SISTERS OF SPIRIT
          A College-aged cosplay series
          By Dale, Brandie & Angela

          Chapter 3: Flights

          The next day, Sandra picked Dale up and they visited the city prosecutor. "Can we make the Attempted Murder charge stick?" Dale said.

          Sandra thought about it for a minute before saying, "I think so, because I told my mom everything. She said that because he said that you wouldn't be going to your next class, he meant to do this before he did. That adds premeditation as well."

          "Sandra's right," the prosecutor said, "You can definitely make the Murder-2 charge stick." Sandra then nodded. As the three of them talked Sandra thought to herself, 'I hope we get this over with soon.'

          "I know you paid for your hospital bills using an executive priviledge from your estate," the prosecutor said, "So if this is won, you can sue him with an immediate default judgement- and his parents' estate would be lost to you." Sandra looked at Dale. "Onee-chan, do you want to do that?" "I will not make their parents' lose their estate just because of their son's mistake," Dale said, "But they will pay for my hospital and attorney costs when I sue him." Sandra nodded and smiled. "Good."

          "I have heard of Ms. Brown's taking your civil action without cost," the prosecutor said, "but why are you making him pay for your attorney costs." "It will be hers to donate to charity," Dale said, "I feel it's only fair that we give some to those who need it."

          "Wise decision," he said, "I'll talk to Judge Sullivan and get the Arrest Warrant- he'll be behind bars by the day's end."

          But Jason's father had him already on a flight to Switzerland for some skiing... and when the officers came to arrest him, he said that he was on a vacation for a week- which was how long an arrest warrant is good for.

          When word got to the 6 Sisters, Dale was furious. "We can't extradite him!" she said, "The Swiss have a policy of no extradition on capital offenses." "This is so ridiculous!" Sandra said in anger.

          But upon searching the books through the web, Dale found and notified the prosecutor of an exception. "Jason is 17, according to his driver's license, correct?" Dale asked. When the prosecutor responded in the affirmative, Dale said, "Then have his father arrested." "Of course!" Brandie said, "Jason's still a juvenile... so his father now takes the blame for what he did!"

          "He is partially to blame anyway." Sandra said. "Jason must have told him what he did. That's why his father sent him skiing in the middle of the school year." "And when the father puts his son on a flight to Switzerland," the prosecutor said, "he's now charged not only with the attempted murder, but also with aiding a known felon."

          "Yep. We're going to get him good." Sandra said, smiling.

          INS was notified of the flight of the felon, and INTERPOL was notified. The Swiss knew that they couldn't keep this guy within their borders, not when their government has an active branch of the International Police operating within its borders. Within hours, Jason was on a flight back to the U.S., with a stop at Dulles to transfer the youth over to agents of the Justice Department.

          Because the charge was Attempted Murder in the First Degree, the case was sent to the adult courts- and within the space of a week, the verdicts were handed down. 3 counts, 2 on the father- 3 verdicts of Guilty. Jason's mother knew his escapades would get him in trouble- and didn't flinch when both of them were sentenced to 25 years in a maximum security prison, and his father with an additional year for aiding a known felon.

          Sandra sat with her 5 sisters at Dale's apartment while waiting for the sentence to be given. When her cellphone rang, Sandra answered it. "It's mother," she said, "The judge has sentenced the father to 26 and the son to 25 years at a maximum security prison."

          Sandra listened as her mother related the sentence to her. She smiled as she ended the call. She looked at the others with a smile.

          "They both got 25 years in a maximum security prison, and his father an additional year for aiding a known felon." she said. A whoop went up in the room... then the phone rang and Dale set it on Speaker. "What is it, Ms. Brown?" Dale asked.

          "I was approached by Jason's mother," she said, "She doesn't want the entire estate- so she's willing to pay Dale back by giving her the entire estate she has- declaring their wills null & void."

          "YES!" Sandra said, smiling at the additional news her mother told her. "Thanks Mom!" she added. "Anytime honey. Anything to help a friend of yours," her mom said. "Now I've got to go, but I'll work the arrangements for Dale's possession of the DeMarco Estate. Take care." she said before disconnecting.

          Sandra looked at everyone and said, "I think this is cause for a celebration. What do y'all think?"

          Dale was about to answer her question when a knock came to her doorway. Answering it, she found a person standing there with a small booklet in his hand. "Are you Dale Speer?" he asks. Nodding in the affirmative, she is handed the booklet... and Dale says, "OH MY!" Sandra ran over. "What is it, Dale?"

          Kerri looked at what Dale was holding... and didn't even believe her eyes. "Dale just got her passport!" she said- and all of them were wide eyed at the sight of it. "Sweet!" Sandra said with a grin. But inside was something more... a note. Opening it, Dale read it aloud...

          Deru-chan,

          I know the unexpected delivery of your passport was sure to surprise you... but this will take that even further. You have plane tickets to Tokyo waiting for you at the Northwest Airlines terminal at LAX, and suites for you and your guests at the Tokyo Sheraton. Even more so, you and your sisters are my guests in Tokyo... so pack your bags and get ready for the vacation of your lifetimes.

          Takeuchi Naoko.

          "Naoko did all of this for me?" Dale asked herself aloud. Sandra let out a big gasp as she said, "WHOA! Takeuchi-sensei's sending us to Tokyo!" She then grinned as she added, "It will be nice to see her again."

          "Then what are we sitting on our duffs here?" Brandie asked them all. "Brandie's right," Dale replied, "We've got to get packing!" So Sandra rode with Brandie back to her residence while the others walked up to their apartments and started packing.

          Back at her dorm room, Sandra started packing like mad. She couldn't stop squealing the entire time. 'Tokyo,' she thought, 'My dream city. I'll have to e-mail Naoko-san and thank her.'

          But Dale's OUTLOOK EXPRESS popped up and told her that she had mail. Opening it, she found a message from Naoko... "I couldn't help but realize that you was the one who united 5 unknowns... including a former Myu-Saturn and my one friend in America- into a group even Serenity-sama could be proud of. And you deserve something more... and they'll be in the closets when you arrive. Naoko." 'Arrigatou, Naoko-chan,' she thought.

          Jamie, Kerri and Andrea were the first ones to arrive back, and saw that Dale's bags were packed. Dale was sitting at her desk typing away at the keyboard of a Notebook Computer. As soon as she had finished packing, Sandra called Brandie and both of them headed back to Dale's apartment.

          Once all of them arrived back, all had to decide how they were going to get from Stockton to LAX in the shortest time possible... until a knock at the door answered it for them. A man said that their limousine was waiting to take them to a private airstrip outside the city. "A limousine?!" Dale said incredulously, "Naoko must have pulled out all of the stops for this one." "Whoa!" Sandra said. "I'll say so!"

          So the gang loaded up and, indeed, headed out to the airstrip mentioned- where a fully fueled lear jet stood on the tarmac, awaiting the crew's passengers. Once the luggage got stored in the aft cargo hold, the plane took off for the south.

          Sandra looked out the window on their short flight. "I still can't believe this is happening." "Oh, tell me about it," Dale said. She couldn't believe what Naoko did for her.

          Brandie smiled softly watching them all react. They had been in flight for about two hours after takeoff, and all the girls were out of their seats and talking. Not that they had first class to themselves- there were some business men there too, and Andrea smiled knowing they were driving those businessmen nuttie.

          "Well what do you think we should do while in Japan?" she asked, and Brandie said softly, "The tea ceremony and the temples."

          "One thing's for certain," Dale said, "We're to be guests of Takeuchi-sensei for one day, as well as receiving something at the performance we are at of Sera Myu- and she's even reserved tickets for us for that." Brandie's eyes lit up. "Oh I cannot wait to see them." She then closed her eyes and smiled. Kerri laughted a little at Brandie's reactions while Andrea only smiled and nugged Jamie.

          The jet's crew got tired of the antics of the 6 late-comers and called Brandie's father. He then called his daughter and said that a surprise was waiting for them in Honolulu.

          "I don't know how you did it, Brandie," Dale said, "but it was nice of your father to give us use of his private jet." Brandie smiled as she replied, "Well Daddy has two." Kerri then laughed at the looks on Jamie's and Sandra's faces. "That's a surprise for me," Dale replied, "I never considered getting a private plane for myself." Andrea shook her head as she said, "Its not like they are used to such ease of luxury Ker."

          Brandie nodded. "Dad said he does not like being held to man's hours. So he would create his own." "Where me, Andrea," Dale said, "I was so used to riding in limousines and luxury airliners it scared me. Now you know why I bought the Mustang Convertible." Brandie nodded as Andrea smiled and said, "Yeah we know the feeling Dale. I think almost all of us have grown up in some sort of luxury."

          "But not all of us have," Kerri reminded them as she smirked, "At least three of us have not that chance. Not that I have not had good friends who surrounded me with their lives and never realized it."

          "I may consider getting a jet of my own for transportation purposes," Dale said, nodding at Kerri's statement. Just then, the pilot came on and said that they were coming in for a landing at Tokyo International- so they all got buckled in.

          "Brandie," Dale said, "could I ask you something?" "Yes," Brandie replied while looking over at Dale, "Go ahead." "About what Kerri said when we first got together," she said, "why did she remark that some of us didn't know Japanese- so we didn't know what you said when you did?"

          Brandie laughted softly. "I was raised in both America and Japan and have dual citizenship. For my mother is a us citizen and dad is a naturalized one. He was not one when I was born. Plus I was born in Toyko Japan."

          She went on when Dale didn't answer her... "I grew up speaking both English and Japanese. For Dad wanted someone to talk to so he taught me- I just forget at times that most people did not grow up as I did, speaking both languages of my birth."

          Dale chuckled at her answer, replying, "That's good. I wish I knew Japanese when I visited Seattle's JapanTown." She said that Seattle boasted a fairly large Japanese-American population, and many live and work in the JapanTown of the city, near the waterfront.

          Brandie nodded and smiled. "Just dont let Kerri and Andrea fool you. They speak a lot more Japanese then they want you to know." Kerri heard that comment and growled at Brandie, "Hey now." Andrea just laughed. "Now, now you two. Enough." She was always playing peace keeper between the two friends while Sandra and Jamie looked at each other then at Dale.

          "I lived in Seattle before moving to Stockton," Dale said, "and many times I went walking in the JapanTown of the city." "How did you like it?" Brandie asked.

          "It was truly fascinating," Dale said, "They always got newspapers from the homecountry, and many had DishNetwork Satellite Systems that gave them programming from TV-TOKYO- so they always taped for their neighbors. That's how I got into Anime- from watching that."

          The dark haired beauty nodded. "Thats one thing Dad always made sure he had," she said, "Satellite feeds from Japan and the papers from the homecountry." "He would order us manga from there too," Andrea spoke up while poking Kerri in the arm, "and he got us some wonderful art books from Japan." "I would bet so," Sandra replied.

          Brandie nodded as she added, "Yep, they always show anime there- and not the watered down stuff Americans are so used to seeing either." Kerri humphed from her seat next to Andrea- who sniggered at Brandie's comment.

          "I would think so," Dale replied, "I never did like the edited versions of Anime. The real thing- subbed for me- was the best. That's how I got into KAITOU SAINT TAIL." The group all nodded as they felt the tiny bumps that meant they had landed.

          As the plane pulled into the private hangar that was reserved for the planes that Brandie's father owned, a limo was waiting to whisk the girls off to their hotel. "After we stay at the hotal for a few days," Brandie said as they prepared to depart the plane, "Dad said we should stay at the family estate here. Its about twenty miles outside of Tokyo."

          "This is great," Dale said, and Angela nodded at her statement. "I couldn't believe coming here would be so cool!" Dale added. "And becuse of Bran's dad." Kerri smirked once more. "We get to miss out on lovely customs." Andrea nodded while Brandie, Dale and Angela giggled at that statment. "This is way better!" Dale added.

          Jamie looked at them. "We don't have to go though customs?" she asked, her voice a little shocked. "Nope," Brandie said while squeezing her arm, "Dad is a business man here and is quite well respected." Brandie squeesed Jamie's arm. She nodded to the three pretty young men that had their luggage and said, "Putsu itsu in fu rimo." "And," Dale told Jamie, "because Brandie's of DualCitizenship, her guests and her don't have to pass through customs." "Well that too." Brandie said in a giggle. "Come on," Angela said, "soon as we reach the hotel room, I want to call my friend here in Tokyo."

          After the young men had finished loading the luggage, Brandie said, "Arigatou gozaimasu," while bowing to the young men just a little to show her rank. "Doitashimashite, Chang-sama" the three young men spoke together as the girls loaded up into the limo. And the driver dove them to their hotal. They were in the care for over two hours. Tokyo traffic was very heavy as the 6 looked at each other.

          "Traffic is bad," Brandie sighed, "We are going to be in here a while. Sandra-chan feel free to use the phone." She pointed at the limo phone while adding, "Daddy will not mind." "Arigatou, Brandie-chan," she replied, and dialed up the number of one Naoko Takeuchi. Once she answered it, they engaged in a lively conversation... "You really mean that, Naoko-chan?" she asked, and her smile accented the answer she got for her question. "Arigatou, Naoko-chan," she added, "Sayonara!" Once the phone was hung up, she then asked Brandie if, once they checked in, they could visit a shop in Shibuya District. "Of course." Brandie smiled.

          Kerri sighed and began fiddling with the radio. She kept the volume down when Sandra used the phone to call Naoko- and looked up when she found a good j-rock station. She turned it up a little so everyone could hear it yet still talk and not shout over the music.

          "What shop are you thinking of, Angela-chan?" Dale asked her. "Well," she replied, "I told Naoko of our predicament and she said that she would arrange for costumes for us from Chacott." "That's the Costume Shop I saw in Cosplay Encyclopedia," Dale said as Brandie laughed once more, then added, "Its the best shop for costumes in Japan."

          "Well then," Dale replied, "I am so looking forward to visiting the head designer, Yamashita Tomoko-san, there." Andrea nodded and leaned her head sideways- then asked, "Hmm is that glay?" Once she listened in, Brandie nodded and said, "Indeed it is." She then paused for a moment before asking, "Which costumes do you all want to get while we're down there?" This question took everyone in the limo by suprise as they turned and looked at brandie. She sighed as she said, "Well?"

          "Well, I know what I want," Angela replied, "a full version of Sailor Cosmos."

          "I would like EternalSailor Moon & Hikaru Shidou's Final Armor from Magic Knight Rayearth," Dale replied.

          "Hmm," Kerri said softly, "SuperSenshi Jupiter's fuku and Kami's outfit from X"

          Andrea smiled as she said, "SuperSenshi Pluto's fuku and the school uniform from BATTLE SKIPPER."

          Brandie smiled. "I already have SuperSenshi Saturn's fuku." she said before pausing, "Hotaru's Princess gown. And maybe one from BUBBLEGUM CRISIS- TOKYO 2040- perhaps the police uniform worn by the young member."

          "I may want to also get Saint Tail's outfit," Angela added.

          "Battle Skipper?" Dale asked after a few minutes of silence. "I've seen that one," Angela replied, "It's a Shoujo OVA about girls who fight the plans of an evil mistress bent on world conquest- but they use MRVs instead of Magical Powers." "Sounds instering," Kerri said softly, "But what does MRV stand for?"

          Angela then explained that MRV stood for Multipurpose Robotic Vehicles- and that Andrea was a near lookalike to Reika Ayanokouji of the series. "There ya go Andrea," Brandie poked her friend while showing a smile, "She would be a great costume for you."

          "I wonder how I would look if I had one of those costumes," Dale wondered. "Well," Angela replied, "you would be a perfect Saori Tachibana." Brandie just watched her friends' reactions to this new idea.

          "Speaking of which," Angela replied, "color your hair blue and you, Brandie, would be a perfect Shihoko Sasaki. And with Pluto's wig done in a different way, you would be perfect for Rie Shibusawa, Kerri-chan- and you already make the perfect Kanami Izaki with your hair down!" Kerri raised an eyebrow as she said, "We'll have to rent animes to catch up on the stories we have missed."

          "I brought the DVD with me as part of my library," Angela replied, "Oddly enough, the Battle Skipper OVA is only 3 episodes in length." "And I got my notebook system with me," Dale replied, "This is perfect for us."

          Romaji Interpretations

          Putsu itsu in fu rimo- Put it in the limo. [rough interpretation]

          Arigatou Gozaimasu- Thank you very much

          Doitashimashite- You're Welcome

          Sayonara- Good bye

          -sama: a very polite way of responding to a person, like "Chang-sama" (Lady Chang). We always call Naoko Takeuchi "Naoko-sama" out of respect for her creating Sailor Moon.

          -chan: spoken as a term of friendship between girls or to a girl younger than you. Angela referred to Naoko as "Naoko-chan" in the term of Friendship with the Mangaka.

          -san: spoken everywhere of people you don't know or in respect to that person, ala "Yamashita Tomoko-san."

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