Episode 10: Love and War!
A very run-down Naota stepped out into the school parking lot. School had been especially boring today, so boring in fact that it took energy just to sit still. He was utterly drained. As usual, Kitsurubami greeted him with a warm smile.
Kitsurubami: You look pretty worn out.
Naota grunted and crawled into the seat. Part of him wanted to relax in the car seat and fall asleep, but he doubted that he'd ever actually get to
sleep. He buckled his seat belt and slowly let his head slide off the seat
back and onto the window. As the car hummed over the road below, his head
rocked with the movements.
Kitsurubami: So, how was your day?
Naota: (drained) Long ... very long...
When the car stopped, Naota found himself in the mall parking lot. He
hadn't been here in almost a year, but it really hadn't changed much at all. He got out of the car and looked around.
Naota: (thinking) Its still ... the same... (aloud) What are we doing here...?
Kitsurubami: I thought we could grab something to eat and catch a movie. What do you think?
Naota shrugged and looked on. He didn't care much either way.
Kitsurubami: (smiling) Come on.
They entered through the west door, landing them near the electronic
stores. Weaving in and out of the large crowds of shoppers, they made their
way to the food court.
Naota: (thinking) I forgot how much I hate this place ... so many stupid people, doing stupid things... Its too crowded in here...
Kitsurubami seemed to sense his discomfort and cast him a look of mild
concern.
Kitsurubami: Are you okay?
Naota: Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine.
Kitsurubami: Okay. (thinking) Guess he doesn't care much for people...
They continued on and finally reached the food court. Naota said he
didn't care what they ate, so they ended up settling for pizza. Kitsurubami
watched him eat, chucking now and then.
Naota: (looking up) What?
Kitsurubami grinned and pointed to the left side of his face. Naota
took his right hand and wiped at his cheek.
Naota: Still there...?
Kitsurubami: (stifling a giggle) ...Yeah.
Naota: (wiping again) Now...?
Kitsurubami: Still there.
Naota continued rubbing his face, oblivious to the fact that after the fifth attempt, he'd begun to smear pizza sauce from his hands to his face. Kitsurubami gently bit her lip, desperately trying not to laugh.
Kitsurubami: Still there.
Naota: (frustrated) ...
As Kitsurubami's resolve weakened, her low snickers escalated to muffled giggles and eventually reach full-blown laughter.
Kitsurubami: Ha hah ha hah!
Naota: What...?
Kitsurubami: (between laughs) You ... you got it ... all over ... your.. face...!
Naota: Huh?
Kitsurubami: (still laughing) ...Look...!
The lieutenant pulled a pocket-sized mirror from her purse and handed it to the boy. He looked at her suspiciously and then glanced at himself in the mirror. In a moment of horror and embarrassment, Naota's mouth dropped open as if you cry out. thinking better of it, he snapped it shut snatched a stack of napkins off the table.
Naota: (grumbling) ... stupid...
Kitsurubami: (calming down) Use the moistie naps...
Naota grabbed a few packets of the damp clothes and quickly scrubbed his face clean.
Kitsurubami: Not used to eating pizza?
Naota: ...
Kitsurubami: I'm sorry, but I had to laugh.
Naota: ...
Kitsurubami: You're not going to eat anymore...?
Naota: No.
Kitsurubami snickered again, seeing what the incident had done to his ego. It didn't surprise her very much. After cleaning up, the left for the theater. it took them twenty minutes, but they finally decided to see "Godzilla (TM) versus Mecha Godzilla (TM) 2: Battle for Earth." Naota was never much for monster movies, but he really didn't care. It wasn't like there was much else to do anyway.
Kitsurubami lead him to the rear seat, even though Naota actually preferred front row seats. She told him to wait there while she got the "junk food." Naota settled into his seat, watching the people grope their way into the theater. He smiled inwardly as a little boy came dashing down the aisle. He lost his footing halfway down the slant and came to a crashing halt. He must have been all right, because as soon as he got up, he continued on his way, not even bothering to slow down.
After what Naota felt was close to an eternity, Kitsurubami returned with a bucket of popcorn, a jumbo cola and a mixed bag of candy. Naota held the candy and popcorn as she go situated and then handed the popcorn back to her. She sat it in the empty seat next to her and relaxed in her seat. By this time, Naota was squinting in the dark, scavenging through the candy. In another five minutes, the movie started.
It wasn't bad, from what Naota saw. He wasn't actually paying much attention, but it wasn't a bad movie. For the first half hour, he continued to pick at the candy. He eventual ran out of interest (and choices) so he shrugged and focused in on the monsters dueling on the screen.
From what he understood, Godzilla, the radioactive monster, was battling his mechanical alter ego to protect Tokyo (or what was left of it).
Naota: I don't get it...
Kitsurubami: Get what...?
Naota: In half of the movies, the humans spend their time trying to destroy Godzilla, but now he's supposed to be saving them... That doesn't make sense...
Kitsurubami: Its not that uncommon for two rivaling forces to collaborate for a common goal...
Naota: ...?
Kitsurubami: I'll put it to you this way: Even if you don't like a particular kid in your class, if you are both stranded on a desert island, your only chance for survival is to work together, regardless of how you feel about each other...
Naota: (shrugging) I guess.
Kitsurubami: (smiling) Right.
Kitsurubami moves from the popcorn to the candy bag. She digs through it, shakes it, and begins digging again.
Naota: What...?
Kitsurubami: You ... you ate all the gummy bears ... and all the swedish fish...! And the Skittles (TM)!
Naota: Huh...?!
Kitsurubami: I can't believe it...! The only thing you left was ... what is that, anyway?!
Naota: (shrugging) You bought it.
Kitsurubami: If I had known you were going to ravage my bag, I'd have gotten you your own.
Naota stared over at her with a blank look in his eyes. He sort of resembled a deer in the headlights.
Kitsurubami: (smirking) I guess I'll let you off this once...
The movie went on and on. Naota thought he remembered the poster saying it was 113 minutes. With his mouth dry from all the candy, Naota began to look around for his drink.
Kitsurubami: What are you looking for?
Naota: Something to drink...
Kitsurubami: Here.
Kitsurubami handed him the jumbo sized cola cup (though it looked more like a bucket). Naota held it in his lap, eyeing it suspiciously.
Naota: (thinking) Wait a second ... didn't she drink out of this...?
Naota glanced back up at Kitsurubami, who was, again, engrossed in the movie. He looked back down at the drink then back at her.
Naota: (thinking) If I drink out of this ... wouldn't that be like... KISSING her...?
Naota eyed her carefully, subconsciously focusing in on her lips. His heart began to pound rapidly and he could now feel the butterflies rising up
in his stomach.
Naota: (thinking) Whatever ... its not that bid a deal, is it? I mean, I'm just drinking after her, right? Doesn't mean anything... Nothing at all. Or does it...?
He raised his eyes to her once more. This time, she felt his stare and glanced back. A chill ran up his spine and he nearly shivered over its intensity.
Kitsurubami: (concerned) Are you okay?
Naota: Huh? Oh yeah...!
Kitsurubami: You just seem a little ... distant.
Naota: ...
Kitsurubami's eyes fell to the drink in his lap. After a few seconds of thought, she understood.
Kitsurubami: You don't mind drinking after me, do you?
Naota: Uh...
Kitsurubami: I can get you your own if you want...
Naota sat up and opened his mouth as if about to say something, but closed it and dropped back into the seat. He almost looked as though he had been defeated in some way.
Naota: No ... its okay...
Slowly, he took the straw in his mouth and began drinking. The airy suction of the plastic tube rattled in the melting ice. Kitsurubami smiled and turned back to the movie.
In another twenty minutes, the movie was over. Naota collected up the trash around him, stood up, and walked unevenly behind Kitsurubami. They left the mall and headed for the car in silence. Just as Naota reached for the door handle, an explosion from behind him forces him to turn around.
Kitsurubami: What the...?! Again?!
From the smoke, a small, shadowy figure floated up, hovering above the debris. Naota squinted, to get a better look, but to no avail. With the sun down, visibility was pretty bad.
Kitsurubami: Its a robot, isn't it...?
Naota: I think so, but I'm not sure...
As the smoke rose, the robot began to advance, then paused and landed somewhere in the smoke. Naota waited.
Naota: (thinking) Where is it...?
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the billowing darkness, into plain sight. The robot mildly resembled Canti with its rounder TV-like head, though it stood only about four feet tall and had bigger hands. A crooked antennae stood up out of the top of its and mounted in the center its breastplate was a large red disk.
The robot waddled in a slow and lazy gait, taking its time and seemingly looking around here and there. Naota stood a bit rigid, but soon began to relax.
Kitsurubami: All that commotion over that thing?
She turned to look at Naota, but he had already begun to approach the diminutive foe.
Kitsurubami: Naota...?!
Naota: I'll be back. This shouldn't take long...
Naota stopped ten yards from the robot. The robot, which by now had noticed the boy stood silently in its tracks. For a few seconds, the two merely stood, staring, sizing each other up.
Kitsurubami: (thinking) That things is pretty puny... Why would MM dispatch something like this...?
Naota: ...
Robot: ...
Behind the robot, an ignited car exploded, sending up blackened scraps of steel. Naota took the sound as a cue. Without another moments hesitation, he jumped high into the air and drew his Rickenbacker all in one fluid motion. As he came back to Earth over the tiny robot, Naota brought his guitar directly down upon its head. A heavy DONG rang out through the streets. Under the force of the hit, the robot reeled backwards and crashed into a nearby car. Its dense body dented in the hood and cracked up the windshield, pretty badly.
Naota remained prepared, in case the little menace managed to survive the first. A minute passed. Two minutes. Two and a half minutes. Naota sighed and relaxed his arms.
Kitsurubami: (surprised) That was easy...
Naota: ...
Naota shrugged and turned around. His eyes met Kitsurubami's. Slinging his guitar over his should, Naota made his way back to the car.
Kitsurubami: That's it...?
Naota: Yeah...
Kitsurubami: Hmm...
Naota opened the back seat of the car and placed the blue bass in the back seat. He was just about to close the door when he was startled by a massive crash from behind. Naota turned to face it.
Naota: Huh...?!
Kitsurubami: What the...?!
The robot, thought to have been defeated, was now standing on top of the now pulverized car.
Naota: Wha...?
Kitsurubami: What's going on here?!
Naota opened the car door and pulled his bass back out. Then, with weapon in hand, he briskly advanced on the standing robot.
Naota: (over his shoulder) ...Be right back...
Kitsurubami: (shouting) Naota, be careful!
Naota had only made it within fifteen yards of the thing before it hopped off the car and into the air. In a dramatic series of movements, the robot stretched its arms and legs in midair, paused to hover and pressed the red disk (apparently a button) on its chest with one oversized hand.
Naota: Huh...?
Kitsurubami: ???
The sky blinked white like a giant camera flash. When the affects died down, Naota squinted to readjust. The robot landed heavily on the road in a crouching position, and as it stood, Naota could plainly see that it had gained two feet of height.
Naota: Wha...?
Kitsurubami: (thinking) Is that thing...?!
In a few seconds, the robot was nearly ten feet tall. Naota took a step back and grimaced.
Naota: (thinking) If this thing keeps growing...
As the robot ascended higher and higher, it stretched out one swollen hand and held it diagonal to the ground. At the last moment, Naota realized what was happening.
Naota: Kitsurubami!
With a loud BANG, the hand was released from the wrist, flying right at the VW, and Kitsurubami. Behind the projectile palm, an attached cabled snaked behind. Naota spun around and dashed at the now vulnerable lieutenant.
Kitsurubami: WHA...?!
Naota: (thinking) NO!
Naota wrapped one arm around Kitsurubami's waist and leapt over the VW, which was smashed to a blue pulp as the flying hand compacted it into the street. Naota landed a safe distance away and turned back to the robot. It had doubled in size, and if his eyes didn't deceive him, was still growing. with a flick of its stump, the mechanical gait whipped the cable back, retracting its hand. The fat hand clicked back in place and clenched into a fist.
Kitsurubami: (shocked) My... car...
Naota: ...
Naota sat Kitsurubami back on the ground and readied his guitar. The debris from the car and street hung in the air before falling back to the ground like snow. The black mist hung heavy over them.
Kitsurubami: That thing's ... pretty big...
Naota: (turning and looking at her) Yeah...?
Kitsurubami: Don't you find the fact that that thing is 100 times your size a little intimidating...?
Naota: No...
Kitsurubami: Then how about the fact that its about to blow us to bits!?
Naota looked back up at the thing, and much his surprise, green, glowing energy seemed to be collecting at the tip of the robots crooked antennae. The bright green, cutting through the rising smoke like a beacon. Naota barely had enough time to grab Kitsurubami and dodge the blast. He leapt high into the air and shifted to look back down where they were standing. The green orb reduced a large portion of the street and a nearby building to a pile of smoldering pile of asphalt. Kitsurubami dangled helplessly, held only by Naota's right arm as they drifted up in the air.
Kitsurubami: (shocked) W-whoa...
Before she could say anything else, she felt herself being jerked up and to the side. Another orb passed them, taking out a building a few blocks down. She landed softly with Naota's right arm supporting her back and his left holding her under the knees. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life as they descended back to earth.
Naota landed softly but continued to hold Kitsurubami. she looked up at him, but his eyes were fixed on the attacker.
Kitsurubami: You've got to lure it out of here or it'll wipe out the whole town...!
Naota: Right.
Naota turned and bounded off in the opposite direction. His retreat was answered with a barrage of laser fire, blowing up various things around him. Naota, skid as he cut around a tight corner. He picked up speed again as he stayed on a straight path toward the city limits. They landed a half a block away, but Naota still held her tightly. Naota looked down at her, his face serious and determined. Suddenly, he felt her arms around him tighten as she cried out.
Kitsurubami: Incoming!
Naota: ...?
Naota cringed and tightening his grip on her, protectively. The blast missed, but sent up a wave of debris. Naota jumped back out of the way.
Kitsurubami: (thinking) Where are these things coming from? what is Medical Mechanica up to? What are they getting at?
Naota: I'm gonna get you outta here, okay?
His strong tone caught her a bit off guard. Kitsurubami blushed a little, but nodded. Naota grunted as he shoved his right hand into his forehead and pulled out Haruko's Rickenbacker. Quickly, he started it up, grabbed Kitsurubami and took to the air.
The rain of fire behind them sent up more concrete and dirt, but Naota easily dodge it. He dove in and out of the rows of buildings, avoid laser blasts and flying matter. Despite the whole situation, his face remained calm, though determined. Behind them, the robot advanced, quickly catching up them.
Kitsurubami: He's right behind us!
Naota: Hold on!
Naota shifted his weight back and they completed a full loop. They slowed down just above the robot, then picked up speed as they passed it. The sudden change in direction slowed the monster, but it soon tailed after them once again.
Kitsurubami: This thing sure is persistent!
Naota: (thinking) This is no good! I've got to get her out of here...!
Just as Naota rounded another corner, he saw a familiar robot standing at a vender, just a block down.
Naota: Canti!
Kitsurubami: Cyborg...?! (thinking) What's he doing here?
Naota: Catch!
Kitsurubami: "Catch?!"
Without warning, Naota flung the young woman high into the air. Canti scrambled to the side to get under her finding his mark. With a huge jolt, the robot took to the air. Skill and luck assured that he met her halfway and safely caught her.
Naota: (calling back as he flew toward the attack robot) Get her out of here!
Canti nodded and headed in the opposite direction. Naota smiled inwardly. She'd be safe now. Just as he finished the thought, a terrible force caught him in the face. A giant green orb engulfed his body in heat and sent him smoldering to the road below. Naota's body cracked the cement as he bounced along the street. After two blocks, he rolled to a stop. Naota groaned as he forced himself to stand.
Naota: Oww... (thinking) That really hurt... I lost my guitar...
Naota looked up just in time to dodge a fat, mechanical hand flying toward him. Meanwhile, Canti was steadily distancing himself and Kitsurubami from the carnage taking place.
Kitsurubami: Hey, shouldn't we be helping him...?!
Canti: ...?
Kitsurubami: Well, we can't just leave him there to fight that thing alone, can we?
Canti stopped and hovered for a moment. A light buzzing could be heard in his head as he mulled the thought over. Finally, he glanced back down at Kitsurubami. With a nod, they flew off in Naota's. Kitsurubami looked the robot up in the face and frowned.
Kitsurubami: What exactly do you plan to do when we get there?
Canti froze in midair. He hadn't really given much thought to that... or any thought, for that matter.
Kitsurubami: Well, think. Don't you have any guns or nifty functions?
Canti: ...
Kitsurubami: Nothing?!
Canti: (shrugging) ...?
Kitsurubami: (sighing) Okay... put me on your back.
Canti did as she instructed, placing her carefully on top of him.
Kitsurubami: Okay, now we're going to make a pit stop before we get there, okay?
Canti: (nodding) ...
Kitsurubami: Right! Now go!
With a final nod, again, they were off. Meanwhile, Naota was crouched behind a line of cars, trying to catch his breath. His chest headed with effort.
Naota: (thinking) Now what do I do...?
In the background, the robot is lumbering around the city, knocking over buildings and street lamps. Naota sighs and peeks around the side of the car. His guitar is nowhere in sight. Quietly, he turned back around and leaned against the car. He guessed that his guitar was on the other side of the block, meaning that he'd have to pass the robot in order to get it back. As he was about to sigh, a sudden explosion from above cause him to look up.
Naota: Huh...?
Naota could barely make out Canti, flying high in the air, with Kitsurubami crouched on his back. Resting her shoulder was some sort of rocket launcher, smoke rising from the barrel.
Kitsurubami: DIE!
Naota: (thinking) Canti and Kitsurubami...?!
Kitsurubami fired her weapon five more times, making one graze and four direct hits on the metal giant. As they went overhead, Kitsurubami gave him a thumbs up before going back to her shooting. Naota smiled inwardly and stood. It was all the diversion he needed. Naota came from behind the car and ran down the street. He wove in and out of the falling rocks and metal as the robot thrashed about. The titan swung his fat fist in the air, flailing like an angry gorilla. Canti swerved to avoid a boulder coming down, but in the process met with one of the metal fists and was sent backwards. The force shook the lieutenant off of his back.
Kitsurubami: (falling) WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Naota: (turning to look) NO!
Canti regained control and was barely able to catch the woman before she hit the ground. Naota sighed and looked back. There, he could see it. The Rickenbacker. It was only fifty yards away. at this point, Naota threw caution to the wind and broke into a full scale dash.
The robot above, regaining some of its composure noticed the little boy below. With a loud BANG, it fired its left hand. Naota heard it, but he didn't care. He could do this. He had to do this.
Everything paused and moved into slow motion as Naota closed the distance between him and the guitar. It was in reach. Quickly, he ducked down and rolled, snatching up the faithful bass in the process. He landed on his feet just in the nick of time. With a grunt, she spun around in a wide half circle and brought the Rickenbacker with him. The body of the guitar batted the oncoming hand away, sending it back into the air in bits and pieces. The force of the hit ran up the attached cable and severed it at the shoulder. The robot reeled back, clearly off balance. Naota looked skyward.
Naota: CANTI!
No sooner had he uttered his name, Canti landed roughly behind him. Naota turned and jumped into the air. Canti ducked under him, catching him squarely on his back and took off. Naota stood on the robot, surfing style, guitar at his waist. They ascended rapidly, parallel to the stumbling giant. Higher and higher they flew. The cool night breeze whipped through Naota's hair as he readied himself. Kitsurubami was dangling lightly in Canti's arm's below.
Kitsurubami: What are you going to do?
Naota: I'm gonna jump.
Kitsurubami: (shocked) JUMP!?
Before she could say anything else, Naota took a brief running start and leapt off of Canti, falling freely through the air.
Kitsurubami: WAIT! NO!
Naota felt his stomach rolling around in his body as he shifted around in free-fall. Sparks lit up his blue eyes. His face was twisted in anticipation and effort. The robot below had just managed to steady itself. The air passed up around Naota. It was a strange feeling, falling. It was like flying, but backwards. Finally, he spotted his mark.
Naota: (eyes widening, thinking) NOW!
With both hands, Naota brought his prized Rickenbacker down on the hulking titan with all of the force he muster. Everything he had was channeled through the long neck, into the smooth blue body and blasted out of the end, onto the steel shell of the robot. A shockwave blew nearby cars down the street. Naota's eyes lit up in excitement. Under him, the guitar split the mechanical monster in two. It froze in place before exploding into a massive fireball. The smoke of the blast consumed Naota, who was drifting back down to the ground. Canti looped away from the blast and landed a block away. Gently, he released Kitsurubami who, immediately took off toward the explosion.
Kitsurubami: (desperately) NAOTA!
Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran. He couldn't die. He couldn't. She refused to believe that he would have died. But, slowly, her hope evaporated away as she reached the burning wreckage.
Kitsurubami: NAOTA!
As a single tear trickled down her cheek, she felt her legs beginning to give way.
Kitsurubami: (despairingly) No...!
Canti appeared beside her, putting a baseball-glove-sized hand on her shoulder.
Canti: ...
Kitsurubami leaned against him to prevent herself from tumbling to the ground. she couldn't stand anymore. Quietly, she wept into the metal man's tin torso.
Kitsurubami: (quietly, between sobs) No, no, no... no, no...!
Her crying was cut short as she felt Canti lift his hand from her shoulder. she glanced up at him through glazed eyes to see him pointing off in the direction of the explosion. Wiping her eyes, she followed the length of his arm to the outskirts of the wreckage. And there, in front of the blazing destruction, stood a very battered Naota. Despite his injured, the boy stood tall (as tall as a boy his size could). His jacket was torn through, revealing his gray shirt underneath and he was covered from head to toe in grime. A tiny grin passed over his face as he caught the growing excitement in her eyes.
Kitsurubami: Naota...?
Naota: (smiling) ...
Kitsurubami: NAOTA!!!
With that, the girl pounced on the bruised boy, smothering him in hugs and kisses as they fell to the ground.
Naota: Hey, hey! I'm okay, I'm okay! Geez!
Canti: ...
---------------------
RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR
ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete
SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite
REVENGE no LOBSTER hiki tsurete
SNIPER
fuchi totta sono sekai ni
nani ga mieru tte iu n da
nerau mae ni sawaritai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kimi o sagashite kindanshôjô chû
uso o tsuita
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
---------------------
Haruko: Wow, who'd of thought we'd end up lasting this long?! Not much I can say about this next episode without giving it away. The only thing i can tell you is ... oh forget it! Just tune in next time and see for yourself! Next time on Fooly Cooly: Episode 11: Karma Police!
A very run-down Naota stepped out into the school parking lot. School had been especially boring today, so boring in fact that it took energy just to sit still. He was utterly drained. As usual, Kitsurubami greeted him with a warm smile.
Kitsurubami: You look pretty worn out.
Naota grunted and crawled into the seat. Part of him wanted to relax in the car seat and fall asleep, but he doubted that he'd ever actually get to
sleep. He buckled his seat belt and slowly let his head slide off the seat
back and onto the window. As the car hummed over the road below, his head
rocked with the movements.
Kitsurubami: So, how was your day?
Naota: (drained) Long ... very long...
When the car stopped, Naota found himself in the mall parking lot. He
hadn't been here in almost a year, but it really hadn't changed much at all. He got out of the car and looked around.
Naota: (thinking) Its still ... the same... (aloud) What are we doing here...?
Kitsurubami: I thought we could grab something to eat and catch a movie. What do you think?
Naota shrugged and looked on. He didn't care much either way.
Kitsurubami: (smiling) Come on.
They entered through the west door, landing them near the electronic
stores. Weaving in and out of the large crowds of shoppers, they made their
way to the food court.
Naota: (thinking) I forgot how much I hate this place ... so many stupid people, doing stupid things... Its too crowded in here...
Kitsurubami seemed to sense his discomfort and cast him a look of mild
concern.
Kitsurubami: Are you okay?
Naota: Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine.
Kitsurubami: Okay. (thinking) Guess he doesn't care much for people...
They continued on and finally reached the food court. Naota said he
didn't care what they ate, so they ended up settling for pizza. Kitsurubami
watched him eat, chucking now and then.
Naota: (looking up) What?
Kitsurubami grinned and pointed to the left side of his face. Naota
took his right hand and wiped at his cheek.
Naota: Still there...?
Kitsurubami: (stifling a giggle) ...Yeah.
Naota: (wiping again) Now...?
Kitsurubami: Still there.
Naota continued rubbing his face, oblivious to the fact that after the fifth attempt, he'd begun to smear pizza sauce from his hands to his face. Kitsurubami gently bit her lip, desperately trying not to laugh.
Kitsurubami: Still there.
Naota: (frustrated) ...
As Kitsurubami's resolve weakened, her low snickers escalated to muffled giggles and eventually reach full-blown laughter.
Kitsurubami: Ha hah ha hah!
Naota: What...?
Kitsurubami: (between laughs) You ... you got it ... all over ... your.. face...!
Naota: Huh?
Kitsurubami: (still laughing) ...Look...!
The lieutenant pulled a pocket-sized mirror from her purse and handed it to the boy. He looked at her suspiciously and then glanced at himself in the mirror. In a moment of horror and embarrassment, Naota's mouth dropped open as if you cry out. thinking better of it, he snapped it shut snatched a stack of napkins off the table.
Naota: (grumbling) ... stupid...
Kitsurubami: (calming down) Use the moistie naps...
Naota grabbed a few packets of the damp clothes and quickly scrubbed his face clean.
Kitsurubami: Not used to eating pizza?
Naota: ...
Kitsurubami: I'm sorry, but I had to laugh.
Naota: ...
Kitsurubami: You're not going to eat anymore...?
Naota: No.
Kitsurubami snickered again, seeing what the incident had done to his ego. It didn't surprise her very much. After cleaning up, the left for the theater. it took them twenty minutes, but they finally decided to see "Godzilla (TM) versus Mecha Godzilla (TM) 2: Battle for Earth." Naota was never much for monster movies, but he really didn't care. It wasn't like there was much else to do anyway.
Kitsurubami lead him to the rear seat, even though Naota actually preferred front row seats. She told him to wait there while she got the "junk food." Naota settled into his seat, watching the people grope their way into the theater. He smiled inwardly as a little boy came dashing down the aisle. He lost his footing halfway down the slant and came to a crashing halt. He must have been all right, because as soon as he got up, he continued on his way, not even bothering to slow down.
After what Naota felt was close to an eternity, Kitsurubami returned with a bucket of popcorn, a jumbo cola and a mixed bag of candy. Naota held the candy and popcorn as she go situated and then handed the popcorn back to her. She sat it in the empty seat next to her and relaxed in her seat. By this time, Naota was squinting in the dark, scavenging through the candy. In another five minutes, the movie started.
It wasn't bad, from what Naota saw. He wasn't actually paying much attention, but it wasn't a bad movie. For the first half hour, he continued to pick at the candy. He eventual ran out of interest (and choices) so he shrugged and focused in on the monsters dueling on the screen.
From what he understood, Godzilla, the radioactive monster, was battling his mechanical alter ego to protect Tokyo (or what was left of it).
Naota: I don't get it...
Kitsurubami: Get what...?
Naota: In half of the movies, the humans spend their time trying to destroy Godzilla, but now he's supposed to be saving them... That doesn't make sense...
Kitsurubami: Its not that uncommon for two rivaling forces to collaborate for a common goal...
Naota: ...?
Kitsurubami: I'll put it to you this way: Even if you don't like a particular kid in your class, if you are both stranded on a desert island, your only chance for survival is to work together, regardless of how you feel about each other...
Naota: (shrugging) I guess.
Kitsurubami: (smiling) Right.
Kitsurubami moves from the popcorn to the candy bag. She digs through it, shakes it, and begins digging again.
Naota: What...?
Kitsurubami: You ... you ate all the gummy bears ... and all the swedish fish...! And the Skittles (TM)!
Naota: Huh...?!
Kitsurubami: I can't believe it...! The only thing you left was ... what is that, anyway?!
Naota: (shrugging) You bought it.
Kitsurubami: If I had known you were going to ravage my bag, I'd have gotten you your own.
Naota stared over at her with a blank look in his eyes. He sort of resembled a deer in the headlights.
Kitsurubami: (smirking) I guess I'll let you off this once...
The movie went on and on. Naota thought he remembered the poster saying it was 113 minutes. With his mouth dry from all the candy, Naota began to look around for his drink.
Kitsurubami: What are you looking for?
Naota: Something to drink...
Kitsurubami: Here.
Kitsurubami handed him the jumbo sized cola cup (though it looked more like a bucket). Naota held it in his lap, eyeing it suspiciously.
Naota: (thinking) Wait a second ... didn't she drink out of this...?
Naota glanced back up at Kitsurubami, who was, again, engrossed in the movie. He looked back down at the drink then back at her.
Naota: (thinking) If I drink out of this ... wouldn't that be like... KISSING her...?
Naota eyed her carefully, subconsciously focusing in on her lips. His heart began to pound rapidly and he could now feel the butterflies rising up
in his stomach.
Naota: (thinking) Whatever ... its not that bid a deal, is it? I mean, I'm just drinking after her, right? Doesn't mean anything... Nothing at all. Or does it...?
He raised his eyes to her once more. This time, she felt his stare and glanced back. A chill ran up his spine and he nearly shivered over its intensity.
Kitsurubami: (concerned) Are you okay?
Naota: Huh? Oh yeah...!
Kitsurubami: You just seem a little ... distant.
Naota: ...
Kitsurubami's eyes fell to the drink in his lap. After a few seconds of thought, she understood.
Kitsurubami: You don't mind drinking after me, do you?
Naota: Uh...
Kitsurubami: I can get you your own if you want...
Naota sat up and opened his mouth as if about to say something, but closed it and dropped back into the seat. He almost looked as though he had been defeated in some way.
Naota: No ... its okay...
Slowly, he took the straw in his mouth and began drinking. The airy suction of the plastic tube rattled in the melting ice. Kitsurubami smiled and turned back to the movie.
In another twenty minutes, the movie was over. Naota collected up the trash around him, stood up, and walked unevenly behind Kitsurubami. They left the mall and headed for the car in silence. Just as Naota reached for the door handle, an explosion from behind him forces him to turn around.
Kitsurubami: What the...?! Again?!
From the smoke, a small, shadowy figure floated up, hovering above the debris. Naota squinted, to get a better look, but to no avail. With the sun down, visibility was pretty bad.
Kitsurubami: Its a robot, isn't it...?
Naota: I think so, but I'm not sure...
As the smoke rose, the robot began to advance, then paused and landed somewhere in the smoke. Naota waited.
Naota: (thinking) Where is it...?
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the billowing darkness, into plain sight. The robot mildly resembled Canti with its rounder TV-like head, though it stood only about four feet tall and had bigger hands. A crooked antennae stood up out of the top of its and mounted in the center its breastplate was a large red disk.
The robot waddled in a slow and lazy gait, taking its time and seemingly looking around here and there. Naota stood a bit rigid, but soon began to relax.
Kitsurubami: All that commotion over that thing?
She turned to look at Naota, but he had already begun to approach the diminutive foe.
Kitsurubami: Naota...?!
Naota: I'll be back. This shouldn't take long...
Naota stopped ten yards from the robot. The robot, which by now had noticed the boy stood silently in its tracks. For a few seconds, the two merely stood, staring, sizing each other up.
Kitsurubami: (thinking) That things is pretty puny... Why would MM dispatch something like this...?
Naota: ...
Robot: ...
Behind the robot, an ignited car exploded, sending up blackened scraps of steel. Naota took the sound as a cue. Without another moments hesitation, he jumped high into the air and drew his Rickenbacker all in one fluid motion. As he came back to Earth over the tiny robot, Naota brought his guitar directly down upon its head. A heavy DONG rang out through the streets. Under the force of the hit, the robot reeled backwards and crashed into a nearby car. Its dense body dented in the hood and cracked up the windshield, pretty badly.
Naota remained prepared, in case the little menace managed to survive the first. A minute passed. Two minutes. Two and a half minutes. Naota sighed and relaxed his arms.
Kitsurubami: (surprised) That was easy...
Naota: ...
Naota shrugged and turned around. His eyes met Kitsurubami's. Slinging his guitar over his should, Naota made his way back to the car.
Kitsurubami: That's it...?
Naota: Yeah...
Kitsurubami: Hmm...
Naota opened the back seat of the car and placed the blue bass in the back seat. He was just about to close the door when he was startled by a massive crash from behind. Naota turned to face it.
Naota: Huh...?!
Kitsurubami: What the...?!
The robot, thought to have been defeated, was now standing on top of the now pulverized car.
Naota: Wha...?
Kitsurubami: What's going on here?!
Naota opened the car door and pulled his bass back out. Then, with weapon in hand, he briskly advanced on the standing robot.
Naota: (over his shoulder) ...Be right back...
Kitsurubami: (shouting) Naota, be careful!
Naota had only made it within fifteen yards of the thing before it hopped off the car and into the air. In a dramatic series of movements, the robot stretched its arms and legs in midair, paused to hover and pressed the red disk (apparently a button) on its chest with one oversized hand.
Naota: Huh...?
Kitsurubami: ???
The sky blinked white like a giant camera flash. When the affects died down, Naota squinted to readjust. The robot landed heavily on the road in a crouching position, and as it stood, Naota could plainly see that it had gained two feet of height.
Naota: Wha...?
Kitsurubami: (thinking) Is that thing...?!
In a few seconds, the robot was nearly ten feet tall. Naota took a step back and grimaced.
Naota: (thinking) If this thing keeps growing...
As the robot ascended higher and higher, it stretched out one swollen hand and held it diagonal to the ground. At the last moment, Naota realized what was happening.
Naota: Kitsurubami!
With a loud BANG, the hand was released from the wrist, flying right at the VW, and Kitsurubami. Behind the projectile palm, an attached cabled snaked behind. Naota spun around and dashed at the now vulnerable lieutenant.
Kitsurubami: WHA...?!
Naota: (thinking) NO!
Naota wrapped one arm around Kitsurubami's waist and leapt over the VW, which was smashed to a blue pulp as the flying hand compacted it into the street. Naota landed a safe distance away and turned back to the robot. It had doubled in size, and if his eyes didn't deceive him, was still growing. with a flick of its stump, the mechanical gait whipped the cable back, retracting its hand. The fat hand clicked back in place and clenched into a fist.
Kitsurubami: (shocked) My... car...
Naota: ...
Naota sat Kitsurubami back on the ground and readied his guitar. The debris from the car and street hung in the air before falling back to the ground like snow. The black mist hung heavy over them.
Kitsurubami: That thing's ... pretty big...
Naota: (turning and looking at her) Yeah...?
Kitsurubami: Don't you find the fact that that thing is 100 times your size a little intimidating...?
Naota: No...
Kitsurubami: Then how about the fact that its about to blow us to bits!?
Naota looked back up at the thing, and much his surprise, green, glowing energy seemed to be collecting at the tip of the robots crooked antennae. The bright green, cutting through the rising smoke like a beacon. Naota barely had enough time to grab Kitsurubami and dodge the blast. He leapt high into the air and shifted to look back down where they were standing. The green orb reduced a large portion of the street and a nearby building to a pile of smoldering pile of asphalt. Kitsurubami dangled helplessly, held only by Naota's right arm as they drifted up in the air.
Kitsurubami: (shocked) W-whoa...
Before she could say anything else, she felt herself being jerked up and to the side. Another orb passed them, taking out a building a few blocks down. She landed softly with Naota's right arm supporting her back and his left holding her under the knees. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life as they descended back to earth.
Naota landed softly but continued to hold Kitsurubami. she looked up at him, but his eyes were fixed on the attacker.
Kitsurubami: You've got to lure it out of here or it'll wipe out the whole town...!
Naota: Right.
Naota turned and bounded off in the opposite direction. His retreat was answered with a barrage of laser fire, blowing up various things around him. Naota, skid as he cut around a tight corner. He picked up speed again as he stayed on a straight path toward the city limits. They landed a half a block away, but Naota still held her tightly. Naota looked down at her, his face serious and determined. Suddenly, he felt her arms around him tighten as she cried out.
Kitsurubami: Incoming!
Naota: ...?
Naota cringed and tightening his grip on her, protectively. The blast missed, but sent up a wave of debris. Naota jumped back out of the way.
Kitsurubami: (thinking) Where are these things coming from? what is Medical Mechanica up to? What are they getting at?
Naota: I'm gonna get you outta here, okay?
His strong tone caught her a bit off guard. Kitsurubami blushed a little, but nodded. Naota grunted as he shoved his right hand into his forehead and pulled out Haruko's Rickenbacker. Quickly, he started it up, grabbed Kitsurubami and took to the air.
The rain of fire behind them sent up more concrete and dirt, but Naota easily dodge it. He dove in and out of the rows of buildings, avoid laser blasts and flying matter. Despite the whole situation, his face remained calm, though determined. Behind them, the robot advanced, quickly catching up them.
Kitsurubami: He's right behind us!
Naota: Hold on!
Naota shifted his weight back and they completed a full loop. They slowed down just above the robot, then picked up speed as they passed it. The sudden change in direction slowed the monster, but it soon tailed after them once again.
Kitsurubami: This thing sure is persistent!
Naota: (thinking) This is no good! I've got to get her out of here...!
Just as Naota rounded another corner, he saw a familiar robot standing at a vender, just a block down.
Naota: Canti!
Kitsurubami: Cyborg...?! (thinking) What's he doing here?
Naota: Catch!
Kitsurubami: "Catch?!"
Without warning, Naota flung the young woman high into the air. Canti scrambled to the side to get under her finding his mark. With a huge jolt, the robot took to the air. Skill and luck assured that he met her halfway and safely caught her.
Naota: (calling back as he flew toward the attack robot) Get her out of here!
Canti nodded and headed in the opposite direction. Naota smiled inwardly. She'd be safe now. Just as he finished the thought, a terrible force caught him in the face. A giant green orb engulfed his body in heat and sent him smoldering to the road below. Naota's body cracked the cement as he bounced along the street. After two blocks, he rolled to a stop. Naota groaned as he forced himself to stand.
Naota: Oww... (thinking) That really hurt... I lost my guitar...
Naota looked up just in time to dodge a fat, mechanical hand flying toward him. Meanwhile, Canti was steadily distancing himself and Kitsurubami from the carnage taking place.
Kitsurubami: Hey, shouldn't we be helping him...?!
Canti: ...?
Kitsurubami: Well, we can't just leave him there to fight that thing alone, can we?
Canti stopped and hovered for a moment. A light buzzing could be heard in his head as he mulled the thought over. Finally, he glanced back down at Kitsurubami. With a nod, they flew off in Naota's. Kitsurubami looked the robot up in the face and frowned.
Kitsurubami: What exactly do you plan to do when we get there?
Canti froze in midair. He hadn't really given much thought to that... or any thought, for that matter.
Kitsurubami: Well, think. Don't you have any guns or nifty functions?
Canti: ...
Kitsurubami: Nothing?!
Canti: (shrugging) ...?
Kitsurubami: (sighing) Okay... put me on your back.
Canti did as she instructed, placing her carefully on top of him.
Kitsurubami: Okay, now we're going to make a pit stop before we get there, okay?
Canti: (nodding) ...
Kitsurubami: Right! Now go!
With a final nod, again, they were off. Meanwhile, Naota was crouched behind a line of cars, trying to catch his breath. His chest headed with effort.
Naota: (thinking) Now what do I do...?
In the background, the robot is lumbering around the city, knocking over buildings and street lamps. Naota sighs and peeks around the side of the car. His guitar is nowhere in sight. Quietly, he turned back around and leaned against the car. He guessed that his guitar was on the other side of the block, meaning that he'd have to pass the robot in order to get it back. As he was about to sigh, a sudden explosion from above cause him to look up.
Naota: Huh...?
Naota could barely make out Canti, flying high in the air, with Kitsurubami crouched on his back. Resting her shoulder was some sort of rocket launcher, smoke rising from the barrel.
Kitsurubami: DIE!
Naota: (thinking) Canti and Kitsurubami...?!
Kitsurubami fired her weapon five more times, making one graze and four direct hits on the metal giant. As they went overhead, Kitsurubami gave him a thumbs up before going back to her shooting. Naota smiled inwardly and stood. It was all the diversion he needed. Naota came from behind the car and ran down the street. He wove in and out of the falling rocks and metal as the robot thrashed about. The titan swung his fat fist in the air, flailing like an angry gorilla. Canti swerved to avoid a boulder coming down, but in the process met with one of the metal fists and was sent backwards. The force shook the lieutenant off of his back.
Kitsurubami: (falling) WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Naota: (turning to look) NO!
Canti regained control and was barely able to catch the woman before she hit the ground. Naota sighed and looked back. There, he could see it. The Rickenbacker. It was only fifty yards away. at this point, Naota threw caution to the wind and broke into a full scale dash.
The robot above, regaining some of its composure noticed the little boy below. With a loud BANG, it fired its left hand. Naota heard it, but he didn't care. He could do this. He had to do this.
Everything paused and moved into slow motion as Naota closed the distance between him and the guitar. It was in reach. Quickly, he ducked down and rolled, snatching up the faithful bass in the process. He landed on his feet just in the nick of time. With a grunt, she spun around in a wide half circle and brought the Rickenbacker with him. The body of the guitar batted the oncoming hand away, sending it back into the air in bits and pieces. The force of the hit ran up the attached cable and severed it at the shoulder. The robot reeled back, clearly off balance. Naota looked skyward.
Naota: CANTI!
No sooner had he uttered his name, Canti landed roughly behind him. Naota turned and jumped into the air. Canti ducked under him, catching him squarely on his back and took off. Naota stood on the robot, surfing style, guitar at his waist. They ascended rapidly, parallel to the stumbling giant. Higher and higher they flew. The cool night breeze whipped through Naota's hair as he readied himself. Kitsurubami was dangling lightly in Canti's arm's below.
Kitsurubami: What are you going to do?
Naota: I'm gonna jump.
Kitsurubami: (shocked) JUMP!?
Before she could say anything else, Naota took a brief running start and leapt off of Canti, falling freely through the air.
Kitsurubami: WAIT! NO!
Naota felt his stomach rolling around in his body as he shifted around in free-fall. Sparks lit up his blue eyes. His face was twisted in anticipation and effort. The robot below had just managed to steady itself. The air passed up around Naota. It was a strange feeling, falling. It was like flying, but backwards. Finally, he spotted his mark.
Naota: (eyes widening, thinking) NOW!
With both hands, Naota brought his prized Rickenbacker down on the hulking titan with all of the force he muster. Everything he had was channeled through the long neck, into the smooth blue body and blasted out of the end, onto the steel shell of the robot. A shockwave blew nearby cars down the street. Naota's eyes lit up in excitement. Under him, the guitar split the mechanical monster in two. It froze in place before exploding into a massive fireball. The smoke of the blast consumed Naota, who was drifting back down to the ground. Canti looped away from the blast and landed a block away. Gently, he released Kitsurubami who, immediately took off toward the explosion.
Kitsurubami: (desperately) NAOTA!
Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran. He couldn't die. He couldn't. She refused to believe that he would have died. But, slowly, her hope evaporated away as she reached the burning wreckage.
Kitsurubami: NAOTA!
As a single tear trickled down her cheek, she felt her legs beginning to give way.
Kitsurubami: (despairingly) No...!
Canti appeared beside her, putting a baseball-glove-sized hand on her shoulder.
Canti: ...
Kitsurubami leaned against him to prevent herself from tumbling to the ground. she couldn't stand anymore. Quietly, she wept into the metal man's tin torso.
Kitsurubami: (quietly, between sobs) No, no, no... no, no...!
Her crying was cut short as she felt Canti lift his hand from her shoulder. she glanced up at him through glazed eyes to see him pointing off in the direction of the explosion. Wiping her eyes, she followed the length of his arm to the outskirts of the wreckage. And there, in front of the blazing destruction, stood a very battered Naota. Despite his injured, the boy stood tall (as tall as a boy his size could). His jacket was torn through, revealing his gray shirt underneath and he was covered from head to toe in grime. A tiny grin passed over his face as he caught the growing excitement in her eyes.
Kitsurubami: Naota...?
Naota: (smiling) ...
Kitsurubami: NAOTA!!!
With that, the girl pounced on the bruised boy, smothering him in hugs and kisses as they fell to the ground.
Naota: Hey, hey! I'm okay, I'm okay! Geez!
Canti: ...
---------------------
RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR
ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete
SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite
REVENGE no LOBSTER hiki tsurete
SNIPER
fuchi totta sono sekai ni
nani ga mieru tte iu n da
nerau mae ni sawaritai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kimi o sagashite kindanshôjô chû
uso o tsuita
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
---------------------
Haruko: Wow, who'd of thought we'd end up lasting this long?! Not much I can say about this next episode without giving it away. The only thing i can tell you is ... oh forget it! Just tune in next time and see for yourself! Next time on Fooly Cooly: Episode 11: Karma Police!