Disclaimer: I don't own the anime/manga of Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z nor its characters used in this fanfic.

A/N: Hi, everyone! I know that I made an announcement long ago that I wouldn't start on any new PPGZ fanfics until my current ones were finished—and believe me, I'm still holding onto my word about that—but, at least let me clarify first why I'm posting this and not updating one of my current fanfics instead.

So, some of you may or may not know that writing has always been my joy and outlet, especially when I was going through dark, rough times. It was an outlet for me to let out any feelings I had during those times—to vent, essentially.

A few years ago, I hit an incredibly low point in my life where my self-esteem (and perhaps self-worth) had plummeted due to events that happened to me. I won't dive into details about what those events were (because those are personal, of course), but needless to say, those events hit me hard, even when I was doing my best to recover and move on.

During that time period and its aftermath, I wrote a total of 3 Greenz-centric fanfics to vent: one incomplete draft of a one-shot that I wrote that I completely discarded after re-reading one page of it (because it resembled too close to the events that happened to me), a short one-shot that highlighted just pure angst between Butch and Kaoru, and...this. This fanfic was my third one that I had written to cope with all the events I had gone through, and this was the only one that made it through the end from when I was still trying to heal during the aftermath all the way until now.

When I originally wrote this, it was meant to be a one-shot (just like the two that preceded this), and I had intended it to just end at a certain point because not everything always has a happy ending. At the time, I felt like that was the most realistic ending I could give, but whenever I re-read what I wrote, it felt...incomplete. It didn't feel right. From my viewpoint as a writer (and reader), it felt like I wasn't giving closure to what I had written, so I decided that I'd keep writing—for my sake and for my OTP's sake. It was only until very recently that I finished this supposed "one-shot," but when I noticed how long it was and how I wrote it, I realized I had basically written a multi-chaptered fanfic...without even realizing it because everything I had written just accumulated over time. (Oops.)

And in case you're wondering, yes, I cried while I wrote this—multiple times, in fact. I even cried a few times when I re-read what I wrote because I was reminded of the emotions I had put into my words while writing and felt like I was reliving it—but this was my way to cope, and this was my way to slowly heal, one step at a time. I like to think that I've already moved on from those events that happened to me back then. My self-esteem (and self-worth) is better now than it was before during that dark time, and whenever I see any inkling of what affected me back then, I don't feel as heavily affected as I used to.

Truthfully, I didn't even consider posting this because it was a vent fanfic. This was originally meant to be hidden from the world's eyes except mine and a few of my close friends, but I realized that most likely, somewhere out there in this world, another person might be feeling the same way I did while writing this fanfic—the same emotions I had felt and embedded into all these words I had written. Once I thought about it in that kind of perspective, it just felt like it'd be a shame if I didn't share what I wrote.

Now, before you dive in reading this, just a quick note: there's no such thing as black/white light, PPGZ/RRBZ, superheroes and supervillains, etc. This is all strictly AU, and all the relationships between the girls and boys will be revealed as you read along this fanfic.

Also, warning (no pun intended): there's a lot of coarse language...and a lot of angst. If you feel uncomfortable by the coarse language, you can always hit that back button and leave the page. If the angst tugs at your heartstrings (or makes you cry), then hey, I did my job as a writer.

With all that said, enjoy.

Warning

Chapter 1: Conflict

"You've got to be kidding me."

Butch narrowed his eyes. "What?"

Kaoru shook her head slowly as she groaned. "You've just fucked yourself over, man."

"And how exactly did I do that, Matsubara?"

"Because of her."

Butch raised an eyebrow.

Kaoru looked at him—straight into his eyes, in fact. "Miyako Gotokuji. She's bad news."

"Okay, you've always been a crazy bitch—"

Kaoru growled.

"But that just pretty much confirmed it. How the hell can Miyako Gotokuji be bad news? She's the perfect girl—"

"Do you have any fucking idea how many relationships that girl's been in?"

Butch frowned.

"That girl has been in so many fucking relationships, she has so many fucking guys chasing after her, she's fucking pretty, and she knows it—"

"What's your point?" Butch growled.

Kaoru let out an exasperated sigh. "My point is that you've just screwed yourself over by chasing after her."

"And?"

Kaoru groaned. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Yeah, I heard you, but that doesn't mean that I'll end up like the rest of those douchebags."

"Dude, I'm warning you right now that she's bad news. Getting involved with her means you're already ensnared in her little trap—"

Butch scoffed. "Matsubara, I get that you're fucking jealous of her—"

"Jealous?! I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous of someone like her?!"

"You said so yourself that she's pretty, and she is the perfect girl—"

"That girl is not perfect. She's manipulative—"

"See, now, you're just reaching a whole new low by insulting someone like her. You're fucking jealous of her—"

"I'm not jealous, damn it! You don't fucking understand how manipulative that girl is—"

"Fucking hell, Matsubara… When I confided in you about liking her, I didn't expect to get judged!"

Kaoru went quiet at this, and she glanced away.

"You're the first person I fucking told about this, you know."

Kaoru tried to open her mouth to say something—anything—but before she knew it, Butch already scoffed and looked at her with disgust.

As she watched him walk away, she felt her heart sink even more.

"No one gets it," Kaoru muttered. Her head was on top of a café table, and she heard footsteps approaching, but she didn't lift her head.

"Get what?"

Kaoru recognized the voice immediately. "Go away, Boomer."

"Nah," she heard Boomer reply.

Kaoru lifted her head to see Boomer sitting across from her, and she frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Boomer shrugged. "I was passing by, and I saw you sulking in your little corner—"

Kaoru kicked him in the shin.

"Ow!"

"Leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for your jokes. Seriously."

There was a long pause as Kaoru drank from her iced green tea.

"Something happen?"

"No," Kaoru lied through gritted teeth.

Boomer raised an eyebrow at her.

Kaoru stared at him in response.

Boomer sighed. "Something happened with Butch again, huh?"

Kaoru scoffed.

"Yup, I hit the mark."

"So?"

"So, what happened this time?"

Kaoru's eye twitched.

"Well?"

"I can't tell you."

Boomer blinked. "Why not?"

"Because."

"Because?"

Kaoru shrugged. "Because."

"That's not a reason."

Kaoru sighed. "Look, I can't tell you, okay?"

"But it's related to my brother, right?"

Kaoru glanced away as she finished the last of her iced tea.

"It's about Miyako, isn't it?"

Kaoru flinched. "How—"

"You make the same face whenever she comes into the picture," Boomer deadpanned, and before Kaoru could retort, he added, "And I'm guessing my brother likes her?"

Kaoru only clenched her glass cup tighter in response.

Boomer stared at her, not saying a word.

After a long moment of silence, Kaoru asked, "Doesn't it bother you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, doesn't it bother you that you and your brother like the same girl?"

Boomer blinked. "You want my honest answer?"

Kaoru nodded.

"Well, yeah, it bothers the hell out of me." Boomer paused. "But, I know how you feel about her…and about my brother."

Kaoru immediately glared at him.

Boomer sighed, unfazed by her glare. "You should've told him sooner."

"And risk our friendship? Hell no. Besides, you know his type of girl: 75% looks, 25% personality."

"Come on, you know my brother isn't that shallow—"

Kaoru scoffed. "Yeah, right."

Boomer sent her a small glare of his own.

"Look, you don't get it, okay? Neither does Butch. No one fucking gets it."

"Get what exactly?"

Kaoru frowned and hesitated for a few seconds before she finally muttered, "It's not fair."

Boomer stayed silent, indicating for her to continue.

"It's not fair for what's-her-face to…" Kaoru let out a long sigh. "She can get any fucking guy she wants—any fucking guy out there, Boomer. I'm not kidding. She's attracted college guys before, and we're in eleventh grade. She's pretty, and she fucking knows it." Kaoru paused before repeating again, but softly, "She's pretty, and she fucking knows it.

"And everyone sees her as fucking cute and innocent, but she's manipulative as fuck, so everyone always fucking takes her side, and no one fucking sees how manipulative she is, except maybe me, you, and Brick. And, you know, just as expected, because she's pretty, nice, and all around 'perfect,' she attracts all the guys I've ever known, and to make it worse, every guy I've ever crushed on or even had some inkling amount of feelings for fell for her the minute they fucking interacted with her. Narushima, Urawa, and now, even…" Kaoru's voice trailed off before she sighed.

Boomer stayed silent in response.

"Hell, even you like her." Kaoru paused. "No offense."

"None taken," Boomer replied.

"It's just… It's unfair." Kaoru let out a long sigh, and she whispered bitterly, "It's really unfair."

There was a long moment of silence.

"So, what are you going to do?" Boomer asked.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow at him.

"About my brother, I mean."

Kaoru frowned for a moment before she shrugged. "He seemed pretty pissed at me. I don't know if he still wants to talk to me at this point."

"Brick's more of the type to hold a grudge. Butch? Not so much."

"Yeah, but—"

"It'll be fine. Just go talk to my brother again after he cools down."

Kaoru could only frown in response.

It had been a couple of days, and Butch still hadn't texted her at all.

"Guess the fucker's still pissed off," Kaoru muttered bitterly as she stared at her phone.

She didn't understand why so many guys were attracted to Miyako. She was so manipulative, but guys still liked her nonetheless. Hell, everyone liked her.

Compared to Kaoru, Miyako was like…some goddess.

Kaoru let out a long sigh.

How did she even get into this position? Maybe if she never started liking Butch, she wouldn't be feeling as…hurt as she would be right now. Hell, she didn't even understand how she started liking him, anyway. It just…happened. They had grown close—so close to the point where they could confide in each other about anything and sit comfortably next to each other with their knees touching, their thighs just a few centimeters away, and their heads always near each other's.

Out of all the people he had to like, it had to be for the one girl that Kaoru just couldn't stand.

"Fuck my life," Kaoru muttered as she went to go lie down on her bed. She was tired—tired from feeling exhausted over dealing with Butch and her overwhelming thoughts, confusion, and heartache.

She just wished that she never fell for Butch.

Maybe then, this never would've happened.

"So, you're not talking to Kaoru?"

Butch turned his head toward Boomer, and he narrowed his eyes.

Boomer blinked. "It's been a few days already, hasn't it?"

"Fuck off," Butch retorted.

"I know you like Miyako."

Butch didn't respond.

"And I know that you got into a fight with Kaoru—"

"If Matsubara confides in you so much, why don't you just go comfort her, huh?" Butch spat, glaring at Boomer. "What? Did she send you to talk to me because she doesn't have the guts to come crawling to me to even say sorry?"

Finally, Boomer scowled. "No. I'm doing this on my own accord. You're being stupid—"

"Oh, yeah, and this is coming from the dumbass in the family—"

"You can insult me however much you want, but I draw the line with Kaoru," Boomer retorted as he frowned. "You two haven't made up for the past couple of days. At this rate, your friendship will break apart."

Butch frowned and said nothing.

"Unless you're going to tell me that liking Miyako is a hell of a lot more worth it than losing Kaoru as a friend."

"Fuck off."

Boomer sighed in exasperation. "You know, Kaoru hasn't been herself for the past couple of days."

Butch scoffed as he turned away. "So?"

"Urawa noticed."

Butch's eyes widened, and his head shot to Boomer immediately.

Boomer continued to frown and narrowed his eyes. "If you don't do something, Urawa will come in and snatch Kaoru away."

Butch narrowed his eyes back. "And? What do I care? I've been knowing he likes Kaoru—"

"I meant that he'll steal her as a friend from you. And knowing that guy, he's probably going to give even more of an incentive for Kaoru to start hating your guts."

"So?"

"Meaning you'll lose her for good."

Butch scoffed.

Boomer continued to glare at Butch before he sighed in defeat. "Fine. Just don't come home all pissed when you find out that I'm right."

Butch rolled his eyes as Boomer walked away.

Still, Butch's heart couldn't help but sink at the thought of losing Kaoru, whether he liked to admit it or not.