Business as Usual Sidetrack Six
wherein three rise to the occasion
by Laura Bryannan

“It was all Her Pinkness's fault,” Tatsu ever maintained, and perhaps it was the truth, for the incident was undoubtedly spurred by Mugen and the twins' ongoing rivalry for her attention.

Mugen was galled most by the unfairness of the situation, it being eternally three against one. He could usually handle Dork A and B when they got in his way, but Fuu's devotion to their father remained the immovable object to his irresistible force. Mind-blowing MegaMugen though he may be, he was still only himself against The Impervious Niwa Triumvirate.

Such odds would have deterred a lesser man, but they only served to spur this one onward. Thus he was vulnerable that fine day as the gang was gathered for a picnic, when the three of them sat arguing the philosophy of certain activities and Fuu wandered innocently into earshot.

“What about city hall?” Kazu tossed out. “Anything uptown is taking a chance.”

“Nah, that sucks,” Tatsu argued. “I say the Mutual Life skyscraper on Gate. Tagging the top would be something!”

“You guys are such weenies,” Mugen laughed. “Tagging after everyone's gone home is nothing. A 24/7 place like precinct headquarters would....”

“Tagging?” Fuu asked. “You mean like graffiti?”

Three heads snapped in her direction, so engaged in their discussion they had not noticed her presence. “Yeah, like that,” Tatsu admitted, looking sheepish.

“They been trying to come up with the ultimate tag,” Mugen told her, “but they got no balls, so....”

“Shut yer face, pizwire,” Kazu interrupted. “I don't hear you coming up with nothing better.”

Suddenly the sweet sakura blossom eeeped and put a hand to her mouth.

“What?” the three demanded.

“Oh, I couldn't!” she protested.

They circled ever closer, cajoling and flattering, until she was giggling with mischievous eyes.

“No, you guys, I shouldn't say,” she insisted. “I mean, tagging Takeda Delivery would be the most stupid thing in the world, right?”

end