"I don't like it at all." Benma stared out into the arena as he watches
the two combatants, Seki and Kotaro, face off in a duel to determine
not only the fate of The Rosewood Bride's ownership, but Seki's school
career at Hiroto High is at stake.

"Hm?" Ijima looked at the larger, muscular mass of student as she
continued filing her nails. "What are you saying? The fight's just
beginning, no need to be a critic about it."

"It's not that the fight's pathetic from the start." Benma turned his
head on over to the female member's direction as he later set his eyes
on back in the arena. "There is something about Seki that scares all of
us, especially on how he easily defeated Kouto without breaking a
sweat. It's uncanny."

"Ohohoho, Fear not Benma," Ijima laughed as she placed one of her hands
over her mouth. "If the way of Kompaqqu Ryu can send Seki's popularity
to the recycle bin, just like Kotaro said it would, by all means, he's
our new leader."

Benma just continued to stare at the battlefield as two warriors
prepare for the gladiatorial faceoff. "If not, I'll have to go next.
You have that play that needs sea anemone, right?"

"Of course." Ijima smiled as she went back to filing her nails to
straight perfection, just like the formula for her plan to best Seki in
combat if Benma should fall. What she's planning, however, is strictly
top secret at this time. Only she knows about it, and will not reveal
it until the time is right. Just a little longer...

---

FURNITURE WARRIORS X...SOMETHING.

Started by Brian Stricklin

Part 5:
Rigor Mortise!
Or, Computer vs. Chair Combat At Last!
Or, Kouto Gets Another Rival?

This part by: Ryunson, who has an undying love for bimbos, war
machines, and various things that fascinate him.

Copyright of original Furniture Warriors original characters goes to
the original creator, the completely original, Nihana-san!! Geez, I'm
using too many originals here that it's become a clich‚. Oh yes, and
the characters in the FW universe NOT created by Nihana-san go to
whoever created them! If the ENTIRE FW thing were mine alone, I'd be in
a cell eating... LEGAL GARBAGE! Enough about that, on with the show!

---

LAST TIME ON FWX:

Kouto stole Lumi's first kiss! (ACK!)

An insane looney is introduced! (And it's not Marlo!)

More skips were also introduced! (We hope to avoid more of this.)

Yet another climax about Seki vs. Koutaro Happened! (To Be Resolved,
this episode.)

And more secrets were revealed! (Okay, that's some good news.)

But enough about that, on with the show, FOR REAL THIS TIME! (YAY!)

---

"Kotaro, Online!" The young Student Council member spoke, as he stood
ready to fight.

"Here I go!" Seki responded as he stared at Kotaro.

The bookies were right now betting on who would win the match, even
though the referee already blew the whistle.

<TWEET!>

"CD STAR THROW!" Kotaro threw the CDs he had in his hands at Seki while
the young Tibetan Warrior swatted them all away while some dug into the
chair he held in his hand.

Seki smiled as he looked at Kotaro getting back into a stance. The two
combatants stared at each other as the wind passed through Seki's
uniform. Fortunately, he didn't feel cold, due to the fact that he was
used to cold weather back in Tibet.

"Impressive." Kotaro smiled as he displayed his hardly worked on teeth.
"It's not everyday somebody can deflect my CDs."

Seki knew what was going on. Between deflecting projectiles sent by
Lumi-Chan during training was no different than the CDs. The hardness
of Seki's chair broke the CDs rather easily.

"Still," Kotaro smiled as he looked at Seki preparing another attack.
"Your Isujitsu is outdated compared to my Kompaqqu Ryu!"

"I don't know what you mean by that," Seki pondered curiously as he
heard the statement. "But style has nothing to do with age."

"You obviously don't know about the Internet and computers now, do
you?" Kotaro grinned as he got out a monitor from Furniture Space.

Seki was puzzled. The only computer he'd ever seen was when Lumi was
taking that entrance exam. Plus, the Tibetan Warriors were too busy
training to even know about the Internet. Plus, such a thing like the
Internet would violate the purity of the Big Tibetan Furniture Dojo, to
which must remain pure, according to Venerable Master Oakcraft, and
other people who would bear this law. Period.

"Well that's good news." Kotaro smiled as he took his monitor and
tossed it in the air. "Cause here's a crash course! MONITOR SPIKE!!"
Kotaro slammed the computer monitor like a volleyball that's been
treated as such.

Seki was slightly injured by the impact, but nothing too major.

Kotaro laughed as his style continued to prevail. "Had enough,
weaking?"

The warrior refused to get up as he staggered, and attacked. "RISING
CHAIR FIRE!!" Seki screamed as he managed to uppercut Kotaro...
Suddenly, the Kompaqqu Ryu heir disappeared, and the attack missed him.

"KEYBOARD STRIKE!!" Kotaro screamed as he whacked Seki with a keyboard
he pulled out of Furniture Space when he teleported back to the action.

Seki grew frustrated as he witnessed Kotaro do a little dance.

"Come on!" Kotaro smiled as he did one of those dances a video game
character would do when it wins a level. "Not only do I have more
techniques than you, but I have more brains than you could possibly
imagine! Give up."

"I won't give up, no matter what you use." Seki staggered as he got
back into a stance. "I may have to invent some of my own tricks if I
have to."

"I accept your challenge." Kotaro smiled as he whirled his mouse by the
cord. "MOUSE BOLO THROW!!" He screamed out as he tossed it towards
Seki.

"CHAIR REFLECTOR!!" Seki screamed as he swatted the mouse back at
Kotaro.

The young student council member can only gaze in awe as the mouse was
screaming back at him. And decided to give him a nice old whack in the
head. "You fool!" Kotaro yelled as he rubbed his head. "You destroyed
my perfect victory!"

"Serves you right." Seki looked at Kotaro as he continued holding his
chair.

"You're a great warrior, Seki, it's a shame your brain had to live in
prehistory." Kotaro smiled as he prepared yet another attack.

"Would a caveman pass Kumayama-Sensei's exam?" Seki yelled out as he
fashioned his chair.

"Even so," Kotaro smiled as he prepared another attack. "You won't pass
this exam!!" He laughed as he teleported away.

'This time, I'm ready!' Seki thought as he stood there.

Or not, as Kotaro came back from Furniture Space with his keyboard, and
whacked Seki again as the chair wielder stands there in a cool stance.
"KEYBOARD STRIKE!!"

"Dishonorable one." Seki twirled around as he set eyes on the keyboard-
wielding champion of the computer martial arts. "Must you rely on
teleportation to best me?"

"Even so," Kotaro smiled from the vortex as he held his keyboard tight
in his hands. "The Rosewood Bride will once again be Student Council
Property!" He chuckled as he went back into the vortex.

Seki stared out into the arena as he was interrupted by an elderly
voice.

'Seki...' It spoke as it entered his mind.

'Master?' Seki thought as he went out of reality. He went into one of
those trances, where an imaginary force was talking to him. The only
thing original about this sequence is the sign, which is flying around,
saying, THERE ARE NO NASTY SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES IN THIS ANIMATION, GET A
LIFE.

The sagely voice of Kotatsu spoke as it hovered overhead. 'I would've
told you to use The Force, but since we can't risk another lawsuit,
I'll have to use something of my own design...' The ancient master of
Seki took a deep breath, and unleashed something like this. 'Footstool,
one doesn't have to see everything to know the fascinations of our
world. One must feel the enemy nearby.'

Seki pondered this while still in a trance. 'But master, I don't want
to be called what the outsiders deem a pervert, or a molester.'

'No, not that type of feel.' Kotatsu whapped his head as he floated in
the air, watching Seki stand there, waiting for his masters advice on
how to beat Kotaro. 'Listen, his mastery of Furniture Space maybe
great, but your ability to see the flaw within his attack, is greater.'

'But what can I do?' Seki winced as he looked at the floating head.
'He's more powerful than me, I can't seem to beat him.'

'It's not how powerful a warrior must be, but when a warrior has total
control. Patience and Reflex have always been your greatest allies
against the forces of evil and your rivals. Use what you have learned
Footstool. Now if you excuse me, I'm late for an important game of
Ancient Venerable Musical Chairs.' Suddenly, Kotatsu faded into non-
existance as he spoke the words, 'Do not forget these words, Footstool,
do not forget...'

'Master!' Seki screamed out as he tried to reach his master in the
classic anime gesture of Trying To Get The Spirit Of Your Master, But
Failing tactic.

Just when the sequence was finished, Kotaro was seen playing the Game
Lackey Advance game, Jellyfish Combined. He looked up at Seki standing
there, and turned the game off. "Oh, I'm sorry," Kotaro smiled as he
stared at Seki with an embarrassed gesture. "I was waiting for you to
finish that sequence thingy, it's dishonorable to hit you while you are
in that trance."

"If you are finished, shall we get back to our battle?" Seki calmly
said as he out as he got his chair into position.

"Of course!" Kotaro flipped right back into Furniture Space as he
declared such a phrase. Seki knew this was the moment of triumph.

Sensing Kotaro nearby, Seki took a swing at one of the distortions and
wouldn't you know it, it counteracted Kotarto's keyboard. Eventually,
Seki kept up sensing Kotaro wherever he teleported to, and kept on
whacking him with his chair.

Whack, whack, whack. Seki knew his training with a blindfold really
paid off, for it was required for students who are blind, mysteriously
blinded, and/or relying on tension rather than sight.

After several blows, Kotaro reeled in pain as he laughed while
teleporting into the center ring. "You're powerful indeed, Seki." He
laughed as he continued reeling. Even though he had all sorts of
bruises from Seki's attacks, he was still laughing.  "But there was a
technique that Kouto should've used on you!"

"What are you saying?" Seki glared at the Wielder of the Game Lackey
Advance as he clutched his chair in anticipation.

Kotaro laughed even more as he positioned his hands in a weird angle.
"Observe, what all Furniture Warriors were born with, and yet to unlock
such power, THE FURNITURE SPECIAL ATTACK!!"

"The Special Attack?" Yashiko stood there shocked while cluching her
chest in complete shock.

"The Special Attack?" Vanity blandly spoke while she fainted, right on
top the bench.

"WHAAH! Special Attack?" Lumi freaked out as she ran around the arena
about fifteen whooping laps.

"Yes, the Special Attack!" Kotaro smiled as he unleashed a strange
power within his hands, in the shape of a wire of some sort. "FURNITURE
SPECIAL ATTACK..." As he completed the sentence, an aura of pure
destruction whirled around the object Kotarto held in his hand. Seki
was shocked when he saw the power within as the object was shot out.
Unable to react, Seki was caught by the wire as it pierced him.

"DOWNLOAD DRAIN!!" Kotaro screamed as he proceeded to leech Seki right
where he stood.

"Big brother!" Yashiko jumped as her hair, dress and bosom did the same
thing while screaming.

Kotaro laughed as he held the power surge within his hand. "Now I'll be
able to emulate your powers! Watch closely, as you face your greatest
foe! The enemy within, UNLEASHED!" Kotaro posed as he pulled out a
chair that looked like Seki's out of Furniture Space.

Isujitsu vs. Isujitsu, not too hard to counter when in training, nor
when your opponent has known the same techniques as Seki. However, when
the style is in the hands of evil forces who can master the technique
right down to the moves that Seki doesn't know about, now that's
something to be feared. The fear that one of his or her own kind would
betray their master for power, but since the last time there was
betrayal, the traitor to the dojo didn't use a chair at all. He used
paintbrushes, and at a young age, Seki witnessed Hugh bad mouthing Ikea
in a most disgusting manner.

He wanted to beat Hugh so badly after what he did to the dignity of the
dojo, but he obviously stood there, patient as the mountains that
surround him. Besides, why ruin Ikea's battle?

"Well, you may have copied my powers," Seki growled at Kotaro as the
two of them got into the same stance. "But you will never copy my sense
of honor!"

"We'll see." Kotaro smiled as he took his chair, and rushed at Seki.
"RISING CHAIR FIRE!!" He screamed as he smacked Seki with the chair.

"CROSS CHAIR SLASH!" Seki yelled out as he counter attacked the
imposter chair wielder.

For a while, it was chair against chair, fire against fire. Even though
Seki was more experienced in the art of the chair than Kotaro was, the
computer warrior still has a few tricks up his sleeve. Still, there was
something not right about the whole situation...

In Kotaro's case anyway. "WHAT?" The Kompaqqu Ryu warrior screamed out
as he witnessed his chair disappeared. "How did this happen?"

"You intend on using the Way only for evil." Seki smiled as he pointed
his chair at Kotaro as the computer champion shook in his boots.
"Therefore, you don't deserve the way like the forces of righteousness
do."

"Wrong answer Seki, your mysticism doesn't cut it in the modern,
scientific age! Mysticism will always lose to Science!"

"Then tell me, my utmost worthy opponent, how did your chair
disappear?" Seki stared at his opponent as he placed his chair on the
ground.

"That's easy!" Kotaro yelled as he revealed the true cause of the chair
disappearance. "I only downloaded a beta version of your technique,
which can only last for a short time before it shuts down completely.
Besides, you're the evil one if you think you can barge in here like
you own the place!" Kotaro took his hands as he screamed out, "You're
not even good enough to be a mediocre villain! FURNITURE SPECIAL
ATTACK..." He shot out the wire again, but this time, Seki leaped in
the air as the wire shot past him. "Huh?" Kotaro freaked out as he
looked at Seki dive at him, and whacked him with his chair. Kotaro spun
backwards as he landed on his behind. He slowly got up as he got into
position.

"You want to emulate my techniques?" Seki roared as he prepared a final
attack. "Well let's see you emulate this!" Seki charged up his aura
around his chair and screamed out, "FURNITURE SPECIAL ATTACK, HYPER
RISING CHAIR FIRE!!" Seki screamed out as he did a super fast version
of the Rising Chair Fire. Instead of one smack, there were three, high
powered smacks, concluded by a well-placed uppercut.

"SPECIAL ATTACK KNOCKOUT!" The referee yelled as he saw the near
lifeless Kotaro on the floor.

"I failed..." Kotaro groaned as he fell to the floor with Palm Pilot in
hand.

"THE WINNER... SEKI!!" The referee yelled as Seki posed in his victory
stance.

"Another evil averted." Seki turned around as he placed his chair on
his back.

-------

A few moments later, when all the students left the arena, there was a
moment of triumph between the heroes.

"Big brother!" Yashiko bounced up to Seki as she wrapped her arms
around him. "Oh big brother, I was so worried!"

"No need to worry." Seki smiled as he watched Vanity in the distance.
"As long as Vanity is free to do as she wishes, we can..."

"Is master hurt?" Vanity smiled as she walked on over to him.

"Back off!" Yashiko placed one of her hands on Vanity's midsection as
she glared at the Rosewood Bride with pure demonic eyes that would make
the inner sanctum of the Ottoman Palace look like something out of a
children's show. "For the last time, Seki is my brother, and no one is
going to muscle in on my turf!"

"But he is my..." Vanity spoke in a quiet tone as she confronted the
other woman.

"Look girl," Yashiko bent over as she glared at Vanity. "If somebody is
going to do the healing technique, it's going to be me! Right brother?"
She smiled as she batted her eyes at Seki.

"Now hold on..." Seki began with these words, but was shortly
interrupted by a phrase courtesy of Vanity.

"But...He is my..."

"NO." Yashiko interrupted Vanity as she suddenly began to shape her
lips in the most odd manner. "Come on, big brother..." Yashiko began to
purr as she went in for Seki's masculine body.

"Hold on a moment." A limp movement suddenly sidetracked Seki as he
spoke said phrase in a more intentive manner. He walked on over to
Kotaro as he murmured those words.

"I congratulate you on a fight well done, I guess my scientific
research made a slight miscalculation." A limping Kotaro sluggishly
moved in as he clutched his wound within his chest. "However, I must
give you a warning if you keep attacking us like this."

"What are you talking about?" Seki got up, as he looked at the beaten
warrior limp. "You're the one who challenged me to a duel! And if you
are telling me to give up protecting the Rosewood Bride from your
perverted acts," Seki raised his chair as he glared at Kotaro. "I
simply can't accept your offer."

"Still, you don't know what you're getting yourself into!" Kotaro
screamed.

"Words like that cannot stray me from my path." Seki turned around as
he left the fallen computer champion on the ground. "Besides, I have a
little errand to keep Lumi from getting into major trouble."

"One that involves, KITTIES!" Lumi-chan opened her eyes as she screamed
out of the arena in a blur that can almost rival Sonic the Hedgehog,
and a well-timed Kamehameha wave out of Goku's hand.

"Someone has to keep her out of trouble." Seki looked at Lumi speed
off.

"Don't worry about it!" Yashiko happily sung as she glomped onto his
arm as she did an extremely cute expression on her face. "At least you
got me to protect!"

"And don't forget me, master." Vanity wrapped her arms around Seki's
other arm as she gotten a glare from Yashiko.

"The things I do for my code of honor." Seki shrugged as the three
students skipped out of the arena.

While this was happening, Kotaro got up, and scurried out of the arena,
and tries his best to catch up with the other student council, even
though they didn't tell him where to meet.

--------

"If the table is not strong, the contents on top of the table will fall
and make a big mess." Kouto looked over Benma and Ijima sitting across
from him in the student council's private limousine. "We are the table,
the contents are the world."

"So far, two of the table legs are broken." Benma agreed as he crossed
his legs. "Lucky for us, the other two have built in feet that will
hold the table steady while we do our best to keep this planet safe."

"Of course." Ijima smiled as she filed her nails. "Besides, you say
that you will face him next? Besides, don't we need Kotaro to discuss
this as well?"

"Speak of the devil." Kouto smiled as he saw Kotaro teleport to his
seat from Furniture Space.

"Sorry I failed you, everyone." Kotaro bowed in shame as he looked at
the other members frown at him. "The reflecting weapon process worked,
but Seki saw through the attack, and won."

"It's not your fault." Kouto turned his frown into smile as he looked
at the Game Lackey champion of the Student Council. "The foreigner will
pay once we find out more about him. Until then, I have a meeting with
a strange man about an unknown incident that concerns me greatly. While
I am at this meeting, Kotaro has permission to train Benma and Ijima in
the VR room at his house."

"I object!" Kotaro slammed his fist as he snarled at the class
president. "I will decide on who trains me, and once I am done, I will
have techniques the like of which you have never seen!" Kotaro
disappeared as the other two members watched him.

"The Student Council will fall apart if we keep feuding like this."
Benma crossed his arms as he sat there on his seat. "Still, I will not
be surpassed, even by you two."

"I agree by not agreeing with shorty or Kotaro." Ijima shaped her face
into a smug as she watched Benma leave. "The stage is set for Seki's
downfall, and only I am the star!" Ijima laughed as she also sat in her
chair, right across from Benma.

"Whoever wanted to see me personally," Kouto glared at the outside as
he approached an extremely desolate area. "I hope you are prepared to
fight."

------

After the limousine made the obvious Drop Every Other Passenger Than
Kouto At Home Technique, The Student Council President got off at one
of the most desolate locations in all of Japan.

It was a wasteland of pure scrap, filled to the brim with steam jets
emanating outward. Kouto walked toward a strange figure in the
distance. He read the letter that was received from the stranger to
meet him there. He later looked up, and gazed upon the stranger, who
had a black top hat, and wearing a black cloak. "You wanted to speak to
me?" Kouto spoke as he looked at the stranger.

"Yes." The ghostly voice hummed as the figure turned around. The man
had a skull mask with glowing green eyes, and as he turned around, he
was wearing a tuxedo laced with gambling chips, and dice. "Your failure
at the hands of Seki made you the laughing stock of the school."

"So, why do you care?" Kouto boomed.

"That's what happens when over-confidence embraces you like the way you
seduce some the women at your school." The man smiled, if you can call
that a smile, as he pointed a skeletal finger at the Student Council
president. "Besides, you should've considered joining us."

"Wait a sec," Kouto paused a bit as he remembered a few instances back.
"You're the one who sent that psycho?"

"Hey, don't jump to conclusions!" The man shook his hands in shock as
he tried to gain evidence for that statement. "I might have, I might
not, but either way, if you and your student council become our
lackeys," The man went back to normal as he posed a bit. "You'll have
enough power to destroy Seki, and take back the Rosewood Bride!"

Kouto responded in a most mature, and Hiroto sort of way. "Until the
sun rises on an era where all furniture is outlawed, I will never join
you."

"I'd knew you'd say no to the perfect deal." The man politely bowed as
he removed his hat only temporary, then placed it back on his head.
"Morticus Pallbearer is my name, and if you change your mind, give me a
call."

"If you think you can surpass Hiroto High," Kouto raised his coatrack
at Morticus as he got into a battle stance. "Keep dreaming, cause we
Hiroto High School Students won't go down with a fight!"

"Well," Morticus smiled as he waved his hands around, pulling a coffin
out of Furniture Space. "I would like to fight you now, to show how
superior I am to you." He swung his coffin upwards over his head, and
then slams it with the narrow side down, facing upwards. "Or are you
afraid?"

"The students of Hiroto High are never afraid of freaks like you...
Unless otherwise specified, but still, I will never be humiliated
again! Prepare yourself!" Kouto got into a stance as he rushed toward
Morticus. "CRUSHING COATRACK..."

As Kouto was about to strike the strange man, a coffin appeared out of
nowhere, followed by a scream. "COFFIN CRUSHER!!" Morticus slammed
Kouto far away when he landed on the ground.

Nothing had ever countered Kouto's coatrack by sheer weight alone. The
High School Student Council President staggered as he got back into
position. "Curse you..." Kouto growled as he looked at Morticus smile
at him.

"Your constant flirting with women has made you weak, Kouto!" Morticus
laughed as he placed his coffin at his side. "Even if the Rosewood
Bride was back in your possession, you would still be called a loser by
the other students!"

"And why would you care, bonehead?" Kouto smiled as he got back up.

"Take it from me," Morticus shrugged as he continued leaning on his
coffin. "Already, the one you call, Lumi-Chan hates you, as well as
most of the student body, all thanks to you stealing their girlfriends.
I, on the other hand, am one of the more respected warriors, despite
my, evil appearance."

"Better you than me," Kouto snorted as he raised his coatrack again. "I
will always have my beauty, while you will always be a reject of
society!"

"Say what you will, it won't save you." Morticus smiled again as he
raised his coffin high.

"CHARGING SHAFT THUNDER!!" Kouto shot out lighting from his coatrack as
it blazed toward the unusual warrior.

"Kinky, but I'm not impressed." Morticus opened the coffin as he
screamed out, "COFFIN KI ABSORB!!"  It suddenly absorbed the lightning
as it went into the opening of the large well-shaped box.

Kouto was shocked as he whitnessed his own lightning attack get
absorbed by the ki. Morticus smiled once again as he spun his coffin
all around him while Kouto was ready to shield himself from the horror
that was about to be unleashed.

"Take this!" Morticus swung his coffin, and sends the lightning
screaming back at Kouto as he was struck by it, even though he blocked
it with the 'Entangler.'

"Damn..." Kouto twirled his coatrack as he tried to stand straight
against the really peculiar man.

"I'd really love to show you more," Morticus smiled as he looked at his
watch. "But as they say, time may last forever, but it slowly decays
like a festering corpse."

"Come back here, coward!" Kouto rushed at Morticus as a portal of pure
darkness opened up behind the ghoulish warrior.

"Until we meet again, Kouto..." He gasped out as he stepped into a
portal of pure darkness. The evil energy swirled around him as the
portal closed, with the Student Council President doing the ancient art
of going towards the portal in hesitation, but failing miserably.

Kouto snarled in disgust as he turned around with his many strands of
hair swished in place as he headed back to the limo.

"Where to, Young Master Nakajima?" The butler bowed to Kouto as he
opened the door for him.

"Home." Kouto responded as he entered the stretch limo while placing
his coatrack back in Furniture Space. Long after the butler closed the
door for the young master, he drove the limo far away from the
wasteland as far as the eye can see.

"Once I fully mastered my technique," Kouto smiled as he sat in the
back of his seat. "Both Seki and Morticus will wish they never stepped
on the carpet of Nakajima Kouto!"

------

Later that afternoon, there was a fight going on.

Well actually, there was training inside of Kotaro's house, oh so close
to Hiroto High School. Each of the four families that helped found
Hiroto High usually bought the closest houses in the neighborhood, that
way, they can both go in and out of the school, working on both trying
to keep the school the way it was before Seki arrived, and spending,
'quality time' with their children.

"Illogical Seki." Kotaro smiled as he typed frantically on the
computer. "Once I know your full secret, there will be no one to stop
me, not even the rest of the Student Council."

-------

Elsewhere, in the very depths of the workout room in Benma's house, the
giant pounds the ground covered in blue mat, with a nearby rug. He sees
several dummies in the area, poised to strike at the boulder-shouldered
titan.

Yet, they are as immobile as walls.

"You are kindred to these dummies, young Seki." Benma smiled as he
twirled his rug in a dummy's direction. He smashed one figurine on the
head as the carpet shot itself on the way through, and then the
behemoth turned around and smashed another dummy.

After a short while, all the dummies were flat on their faces. "You are
both mindless and will be easily beaten by the Rug of Benma! My new
techniques will see to that."

-------

"Seki, hmm?" Ijima smiled as she sat in her room slowly meditating with
the serene sounds flowing through her ears.

Suddenly, several ninjas poised in wait as they snuck around the outer
walls of Ijima's house. They were armed to the teeth with make-up
brushes, as well as a whole lot of powder.

A paintbrush is carefully tossed at Ijima while in her meditative
state. Just as the projectile was about to hit the female member, she
grabbed it, and in a split second, tossed it back to the ninja.

"Even in a peaceful state," Ijima quoted as she continued to sit on the
bed both looking at the script of the play and fighting off the ninja
attacks. "There are always disturbances, and Seki is the right cause
for it."

She turns the page of her script with one hand, and continues
deflecting attacks with the other. "Still, this Yashiko girl continues
to be his protector in times as grave as this, but not to worry." Ijima
smiled as she looked over the list of how much stuff she needs for the
performance. "No one will protect you, Yashiko, my future plan will
make sure that fantasy comes true!" Suddenly, Ijima bursted into a
laugh so loud, that the ninjas outside lost their footing, and fell to
their near-doom.

------

Meanwhile, at Yashiko's house, we find Lumi-Chan in an utmost shocking
situation.

"WAI! Lumi-Chan didn't know you like next-next-next-next-next-or-
something-cousin Shelly!" Lumi spoke as she squirmed around trying to
read the comic panel. "Ano, why is she dressed so funny?"

"It's because she is not this Shelly you refer to!" Yashiko lectured
Lumi as she was reading the near last pages of her favorite comic book,
even though it was bent at some pages of the book. "This is Desk Girl,
the coolest, and most powerful magical girl in all the universe, and by
all means, her uniform is NOT funny-looking! It's normal in superhero
manga, especially real life superheroes like her!"

"WAI!" Lumi got into into a stance as she placed two of her fingers in
the Traditional Magical Girl Stance. "Lumi-Chan wants to be superhero
too!"

"I think I like you the way you are." Yashiko smiled as she produced a
sweatdrop about as large as a glass jar. "Besides, being a superhero is
tougher work than it seems, like averting natural disasters, saving
people, and fighting the forces of evil, like this happy fellow."

Yashiko points to a panel of a really smelly cyborg dressed in a
nightgown announcing his plans to kidnap all the children while they
are asleep, and make them his personal slaves for all eternity in his
pillow, sheet and bed factory.

"Oh." Lumi-Chan gazed at the comic book as she reached out to grab it,
with sheer accuracy...

"DON'T TOUCH!" Yashiko pulled the comic away from Lumi's hands as the
young warrior fell on her face. "This is a very delicate work of art
that should never be touched by anyone without their permission, all
right?"

"Lumi got it." She lowered her head in shame as the lightbulbs on her
head jingled a bit.

"Oh, and in speaking of permission," Yashiko placed her the comic
within the recesses of her bosom as she giggled. "Where's my big
brother? I want him to read this story with me while we do our
homework."

"Brother Seki says, he's going out with Vanity on a walk, and tells
Lumi-Chan to study with you... And that's all he told Lumi-Chan." Lumi
smiled as she placed one of her fingers pointing in the air.

"WHAT?" Yashiko was going to slam the comic book down on the floor in
rage, but since she didn't want to damage one of her idol's greatest
battles in the series immortalized in paper, she gently placed it on
the bed. "No one studies with my brother except me!" She stood up like
a horse ready to go into battle with a rider on it's back. "Come on,
Lumi-Chan, we're getting dressed!"

"But what about..."

"I'll get you a copy of the comic when I can." Yashiko yelled as she
took a jacket out of her closet, and placed it over her figure. "Still,
I hope you can easily dump Vanity like you did Kouto and Kotaro, big
brother, cause if you don't..." Yashiko punched her open hand as she
smiled with a menacing grin. "Guess who's getting a free trip to the
moon."

-----

At that time, Seki and Vanity were under attack!

By the serene, calmness of the night, a beautiful night sky illuminated
the fountain they were sitting at, and various fireflies were dancing
along in the grove of weeds doing the same thing to the wind.

Okay, this scene isn't a fight scene, but more of a man to woman talk
in the most calm of manners.

"You wanted to talk to me, master?" Vanity spoke calmly as she looked
at Seki through those serene eyes of his.

"Yes." Seki smiled as he placed a hand near Vanity. "What would you
like to be when you graduate from High School?"

Vanity was shocked beyond belief as she was asked this. "That's
strange." She trembled slightly as she began to chirp. "No one has
asked me that before, not even the student council."

"Still, what are your dreams, outside of the Rosewood Bride?" Seki
smiled as he continued looking at the stars in a more romantic design.
"Your thoughts, your wishes, your desires..."

"I do not know at this time." Vanity wept a bit as she clutched her
hands in worry. "I just, don't know! All I am to do is to serve you
until you are beaten in battle."

"It's all right." Seki spoke in a most forgiving manner. "You don't
have to decide right away. You have all the time in the world."

Suddenly, the peaceful moment was interrupted by a shriek of some sort.

"BIG BROTHER!!" Yashiko screamed through the fog as she stomped in the
area. "There you are!" She screamed out as she grabbed Seki's other
hand while the first one was holding Vanity's. "I thought you would be
through with her about now!"

"I tried to do so, but..."

"No more excuses!" Yashiko angrily yanked Seki and Vanity like several
oxen pulling a wagon across the plains. "Come on, we gotta study!" Lumi
bounced along as she gazed at the pretty scenery for a few seconds,
then happily trotted along to catch up with Yashiko and her friends.

Elsewhere, in the same location as the heroes, only this time, it's
farther away, Morticus watched the heroes leave as he laughed in an
utmost ghoulish manner. He leaned his aristocratic tuxedo enveloped in
a pure black cape against the statue of a strange angel of some sort.
"Beware, Seki..." Morticus smiled as he watched him in the far
distance. "Even if you could defeat all four members of the Student
Council, who knows what may happen after that!" Morticus laughed as he
activated a portal of pure evil. He stepped in as he continued
laughing, when all the sudden... It later became the sound of someone
falling. It lasted for about ten seconds, when a thud came forth.
"Would somebody please remind me to get that portal fixed?" Morticus
screamed out as he recovered from that fall, and the gateway itself,
closed.

-----

NEXT TIME ON FURNITURE WARRIORS X:

What are Vanity's dreams outside of the Rosewood Bride?

Will Yashiko find a way to remain calm when Seki is trying to cope with
Vanity?

Will Lumi-Chan get her own fight scene other than rage attacks?

Who is Morticus?

Stay tuned for Chapter Six: To Study For Battle!

-----

Author's notes:

Yes, it's hard work trying to put this together, especially with the
near confusing plot and the scenes that require newer, fresher
characters, fighter wise.

Even without newer characters, Seki still has a lot of work cut out for
him, not just by fighting off whatever remaining champions the Student
Council throws at him, but by trying to keep up with his studies is a
far greater challenge than any Ottoman Warrior put together! Or it's
not as threatening; still, both of them can provide a major threat to
our heroes if not taken care of quickly!

Like Brian said, let's hope to avoid anymore skips, and adding more
confusing stuff to an already enjoyable storyline.

Ryunson (lordryansen@yahoo.com)