Episode 26

Op: "We Are Passion Heart Precure!"

"Summer Beach Fun!"

"Now Reaching Valor City Beach."

The train's loud speaker buzzed, as the train was pulling to it's next stop. Rei clutched her bag as she rose from her seat. As the train pulled in to the station Rei merged with the small crowd that gathered at the doors. She walked on to the station platform looking over the crowd of people.

"Hey!" Came a call.

Rei turned to the sound, greeted by a cheerful Waki. "Hey Waki." She said as she joined her.

Waki smiled brightly, adjusting the straw hat on her head as the two stepped from the shade of the platform and on to the blazing beach. Rei dug through her bag and pulled out a hair tie, balling her hair in to a messy bun.

Waki turned to her, arm stretched out to point towards the sand. "Pick a spot!" She said.

Rei sighed, eyeing the beach. "Anywhere's fine."

"Of course not!" Waki said. "We need the best spot on the beach! Come on, follow me!"

Rei jolted forward, pulled along by Waki in a search for a place to sit. Rei stumbled a few times as she tried to keep up with Waki who seemed desperate to find a place on the sand.

"It's impossible." Said Rei.

The beach was packed with blankets, coolers, and umbrellas. It was early afternoon, but groups of people littered the beach. Waki and Rei appeared out of luck, but Rei knew Waki was not going to stop until she found a spot.

So, Rei sighed and began to search for an empty spot on the sand. She pulled Waki back and pointed towards an empty area in the back, far from any crowd.

"It's a bit far isn't it?" Waki said, eyeing the area. "But, it's perfect!"

The girls laid their bags down, each setting out a blanket to sit on. Waki fumbled in her bag, stuffing her hat inside and putting on a pair of shades. She turned to Rei with a wide smile.

"See, isn't this fun?" She asked.

"We're just sitting..." Rei said.

Waki clicked her tongue, turning towards the tides. "No, but it's just the two of us at the beach! And you'll see, we'll go swimming and eat watermelons and play around! You'll love it!"

Rei shrugged, tucking her knees under her chin. "Ok sure, but why didn't Orie come?"

"She had something to do with the drama club." Waki said. "Why? Don't you love hanging out just the two of us?" She joked.

Rei cracked a smile. "Yea...but did we have to come to the beach."

"Of course!" Waki exclaimed, voice dramatic. "It's the middle of summer in Valor, you know we had to come here! Plus, it's good to get out of the house sometimes..."

Rei eyed Waki, lips pulling into a frown. "Is that why we're here?" She asked. Waki shifted uncomfortably, ignoring her question. "Waki, what are you up to?"

Waki adjusted her shades, clearing her throat. "Rei, what are you talking about?" She said with a smile.

Rei let out a heavy sigh. "Are you doing this to make me forget about Amour? Are you trying to cheer me up?"

Waki starred at Rei with the same wide smile as before. She began to laugh and said. "Rei, I just want to be with you. And even if I was trying to cheer you up, why would that be such a bad thing?"

Rei rolled her eyes and sighed, clearly annoyed. "Waki, if you brought me out here to cheer me up or whatever it's not gonna work!"

"Rei." Waki said. "I already told you why you're here, it's just to have some fun with me. It's summer, come on." Waki said, nudging at Rei's side.

Rei looked at her, smiling softly. "Alright, just the two of us? No dumb plan to try and cheer me up, you won't even bring up Amour?"

Waki nodded. "I promise!"

"Alright then..." Rei said. "What do you have planned?"

"Rei!" Waki cheered. "Get ready, here I go!"

Waki tossed a volleyball in the air, springing up and spiking it with force. Rei jumped forward arms held out and slid in to the grainy sand. The ball crashed in to the sand, spreading the grains into the air.

"Score!" Waki cheered.

Rei picked herself up, dusting herself off. "Great..." She muttered.

Waki laughed at Rei, placing a hand on her hip. "Oh, come on. You love volleyball!"

Rei giggled, picking the ball up. "No, you love volleyball."

"Oh, yea." Laughed Waki. Rei handed her the ball, turning back towards the beach towels.

Waki followed after her, tossing the ball from hand to hand. Rei sprawled herself on the towel, looking at the passing waves. Waki sat beside her, poking her to catch her attention.

"What?" Rei said.

"Let's eat!" Waki said.

Waki reached for her bag, pulling out a container of food. She passed the container to Rei, motioning for her to eat. Rei opened the container, placing the lid to the side. Watermelon was stuffed neatly inside, oranges lined beside it.

"It's your favorite." Waki said. "Mandarin oranges and Watermelon!"

Rei smiled, taking a few bites from each fruit. She closed the container up, handing it back to Waki. Waki eyed her with a pout as she laid the container on her lap. Rei laid back on the towel with a sigh.

"Thanks...but I'm not hungry." Rei said.

Waki put the container off to the side. She stood up and reached a hand out for Rei. "Let's go for a swim." Waki said.

"I don't really want to..." Rei said.

Waki pouted. "Oh, come on. Just for a little bit."

Rei was hesitant at first, but looking at Waki's pleading face she changed her mind. She smiled, taking a hold of Waki's hand as she pulled herself up from the towel. Waki cheered and quickly tugged Rei towards the water. Rei pulled back, earning a confused look from Waki.

"You first." She said.

Waki giggled, turning back towards the water. "Whatever."

Rei stood about ankle deep in the water, watching as Waki enjoyed herself. Rei looked down at the clear sea, content with watching the sea foam fizzle at her feet. She looked at the shells that littered the ocean floor with a soft smile, she bent down and picked one up.

"It's so pretty." She said.

"Rei!" Waki called.

Rei looked up at Waki who waved for her to join. Rei thought the idea over for a moment, she placed the shell back in to the water and joined Waki in the deeper area. The girls stood waist deep in the ocean water, hand in hand as they jumped over small waves that swam towards them.

Waki motioned for them to move deeper, but Rei refused, she was a poor swimmer compared to Waki. Waki dropped Rei's hands and moved in to deeper water. Rei bit her lip, anxious.

"Be careful." She warned Waki.

"It's fine, I'm a great swimmer!" Waki assured her with a smile.

Rei watched her with a close eye, her worries beginning to vanish. Waki was fine, more than capable of handling the waves that came towards her. Rei even began to laugh as Waki was soaked by the waves that splashed in to her.

"Alright, come back. Let's eat." Rei said to her.

Waki shook her head, beginning to swim further out. "Just a bit longer, I wanna get a good swim in."

"Waki..." Rei said. "Waki, come back."

Rei watched with growing caution as Waki swam towards deeper waters. Rei felt her heart start to race the further Waki went in to the sea. She called out to Waki, but her voice was drowned out by the roar of the waves. Rei began to panic.

She started to swim towards Waki, the waves pushed her back. She slammed her arms on to the water trying to push through waves. But Rei was pushed back again and again, even her cries where no use as they where over powered by the ocean.

"Waki!" She cried again.

Waki turned, waving to her. "Rei! Come over here!" She said, smiling.

Rei's eyes went wide as the waves began to change. They were bigger and stronger and they were coming in fast. But Waki did not seem to notice the growing danger that was rapidly approaching her. Rei tried again to swim out to her, but she was knocked down by the powerful waves.

Rei stood up, spitting up the water that landed in her mouth."Waki..." She said through pants. Rei's fear only grew as a massive wave pulled together over Waki. "Waki!"

This time it was hard to ignore the danger that loomed over Waki. Waki eyed the growing wave unable to move, she was in shock. She moved back slowly, the wave swimming towards her. Waki shook her head snapping herself back into reality. She turned around and began to swim towards Rei.

Rei pushed through the stubborn tide, reaching her arm out towards Waki. Waki reached for Rei's hand, looking back in complete horror. The wave loomed over her and with a powerful force crashed in to her.

"Waki!"

Eyecatch 1: Cure Adore, Merry, and Rose are seen in the center of the screen. Yui runs up from behind them and smacks against the screen, falling back. Cure Adore lays Yui on her lap, while Rose and Merry giggle behind her. The Passion Heart logo appears.

Eyecatch 2: Passion Heart precure logo appears and Cure Adore, Merry and Rose, stand behind it, waving to the camera.

"Waki!" Rei's voice rung out with a sharp cry.

Waki was taken under by the wave, disappearing in to the water. But Rei had little time to react before she was whisked away by the water. Her eyes where shut tight as she was pulled along with the wave. Rei held her breath even when her lungs began to burn for air. It was only when she felt the scratch of the sand against her back that she gasped in desperation for air.

She looked around the beach, a crowd begining to form around her. "Waki!" She cried.

Rei heard a loud cough, a gasp for air and knew it was Waki. Rei stumbled to stand, but managed to get to her feet. She pushed through the crowd with tears pulling at her eyes. There, covered with sand and drenched in sea water, Waki sat up and coughed out the water that choked her.

Rei ran to her side, wrapping her arms around her. But something was wrong. Waki started to scream, she kicked and pushed Rei away, her arms hitting the empty air.

"Get off, get off!" Waki cried out. "Get off!"

Rei looked on just as confused as the people who began to crowd around them. Whispers began to fill the air as more people where drawn to the scene. Rei picked herself up and tried to calm Waki.

"Waki, Waki!" She called her with a pleading voice. "Waki, it's me! It's Rei!" She shouted.

Waki suddenly stopped, meeting Rei's gaze. Waki looked around at the crowd, her face turning red. She eyed Rei and oddly enough began to laugh.

"Waki?" Rei said, confused.

"What's wrong Rei?" Waki asked. "No need to panic, we were just swimming."

Rei raised a brow, lips tugged in to a frown. "Just swimming? You were swept away by the waves..."

"What?" Waki said with an awkward chuckle. "Rei, what are you talking about. Jeez, you really know how to cause a scene."

Rei eyed Waki with obvious anger, she rose to her feet in disbelief of what she heard. She looked at the people who surrounded them, cheeks flushed. She looked at Waki with a scolding expression.

"You're really something..."

Rei pushed pass the crowd stomping off in a fit of anger. Waki reached out for her pleading for her to stay. Rei shot her a scolding glance and went on her way. Waki jumped to her feet, calling out for her.

"Rei!" She said, but her pleas where ignored. She stood in the middle of the beach, breathing out a heavy sigh. "Great, I really messed up now."

Rei sat at the edge of the water, letting the tide touch her feet. She was alone and far from the crowded area's at the beach. She tucked her knees underneath her chin, watching the tides pull at the sand and fall back in to the cool sea.

Rei sighed and said. "I hate the beach..."

"I like it..."

Rei was taken back, she turned and smiled when her eyes fell on the familiar face. "Hiro, what are you doing here?"

Hiro sat down beside her with a shrug. He looked out on to the ocean with a soft smile. Hiro turned to Rei, pulling his legs under him.

"Just enjoying myself...why are you here if you hate the beach?" He asked.

Rei chuckled, pushing a strand of hair away from her face. "You heard that?" She asked.

Hiro nodded. "I did."

"Well, it's just I came here with a friend today and things got a bit...out of control." She explained with a sigh. "I'm kind of upset with her."

"Well, what are you doing here?" Hiro asked bluntly.

Rei raised questioning brow. "What?"

Hiro giggled and said. "Sorry to sound so blunt, but go to her and fix it." He said.

"Hiro, it's not that easy." Rei said.

Hiro shook his head, waving a finger at Rei. "It is, she's your friend right? And I'm sure if she upset you she would want to apologize, so go and talk to her."

Rei eyed Hiro with a blank expression and than began to laugh. "Hiro..."

"Rei!"

Both Hiro and Rei turned towards the voice, eyeing a very worried looking Waki. Hiro turned to Rei, coming to the conclusion that Waki was the friend she mentioned. Hiro wiped the sand from his hands, dusting himself off as he stood.

"I should get going." He said.

"Hold on." Rei said, reaching a hand towards him.

"Don't worry I'll see you later." Hiro said with a laugh.

Waki eyed him as he passed her by, an awkward smile on his face as he did. Waki shook him out from her mind as she went to sit by Rei. Rei turned towards the ocean view, a look of anger painted all over her face.

Waki fiddled with her thumbs, hesitant to speak. But she gave out a sigh and said. "Rei, I'm so sorry! I didn't want to make you mad, I just..."

Rei snapped, face red with anger. "You just what? Wanted to scare me half to death! What where you thinking swimming so far out? And then you made me look like a fool for caring!"

Waki winced, shrinking under Rei's burst of rage. She raised her eyes, meeting Rei's intense gaze. "I'm sorry, I was scared and embarrassed for causing such a scene..."

Rei turned away, dragging a hand through the sand. Rei looked at Waki, her anger fading. "What happened out there?"

Waki shrugged, laughing uncomfortably. "I panicked...when I went under the only thing I could think about was trying to find you, but then..."

"But?" Rei repeated, confused.

Waki's lips trembled, her voice became shaky. "I felt like I was back at Amour, being swallowed up by darkness..."

"So, you panicked..." Rei said.

Waki nodded. "I'm so sorry, I know you don't want to talk about it, but you know what?" Waki said as her voice trembled. "Orie and I where there too! Ever since we've been back I haven't slept, I can't focus, even my parents are starting to notice. Rei, when I took you out today I did plan on trying to make you feel better, but what I really wanted was for us to forget the whole thing.I just wanted you to be your normal self again."

Rei reached for Waki, hesitant to touch her. She licked her lips, unsure of what to say. "Waki..." She started. "Waki you can't forget it, you can't just ignore what happened. Stop trying to act normal, stop trying to get me to act like I can just move past this...because I can't."

Waki looked at Rei with a tear soaked face. She dropped her head, wiping away at the few tears that still fell from her eyes. Rei wrapped her arms around Waki, resting her head in the crook of her neck.

"Don't force yourself..."

"I'm sorry...for everything." Waki said in quite whisper. "I just want everything to be normal again. "

Rei giggled, but her voice did not sound cheery. It was a low and sad laugh. "Waki...things have changed, but no matter what I'll always be here because I love you so much."

Waki smiled, wrapping her arms around Rei. "Thanks."

For a moment, everything felt right. But as Waki sat there, tightly hugging Rei her eyes could not ignore the strange pull of the sand. Waki pulled away from Rei, puzzled by the way the sand pulled back away from the water.

Rei eyed Waki, confused at first, but noticed the same thing. The sand rose from the ground and circled around the empty air, coming together in to one massive swarm. Waki glance at Rei, both sharing the same thought.

"Love Charm, Lovely Dress!"

Now, transformed they stood armed and ready. The sand swirled and changed color, molding itself in to a soft and white cloth. The cloth stitched from the sand, became bright, clean from any grain of sand. The cloth fell and twisted itself around nothing, falling in to place as though a person was underneath it.

The white cloth changed just a bit, becoming grey in color. It hovered in the air looking more and more like a robe. Than, it all become clear. A grey light burst from within the robe, blinding the girls for a second.

"Rose..." Adore said, eyes wide in shock.

Rose felt her jaw drop, her mind buzzing with confusion and even fear. "Asphodel..." She uttered.

There, standing before them, clattered in a robe without a scratch on his face was Asphodel. The smoothness of his face seemed unnatural, the shine of his eyes unsettling. His thin lips appeared like a string of wire painted on his face.

Than, he vanished. Right before their eyes he was gone, as though he turned to the very wind itself. Rose turned to Adore with a look of unbelievable fear. Adore gulped, lost for words.

"So..." Said Rose. "What now?"

Ed: "Lovely Girls, Lovely Dreams."

Next Time:

Rei: "Things are getting totally weird!"

Orie: "No kidding! First, that monster and now Asphodel!"

Rei: "That's not all."

Orie: "What?Oh,no don't tell me!"

Rei: "Azalea's back and...Waki's with him?..."

Orie: "What?!"

Next Time on Passion Heart Precure:

Episode 27: "Waki and Azalea's Blooming Romance?! A Wilting Love!"