Tae is typing away at the computer, working on Fever Dreams chapter 4...Tamahome, Tasuki and Kenshin (reading over her shoulder): Exercising the demon?A thought bubble appears overhead. Inside, a tiny red imp runs 'round and 'round on a hamster wheel.Tae: Baka! That's exorcise -- with an "o" not an "e". It a way of getting rid of something unwanted. (She looks pointedly at them as she says this.)He reaches for the mouse to adjust the window.Tasuki: What's this down here?
Tae (slapping his hand away): Don't you dare! I told you: You're not allowed to touch the computer! Not after what YOU did! (See Ecchi Seishi)The doorbell rings. Tae leaves the room to answer it. A man in an official-looking uniform is standing outside.Tasuki (holding his injured hand): All right! All right! I won't touch it!
Man: Are you Sekihara Tae?Tamahome, Tasuki, and Kenshin turn to look at Tae's dog -- which is cuddled up on the sofa -- in surprise. Tae merely stares at the man in shock.Tae: Yes. Can I help you?
Man: I'm from the SPCAC. I'm here to investigate a complaint.
Tasuki: You've got to be kidding! Tae? Hurt an animal? Have you seen how spoiled that dog is?!Eraser pulls out a copy of Ecchi Seishi.Tamahome: Well... she might be tempted if it was a cat.
Tasuki: BAKA! She doesn't like them, but she wouldn't hurt them.
Man: No, no... I'm afraid you've misunderstood. I'm not from the SPCA. I'm from the SPCAC. He holds out a card. It reads:
Eraser Nai Investigator Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Anime Characters (SPCAC) Tae: I don't believe this! What do you do, go around confiscating scissors and stuff? What am I being investigated for?
Eraser: We found this on the 'net. Did you or did you not... (he checks the document) pound two anime characters -- one Tamahome and one Tasuki -- into "goo"?Tae's eyes bug out a little at that whopper... she'd been mad at him for DAYS.Tae: Oh god! (To Tasuki and Tamahome: Do you SEE the trouble you cause?) Well, yes... but there were extenuating circumstances!!
Eraser: I'm afraid we'll have to take your Live-In Anime Characters away from you. They're not safe here.
Tae: What? No!!! Who'll do the laundry? Who'll do the shopping? Who'll do the cooking? (She pauses and thinks for a minute....) Hey, you can have Tasuki and Tamahome... but can I keep Kenshin?
Tasuki & Tamahome: TAE-CHAN!!
Tae: Well what do you expect!! Get me out of this, and I'll reconsider. After all, this is YOUR fault.
Eraser: Wait a minute... are you saying you don't want to leave?
Tasuki: Definitely not! Tae-chan's nice. And she only yelled at me a little when I burnt down her porch while trying to light the grill.
Tamahome: I don't want to leave, either. Tae-chan has cable. And the food is free.600 miles away, Sae and her cousin sneeze violently.Tae, Tasuki and Kenshin look incredulously at Tamahome
Tamahome: What? Oh! (realizing belatedly what's wrong) And I like living here with everyone.
Tae: Gee, thanks Tamahome.
Kenshin: Well, I don't want to leave either. Tae-dono never hits me with a wooden sword, or pulls my hair, or calls me insensitive.
Tae: <sweatdrop>
Tasuki: Besides, have you seen who's next on the waiting list? She's got a cousin that makes Nakago look like the sugar-plum fairy.
Tamahome: Please, please don't make us go live with her!!Suddenly Tasuki throws his arms around Tae's neck, knocking her a little off balance in the process, and clings for dear life.Eraser: But.... she pounded you into goo! In her own words!!
Kenshin: Did you tell him about how Tae-dono called your friend Mitsukake?
Tasuki: Yeah! That's right! She had the people at the Live-In Anime place send Mitsukake over for a little visit. He fixed us up, good as new in no time.
Tamahome: And he was really happy to get out for awhile. People haven't been requesting him much, ever since they found out he sings in the shower. (By all accounts, Mitsukake cannot sing.)
Eraser: That's true...
Tasuki: I'm not leaving!!Tamahome (in similar fashion, grabbing her right arm): Me neither!
Kenshin: Oro...... (he gently takes hold of Tae's left arm) I'm staying, too.
Tae (Slowly turning blue from Tasuki's death grip): Help!
Eraser: All right! You can stay! I don't know how I'm going to explain this at headquarters...
Tasuki (letting go of Tae, who falls to the ground): Yes! (He slams the door behind Eraser as he leaves). Let's celebrate! I'll make dinner. Tae-chan, where's the new grill?
Tae (still trying to get her breath back): Tasuki...
Tasuki (patting her on the head): Now, now. You said you'd reconsider letting us stay. And besides, you don't want him to come back, do you?
Tae: Grrrrrrr. Fine. Make dinner. BUT! If you demolish the porch, I'm going to file for a safety valve on that fan of yours.
Tasuki: Meanie.
Tae (sticking her tongue out at him): bleh! (She sweeps all of them into a hug) Arigato, minna! It wouldn't be the same here without you.