Sooooo... hi! For years, I have wanted to rewrite this fic, but some hot sense of shame always came over me. Not only was I 12 when I wrote this, but I've never been good at writing.

But like, fuck it? I'm 20 now, most all of us who started here as kids now read fanfics on ao3, the PPGZ fandom is dead while the original PPG fandom goes through spikes of being alive and not—what I mean to say is I just want to put some peace to my own mind and redo this without deleting the original.

Also, for some god forsaken reason, the original is missing whole words and names? I have been too afraid to read it until now but? Y'all liked this? I actually have a faint memory of the fanfiction doc deleting words and being overall buggy, so maybe that's it.

Anyways... if somehow, someone actually reads this, I hope you enjoy it!

"I thought this was supposed to help me stop biting my nails."

Momoko stared down absentmindedly. Her bubblegum pink nail polish was chipped to all hell and she knew she'd have to redo them—maybe she could try a new color.

"Technically, I could go and fix it now," she mumbled to herself as she finally looked towards the school gates. She sighed, not really knowing herself why she stood around at the entrance. Her friends were busy, she knew that much. If she walked towards the field, she could likely watch Kaoru cream everybody at her soccer practice and then go to the lab together afterwards.…. on the other hand, she didn't need to hear any snide remarks from Kaoru's teammates. Momoko hadn't had the best reputation at the school, and it's only when Miyako and Kaoru were at her side did no one dare say anything.

Her heart began to feel heavy just thinking about it. Maybe she could sit in for Miyako's choir rehearsal. She couldn't ensure her thoughts wouldn't get to her if she opted to go home now...

"Oi, puff, you okay?"

A hand grabbed hers-she hadn't even realized she was scratching it, let alone scratching it so hard that it almost drew blood. Her eyes travelled up to see who was addressing her.

Pink met green and Momoko could feel her face flushing.

"H-hey Butch," she gave meekly, withdrawing her hand in the process. If he was expecting a reaction from her, he'd either have to be donning a red cap, or she'd have to suddenly be the one to wield the giant hammer. Their relationship was nothing like the ones with their counterparts. Hell, our relationship is borderline nonexistent, she thought rather bitterly to herself.

"Hey, what's up with you? You were so loud during class, why are you a mouse now?" Butch chuckled to himself for a second before continuing, "or do you miss your boyfriend? I'm sure my brother would love to know the effect he has on you."

Momoko's face twisted in disgust, adequately making Butch laugh louder.

Before she could defend herself, he gave her a nasty smirk, "ah I forgot, you like every boy in the school."

Her face hardened; she hated that had carried with her through the years, so much so that it reached the RowdyRuffs' ears despite only attending school for the last few months. In fact, her heart never flipped so easily for boys as it had when she was 13. No, instead, it only did so for one in particular.

Butch's smug look dropped in response. "Eh... Sorry, I don't actually mean it. You're not as easy to tease as Butter-Butt." Brushing her thoughts aside, Momoko took her chance.

"Oh, admitting your love for her, are we?" She hid a giggle behind her hand as Butch's eyes widened.

"You're sneaky," he laughed with her.

"You're not denying it." Momoko's laugh turned sour. "And what can I say? That's not the worst I've heard."

Butch frowned before reaching for her hand once more, snapping her out of her head. "Uh, what are you doing?" She didn't, however, take her hand back this time, but instead followed Butch wherever he was leading her.

" We are getting are some food. You missed lunch, didn't you?"

"Well, if someone's 'mama' didn't destroy the town, I would have eaten."

He couldn't help but smile, not that she could see it from her spot behind him.

"Get over it and I'll buy you cake." Momoko's eyes shined.

"Shortcake?" Butch's smile widened. Of course shortcake is her favorite.

"With extra strawberries."

"Where are your brothers anyways? You three are like, glued at the hip," Momoko asked between bites, with a small hum of pleasure releasing when she tastes the strawberry again.

She cannot seriously be this cute, Butch thought to himself as he watched her. "Boom is part of band, which means he's probably with Baby Blue as they prep for the concert. And I'm sure you knew that Brick does basketball." He kept his teasing to a minimum this time.

She pursed her lips in response before reaching a sudden realization: "Aren't you supposed to be in soccer practice?! Kaoru will kill you knowing that you skipped!" Nevertheless, his grin didn't leave his face. "Coach saw me get thrown into a building on yesterday's news, insisted that I take a day off."

Momoko peered at him incredulously. No matter how many nights she spent fighting monsters, nor how many bruises and bumps she got as a result, she still had to go to class and participate in events. Maybe that was the perk of not hiding your identity, being able to truthfully say why you were gone or out of it. However, the boys don't have to transform to use their powers, so it's not like they could hide who they were if they wanted to.

"Ehh… Lucky," she simply mused.

"You are always busy, aren't you Pink? I'm surprised you were by your lonesome today and not running around the school."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She donned a pout that knocked him out, not that he would let it show.

"Well I mean, you do dance, don't you? You're always so busy with that, yet you also help the Anime Club. And Boom told me you tutored him when Brick wouldn't help him." Butch reminisced particularly at the last one, remembering how happy Boomer was to come home with an A on a test.

Momoko could feel her face heating up once more. "I uh... I'm shocked that you knew I did all those things."

It was Butch's turn to become confused. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I just never thought you paid any attention to m-"

A shrill squeal pierced the air and cut off her sentence.

Momoko flinched a bit while Butch covered his ears, the sound being even less kind to his super powered hearing.

"Butchy~!"

"Oh no."

Momoko gazed at him, puzzled, until Himeko suddenly appeared at the side of their table. Oh... Oh no indeed.

"Butchyyyy, I gave you my number, why haven't you called me yet?" Himeko pouted, nowhere near matching how cute Momoko's pout was, in Butch's opinion. She also attempted to latch onto his arm before he swiftly dodged.

"Yeah, you also gave your number to my brothers! I'm pretty sure you don't see a difference between us in that crazy head of yours!"

"Himeko," Momoko interrupted, "What are you doing here? I thought you don't really eat 'commoner' food." She had to do something to try and restrain Himeko from causing a scene, hoping this would derail the conversation.

"Oh, Akatsutsumi, I didn't notice you were here!" Momoko's eye almost twitched. "I was shopping nearby and I saw Butch through the window and I just HAD to see him." She even turned back to the raven- haired boy, ready to flirt. Well… There goes Momoko's plan.

"Look, even if you weren't shallow and out of your fucking mind, I already told you: I have a girlfriend." Butch scowled at her, his anger rising.

Momoko, on the other hand, felt the heaviness in her heart again. Oh… Of course she didn't have a chance. Of course he wouldn't be into someone like her. Maybe it really was Kaoru that he was into… But Kaoru would have told her and Miyako if they were dating. Regardless, Momoko began to see green.

"Well, if you have a girlfriend, why are you hanging out with a no one like her for?! She definitely has a thing for you, just like how she obsesses over any guy she meets!" Himeko's words would sting more if they weren't true of who Momoko once was.

But it's not like she cared right now. Jealousy and shame began to consume her as she debated leaving Butch to Himeko and going home. It's not like she is ever the one someone chooses. She shouldn't feel as heavy as she does. I think I'm going to be sick.

"What the hell are you saying? My girlfriend is Momoko. Long, milky legs like hers and you think I'm going to pass that up?!"

Wait, what?

Butch gave a wolfish laugh and gave Momoko's body a scan, before looking back at Himeko.

"Yeah right, as if!" Himeko huffed.

Momoko was quick to catch on as Butch sent her a pleading look. Although she was a little flustered, she backed him up with a Blossom level confidence in her act. "But it's true Himeko. We were kind of on a date before you showed up..." Momoko furrowed her brows in mock frustration and intertwined her fingers with his.

"If you're dating, I'm not the most popular girl at school!" Himeko said, angrily. Momoko and Butch shared a look.

Who's going to tell her…

Himeko's look turned triumphant, as if she had made a revelation and already won Butch as hers. "If you're dating, why not show me your love and kiss her?"

"Ah, sorry, Momoko doesn't do PDA," Butch smirked. "In private, however..."

He really would not spare Momoko a moment without flushed cheeks.

"Butchy~," Himeko tried again. "Stop playing hard to get and just go out with me. No need to play with toys, you might break them~."

Butch's resulting face was hard to read, but Momoko could tell he was upset.

"Look. I haven't told her yet, but I guess now is the time. I really do love Momoko, I'm not shitting you." His grip on her hand tensed. "Maybe you're just jealous of my little cherry blossom?" He pulled their conjoined hands to his face and kissed the back of her hand.

Momoko knows this isn't real but oh God, oh Buddha, oh Kami-sama, or whomever else, does she wish it was.

Himeko's face turned red, her anger returning once again. "IF YOU LOVE HER SO MUCH, KISS HER!" She shrieked, enraged from not getting her way.

Butch's façade faltered as he gulped. There was no way he could violate Momoko's boundaries by doing that. She may never talk to him again if he did. Maybe if he was still a villain without a care or a cause he would have. If he was still a villain, he reckons he would have punched Himeko's face in and taken Momoko for himself long ago.

Some people were starting to stare as the situation dragged on. "Oh, for the love of—" Momoko swallowed her fear, stood, and reached across the table. Grabbing hold of Butch's collar, she pulls him to meet her halfway and plants one on him.

Himeko becomes livid and makes her way out of the little café as fast as she can. Some hear her scream outside. Momoko and Butch don't hear anything as their kiss deepens a bit.

They soon do overhear some of the patrons' swoons about young love and how it conquers all. Quickly separating, Momoko sat back down and tried to hide her face, which was no doubt cherry red by now.

On the other hand, Butch possessed rosy cheeks as well, but did little to hide how elated he is. A dopey, yet self-satisfied grin was spread proudly across his face.

After a couple of seconds of awkward silence, he speaks up. "Hey, thanks. She's really been on my ass since we joined the school. Been really pissing me off..."

"I-it's no problem! I hope she won't bother you anymore," Momoko stuttered out, before finding the courage to look at him again. She met his piercing gaze, causing butterflies to fill her stomach as a counter. She had to deflect to avoid showing how sheepish she was.

"Ah, it's too bad she'll still bother your brothers. It'll be funny to see her chase Brick around though."

She began to giggle as she pictured it, Butch joining her, doubled over with soundless laughs. The fearless leader of the RowdyRuff Boys, hiding behind trash cans or flying above everyone else just to avoid the little princess-wannabe's smothering. Definite blackmail that both of them could use against the redhead boy.

Settling her laughter for a smile, Momoko glanced outside, only to see the sky had begun to accumulate streaks of orange and pink. "It's getting late, do you mind walking me home?"

Butch gathered himself as well and beamed at her. "Oh, for sure. Have to keep my 'cherry blossom' safe."

Momoko hit his arm a bit playfully at the joke as they made their way out.

Their silence was comfortable as they walked side by side all the way to Momoko's home.

As they stepped onto the doorstep, Momoko hesitated. She really didn't want this to end. Butch may have been the ruff that she barely interacted with, but he truly did brighten up her day. And for as much as he quips with the others, he never seemed to judge her. Just maybe…

Ah. She could feel her heart flip again.

Butch watched her seemingly debate with herself, truly not wanting to part with her either.

But Momoko had come to a conclusion. "Thanks for today, it was fun. I'll uh… see you around." She could only give him an awkward smile. It was best to keep her childish crush to herself.

Butch continued to watch her. Was that really it?

Just as she was about to head into the doorway, he took step towards her. "Wait!" He grabbed hold of her hand for what felt like the 20th time that day. "What I said back in the café, I did mean it. I do like you."

"That's not funny," she was quick to shut him down.

Of all the reactions Butch could have expected, even so much as her slamming the door in his face, he never expected that. He was stunned silent.

But this wasn't the first time Momoko had been pranked. As much as she wanted his words to be genuine, she had been confessed to and asked out before many times as dares and jokes. Even when Sakamoto had shown interest in her all those years ago, he quickly switched to teasing her and making her life miserable.

The ruffs weren't innocent either, they have played many pranks on the girls. Sometimes it felt they did it more now than when they were villains.

But never to this extent, this was just cruel.

Once again, she tried to go inside and escape his grip. The movement snapped him out of his daze and caused him to pull her closer as a reaction.

She let out a noise of surprise as she found herself in a hug.

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm not joking! Get out of your own head." He pulled out of the hug so he could turn her gaze to meet his. Despite the intensity in his voice, he had pulled a smirk onto his face. "I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not heartless. I wouldn't mess with you like that. If I was joking, you would know, and we would laugh together."

Momoko took a second to recall all of the times he would flirt with Kaoru. She could recall that every time, his tone was more playful than anything, trying to rile up the green puff. She could also recall more than one time he had said flirtatious lines to her, yet none of them held the same, almost faux-condescending energy.

"I don't know who's done that to you before, but it's not me. I've liked you since the day we found ourselves at the lab, suddenly older and needing a home. Miyako was scared of us, Kaoru was ready to kick us out, but you stood up and heard us out. And when we saw you all transform for the first time, and it clicked with me that the courageous PowerPuff Girls Z leader was the same girl who was kind but smart as hell—and my crush grew. Yeah, you're nerdy for sure, but you're really passionate. You care so much for everyone—" Butch was rambling at this point, but he had to put his point across. He may not have shown it, but his eyes have solely been on the pink puff. He couldn't tease her like her did the green puff, she wouldn't bounce back as easily, so he had to be silent before, not really knowing how to show her.

But his message rang loud and clear.

"— And I know you'd probably prefer Brick. He's the only one smart enough to keep up with you and matches your drive. And I'm too much of an idiot and too violent but I just—"

Momoko positioned herself back into the hug, squeezing him tightly. The sensation caused him to begin to taper off, before returning the gesture and shutting up all together.

"You shouldn't talk about yourself like that, of course you're good enough," she mumbled into his chest. He huffed a bit. "You're one to talk, pink."

Another beat of silence.

"Does this…mean.. I have a chance?" Momoko rolled her head back in laughter and separated enough to look at him again.

Mimicking her movements from the café, she grabbed his collar and tugged him down a bit. "Does this… answer your question?" In a swift shift, Butch found himself once again in a kiss. This time, it was only for them, no eyes to peer into them, nor to fool anyone. A gesture only to prove their affection for each other.

Sweet and only a little longer than the last one, they soon separated to smile softly at one another. The moment ended quickly however as Butch put on his wolfier attitude. "So did you want to continue this inside or..?"

Butch couldn't hide his grin as Momoko proceeded to let out a groan and pushed him away. "I take it back!" she joked in faux grossed out voice. "Kaoru! Take your man back!" The laughs she began letting out were infectious as he followed suit, chuckling in her ear as he grabbed hold of her again. "Sorry princess, you're the sole receiver of my flirting now. You better get used to it cause it's only going to get dirtier from here."

She scrunched up her nose and turned her doorknob for her home.

"So long as you can deal with my bratty sister, I don't think I'll mind at all. You can come in for a few hours." She led him inside, a little greedy for the attention she knows he's going to start to give. And he was more than welcome to give it. "Happily."

Bonus:

The next morning, Momoko rubbed her eyes sleepily as she shuffled through her locker for her first class. Yesterday didn't feel real, a bitter part of her wanted to believe it wasn't. She was still content nonetheless.

"Yo leader girl, you feeling okay? You look way more wiped than usual." Kaoru waved her hands in front of the red head's face in an attempt to grab her attention.

"She looks happier than usual though, did something happen Momoko?" Miyako chimed in, a small smile on her face as she attempted a softer approach.

Momoko couldn't help but smile. Putting on her usual happy-go-lucky attitude, she turned around and started heading towards their shared class. "I'm fine girls, really! I just had a long night, a new romance just dropped!"

Kaoru facepalmed while Miyako gave a half-witted giggle. "Why did I even worry? Of course, it's an anime," the raven-haired girl sighed. While that wasn't true, it's not like what Momoko had said was a lie either... Technically? Okay, maybe she was a little afraid to tell her friends.

Anxiety settled into her as she took her seat in class. She was ecstatic about the whole thing, but it happened so quickly she didn't know how to even tell them. It's not like she'll be hiding it for long, seeing as she can spot three boys heading their way.

"Suuuuup guys!" Unlike his brothers, Boomer was a ball of energy this morning. The girls all greeted back with varying energy before red and green ruffs even made it to their seats.

"By the way Momoko, I'm going to need your help with strategy tonight," Brick said, taking his usual seat next to her. Before she could even respond, however, Butch interrupted. "Sorry to steal your favorite bro, but she's going to be with me tonight. Aaaand most nights after that." He threw smirk her way as her face reddened at his insinuations. Yep, yesterday definitely did happen. And Butch isn't taking any chances anymore.

"What the hell are you talking about man?" Brick was unimpressed, and even a little annoyed at Butch's sudden and blatant interest in his counterpart.

"Ewwww, did you move your flirting to poor Momoko? The poor girl doesn't need a creep after her," Kaoru fake gagged. "After her? I've already got her."

With that, Butch guided Momoko's already red face to his and once again showed the whole world how much he wanted her.

And as much as she loved his attention, she was not ready for him to be so brash about it in front of their friends.

"Buuuuuuuutch, noooo," she whined, despite the smile on her face. "I don't believe that's what you were saying last night." "Stop that sounds so dirty!"

The shock on their friends' faces was missed in the little world they were in together.

A sneer across the room quickly snapped them out of it soon enough though. "So much for not being into PDA, Akatsutsumi." Crap. They'd nearly forgotten about the encounter with Himeko, despite her basically being the one to thank for their relationship.

"Sorry, I'm still not. But I did have to get over so you'd stop looking desperate and bothering my boyfriend." Momoko's Blossom energy always seemed to come so easily when it came to putting Himeko in her place. And Butch was eating it up. "Ok, that's hot."

Himeko glared at the couple, obviously embarrassed and frustrated, before turning around. Kaoru was the first of their friends to come out of her shock. "EXCUSE ME, WHAT?!" Uh oh...

"Momoko, is that what you were so happy about earlier?" Miyako was also quick to recover, nearly busting out of her seams with excitement for her friend. Butch's energy raised as well, being filled with pride at the thought of him being the one to make her happy.

"Ha ha... I can explain?"

"Oh yeah, you're going to. NOW!" Kaoru was quick to drag her friends out of the room, ready to interrogate their poor leader.

Butch was relieved her didn't have to deal with that. He was about to plop into his own seat before he felt a hands on either of his shoulders. On his left, Boomer smiled excitedly at him. But on his right, he could feel the heat resonating off what had to be Brick. He didn't dare look; he could feel his older brother's anger in his grip.

"Don't think you're getting out of this one either, dickhead." Yeah, Brick was going to kill him. Maybe he should have checked if Brick actually liked the other red head before taking her from him.

But man. She's worth it.

And uh yeah, there's the rewrite! Hope you enjoyed (if anyone read it at all lol). Lemme know if I should go back to writing. This was kinda fun, not gonna lie! I'm still very obviously obsessed with these characters as if I were 11, so I'd probably be down :)