Author's notes: Sorry for the long wait between updates, but I've been without the 'net for over a week. ^^;; Anyway, from now on I'll probably be putting up new chapters every few days or so. Enjoy!

Fat raindrops started to slosh down on the pavement, which didn't help to improve Buttercup's already unsettled mood. Regaining her breath, she slipped out from behind her camouflage of old crates and rushed along the sidewalk as stealthily as possible. She hated not being able to use her powers here.
She looked up at the city skyline, which was blaring with rows and rows of overlapping neon katakana. He would be somewhere in Tokyo Townsville. The thought of how close she was to finally seeing him again made her heart a lighter load to carry.
Once more making sure she was unnoticed, she crawled into a back alley and kneeled down by a garbage bin, pulling out a worn, soggy map of the district. While she had no idea where he would be within the area, navigating the labyrinth of streets was made that much easier by-

Buttercup felt the arms seize her waist roughly before they hauled her up. She kicked and struggled, not bothering to turn around to see the face of who had grabbed her… she already knew who it was.
The other two assailants quickly came to their leader's aid, holding down the panicked, squirming child with all their force.
"Let me go, you stupid…"
Forget not using superpowers. This was an emergency.
With a sound blow to each of the men, Buttercup broke free of their grip and dashed away. But the powerful figures, caught off-guard as they were, quickly recovered and took off after her.

Johnny hurried home through the rain, using his book-bag as a makeshift umbrella. At least this day couldn't get any worse…

SLAM!
The teenager went crashing to the ground, his bag opening and homework flying everywhere. He opened his eyes to see a little girl lying by him, rubbing her head from the collision.
"Why don't you watch where yer going, squirt?" He cried.
But she barely so much as glanced at him before scurrying off again like a frightened rat.
"HEY!" Johnny called after her while clumsily stuffing his water-logged books back in his bag. Finally he scrambled to his feet and started running after the strange child.

She tried to shake her pursuer off by manuvering in and out of tight squeezes, such as in between lamp posts and parking meters, but it did little to deter the agile boy.
"You… you could have apologised…" he grunted, leaping over a bus-stop bench the girl had wormed under.
Eventually, she came to a dead end. High brick walls on all three sides, and there was no way to fly out as long as this dope was watching her.
The moment she stopped, he caught up to her and grabbed her by the collar.
"Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners?"

She could hear the three men approaching the corner. Wasting no time, the girl scowled up at Johnny and spat at him. As he recoiled in disgust, she dove into the nearest hiding spot and disappeared from sight.
"She's in here!" A raspy voice declared.
Johnny turned-and his heart stopped short at what he saw.

They were like cat burglars from hell: three imposing figures with glowing, pitiless eyes, the tallest of which stood at least six feet. They were dressed completely in black but for a crimson insignia on the front of their uniforms, and a utility belt around their waists equipped with all manner of horrendous weapons.
The tallest one smiled: a horrible sneer that looked like it belonged on a crocodile who had cornered its prey.

Johnny managed to find the composure to slowly back away from the horrible figures, until the tallest prowled towards him and brought out a sleek black pistol.
The trembling boy felt his throat go dry.
"Let's get rid of this little nuisance first…"
He examined the teenager's features and took another step closer, aiming the pistol. Then, like a sudden electric shock, he drew back sharply in utter astonishment.
"It's…"
His cronies looked at him in puzzlement.
"It's him!" The head assailant gasped. "The Master… We need to tell the Master."
The trio turned on their heels and fled out of the alley, one tripping over a garbage can as he went.

At the noise of the impact, the little girl peeked her head out of her hiding place.
"What happened?"
Johnny, still completely stunned, barely heard her.
"What happened?" She asserted once again.
"Uhm…" The boy said quietly "They… they left."
The girl's green eyes came alive. "Wow! You must've been real strong to beat up those guys!"
"Uh…"
She skipped over to Johnny and looked up at him curiously. That face…
"What's your name?" She asked him.
"Johnny."
"I'm Buttercup!" She announced, perhaps a little too proudly.
He knelt down to her height. "Who were those guys chasing you?"
The perky tot suddenly crossed her arms and glared at him. "I'm not telling YOU!"
Johnny closed his eyes and sighed. "Fine. Whatever."

This evening had just been too much for him. Perhaps it was best simply not to ask. He got up, slung his bag over his back and headed off.
"WAIT!" Buttercup yowled like a distressed lion cub, stopping him in his tracks.
He turned. "Shouldn't you be getting home, squirt?"
"I… I can't go home."
Johnny frowned "What?"
"I'm looking for somebody."
The boy felt obliged to ask. "Is it your Mom, or a sibling-"
"I'm looking for the Professor." She stated pointedly. "A-and I'm lost." She added, her voice becoming a little weaker.

Johnny gazed at the downcast urchin. She really was a pitiful sight: a tiny, uncertain creature shivering in the rain, all alone, her face muddy and her little green tunic soaked through and through.
He held out his hand to her. "Come on. Maybe we can call someone at my house."
Her proud grin reappeared, and she skipped alongside him through the puddles.
"And by the way," she piped up.
"What?"
"MY NAME'S NOT 'SQUIRT'!!"

To Be Continued. . .