Chapter 9: Celia Strikes!
Back at the Sushi Shrine Grove, The Heroic Twins, Jinrai and Ara-o are with Masa. "So… How long are we going to hang around here," said Musashi. "We need a headquarters, Musashi. This Shrine Grove is the best candidate," said Masa. "But if we stay here too long building it, the Empire will be the move! C'mon, Masa! You gotta let me push them back to the border!" "It's a delicate balance to walk. (Hmm. If I pull too tight on their leashes, they may end up slipping it entirely.) Very well. You have my permission to drive them back to the border." "Great!" "But their border defenses are formidable. Don't stray too close or be too reckless." "You got it! "Safety first" and all," said Musasha. "I don't understand what you hurry is," said Jinrai. "Look, the guys who took Franklin can't have gotten far yet! We gotta do something!" "They're right, Jinrai. We got to save my master," said Ara-o. "Hmm… I take your point, but the ability to compromise is a mark of maturity." "Ugh… These "maturity" comments aren't subtle, y'know," said Musashi. "That said, I find that I like Masa better from a safe remove. I think that the border would be a good distance away from him, don't you?" "Heheheh! I knew we were on the same page, buddy!"
"Musashi! Musasha! You're not going to believe what happens," said Archie, going to the Twins, Ara-o and Jinrai. "How's the restaurant business going," said Musashi. "It's going well. Kyatten gave me his pledge plate, and now I'm a sushi striker," said Archie, when Kyatten appeared on his shoulder. "Amazing! Would you like to join us on our journey," said Musasha. "That would be great." "But don't you have a restaurant to run," said Ara-o. "Yeah, but my family has got it covered. I'm in!" "Great! We can use your skills help upgrade ours and possibly to help Musashi to grow up a bit," said Jinrai. "Hey! That's my sister's job," said Musashi.
As the Heroic Twins walked with Jinrai onto up Musashi's head, Ara-o onto the top of Musasha's, Archie following them and Kyatten on his shoulder. Then Musashi noticed Celia watching them behind a tree and said, "huh? Do you see that?" "Hmm? Someone's trying to hide," said Jinrai. "Hey! Whatcha doing," said Musasha. "Eh? Oh, I, uh… I'm watching for someone," said Celia, coming out. "Got it. And you're not bored out here by yourself," said Musashi. "Brother, be polite! She's a girl. Excuse him, but do you need help," said Musasha. "Huh? Oh… No. I'm OK. I just found them," said Celia. "What," said Archie. Then Celia aims a plate arrow at the Twins. "Hey- You're a-you're a sushi striker," said Musashi. "Right. I'm the sushi striker Celia! I'm on a mission from the Empire to take you and your sister out." "What the," said Ara-o. "You're…with the Empire? But you're just a kid," said Musashi. "Did you forget that you, your sister and I are kids too," said Archie. "I don't have time to be a kid. Now…let's get to business," said Celia.
A few minutes later after the battle, the Twins won victoriously. "Well done, Sushi Striker Twins," said Archie. "You taught her a lesson," said Kyatten. "Sushi Striker Twins," said Ara-o, confused. "Since they don't like to be called Heroic Twins, I thought if I called them that." "Ok?" "I misjudged you, Sushi Striker Twins," said Celia. "I don't understand why you fight for the Empire. Your parents allowed this," said Jinrai. "I have no parents. No family. Ever since the Struggles, I've fended for myself." When she left, Musashi said, "huh… Just like my sister and me." "Something wrong, dear brother," said Musasha. "Nothing, I'm just curious…. about that girl." "Oh, I see. (giggles)"
"Did you see take on those men with Kyatten? My first four striker battles! It was delicious," said Archie. "Let's keep our focus. Celia has got to be here," said Musashi. "What's up with your brother, Musasha," said Ara-o. "I think he's in love(giggles)," she whispers. "What is love? I don't understand this feeling you speak of." "It's a wonderful feeling that comes from your heart." When the group saw Celia, Musashi said, "hey, Celia! I hoped we might run into each other again." "If you did, you're a fool. You know we're enemies, right? This will be our last fight." "I don't get why we're fighting to begin with!" "It's simple. If I take you and your sister out, this war ends." "That's no reason. Your course of action is hardly a path to peace," said Jinrai. "Do you people even know what you're doing? Your carelessness will spark another war!" "War?! Aren't you overreacting," said Musasha. "It's no use, Twins! She's determined to fight, so let's oblige her," said Ara-o. "So much for talking it out peacefully," said Kyatten. "Agree," said Archie.
After the battle, Celia said, "where do you find the strength to fight like that? I just can't beat you…" "You're the one starting all the fights," said Ara-o. "Well… we really like sushi, that's all. And we know there's yummier sushi out there! The most mouth-watering sushi of all," said Musashi. "My brother's words are true as his heart. We have to make sure everyone in the world knows how great sushi is! You know how good food is even better when you share it with people? Even a few nuts or some grass was a feast with the kids back at the orphanage," said Musasha. "An orphanage…," said Celia. "That's where we come from with sushi! We wanna share it with EVERYONE!" "Dang, just thinking about it puts a spring in our step," said Musashi. "Your convictions are noble, but I wish you knew how to express them better," said Jinrai. "You're hoping for too much from a weapon," said Celia. "Huh? You lost me," said Musashi. "Sushi is a weapon. It doesn't matter how it tastes or how you feel eating it. I assume you'll take me prisoner now. A fitting fate for a failure." "Celia… You're kinda harshing my vibe. What would we want with a prisoner? I'm cool letting you go. Be free, Celia!" "What," said Archie and Kyatten. "Musashi! Please think this through," said Ara-o. "Are you sure? You may regret this," said Celia. "He's positive! Maybe this way you'll realize how yummy sushi is someday," said Musasha. "You're still talking about that?" When Celia leaves, Jinrai said, "Twins, I think you did the right thing, but…you realize she'll be back." "Aw, that's OK! We'll worry about that when it happens," said Musashi. "You forgot that she almost killed you and your sister?! She'll probably get you next time we see her," said Archie. "My brother is just doing it….out of love," said Musasha. "NO! I was just trying to be nice," said Musashi, blushing. "Sure, you were. We'll keep it a secret. Let's move out, boys!"
When the Twins' group ran into Kodiak and his men, Kodiak said, "Musashi and Musasha?! Here?!" "Aw, man! It's Grossiak again," said Musasha. "Do you mean Kodiak," said Archie. "Whatever." "Haha. You can't run forever," said Musashi. "I don't believe this! That Celia is as useless as an inflatable dumbbell," said Kodiak. "So you were the one forcing her to do your dirty work. Shameful," said Jinrai. "Indeed! For shame," said Ara-o. "Yeah! There was no reason to get her involved in all this," said Musashi. "Ha! Let me set you cabbage-brains straight. Celia volunteered for the army. "Forcing her" … What a joke! She lives for this stuff," said Kodiak. "That doesn't make it OK! Even if she volunteered, you're still using her," said Kyatten. "Sure am! I'll use whatever I can get! Only the buffest survive, kids! All right, men, don't let them reach the border! Let me see you give 110%!" "We're pumped to get started," said Kodiak's men. "Fail here, and the only thing you'll be pressing is your suit for a new job interview!" "We get it lout and clear, sir!" "Sure, sure. Now get cracking!" "Let's get them, boys," said Musasha.
"Ha! Even those tough guys are no match for Kyatten and me," said Archie. "Agree. Brains are better than brawn," said Musasha. "Last chance. If I win here, the war ends," said Celia. "Aww, Celia… Well, if you insist. We can go out for sushi afterward sometimes," said Musashi. "No, idiot! Sushi is for fighting," said Celia. "He just wants to ask you out, and nobody tells my brother that he's an idiot," said Musasha. "What?!" This made both Musashi and Celia blushed. "Sis! No way! Hmm… I'll use this fight to show you the right way to appreciate sushi," said Musashi. "You dumb… Don't you ever get tired of this? Fighting all the time, all alone," said Celia. "Huh? Nah. Musasha, Jinrai, Ara-o, Archie, Kyatten and sushi sprites keep me company. I'm having a great time! After this, maybe I'll have you around too!" "Whatever!"
After the battle, Celia said as she kneeled to the ground in defeat, "I admit it… You're strong…" "That doesn't matter! The power of sushi and the joy it brings… That's what got us here… not our strength," said Musasha. "Celia… I can see that you've been in a very dark place. But it is disrespectful to sushi to eat with a cloud on your brow," said Jinrai. "He's right! Sushi should put a smile on your face," said Musashi. "It should? I've never…heard anyone put it like that. The brass only ever told me to eat faster or to eat more… They saw me as nothing but a sushi striker. Although… Maybe I'm-," said Celia. "A sushi-loving friend of ours, right?" "A friend of yours… I still have no taste for sushi. But then…with your help… maybe I could learn…what it is you love so much about it." "You will." Musashi reaches his hand out to Celia, and she grabs his hand. And he helps her up to stand. "Musashi and Musasha… I'm with you all the way." "All right, she's on our side," said Archie. "I thought it would never work. I think underestimated Musashi. Welcome to the team, Celia," said Ara-o. "Indeed. Now, come with us. We have a general to take down," said Kyatten. "Let's find Grossiak," said Musasha. "Don't you mean Kodiak," said Celia. "Yeah. But I call him that as a mean joke." "Alright. Let's go!"