Chapter 10 – GiraGira! The Bond of Families

"Hm?" Misora lifted her head as she twirled the pen in her hand. Her other hand was holding her cellphone to her ear. "How to be a big sister?"

"Yeah." Iruka was walking through the park this fine day, taking the same route she did before. Opero was running through the bushes just as he did last time, trying to keep up with Iruka. "You know…because you've been a big sister all your life."

"Well, there were…some complications about that." It wasn't until recently that the four of them started acting like a family, and it was when she became a Pretty Cure that she and Kotaro made amends. "I don't exactly have a lot of 'experience' being a big sister."

"But what about now? Like, after you became a Pretty Cure?"

Misora thought about it a bit. It was true that she and Kotaro have made a few memories since they became closer, but it was perplexing that Iruka would ask this all of a sudden. "Hm…I guess…oh, there were some good memories before Kotaro-kun and I got off at the wrong foot." She couldn't believe that she had forgotten these memories. "When we were younger, we would play together during the free time we had. It was fun because those were the only moments we had together. If you want to describe what being a sister or a sibling is like, it's being close to the one person you care about and being there for them."

"Being close to the one person I care about…" Iruka stopped at the spot where she Nanako the previous day. She was all the student president could think about. With her family problems at such a young age, Nanako is prone to getting her Heart Gem stolen…no, it was much more than that. Way much more than that. "I…I understand."

"Don't forget, Iruka," Misora added as she leaned on her chair, "being a bigger sister is hard work. You have to be prepared to face the challenges that come with being a big sister."

"The…challenges?"

"You'll know when it comes."

As Iruka processed the thought, her phone began to beep. Who would call her while she's already on the phone? Of course, it's Kurisu. "Hold on, Misora. I'm getting a call Kurisu." Immediately, she switched the call. "Hello?...WHAT?!"

At Hikari-cho General Hospital, Iruka ran to the desk. "I'm here to see Harada Watsuki, please!" she exclaimed. The receptionist gave Iruka the room number and pointed to the elevator. After getting on and off the elevator, she instinctively ran to the room number designated for Harada Watsuki, Nanako's mother's fiancé. "Kurisu!" she exclaimed as she slid the door open quickly. She wasn't expecting a chop to the forehead by Kurisu.

"Hey, I know you're rich and all, but we're in a hospital," Kurisu scolded. "No running in the halls, and no yelling." She looked behind her; Watsuki was in bed, his eyes closed, with Tsukishima Anya sitting next to her. "I figured you'd know these two, since she's Nanako-chan's mother."

"Nanako-chan's mother?" This was the first time Iruka had met Anya; she is a very beautiful woman, she thought. She deduced who the sleeping man was and was surprised at how young he was. "What's going on, Kurisu? Why did you call me here?"

Anya turned to Iruka and bowed to her. "You must be Tennouji Iruka," she said politely. "I am Nanako's mother, Tsukishima Anya. My daughter wouldn't stop talking of you…" At the mention of Nanako, she bit her bottom lip.

Iruka looked around, but she didn't see Nanako anywhere. "Tsukishima-san…where…where is Nanako?"

Anya paused, and then she sat back down. "She and Watsuki…she misunderstood Watsuki's intentions and ran off into the night. Watsuki went after her, but…I was waiting for hours, and they never returned. So I asked for help from the neighborhood. I never knew you, a daughter of the Tennouji family, was a friend of Suzumiya-san here."

"I've met Tsukishima-san a few times when I go grocery shopping," Kurisu added. "We talk a lot, and she helps me pick out things for cooking. I never knew Nanako-chan was her daughter, since I never really asked. The neighborhood and I went looking for Harada-san and Nanako-chan…but I found Harada-san knocked out by some garbage cans. He was bleeding bad, like someone hit him."

"No one…no one couldn't find Nanako anywhere…all Suzumiya-san found was…was…" From the bed, Anya took out Detective PenRin. Iruka knew that it was definitely Nanako's. "Please…I know it's a lot to ask of the Tennouji family, but you're the only one I can possibly ask at this point…please…find Nanako-chan…she's all I have left…"

Iruka hesitated, but when she looked at the doll, she nodded. "I'm going to need that doll," she said, and Anya gave her the doll. She then motioned Kurisu outside and waited for her. When the door closed, she spoke up. "I'm going to have to ask you a big favor…you're not going to school at all during the Golden Week break, right?"

"I never do," Kurisu smirked. "Like to take a break some time."

"I can't afford to miss school because I have to deal with Student Council stuff." She looked at the doll and handed it to Kurisu. "I'm going to lend you Opero for the next few days. If he can find the Gems of Light, he can find Nanako-chan. I trust his nose."

"That's asking a lot, Iruka," Kurisu said as she looked down at the doll. "But y'know, I'm a girl that never gives up. I'll find Nanako-chan before you finish that manga you bought!"

"Y-You knew?!" Immediately, the student president blushed. "A-Anyway, I'm counting on you, Kurisu. Right now…you're the only one I can ask."

"Why not Misora?"

"She's probably going to be at school, too. So I need someone who's lazy enough to skip."

"…Oh, THANKS."

It's been a few days, and no word from Kurisu. Misora and Iruka were the only ones out of their circle of friends that returned to school during the Golden Week break. Misora said that she had to meet with Tategami Akane while Iruka had to take care of Student Council business. Iruka looked through the phone's news; they called Nanako's disappearance a kidnapping, and with Harada Watsuki unconscious, there wasn't a lead on her kidnapper. But the Sapphire of Light inside her already believed what had happened, and it was her duty to bring Nanako back.

"President Tennouji!" called out Aoba Jinsuke as Iruka snapped back to reality. She looked out towards the tables to her left and right at the students who did come to class, including Jinsuke who had been reported with a huge change of heart since his little fiasco and the Student Council Treasurer, Junior Manabe Chisato. Jinsuke placed his hand on his hip. "Dazing off during a meeting? I'm surprised, President Tennouji. Did something happen during the first half of the Golden Week break?"

"President Tennouji," Chisato spoke up timidly, "you've been silent the entire time Vice-President Aoba was talking. Is everything okay?"

Iruka looked back down at her phone and closed it. "I-I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's been a…hectic weekend. Please, Aoba-senpai, continue."

"…Ahem…as I was saying, the softball club is requesting a change of bats and new equipment for their new recruits. They've already placed an order with us and left us in charge of processing-"

As Jinsuke reported, Iruka's phone went off. She looked down to find that it was from Kurisu. "E-Excuse me, Aoba-senpai!" she exclaimed and stood up to answer her phone. "Hello? Kurisu?!"

"Iruka! Opero found a lead!" Kurisu said as she ran uphill towards the train station from the residential district. "It's been cold these past few days, but his nose has finally picked up something! Rubee and Pamerald went ahead to pick you and Misora up, so go get her!"

"Right! I'm on my way!" As she closed her phone, she took her bag behind her. "Aoba-senpai, you will take care of everything for today and tomorrow," she said to the Vice President.

"Wh-what?! Me?! A-Are you sure, President Tennouji?"

"I have important business to take care of, and I don't have the time to stay here!" There was a hint of urgency in her voice that took the few members of the Student Council by surprise. "You're the acting President until after the Holidays. I'm off!"

They watched the frantic president leave, and all eyes were now on a bewildered Jinsuke. He looked at Chisato, who gave him a reassuring nod. Once more, he cleared his throat and fixed his glasses. "Um…where do I begin…"

As Iruka and Misora run through the courtyard and down the hill; leading them were Rubee and Pamerald. "Pami!" Misora called out. "Is it true that Opero and Kurisu found Nanako-chan?"

"Opero's nose isn't somethin' to reckon with-pii," Pamerald replied. "His nose can sniff out even a Gem of Light if he knows th' scent-pii."

"That's why Opero is Shineburgh's greatest treasure hunter-tsuu," added Rubee. "But there's no time to waste-tsuu! Pamerald, can you carry these two-tsuu?"

"Do ya doubt my strength-pii?" Pamerald confidently smirked and lowered herself to Iruka and Misora. "Grab on-pii!"

"Um…what are we grabbing on to?" Iruka questioned. She watched Misora take hold of Pamerald's left leg. "Wait, what are you going to do?"

"Grab on, an' y'll see-pii." Though she hesitated, Iruka took Pamerald's other leg. All of a sudden, she and Misora found themselves rising off the ground; Pamerald was actually able to pick them both up with her feet and fly in the air. Soon, they were pretty high. "Opero isn't th' only one with a gift-pii. I can carry objects more than ten times my weight."

"Too high! Too high!" Iruka exclaimed.

"Oh my, this is so much fun!" Misora squealed.

"Kuri-tsuu is waiting for us at the Central Park-tsuu! There's no time to waste-tsuu! Full speed ahead-tsuu!"

Kurisu stood at the train station, rubbing Opero's wrinkly head as the opal Gemite dog panted, his tail wagging. She looked up to see a flying Iruka and Misora, being brought down by Pamerald. "…Did you two hitch a ride on a Gemite?" she asked in disbelief.

"Remind me…to never do that again…" Iruka sighed, holding her heart steady. "Where's Nanako-chan?" They all turned to where Kurisu pointed; Nanako was where Iruka had first met her, by the barricades that surrounded the lake. "Nanako-chan…Nanako-chan!" Instinctively, Iruka ran around the path and towards Nanako, who was crouching down like before. But when the girl faced Iruka, her eyes were a dull red. "No…Nanako-chan…"

"Iruka-neesan…" Nanako mumbled as she stood up. "Where…where were you…you lied to me, Iruka-neesan…"

"What…what are you talking about?"

Nanako looked up at Iruka and balled her tiny hands into fists. "I love Mama and Papa...I love Iruka-neesan. But Papa is gone, and Mama betrayed me and Papa by replacing him…"

"Nanako-chan, your mother has been looking for you. She's worried about you." Iruka began to approach Nanako, but Nanako backed away. "I've been worried about you, too. Let's go home, Nanako-chan."

"No!" At her word, Kurisu screamed as Zir-Q pushed the blonde down, taking the Detective PenRin doll from her and reappeared behind Nanako.

"You!" Iruka hissed.

"This love is supposed to be your big sister?" Zir-Q chuckled, tossing the doll into the air with his big hand. "She couldn't even protect you from me. She won't protect you from your Mama and new Papa. She's a liar, isn't she?"

These words were feeding the negativity in Nanako's heart, and Iruka was enraged by this. "Leave her alone, you brute!"

"I'm not going home!" Nanako yelled back. "I don't have a home anymore! Why will you take me back to people who don't love me?! That means you don't love me too!"

As Misora helped Kurisu back up, they walked up to Iruka from behind. "She's too far gone," Misora reasoned. "That…monster took her Luster and dulled her Heart Gem!"

"I know…" Iruka clenched her fists. "But…I didn't want it to be like this…I don't want to hurt Nanako-chan…"

Zir-Q's eyes flashed as he grinned madly. "Ha! You poppets don't want to hurt her?! Resigning before the battle even begins is a sign of weakness! I'll have her take your Gems of Light and get rid of all of you!" Then he held up a small cubic zirconium stone. It was filled with dark energy. "With this, the Rock Heart." First, he thrusted his palm towards Nanako's back. "Relinquish your Luster…" He then held up the Detective PenRin doll with the Rock Heart floating over it. "…and lose yourself to the Dullness of the world!" The Rock Heart festered in conjunction with the Counterfeit Heart in Nanako. It embedded itself into the doll as it fused with Nanako. Taking her place was a large Detective PenRin, but rather feral and dangerous-looking. Cubic zirconium pillars protruded from its shoulders and back. "Peeeeen!" it roared.

"What is that?!" Kurisu gasped.

"It seems the Counterfetis have gained a new power-tsuu!" Rubee exclaimed. "Quickly-tsuu! Transform!"

Iruka hesitated, looking at the Sapphire of Light around her finger. She truly wanted to avoid fighting Nanako with all her heart. Misora held her hand as Kurisu placed hers on her shoulder. With the reassurance from her friends, Iruka accepted her duty as a Pretty Cure. "Let's do this, girls!" Their Heart Flashers came out of their Heart Rings, and the world around them became dark as they yelled in unison, "It's…show time!" They then tossed the Heart Flashers into the air. "Pretty Cure! Lights…ON!" Their Heart Flashers exploded, and their world was brightened. Sparkles of light rained down on their bodies, changing them into their dresses. Their boots and gloves/sleeves exploded onto their feet and forearms, and their hair and eyes magically changed themselves. In no time, their transformation was complete.

"Like the endless universe glittering inside a tiny diamond! Cure Diamond!"

"Like the vast ocean that sparkles towards the horizon! Cure Ocean!"

"Like the millions of stars twinkling in the night sky! Cure Starlight!"

Starlight stepped forward and twirled as Ocean flicked her hair and Diamond pounded her left fist into her palm. "Illuminate the hearts and become the beacons of hope!" They then posed together one last time. "ShiningHearts…Pretty Cure!"

The PenRin Synthesan waddled forward and thrusted its wing fist towards the three Pretty Cure, but they jumped out of the way in time. There was huge crack and crater in the path. Diamond landed on its right and jumped forward at the Synthesan with her right fist raised. But it caught wind of her and swung its forward wing to the side. She covered herself as she was knocked down onto the path behind the Synthesan, bouncing onto the green. "Holy…this thing is stronger than the ones we've faced before!"

"Diamond!" Starlight gasped as she formed light shurikens between her fingers. "KiraKira Shooter!" As she tossed the shurikens towards the Synthesan, it reached its other wing forward; it dispelled the shurikens and grabbed Starlight. "Agh!"

"GiraGira Straight!" A fast stream of water hit the back of the wing, causing the Synthesan to drop Starlight. It turned its attention to Ocean, who fired the attack. She was balancing herself on the barricade as she pulled her right hand back like an archer. On the tip of her right index finger was a droplet of water. "Nanako-chan!"

"Iruka-neesan, you liar!" The Synthesan reached out to grab Ocean, but she jumped out of the way as her perch was destroyed. She wasn't aware that it used its other wing to punch Ocean out of the sky, breaking her second Straight. As Ocean slammed onto the floor the Synthesan tried to grab her, but Diamond and Starlight pushed its wing, holding it back. "I wanted to run away from it all! I wanted Papa back! I wanted Iruka-neesan to replace Papa!" Ocean was horrified by these words. "Iruka-neesan can never replace Papa! Iruka-neesan can't protect me at all!"

"Nanako-chan…" Ocean held her hand to her chest. "I wanted to protect you…I wanted to be your big sister…but there are some things I just can't do and is not my place to…I'm sorry, Nanako-chan…I'm sorry I failed you…"

"And are you going to give up here?!" yelled Diamond as she used her strength with Starlight to push the wing back. "That's not the Ocean I know! The Ocean I know would find a solution to the problem in a heartbeat! The Ocean I know isn't a failure! She's a successful woman with a future brighter than everyone else!" She turned her head to her with a smile. "She would hold her head up high and face the problem the only way she knows how."

"Diamond…"

"The Ocean I know isn't afraid to try new things," Starlight added, wiping the sweat from her brow. "She isn't afraid to turn to her friends for help. And her friends…will be there when she needs it."

"Starlight…" Ocean felt a strange feeling in her chest and in her Sapphire of Light. She closed her eyes and stood up, nodding to her friends. "Thank you…"

Zir-Q cracked his neck and knuckles as he began to step forward. "I've let you girls do enough as you please," he menacingly growled. "I'm going to end this here and now."

"You'll have to get through us first!" Diamond announced, pounding her right fist into her left palm. "Ocean's got things to deal with her little sister!" In an instant, she and Starlight dashed past the Synthesan and attacked Zir-Q, who blocked them with ease. They began to launch their assault that Zir-Q continued to block, but it brought them away from Ocean and the Synthesan doll.

"Iruka-neesan…where is Iruka-neesan…" the Synthesan droned as it waddled towards Ocean.

"I'm sorry, Nanako-chan…" she whispered. "I wanted to protect you, but I wasn't ready to take everything from you. But now…I won't hesitate anymore!" She lifted her right hand with her index and thumb fingers out in the shape of an L, held under by her left hand. There was a blue glow at the tip of her index finger. "GiraGira…Shot!" She fired a bullet of water as she flexed her right arm. The bullet hit the Synthesan's shoulder, pushing it back. Before it could counter, Ocean pushed down her arm again, the same blue glow on her index finger. Once more, she fired, and she repeated again and again until the Synthesan fell onto its back. "Amazing…this new attack is not as strong as the Straight…but it can fire at a more consistent rate!" The Synthesan then stood back up, waddling straight for Ocean. "Wait for me, Nanako-chan! I'll end this soon!"

Meanwhile, Starlight narrowly dodged a punch by Zir-Q, even with her superior speed. "He's fast!" she exclaimed as she hopped back, forming shurikens between her fingers. "KiraKira Shooter!"

She tossed the shurikens at Zir-Q, but he knocked it away with his big arm. That didn't stop Diamond from closing in and delivering a punch to his stomach. It didn't affect him, and it showed as he mercilessly swatted the blonde Pretty Cure over a bench. "What's wrong?!" he laughed. "Last time, I was at a quarter of my total strength! I power up just a little bit, and you two can't even make a dent on me!"

"You know what they say…" Diamond chuckled as she stood up, "…the bigger they are, the harder they fall!" Once more, she closed the gap between the two of them and delivered another blow to the stomach. From behind, Starlight pulled a double punch at the exact same spot. But as before, Zir-Q was unaffected, and he used his big arms to grab Starlight and Diamond together and slam them onto the pavement. "Agh!"

"Forget it, you two!" he chuckled. "You're a hundred years too early to beat me! I'm a Synthesan General of the Counterfeti! You're just little human girls!"

"Well these little human girls…are gonna kick your ass!" With a burst of strength, Diamond released herself and Starlight from Zir-Q's grip, knocking him back. "Starlight…this isn't good. I don't think I can last a bit longer…"

"Hold out a bit longer," Starlight panted, holding her arm. "I have a plan, but I need you to cooperate…can you keep him busy?"

"Who do you think you're talking to?" With a smirk, Diamond pounded her fist into her hand again. "Let's go, Zir-Q! I'm gonna show you that your strength boosts mean nothing to me!"

Zir-Q narrowed his red eyes and clenched his fists. "Then taste forty percent of my strength!" He bursted towards Diamond with his right fist back. Diamond did the same, pulling back her own right fist. The two warriors thrusted forward, and the impact of their fists caused the ground to shake. Zir-Q's eyes widened. "H-How can you keep up with me?!"

"Didn't ya know, Zir-Q?" Diamond winced in pain, but her smirk stayed on her face. "I'm a girl that never gives up. Now, Starlight!" Quickly, she dove out of the way as Starlight dashed towards Zir-Q, her afterimage following. Both her index and middle fingers were glowing in a yellow light.

"KiraKira…Starlight!" In a flash, Starlight landed behind Zir-Q, leaving behind a star pentagram made of yellow light in the air. He couldn't believe it as his stomach began to crack.

"I don't believe this!" he exclaimed.

"You didn't notice, but Diamond and I have been hitting the exact same spot over and over," Starlight explained. "No matter how strong a wall is, when force is applied to the exact spot over and over, it will crack over time."

"You…little brats!" Zir-Q stumbled to the barricade as he held his cracked stomach. "I'll let you off the hook for now, but mark my words. I'll make you pay for this!" Then he disappeared as the Synthesan fell backwards onto their battlefield.

"Ocean!" Diamond called out, but Ocean calmly walked towards them. She looked majestic with her composure calm and cool.

"Nanako-chan…I will always be your big sister, no matter what. So…I have to do this. I'll purify that which has dulled your heart!" She clasped her hands forward together and gathered energy from her Sapphire of Light. The light grew stronger as she pulled her clasped hands upwards into the air. "Illuminate! Sapphire of Light!" The hands let go of each other, now outwards, as she took a step forward into a front stance. "Petty Cure…Ocean…Wave!" She pulled her hands forward, and from her palms release a blue beam covered in water. The beam engulfed the Synthesan, and the torrent of the water tore apart the doll and cubic zirconium from Nanako, expelling the Rock Heart. Ocean then stood up straight and turned her back to Nanako. "Polification…" with a snap of her fingers, she finished, "…complete!" The Rock Heart shattered into shards that melted and faded into the water, and Nanako slowly floated to the ground with her doll in her arms.

Ocean panted as she looked down at Nanako. Eventually, her legs gave way and she fell, only to be caught by Diamond and Starlight with smiles on their faces. They finally saved Nanako.

Nanako's eyes slowly opened, and she found herself on Iruka's back. "Iruka-neesan?"

"You're finally awake," Iruka said as she climbed down the hill of the residential area. "You've been gone for a few days, and it took us a while to find you."

"Us?"

"Me, Kurisu-neesan, and Misora-neesan." She looked back to find Misora and Kurisu following them. "It took us a bit, but we were glad to see you safe and sound."

"I feel like…I've woken up from a bad dream…" Nanako was still drowsy. "Where's Mama…and Harada-san?"

"You want to see?" Iruka let Nanako down, who found themselves in front of their house. Anya was at the door, in tears. She ran out and embraced Nanako in a sob.

"Mama! Mama!" Nanako cried out as she held her mother close to her. She opened her teary eyes to find Watsuki looking at them. He had a bandage on around his forehead. "H-Harada-san…"

Watsuki came forward, and when his hand touched Nanako's cheek, she flinched. But she felt no malice or anger from him. "Nanako-chan…" he said to her, "…I can't…I know I can never replace your father. I don't intend to. I just…I just want you and your mother to be happy. If anything, I want to grant you both that happiness you both deserve. So…I'm sorry, Nanako-chan. I don't want to see you cry anymore…"

Nanako realized that Watsuki really did love her like her father would. She fully understood what Iruka had told her, and she embraced Watsuki's legs. Instinctively in her sobs, she called him Papa over and over. He crouched down to hug her with Anya, and Iruka stepped back as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Being a big sister is to know when you have to let the younger sibling go," Misora said to Iruka. "I won't be there for Kotaro-kun all the time, so I'm trying to make up for the time that we lost. You can't be there for Nanako-chan all the time, but you can be there when she needs you the most. But for now, she has her real family to look after her."

Iruka nodded as she looked on. "Yeah…she has her real family…"

It was the beginning of the second Golden Week holiday, and Kurisu and Misora were by the manga once more. Misora had picked up a manga called "Revolutionary Girl", and she was entranced by the relationships of the main characters. Kurisu continued the manga she had previously and was having laughing fits.

They were completely unaware that Iruka had just paid for a ton of Detective PenRin and Detective Nyan volumes. She didn't want to admit it, but she was totally hooked. "Kurisu! Misora! I'm done!" At the call of Iruka's voice, they headed out the store.

"Man, you are totally hooked on manga now," Kurisu snickered.

"Sh-shut up…"

"Iruka-neesan!" The three girls were greeted by familiar faces. It was Nanako, now holding hands with Anya and Watsuki. She ran to the older girl and embraced her. "I told you Mama! If we came here again, we'd see her again!"

"I can't thank you enough, Tennouji-san," Anya bowed. "I'm forever in your debt."

The sound of that made Iruka blush. "P-Please, don't. It wasn't nothing. I just did what anyone would've done…"

"That's because you're an assistant to Detective PenRin!" Nanako smiled, bouncing around the older girl.

Iruka smiled back and crouched down to her. "Nanako-chan, about that. I'm not really an assistant to Detective PenRin. My family funded the anime during its run."

"I know you're not an assistant," Nanako replied, "but you still played with me, and that made me very happy. Thank you, Iruka-neesan…" Once more, she embraced Iruka, and Iruka wrapped her arms around the child's back. She was warm, and it made her feel very happy.

In the asteroid that hovered around Earth's orbit, the red Cor sat in a surplus of monitors. The monitors had recordings of the battles between the Pretty Cure and their own Synthesans. He was watching every monitor until a voice rang out throughout the room.

"We are the Legendary Warriors, Pretty Cure! We won't give up or give in to any enemy, no matter how strong they are!"

Diamond appeared on the monitor. Then she appeared on another, and another and another. The words repeated in the room over and over as Cor sat in the middle, rubbing his hand over his knuckle. Finally, he opened his eyes.

"I guess it's my turn, eh?"