"Let us pass on to the second dish, if you please, Soroi." Ryūko was understandably nervous at her sister's words. After all, Satsuki did say that the food was going to be rather exotic tonight. Oh crap, we'd better not have something as extreme as monkey brain or tarantula or the disgusting CENTURY EGG. If we are, I'm so freaking screwed. Soroi came back in, this time with a dish full of spiral shells. "Uh, Soroi, what the heck is this?" said Ryūko. Satsuki smirked. "Oh, imōto-san, you of all people should know. IT'S ESCARGOT!" "And what is that?" her onee fired back. "Snails." A lump formed in Ryūko's throat at this. "*gulp* They're what???" "You heard that right. They're snails, Ryūko. Land snails harvested right here, in Mother Nippon, for that matter." The thought of slimy, stalk-eyed gastropods was doing poor Ryūko's stomach no good at all. It was all she could do to keep from retching, and Satsuki noticed. "I can tell you're so excited to try it, imōto," she trolled. "Just think, Ryūko! Of all the mollusks that would be deemed worthy of entering our epicurean stomachs, the humble snail - *ahem*, I meant escargot - receives the great honor of being delicately consumed, as opposed to- are you okay, Ryūko?" Satsuki's tone grew a little more serious in nature as she realized that her little sister's face had grown a dull green, complete with puffed-up cheeks and watery eyes. "*gulp* Do you THINK I am, Sis?!?!" Ryūko sputtered, having managed to keep the huge belch from giving way to a full-blown barf. "Well, if you're not interested, I will take the honor of eating it, then," said Satsuki with a grin, keeping her regal tone and sneaking a mischievous side look at Soroi, whom she beckoned to withdraw from the room. After he left, Satsuki dropped the connoisseur act and began to confront her now moping sister. "I find it rather ironic, Ryūko," she began, "that you consumed Mankanshoku-sama's 'mystery meat' croquettes, if I remember their name correctly, without any qualms." "Ummm, yeah, I guess? At least the mystery meats were covered with a crap ton of sweet potato batter. But this? I don't know if I can handle a freaking snail, sis." "No? Then I will show you how it's consumed," was Satsuki's reply. She took one of the snail shells and held it similar to a wineglass, raising her little finger. "All you have to do is sip it, Ryūko. I can tell you that it is as rich as a hearty beef broth." With that she raised the open edge of the shell to her lips and tasted it. "Ahh, excellent as usual, Soroi," she purred. "I'm afraid I cannot thank you enough." "And I feel it inadequate in telling you it is my joy and honor, milady," said the butler. "Please, take your time over these escargots." "Assuredly we will. Now," said Satsuki as Soroi closed the door behind him, "the main reason I summoned you here to the manor, Ryūko, was not just to finally have you pay a visit here. There is another reason, perhaps important, perhaps not. Either way, it is a matter that may require both your attention and mine." "So you had an ulterior motive for bringing me here," Ryūko answered. "I'm guessing it's all about Life Fibers and that load of bullcrap all over again, isn't it?" The elder sister sighed. "As much as I hate to say, it certainly is. In fact, you are not the only one who is going receive a debriefing about this by the time this weekend is over. As I said earlier this afternoon, the former Elite Devas and Iori will be here by noon tomorrow." She took another sip of the escargot broth. Ryūko hesitantly took a shell herself, tempted by the scent of the butter sauce. "Alright, sis, no more overblown stuff and nonsense and beating around the bush, m'kay? I wanna know what's on your mind!!" "And you're just about to," Satsuki replied, eyeing the tray and its now rapidly disappearing snails. "At any rate, Mikisugi-san, if memory serves me right, informed you about the whereabouts of the former Student Council, yes?" The younger one nodded. Her onee had scolded her for talking with food in her mouth. Satsuki beamed at her in approval of her restraint. "That's very well done," she purred. "As I was saying, you may know that Iori and Inumuta both decided to devote their undergraduate studies entirely to the study of Life Fibers. Over the past year since graduation, the two have discovered a number of radical characteristics in certain forms of these aliens. All of these discoveries have deeply intrigued me, and that is why I have summoned you and the rest of the Council." "O-ookay," said Ryūko, who had by this time lifted an eyebrow in her interest. "Maybe you'd like name a few?" "Of course, " Satsuki replied. "It seems that we still have a vast amount of information to gather concerning Life Fibers, but here are some debriefings that Inumuta has given me last Tuesday. First, Life Fibers are actually divided by hierarchy. You remember the original Life Fiber that Ragyō rode atop of? It was actually a lieutenant to yet another, and much larger, spool of sentient thread." "And just where may that be?" said Ryūko. "I mean, if it's out there, and if we know it's out there, we gotta know where it is, right?" "Right," was Satsuki's reply. "Matter of fact, its location has a story in and of itself. Forgive me if I go off the beaten track." "Pfft, you always do," scoffed the former delinquent, who had by this time consumed the rest of the escargots. "But go ahead, sis. I might as well hear it before the others do." Just then, Soroi entered the room once more. "The foie gras is ready, Satsuki-sama. Would you like it served now?" "By all means," said Satsuki. "I must say, I completely forgot about the foie gras on account of the escargots, Soroi. But, if you please, we would like it served promptly." "With pleasure, milady," said the butler. TO BE CONTINUED





