Chapter 25: Deception

(Katsumi's POV)

"So, you like me?" I asked. Bash rolled his emerald eyes.

"Well do YOU like me?" The look on his face made me giggle.

"Heeheehee! That's for me to know, and you to find out!"

"So, you do like me."

"Maybe!" He stopped abruptly.

"We're here. The safe room. Now can you tell me?"

"Hmm, maybe." Suddenly, his expression turned from friendly-looking into sheer anger. He smashed his fist right next to my head, creating a crater in the wall.

"TELL ME!" I screamed and ran to the nearest doorway. Just as I reached it, the door slammed closed and was barred off by a boulder. Backing away from Bash slowly, I felt myself hitting the wall. Oh no.

"KATSUMI!" a voice yelled. A pair of pale hands appeared and grabbed Bash by his sides. He gritted his teeth as he punched the pale arms. The angel winced, but continued to hold on tight. "Bash, stop it! Why are you trying to hurt Katsumi?"

"TELL ME! TELL ME NOW!" he screamed. Quickly, the boy in a green large jacket stuffed his socks into Bash's mouth.

"Sheesh, what is wrong with you?" he asked. Bash shook his head wildly. When the demon appeared, horrible memories flooded my thoughts.

"N-No...go away. Go away! Please!" I shouted.

"Is everyone going psycho today? Cause usually, Bash would be calm and cool, not this...crazy." asked the boy in red, who was clutching a boomerang.

"It's Demon. The sight of her still haunts Katsumi." said the angel. Demon scoffed.

"Of course." The angel leaned closer to me, after passing Bash to Demon.

"Katsumi." My legs felt paralyzed.

"Y-Yeah? What do you want? Why can't you leave me alone?"

"Katsumi...do you want to be fused again?" WHAT?! Tears leaked from my eyes.

"WHAT?! NO! NO NO NO NO NO! I DON'T WANT TO BE FUSED WITH YOU AND DEMON AGAIN! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! PLEASE!" I cried, shaking my head. For a split second, I saw Bash punching Demon and the next thing I knew, his hand was clasped around my throat. He hoisted me into the air. I looked down and took notice that his eyes are red, and not just the iris. "Gahhh-B..ash...ack! P...lease...st...op..."

"HEY YOU SON OF A BITCH! TAKE THIS!" A blurry figure dashed past, knocking 'Bash', which at the same time, released me. I gasped for air, trying to regain clear sight. The blurry figure was punching Bash, until I heard a sharp crack sound. Once I regained sight...well lets say I wish I hadn't have. A bloody figure whose reddened hat covered his face with a bloodied pole arm stood over Bash, whose head was twisted in a ninety degree angle. Definite death. I covered my mouth to stop the scream that was coming up. Oh, my, gosh. Rivers of tears ran down my face.

"YOU ARE SO GOING TO PAY FOR THAT!" screamed the boy in a blue hat. He whipped out his bow and slashed the guy. Right before it made contact with the person's head, he held out the pole of his pole arm, creating a sharp rap when the two weapons hit.

"Hey Bruise. Miss me?" Bruise's eyes turned from anger to disbelief. And so was everyone else's including mine. That voice...

"...Bash?" He lifted his hat and broke into a goofy grin.

"Sup people? Bruise, Break, Bonnie, Bonbon, Buttercup, Blossom, Bubbles, Brick, Boomer, Butch, Demon, Angel, (he gestures his left hand towards me) and Kat. What's up?" Wait, if HE'S Bash, then who's...?

"This...isn't...over...yet." Quickly, Bash turned around just in time to stop the attack the fake Bash was attempting. "Hee...hee...hee...HEEHEEHEEHEE!"

"What the fuck...?" Fake Bash turned his head towards me with a sickening sound. I almost retched.

"KAAATSUUUUMIIIII. DOOO YOOOU LIIIKE MEEEE?" he sang in a creepy tune.

(Demon's POV)

"Okay, that's enough." I said, and squashed the fake Bash's head with my spikes soled boots. Cleats plus boots. Yup. After a crunch of his head echoed in the room, I shook off the blood.

"Woah, that's umm...great?" commented Bruise. Break punched him in the shoulder. I blew the stray strand of hair away from my face and looked at Katsumi, who was creeping closer to the shadows. Typical. I walked towards her and kneeled.

"Katsumi, are you sure you-" she shook her head wildly again.

"NO! I-I-I DON'T WANT TO BE FUSED WITH YOU TWO! PLEASE! JUST...leave...me ..alone." Then she broke into tears again. Sheesh, does she have a water dam in her eyes? I took a breath.

"Look, Katsumi. Without me, or Angel, you couldn't fend for yourself. Think about it. If anything were to happen to you, you can't protect yourself."

"Bash will be there for me!"

"...and if not?" She stayed silent. Hmph.

"Bash? How come that guy looks like you?" asked Bubbles. Bash shrugged.

"I don't know. Demon?"

"That...was a blood demon. It takes the blood from its victim, usually after its death, and takes the victim's form." I turned to look at Bash. "You're lucky. That blood demon didn't kill you. It's a rare thing, letting you live." He chuckled sheepishly.

"Heh, actually, I kinda ran away."

"WHAT?!"

"I was trying to lure it into a pitfall trap I nearly fell in earlier. But when I noticed that it was gone, well, I was worried that it might've gotten to you guys. Especially Kat."

"Then how...?" asked Angel, nudging towards the gashes all over his body.

"Remember when I told you to leave?"

"Yeah?"

"Well shortly afterwards, I was in a battle with it. Unfortunately, it had several tricks up its' sleeves. Man, that thing could slice like a sharp knife." He winced. "Still hurts though."

"I can heal you."

"You sure? It won't drain your energy." She waved her hand.

"Nope! It won't." Then, Angel flew over to Bash and started her healing process. I looked back at the blood demon again and repeatedly stomped on its head, just to make sure it's really dead.

"Well, that's that, huh? Let's get out of this crappy place." yelled Buttercup. Butch nodded and used Bash's katanas to slice the boulders into pieces. Or more likely, into a stone statue of Buttercup.

"And voila! A stone statue of the ass-kicking girl!" he announced, jumping out of the way and gesturing towards it. Buttercup's face began to grow redder by the second.

"You think this is over? As a matter of fact, this is FAR from over." boomed a voice. Him! All at once, a strange portal appeared under our feet and sucked us all in.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" screamed the others. I gave a blank stare. Really guys? I'm disappointed. Crossing my arms, I continued to fall.

(Bash's POV)

After moments of falling though a tunnel of spirals, we landed on the pavement.

"OW!" yelled Butch, squirming from the bottom of the pile.

"Ah quit whining you baby." said Demon, who was sitting on top of the pile and on my back. When we all got up and steadied ourselves, we looked around.

"Umm, why is this place so...childish?" I asked, looking at non detailed building structures and swirly trees.

"I think we're in another dimension. Hey, wait a second! We were here the last time we used our time traveling robot! This is the original Powerpuffs!" shouted Bubbles. Suddenly, three streaks appeared. Butch grabbed the green one and held her high. He pointed at her.

"Hey Butters! Look! This is you!" he chortled. Mini Buttercup punched his arm. "Ah butt off!" Butch whimpered in pain and dropped Mini Buttercup. In a flash, she flew off.

"Hah, and even SHE could kick your ass." chuckled Buttercup.

"Good luck trying to escape. This time, I have a secret weapon that could easily destroy you all! Find me and defeat me if you dare. Oh and there's a time limit of twelve days. If you win, you'll take your leave and return to your world. If all else fails, ALL YOUR SOULS WILL BE MINE FOR ETERNITY. Anyways, have fun! HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!" laughed Him's voice. Aw shit.