As Shashunk and the guest race up the steps after the mongoose, the sounds of the battle grow stronger. Finally, they reach the top. (Which was no easy climb.) Shashunk pants as she tries to catch her breath, “How…can Utena…*wheeze*…do that…all…the time?” Shashunk quickly forgets her minor wheezing problem when she notices the literal free-for-all that is occurring in the dueling arena. Everyone from the academy is there, even the teacher that is always screeching at Utena about her uniform. Standing on the sidelines, encouraging the fighting is Akio (big surprise huh?). Anthy is nearby in her wonderful rose bride get up with Saionji in his kendo outfit, making that ‘psycho small pupil’ look at anyone that dared to approach her. “Anthy and I share a secret love!” He screamed at no one in particular. Out of the mass of kicking, screaming, and biting people one unified cry rose, “Nice skirt Saionji!” The kendo captain swings his training sword with frustration, “It’s not a skirt!” and with that, he leaps into the fray.

Shashunk quickly begins to scan the battle for her missing sidekick. “Hmmm” she began as she focused on one battle. Nanami was wielding a short sword and trying her best to stab Utena. “Stay away from my big brother!” she kept screaming as she continued to miss her target. Utena was dodging Nanami easily, however, it was Nanami’s three minions that were having more success. All of the sudden a flash of mongoose brown became apparent behind the whining Nanami. With a quick leap, Mr. Mongoose encircled Nanami’s neck with his little mongoose forearms and began to choke her. As Nanami choked for her minions to help her, a small sign was held in the beastie’s teeth: ‘It’s time I got her back for that whole garter snake incident.’ The mongoose held on tight as the three minions tried to pry him off with any means necessary. Shashunk took a deep breath, grasped the ever-present mallet (that just magically appeared) and began walking toward the now choking Nanami, “I need to get the mongoose back.” With that, Shashunk entered the skirmish. Shashunk tried to dodge some of the debris whipping through the air and ran her way toward the mongoose. The trio of Nanami minions had now decided to go to drastic measures to free their mistress. Several small bottles of magical Indian explosive curry were now placed between Mr. Mongoose and Nanami. Shashunk sighed heavily as she nailed all three of the minions flat on the head, “You aren’t the smartest bunch are you?” With that, Shashunk managed to break the mongoose’s grip on the annoying girl’s neck. Shashunk then turned and made a break for the stairs. She almost made it when a very tall figure stepped in her path. “Leaving so soon?” Touga asked nicely, though it was hard to tell how he said it, him being sooooo tall and all. Shashunk gulped and tried to move past the council president but it seemed where ever she moved, there he stood. “Maybe you should come with me. There’s someone I want you to meet.” He flashed a brilliant smile (that was visible even from that height) and pushed his long red hair over his shoulders. Shashunk stood mesmerized (as most living beings do) by Touga so she shuffled after him without question. (Now what happened next should have been expected, and if Shashunk had been in her right mind she would have continued to flee……but…she didn’t soooooo she’s going to pay for it). Touga led the mongoose and Shashunk over to (guess who?) Akio. The mongoose and the shunkie ‘eep’ed simultaneously as the eevviill man turned his attention their way. “You weren’t thinking of leaving were you?” asked the eevviill man as he took a step closer to them. Shashunk’s lip twitched slightly as she nodded her head ‘yes’. Akio’s eyes narrowed as he stalked a little closer, “Now why would you want to leave?” Shashunk visibly gulped as she cowered a little. Just then, Mr. Mongoose decided to enter the strange conversation. He carefully held up a meek sign reading: ‘If it is alright, Oh great Akio, we need to take our guest back to our site. That was why we were leaving.’ Well apparently Akio had either never seen a mongoose or Mr. Mongoose just intrigued him because he turned the widest, most manipulative smile his way. Mr. Mongoose immediately cowered behind Shashunk as the man continued to smile. “Now don’t be scared little mongoose I wouldn’t hurt you.” The mongoose was so spontaneously freaked out by Akio’s sudden act of ‘kindness’ he spun around and ran as fast as his stubby mongoose legs could carry him back toward the stairs. Akio sighed heavily as he watched the retreating mongoose, “I have not manipulated a small mongoose for quite a while. I was going to test my talents…oh well.” His face turned back to Shashunk, “I still have you to manipulate.” Shashunk’s eyes grew EXTREMELY wide as she inched away from the man, “Actually I think I have to go.” Shashunk spun on her heal and ran as far from Akio as shunkie-ly possible. Now Akio was not happy that two prime manipulating targets were escaping, so he whistled and sure enough, the Akio car arrived. After he put it in gear he peeled out and raced after the retreating figures. Shashunk finally reached the staircase and began to shoo the guest on, “Come on, we need to get out of here!” Shashunk grabbed the guest and her tired sidekick and raced full speed toward the vortex that led back to the site. Suddenly two bright lights shined in front of the racing group. Akio revved the engine as he sped toward them. Just as the car was mere feet away from the panicking group, a magically appearing garbage can slammed directly on Akio’s head. Now that he couldn’t see, the eevviill man veered off the staircase and fell into the nothingness below. Shashunk sweat dropped as she stared where Akio fell, “You, of course, know he isn’t dead…so let’s get out of here!” With that she grabbed the guest, and her confused sidekick and leapt into the ‘Shashunk AND Mr. Mongoose’ portal.