Battler rejects Natsuhi's offer. (Pink Trigger, Stacks -3)

"I don't need ten seconds to decide, you masked bastard." Battler crossed his arms and shook his head. "It's useless... Ah, it's all useless! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious, Aunt Natsuhi, but it's plain to see you want no part of it. Maybe the you who agreed to it was blinded by money, but the lucky thing about being a young idiot like me is things like the future don't matter at all! More importantly... You've gotta make that choice again. Do you want to do that, uh, 'provacative dance' for money? Or is there something more important to you?"

"That's right..." Sniffling, Natsuhi rose from the floor, then clasped her hands at her chest. "I am a part of the proud Ushiromiya family, and I won't let my actions disgrace it! You made the right choice when I faltered, Battler... You should hold your head up proudly."

Battler shrugged, crossing his arms behind his head. He still didn't look like he one-hundred-percent understood what he was doing here... Could he actually picture how much money he was throwing away, and what that money could do? Did he understand how twisted this family's system of values was, and what any of them would do in his position? "I dunno about the 'right choice,' Aunt Natsuhi, but it's the one that's right for me. I'm sure about that much. But, still... w-what kind of dance was it? And, actually, now that I look at it... what's up with your-"

Natsuhi clenched her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest again. "P-please ignore that, Battler! It's best if you just forget about all of this. Why not join your cousins in the guest house?"

The young man sighed, resigning himself to never know what Natsuhi was hiding from him. "Yeah, sure... Now that I think about it, Eva was the one who called me here. Is she around?"

"Never mind her, Battler. I'll explain this to Eva." It didn't seem to be a request, but a command. Natsuhi folded her hands at her lap and wore a stern frown.

Rather than say anything else, Battler gave a short nod. He glanced at Natsuhi one more time, then back at the huge stacks of money we had offered, then let out a long sigh. "Geez... what a crazy night. I'll probably never understand."

Watching the young man's broad shoulders as he exited, I thought to myself that was probably true. There was someone else who couldn't understand, though... She made herself known as soon as Battler left. Eva stepped from the darkness, wearing a furious snarl. "Natsuhi, you brainless idiot! What was I thinking, relying on you?! Now neither of us is getting a cent of that money, a total waste!!"

"What was I thinking, allowing you to talk me into it to begin with?" Natsuhi countered, summoning her strength and squaring her shoulders so she could look Eva in the eyes. "Shouldn't we be an example to the next generation? I almost traded something very valuable for a pittance!"

"All you were supposed to do was a damn hula dance for him! But, for some reason, you turned on the waterworks and drove him off! Is your pride worth all of that money stacked there?!"

"Is your pride worth only that much?!"

"No, actually, let me back up! That 'something very valuable' you talked about losing... was that your pride as a member of the Ushiromiya family? Natsuhi, don't you know none of us has ever once considered you a proper bearer of our name, fit to wear our emblem?! Or was it your 'sexual purity' or some nonsense? If so, is that worth anything when you can't even-?!"

Before Eva could continue, Natsuhi swung a firm palm across her sister's face, causing a loud 'smack' that sent her reeling. She glared down at the other woman with a look of disgust. "Eva, that twisted form of pride you brag of is an affront to your honorable father. I'm ashamed that Battler has to call you his family."

Eva, permitted to wear the One-Winged Eagle and yet brought low by her sister-in-law, turned a furious gaze back on her. "You... biiitch!!"

Natsuhi wasn't in awful shape, but Eva was her better in both fitness and dangerous temper. The would-be witch leapt from her disgraced crouch to tackle Natsuhi to the floor. Sitting on top of her stomach, she tore aimlessly at the other woman's gown. Matching her with a howl of anger, Natsuhi attempted to find a hold on the other woman's dress and pull her to the floor. Before I knew it, the two were rolling in combat, rending off shreds of the other's garments.

For a number of minutes, I stood forgotten in the darkness as the sisters hurled vile insults at each other and let out pent-up frustration. This scene, with Natsuhi's lower leg visible through a tear up her skirt and her entire bare shoulder visible where one of her decorative shoulders had ripped, grabbing Eva's leg and actually managing to displace her pants as she scurried away... Eva, turning for a vicious counter-kick that flipped her dress and revealed her dark panties and curvy, fit legs to me... I had to stop this! After just another few minutes!

"Player... You want an opponent too, right?"

I quickly turned to face the speaker. She was standing in the dark, but still, faintly... I could make out the outline of the witch in her regal ballroom gown.

"Come. It is not yet midnight. Would you like to see my dress torn to ribbons as well? Kihihi... That is a priceless scenario for writers such as yourself, is it not?"

The game was already over, but... Eva's pants have fallen to the floor, and she's going to kung-fu fight in her panties without them! If Natsuhi's gown tears just a bit more, I'll see the hula gear she's wearing underneath! I'll fight for it. I have to. I'll use that secret techique...!

Boldly yelling, I ran towards Beatrice with my hand raised for a formless strike. Now: Blouse-Rending Instant Kill-!

It was an instant kill. As Beatrice sidestepped my attack, she casually placed her own fist against my forehead. Somehow, without any momentum, the magic behind her fist was sufficient to blast me forward. I felt my spine snap as I contacted with the wall!! Aaaaah!! Agh...