Chapter 7

Vash & Neco arrived at the apartment of Kazuki Sendo. They jumped up, with ease, or superhuman-like abilities, to the third floor and proceeded to the hallway. They looked around, finding the right door to let themselves in, but were having no luck as of late. In the end, they approached the front door, which appears locked. Yuu, hearing the noise outside, looked through the peek hole, and saw Vash & Neco by the doorway.

"Oh, crap…" Yuu whispered, "It's them."

Yuu quietly walked to Kazuki. She signaled to her to get out while he still can, the Cos-Bots are right outside the door. Kazuki sneaked out the window, and landed on the 2nd floor corridor. Outside, Eimi signaled him from her red sports car.

"I'm coming," he said quietly to her.

Eimi didn't listen, because his whispers were far away.

"What?" She cried.

"Never mind!" He called, and jumped down to the 1st floor corridor.

Vash & Neco got tired of waiting; they broke the door down and charged in.

"Where is he?" Vash shouted.

"Where's who?" Yuu reluctantly asked.

"Kazuki Sendo! WHERE IS HE?" Vash screamed.

Yuu stepped back for a moment and started to yelp a bit. She even tried to grab her paper fan, but Neco grabbed her arm before she could even get to it.

"Please cooperate, Miss Yuu," Neco said, "Or we'll put you away again… but this time, permanently."

Just then, Taishi pops up from out of nowhere and slammed a waste basket over Vash's head. Neco released Yuu and tried to stop him; but his quick reflexes avoided disaster. He leaped over her, causing Neco to crash into her partner, Vash. They both fell to the ground, as Taishi & Yuu escaped through the door.

Later on, Kazuki was inside the red car with Eimi driving.

"Eimi, how are we gonna escape those freaks?" He cried.

"Trust me, Kazuki," Eimi cried, "I know a way out of here!"

Eimi drove her car straight to the streets of Neo Tokyo, only to escape far into the mountains. They continued to drive, when she said, "I know a safe house up in the forest in at least 50 miles from here. We'll be safe here as long as those Cos-Bots won't get us!"

"Mizuki… I hope she's okay," Kazuki thought.

"With this vehicle in my arsenal, I hope those Cos-Bots will need a taxi!" Eimi snickered smugly.

Kazuki asked, "What about the others?"

"They'll be okay, as long as they endure the onslaught by those 2 goofs." Eimi replied.

Sure enough, Taishi & Yuu were on their way, via minivan.

"Damn it! No reception!" Yuu shouted, as she tried to call Kazuki.

"Be patient, Comrade Yuu, we'll make our destination, as soon as possible. The streets of Cosmo-Tropolis are not safe here; we cannot risk losing our lives for this!"

"Yeah, you're right… for once. Even if we survive, Peach cannot be stopped. I know this sounds crazy, but…"

Yuu whispered in Taishi's ear, leaving him amazed by a plan by Yuu to concoct.

Meanwhile, Vash & Neco got out of the apartment, looking for Kazuki & Yuu.

"Damn! He got away!" Vash screamed.

Neco started to sharpen her paws and said, "Don't worry. We'll find that wannabe fool."

They leave to find Kazuki. But…

Neco felt a presence of Peach: She has been located in the rural area of Neo Osaka.

"She's located in a small shop in Neo Osaka. One owned by Tsukamoto." She said.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Vash shouted as they dashed off into the streets.

But little did they know that the Makis have regrouped to find the two Cos-Bots.

"Attention all units! Attention all units! Be on the lookout for the 2 rogue Cos-Bots, Vash & Neco. They are considered armed and dangerous. Send an APB at once!"

The leading Maki lead the others to chase after the Cos-Bots. However, a few of them were going in the wrong direction, since one of the Cos-Bots decapitated one of them.

Later, at a small home, Kazuki & Eimi went inside and started to bolt down the doors. Kazuki jumped down to a safe place, while Eimi remained by the table.

"Well, since we cannot return to Neo Tokyo yet, we better camp here until the Panda can contact us." Eimi said.

"Where are we, anyway?" Kazuki asked.

"We're in a vast countryside of Neo Tokyo, near 5,000 miles of fresh air and grassy goodness." Eimi explained, "Of course, no one comes here a lot of times; they just come here for safe unities."

"Unity? You mean "Harmony"?"

"Don't correct me! I am super-pissed off about this whole Vash-Neco-Peach thing! Why on Earth would Peach enter Cosmo-Tropolis, and in one second, become a magnet for danger?"

"Wait a minute… you knew about Mizuki coming here?"

Eimi started to hesitate a bit and stepped back a bit. Kazuki grabbed Eimi by the blouse and shook at her.

"YOU! You said you knew about Mizuki when she stepped into your office the other night? Why did you lie to me?"

Eimi started to snicker and said, "Are you kidding me? I knew about the Cos-Bot attack not too long ago."

"But, Eimi… why would you do such a thing releasing the return of Vash & Neco?"

"Why? Why would I do that? I'll tell you why!"

Eimi locked the door tight and said, "So… the secret has finally been out."

Kazuki shouted, "You rotten little brat! You didn't fire them! You knew they'd be Vash & Neco, so you can get to me! And for what: A victory for Feline Nya Nya?"

"Absolutely not! The reason is because I was destroyed by those perverts; as a matter of fact, they caused me to be like this now! Remember the story of how the girl was killed by a car accident? It was Ikumi, except she didn't die."

"She didn't?"

"No! What happened five years ago was out of sacrifice! You see, I was that girl killed by that car!"

Kazuki gasped and asked, "But what about Ikumi?"

"Ikumi was spared, but she was in the hospital for a moment. In order to make sure no one finds out about me, I became a Cos-Bot."

"What? You mean… you? Eimi Ohba: a Cos-Bot?"

Eimi then explained the story on why she saved Ikumi:

Eimi, who wore a cute angel costume at the time, was walking by, when she saw Ikumi, dressed in a black cape and dress, running across the street after being harassed by one of the camera-toting perverts. But then, as she arrived in the middle of the street, a car was driving along the way. Ikumi looked on and was petrified in fear. That was when Eimi dashed in and shoved Ikumi out of the way. As she pushed her to the sidewalk, the car hits Eimi, causing her to fall to the ground.

When Ikumi came to, she saw Eimi on the street with blood pouring out from her. Ikumi tried to get some help, so she did.

Later at the hospital, Eimi was severely injured; the doctors said that she could never walk or draw again. Eimi was devastated she tried to run… but couldn't.

Ikumi was by her side, hours later. Eimi told her that what she did was the most reckless thing she's ever done. And just to keep it a secret, Ikumi told Eimi that Kazuki was tending to her briefly; but now, she wants to escape. So for that to happen, she must tell Kazuki that Ikumi passed away. Eimi agreed, but then asked why.

"It's okay. I know I can help you get fixed (Cough, cough). If you agree to the doctor to help fix you, you'll be able to do everything that you wanted again."

"Ikumi… thank you."

Ikumi gave her a card saying about a company that can change humans into Cos-Bots. Eimi then said to her, "If this won't let me back in the Fan Comic World, I'll track you down!"

Weeks later, she was condoned in an operation of fixing her legs and hands. The operation was a success and was completely made as a Cos-Bot. However, Eimi was aware of 3 other Cos-Bots in Neo Tokyo, by an order from the doctor. He said that there are three girls who looked like people, only they were evil and went on a rampage.

"But since then, I'd want to meet those Cos-Bots face-to-face, but I couldn't. So I later met Mizuki and knew about the Cos-Bot named Peach."

"Wait… how can you tell?"

"The eyes."

"The eyes?"

"Yes, the eyes of a Cos-Bot are always very shiny and metallic; while a human's eyes are bright and colorful, but they lack shine a bit."

"But… if you're a Cos-Bot, then why did you hide it from the public?"

"I became a Cos-Bot! And after hearing that awful story, I cannot tell anyone about the transformation of the great Eimi "Cos-Bot" Ohba! I just can't! If word hears about this, I'll be ruined! Nobody must know… especially that Hot Spring Panda! Although, she already knew, but she and I agreed to keep it confidential."

"Yuu knows about you?" He asked.

"Yes… she can tell by the Great Eimi's eyes. I'm 100% Cos-Bot… and it's a dead giveaway, too."

Kazuki conceded and asked, "But wait… where's Ikumi now?"

Eimi said nothing.

"Eimi?"

She then said, "I'm sorry… but…"

Eimi remembered what Ikumi said the day she met her after her operation:

"Eimi, I'll be leaving Neo Tokyo soon. I'm afraid I cannot stay here. So, take care of your body, and your well-being (Cough, cough)."

"But where will you go?"

"I'm sorry, Eimi… but that information is classified."

Ikumi disappeared as Eimi watched on in shock.

Eimi shouted, "She just… vanished. If I started looking for now, it'll be disastrous on a high level!"

Kazuki then agreed with Eimi about her story, "Your story was very great, but I don't think this has anything to do with you knowing about Mizuki being Peach."

"Panda knows."

"WHAT? Yuu knows already?"

"It's true. When Panda & I heard about Vash & Neco returning, it was just a matter of time; but along came Peach, and the rest had been history."

"I see… but then I have one more question: Where's Mizuki now?"

Eimi said nothing and sat down on the chair in a worried state.

"I don't know. She was here the other day. She wasn't with you yesterday?"

"Yes… but I haven't seen her in a while. We'll find her, before they can get to her."

She smiled and exclaimed, "Thanks, Sendo."

Later, at a small shack in Neo Osaka, Yuu made a phone call to Eimi, but her bars were still empty.

"Where could she be?" She shouted, "It's not like that dim-witted girl can keep Kaz with her forever!"

Taishi popped up and cried, "Dear Yuu, we must camp out for the night, sans fire. If the Vash & Neco appears, it could be the end of all of us."

Yuu shouted, "You moron! Don't ever do that! We have two beds here. And besides, Kazuki is the rogues' main objective. And with Eimi by his side and protection-."

Yuu had a startling theory about Eimi.

"Oh, crap; I forgot!" Yuu shouted, "Eimi's a Cos-Bot, too!"

Taishi cried out, "She-? She-? SHE'S A COS-BOT?"

"Yeah, I forgot about it. I think I should tell you about it."

Yuu told Taishi all about Eimi's story, which was the same as Eimi mentioned. Minutes later, she finished.

"So, you & Eimi were involved in a Cos-Bot search. But why? And what will happen to Mizuki?"

"That's the million dollar question." Yuu stated.

Yuu tried calling again, but couldn't. She threw her phone onto the ground and started to get angry.

Meanwhile, there were police siren noises sounding from far away…

"Did you hear something, my comrade?" Taishi asked.

"They're far away; I don't think they'll find us," Yuu responded.