Sigh…I totally abandoned this story again. Well I have been really busy nowadays with SATs and such, so it might take me awhile again for the next chapter. But enjoy what I have now, 'kay? Alrighty!


Chapter 12: I Have a Plan to Do What's Right!

Kotori half-dashed towards Seishirou's house in her brother's long muscular legs, hoping that her speedy attempt did not make her fly again.

"Yeah…but that was all in my imagination…right?" she questioned herself, not knowing the most obvious event that occurred on her stroll with the harbingers.

The ex-assassin's dwelling came into view, as vibrant and appealing as the first time Kotori saw it. This time, however, his front yard looked less attractive, and the silk-clothed curtains were absent from their usual posts. Kotori remembered how just yesterday she had caught Subaru in his dramatic act, calling out to his love in front of his home. He was so delighted to hear Seishirou' voice, but to his dismay, all he got in return was a bland silence.

"Ohhhh, if I can only find a way to get those two back together! But everything's all ruined now because of me…I'm so horrible!!"

She tried to hide the overcoming pang of guilt as she made her way up to Seishirou's front door, only to find him waiting at the entrance with a dreadful look of anxiety.

"I'm so glad I got in contact with at least one abnormal person," he said with a weary face. "Please do come in."

Kotori followed him in, unaware of the cause of the assassin's visible fear. Although his room was also transformed to match the bright décors of his home, there was still an eerie gloom that met them both as they went inside.

"So what is the problem, Seishirou-san? Is it really bad?"

Seishirou nodded as he twiddled with his fingers. "Very bad."

Kotori suddenly felt scared. What could go wrong now? If it was concerning the video, then there was definitely something wrong…something horrible maybe.

"Did…did the video get ruined?" Kotori asked, noticing Seishirou's grim silence.

"No…not quite."

Okay, as long as that did not happen. "Then…then you lost it?"

"Nuh-uh."

"There is no way for us to change back at all?!" Kotori said, hoping that was not the problem.

"I wouldn't say that…I think." Seishirou shook his head.

"Then what's wrong, Seishirou-san?" Kotori was running out of options. "You brought me here to tell me so---"

Before Kotori could finish, Seishirou flopped to the floor with the most agonizing face ever. "THE VIDEO IS FREAKIN' OVERDUE!!!!!!!!!!"

Kotori could not help but stare at the assassin with a worried look, trying to grasp the pain inflicting his poor soul.

"Um…so…" she began to speak.

"I freakin' forgot that I rented that video from Blockbuster a week ago!" Seishirou thumped his fist against the floor with every word he spoke. "Damn, I even had to kill that guy at the counter to get it too!"

Kotori covered her mouth in shock. "So does that mean we can't change back to---"

"Damn it! That's not the problem right now!!" Seishirou got up angrily and reached for the overdue bill. "See this??" He shoved the paper in front of Kotori's face, tapping his finger vigorously on the required payment. "See how much I gotta pay right now 'cause of my ignorance?? 2100 Yen more! 2100! Renting the tape was expensive enough but no! Now they freakin' wanna clear my pockets! Those freakin' bastards!"

Kotori remained quiet, wondering when she would get her chance to speak. This was the first time she ever saw Seishirou outraged at himself…or was it at Blockbuster? Not that it mattered, because it felt like he was taking out his anger on her. Her lower lip began to tremble.

"What the hell?! How can I just forget like that?! I was blinded by my misery and heartbreak, I didn't even see when this thing was due!" he smashed his head against his fist repeatedly. "I can't believe I'm such a bad assassin! I should have fixed this mess sooner and returned it! Where is my honor of being a good person?! Oh where…"

He suddenly noticed Kotori whimpering at her spot, forcing back the emerging tears.

"Gah! Kotori!!" he ran up to her with a regretful expression. "Oh crap, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have yelled at you like that! I'm so horrible!" he started developing tears himself. "Please forgive me! I'm being so rude today! I'm not usually like this…or at least not nowadays anyway. But I still shouldn't have done that!"

"It's okay, Seishirou-san! I know how you feel!" Kotori smiled through tearful eyes.

"I hope you do!" Seishirou thanked with a sniff.

"I'm glad you told me what happened, even if I still don't know what I'm here for!"

"Dammit, just give me a hug!" Seishirou added with another set of tears.

"Okay!"

And so they embraced, this time without the jealous eyes of poor Subaru. It looked rather adorable, considering Kotori could now give a huge bear hug in her brother's body.

"Ohhh how I wish I can kill again…" Seishirou added after a bit of silence.


Backing away from this touching moment, the real drama ensued down in the city, where Kamui hopelessly tried to keep himself amused with his new date at the toy vending machine.

"Now the real trick here is to, like, know how to aim effifently…"

"Efficiently you mean." Kamui corrected with a bored look.

"Right, right!" Duke replied. He moved the crane with keen perception to grab his target: a cabbage patch beach boy doll. "Then, when you, like, know you got hold of what you want, you slowly move it, like, towards this hole."

Kamui yawned for the thirtieth time. What the hell was he thinking agreeing to this date? Well, Duke did save his life, and there was nothing more he could owe him than this. But that didn't mean he was going to stand around at some corner store, looking like an idiot who didn't know how to function a stupid vending machine!

"Like, here you go, Sugarplum!" Duke handed Kamui the toy he succeeded in capturing.

"I don't like cabbage patch dolls," Kamui answered as he looked at the familiar tan and muscular features of the toy.

"Oh come on, it's, like, the only one in there that nobody really got!"

"For a good reason too," Kamui mumbled to himself.

"Besides, it would, like, help you to remember me, Rose Petal!"

"For the last time, stop it with those tacky nicknames already!"

"Then maybe I can, like, get you that Powerpuff Bubbles plush doll…"

"Weren't you supposed to take me to the movies?" Kamui tried to change the subject.

"Yah, but the movie I wanna, like, show you doesn't start until later."

"Can't we at least buy the tickets now?"

"Hmmm…" Duke thought for a bit. "I would, like, rather go later when there's less people."

Kamui could have thrown a thousand curses at him, but decided to just shut his trap. If this date was ever going to end smoothly, all he had to do was torture himself to the very end. Nomatter how he wanted to run for it, Duke would only come after him even more. Might as well settle this like a man…er…or girl.

"Uh…so, like, you want that Powerpuff Bubbles plu---"

"No."


"I have to do what again?" Kotori asked again, a bit surprised.

"I just need you to go down to Blockbuster for me and apologize for the inconvenience. Say that there are technical difficulties and I can't return the video right now!"

"But can't you just go do it yourself, Seishirou-san?"

"Kotori, I did not invite you over to simply let you share in my inexplicable anguish! I still have my pride, you know."

"But…but won't they still want the money? I mean, I'm not good at handling with…"

Seishirou sighed. "Just go in there, say it flat out, and leave. Trust me, I've seen your brother handle these guys, and they'll definitely listen."

"So you just want me to act like my nii-san? But how do I do that?"

"You've been doing it for awhile now, you should know!"

"But…but I didn't really know how to…I mean I keep messing up with…ohhh!" Kotori was starting to get nervous. She was not good at handling situations like these, not to mention denying an overdue note. It felt horrible to be in Fuuma's body without having his fierce intellect or skills, and Kotori wished just for once she could be useful to her friend.

"Please, you have to do this for me!" Seishirou shook her shoulders gently. "My reputation's at stake here!"

"Is…isn't there any other way?" Kotori dared to ask.

"No Kotori! Now either you do this for me or you'll be forced to see my puppy-eyed pout, and you know how much I hate the puppy-eyed pout!"

"Well I do like puppies---"

"Kotori!"

"Okay, okay," Kotori finally submitted. "I'll do it, but I'm telling you they're not gonna like it." She suddenly became frightened. "I'll probably be bashed alive or…or smacked with…with…"

Seishirou was beginning to grow tired from her pessimism. "Geez you're hopeless!" he grabbed her hand and dragged her down the stairs and out the door. "Maybe it's better if I come with you. If things gotta be done right, I need to be there to see it!"

Kotori, who failed to realize that Seishirou was angry with her this time, looked at him with a hopeful smile. "So does that mean you will pay the money?"

"Heck no! I'm going over to provide you some guidance." He spoke proudly. "I may not be able to kill anymore, but I still have the mind of a true assassin. And I'll tell you exactly what you have to do!"


"Oh Kotori, you don't know how I'm, like, enjoying this moment with you!" Duke said before biting into his overcooked hotdog.

After a well-spent time at the corner vending machine and a short trip to the tan booth, Duke Wonderburger decided to offer Kamui a treat at Big Wiener's, a great place for unhealthy fast food.

"I'm twellin' you, likhe, whis ish the gweatesht hoft dog shtore in Japhan!" Duke spoke with his mouth full.

"I'm amazed." Kamui answered dully. His eyes wandered outside the window with a longing look of nostalgia. He wondered how his fellow Seals were doing, or how their situation was with the world when he was not there. Of course, they were probably having better luck this time, since the city was still in one piece.

But what about Fuuma? Or Kotori? No…forget about her, she could be lost for all he cared. But somehow he was eager to know how they were coping with this bizarre switch. For instance, Fuuma had his body, so he was probably fighting bravely to make sure his beautiful skin did not leave a single scratch. And Kotori was probably sitting at home, still scared out of her mind to even do anything.

Oh how wrong he was. But either way, his own situation proved to be more distasteful.

"You're not, like, eating your hot dog?" Duke asked when he noticed Kamui's silence.

"Not hungry."

"Hmm, that sure is, like, a waste," he grabbed Kamui's tray and pulled it next to his. "I hope you don't mind if I, like, finish it for you."

"Be my guest," Kamui responded without looking.

Duke couldn't help but notice his date was not having a hell of a time as he was. He thought maybe his grand act of heroism would change Kamui's mind and have him appreciate him better. Sure he finally went out with him, but Duke wanted to provide the best for his "Kotori," and he was not doing a great job at it. But what more could he give to the blonde hothead?

"You know," Duke began to speak. "the reason I, like, saved you today was because of a memory that I had."

Kamui looked up slightly. "Like?"

"Well I remember when I was, like, young in America, my mom left my dad and took me with her far away," he continued. "They had, like, some fight and my mom couldn't take it anymore. I didn't understand back then, and I really, like, loved my dad. But my mom wouldn't, like, let me stay with him 'cause she claimed custody over me."

"I see. Go on." Kamui felt a bit interested, mainly because it would be rude not to acknowledge something serious.

"My mom, like, was always bitter after that. She took her anger at my dad out at me sometimes, and I couldn't stand it. So one day, when we both went out, I, like, ran away from my mom, and attempted to get back to my dad, wherever he was."

"…"

"But I was, like, crying, and didn't realize that I had ran through a red light at a busy street. My mom, like, ran after me, but it was too late for her to stop anything." He looked up at Kamui. "I was stuck in the same situation, like, you were in today. I was, like, nearly run over by the traffic, but I was alive. And do you know who, like, saved me?"

"Who?"

Duke gave a short smile. "My dad. He, like, came outta nowhere and pulled me off the road. He somehow, like, found us and came to my rescue. You don't know how I was, like happy to find him. And just for that, I figured my mom would, like, forgive him." He suddenly turned grave. "But she, like, didn't. When she caught up to us, she, like, flipped out at him for being there. That, like, hurt me more than it did to my dad. And because of that, I, like, left my mom for good."

Kamui was listening intently. Could something this sad have happened in Duke's childhood? Not that it was that horrible as his own, but the harshness of a mother was something he never experienced himself.

"That's horrible." He said.

Duke leaned back in his chair and looked somewhat pleased. "Yah but, like, my life was better with my dad anyway. We did way better stuffs, like, together. I never really, like, heard from my mom again. Not even after moving here to Japan."

"Well, I'm glad you had a happy ending." Kamui acknowledged with a smile, something he found himself do for the first time.

Duke looked at him and chuckled. "I guess my story wasn't, like, too shabby. I was able to get you to, like, smile again." He got up and leaned his hand out to Kamui. "Shall we, like, go to the movies now?"

Kamui sat there transfixed. For some strange reason, he felt pity for the over-tanned American. Duke was trying so hard to please him, and he was being so cruel back. He felt just like Duke's mother, who never forgave his father even after what he did. How awful it was to be such a heartless bastard. And then it finally occurred to him, that as Duke stood there with a glistening smile, he actually did like him more than he thought.

"Yah sure," he said as he took Duke's hand. It was difficult to finally accept it, but the fact that Kamui was beginning to blush as they walked towards the theatre meant that he was developing feelings for him. That just did not sound right at all.

"So what movie are we seeing?"

Duke gave an exultant look. "10 Things I Hate About You. It's, like, my favorite!"

Kamui sighed. "Oh brother…"


Yah, Duke likes chick-flicks by the way. Remember, this movie came out in 1999. Anyway, review please!