was Hikaru Gosunkugi, Lorelei remembered. His flesh would be the next to sate the hunger. Samanosuke tried not to puke. The sight of that girl - or what used to be a girl - and the stench of all that blood had jumped down his throat and had beat the hell out of his stomach. Keeping his lunch down where it was supposed to be took a supreme effort of will. In America he had seen cases where the victims had come some assembly required, but something like this was beyond horrific. "What did that?" he asked aloud. "I wish I knew," Akira replied as he came up alongside the crouching senior detective. "I'd put that bastard under the prison." Samanosuke didn't reply as he straightened himself out. The urge to vomit was gone, much to his relief. How long before the media found out about this? The brass was already in a snit about the first two cases being made national news, and having the third murder at the school the first two attended would only sensationalize it even more. Why didn't those vultures in the media understand that they only hurt investigations by circling around? "One of the teachers has some interesting information," Akira said. "Where is he?" "She, sir. Her name's Hinako Hinomiya. She says she caught a delinquent student out behind the school this morning. Guess the name?" "I'm not in the mood for games." "Hikaru Gosunkugi." "Is that right?" Samanosuke said. "I think we should have a chat with Miss Hikako." Samanosuke could hardly believe that she could fit into that tiny dress she wore. Why in the hell did the school's administration allow her to wear that? The boys would be too busy ogling her to pay attention to the lessons! "Miss Hinako?" "Yes?" "I'm Detective Samanosuke Ichijiro, and this is my partner." "Akira Nomura." "We understand that you caught a student sneaking around behind the school this morning." "I did. The delinquent's name is Hikaru Gosunkugi." "What was he doing out here?" Akira asked, notepad at the ready. "He claimed that he saw two other delinquent students back here, and tried to follow them." "Did he mention any names?" "No, Detective. I looked, but found no-one. I should have looked harder. Maybe I could have prevented this." "Miss Hinako, this is not your fault," Akira said gently. "A student was murdered, and on the campus during school hours! How is it not my fault?" Tears rimmed Hinako's eyes as she spoke those words. "Miss Hinako," Samanosuke began, "could you tell us about Hikaru Gosunkugi?" Twenty minutes later, the two detectives were walking past the front gates of Furinkan, just in time to see two news vans racing toward them. Samanosuke grunted in disgust. They didn't miss a beat, did they? Without a word, he and Akira turned and made a brisk pace to the waiting sedan. The engine kicked over and they left the vans behind even before they could stop. "Looks like a visit to the Gosunkugi residence is in order," Akira said from the passenger seat. "Yeah. From what Hinako said, he hasn't really been a problem student until recently. Mainly unexcused absences." "And before, he had a habit for being a shutterbug around the campus. Looks like he kept up his hobby. Think we have enough for a search warrant?" "Not yet. Let's talk to him first." Neither man had to say it. Hikaru Gosunkugi was their only real lead, and the both hoped he would be the key to the mystery. They also hoped that he wouldn't. The thought that a kid could be capable of such atrocity was a thing that neither Samanosuke nor Akira wanted lurking about in their minds. Had the two detectives not known better, they would have sworn that the carnage done to those victims was the work of some kind of demon. ------------------------------------------------------ Gosunkugi lay on his bed, unable to focus on his homework. Two people were dead, maybe three. Natsuki had gone off with that strange girl. How the hell had they managed to disappear like that? Hikaru couldn't help but worry about her. What if she became the next victim? Okay, he thought, think about this. This weird girl, whoever she is, sets off my spider sense to beat the band. She hasn't approached me, but I still feel all kinds of bad stuff off of her. She had only appeared a few days ago, and since then two students had been murdered. That was just too much to be a coincidence, not to mention the fact that no one on campus seemed to really know who she was. How odd was that? A girl as pretty as her would definitely turn some heads. Who wouldn't know who she was? In this case, everyone. The only time he could recall people other than him even seeing her was that time in the hall where she had drawn Hiroshi's eye. That night, he had been found dead. What about Gensao? He hadn't even seen the guy before his picture had been broadcast over the air with the story that he had been victim number two. Where had she been then? Hikaru closed his eyes. His first sighting of her, beneath that tree, replayed itself. The leaves and grass had died in the space of a few seconds. The next time, she had had some blood on her jaw. "This is just way too damn freaky," he said. "What if I'm just losing my mind?" Given the stress of the past week, it seemed like the obvious answer. Things seemed so surreal lately, as if the world had suddenly decided to change all the rules and hadn't bothered to tell him. It wouldn't be the first time. The doorbell rang out, snapping him from his train of thought. Who would be visiting him? "Hang on, I'm comin'," he muttered as he padded through the hall and into the living room as the chime rang a third time. He opened the door as far as the chain lock would allow and peered out at the two men beyond. "Yes?" "Hikaru Gosunkugi?" the older one asked. "That's me." "Detectives Ichijiro and Nomura. May we come in?" he replied, showing a badge and ID. "Of course! Just a second." Gosunkugi's heart suddenly jumped to quick- time march as he undid the chain and allowed the two men inside. "Have a seat." "No, thank you, Mister Gosunkugi," The younger man, Akira, replied. "We just have some questions for you." "Okay. A cop told me someone would be coming by." "Good," Samanosuke replied. "Mister Gosunkugi, did you know Hiroshi Sakamoto or Gensao Kenjiro?" "No, sir, I didn't." He had known *of* the first, but had never met the second. "Okay. Do you know Ranma Saotome or Akane Tendo?" "Yeah. I don't talk to them, but I know who they are." What was this about? Hikaru's stomach began to twist itself into a knot of dread. Whatever this was about, it couldn't be good. "Has something happened to them?" "No," Akira said. "But we know that, at one point, you were taking candid photos of Akane Tendo. Care to explain that?" "Oh, that." Hikaru knew that this would come back to bite him on the ass one day. But what did it have to do with anything? "I have to say I did." "Did?" Samanosuke asked. "You don't anymore?" "No, Detective. I out-grew that sort of thing." Boy, did I ever, he added silently. "What made you stop, if you don't mind me asking?" "I guess I just realized how wrong it was." It was the essential truth. "Mind if I ask where these questions are going?" "A teacher told us that she saw you behind the school this morning. She also said you told her you were looking for two other students. We'd like to know their names. "Uh. One was Natsuki Ichimonji." Gosunkugi's blood suddenly froze in his veins. This couldn't be what he thought it was. "Who was the other girl, Mister Gosunkugi?" "I don't know her name. I'm not even sure if she's a student." Hikaru's mouth was on auto pilot, reciting the mystery girl's features while his mind nearly overloaded itself with what was happening. "Detectives," Hikaru asked through a mouth that had long since gone dry. "Why are you asking me all this?" The two cops traded looks before the younger one answered. "Mister Gosunkugi, there has been another murder." "Oh, God." Natsuki. It had to be her. Three victims, and he felt so powerless. "Was it." "We think it was Natsuki Ichimonji, but the body hasn't been positively identified yet." "Just one more question, Mister Gosunkugi," Samanosuke said. "Yes?" "You take photos of Spiderman, right?" "Yeah," Hikaru replied before he could stop himself. "How do you get those?" "What does Spiderman have to do with any of this?" "We're just covering all the bases," Samanosuke replied. "Now, how about those photos?" "Well, a good telephoto lens and a lot of luck. That's pretty much it." "I see. Mister Gosunkugi, if you hear anything, I want you to give me a call." Gosunkugi accepted the small business card Samanosuke handed over. "I'll do that, Detective." Samanosuke climbed into the sedan, mulling over every detail of the conversation with Hikaru Gosunkugi. The kid had been hiding something, of that there was no doubt. "He got a little defensive when we brought up Spiderman," Akira said as the two merged into the spotty traffic. "Wonder why?" "He nearly broke when we told him about the victim," Samanosuke added as he passed the traffic light. "Must've been a real shock. And who the hell is that girl he told us about?" "I'll put out some feelers among the students. Maybe one of them might know." "Good." They fell into silence, for both knew what was ahead. It was the worst part of the job. Once the corpse was identified, then the family had to be told. That unpleasant task would likely fall on Samanosuke and Akira's shoulders. It was never easy to tell parents that their child was no longer with them, regardless of the circumstances. ---------------------------------------------------- Hikaru walked in silence through the dark shadows of Nerima Park, though his mind was anything but quiet. It was all starting to fit together. Whoever that girl was, she was involved. "The cops will find out who she is," he said to himself for the tenth time. "They'll find out who's behind all this." The only sounds in the park were that of crickets sending their songs into the night. For a moment, Hikaru could almost believe that he was the only person in the world. He hadn't told the detectives anything, really. What could he have said? Hey, that weird chick may be involved with all these killings? How do I know? Well, it all started with a spider about seven months ago. It would make one hell of a story that was for sure. Yet again, the truth is less plausible than a lie. Life was strange that way. He took a seat on a handy park bench. All he had to do was make his imagination shut up. It wasn't as if Spiderman could do anything. "Why the hell is this happening to me?" he asked the night. His only reply was that of crickets calling out to each other. "Why is what happening to you?" "WHAT!" The spider sense screamed as Hikaru leapt up and spun toward the source of the voice. Oh, no, why now? Gosunkugi's eyes locked on her as she stepped out of the shadows. In the glow of the lamp, her face was innocent and angelic. "Y. you." "I've been watching you, Hikaru Gosunkugi," she said as she stepped closer. "My name's Lorelei." "Lorelei, huh?" The spider sense grew stronger as she grew closer. This was it. She was approaching him, now. And how the hell did she know his name? "You look tense," she said. Her voice was soft like velvet. Had his spider sense not been blaring, it would have probably calmed him. Instead, the sense grew stronger still. "I've seen you before," Hikaru managed to say. "What are you?" "What are you talking about?" she asked. There was less than two meters between them. "Lorelei." "That's me." "You killed them, didn't you?" "Um. what?" "You killed Hiroshi! You killed Gensao and Natsuki, too, didn't you!" The demon stopped. So, the human knew. It wasn't quite as stupid as the others. Lorelei felt the sense lock on to the mortal frame it wore and it understood. No amount of womanly charms would win this one over. His sixth sense would not allow it. "Heh. What if I did?" If it had to be this way, then fine. Lorelei would simply beat this one the old fashioned way. Brutally. Hikaru started at her pronouncement. He was right! The realization sent icy chills down his spine. Face to face with the killer, alone. He was the next target! Well, he thought, this crazy chick is gonna have to work to get me! "You seem shocked," she said. Her voice was no longer smooth and seductive, but dark and hideous. "Truth be told, I was surprised that first time you saw me." "Yeah?" Hikaru asked, summoning what remained of his courage. "I'm just full of surprises." He would have taken Doc Ock over this any day of the week! "You're indeed special, Hikaru Gosunkugi," Lorelei said in a guttural voice. "I wonder if you'll taste better than those other three?" Hikaru didn't have time to think, merely obeying the command from his spider sense to leap up. He could hardly believe that she had covered the distance between them so fast! Gosunkugi somersaulted and twisted around as the ground erupted from where her hand had struck. "Good God!" he exclaimed as he beheld the clawed hand. Gosunkugi landed in a crouch on a tree limb, not caring that he was using his spider powers again, and without his costume. "What in all the hells?" Lorelei asked as she turned around. Her eyes glowed a brilliant green with needle-sharp fangs in place of what had once been perfect teeth. "How did you dodge that?" "I told you. I'm full of surprises." Hikaru felt the fear give him strength. He was fighting for his life, and he would not lose. "Yes, you are. Now, let's see how many you have!" Gosunkugi leapt clear again as Lorelei swept that clawed arm through the air and sent an emerald arc of energy at the tree. He heard the wood splinter before the violent force just before the tree hit the ground. Whoa. She's got some nasty moves. Hikaru crouched on the trunk of another tree, fighting to keep the fear down while he evaluated his options. She was fast, no doubt about it, and powerful to boot. Dodging around would only get him killed sooner or later. Lorelei turned just as Hikaru launched himself off of the tree. She was too late as he extended his foot in true Kung-Fu movie style. His heel hit her jaw with a satisfying crunch as he sprung off and she spun around before hitting the dirt. The demon Lorelei was impressed. It fell beneath the blow which was stronger than it should have been. How had this human moved so fast? Not even the most powerful priests of long ago could do this! It felt the substance encircle the female form, and recognized it as spider silk. It was facing down a spider demon? No, this was not a demon. Then how the hell was he able to spin webs? Humans truly had changed over the centuries. "RRRRAGH!" Gosunkugi watched in amazement as Lorelei's claws shredded the webbing. This was gonna be a lot harder than he thought. "You truly are strong," she said in that evil voice. "I shall enjoy gnawing the flesh from your bones." First it was thugs, then super-villains, and now monsters, he thought. I guess I still have enemies in the world. Cologne shook her head. A vorshe, one of the most vile demons. How had it gotten loose? A lower demon like that should never have been able to escape from the hells on its own! The fight was already going badly for young Hikaru, she saw from her treetop perch. Physical ability alone would never defeat a demon like that. Vorshes fed on the flesh of humans, often using a female body to lure its victims. It was said that, once caught in its spell, there was no escape. Perhaps that danger sense Hikaru possessed made him immune? Regardless, his spider-like abilities would never be enough. Cologne produced the tiny scroll and began the chant. She hadn't used an artifact like this in decades. She didn't have the time to make proper banishing charms. It would have to do. "Boy, you are starting to annoy me," Lorelei growled. "What, am I too fast for you?" Hikaru stood as far away from her as he could manage. How would he beat this thing? "You cannot defeat a demon, whelp. Why not just accept your fate at my claws?" "Sorry, but I don't accept gifts from strangers!" What am I gonna do? The spider sense peaked again just before Lorelei shrieked in agony. Gosunkugi could only watch as tendrils of ivory light wound around her form and that horrid sound of a demon in pain threatened to rupture his eardrums. "Okay, I know I didn't do that." The demon writhed in incredible pain as the spell assaulted it without mercy. How had that boy cast it? Was he truly this powerful a priest? How had he kept the spell hidden so well? It had no more time to think when the boy's fist collided with its head like a sledgehammer. I don't know what happened, Hikaru thought, but I have to take advantage of it! He slammed his fists into the demon's writhing form for all he was worth. It wasn't human, no matter how it appeared. It had murdered three innocent people. There was no reason to hold back. "WHUF!" All the air was forced from his lungs. The sudden shot sent Gosunkugi rocketing backward too fast for him to right himself before he collided with another tree. What a hit! He thought as he shook off the impact. The light around Lorelei faded, leaving the demon staggering in its wake. Its breathing was ragged and its shoulders slumped. Whatever had happened, it had taken a lot out of Lorelei. "I. will not forget this insult, boy." With that, Lorelei vanished into the night. Hikaru walked over to where the demon had once stood. The pain from the blow was fading fast, but the fear was still present in the dark corners of his mind. What kind of demon was it? How did it get here? Come to think of it, where the hell had that spell come from? The spider sense was dormant. No one was around. Two things were certain. Someone had to stop the demon Lorelei before it claimed another victim. Second, the police would never be able to do it. If he told them about what had just happened, they'd likely think he was nuts. Or worse, they would investigate him further. If they found out that he was Spiderman, they'd find a way to pin this on him so fast it would make his head spin. "I've only got one option," he whispered. There was now no choice left. Lorelei was hunting him now. The demon would not let this slide. The only way to save himself, and to stop her, was to become Spiderman once again. "But can I win?" he asked himself as he began the walk back to his apartment. He had no idea who had cast that spell, but it was the only reason he was walking away right now. Gosunkugi remembered his old magic texts. Many of them told of ways to counter demons and evil spirits. He had never tried those spells and charms. Could they work? Who was he kidding? He had all the magic power of a coffee table. No way he could make one of those work. Wards people bought from shrines were likely no better. He needed someone with enough magic to make a few for him, like whoever had cast that spell. Shampoo's great-grandmother might know how. "I wonder. No. No way." The old ghoul was a sneaky sort, but how would she know about this demon? "Either way, she's my only chance." Cologne cursed to herself. How had she lost that Vorshe? Was this one more resourceful than the texts said? "Somehow, Hikaru, I knew you'd end up involved in this mess. And here I thought Ranma was a trouble magnet." Vorshes often worked their way up to the most powerful prey, and Ranma had to be high on this one's list. It had to be stopped, and now. But where had it gone? Ryoga Hibiki finished setting up the tent. He would do without a fire tonight, seeing as it wasn't all that cold out. The sleeping bag would be more than enough. He had no clue where he was, which was practically a law of the universe. No Hibiki could ever find his or her way anywhere, especially when they really wanted to. So far as Ryoga knew, this was Kansai. Or Tokyo. Or Okinawa. How the hell would he know? As long as he managed to find Akane once more, then all would be fine. He nearly got a nosebleed at the thought of snuggling up next to Akane again. He tired not to think about the time when she had been so tired that she had slept nude. "Who's there?!" Ryoga's muscles tensed at the sound of someone approaching, all thoughts of Akane in the buff having dissipated. If all his time on the road had taught him anything, it was that any sound out of the ordinary likely meant trouble. "H-help me." A woman? Ryoga managed to pick out the form which stumbled toward his camp. Whoever she was, she was hurt. "Hey! You okay?" Ryoga asked as he rushed to her side. "A. man. attacked me." "Oh, no." Someone had tried to rape this girl?! He draped a protective arm around her shoulders, immediately searching for any signs of her attacker. Her frame shook with each gasping breath, and Ryoga felt his blood boil. Whoever had done this would soon find himself on the business end of Ryoga Hibiki's fists. "Are you okay?" "I'll be okay." she gasped. The girl turned her face to him, and Ryoga couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. "You're all I need." "What the." The sentence fell short as the strength left his limbs in a rush and the world became a swirl of blackness. Lorelei stood over him, the hunger so powerful it hurt. This human was prime stock, indeed! His flesh and soul would feed it for days! The fangs extended of their own accord, a foul equivalent to saliva dripping from their pointed ends. "So hungry." Lorelei knelt beside the human. It had been weakened by that spell, but this man would easily remedy that. A hideously gnarled talon stroked his face, leaving a slight trail of blood. That boy was still around, and Lorelei was not at full strength. What if he found them? Lorelei knelt still over the fallen human, pondering what to do. If that Hikaru boy found her in mid- feast, the demon would be all but defenseless against another spell. Likely he would use a far stronger one. He had underestimated the demon before, would he be stupid enough to do so again? "Be grateful human," Lorelei said as the demon scooped the unconscious man into its arms. "You may yet live another day or so." "Cops everywhere," Gosunkugi muttered to himself as he crouched on the roof of a three-story office building. He watched them shine their lights into every alley and shadowed corner. A few times, they had even cast their lights above, likely trying to spot Spiderman. I hate wearing this thing again, Hikaru thought as he leapt down to another roof. From there, he sprung to another half a block away. The memory of that night kept trying to replay itself as he made his way toward the Nekohanten. I just can't get free of Spiderman. Ten people dead because of me, and here I am gallivanting around again as if nothing had happened. I lost Miku because of this damn costume! But I may be the only one who can stop that monster. If I don't, then someone else is going to die. I just can't sit on my hands and do nothing, no matter how much I hate being Spiderman again. Looks like Spidey is doing an encore performance. One final leap carried him to the roof of the Nekohanten. Hikaru crawled down one of the walls, surprised to find a window half-way open. Maybe this wouldn't be so difficult. Cologne tensed as she saw the shadow land on the roof of her restaurant. Had the vorshe decided to attack Shampoo? Or maybe Mousse? She watched as it crawled down the side of the structure and vanished into the space of a window left open, and relaxed. So, Hikaru, she mused, you've come seeking my help. Maybe you're smarter than I thought. Cologne leapt toward the Nekohanten. She had to intercept the boy before he woke Shampoo and Mousse. With all the police prowling about, it simply would not do for a brawl featuring the most wanted man in Japan to happen right in her own home. Gosunkugi tensed as he landed softly on the wood floor. These had to be the living quarters. Three of the most lethal martial artists in Nerima lived in this place. If he woke them. I have to find Cologne, he told himself. He just hoped he wouldn't have to face down Shampoo and Mousse to do it. Gosunkugi crept to the door, praying that he didn't wake anyone when the spider sense went off. "What now?" he said as he whirled around to face the window. A tiny figure landed on the sill, cradling a long object. "Well, well," said a raspy voice, "To think that you would pay us a visit. We don't open until ten, you know." "Are you Cologne-san?" he asked in his toughest voice. Playing dumb like this made him feel rather stupid himself. "I am," she replied as she hopped down from the windowsill. "And I take it that you are Spiderman." "The one and only." "Why, may I ask, are you here?" Cologne asked as she crossed the shadowed floor and hit the light switch. "I need some help, and you're the only one who can." "Oh? And what can I do for you?" Cologne asked as she peered up into the mirrored eyepieces of Spiderman's mask. His form-fitting outfit really showed off his muscles. Quite a few women in the tribe would love to have a man built like that in tights. "You might not believe me, but I just had a round with some kind of monster." "Did you, now?" Cologne almost smiled. She knew exactly what he had been doing earlier. "Yeah. That thing's the one who killed those kids." "This is indeed troubling. Tell me, what kind of monster was it?" "How would I know?!" Spiderman exclaimed. "I've never fought monsters before!" "You don't need to shout, Spiderman. I'm old, but not deaf." "Listen, I hear that you know a lot about magic and stuff. I need something to fight this thing with." "Ah. I see." Cologne knew exactly what he needed. "You need charms to fend off this demon, correct?" "Got it in one. You have any to spare?" "Not right away, but I can make you a few. Follow me." "Say, how do you know it's a demon?" Spiderman asked as the two exited the room. "Monster, oni, demon, all different words for the same type of creature," Cologne said with the right touch of mystery. She had almost slipped, there. "Oh. Okay." Wow, Hikaru thought, I never thought I'd see this old bat's bedroom. It wasn't at all like he expected. A modest television sat atop the dresser across from the bed. The walls were bare; the only real feature the lone window which was shut tight. And here he thought she'd have all sorts of wards and talismans hanging about. "Hey, thanks for the help," he said as she opened the door to her closet. "No thanks are necessary, Spiderman. I am merely returning a favor." "Favor? What favor?" "You saved the life of my son-in-law, a boy named Ranma Saotome, along with two sisters he lives with." "Oh." Gosunkugi let it go at that. There was no sense in letting on about how much he really knew about them. Cologne turned about with three scraps of paper in one hand, in the other an ink well and a brush. Hikaru kept quiet as she laid the three strips out on the hardwood floor and knelt before them. He was about to see real magic at work, and couldn't help but feel a tingle of anticipation. He also couldn't help but think about his own failures with voodoo and such. I guess when it comes to magic, you either got it or you don't, he thought as Cologne dipped the brush into the ink well. The wizened woman then took the now-soaked bristles and applied them to the first strip with short, precise movements as she muttered something in Chinese. Hikaru watched in amazement as she painted characters he had never seen before on the first ward. This was real magic, he knew. This was a power he was never meant to have, though had lusted after for so long. But after that spider bite he had finally tasted true power, and it was very bitter. Having power didn't make life any easier, it just added more responsibility. If that responsibility was taken lightly, then innocent people ended up dead. Gosunkugi knew that all to well. The chant ended just as the last stroke was completed, and Cologne began the process on the middle strip. The deaths of those people in Odaiba weighed heavily on his heart, and it was a burden he would have to shoulder alone. His parents wouldn't understand. He had no friends to talk to. Miku hated him. This double life of his only caused pain and misery to everyone around him. But he had to be Spiderman. Lorelei had to be stopped and from what he had seen the police would never be able to do it. More innocent lives were at risk, and he was the only one who had a chance of putting an end to her murder spree. He couldn't just stand by and let her kill again. If even one more person died, without him having at least tried to prevent it, then he would truly be a murderer. "It's done," Cologne said as she rose to her feet. "Just give the ink a few minutes to dry, and you're good to go." "Thanks, Cologne-san. I." "I told you, Spiderman, no thanks are necessary." "Oh. Right." "You seem troubled," the ancient elder said as she peered into his mask. "I have a lot on my mind." "I understand. Would you listen to the advice of an old woman?" "Hey, what have I got to lose?" "Listen well, Spiderman," Cologne said the epitome of seriousness. "There is little I haven't seen and even less I haven't done. I watched your battle in Odaiba that night on television." "Hey, I don't need." "It was not your fault, Spiderman." ". Huh?" *This* he wasn't expecting. "You had no way to know that Doctor Octopus would throw that truck. The deaths of those ten people were at his hands, not yours." "Save your pity, Cologne-san," Gosunkugi spat as he accepted the wards. "I do not pity you, Spiderman," she replied. "I'm just telling you the truth. Do not blame yourself. You are not at fault." "Yeah?" Hikaru retorted. "That doesn't change the fact that they're still dead! I couldn't save them! How isn't it my damn fault?!" "Listen to me, Spiderman!" Cologne yelled back, her eyes ablaze. "You can't save everyone! No man or woman - regardless their strength - has that power!" "You know, you're right," Hikaru said. "Innocent people can die when I fight someone as powerful as Doc Ock. Gosunkugi walked over to the window, fury storming in his breast. Fury at himself. "You know that innocent people will die if this demon is not stopped. You also know that the police have no chance against it. You have encountered it before, so you know its power. You feel that only you can defeat it." Hikaru froze before he could open the window. "Thanks for the wards, Colonge-san," Hikaru said as he opened the window and leapt into the night. Cologne stood there, shaking her head. She knew he wouldn't take her words of wisdom very well, yet she had given them anyway. Youth truly was wasted on the young. Her heart went out to Hikaru Gosunkugi. He was beating himself up over those people, not that she could blame him. He had tried to save them, and it hadn't worked. Cologne knew not what other torments his soul suffered, but this had to have pushed him to the breaking point. And yet, he had decided to become Spiderman once again to stop this vorche. Hikaru Gosunkugi understood what she had said, even if he refused to take it as the truth. "It's almost daybreak," she muttered into the empty room as she moved to shut the window. No matter what, Cologne has to see this through. Even with those wards on his side, there was no guarantee that Hikaru would win against the vorshe. Whether he liked it or not, he still needed her help, especially now that Kraven was hunting him. Hikaru Gosunkugi wasn't done with being Spiderman yet. Hikaru crouched atop the roof of his apartment building as the dawn began to break. The line of red light across the horizon which heralded a new day would have been a breath-taking sight were he not so pre-occupied with his own emotions. Much as he hated to admit it, Cologne had more or less hit the nail on the head earlier. No matter how much he hated his alter-ego, he had to use it to stop Lorelei. Why else had he dragged the tattered costume out of his closet and put it on again? Why else had he gone to the old woman for wards to use against it? "You made your bed, Gos," he muttered, "Now you gotta lie in it." He would stop Lorelei. Lorelei. Just the thought of that creature sent chills down his spine. She killed merely for the pleasure of it. She was also stalking him. For his own life, and the lives of others, he had to stop her as Spiderman. There was just no other way. Hikaru crawled down to his window to dress for school. He knew he would find her there. Maybe, if he was lucky, he wouldn't have to put on the costume to take her down. So long as he had those wards, he had a chance against her. Man, I'm beat, he thought as he pulled the costume off. Can't believe I stayed up all night. I won't be worth jack in class today. But Lorelei will be there. This is my chance to take that demon down. I can't miss it because I'm too tired. Gosunkugi walked out of his bedroom. A good shower would clear his head. After that, some of his dad's No-Doze pills would make sure he wouldn't sleep through any classes. Sergey Illych Kravenov was a patient sort. Every good hunter had to have such a virtue in spades, for the best prey was often the most elusive and Spiderman was certainly that. He rewound the tape he had made of Spiderman's television appearances as he sipped vodka on the motel room's lumpy mattress. Kraven cared not for luxuries, not while on a hunt. A cheap dive like this was more than enough for the Russian. He heard the distinct *thunk* from the TV/VCR set on the cheap dresser and pressed play on the remote. "Such agility," he muttered as he saw Spiderman leaping up into the innards of an incomplete building. This was against the mysterious robotic spider that had appeared in Tokyo over a month ago. He watched as Spiderman caught two falling orbs in his webs and flung them away with minimal effort. How much did those things weigh? A thousand kilograms, maybe two thousand? Regardless, the videos showed that Spiderman was indeed a physical marvel. The rest of the video showed little, save for Spiderman dodging a strike that sent the robot tumbling down to the ground. Had that been an accident, or had it been intentional? Kraven ran the information through his mind again and again. Spiderman could likely be the most dangerous prey he had ever hunted. That thought sent an electric current of excitement throughout his seven-foot tall frame. After all these years, had Kraven the Hunter finally found a worthy prey? Spiderman would show himself sooner or later, but Kraven preferred it to be sooner. A hunter could only wait so long. Gosunkugi couldn't believe it. Here it was, noon, and his spider sense hadn't gone off once! Where the hell was she? The one time he actually wanted Lorelei to appear, she had to be bashful! Wasn't that just his luck? The three wards he had gotten from Cologne were practically burning a hole in his pocket, and he had no way to use them if Lorelei refused to appear. That thought took his mind down another track. Whoever had cast that spell on Lorelei last night had some real magical power. When he had asked Cologne for wards against demons, she had obliged readily as if she knew he would ask for them all along. Could Cologne have been the source of that magical bolt? The more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became. The one who had cast that spell had seen him using his spider powers without the costume. Whoever that was had to have figured out that he was Spiderman! Great, he groused, now someone out there knows who I am! And what if it was Cologne? How would the old ghoul use that? She could make herself very rich very fast. At least it's not Nabiki, he thought as he leaned back against the tree. She would sell me out in no time flat. That, at least, was one bright spot in this whole mess. "He-llo," he said as the spider sense went wild. She was here! He looked about to find her walking behind a tree. Hikaru's hand reached into his pocket for a ward. It was time to see if these things really worked. "Now where did she go?" he asked just as the spider sense pointed him in another direction. Lorelei glanced at him once before moving behind another tree. Hikaru ran in pursuit, realizing that she was leading him somewhere. Lorelei wanted this fight to be on her terms. He had to be careful. Gosunkugi followed his spider sense for a full five minutes as Lorelei led him on a merry chase. This had to be a trap, no doubt about it. But that demon didn't know about the wards he carried. That bitch was gonna get sent back to whatever hell she came from, and soon! He came to a stop on the soccer field, Lorelei directly in front of him. There was nothing to stick to out here, but that didn't matter. He had more than enough wards to take this creature down. "Hikaru Gosunkugi," she said. The tone was haughty, confident. So much the better. "That's me, Lorelei," he growled. "Looks like you want to settle this." "Oh, I do, boy," the demon said. "Our final battle is soon at hand." "How does right now grab you?" "Human, I would love nothing more than to tear the flesh from your bones," Lorelei purred, "But this is neither the time nor the place." "Why wait?" Gosunkugi asked, his anger rising ever higher. "If you really want to settle this, then let's go!" "I decided to up the ante a little," Lorelei chuckled as the space beside her began to warp. The distorted air swirled with a violent fury, coalescing into the form of a man in chains. A man Hikaru knew. "You bitch." "I've been called worse." "Let him go!" Gosunkugi roared. He couldn't bring himself to believe it. Ryoga Hibiki, Ranma's strongest rival, was lying bound at this demon's feet in a state of semi-consciousness. "I will," she said, "if you manage to defeat me." "Then let's get started!" Hikaru shouted as he pulled out a ward. "Move, and this human dies!" Hikaru froze as a clawed hand appeared on Ryoga's throat. "Meet us at the old Setsuna Shrine at midnight. If you are even a second late, then I will take my time feasting on this mortal's flesh." Lorelei and Ryoga vanished in a swirl of black light, leaving behind merely the hint of a cackling laugh. Hikaru stood there in a state of shock. How could he have underestimated this demon so badly? Lorelei had taken a hostage, and planned to use him as bait. She didn't even give me a chance to use one of these things! Hikaru thought as he turned away. Lorelei was naming the place and calling the tune. If Gosunkugi didn't show up with bells on, then an innocent man would die. Well, Spidey-boy, he thought, looks like your encore just got more exciting. Midnight. Twelve hours until showtime. This would be the longest day of Hikaru Gosunkugi's life.