AUTHOR NOTICE!
I SHALL BE AWAY IN AFRICA FROM JULY 3RD UNTIL THE 8TH AUGUST
THEN A WEEK AFTERWARDS I HAVE MY A-LEVEL RESULTS
PLEASE BE PATIENT AND UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UPDATE THIS STORY UNTIL MID-AUGUST AT THE EARLIEST
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
The voice was unmistakable. The face in front of him beamed as if he was greatest man on earth, while his secretary offered him a handmade cake with ice cold precision. He doubted she actually liked all the cakes the Foundation's creator made daily. Golden icing spelt out those spoken words, once again in English, along with his name on white icing atop a cake of some sort of favour or other. The secretary stared at him, telling him with her beautifully made-up eyes either to accept the cake or deny it, so that she no longer had to hold it. The man sighed.
"It is not my birthday, Kougami-san." He told him, waving the sectary away with disinterest. Kougami seemed not to care, rounding his desk to stand directly in front of the new comer. Satonaka was just pleased she no longer had to hold the cake and set it down on the table, before then settling herself down to watch the exchange.
"I know that! I am celebrating our first meeting, Tsubasa-kun." The man, now revealed as Tsubasa, smirked to himself. Kougami was no different in real life as he was on the screen Satonaka-san had showed him every day for the past three weeks. He pulled his black trench coat off and set it down beside Satonaka, giving her a small smile in apology at her affronted look. Kougami was pouring himself a glass of wine – it must have been a long day for him. Kougami waved his hand at the bar and Tsubasa picked up the cup of coffee that was waiting for him there.
"Kougami-san, we have already met many times via your secretary." Tsubasa told him once they were both seated in the comfy chairs a little way off from Kougami's desk.
"Ah, but this is our first meeting face-to-face." Kougami countered. "SUBARASHII!" He announced loudly, causing Tsubasa to wince as he took a slow sip of his drink.
"And what's so important about that?"
"The meeting between people is the birth of something new. A birth should always be celebrated, Tsubasa-kun."
"As you wish." Tsubasa knew that when desire and birth was brought up with Kougami, it was best to quit while you were ahead. He did not want the old man getting distracted. Tsubasa took one more sip and set his cup down. "I do not need to guess why you have called me." He told Kougami in a hard voice. Kougami seemed unaffected by Tsubasa sudden change to business.
"So you've seen them." He noted with a chuckle, stroking what appeared to be a fizzy drinks can. However Tsubasa knew better than to assume anything was ordinary – especially with the Kougami Foundation.
"No, actually." Tsubasa sighed, kicking up his feet to lean on Kougami's probably expensive wooden coffee table, glancing out the huge nearby windows. "There are some rumours, of course."
"Of course." Kougami echoed, his voice suddenly softer and quieter. Tsubasa met his gaze for a second before raising his cup.
"But most seem treat these as conspiracy theory fodder." He downed the remaining coffee in the cup greedily, gulping loudly. Kougami continued to watch him. Setting the china mug down, Tsubasa met his gaze once more. "I, however, know different."
"We know different." Kougami corrected. Tsubasa chuckled drily.
"My apologises." He replied, bowing his head slightly but not taking his eyes off the other man. The room was held for a moment in pure silence as the two men stared at each other.
"No matter!" Kougami cried, breaking the spell over the room. "So, Tsubasa-kun, you think I called you to inform you of our current status, hmm?" Kougami stood up and turned to the window, gazing out on the midday sun. Tsubasa chuckled as he tucked in a rampant part of his white shirt back into his grey trousers.
"Well, their revival is a pretty big deal to us." He admitted with a sigh. "Though you are not the one to summon me for something I could find out myself by wandering the streets." He added slyly, fiddling with the 'can'.
"You're as astute as ever, Tsubasa." Kougami noted as Tsubasa pulled the tab on the red can. He jumped slightly as the can turned into a small hawk. It cawed in his face and Tsubasa jumped out of the chair in shock. Kougami laughed and snapped his fingers at Satonaka. She got to her feet and picked up a tray from behind Kougami's desk as the metal hawk tried to chase Tsubasa around the room, with him fruitlessly trying to swat it away. Handing the tray to Kougami, she plucked the metal bird out of the air and it returned to its can mode. Brushing himself down, Tsubasa quickly thanked Satonaka as she returned to her table. "Anyway Tsubasa, I have found some things that might interest you." Tsubasa turned back to Kougami in shock. There was something…dangerous in his voice.
"Like what?" he asked warily, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Kougami smiled – again, a dangerous smile. Kougami turned round, holding the tray out to him invitingly. Tsubasa's eyes glanced down at it. Then doubled in size. "It can't be…!" he whispered hoarsely, staring at the small yet frightening familiar objects on the tray. Why that… that… that inhuman man! And all he did in response is smile knowingly.
"Mm-hmm." He answered, snatching them away from Tsubasa reaching hands. He hadn't even realised he was doing so and looked away guiltily on being caught. "Three of them." Tsubasa glared at Kougami. Trust him to state the blindingly obvious. Tsubasa snarled at him as Kougami wandered back to his desk. "Don't worry, none are yours. I already checked." Not trusting the bastard any further than he could throw him, Tsubasa followed him and scanned the three objects once more – just to be sure. However, Kougami was telling the truth; none of them were in fact his. Well, at least that made him feel a little better.
"And where did you find these?" Tsubasa demanded. Kougami smiled wickedly.
"Around." Great. Trust him to be this sly. "I've been keeping an eye on them."
"Of course you have. The infamous Kougami Foundation, at least you're infamous to us." Tusbasa snapped.
"Now, now, Tsubasa-kun. I thought you wanted my help." Kougami replied sweetly, taking a stripe of icing off of Tsubasa's cake. Tsubasa pulled an annoyed face as Kougami's face crumpled in delight at his handiwork. Damn that man. He did want his help, that's why they had been in contact so much. But he hadn't expected to be outsmarted like this.
"Seems I misjudged you, Kougami-san." Tsubasa bitterly admitted, slumping down in his seat.
"Many people do." He answered. Something about that line sent shivers down his spine. Like someone else, someone much more cunning, someone with a larger desire than his own had fallen for Kougami's tricks. "What's most interesting, Tsubasa-kun, they all found them after an attack." Right back on topic, Kougami. Thought Tsubasa with a sigh. Very smooth.
"Of course. They are attracted to desire, right?"
"Indeed!" Kougami cried.
"So therefore it makes sense. They are likely attracted here because of their Rivals. We have already found two –" Kougami gave Tsubasa a confused look. Tsubasa smiled, glad to have one up on Kougami at last. "Or should I say, she has. I've already got her a small flat here, if that is okay with you of course." He enjoyed seeing Kougami's confused face. He was still ahead of him, just maybe not in the ways he had expected or hoped for.
"And what do you want me to do, Tsubasa-kun?" Kougami asked. Now it was Tsubasa's turn to be mysterious.
"Keep an eye on her." He answered, wandering over to his cake. He eyed it for a moment, debating whether or not he actually wanted it. "Ensure she's following our desires as well as her own." He concluded, grabbing his coat and leaving the cake untouched – bar the line Kougami had driven through the words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'.
"One should always follow their desires, Tsubasa-kun." Kougami didn't even look at him, instead watching the lunch-time city through one of his massive windows.
"Indeed, Kougami-san. I will report back once she seems settled here." Tsubasa offered Kougami the same courtesy, staring out the door. "Good day." Tsubasa took his leave, only to be stopped by an insistent:
"Wait!" Kougami. Again. Tsubasa gave a heavy sigh. This was the last straw.
"Yes sir?" His voice was laced with annoyance.
"You forget your cake!"
XxXxXxX
In the park nearby, one you could spot if you looked out the windows of the Kougami foundation, was a young girl sitting on a wooden bench. She was wearing a pair of white leggings that were streaked with dust and dirt from where she'd been sitting. Her brown top was wrinkled and creased, sending the image of a howling wolf on it in disarray. Most of her long, dark brown hair was tied into a loose ponytail that sat over her left shoulder; however some of the shorter strands defied the hairband and stuck out haphazardly from her head. Then there was the thin braid to the left, the very tip of it touching her chin. People muttered at her, making quiet comments about her but she seemed oblivious, caring more about tuning her battered guitar than those around her. Suddenly she lifted to head to the sound of applause and cheering. Smiling to herself, she hopped off her bench to join the dynamic duo by the fountain packing up. They smiled gratefully at her offer of help and Yuzuki ensured she was very careful when setting one of their electric guitars into its case.
"Thanks miss. The stage is yours now." The oldest one thanked with a bow. The younger nervously followed.
"Y-yeah. Thanks."
"No problem. We should look out for each other, ne?" the girl replied. "Oh and by the way. You have a nice song." And with that the two nodded gratefully and left her to set up. Not that she needed to do much. Her guitar wasn't in a case and after a quick strum on its strings, she was satisfied that it was in tune. Yuzuki placed a battered cap on the ground, the inside of it facing up, hungry for change. The group that had gathered from the buskers before hovered in anticipation. The girl smiled at them, settling herself down on a comfortable spot the ground. "It's rather nice here, ne? I've never been in a city that has such a powerful song." The group mumbled in confusion around her and she couldn't help but smirk knowingly. They couldn't hear it. It seemed that no one else in Japan could hear it but her. No one else could hear the melody of the city or of its people. Her world was surrounded in sound and she loved sharing it with people.
"'Song'?" queried a stranger, holding a large milk can on his shoulder. He had a rich leather jacket loosing hanging from his waist and sported a simple moustache and goatee. "I don't hear anything, eh Goto-chan?" the man beside, obviously this 'Goto-chan', nodded. He was dressed in a business suit, the white shirt not quite fully tucked in and the tie was loose. He looked a bit like a lost puppy to Yuzuki with his short, wavy hair just begging to be ruffled. The busker smiled up at them and they returned it. They didn't know there was a song coming from them too. A duet of some sorts… but it was incomplete. Words and notes were missing. Such a shame.
"Well then," the girl announced, strumming a chord. "Shall I enlighten you?" Then suddenly she exploded into a rush of energy.
"Unwanted or fleeting dreams are not good enough
Freedom rules this state... but that's alright, I guess
Fate will not let go, once you're in its hold
In the end all you can do is keep going on!"
The group cheered in approval as the girl continued singing, her long and nimble fingers attacking the strings of her battered guitar. It all seemed so effortless. Yet no one realised how difficult she was finding it. The song had overlapping parts that she couldn't sing and some of the words were eerily close to her heart…
"COME ON!
Anything goes! Watch on as your heart starts to get fired up
Just keep on searching as it starts to flow
Life goes on! Now let's get serious, if you wanna fight here
Then don't think about losing!"
She carried on with the song, editing as she went along. As expected the townspeople reacted well to the song, since it was one they unwittingly and unknowingly heard on a daily basis. Now, they could finally enjoy it. Or at least part of it. She finished on a high, watching out of the corner of her eye as people paid her various amounts of change and notes. She smiled as she counted enough change to buy her some lunch and maybe even dinner tonight. She carried on with her performance, placing her capo over the strings to produce a different sound. She settled back slightly, smiling as she strummed once more. "How about another city's song? If I recall correctly, this is from a rather windy city…" She continued as her fingers moved to start the next song. Most of the people remained, however a few drifted away to more pressing matters. Included in these drifters was Goto and Date, both of who had a job to go to.
"She's not half-bad, Goto-chan. That song made me feel all warm inside!" Date exclaimed, re-shouldering his milk can of Cell Medals to give his aching right shoulder a rest.
"There certainly was something special about that particular song." Goto concluded. "The song of the city…?"
"You're not taking that seriously, Goto-chan? Musicians always exaggerate for show." Date replied, heading off down the path towards to Kougami Foundation.
"You're going back, Date-san?" Goto asked.
"Yeah. Doctor Maki wants me to do some more practise with the Cutter Wing, since I won't read the manual." He answered with a resigned smile, walking off. He paused suddenly and turned back to Goto. "Aren't you meant to be at the Cous Coussier?" he asked and Goto thought about it for a moment. It was then realised that he'd promised Chiyoko he'd be there by the lunch rush. But he'd gotten caught up in his earlier morning training with Date and then they had hung around to listen to the buskers. Now he was going to be late.
"See you later, Date-san!" Goto called down the street as he started running in the general direction of the Cous Coussier, grateful that Chiyoko was a rather understanding and lenient boss.
YOU COUNT THE MEDALS 1, 2 AND 3!
LIFE GOES ON!
ANYTHING GOES!
COMING UP OOO!
COUNT THE MEDALS! SO FAR, HOW MANY MEDALS CAN OOOs USE? TAKA x2, KUJAKU, CONDOR, TORA, KWUGATA, BATTA, SAI,UNAGI
Episode 21: Guitar, New Medals, and a Hunting Trip
The large doors to the Cous Coussier burst open so suddenly that Hina flung out her arms to stop them, fearing the worst. They succeed in halting the doors, since Hina was inhumanly strong but through the man-size gap left, a figure darted through and Hina did not expect to then have Goto slam into her. They both landed on the floor in a heap, Hina's tray clattering away and glasses smashing onto the floor. Goto apologised profusely as he dragged himself to his feet, careful to avoid the broken glass, and then offered his hand to Hina who gratefully accepted. They brushed the dust and shards off of each other as the other customers looked at them, shaking their heads in confusion. From his vantage point, a certain blonde individual sneered at them.
"Rolling around on the ground? Trust humans to stoop so low." He told them, only to have a certain idiot hit him on the head in response. "Oi Eiji!" he snapped.
"Honestly Ankh, leave them alone." The traveller told his 'partner' as he scooped the remains of the glasses into a dustpan and brush. Ankh 'tch'ed back at him but thankfully decided remained silent, concentrating instead on his aisu. "Are you alright, Goto-san, Hina-chan?" Eiji asked after disposing of the glass.
"Yeah, yeah." Goto groaned.
"I'm fine as well." Hina answered. Eiji smiled at them.
"I'm glad. Oh Goto-san, you better get changed! I'll tell Chiyoko-san you've arrived." Eiji told him, rushing round to the counter to take the bill of a customer. Goto nodded and headed for the small room round the back.
"The theme today is ninjas." Hina added helpfully, before rushing over to a table. Gotou glanced back at the café. Most of the tables where filled, bar the one Ankh had acquired, and when one table's occupants left, another group magically arrived to take it. He sighed as he entered the small staff room and pulled his shirt off to replace it was the black cotton of one of Chiyoko's ninja outfits. His trousers and shoes soon followed and he was soon clad all in black, pulling the mask over his head and mouth. He checked himself briefly in the mirror. He left after he was satisfied with his look and immediately ran into Chiyoko, who has carrying a tray full of empty and half-empty glasses and plates which various amounts of food still on them.
"Ahh, Goto-kun! I'm glad you made it!" she exclaimed in her normally cheerful manner, managing not to drop a single glass. "You look good in that! I see you've seen how busy we are."
"Yes. Seems we're lucky today."
"Yeah! I rather like this hub-bub." Chiyoko continued as Gotou started cleaning up a nearby table. "Though maybe not with so many customers!" she chuckled as Goto suddenly had to greet someone at the door. "Maybe some live music would do the trick, ne Ankh-chan?" she went over to Ankh's lonely table and bent down to him. Ankh pulled a face, but Chiyoko could forgive him since he was from a bad upbringing. Her motherly ways would wiggle their way into him eventually!
Music… Goto thought about that for a moment as he seated two teenagers at a table near the back, recalling the buskers from this morning as he offered the costumers their menu for the day. Ankh had finally had enough of Chiyoko closeness and turned his back on her, signalling her to leave. When she still remained infuriatingly close, Ankh decided to ignore her and her constant nagging to 'face someone when they're with you'. Goto glanced at them and wondered why she bothered with the disgruntled bird Greeed. He had to remind himself that Chiyoko had no idea of Ankh's true nature.
"That sounds like a great idea!" Eiji agreed when Ankh remained his grumpy self. Chiyoko smiled back at him as the doors creaked open once more. "Ahh! Coming!" Eiji called. He stopped to see a young girl scanning the café curiously. Her gaze fell on Ankh and he looked up at her for a moment. She cocked her head at him as he sneered, returning to his meal. Eiji glanced the girl up and down, messy clothing streaked with winkles and dirt, scuffed trainers and a well-used guitar strapped to her back. "Oh!" he exclaimed as the penny dropped. "You're a musician right?"
"Yeah. The name's Tsukino Yuzuki." She pulled her guitar in front of her and strummed lightly. Chiyoko looked up at her, smiling widely.
"Please to meet you. I'm Hino Eiji. Let's get along." Eiji bowed in greeting. Hina joined him and introduced herself too.
"Please to meet you too. Let's get along." Yuzuki replied politely. She looked at the owner, who was staring off in a day-dream. "Umm… and you are…?"
"Oh! Chiyoko-san! Let's get along!" she enthusiastically replied. Yuzuki bowed back and Chiyoko smiled as she watch her talk to Eiji. Maybe… just maybe. She thought wistfully.
XxXxXxX
Later on at the park, dispute Yuzuki having left a while back in search of lunch, other buskers where eager to take her place. Music filled the air as joggers, bikers, dog walkers and those toing and froing passed them, all with various degrees of interest. Some ignored them, others stopped to listen and a few tossed their spare change into their open cases. However not everyone was so kind-hearted to these young musicians. Sitting a little away from their current stage in front of the fountain was a fair-haired man in a business suit. As the performers took another bow, his hand clenched tightly into an angry fist.
Idiots. The lot of them. Standing around, waiting for life to happen to them. Didn't they know they know that in order to get anywhere in life, they need a job? And not some wishy-washy "job" in the music industry, but a proper, hardworking job. Real musicians, the ones who go one to write and perform masterpieces that stand the test of time, studied the classics and went to proper music schools – they never busked on a street corner with some non-descript noise that the uneducated called music nowadays! The man muttered further to himself, burying his face in his scarf as the January air bit his face.
Unknown to anyone, the grumpy man sitting on a park bench was being watched. Successfully hidden in the bushes was someone who appeared to be a normal human. One with brown hair slicked back and only the very ends of it brushing just above his shoulders. One with a black top that looked like it came from a band and over that top was a bright green, leather jacket. One with dark eyes that could send shivers even down the bravest man's spine. It was with these eyes that he stared at the man on the park bench. If he was noticed by anyone, most people would give him a cursory glance and then carry on. If they saw his true form, they'd do more than glance at him.
Uva let his head rock sideways. His target's desire was…unusual – at least compared to what Uva was used to – but it would suit his purposes. Today, Uva's target was not Cell Medals. Instead he was focused on the Kwugata and Batta Cores that OOO held. He didn't care about the desire used to spawn this Yummy, as long as it brought OOO out of hiding and it stood a good chance against him. Uva smirked as a silver coin slot suddenly appeared in the back of the man's head. Uva straightened his head as he held up a Cell Medal. He twirled it in his fingers for a moment, showing off the X on one side and – ironically – the Kwugata design on the other. Then he stopped suddenly.
"Your desire… let me unleash it." he murmured, flinging the coin into its unsuspecting victim.
XxXxXxX
"What timing you have!" Chiyoko enthused, shoving her tray full of dirty washing under her right arm. Yuzuki chuckled nervously.
"Err, what?" she queried.
"I was looking for some live music to hire! I think you're meant to by the one – like destiny!" she continued enthusiastically with a flair of her hands. Yuzuki laughed and smiled at back at her.
"Maybe!" she replied, making her hands shake in the well-known motion of 'jazz-hands'. Eiji, Hina and Goto released a sigh. If she could handle Chiyoko's enthusiastic nature, then she was at least halfway through surviving a working day here. "Well, it'll certainly be better than busking and I was going to look for a job at some point anyway." Yuzuki unshouldered her guitar and rested it on the titled floor. "But first, could I get some food? I've been travelling for a while and have only just managed to settle down somewhere."
"Oh you travel?" asked Eiji as he glanced away form resetting a free table, which Goto swiftly refiled with more customers. Yuzuki chuckled under her breath.
"Only around Japan. And only for the last few months, on and off." Yuzuki replied modestly. "Do you?"
"I used to. I'm just on a break."
"Ah, I see."
"So I know that travelling, no matter what the distance can make you pretty hungry!" Eiji continued, searching desperately for a table. But all of them were occupied and no one looked like they were ready to leave just yet. Yuzuki followed his gaze and pulled a disappointed face
"Are there no tables left?" she asked, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.
"Err, looks like it." Eiji replied sadly. Chiyoko suddenly returned from the kitchen and offered her suggestion.
"What about with Ankh-chan?" she asked innocently, glancing at Ankh. He seemed to have not heard her. Or maybe he was still ignoring her in the hopes she would gave up on her pointless desire to 're-educate' him. Huh! Hina and Goto looked at each other in shock, knowing what Ankh was like with his close…partners, never mind a total stranger. Eiji smiled nervously, not wanting to hurt Chiyoko-san's feelings but not wanting to leave Yuzuki to the talons of the bird Greeed either.
"Ankh? You mean that young man on the table on his own?" Yuzuki asked, glancing over at him. This time, he snapped his head up at the mention of his name in a foreign voice. He eyed her for a moment as Yuzuki watched him through…. Ankh wasn't sure how to describe her eyes. She was obviously trying to look simply curious but Ankh could see through that. She was observing him, like he as Greeed observed the humans sometimes. But it wasn't just that. There was something wrong about her eyes. Something… almost…inhuman. And of course his idiot decided to distract her so Ankh couldn't continue his analysis. Tch.
"He's not the most – "Eiji could practically feel Ankh's gaze on his back, warning him that if he valued his life, he'd choose his next words very, very carefully. "Umm…sociable of characters." To Eiji's surprise, Yuzuki simply laughed in response.
"I kinda guessed that. Anyway I'm a busker, I'm used to people being kill-joys." She answered.
"Kill-joys?" Hina asked.
"Mmm. They disrupt our performances and even break our instruments, just 'cause we busk. All buskers know to watch out for them and to avoid them, if possible." Yuzuki explained warily. "So of course, if Ankh really doesn't want me sitting next to him –" an irritated 'Tch' drew everyone's attention to the person in question.
"Maybe you idiots would like to include me in this conversation?" Ankh demanded, swinging his long legs off of the other chair. "I'm sure she can't be any more of an idiot than you, Eiji." Ankh continued.
"S-so… she can sit there?" Eiji was amazed Ankh was prepared to give up his solidarity for the girl.
"Yeah. Now hurry up before I change my mind." Ankh snapped and Yuzuki bowed in thanks, nearly tripping on the small step as she sat herself opposite Ankh, her guitar safety stowed away just under the table. Hina and Chiyoko returned to work and Goto gave Eiji a look. Eiji nodded back. He hadn't missed it either. Eiji plastered on a smile as he offered Yuzuki a drink (and ignored Ankh's request for another ice – this deal of a year's worth didn't stretch that far) but out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ankh looking at Yuzuki out of the corner of his piercing eyes. Eiji knew Ankh all too well now. Ankh wouldn't have let Yuzuki sit on his table unless he got something out of it. Obviously that something wasn't Core or Cell Medals or even ice. So why was Ankh so curious about this girl?
Yuzuki simply ordered some water, as well as today's special when Eiji offered her the menu. She watched as Eiji glanced back at Ankh a few times, before finally disappearing behind the doors of the kitchen. She smiled and leaned back in her newly acquired chair.
"Eiji's not the most subtle human on the planet, is he?" she casually asked Ankh. From the little she could gather so far, the pair seemed to know each other well. Ankh scoffed.
"So?"
"Well he keeps glancing back at us. He seems worried." Ankh took a moment to suck on what remained of his current ice as Yuzuki shoved her hands behind her head. When he still didn't answer, Yuzuki tried a different track. "How did you guys meet? I can tell your kinda friends, I think, but I'm assuming your weren't exactly childhood buddies." Ankh pulled the ice out of his mouth and glared at Yuzuki.
"Look. Just because I'm letting you sit next to me, doesn't mean you can interrogate me!" Ankh snapped, leaning over the table slightly. To his surprise, Yuzuki seemed unaffected. She looked unflinchingly into his eyes and Ankh masterfully suppressed his desire to take his Greeed arm and wrap it tightly round her throat.
"Fine then." She answered, crossing her legs over and wincing when she accidently kicked her guitar. It sent a pained whine, which attracted the unwanted attention of Hina. Seeing Ankh glaring over the table sent her immediately into action.
"Ankh!" she barked and Ankh looked up to see her striding towards him. "Sit back down and be nice!" she ordered, placing her hands on his shoulders and pushed! Ankh fought for a second but was no match for the freakishly strong human and soon found himself forcible sat back in his seat. Yuzuki was suppressing a laugh all the while and when Ankh glared at her to stop, she burst out into laughter.
"Th-thank you… H-Hina-san!" Yuzuki managed through the giggles, sending Ankh's glare into a full on death-stare. If she was going to carrying on like this, Ankh would have to knock some sense into her. And he seriously meant knock. Hina informed Eiji of the issue and Eiji doubled his efforts to get Yuzuki's meal ready, returning only get Ankh – yes – another ice to keep him quiet.
"Here you go!" Eiji diffused the tension magnificently by setting down Yuzuki's meal and offering Ankh his other ice. Ankh managed to stop his death-glare as he snatched his prize away and Yuzuki's laughter died away almost instantly. "I don't know why I'm giving you another one." Eiji muttered at the blonde, who simply sneered back the reply:
"You promised me a year's supply."
"Yeah, one a day!" Eiji stressed but Ankh was ignoring him, focused instead on his red ice. Prefect. "Anyway Yuzuki, here's today's special: Energy Streak no Jutsu!" Yuzuki looked down at her plate. The main course was miso soup, with several pieces of tofu – cut into shurikens no less – decorating around the bowl. Finally, there were a small handful of pellet-sized brown balls in a smaller bowl. Yuzuki carefully picked one up and studied it.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Oh! Those are a special energy pellet ninjas used to use on long missions to keep their energy levels up." Eiji informed Yuzuki, who was very impressed with the attention to detail that the café on the whole had.
"Oh wow! What's in them?" Eiji tapped his nose secretively.
"Ahhh, I'm sorry! But that's a ninja secret." He answered with another tap of his nose, earning an eye roll from Ankh and Yuzuki snorting playfully. "Anyway, can I get you anything else?"
"No, no. I'm fine thanks Eiji." Yuzuki replied and Eiji walked off to another table, this time with only one glance back in their direction. Yuzuki ate in silence, watching Ankh with his ice whenever she needed to pause in her meal. She wasn't too surprised to receive the same courtesy back. Both had twigged that the other was different. They were just trying to rack they brain as to why.
Ankh was still focused on Yuzuki's brown eyes. They seemed paradoxical to him. Although their owner was clearly alive and well, they seemed to portray a certain lifelessness, like the iris was a shade too dark, a shade too grey for her to be truly alive. That was something Ankh knew well, the feeling of being awake but not alive. That was until he possessed Shingo; now all he felt was incomplete. Five of his Cores where somewhere in this city, waiting for him. He just had to use his idiot to find and collect them. Once he was at full strength, he could dump Hina's stupid brother and take on the other Greeeds. Once he had all the Medals, he would become the Multi-King. Then Eiji would be next one to fall.
As Yuzuki studied Ankh, she could tell that he was hiding something. Something dark and sinister. His whole being just oozed danger – a warning for her to leave him well alone. Yet Yuzuki felt oddly comforted by his dangerous aura, something about stirred her. She wondered if he...? No. it was impossible. Why would he be sitting in a café, causally eating ice? Yuzuki tuned her sensitive self away to his fierily aura and instead on his song. Like the two men from earlier, his was a duet. But unlike the man and his 'Goto-chan', Ankh's duet was complete. Although Yuzuki couldn't fully understand it without the other voice singing, she could get snapshots of it.
…
If I can grab all of it, then my wish will finally be granted
…
For the sake of my goal, why should I be picky about my means?
…?
Awoken from that long slumber…
…, There isn't any now
…
…
…
…
…
…, burn through the strongest darkness
…
Dispute the mess the song was without its partner, one phrase broke through the haze unhindered: TaJaDor. Yuzuki suddenly sat up when she heard that, sending the table into disarray. She was right. He was one of…them. Luckily Ankh's reactions where as sharp as a blade and he managed to catch the falling bowl before it crashed to the ground. He placed it back on the table and circled round to face her.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing?" he demanded and Yuzuki quickly composed herself.
"I-I'm sorry!" she muttered, taking the bowl off Ankh. "But I'm, err, rather clumsy, you see." Yuzuki answered nervously. Luckily, Eiji had come over to see what was happening.
"Are you okay Yuzuki-chan?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. In fact could I have the bill the please? Oh and tell Chiyoko-san I'll give her a demo if she wants." Eiji nodded happily and quickly gathered the empty plates. Yuzuki bowed I apology to Ankh again and he decided she wasn't worth it. Moments later the bill arrived, delivered by an enthusiastic Chiyoko. Yuzuki smiled at her and dragged out her guitar, carefully nudging Ankh's unmoving feet out of the way. "How much do you want to hear?" she asked, handing over a little more than what she owed the owner.
"Oh, just a snapshot! I don't want to keep you." Chiyoko answered as she counted out Yuzuki's change until Yuzuki shock her head, guesting her to keep it.
"How thoughtful." Yuzuki smiled. "There is somewhere I would like to visit, but there's no rush." Yuzuki picked a stool to sit on and a quick brush over the strings told her that the E and A strings had gone out of tune again. She quickly tuned them up and was eventually satisfied. "So, what do you want to hear?" Goto carefully made his way to the front with a suggestion.
"How about the song you sang while you were busking? The city's song?" Yuzuki beamed at him, both because it was a good idea and because she had suddenly recognised him as the 'Goto-chan' from earlier.
"Good idea, thanks Goto." She smiled at him as she settled on a bar stool. She tapped the guitar with her strumming hand to get a beat, before delving into her pocket to retrieve something. "A 1, 2… a 1, 2, 3, 4!" In one smooth motion, Yuzuki brought her chosen pick out from her pocket and started to sing.
"Your outer status is not that important
But the confidence inside you – now that's what is!"
Goto noticed immediately then Yuzuki was very different this time. Much more controlled and precise. Her fingers was like little nimble robots changing from chord to chord, whereas before they would twirl and dance before changing chords – which had meant she had gotten her fingers tangled on more than one occasion. Her head was kept stiller as well, not moving about to observe the reactions of the crowd but instead to remained high to project the sound. Her eyes didn't sparkle the same way – or at least that what Goto assumed. This time she had shut them, immersing herself in the song. He could tell the difference between 'busker-Yuzuki' and 'performer-Yuzuki'. As a busker, she focused on an entertaining show in order to get people invested in her and therefore give her money. As a performer she focused on her sound, drawing attention away from herself and instead to her voice and music.
"Lining yourself up to compare to others
Won't your meaning be gone? Don't bother at all!"
Hina smiled as the song carried on. It was bright, uplifting and strangely familiar. Like a song you heard every day as child, but as an adult all you can remember are a handful of words from the chorus. She glanced to at the table to see even Ankh had perked up to listen, watching her carefully through those hawk-like eyes. Hina wondered if Oniichan would enjoy the song. She still wasn't entirely sure how Ankh's possession of her brother worked, other than it was the only thing keeping him alive. She could only hope that he could hear Yuzuki's singing within his now shared mind.
"It's alright to be different from everyone else
Because everyone's different anyway – that's the miracle of life!"
Eiji's mouth was hanging open by this point. The girl was really something. Even though it was a song he had never heard before, it stirred his heart in a way few songs, no matter the nationality, did. And if it can hold the esteemed attention of the bird Greeed then that was a testament to her power. Chiyoko beside him was practically hopping to the beat and Eiji found her enthusiasm infectious enough to join in. Soon Hina was bopping along to the final part of her song and although Goto never joined in as enthusiastically as his co-workers, his tapping feet and fingers didn't go unnoticed.
"Anything goes! Watch as your heart suddenly becomes
More and more honest in your desires
Life goes on! Time to speed it up, so you'll be unstoppable
Now there is no way you can lose!"
Yuzuki finished gently this time, merely opening her eyes and offering the others a smile in order to break her spell over them. Chiyoko had managed to scurry away under everyone's nose, only to return with a timetable of work. Yuzuki beamed at her new boss.
"So I got the job then?!" she excitedly asked.
"Yep! You can start tomorrow, if you like." Chiyoko added, before going off to deal with the backlog of people that had arrived since Yuzuki started singing. Goto looked over the surprising well organized timetable. This certainly wasn't created on Chiyoko's whim.
"You've been planning this for a while, haven't you Chiyoko-san?" he asked, clearing up a recently deserted table. Chiyoko smiled back at him as she seated a new customer at it.
"You don't miss a trick, Goto-kun! I've just been waiting for the right person." Yuzuki scratched her neck in embarrassment and decided to quietly leave. However she had failed to notice her guitar was still in front of her feet and tripped over it. She fell quite magnificently onto the floor.
"Ahhh!" she cried, the grip on the object in her hand slipping. It headed to the floor, joined by a similar object from out of one of Yuzuki's pockets. They clattered onto the floor, leaving the distinctive sound of metal-on-metal in the air, as well as the strange sound of ringing. As if the objects were charged with a great power. The noise set Ankh on edge straight away. He knew that sound. Eiji reacted to Ankh's reaction, he recognised the sound of falling objects but by Ankh's reaction he could easily guess what had fallen. Yuzuki cursed as the bruises started to well up and as Ankh got off of his seat to bend down and observe the fallen objects. Two round coins with some sort of edging and with designs that were rather familiar to him. But before Ankh could pick them up to examine them more closely, a pink hand snatched them off the floor. Ankh looked up to see Yuzuki glaring at him. Her dead eyes burned with acknowledgement. She knew he knew.
"Yuzuki! Are you alright?" Hina asked, helping her to her feet. Brushing herself down Yuzuki nodded the affirmative.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks Hina-san." She muttered shortly before heading out the door. Hina shrugged her shoulders but decided that Yuzuki was probably just embarrassed. Eiji watched as Ankh stared at Yuzuki and then turned his attention to Yuzuki herself. She had paused just outside the café, looking at something in her hands. Then, as if she could feel two sets of eyes on her, she glanced back at them, her eyes darting between a confused face and a face that wanted to know more. Her gaze stilled on Ankh's and inclined her head gently, gesturing him to follow her, before she ran off out of sight.
"That was rather weird, ne Ankh?" Eiji sighed, but got no reply. Odd. "Ankh?" it wasn't until Eiji turned to look at the Greeed that he realised his table was empty bar the stick remains of his various ices. Out of instinct, his head whipped round to the stairs leading to their room in the attic and who should be climbing them in earnest but a flamboyantly dressed blonde. "Ankh!" he cried, pushing past Goto to follow the Greeed. He then did a double take and quickly straightened the tipping tray in Goto's hands. "I'm sorry, but I gotta go!" he cried and resumed the chase. But by the time he was in their room, all he could do was watch as the silhouette of Ankh leaped out of the window and into the street
XxXxXxX
Yuzuki was an idiot. A first class idiot. A clumsy idiot. Heck, she was amazed she got out of that unscathed considering. Well, bar the bruises from her less-then-elegant trip to the floor. It surprised her that although Ankh knew (or at least had a rough idea) what the objects she had dropped were, he didn't do anything about them. Maybe it was shock; as far as he knew there were only five sets. Now she had shaken his belief. Oh well, can't be helped. Maybe she would get some information out of him too. She knew he couldn't be the only one around and there was the matter of OOO to sort out. He must be around here somewhere if the city's song constantly called its name before every chorus.
Yuzuki hadn't even noticed that her feet had carried her back to the park she had busked at earlier. She glanced down at her watch: 2.00pm, there should still be some buskers around. She headed through the quiet park, listening to the rustling of the tress in the light breeze and the rushing of water from the fountain her and the other buskers called their stage. But no music. And no buskers. The fountain was devoid of life – in fact the whole park was! Bar that man sitting alone on the bench. He stared at her hatefully. Yuzuki thought he was a kill-joy earlier and this just confirmed it. He must have chased everyone off. Ah well. As much as a pain kill-joys were, she had business to attend to.
Her hand unwrapped to reveal the two coin-like objects from earlier. A smirk grew form Yuzuki's lips as she tossed them into the air, allowing them to knock against each other. They sent their song out across the city, clanging and ringing in the air. Yuzuki heard a branch creak behind her. So there he was.
"Oi Ankh. I don't like talking to trees. Come down to earth." She told him, inclining her head to his tree. Ankh's eyes widened, had she deliberately thrown those things in order to get his attention? The sneaky bitch. "I don't ask twice Ankh. I tell you what you want if you do the same for me." Ankh gave a 'tch' of defeat and leapt out of the tree. He landed as graceful as any bird to see Yuzuki's guitar strapped to her back. Yuzuki then turned around to face him. There was something different about her. Her face was stone cold instead of the warm and open face of before. Her eyes were as undead as before, highlighted further by her sudden change in character. One hand was clenched into a fist by her side; the other was flat as if she was offering the objects from before to him. They stood still for a moment. Then Ankh decided to get things started.
"What are you?" he demanded. Yuzuki smirked.
"Tsukino Yuzuki. I don't need to ask you who you are, Greeed." She answered.
"How do you know about us, human?!" Ankh demanded, pointing at her with his Greeed arm. No sense in hiding it now.
"Let's just say I was brought up with you lot in my mind." She answered, if you could call it that. "How many of you are there then? Are the others hiding somewhere?"
"Uva and Kazari are. Mezool and Gamel have already bitten the bullet." Something in that answer set Yuzuki off because she suddenly tensed and snarled. "Why do you want to know?"
"It's for my job."
"I thought you didn't have a job?"
"Well, not a real job per say." Yuzuki answered. "But I guess you could say I have two jobs now."
"And what is this other job?"
"A hunting job." Yuzuki answered seriously. Ankh walked closer to her so that they were only a few feet apart.
"Hunting? Are you some sort of dog?" Ankh sneered. Yuzuki snarled back at him. "Huh! That proves that you're a dog."
"More like a wolf, Ankh." Yuzuki growled.
"So, what do you hunt then?" Yuzuki's snarl twisted back into a smirk.
"These." Yuzuki suddenly tossed the two objects at Ankh. His reactions were as sharp as ever as he easily caught them in his Greeed hand. They felt oddly heavy and when he opened his hand, he was greeted with the same sight as earlier. "These are –!" he gasped, turning them over to finally study them a bit closer. Yuzuki's smirk only grew wider. The two coins were as big as a Medal, if a little heavier, with black edging rather than gold. The two objects had two different designs, similar to the Medals Ankh, OOO and the other Greeed used. One showed some sort of bear and the other had a dog of some description. What had Yuzuki said? Okami?
"Yep. I hunt these Core Medals." Yuzuki finally admitted. Ankh pulled a face. So he was right. That didn't help ease his worry any further. If there were these two Cores – how many more where there? But Ankh could worry about that later. Right now he had Cores to absorb. Yuzuki watched as Ankh face went from disbelief to rage to a composed sneer.
"You know, you ought to be more careful with these." Ankh told her, waving the two Cores in front of Yuzuki. However she seemed unfazed by his threat. Ankh would have to teach her not to mess with a Greeed. He suddenly tossed to two into the air and as they raced back down to the ground, he caught them in one, long, sweeping gesture with his Greeed hand, expecting to absorb them. Yuzuki looked down from his shocked face and smirked.
"Now drop those Ankh." She asked sweetly, holding her hand under his. Ankh's face screwed up in anger but he released his hand to allow the two Cores to drop into her hands. "Good boy." She teased and Ankh let his Greeed hand wrap around her throat.
"That's bullshit!" he loudly cursed. "Why can't I absorb them!?"
"Because technically they're not…" Yuzuki struggled to find the right word, not at all helped by the lack of air she was receiving. "Awakened shall we say?" Yuzuki answered, trying to push Ankh's hand off of her throat.
"And what does THAT mean? Answer me!" Ankh demanded, shaking Yuzuki. She cried out in shock but thankfully a shout from a familiar voice made Ankh pause and roll his eyes.
"Ankh! Ankh, stop it!" Eiji cried, running over to them with an active Taka-Can he had used to follow Ankh. Ankh 'tch'ed in response and pushed Yuzuki to the floor, letting go of her at last. She winced as her guitar scrapped along the ground, but a quick inspection told her the worst was some new scratches along its surface. Yuzuki slowly got to her feet, wincing at the gazes over her body ached in response. Eiji was trying to reprimand Ankh, to little success. "Ankh, what are you doing?"
"Getting some info, idiot."
"But that's Yuzuki! She's –"
"More than she appears." Ankh snapped, glaring at Yuzuki. "Ne? Inu-chan?" Yuzuki went to throttle him but Ankh got their first. Luckily Yuzuki managed to claw at Ankh's shirt, ripping it a few times, whenever he decided to tighten his grip around her throat.
"Oi you two! Stop it!" Eiji pleaded, pushing them apart. Ankh sighed and wandered off to the fountain. Yuzuki snorted and rubbed her reddening neck. "Ummm, Yuzuki-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"What Ankh said… about you being more than you seem." Eiji watched as Yuzuki drew herself up to her full height and glare at Ankh's back.
"Depends." She answered stonily. "Do you even know who Ankh really is?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Eiji asked, unwilling to reveal too much about Ankh. Yuzuki seemed so different to how she was minutes ago.
"She means that I'm a Greeed, Eiji!" Ankh shouted from the fountain, picking up some thing or other.
"Ankh!" Eiji cried in exasperation. Yuzuki looked at the two in shocked.
"Wait… you know he's a Greeed?" Yuzuki asked Eiji. "But… why?"
"We kinda work together. Like begrudged business partners. He supplies me with Core Medals." At that, Yuzuki felt her hand tighten reflexively around her Cores. She took a deep breath and forced it to relax – Eiji wasn't like the Greeed, he wouldn't just snatch her Medals away. The question was why he needed them in the first place.
"No offence Eiji, but why do you need Core Medals?"
"I use them with this." Eiji brought out a large, black object. It had blue lines running over it and three, Medal sized slots. Yuzuki recognised it instantly and looked at Eiji in shock.
"Y-you're… OOO!" she cried out.
"Yeah! But, how come you know about the Greeed and OOO?" Eiji demanded, but Ankh was calling for him.
"Oi Eiji! Come have a look at this!" he demanded. Eiji and Yuzuki mutually decided to sort this out later and went over to Ankh. Eiji got there first and brought up a piece of splintered wood to his face.
"Looks like something was rampaging here." Eiji deduced as Yuzuki panted as she joined them.
"Let me see…" she gasped as Eiji handed it over to her. "This is a piece of a guitar! The buskers where attacked here!" she deduced.
"R-really?" Eiji gasped, Ankh hadn't said enough about a Yummy. Was it the doings of a Greeed looking for desire? Suddenly, Ankh raised his head up and sneered in pleasure.
"It's a Yummy!" he announced, leaping to his feet. Eiji thought that answered his question. "Come on Eiji!" he shouted, running off down the path.
"A-Ankh! Wait!" Eiji cried and he placed the OOO Driver onto his waist. The rest of the belt suddenly materialized and Eiji bowed to Yuzuki. "I'm sorry, but I have to go!"
"That's alright. You have a job Eiji." Yuzuki replied with an understanding smile, returning to her friendlier persona. "Speaking of jobs, I better head off to mine." Eiji looked at her in confusion. He opened his mouth to ask something when Ankh reappeared at the top of the path.
"Oi Eiji! Hurry up! It's a Yummy, you idiot!" he snapped, throwing him three Medals.
"Coming Ankh!" Eiji replied, catching the Medals with ease. He placed the red Taka Medal in the first slot and the green Batta Medal in the third slot. Eiji looked at Yuzuki. She had started to walk off but had paused to watch Eiji's transformation. He nodded at her as he placed the yellow Tora Medal in the middle slot and then set the Driver on a slant, with the Taka Medal aimed at his head and the Batta Medal aimed at his legs. The O Scanner hummed in preparation. "Henshin." Eiji passed the scanner over the Medals and they rang out, complete with coloured rings as the scanner recognised them.
TAKA!
TORA!
BATTA!
TA-TO-BA! TATOBA! TA-TO-BA!
The Driver did its usual announcement song whenever Eiji used the ToTaBa Combo. He always wondered when this particular mismatch of Medal created a Combo, but never remembered to ask Ankh. Speaking of which, having seen Eiji heshin the bird Greeed was now returning back the way he was heading, silently telling the idiot to follow him. Eiji glanced back one more time to see Yuzuki headed the opposite way out of the park. Without stopping or turning around, she raised a hand and waved to him. Eiji nodded back and chased after Ankh's form. Yuzuki lowered her hand on hearing his retreating footsteps and paused for a moment, smiling to herself.
"Happy hunting OOO…" she murmured before quickening her pace to her hunting ground.
Unknown to Yuzuki, OOO or even Ankh, was a fourth human who was interested in the current Medal developments. He had messy platinum blonde hair under a trendy black and white cap. His top was yellow with a black jacket covering it, complete with a fur neck-line and a leopard design under it. His hands where stuck deep into the pockets of his baggy, black trousers. He had a playful smirk tugging at his lips and watched as OOO headed off to deal with Uva's Yummy, while the human Ankh had been arguing with headed in the opposite direction.
Kazari stretched out his back in a truly cat-like manner, slipping his hands behind his head as his hat tipped forward to cover his bright, intelligent eyes. Something about the newbie stirred him. It was hazy but something about her made his chest fell tight, like the very essence of his existence, his Core Medals, where in danger. She needed investigating – especially if she really was 'hunting' Core Medals. This talent could either make her into another ally of his, which of course relied on him managing to get her to work for him and that human Maki. However if she chose to work alone or she for some reason decided to help Birth or, in the worst case scenario, Ankh and OOO she would be a dangerous foe. At least if she turned out to be the latter, a mere human against a Greeed was hardly a long or favourable match for the former. Not that Kazari ever cared about fairness, considering he had ripped the Core Medals out of a fellow Greeed in order to feed his own desire for evolution. Kazari sighed and sauntered off and out of the park, along the path of his fellow hunter.
XxXxXxX
Yuzuki's hunting ground wasn't too far away from the park, only a five minute walk once Yuzuki had got her bearings. She was greeted with a tall, rich building covered in banners and advertisements for their various exhibits, the fountain in front of it creating playful streams of water. Yuzuki seemed to have a thing for fountains today. The museum's main selling point at the moment was some ancient artefacts brought back from Europe, thanks to a grateful and unnamed sponsor, that bore a remarkable resemblance to the city's protector, Kamen Rider OOO. Yuzuki was in no doubt that they were artefacts of the OOO King, who had originally ordered the creation of the Core Medals as a means to gain power beyond infinity, and the OOO Driver as a means to contain and channel that power. Yuzuki sighed and scratched her head. She wouldn't dwell on OOO's past too much. Eiji seemed completely different to the OOO 800 years ago but she knew very well that appearances can be deceiving. She would withhold her judgement – at least until she had completed her hunt.
Speaking of her hunt, she was reminded of the reason she had brought herself here. On one of the banners, the advert showed a shot of four round objects, partially covered in stone. If you looked closely enough though, or had a keen eye, you could see that on the parts not covered by stone revealed some strange designs. One looked like part of a roaring face, with its jaw and fangs partly visible, another showed what could be described as part of a wing tip while the one beside it boasted powerful claws or talons. The final one however remained firmly encased in stone with only its black edges escaping stony imprisonment. Yuzuki smiled. She was certain that these ancient objects in stone were in fact Core Medals, the ones she was hunting for. Bringing out her purse, she continued what remained of her 'earnings' from the mornings busk. She had about 1000 yen left, after her meal at the Cous Coussier and the entrance fee was 600 yen. It meant she wouldn't be able to buy any food for tonight, but the payoff of not one but four Core Medals more than made up for it. Her mind set, Yuzuki headed towards to entrance with her 600 yen in hand.
Once Yuzuki had walked into the main doors of the museum, Kazari felt safe enough to jump down from his vantage point in a nearby tree. He looked up again at the banner Yuzuki had been studying. Dispute their obvious fossilisation and some minor cosmetic difference, Kazari also concluded that the four coins were indeed Core Medals. The question was whose? And why had they never appeared until now? They was only one way to find the answers. Swiping some yen off a distracted human, Kazari once again began to follow the strange girl.
XxXxXxX
Elsewhere in the city, panic was being spread. A man-sized, bipedal kajin ravaged the streets, attacking anything within the range of its several legs. Humans fell at its feet and a long, flexible proboscis attached to their pink necks. The humans would scream, then fall unconscious as the Yummy's poison raced through their blood, tainting their veins a sickly green colour. In the distance was the sounds of the ambulances waling and racing to save their lives. The Yummy didn't care. Its job was to lure out OOO and then take back Master Uva's Core Medals. Luckily, one of them would be required for OOO's default combo. So when two humans starting running towards him instead of away from him, he knows his lure has worked.
"OOO… you took your time." The Yummy stated, throwing his current human prey away. She would most likely die and it pleased him to know that OOO could have saved her had he been more punctual. OOO looked at him in shook. The other human, who the Yummy could see had Ankh's arm attached to him, simply looked annoyed.
"A-Ankh!" Eiji cried, pointing at the Yummy. "You just sensed him, how come he's matured already!"
"Don't worry about it!" Ankh snapped, pointing at something in front of him. "Focus on the Yummy!" Eiji turned just in time to see the Yummy flying towards him, hands stretching out to grab him. Eiji ducked and rolled under it, only to find himself caught in a maelstrom of legs. The Yummy laughed and continued to fly, dragging Eiji with him. "Tch." Ankh hissed. Stupid Eiji, always so focused on humans. Ankh had better things to worry about. He has sensed the Yummy's creation while he was tailing Yuzuki, but Ankh was reluctant to run all the way back to the Cous Coussier to get Eiji, then run all the way to the Yummy. By that point, it would have matured anyway. So Ankh thought it would be more beneficial to him to continue tailing Yuzuki and wait for the idiot to follow him as he predictably would. Then once he was sure that Yuzuki had told him all she would, he would tell Eiji. It had worked perfectly. The Yummy stopped flying, letting Eiji drop hard onto the ground. Eiji groaned as the Yummy leant down and attacked. Eiji tried to back up, but the Yummy's horrid proboscis caught his legs. Suddenly Eiji felt his legs burn and the power lines on his Batta Legs flickered dangerously.
"Ankh! Condor!" Eiji ordered, taking the Batta Medal out of the OOO Driver.
"I know that!" Ankh snapped back but obediently (if not gracefully) complied with Eiji's orders and threw him his Condor Medal. Eiji scrambled away from the Yummy and placed the Condor Medal in the third slot. The Driver was once again set on a slant and the O Scanner hummed in preparation. Eiji scanned it over the new combo.
TAKA!
TORA!
CONDOR!
Eiji sighed as his body settled into the TaToraDor combo. Eiji shook his legs and charged forward, determined to finish it off quickly – just to get back at Ankh for not telling him and endangering these innocent people.
XxXxXxX
Yuzuki sighed as she was presented with two ornate doors. Two doors leading in completely different directions, one would lead to the Cores, but the other would just waste her time and patience. A map was no use, the exhibit was so new that it wasn't on any of the maps. If only that stupid guard had allowed her to bring in her guitar into the museum, she could just play the songs of the Cores and be lead there by her ears. However her guitar was too big apparently and she had to leave it in reception. Yuzuki sighed in annoyance. At least she had one other way of finding the Cores quickly. Yuzuki dived her right hand into her pocket and once more drew out her two Cores. She smiled and tossed them once again in the air. People turned their heads at the sound of clinking metal and as the two Cores paused briefly in the air before making their descent. Strangely, dispute being thrown vertically upwards, both Cores ended up falling towards the door to Yuzuki's left. Yuzuki caught the Cores with ease and strode through the left door.
Kazari followed her, ducking behind a glass case containing an ornately designed jug when she turned around suddenly. He studied it with an almost child-like interest as Yuzuki glanced over the people around her. Kazari watched out of the corner of his eye as she decided that what had set her off was her nerves. She looked down the corridors leading deeper into the building before tossing her Cores again. Kazari flinched at the sound. It made his chest feel tight every time he heard it, but he would have to endure. He watched as Yuzuki turned around and jogged down the corridor next to the ancient mural. Kazari gave the mural a passing glance before slowly following her, keeping one eye on her while looking at the human objects as to not stand out. He followed her resolutely until she reached her destination. Kazari could feel the familiarity of the objects the moment he stepped in. There was a stone block with some cravings made by Gamel in a glass case and next to Gamel's doodling, there was some long claws marks where a certain Greeed had gotten pissed off with his constant whining for Mezool.
Yuzuki didn't care about the stones around her boasting evidence of the Greeed, nor the few paintings and depictions of them and the King OOO, nor was she interested in the Cell Medals that decorate most of the artefacts. No. She was focused solely on the case in the middle of the room. In it were the four disks from the banner outside. Yuzuki smirked as she studied them. One of the looked like another Shirokuma Medal – not bad, but she hoped that at least one of these Medals would be a new time. And she was almost certain that there was a Farukon Core here. She was so focused on her prey that she failed to notice someone staring at her. Kazari watched her intently study the Cores, her smile twisting into a smirk as she held out her current cores to compare them. Suddenly Kazari felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I know. Terrible isn't?" an older lady asked him.
"Eh?" Kazari voiced, jumping back in shock. The human was a little shorter than his human form with something over her eyes. Although Kazari couldn't see her features or hear her voice properly, he could see the glow of desire around her.
"Children these days, they're so ignorant. You obviously want to talk to her, but she's been ignoring you. Terrible." The lady explained. Kazari relaxed and smiled.
"Yeah. Don't you wish we were more respectfully?" Kazari asked.
"Oh absolutely!" the lady agreed. Kazari turned away to hide his knowing smirk, holding a Cell Medal in his hand. The human stupidly put her hand back on his shoulder, not that he noticed anything except the change in pressure. "But you're not like that, ne?" Kazari let himself laugh and turned on the human.
"Oh no, I'm worst." He informed her, a Medal slot appearing in her head. Kazari threw the Cell Medal in and the sound of it hitting some sort of bottom caught Yuzuki's attention. A small egg starting growing from the woman and Kazari slipped into the growing crowd. He might as well try to keep his human form hidden from the girl. It might be useful later. The lady began to shriek and curse in fury, causing the egg to grow in size, the sound of falling Cell Medals a comforting bonus for Kazari. Yuzuki could see that the woman's distress was causing the Roe Yummy to grow and rushed to help her.
"Are you alright? What's the matter?" Yuzuki asked.
"Oh it's you!" she spat. "What have you and your friends done?! I'm just a harmless old woman!" she cried out in panic, the comment about 'friends' cutting Yuzuki deeper than she thought it would. She was not like the Greeed, not in this sense. Yuzuki tried to help her calm down but for whatever reason it was only helping the Yummy grow. Yuzuki started to back away as the egg burst open, revealing a slim, conjoined kajin. The legs, right arm and half of the torso seemed to be based off a wild cat, with spots and markings not too dissimilar to a leopard yet its thin body denoting it as a smaller wild cat. The top half of the torso, the left arm and head where all based off an otter, its mouth open hungrily.
"Eeeyaaaahh!" it cried and people panicked.
XxXxXxX
Ankh was content to watch OOO battle from his perch on some nearby scaffolding. The Condor legs had been a good call, with several of the Mosquito Yummy's legs falling prey to it. Eiji however was still having trouble getting any significant damage on the Yummy, since it had the advantage of flight over the land-bound Rider. Eiji leapt up and used the Raptor Edges to slash the side of the Yummy. A few Medals clattered to ground but Eiji was kicked back earthwards before he could do anything else. Ankh was reluctant to lead Eiji the TaJaDor combo for several reasons. One: they were his Cores. Two: Combos were dangerous and Ankh needed Eiji alive and fighting. Three: they were his Cores! However the situation was taken to a new level when Ankh heard the sound of Cell Medals. However they weren't coming for the current Yummy, the sound was too far away and unless this Yummy's desire was to fight OOO, there was no reason for it to gain Cell Medals. Ankh gave his characteristic "Tch".
"Eiji! Another Yummy!" Ankh called to the Rider. Eiji gasped in shock, nearly forgetting to duck the Yummy's attack.
"What?! Are you sure, Ankh?"
"Of course I'm sure you idiot!" Ankh snapped back offended.
"Sorry! What should we do?" Eiji replied, slashing at the Yummy with his Tora Claws. Ankh thought about it. He needed the Medals from this Yummy, but also he should investigate why Kazari had also created a Yummy. If he thought his Yummy would get a free ride just because OOO was preoccupied, he had another thing coming. Ankh pulled out his Medal Container and studied the Medals. He needed something to bring the buzzing insect down that didn't involve the Kujaku Medal. His eyes fell on the Kwugata Medal. Although there was a risk that the Yummy's purpose was to regain some of Uva's Medals, Ankh needed a reliable Combo to keep Eiji safe while he investigated Kazari's Yummy. The lighting power of the Kwugata Horns would easily ground the Yummy while the Tora Claws and Raptor Edges would slice through it. And if worst came to the worst, Ankh was sure that Birth would arrive and help. Although Ankh wanted the Medals more than anything, at least he could get them from somewhere else it he lost this Yummy.
"Eiji!" Ankh shouted. Eiji looked up at him as Ankh tossed the Kwugata Medal at him. "Be careful with that!" Ankh warned, jumping down.
"I will, but, what are you doing Ankh?" Ankh scoffed and began striding away. "Ankh!" Eiji shouted.
"Just defeat the Yummy!" Ankh ordered, picking up the pace into a run, thankful that his host was as fit as he was. He could hear the idiot in the background ordering him back but Ankh had bigger fish to fry. Or Yummies in this case.
Eiji gave up calling for Ankh and looked at the Kwugata Medal. "I guess I should focus on this one first." He resigned himself to his fate and swapped the Taka Medal for the Kwugata. In one smooth motion, he swiped the O Scanner over the new Combo.
KWUAGATA!
TORA!
CONDOR!
GataToraDor was by no means as catchy as TaToBa, but in this case it would have to do.
XxXxXxX
The museum had descended into panic. Frightened humans scattered in the hopes of escaping the wrath of the Kawauso-Tsuri Neko Yummy. Yuzuki had no idea how the Greeed had managed to get in the museum, deciding that they all could utilise a human form, like Ankh did. Guards open fired on the kajin, but Yuzuki knew how useless that was. A powerful, watery blast was set their way and as they moved aside, the blast continued towards Yuzuki. She ducked and the blast struck the glass case above her, smashing it instantly and sending a rain of glass over her face and creating several cuts on her face and arms, once her had raised up the latter to defend herself. Seeing an opening, Yuzuki thrust a hand up and scooped the four Medals into her hands. Yuzuki cried out in pain as her skin was sliced by the glass but at least she could reach all the Medals without moving.
She quickly stood up and compared the Medals. Her Okami and Shirokuma shone briefly and two of the newly gained Cores did the same. The stone encasing them disintegrated into dust and the second Okami and Shirokuma Cores greeted Yuzuki. Yuzuki had mixed emotions about that. She was overjoyed to have another of her Cores, but she had really been hoping for a new type of Core. Her wish was soon granted as the remaining two Cores also began to shine, the stone crumbling in Yuzuki's hands. The sight that greeted her was a welcome one. Two New Cores. The Farukon Cores. So she had guessed right.
Yuzuki's daze was broken by a shout of pain. She raised her head to see the Yummy discarding the unconscious remains of the guards. It glared at her, hissing viciously as it slowly started to head towards her. Yuzuki looked at the Yummy, standing her ground. The Yummy raced towards her and Yuzuki used her smaller frame to duck under it. The Yummy stumbled over the remains of the glass case that contained the Medals and Yuzuki glanced back before racing down a corridor. The Yummy was dragged to his feet by Kazari, now in his Greeed Form.
"Chase her." He ordered and the Yummy nodded, setting down the corridor with Kazari following behind.
XxXxXxX
"Ah, Eiji!" Called a voice as Eiji shocked the Mosquito Yummy back to the ground. "I see you've started without me." Eiji turned around to see Data Akira casually walking towards him, Goto following behind with his Birth Buster. Date set his tank on the ground. "Now, let's get earning." Date produced his Birth Belt and flicked it around his waist. The belt clicked into place and Date tossed a Cell Medal into the air, catching it in his left hand. "Henshin." He stated, slotting the Medal into the Driver. He gave the golden handle two twists and the pod in the belt spilt open with a loud popping sound. A white bubble of protection appeared around him and several capsules containing his suit appeared, opening up to allow the Rider to battle. Date rolled his shoulders and charged towards the Yummy.
"Whoa!" cried Eiji as he was all but pushed aside as Date tackled the Yummy hard. Date rolled away from the Yummy, giving it several powerful kicks as it struggled to stand. Eiji however saw the proboscis reach out towards Birth. "Date-san! Look out"!" Eiji cried as he pushed Date out of way, just managing to avoid being caught himself.
"Hey Eiji! Just what are you doing?" Date complained, tapping his fellow Rider on the head.
"Sorry Date-san, but that mouth-thingy is pretty dangerous. It can suck the power out of you!" Eiji warned, glancing into the distance.
"Oh right. Thanks Eiji." Date replied, leaping to his feet. The Rider charged towards the Yummy shoulder first and Eiji went to follow, stopping to glance back at the path Ankh had run down. The Taka-Can from earlier had, once again, followed Ankh when he had left Eiji to investigate the second Yummy. Eiji could see it returning back, squawking in success. Suddenly the sound of Medals made Eiji jump and Eiji turned round to see the Yummy being held back from attacking him by Goto's fire. Eiji watched it take flight and fired another shock from his horns.
"Thank you, Goto-san!" Eiji cried, slashing at the prone Yummy with his claws and legs. Date was by his can, picking out a Cell Medal.
"Focus on the battle, Hino!" Goto cried back, rushing to Date's side to refill his weapon.
Pop!
CRANE ARM!
"Sorry!" Eiji leapt back as the winch from Date's Crane Arm smacked the Yummy hard. Date pulled the winch back and joined Eiji's side.
"What is it? And where's Ankh?" Date hadn't seen the Greeed since he arrived. Odd considering him and the Greeed where in direct competition for Cell Medals.
"Ahh! Ankh went off somewhere!" Eiji replied in between kicks. Goto gave Date a look. "He said there was another Yummy!" Eiji added before he was thrown back by the force of the Yummy's beating wings. Goto looked up in shock.
"Another Yummy? Then that's what the Canroid was trying to tell us, Date-san!"
"Seems like it. Hey Goto-chan! Pass me another Medal!"
"Right!" Goto grabbed a Cell Medal and rushed over to Date, covering himself with the Birth Buster. "Here you go." Date took the Medal and placed it in the slot, giving the handle two twists.
Pop!
DRILL ARM!
The capsule containing Birth's Drill Arm was released and attached itself to the winch on the Crane Arm, creating a deadly combo. With one swing, a small shower of Cell Medals fell off the Yummy.
"Eiji! Go find Ankh and deal with the other Yummy-chan!" Date ordered, tossing him a Cell Medal. "Here's a freebie, don't waste it!"
"I won't, thank you Date-san!" Eiji cried heading for the nearby Ridevendor. He slotted the coin in and pressed the Touch-and-Scan Sensor. The computer recognised OOO's signature and the vending machine transformed into a modified bike. Eiji hopped onto it and revved the engine up. "Lead the way, Taka-chan!" Eiji ordered.
"TAKA!" It screeched, heading off with Eiji following close behind. Date pushed to watch them. The Yummy reared up on its legs and howled in fury. OOO was getting away. It tried to pursue Eiji, but Date gave it a strong kick and dived the Drill into its stomach, covering it with Cell Medals. This time the Yummy screeched in pain and backed away. Goto fired a series of Medals and Date chucked his prize into his tank.
"Looks like it's just us." Date noted. Goto pulled his empty magazine off and refilled it once more. He looked up at Date, sweat clinging to his face. He nodded back.
"Yeah. Let's go."
XxXxXxX
Yuzuki cursed her slow legs. Dispute having a head start on the Yummy and being helped by the museum guards, the Yummy was still right behind her. She, along with several other scared tourists, burst through the exits and slammed the door shut behind them. Yuzuki raced down the steps and collapsed by the fountain outside, chest heaving harder than she thought possible. She flinched at sound of splintering wood and splashing water. She turned round to see the Yummy leap halfway down the stairs in a single bound. At the top was another creature. This one was also man-sized and cat-equse in its design. However unlike the Yummy, his legs and part of his torso were covered in brown wrappings and bandages, like an ancient Egyptian mummy. He also didn't have a human face, whereas the Yummy did. Yuzuki's eyes widened as her brain figured out the mysterious creature's identity. He had the same dangerous aura as Ankh, only his glowed rather than burned and the aura's strength was intensified to the point of Yuzuki's lips curling into a snarl without her realising it.
"Kazari." She spat, hands tightened into fists protectively around her Cores.
"Oh? So you know of us." Kazari replied. "Interesting. You're not one of Ankh's little lapdogs, are you?" Yuzuki's chest rumbled in a growl. Why did all the Greeeds insist on called her a dog?
"No. I'm no lapdog, kitty." Yuzuki snapped, adding her own insult for good measure. It wasn't brilliant, but Yuzuki could work on it later. Kazari 'hmphed' in response, waving a hand at his Yummy.
"Get her." He stated, almost bored of the chase already. Yuzuki gasped as the Yummy jumped down the rest of the steps, landing about 20m metres away. It hissed and Yuzuki searched desperately for and exit. She couldn't run, she had no way of fighting it, her only hope was…
"Oi! Kazari!" Ankh's voice was like a breath of fresh air to her. Yuzuki turned to him on instinct. His hair was flattened against his head from the sweat on his brow and air rushing push him as he ran. He panted heavily but pushed himself so that he was just behind Yuzuki. He noticed her and frowned. "Yuzuki?" he asked incredulously. Yuzuki smirked but it was wiped off when Ankh then shouted: "Look out!"
The warning was too late though. As Yuzuki turned to refocus on the Yummy, her vision was filled by the sight of a rapidly approaching water attack. Yuzuki tried to dive out of the way but the blast struck her hard on the shoulder. She cried out in pain as her shoulder buckled under the attack, dislocating instantly. It took all of Yuzuki's strength to keep a hold of her Cores as she was blown back into the fountain by the attack. Ankh 'tch'ed at her and Yuzuki stared hatefully at him
"Thanks for that, bird brain!" she snapped and Ankh momentarily forget about Kazari and his Yummy.
"What do you call me, Inu-chan?" Ankh sneered, pulling Yuzuki up by his Greeed arm. Yuzuki cried out as her shoulder was jostled but composed herself enough to spit in his face.
"I said bird brain!" she repeated. Ankh's face went red with rage and he pull her nose-to-nose with himself, tightening his grip. Yuzuki squeaked pitifully as her oxygen supply was slowly drained from her. She was going to pass out in a minute if she didn't get a hold of herself. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kazari approach them and flick his hand at them. "Wa…tch out..!" Yuzuki tried to shout, attempting to push Ankh with her good arm, but it was useless. The yellow tornado raced towards them and Ankh had no choice but to let go of her. He stumbled out of the wind tunnel, thankful its effects were limited on a bird Greeed, such as himself. Yuzuki wasn't so lucky. Her dislocated arm was flung up and the pain assaulting her forced Yuzuki to open her hand, letting go of the six Cores. The wind tossed them high into the air and then died away. Yuzuki fell to the ground, eyes wide in fury.
"It can't be?!" Ankh gasped, realising why Yuzuki was so pissed at him, the globule of spit still sticking to his face. He turned around at the sound of a Ridevendor approaching. Predictably, his idiot was riding it. Birth must be battling the other Yummy if Eiji was prepared to look for him and the other Yummy. Eiji pulled off his helmet and raced down to Ankh.
"Ankh! What happened?"
"Now!" Kazari hissed, leaping into the air. Eiji and Ankh went to watch him, but their attention was drawn to someone else first.
"Oh no you don't." Yuzuki muttered darkly, pulling herself to her feet. Using her good arm, she hefted her body up into the air, pushing out with her legs on the stone of a nearby wall into order to launch herself up.
"Aahhh, Yuzuki!" Eiji cried, fumbling for his belt – why had he de-henshined if he was going to face another Yummy? Ankh pulled a face and stuck his arm towards the falling Cores. The red Greeed arm detached itself from its human host, leaving Shingo unconscious. The idiot could look after him.
Ankh soared into the air, hand open to snatch whatever he could, his talons stretched out to their limit. Kazari's where the same, his face a mask of pleasure at his successful plan, his ego spurred on by the joyful cries of his Yummy. Yuzuki's stretched out her weaker arm, her fingers splaying out in order to try and grab them all, her face determined and her other arm screaming in pain.
EIJI'S MEDALS: TAKA x2, KUJAKU, CONDOR, TORA, KWUGATA, BATTA, SAI,UNAGI
AND YUZUKI'S MEDALS: OKAMI x2, SHRIOKUMA x2, FARUKON x2