Neither Chris nor Shermie got much sleep that night.  Their worries kept them from sleeping soundly, and neither one of them wanted to slip back into dreams again.  Holding each other closely, they lay through the restless night.

    The next morning, both of them were a bit out of sorts.  Yashiro, concerned, tried to pester them for an explanation, but their answers were vague and contradictory.  After a while, the man gave up, frustrated.  The three of them got ready for the day in relative silence.

    Shermie didn't want to leave Chris today, but she couldn't use her sick leave for a nightmare.  She kissed him before she left to catch the bus for work, and as she sat on the bus, thinking back about their dreams again, she almost fell asleep, but she managed to stay awake until she reached the office building that housed the law firm where she worked.

    Her first stop in the building was the little shop that sold coffee and snacks.  After fortifying herself with caffeine, she entered the office and settled at her desk, checking her mailbox and booting her computer.  The other secretary in her office, her friend Akimi Morimoto, came by and stopped to talk to her.

    "Shermie!  You look beat!" she exclaimed.  Her expression turned sly.  "What did you do to Chris last night--or did he do something to you?"

    Shermie had to grin at her friend.  "No, no, nothing like that, 'Kimi, I just didn't sleep well last night."

    "No?  Why not?"

    "I just didn't."  Shermie shrugged.  "C'mon, it happens to everyone."

    "Not to you."  Akimi looked a little worried.  "Are you going to be all right?  Maybe you can go home early."

    "Maybe.  It's not a big deal, 'Kimi, don't worry about it."

    "Okay, okay."  Taking the hint, the girl scurried off to her desk.

    As the day wore on, Shermie began to think going home early would have been a great idea.  She almost dozed off proofreading a letter, but fortunately no one saw her.  She sighed and started reading again, determined to finish the day.
 
 

    It was four o'clock, and she would be going home in a half-hour.  She was typing up a letter to be sent out the next morning, and then her real work would be finished.  As the last page spooled out of the printer, the door to the suite opened, and a young man stepped in.  He wore an expensive-looking suit, and the wire-rimmed glasses made him look a little older, but there was no mistaking his red hair.  It was that guy Iori, from the Asteroid Belt!  He had seemed friendly, but Shermie remembered with a shiver what had happened in Chris' dream.  But no...that may have been something the boy's anxiety had created.  As if she would leave him for anyone!

    Bringing her attention back to work, she looked up at Iori, who was standing in front of her desk.  "Yes?  May I help you?"

    "Shermie?" the man said incredulously.  "You work here?"

    "Yes," she said, smiling a little.  "I have for quite some time."
 

    "Ah..." Iori seemed at a loss for words for a moment.  "Well, I came to drop off some documents for Mr. Tsuwabuki, so..."  He held out a sealed manila envelope.

    "Oh, all right."  Taking the envelope, Shermie flipped it over to see the label.  "Oh!"  She read the return address.  "You work for Genenco?"  The bioengineering company was protected by the Tsuwabuki & Ueno law firm.

    "Yes, it's sort of a temporary thing, but it pays rather well, so..."

    "I see!  Well, I'll deliver these to Mr. Tsuwabuki then, thank you."

    "Thank you, miss," Iori said with an impish grin.  "Perhaps I'll see you again sometime."

    Shermie smiled to cover her sudden concern.  "Most likely you will; I'm not going anywhere anytime soon!"

    "All right then.  See you!"  The man turned and walked to the door, waved, and slipped out.

    Shermie let out a gusty sigh.  Things were going to get strange, she could already tell.

    "Sheeerrrmiiieeeee..." Akimi called, sneaking around the corner.  "Who was that?"

    "Some guy I met after a show a while back.  I guess he's an intern at Genenco.  Why?"

    "He's really hot.  Damn, girl!  Was that before or after you started seeing Chris?"

    "Right after..." Shermie smiled softly.  "The same night, actually."

    "Oh!  Wow, how weird!"

    "Your logic is messed up, 'Kimi," Shermie laughed.

    "Why?"

    "You're assuming I was interested in Iori!"

    "Iori, huh?  And you're trying to tell me you weren't?"

    "Yes!  He's nice enough, but...he's sort of creepy."  Shermie shivered a little.  "And the worst part is, I think he's interested..."

    "Ha!  You think?  Doesn't he know about Chris?"

    "He almost has to--we were pretty obvious last night, and at the shows since."  The image from Chris' dream came to her mind again, and this time she knew it was real, just as her own dream was.  She chatted idly with Akimi, but her mind was coming to grips with the real meaning of Chris' dream:  those men were going to fight fiercely for her, and she would have no choice in the matter.
 
 

    Orochi found the irony of things amusing.  He had dropped many hints of his return for the Mirror-keeper, but she was the only one who could detect them.  In order to stop Orochi before he truly got started, Chizuru Kagura had used her financial power to set up the 1997 King of Fighters tournament.  Having used the strongest fighters in last year's tournament to kill Goenitz, it was her intent this year to draw in Orochi's other children, and then neutralize them and seal Orochi with the Mirror again.

    That played right into Orochi's hands.  The tournament gave him the perfect place to determine how strong his children were, to gain energy from the other fighters, and, most importantly, to decide who would father the next avatar.  He was preparing for the future, even as his enemy was preparing for his end.  It really was quite funny, and if he were human, he might have laughed.

    It would take some subtle and not-so-subtle manipulation to make up the three-man teams needed for the tournament, but one came together quite easily--the band, of course.  Chris would not be able to fight Yashiro, but he could watch both of them fight and evaluate their power.  It was an ideal situation that his adversary had provided him.

    Orochi didn't believe in luck, but something was throwing everything his way in this century.  It must indeed be time for my return; it's carried on the wind and shining across the night sky.
 
 

    The months had passed quickly, and it was already Chris' birthday.  Shermie had been planning for this for a while now; she had decided to give him the one thing that was uniquely hers to give, and the idea made her a little nervous.  She wondered if he knew she was, despite all appearances to the contrary, she added in her head, still a virgin.  The were completely open with each other, but the subject had never come up.

    Is he ready for this, though?  She worried constantly that he would turn down her offer on the grounds that he just wasn't ready for it.  He had always been mature for his age, and she constantly forgot the difference in their ages.  But this...this brought it sharply into focus.

    The girl shook her head angrily.  Age doesn't matter! she told herself for the nth time.  It's all his choice...

    But if he chooses not to...  She felt a little cold at that thought.  What would he think of her then?  It's been so long, though...it isn't as if I were trying to come on to him as a total stranger or something...

    She smiled a little to herself.  Yashiro would tell me I'm being silly now, and that Chris would never think any ill of me.  I guess I should have more faith in him.

    But will he want me?  No, revise that; I know he wants me, she grinned wickedly to herself.  The thing is, will he give in...?

    She suddenly remembered that nightmare from a couple of months ago.  Neither she nor Chris had had any more strange dreams with Orochi in them.  She wondered if that was some strange coincidence, or if the god/demon had left them alone, or if he was just waiting for something to happen.

    What would happen if Chris "fathered" his "avatar" on me, now, without the fighting Chris had envisioned?  Would it ruin Orochi's plans?  Or was it part of them?  Shermie found the whole thing maddening.  The hell with Orochi, she thought.  Chris and I will do as we please.

    She got off the bus at the stop near their house, and slowly walked down the sidewalk, lost in thought.  As she got to the mailbox, she noticed it wasn't empty, so she curiously opened it and took out the mail.  Why haven't the boys picked it up yet?  Are they out?

    One of the pieces of mail was a small, neat envelope, addressed with an ornate, feminine script, to all three of them.  When Shermie got to the house, she set her things down, and opened the little envelope.  The note inside was written in the same script as the envelope.

There was also a business card with Chizuru's phone, fax and e-mail.  "Kagura Industries, Ltd."

    A fighting tournament?  What in the world is this...?

    It wasn't that they weren't able to fight--they often went to the gym together and sparred a bit--but who would know that?  Who was this Chizuru Kagura?

    Shermie set the invitation aside and went to change out of her work clothes.  Chris had tacked a note on her door; he and Yashiro had gone out grocery shopping after they were finished with classes, and would be back soon to start dinner.  The girl smiled and took the note down before she stepped into her room and closed the door.

    God, I'm so tired...She sighed, leaning against the wall for a moment.  Her eyes drifted shut, and it seemed that she saw Orochi standing on that misty gameboard, smiling like a cat.

    Did you call me? he said silently.

    No!  No.  God or demon, leave us alone!

    I might never speak to you, my daughter, but your life would still move in the course which I have set.  It is your fate.

    I don't believe in fate!

    He laughed.  But you believe in me...

    Shermie shivered and opened her eyes.  I must be tired...I don't remember getting undressed!  She stood there in her blouse and stockings.  A paranoid thought flitted briefly through her mind. Did he do this?

    No!  I was just daydreaming!  The girl finished changing into jeans and a tank-top, then washed her face and went out to the den, dropping into the big recliner.  It was always so quiet when the boys were out...

    She woke with a start when Chris touched her face gently.  "Shermie?  You must be tired!"  He smiled softly at her.

    "Yes...I must have dozed off..."  She rose from the chair and kissed the boy softly before going to check what they had bought.  "Happy birthday, honey," she said over her shoulder.

    "It is," he replied, smiling.

    "Aaah, cut the mush," Yashiro said as he walked into the den and threw himself into the chair Shermie had just vacated.  "How was work, Shermie?"

    The girl shrugged.  "Same as always.  What did you all go shopping for?"

    "Groceries, stupid!"  Yashiro laughed, then winced when Shermie mock-snarled at him.  "Just some stuff for dinner."

    "Chris, you shouldn't have to cook tonight!"  Shermie walked into the kitchen.  "Eh, you guys bought a duck?  Chris...!"

    "It's okay, Shermie, I don't mind..."

    "No, I'm not going to let you cook tonight!"  She rummaged through the new groceries, setting some things out and putting the others away.  "I'm no slouch in the kitchen either!"

    The boy came out into the kitchen.  "No, you're not, sweetheart."  He smiled as she tied on her apron.  "But you don't have to cook if you don't want to."

    She turned and looked at him.  "But I do want to!  And that's that."  She laughingly pushed him out.  "And keep Yashiro out of my way, too!"

    "All right, all right," Chris laughed, kissing her lightly before he left.

    "Duck..."  Shermie leaned against the counter as she considered her game plan.