Life was stupid.
Wait, no. That's an understatement.
Life was absolutely insane.
Nothing made sense anymore. Or did it? She could probably blame the lack of sense on lack of sleep. It had been what…. a week? Yeah, about a week. Maybe two? Ugh, what was the thing Momoko said whenever she had too much sugar?
Time is a construct of the human mind and doesn't exist.
That sounds about right. Speaking of Momoko…..
Hyper Blossom paces the room, eyes flicking to the screen on the far wall every so often. The largest of the many screens scattered on the walls of their post, showing the local news. If she focused, Kaoru could make out a few phrases…
"... in Tokyo… few sections… safe? Powerpuff Girls….. tune in… Interview….. Utonium…."
Scratch that, comprehension was beyond her. If only she could give in… but….
The walls to either side, those screens showed terrifying images of battles long fought. Battles she should have been a part of.
Heaven forbid she was permitted outside the barrier. No, she was far too important to risk like that.
Why the Powerpuff Girls were wanted by seemingly every supernatural government was beyond her. It just didn't make sense! Along with not being allowed to fight for humanity, rather, being given the 'honorable' task of protecting the remnants of the 'untainted' humanity, holed up in Tokyo. Hmph. Untainted her foot, cowards was a better term. Hiding behind the Professor in hopes he'll make some miracle occur like whatever the heck he did with the weather all those years ago.
That wasn't going to happen any time soon, unfortunately for her. All they could do is hold up the barrier, she wasn't clear on how being transformed and not sleeping did that, but hey, if it ain't broke….. Okay she needed someone to fix it. This wasn't healthy, and dare she say worse than the finals week hysteria Momoko put them all through, three days running on caffeine… Never again. No grade was worth that. Heck, the CITY was barely worth it.
"Kaoru-san~"
...Case in point, her lovely little friend over there. Hallucinations occurred during the three day caffeine high, sure, but those were more her almost due essays coming to life and singing and dancing while Miyako and Momoko ate unicorn meat.
She never claimed to be entirely sane.
"C'mon now Kaoru-san, doesn't the couch look far more comfortable than that silly chair?"
No, there was a stark difference between caffeinated hallucinations and this. For one, he was the only hallucination she'd seen. Two, she hadn't had caffeine since the end of the first week, in a vain hope that he'd go away.
Her eyes slowly move to the couch, he wasn't wrong, it did look rather comfortable. So soft and fluffy…. Oh wow, there was even a blanket and some pillows. Much better than the crappy folding chair…
"Don't you deserve a rest? You've been working so hard. The other two can take it on for a bit."
No… no they really couldn't. Last time one of them passed out they lost a good mile… But… She was so tired….
An incoherent screech of rage takes care of her drooping eyes, Blossom ranting seemingly at thin air. Thank heavens, she'd almost given in to her exhaustion. Good ol' Momo, keeping her awake, screaming about 'duty' or something. Duty… doody. Hehe. Ah to have the energy to laugh.
Different screams began, blaring from the speakers. That made no sense, the news went from the mundane interview to… the barrier falling. Oh no. Oh nonononono. That couldn't be happening! She was still awake see?! So was Momo! And- oh no…
Curled up on the floor, clutching a baby blue blanket was Miyako, clearly not transformed, eyes closed and mouth curled in the bliss of sleep.
"Ah, see? She's asleep, no harm done. You're safe Kaoru-san. Go on, close your eyes. Go on…"
He walked over, putting his hand over her eyes. Just a moment, then she'd help Miya… Just, one moment…
-0-
The screams the wails oh no no no no NO! Failed failure failed failed them failed it all failed them all ALL HIS FAULT!
"I told you it was inevitable Momoko-chan."
His fault his fault. Infuriating inane childish perverted- coffee! That's it she'll give the rest of her coffee to the girls!
There was still half a cup left, give each of them half of the half and they'd be up in no time!
"Wait, what are you doing?! Mercy woman, that's the opposite of CPR!"
The red blur rushes over, waving its arms in front of my face. Ha, opposite of CPR, good one!
…. why wasn't she waking up?
"Cripes…. listen to me for once Blossom! You're gonna kill them like that… look at me… cmon…. shoving coffee down unconscious people's throats is not a good idea and you're lucky she still has a good gag reflex. As am I…"
Miyako should have woken up. That's what coffee did but… she was still asleep… a…. sleep….. sleep…. sleep sounded good….. Miya had the right idea…. so did Kaoru….
"Ah, there we go. Caffeine's wearing off, finally. Wonder why the steady supply stopped, well I'm not complaining. Lay down Momo-chan, it's fine now. You can rest."
Rest… She could rest…
-0-
Two weeks was more than enough time for the fools to come up with a plan. Dancing around fanciful ideas of defeating the enemy with firepower, troops, bribes….
He may be 14 but at least he had some sense not to give the enemy what they wanted. In theory. Pah, delaying the inevitable wasn't worth the cost. His father may have been too busy to do anything about the state the girls were in, but he wasn't.
Ken carefully eases his way into the room, glaring at the screens lining the walls. Guilt tripping the girls into staying awake worked a little too well. Save the world and what do you get? Worked to the bone with no thanks. Well that was going to change, if Ken had anything to say about it.
The screens are off with the flick of a switch, lights dim. Good glory…. the floor was covered in coffee stains and empty cups, and of course, the pink and blue puffs.
"Oh girls…."
When he got them into proper beds he was going to KILL whoever suggested they leave the girls all alone. Checking their pulses, it was worse than he thought. All three were pale, cold, and shaking. Their bodies were going into shock.
Dang it, dang it! He hadn't thought this through! There was no way he could treat all three girls on his own…. Let alone carry them to bed. They are young women now after all, still in their pjs from being woken up at midnight ages ago.
"Something went wrong, the barriers completely gone! What are those stupid girls doing?! Wha- what is the Utonium child doing here, and who are these girls?"
Finally, an adult.
"Oi, get some paramedics in here, stat."
"E-excuse me? What did you do with-"
"They're right here you idiot! These are the Powerpuffs now get paramedics, I can't treat them all myself!"
-0-
"Miya-chan, look, a rainbow!"
He was so gentle and kind, so excited over the little things. The bubbles surrounding the hill varied in size, from as small as a pea to as large as a house.
"Thank you Miya-chan…. they're beautiful. Just like you…"
The smile on his face lights up the sky as he offers a hand to her, the two of them walking into one of larger bubbles. Lifting them off the ground, higher higher higher….
Warm. Soft, comforting.
"Miya-chan, thank you for showing me these wonderful things."
The smile on his face turns sad… why is he sad?
"I wish I could stay longer. But I have to go. I'll see you soon my love."
He leans down, closer, closer…. Her own eyes closing as he approaches. One kiss….
Just one….
"... her vitals say she's waking up, get the Professor in here stat. I don't care if he's busy with those idiots, we need him HERE!"
Ken-kun… Ken-kuns voice? That didn't make too much sense. Why was Ken-kun in her room?
"Ugh, Miyako, can you hear me? You've been out for a few days. Miya I know you're awake!"
Rude, not even giving her time to answer! Why were her eyelids so heavy? Mm…
Quit shaking her! Surely he was taught manners, in fact, she helped teach him!
"Ken-kun…. Don't make me tell Professor-"
"Oh thank goodness!"
"K-Ken?"
He was crying… Why would he be… O-oh.. oh dear… This wasn't her room. This was a hospital room!
"Ken-kun, what happened?"
She gently wipes his tears away with the hospital blanket, eyeing the IV in her arm. She didn't remember a battle or anything that would lead to this, only….
"Is the city safe?"
Ken tenses up and shakes his head.
"I-I couldn't lose you three…. You probably could have gone for about another day but.. I'm just glad you're waking up now, Miyako-chan."
"Where are Momoko and Kaoru?"
He points past the curtains to either side.
"They're in here too, you fell asleep first so they should be waking up in the next few hours. At least, Kaoru will, Momoko was in the worst shape.."
Miya smiles gently, hugging Ken tight as footsteps rush through the halls towards them. The Professor had finally gotten away from whatever inane meeting he had been forced into.
"Miyako, thank heavens! Does your head hurt? Are you dizzy? What happened?!"
"I'm… not entirely sure Professor, Ken?"
If he was upset before, he now looked absolutely furious. It was an expression that didn't belong on his adorable face.
"Those stupid stupid-"
"Ken, deep breaths."
He huffs but obeys, taking a moment to breathe.
"After dad left you guys in the room, I was immediately disregarded as the expert in your care. They pushed me aside and set up a feeding schedule along with planned coffee runs every fifteen minutes. They removed the cushions we put in there and replaced them with folding chairs, only leaving the couch and a few blankets."
"Ken-kun, why are you describing..?"
"I'm.. I'm not entirely sure how much you remember, so I figured I ought to cover all the bases.. Just in case. They left you three in there like that for 12 days before I was able to interfere, you guys passed out and I got you help. Dad couldn't.. He was kept away trying to make a machine to keep the barrier up."
They both turn to the Professor, a hardened expression on his face. She had never seen him so… annoyed before. That should be the word, and maybe it was, but his face was strained in a different way. Like… a mask.
"I was hardly given a chance to work on such a thing, as my abilities and credentials were called into question by most of the… lovely people there. I had no idea they treated you girls that way, I take full responsibility for allowing this to happen. I am your guardian after all, and I neglected that."
"Professor…" He looked broken, disgusted with himself…
"Professor. Look at me. You did the best you could, you didn't know. The world takes priority over us, over me, at any point in time. We knew this when we agreed to it, when we decided to continue being super heroes."
Oh Professor… He takes deep breaths, before facing Miyako and Ken again.
"Regardless of your personal convictions Miyako, I am still your legal guardian, and you are still under my care in this instance. Thus, my responsibility."
The blue puff closes her eyes.
"Professor… what state is the city in?"
Now both of them tense up, guilt overwhelming their expressions.
"...Let's wait until Kaoru and Momoko wake up…. Alright?"
-0-
Humanity was near fallen. It was bound to happen eventually he supposed. He just.. Hadn't expected it to happen during his now extended lifetime. Let alone being a major factor in it.
Ah well, live and learn.
"This sector is clear. I'm moving on to the next. Just frightened humans, easy enough to corral."
Static fills his ears and he frowns, fiddling with the knob for a moment.
"Copy that boss, man, we haven't been here in AGES!"
"And if we're lucky it'll stay that way. Keep on task and remember the mission."
"You got it."
A putrid scent hits his nostrils, his face curling into a scowl.
He remembered this street, the funny house between apartment buildings, tucked away and rotting. Glad to be rid of it, his new quarters suited him much better.
Of course, they were a bit lonely….
That would change soon.
He'd be sure of it.
-0-
Chapter one finished, read, review, ask questions, enjoy!
Chapter 2 will take longer, but will hopefully be longer lol
Have a good day, see ya later!
