A/N: Fanfiction seems to be less active than it was when I first joined. Maybe a small phase it will outgrow, I dunno. Also, I have been noticing that most people's OCs have the name "Aaron". I don't mind it, it's just that why are most OC's named Aaron? Is it another phase this site is going through?

I really need to get my stuff together after being gone so long...

Music Used (in order):

Dead or Alive: Dimensions OST- The Shooter

Kingdom Hearts 2 OST- Dearly Beloved


Ch. 8 When Things Get Insane


Tin sat at his father's study. Tick sat on a bean bag chair not too far away. He was tossing a ball up into the air and catching.

"Oi, mate. When ya' gonna be done?" Tick asked.

"Shush, I need concentration." Tin said with frustration. Piles and Piles of bank statements and papers littered the desk. "How in the hell did dad keep his money and manage it with this amount of stuff?" Tin scribbled furiously on a check.

"Well." a voice said. It was an old scratchy voice. Soloven, butler to Tin's father, poured a cup of tea for Tin, who eagerly took it. "Your father was a remarkable man. He studied economics during his youth. Learned everything from his father. I even picked up a few things myself. For instance, you forgot to subtract a 2 from the number." Tin looked at a doodled covered paper and swore under his breath.

"This is ridiculous! I inherit my father's place and I don't even know jack about money!" Tin said.

"Well what about that one time, mate?" Tick spoke up. "You know, when we first got here and we encountered those smugglers. You knew right away that the money was fake." Tin leaned back in his chair.

"The smell of fake money isn't that hard to pick up on. I was better off pickpocketing than managing."

"But it was me that did all the pickpocketing." Tick said getting up. "You just made sure no one tried to lay a hand on me." Tin thought about this.

"Oh yeah... well, screw money. Why the hell do we even need it?"

"To survive in a economic world, sir." Soloven said.

"You are not helping my cause in this, Soloven." Tin said with a sigh. Tin's ears perked up when he heard the door bell ring.

"I'll get it, sir." Soloven said with a bow. He strode out of the study and down the hall leaving Tin with a quizzical look.

"Quit treating me like that..." Tin murmured.


Soloven opened the giant wooden double doors. He stiffened when he saw to his surprise a familiar white gas mask peer at him.

"Good evening, old friend." Specter said with a nod.

"M-master Fang! I-" Specter shushed him which Soloven did.

"I don't want my son to know about my presence. Come outside." The two walked out and out of site. Soloven was led through a wooded area not too far from the house. He was stunned to see a visor covered feline in combat gear leaning against a tree.

"No one saw you, did they?" Grunt asked.

"You need to have more faith in me." Specter said.

"Look, I don't want to be here any longer, we are late as it is." Grunt sighed. Specter turned to face Soloven.

"Old friend. Dearest Soloven whom has served my family for years. I have one last favor for you." Specter said. Soloven was touched by Specter's words. For a long time, he missed hearing Specter's gentle tone toward him. Treated as an equal in his eyes than a servant in chains.

"Anything, master-" Soloven began but was shushed again.

"You really need to stop doing that around me. Lighten up! You've known since I was born. Listen, the favor. I want you to..." the rain had picked up more. Soloven nodded intently at everything he was just told. When Specter was finished, he removed his gas mask. Soloven studied the face. How long has it been since he has seen it? He saw Specter smile at him before putting the mask back on.

"Let's move." Grunt said. "I can already feel the other seven keys being brought together..." With that, Soloven was left to watch as Specter's and Grunt's figures be engulfed by the rain. Soloven walked back to the house where he was greeted by Tin and Tick coming down the stairs.

"Hey, where were you?" Tin said with an eyebrow raised. "It's not like you to leave and not say anything. More importantly, why are you soaking wet?" The boys waited for an answer. That is when they noticed that, as drenched as he was, tears were pouring down his face. He sniffled and looked up at the boys with kind and tired eyes.

"I-it's nothing..." Soloven said. "I... I think I need to lie down for a bit..." Soloven walked past them up the stairs and out of site down the hall. Tin and Tick exchanged glances.


Clin sat in a meditating pose. Next to him was Nary, who was also in this state. Clin's father, Master Eroku, circled them as he soothingly told them about being tuned with one's senses and surroundings.

"...Focus your energy. Study it. Become one with it..." Master Eroku looked at his son who had his hood pulled up. He noticed him nodding his head slightly in a repetitive way. Eroku shook his head and pulled down Clin's hood. Clin instantly knew what was coming. He had small head phones in his ears. He glanced over at Nary who was smirking slightly and mouthed "Busted".

"Err... I-I can explain." Clin began. But his father said nothing but stood him up. He spun Clin around to face him before he walked a few steps away from him. He turned and crouched into a battle pose.

"Come now." Master Eroku said. Nary was now up.

"M-master! What are you doing? L-look, I told him not to do it! But he just wouldn't listen!" Nary said worried for Clin.

"L-look, dad, I am sorry. I-it won't happen aga-" but Clin couldn't finish. He was sent flying into the bamboo forest no too far away. His father silently leaped toward him. Clin saw his father about land on him, but Clin flipped back from the ground and landed a few feet away from him.

"My son. Show me... show how well you can focus." Master Eroku said sternly as he crouched into his battle pose again. Clin looked at him before realizing what is happening. Clin smirked.

"Alright, old man. You wanna dance? Let's dance!" *Clin readied himself. Master Eroku waved his hands around and vanished with in the leaves. Clin glanced intently around him.

'Focus...' Clin told himself. But he couldn't finish before his father grabbed him by the back of his hoodie and tossed him into the air like a doll and was juggled by a series of kicks and being sent far into the bamboo forest with a small flick of the fingers. Clin recovered.

"Too slow." Master Eroku said. He vanished within the leaves again. Clin readied himself.

'Tch, I hate it when he mocks me...' Clin this time looked around. His father appeared in front of him and before he could react, he was flicked in the head. Clin slid across the ground before flipping upright. "Now you are just starting to tick me off!" Clin growled.

"Hmph, maybe now you learn what I feel when I deal with you!" his father said in a cold and serious tone. Clin charged with his claws out. Master Eroku grabbed his son's wrist and pushed down making Clin flip over on his back. "Pitiful!" Master Eroku jumped up and shot out his feet, ready to stomp on Clin. Clin avoided this by kick flipping off of the ground. His father landed up right. Clin then back flipped over his father using his shoulders as support.

"Who's slow now?" Clin said. He swung his fist that aimed at his father's side. His father stopped his punch by grabbing his arm and pulling forward. Clin rolled to the floor and was pinned by his father by his feet on his chest.

"Still you." Master Eroku said without even a glance at him. Clin growled and brought both his feet around in a sweeping motion. Master Eroku just jumped it. But it was enough to free Clin from the pin. He kick flipped up again.

"Quit playing!" Clin shouted. He punched and kicked like no tomorrow. But his father blocked it all with just one hand. Clin's final strike was caught in the palm of his father.

"Maybe if you take your training seriously, I will take you seriously and not "play" as you call it." Master Eroku glared before he tossed his son away to the ground again. Clin didn't bother to stand up this time. He just laid there on his stomach, breathing heavily. "You are not ready to be a ninja. Nor taking on the responsibilities of leading the Kuro Nekos. Dismissed!"* Master Eroku walked away. Clin stayed on the ground. He thought about his father's words.

'Dammit... I hate it when he does this... but... I have to even admit that he is right...' he saw Nary's feet in front of him.

"You should have listened to me." Nary said sternly. Clin stood up this time and brushed himself off.

"I don't need you to boss me around..." Clin said. Nary looked at him worriedly.

"Clin... why do you do this?" Clin looked at Nary.

"Look, I don't..." he sighed. "...I don't think I really want to lead an entire clan..." Nary sputtered.

"How can you think that!?" she said.

"Nary... I don't understand why you always constantly ask why I do things my way." Clin said no more before walking into the bamboo forest. Nary looked down at the ground sadly.

"Idiot... I worry about you..." Nary whispered under her breath.


Gumball and the others sat by the armored vehicle.

"I can't believe it... Limbo already has seven keys already." Gumball said.

"So... what do we do now?" Darwin asked.

"Well, we still have the one key left." Blitz said. "You Gumball."

"You mean the kid?" Kit asked. They looked at her. "Okay, I understand the whole Limbo thing, but I thought Grunt is a key!"

"He still is." Blitz said. "But I think he plans to send the key over to Gumball in order to trick Limbo." Gumball pondered this.

"But... is that really a good idea?" Gumball asked. Blitz shook his head.

"I don't question Grunt's motives. He's clever enough to think this through. But you should at least be aware that he may involve you in his plan."

"Yeah. Thanks." Gumball grumbled. Penny said nothing as she looked at Gumball. She noticed he has grown some. A bit taller and more leaner. It might be because of the fact that all the things he has been through. But she saw only a tough and more determined Gumball. Not the one she fell in love with. Penny still loved Gumball no matter what, he just seemed to her more unapproachable. She didn't like it one bit. She missed the cheerful and mischievous Gumball.

But... she knew Gumball is being like this because he knows that the fate of the entire universe is relying on him to save it.

"Penny, you listening?" Carrie asked. She shook her head out of her trance before realizing that they were all staring at her.

"You okay, Penny?" Gumball asked worriedly. Penny nodded.

"Err... Gumball, can I talk to you in private?" Penny asked. Gumball tilted his head. She looked at the others.

"Oh right. Sorry." Blitz said. They walked into the school but still in eye site.

"What is it Penny?" Gumball asked. He was suddenly embraced by Penny. *Penny hugged him close to her. Gumball was shocked by this. His face blushed a bright red. He didn't know how to react. She continued to hold him. "P-Penny?"

"Gumball... I just... I don't know what to do anymore..." she said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Gumball asked, still unsure of how to react. She finally let go of him before continuing.

"What has happened to us? To you? I mean, why is it that everything suddenly falls onto your lap?" she asked. Gumball rose an eyebrow and thought about this.

"Err... I am not sure?" Gumball answered weakly.

"Are you, Gumball?" Penny looked him straight in his eyes. Gumball blushed more as he adverted them.

"W-well... yes and no..." he said. "Is... is this a problem?" Penny suddenly had tears falling down her eyes. Gumball stiffened. 'Aww crap! What did I say!?'

Gumball... Relax...

Gumball took a deep breath. "I'm... I'm sorry Penny. I shouldn't have... you know... gotten myself involved."

"Really? You seemed intent when we were running for our lives to avoid being devoured by Limbo's monsters! You decided to leave and take on this thing by yourself! And look where it got you!" she said a little fumed. Gumball looked at her with a guilty look.

"I don't know what came over me that time... I just felt like... I needed to be the one to save us. To protect us." Gumball said. Penny wiped tears from her eyes, but they kept falling.

"Gumball... what has happened to you? You wouldn't have even the slightest thought of taking on this thing. You are a coward." Penny said. Gumball felt like a knife stabbed him in the heart. "You even admitted it yourself a few times whenever your brother decides to get you both in trouble." Gumball didn't know what to say or how to act. I mean, this was Penny. The girl he liked all his life! And now here she is finally opening to him. And yet Gumball wasn't ready to even give her a direct answer. She was correct. Gumball was a coward. Had been all his life.

But now he had this new sense of courage through him. He had no idea where it came from. It just suddenly overcome him. He kinda liked the feeling of being brave. Finally doing things he has never been able to done. Thinking this, he realized. Bravery killed the cat.

"Penny... I think... I realize why now..." Gumball said. He held up his hand and stared at it. "My whole life I had been that very coward. So I just thought... why not stop being one? Show the world what you are made of." Penny looked down, tears still falling from her eyes.

"But you were perfectly fine the way you were. It's like I don't even... recognize you anymore..." Penny said. Gumball dropped his head in guilt. She hit the nail on the head. He had been fine. He had been fine until this whole thing had happened. And now, now his bravery is what is killing him. "But..." Penny smiled a bit. "I know now that even though what you did was stupid and idiotic... there is no turning back now. Gumball, just promise me. Promise me you won't ever do this again? At least if it involved the world?"

Gumball was about to reply when she locked her lips with his. Gumball felt the entire world fall from under his feet. He was now standing in the universe. With just Penny. He didn't even care about anything around him at this moment. Because right now is the best moment that has ever happened to him. He had been kissed before by her, but this time, it wasn't a kiss of luck. This was his first true kiss. One that he will remember till the day he dies. Hopefully, not too soon. After she removed her lips from his, she placed her head gently on his. Gumball smiled as did Penny.

Not too far away, Blitz and his team saw this. Blitz smiled.

"Aww... aren't they just the cutest couple?" Kit said suddenly feeling giddy.

"Well, they had liked each other since they were little. But it was finally about time for them to make a move." Carrie said with a small smile. Blitz nodded and turned to his team.*

"Come on, we need to hunt down Grunt." Blitz said.

"Huh? Why?" Brute asked. Blitz smirked.

"It's about time we get a teammate back as well as set a plan in motion.


Hmmm... Well, as much as I was embarrassed to write that love scene, I felt it was finally time for the protagonist to get his girl. And so there it is. But now with things finally being set in place, it is time for our heroes to take action and put a stop to Limbo once and for all.