Here's part two of the opener! I didn't want to post the first part without the second, so... But chapter/episode three won't be posted for a day or two...I figure I'll see if everyone likes it first! Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention! I have to give credit to my sister, Vicki, a lot of credit for being the inspiration for some of the chapters/episodes (or at least part of them) that I have planned out. I'll list them now just in case I forget later: Episode 3, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 11, Episode 12-14 (it's a three-parter), and Episode 19. She came up with the basic idea of these episodes when she was trying to help me brainstorm and come up with a twenty-six chapter story. Anyway, I think that's all I have to say. Again, I really like the coming attractions! They're just so cute and funny! Anyway, on with the fight!
Episode 2: "A New Alliance! A New Mission! A New Mystery!"
Momiji continued to scream, shutting her eyes tightly, as the beast rampaged toward her, raising one of its eight sharp legs and began to bring it down as if a knife ready to stab her. And then, she was suddenly pushed out of the way by a strong force. Blinking her eyes open, Momiji could see she was lying on the ground, the male student sitting over her. Past him, she could see the creature's sharp leg had punctured the pavement in which she had been standing only a moment beforehand.
"What…I…" Momiji stammered in a daze.
"Will you get out of here?!" the student shouted at her. "I don't have time to take care of you!"
"But, I-"
"Hey, Yusuke, or whoever you are!" Serena suddenly exclaimed in warning. "Behind you!" The student - Yusuke - spun around to see the Baken-Ai beast charging for him and Momiji. A sudden fear darted across Yusuke's face and he hastily took Momiji by the hand.
"Run."
"What? Wait!" Momiji cried as Yusuke yanked her off the floor and then began to run to the left as the beast slammed it's legs down on the ground, barely missing them. Then, realizing that it would be too sharp a turn to go after Momiji and Yusuke, decided to chase Serena. Serena let out a scream.
"My briefcase! My briefcase! My briefcase!" she repeated rapidly in a panic. Then, letting out a frightened cry, she turned and began to run from the beast, screaming the word, "HELP!"
"Your briefcase…?" Momiji inquired, not sure what Serena would want it for. She stood stared in bafflement.
"What do you want your school books for?" Yusuke called out to her, cuffing his hands on the sides of his mouth like a megaphone, but she was too busy running from the Baken-Ai to answer. Yusuke dropped his hands to the side and shrugged as Momiji continued to look puzzled. Then, suddenly, Momiji's eyes lit up.
"The wand! That must be it!" She started toward where she left the briefcase.
"Wand…?" Yusuke asked in confusion. Then his eyes went back toward the screaming and pitifully running Serena. He scratched the back of his head with a frown and said, "What an idiot."
Meanwhile, Momiji reached the briefcase. She swiftly picked it up. "Serena!" She then threw it toward Serena with all the strength she had. Unfortunately, it fell short - a couple feet behind her.
"Oh," Serena moaned miserably, grimacing as she stopped and turned back. She bent down and went to open it, but as she did, the Baken-Ai had succeeded in catching up to her. Now, he was almost on top of her.
"What are you doing?!" Yusuke called. "Don't just sit there! Keep running!"
"I KNOW, but -" The Baken-Ai cut her off, swinging its leg at her; Serena went flying into the wall of the school, briefcase included, the briefcase bursting open on impact. Serena winced and whimpered. Then, opening her eyes, she noticed her wand. "My wand!" She went for her wand, crawling on her hands and knees, but the Baken-Ai was advancing violently.
"Serena! Hurry!" Momiji cried desperately. Yusuke scowled and stepped forward.
"Hey! Ugly!" he shouted to the monster. The beast snapped its head around and eyed Yusuke murderously. "That's right! Over here!"
"Do you think I will fall for your weak and pathetic tricks?" the creature hissed. Serena grabbed her wand then and, still on her knees, cried:
"Moon Scepter Elimination!" The beast was hit by a large amount of energy and went flying onto its side, crushing the pavement underneath it. It growled as it got to its feet, blood dripping from its side. Serena looked horrified. "It didn't work?!"
"Damn you, weaklings!" the creature shouted in a snarled voice. "I will be distracted no longer! I must kill the child!"
"No!" Momiji exclaimed and immediately ran in front of the child, arms extended wide in defense. "I won't allow you to hurt him!" The beast, however, was limping, wounded rather badly, as it mad its way toward the child.
"I…must…kill…the child…" it said as it panted, reaching out one of its arms and placing his other hand on its wound.
"No!" Momiji protested still, holding her ground although her face was fearful.
"The blood…" the boy finally spoke, his voice trailing off as it stared at the beast's wound with wide eyes of horror. Momiji suddenly dropped to her knees before him and put her hands on his shoulders sympathetically.
"Now don't be frightened; I'm going to protect you," she assured him, but the boy slowly shook his head in some sort of shock, the first Baken-Ai heading gradually for them.
"It's injured," Yusuke realized now and stared at the still kneeling Serena with a certain awe and disbelief. "That stupid girl did THAT?" He then turned back to the beast with grim eyes; he had a job to do.
"I WILL kill that child!" the beast then declared with all its strength, forcing itself to stand tall and erect as it slugged toward Momiji and the shocked child. Yusuke immediately skidded in front of it, fists raised and ready to fight.
"Hey, Shiko - you got to get through me first!" the beast snarled savagely. Yusuke narrowed his eyes and then charged forward.
"What are you doing?!" Serena exclaimed, finally rising to her feet. "Are you crazy?! You're going to get yourself killed!" But Yusuke simply smirked mischievously and raised his fist.
It was a direct hit. The beast went flying backwards. Serena squealed and jumped out of the way, the Baken-Ai rushing past her and colliding into the school, crushing part of the wall.
"Wow…he's strong…" Momiji commented to herself.
"He is," the boy replied in equal disbelief. Yusuke just laughed and shook his hand a bit.
"And that was one of my lighter punches," he stated cockily. Serena's mouth dropped open as she turned to him sternly.
"This is no laughing matter!" she scolded. "You just destroyed school property! There's a fine for that, you know!" She then whined, "And I'm the one who's probably going to get stuck having to pay for it!"
"Jeez, will you calm down?!" Yusuke shouted angrily. "I'm just doing my job!"
"Well, can't you do it without breaking everything?!" Serena argued, placing her hands on her hips.
"Um, guys…" Momiji then began as she noticed the beast rising to its feet. "It's getting up…"
"Huh?" Both Yusuke and Serena turned to see it crawling toward them on it's eight spider legs. Yusuke then smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"So you still want to fight, huh?"
"You little brat!" Shiko hissed violently, though only holding onto by his last threads of strength. "You will not keep me from killing that child!"
"Fine. Suit yourself," Yusuke stated casually. "I have to kill you either way - orders are orders, you know." Momiji gasped.
"Kill…?" the little boy questioned, as frightened and shocked as Momiji.
The beast then growled in rage, charging for the arrogant Yusuke. Yusuke just flashed a grin and swung his fist again…and again…and again. In fact, both Momiji and Serena couldn't keep up after awhile, Yusuke's punches seeming to travel faster than lightening. And then, with one final swing to the beast's chin, the beast collapsed onto it's back, unable to get to it's feet. Yusuke gave a snicker and then jumped up high in the air, pointing his finger directly at the beast's head.
"Spirit gun!" A light formed on the tip of his finger and suddenly a burst of energy shot from it and toward the beast.
"No!" the child shouted in fright, but it was too late; the Baken-Ai's head exploded on to the pavement.
"Ew!" Serena cried. "That's gross!" Momiji put her hand over her mouth and turned pale at the sight of the blood.
"I think I'm going to be sick." However, she suddenly remembered the boy and turned to the child. He was shaking his head in terror. He cares so much, Momiji thought, even though that monster was going to kill him. And then the boy, noticing Momiji staring, blinked and smiled. He gave a wave and slowly began to vanish out of sight. "Hey! Where are you going?!" Momiji cried, standing up and reaching out for him, but he had already disappeared, as if becoming the air. "Where'd he go…?"
Suddenly, Yusuke let out a scream of pain and both girls turned to him to see him stagger backwards, placing a hand to his forehead and closing his eyes tightly.
"What's wrong with him?" Momiji asked running over to Serena.
"I don't know!" Serena answered frantically. Yusuke let out another painful cry before his body suddenly relaxed and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Yusuke slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times before his blurred vision became focused. He found himself lying on his back looking up at the evening sky and the two girls he met fighting the Baken-Ai, the blonde girl who called herself "Sailor Moon" and the brunette who called the blonde girl "Serena." They both were kneeling beside him, one on each side, staring down at him with much concern. He stared up at them puzzled, first at the brunette, then at the blonde, and then back at the brunette.
"What happened? Where-where are we…?"
"We're still at the school," the brunette answered. "You passed out."
"'Passed out…?'" The brunette nodded.
"For a good half an hour, I'd say. At least." Yusuke groaned and turned his head toward the blonde.
"Serena…or Sailor Moon…or whatever…what happened to that stupid sailor uniform you were wearing?"
"Hey, it's not stupid!" she protested. "And I changed out of it." She then frown and slouched where she sat. "You recognize me without it, too?" She let out a small whine. Yusuke groaned a second time as he began to sit up, placing a hand to his aching forehead. He immediately gasped and pulled his hand away, however, a seething pain burning his skin.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," the brunette informed him. "It still looks pretty sore."
"Sore…?"
"The scar on your forehead."
"Scar?" Yusuke questioned. "I don't have a scar on my forehead."
"You do now," the blonde told him and then pulled out a small mirror. "See?" Yusuke pulled the few strands that fell on his forehead back with his hand and examined the scar that had been mysteriously carved into his skin. He frowned quizzically, not sure what to make of it other than it hurt like hell.
"It kind of looks like the symbol that was on that monster's forehead, don't you think?" the brunette suggested.
"I guess…" Yusuke replied, giving the mirror back to the blonde. "Just who are you two again?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" the brunette apologized. "I'm Momiji! And this is Serena."
"So it's just Serena?" Yusuke asked the blonde.
"I'm only Sailor Moon when I TRANSFORM into her," Serena explained. "And then I have the power of the Moon to help me defend against evil and protect the innocent!"
"Right…and what are you, exactly?" he then asked Momiji.
"Me?"
"Yeah…what was that blue light from before?"
"Oh, that," Momiji replied, and pulled her shirt down a bit so he could see the blue seed. "It's called a blue seed. It usually can only sense when these monsters called Arigami are near, but I guess it can sense other demons, too."
"So that's all you can do? Sense things?" Momiji nodded weakly. "Well, that's pretty useless, isn't it?"
"Hey!" Serena exclaimed in Momiji's defense, giving him a shove in the shoulder. "She can do a lot of other things, too! Like…well, she's the Kushinada! That means she's a princess!"
"'Kushinada?" Yusuke questioned. "So what are you the princess OF then?"
"Well…nothing, really, now that I think about it," Momiji answered with a frown. "It kind of just means that I'm a sacrifice…a sacrifice that would destroy all the Arigami."
"Well, that sounds like a pleasant occupation," Yusuke muttered sarcastically. "Anything else I should know?" Serena grinned widely.
"Well, I don't mean to BRAG or anything," she began, "but I also happen to be a princess myself. Princess of the Moon Kingdom."
"Where's that?" Yusuke asked. Serena's face turned a bit pink as she lowered her head in a bit of embarrassment.
"Uh…it's kind of been destroyed…" she mumbled. Yusuke almost laughed out loud as he got to his feet.
"So, you're princess of nothing -" he gestured toward Momiji - "And you're princess of a destroyed kingdom -" he gestured toward Serena. Then he cracked sarcastically, "That's really something to be proud of." He then shook his head and muttered, "God, my head's killing me…"
Both girls, highly offended, stood up, Momiji angrily putting her hands on her hips and Serena crossing her arms furiously. "Hey! Well, you're not so great yourself!" Momiji insulted him.
"I only killed the Baken-Ai," Yusuke replied in annoyance.
"With MY help!" Serena added feverishly.
"You didn't help."
"Yes, she did!" Momiji argued. "You big jerk!"
"Hey, where'd the Baken-Ai go anyway?" Yusuke asked, looking around the schoolyard. Momiji calmed down a bit then, but Serena remained fuming.
"It just disappeared when you passed out. The kid, too." Momiji explained.
"That's strange…I wonder what it wanted to kill the kid so badly, anyway…" Yusuke trailed off and shrugged. "Well, that's one down, two to go."
"There's two more?!" Serena exclaimed in horror, her anger being replaced by terror.
"Don't worry; I'll handle it," Yusuke replied and turned from them. Both girls looked at each other for a moment, before giving a decisive nod, choosing to follow the strange boy named Yusuke.
"Will you two quit following me?!" Yusuke shouted in frustration as both Momiji and Serena followed him down the street that evening. "Don't you girls have your own life or something? Go home!"
"Not until you tell us who you are and what the Baken-Ai want!" Serena declared and Momiji gave a nod of agreement. Yusuke sighed in exasperation and spun around with a furious look in his eyes that caused both girls to stop with a startled jump and a squeal.
"Fine! Be difficult!" Yusuke shouted. "My name's Yusuke and I'm a spirit detective, all right!"
"Well, we already know that!" Serena exclaimed. "But what IS a spirit detective?"
"I don't know. I just fight demons and the forces of evil and stuff, I guess, or do whatever else I'm assigned to do by this stupid toddler called Koenma - he's Lord of the Spirit World." He sighed. "It's kind of a long story…"
"And the Baken-Ai?" Momiji asked.
"It's my new assignment," he explained. "You see, these three demons called the Baken-Ai are able to rise this really powerful and really evil demon called Torazo. And that's why I have to kill the Baken-Ai. No more Baken-Ai, no evil demon to worry about."
"That kind of makes sense…" Momiji remarked. "And you already killed one of them?" Yusuke nodded.
"I just have to wait for Botan to tell me where the other two are…"
"Who's Botan?" Serena inquired with a sly grin. Yusuke eyed her annoyed.
"Well, aren't we nosy?" he remarked. She stuck her tongue out at him and Yusuke rolled his eyes. "If you really must know, she's one of Koenma's messengers; she gives me my assignments."
"Oh…" Serena replied. She then determinedly stomped her foot on the sidewalk, folded her arms resolutely and lifted her chin with a new sense of purpose. "That settles it!"
"'Settles' what?" Yusuke questioned raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"That we're going to help defeat the Baken-Ai!" Serena declared, putting an arm around Momiji.
"WHAT?!" Yusuke shouted, backing up and cringing. "You can't!"
"Why not?" Momiji asked innocently.
"Because! You'll just get in my way!" Yusuke argued.
"We will not!" Serena argued back, shaking a fist at him. "And you can't stop us from helping! Right, Momiji?"
"Right!" Momiji exclaimed with a nod. "We HAVE to help! It would be wrong for us to just turn our backs on what's right and pretend that nothing bad is happening! Especially with that poor little boy in danger…" She lowered her head in sympathy for the child. Yusuke scoffed. Momiji snapped her head up and looked at him with firm eyes. "And Serena's right! You can't stop us!" Yusuke went to shout something back but then suddenly stopped, noticing the stern look in both Momiji and Serena's eyes. He knew that he was stubborn, but these two seemed just as stubborn as he was; there was no way either girl was backing down. So he sighed and turned away from them.
"FINE…I GUESS you can help if you're around…" Yusuke reluctantly agreed. "But ONLY if you happen to be walking by or something. I don't need you two following me all the time or looking for trouble." Both girls grinned in triumph.
"All right!" they exclaimed and they each giggled, taking a place alongside Yusuke, Momiji on his left and Serena on his right.
"You'll see; we're going to make a great team!" Momiji assured him, taking a puzzled Yusuke by the arm.
"That's right! An awesome trio!" Serena agreed, taking his other arm.
"Now, wait a second!" Yusuke exclaimed a bit fearful. "I didn't say anything about being a team!"
"Urameshi!" an obnoxious voice called out and Yusuke turned as did the two curious girls to see a big red haired man. "Just what do you think you're doing?!"
"Kuwabara…" Yusuke muttered with a sigh.
"You're friends with him?" Momiji asked curiously.
"I guess you could say that…" Yusuke answered.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara shouted again and Yusuke sighed in exasperation.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Yusuke yelled back. He then turned back to the girls. "I've got to go. I'll see you around…" He then pulled his arms from them and ran toward his redhead friend.
"Bye!" Serena called with a wave while Momiji frowned, slightly perplexed.
"Do you think we'll ever see him again?" she asked.
"I'm sure of it!" Serena declared. She then pensively placed a finger to her chin. "Still, he acts so…mysterious…"
"'Mysterious?'" Momiji inquired. "Well, I wouldn't call it that…more like…unfriendly, I guess. I wonder why he's like that…" Serena crossed her arms in a huff.
"I say he's just arrogant!" Both girls then frowned and sighed, dropping their heads in defeat. "I don't think we'll ever understand him…"
"I wouldn't say that, either," Momiji replied with an optimistic smile. "I bet we just have to get to know him a bit better, that's all." Serena smiled in agreement.
"I suppose you're right," she answered. Then, she extended her hand for Momiji. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Momiji."
"Same here, Serena." The two then shook hands.
"I can't believe you, Urameshi!" Kuwabara scolded Yusuke, slapping him upside the head.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Yusuke questioned angrily.
"For cheating on Keiko! With not just one girl, but two!" Yusuke couldn't believe his ears.
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me!" Kuwabara shouted furiously. "And don't try and deny it, either! I saw you with my own eyes!"
"'With your own…'" Yusuke then gasped. "You mean those two stupid girls I was with just now?" Kuwabara nodded vigorously.
"They had you by the arm and everything!" he continued enraged. "How could you be so sleezy?! And to cheat on Keiko of all people! She's the only person who could ever tolerate you and you just cast her aside like she's nothing!"
"Now just hold on a second!" Yusuke protested. "It's not like that at all!" Kuwabara blinked, suddenly confused.
"It isn't?" he asked, his anger subsiding.
"NO!" Yusuke shouted. He exhaled and then decided to explain further. "First of all, me and Keiko are NOT going out. We're…uh…I don't know what we are, but she's not my girlfriend."
"Not OFFICIALLY, anyway," Kuwabara muttered and Yusuke scowled. "Besides, it's like you two are practically married - I don't see what's the big deal if you two just go out for real."
"BECAUSE -" Yusuke began angrily, but then stopped and turned from him in aggravation. "Why am I having this stupid conversation with you again? It's not like it's any of YOUR business." He then started walking away.
"But wait! Urameshi!" Kuwabara called, catching up to him. "Who were those two girls, then?"
"Hmm?" Yusuke paused for a moment of thought. "I don't know."
"Well, are they friends of yours?" Kuwabara interrogated further. He smiled a bit. "They were kind of pretty…"
"They were more like pains in my ass…" Yusuke mumbled. He went to walk again, but Kuwabara suddenly took Yusuke by the arm and spun him around so he could look him directly in the eyes.
"There's something different about you, Urameshi," Kuwabara observed. "You look different."
"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked, slightly nervous.
"I can't put my finger on it exactly but…that scar!" he then declared. "Where'd you get that scar on your forehead, Urameshi?!"
"Oh, that…" Yusuke went to touch it again, but as soon as he placed his finger on it, it burned. He cringed and pulled away, shaking off the pain. Then he shrugged and turned away. "It's nothing, really, Kuwabara," Yusuke answered and then started down the street, leaving a dumbfounded Kuwabara scratching his head in bewilderment.
Coming Attractions:
Momiji: Well, the first Baken-Ai may have been destroyed, but there's still two more and we have no idea where to start looking!
Yusuke: Hey! I thought I told you two not to go looking for trouble!
Serena: We're not! Anyway, in the next episode, the trouble comes looking for us!
Momiji: That's right! But first, I introduce my new friend Serena to my friends at the TAC!
Serena: Aren't introductions exciting?!
Momiji: And Mr. Kunakida takes us out to a really nice place to eat, too!
Serena: Look at all the food!
Yusuke: Well, you two sure know how to waste time.
Serena: You don't do anything that productive, either!
Momiji: But wait, what's this? We're being attacked!
Serena: And it's not a Baken-Ai this time, either! But then what type of monster is it?! And why does it want us dead?!
Momiji: Don't worry, Serena! We're going to get a little help this time!
Serena: Wait! From who?!
Momiji: From Kusanagi, of course!
Yusuke: Did I mention how much I hate that guy?
Momiji: Why must you always be so mean?!
Serena: So stay tuned for the next exciting episode of "What's My Line Again…?," Episode 3...
Momiji: "Introductions! Serena Meets the TAC!"
Serena: Not to mention Yusuke meets Kusanagi! That's one introduction I don't want to miss!
Episode 2: "A New Alliance! A New Mission! A New Mystery!"
Momiji continued to scream, shutting her eyes tightly, as the beast rampaged toward her, raising one of its eight sharp legs and began to bring it down as if a knife ready to stab her. And then, she was suddenly pushed out of the way by a strong force. Blinking her eyes open, Momiji could see she was lying on the ground, the male student sitting over her. Past him, she could see the creature's sharp leg had punctured the pavement in which she had been standing only a moment beforehand.
"What…I…" Momiji stammered in a daze.
"Will you get out of here?!" the student shouted at her. "I don't have time to take care of you!"
"But, I-"
"Hey, Yusuke, or whoever you are!" Serena suddenly exclaimed in warning. "Behind you!" The student - Yusuke - spun around to see the Baken-Ai beast charging for him and Momiji. A sudden fear darted across Yusuke's face and he hastily took Momiji by the hand.
"Run."
"What? Wait!" Momiji cried as Yusuke yanked her off the floor and then began to run to the left as the beast slammed it's legs down on the ground, barely missing them. Then, realizing that it would be too sharp a turn to go after Momiji and Yusuke, decided to chase Serena. Serena let out a scream.
"My briefcase! My briefcase! My briefcase!" she repeated rapidly in a panic. Then, letting out a frightened cry, she turned and began to run from the beast, screaming the word, "HELP!"
"Your briefcase…?" Momiji inquired, not sure what Serena would want it for. She stood stared in bafflement.
"What do you want your school books for?" Yusuke called out to her, cuffing his hands on the sides of his mouth like a megaphone, but she was too busy running from the Baken-Ai to answer. Yusuke dropped his hands to the side and shrugged as Momiji continued to look puzzled. Then, suddenly, Momiji's eyes lit up.
"The wand! That must be it!" She started toward where she left the briefcase.
"Wand…?" Yusuke asked in confusion. Then his eyes went back toward the screaming and pitifully running Serena. He scratched the back of his head with a frown and said, "What an idiot."
Meanwhile, Momiji reached the briefcase. She swiftly picked it up. "Serena!" She then threw it toward Serena with all the strength she had. Unfortunately, it fell short - a couple feet behind her.
"Oh," Serena moaned miserably, grimacing as she stopped and turned back. She bent down and went to open it, but as she did, the Baken-Ai had succeeded in catching up to her. Now, he was almost on top of her.
"What are you doing?!" Yusuke called. "Don't just sit there! Keep running!"
"I KNOW, but -" The Baken-Ai cut her off, swinging its leg at her; Serena went flying into the wall of the school, briefcase included, the briefcase bursting open on impact. Serena winced and whimpered. Then, opening her eyes, she noticed her wand. "My wand!" She went for her wand, crawling on her hands and knees, but the Baken-Ai was advancing violently.
"Serena! Hurry!" Momiji cried desperately. Yusuke scowled and stepped forward.
"Hey! Ugly!" he shouted to the monster. The beast snapped its head around and eyed Yusuke murderously. "That's right! Over here!"
"Do you think I will fall for your weak and pathetic tricks?" the creature hissed. Serena grabbed her wand then and, still on her knees, cried:
"Moon Scepter Elimination!" The beast was hit by a large amount of energy and went flying onto its side, crushing the pavement underneath it. It growled as it got to its feet, blood dripping from its side. Serena looked horrified. "It didn't work?!"
"Damn you, weaklings!" the creature shouted in a snarled voice. "I will be distracted no longer! I must kill the child!"
"No!" Momiji exclaimed and immediately ran in front of the child, arms extended wide in defense. "I won't allow you to hurt him!" The beast, however, was limping, wounded rather badly, as it mad its way toward the child.
"I…must…kill…the child…" it said as it panted, reaching out one of its arms and placing his other hand on its wound.
"No!" Momiji protested still, holding her ground although her face was fearful.
"The blood…" the boy finally spoke, his voice trailing off as it stared at the beast's wound with wide eyes of horror. Momiji suddenly dropped to her knees before him and put her hands on his shoulders sympathetically.
"Now don't be frightened; I'm going to protect you," she assured him, but the boy slowly shook his head in some sort of shock, the first Baken-Ai heading gradually for them.
"It's injured," Yusuke realized now and stared at the still kneeling Serena with a certain awe and disbelief. "That stupid girl did THAT?" He then turned back to the beast with grim eyes; he had a job to do.
"I WILL kill that child!" the beast then declared with all its strength, forcing itself to stand tall and erect as it slugged toward Momiji and the shocked child. Yusuke immediately skidded in front of it, fists raised and ready to fight.
"Hey, Shiko - you got to get through me first!" the beast snarled savagely. Yusuke narrowed his eyes and then charged forward.
"What are you doing?!" Serena exclaimed, finally rising to her feet. "Are you crazy?! You're going to get yourself killed!" But Yusuke simply smirked mischievously and raised his fist.
It was a direct hit. The beast went flying backwards. Serena squealed and jumped out of the way, the Baken-Ai rushing past her and colliding into the school, crushing part of the wall.
"Wow…he's strong…" Momiji commented to herself.
"He is," the boy replied in equal disbelief. Yusuke just laughed and shook his hand a bit.
"And that was one of my lighter punches," he stated cockily. Serena's mouth dropped open as she turned to him sternly.
"This is no laughing matter!" she scolded. "You just destroyed school property! There's a fine for that, you know!" She then whined, "And I'm the one who's probably going to get stuck having to pay for it!"
"Jeez, will you calm down?!" Yusuke shouted angrily. "I'm just doing my job!"
"Well, can't you do it without breaking everything?!" Serena argued, placing her hands on her hips.
"Um, guys…" Momiji then began as she noticed the beast rising to its feet. "It's getting up…"
"Huh?" Both Yusuke and Serena turned to see it crawling toward them on it's eight spider legs. Yusuke then smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"So you still want to fight, huh?"
"You little brat!" Shiko hissed violently, though only holding onto by his last threads of strength. "You will not keep me from killing that child!"
"Fine. Suit yourself," Yusuke stated casually. "I have to kill you either way - orders are orders, you know." Momiji gasped.
"Kill…?" the little boy questioned, as frightened and shocked as Momiji.
The beast then growled in rage, charging for the arrogant Yusuke. Yusuke just flashed a grin and swung his fist again…and again…and again. In fact, both Momiji and Serena couldn't keep up after awhile, Yusuke's punches seeming to travel faster than lightening. And then, with one final swing to the beast's chin, the beast collapsed onto it's back, unable to get to it's feet. Yusuke gave a snicker and then jumped up high in the air, pointing his finger directly at the beast's head.
"Spirit gun!" A light formed on the tip of his finger and suddenly a burst of energy shot from it and toward the beast.
"No!" the child shouted in fright, but it was too late; the Baken-Ai's head exploded on to the pavement.
"Ew!" Serena cried. "That's gross!" Momiji put her hand over her mouth and turned pale at the sight of the blood.
"I think I'm going to be sick." However, she suddenly remembered the boy and turned to the child. He was shaking his head in terror. He cares so much, Momiji thought, even though that monster was going to kill him. And then the boy, noticing Momiji staring, blinked and smiled. He gave a wave and slowly began to vanish out of sight. "Hey! Where are you going?!" Momiji cried, standing up and reaching out for him, but he had already disappeared, as if becoming the air. "Where'd he go…?"
Suddenly, Yusuke let out a scream of pain and both girls turned to him to see him stagger backwards, placing a hand to his forehead and closing his eyes tightly.
"What's wrong with him?" Momiji asked running over to Serena.
"I don't know!" Serena answered frantically. Yusuke let out another painful cry before his body suddenly relaxed and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Yusuke slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times before his blurred vision became focused. He found himself lying on his back looking up at the evening sky and the two girls he met fighting the Baken-Ai, the blonde girl who called herself "Sailor Moon" and the brunette who called the blonde girl "Serena." They both were kneeling beside him, one on each side, staring down at him with much concern. He stared up at them puzzled, first at the brunette, then at the blonde, and then back at the brunette.
"What happened? Where-where are we…?"
"We're still at the school," the brunette answered. "You passed out."
"'Passed out…?'" The brunette nodded.
"For a good half an hour, I'd say. At least." Yusuke groaned and turned his head toward the blonde.
"Serena…or Sailor Moon…or whatever…what happened to that stupid sailor uniform you were wearing?"
"Hey, it's not stupid!" she protested. "And I changed out of it." She then frown and slouched where she sat. "You recognize me without it, too?" She let out a small whine. Yusuke groaned a second time as he began to sit up, placing a hand to his aching forehead. He immediately gasped and pulled his hand away, however, a seething pain burning his skin.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," the brunette informed him. "It still looks pretty sore."
"Sore…?"
"The scar on your forehead."
"Scar?" Yusuke questioned. "I don't have a scar on my forehead."
"You do now," the blonde told him and then pulled out a small mirror. "See?" Yusuke pulled the few strands that fell on his forehead back with his hand and examined the scar that had been mysteriously carved into his skin. He frowned quizzically, not sure what to make of it other than it hurt like hell.
"It kind of looks like the symbol that was on that monster's forehead, don't you think?" the brunette suggested.
"I guess…" Yusuke replied, giving the mirror back to the blonde. "Just who are you two again?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" the brunette apologized. "I'm Momiji! And this is Serena."
"So it's just Serena?" Yusuke asked the blonde.
"I'm only Sailor Moon when I TRANSFORM into her," Serena explained. "And then I have the power of the Moon to help me defend against evil and protect the innocent!"
"Right…and what are you, exactly?" he then asked Momiji.
"Me?"
"Yeah…what was that blue light from before?"
"Oh, that," Momiji replied, and pulled her shirt down a bit so he could see the blue seed. "It's called a blue seed. It usually can only sense when these monsters called Arigami are near, but I guess it can sense other demons, too."
"So that's all you can do? Sense things?" Momiji nodded weakly. "Well, that's pretty useless, isn't it?"
"Hey!" Serena exclaimed in Momiji's defense, giving him a shove in the shoulder. "She can do a lot of other things, too! Like…well, she's the Kushinada! That means she's a princess!"
"'Kushinada?" Yusuke questioned. "So what are you the princess OF then?"
"Well…nothing, really, now that I think about it," Momiji answered with a frown. "It kind of just means that I'm a sacrifice…a sacrifice that would destroy all the Arigami."
"Well, that sounds like a pleasant occupation," Yusuke muttered sarcastically. "Anything else I should know?" Serena grinned widely.
"Well, I don't mean to BRAG or anything," she began, "but I also happen to be a princess myself. Princess of the Moon Kingdom."
"Where's that?" Yusuke asked. Serena's face turned a bit pink as she lowered her head in a bit of embarrassment.
"Uh…it's kind of been destroyed…" she mumbled. Yusuke almost laughed out loud as he got to his feet.
"So, you're princess of nothing -" he gestured toward Momiji - "And you're princess of a destroyed kingdom -" he gestured toward Serena. Then he cracked sarcastically, "That's really something to be proud of." He then shook his head and muttered, "God, my head's killing me…"
Both girls, highly offended, stood up, Momiji angrily putting her hands on her hips and Serena crossing her arms furiously. "Hey! Well, you're not so great yourself!" Momiji insulted him.
"I only killed the Baken-Ai," Yusuke replied in annoyance.
"With MY help!" Serena added feverishly.
"You didn't help."
"Yes, she did!" Momiji argued. "You big jerk!"
"Hey, where'd the Baken-Ai go anyway?" Yusuke asked, looking around the schoolyard. Momiji calmed down a bit then, but Serena remained fuming.
"It just disappeared when you passed out. The kid, too." Momiji explained.
"That's strange…I wonder what it wanted to kill the kid so badly, anyway…" Yusuke trailed off and shrugged. "Well, that's one down, two to go."
"There's two more?!" Serena exclaimed in horror, her anger being replaced by terror.
"Don't worry; I'll handle it," Yusuke replied and turned from them. Both girls looked at each other for a moment, before giving a decisive nod, choosing to follow the strange boy named Yusuke.
"Will you two quit following me?!" Yusuke shouted in frustration as both Momiji and Serena followed him down the street that evening. "Don't you girls have your own life or something? Go home!"
"Not until you tell us who you are and what the Baken-Ai want!" Serena declared and Momiji gave a nod of agreement. Yusuke sighed in exasperation and spun around with a furious look in his eyes that caused both girls to stop with a startled jump and a squeal.
"Fine! Be difficult!" Yusuke shouted. "My name's Yusuke and I'm a spirit detective, all right!"
"Well, we already know that!" Serena exclaimed. "But what IS a spirit detective?"
"I don't know. I just fight demons and the forces of evil and stuff, I guess, or do whatever else I'm assigned to do by this stupid toddler called Koenma - he's Lord of the Spirit World." He sighed. "It's kind of a long story…"
"And the Baken-Ai?" Momiji asked.
"It's my new assignment," he explained. "You see, these three demons called the Baken-Ai are able to rise this really powerful and really evil demon called Torazo. And that's why I have to kill the Baken-Ai. No more Baken-Ai, no evil demon to worry about."
"That kind of makes sense…" Momiji remarked. "And you already killed one of them?" Yusuke nodded.
"I just have to wait for Botan to tell me where the other two are…"
"Who's Botan?" Serena inquired with a sly grin. Yusuke eyed her annoyed.
"Well, aren't we nosy?" he remarked. She stuck her tongue out at him and Yusuke rolled his eyes. "If you really must know, she's one of Koenma's messengers; she gives me my assignments."
"Oh…" Serena replied. She then determinedly stomped her foot on the sidewalk, folded her arms resolutely and lifted her chin with a new sense of purpose. "That settles it!"
"'Settles' what?" Yusuke questioned raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"That we're going to help defeat the Baken-Ai!" Serena declared, putting an arm around Momiji.
"WHAT?!" Yusuke shouted, backing up and cringing. "You can't!"
"Why not?" Momiji asked innocently.
"Because! You'll just get in my way!" Yusuke argued.
"We will not!" Serena argued back, shaking a fist at him. "And you can't stop us from helping! Right, Momiji?"
"Right!" Momiji exclaimed with a nod. "We HAVE to help! It would be wrong for us to just turn our backs on what's right and pretend that nothing bad is happening! Especially with that poor little boy in danger…" She lowered her head in sympathy for the child. Yusuke scoffed. Momiji snapped her head up and looked at him with firm eyes. "And Serena's right! You can't stop us!" Yusuke went to shout something back but then suddenly stopped, noticing the stern look in both Momiji and Serena's eyes. He knew that he was stubborn, but these two seemed just as stubborn as he was; there was no way either girl was backing down. So he sighed and turned away from them.
"FINE…I GUESS you can help if you're around…" Yusuke reluctantly agreed. "But ONLY if you happen to be walking by or something. I don't need you two following me all the time or looking for trouble." Both girls grinned in triumph.
"All right!" they exclaimed and they each giggled, taking a place alongside Yusuke, Momiji on his left and Serena on his right.
"You'll see; we're going to make a great team!" Momiji assured him, taking a puzzled Yusuke by the arm.
"That's right! An awesome trio!" Serena agreed, taking his other arm.
"Now, wait a second!" Yusuke exclaimed a bit fearful. "I didn't say anything about being a team!"
"Urameshi!" an obnoxious voice called out and Yusuke turned as did the two curious girls to see a big red haired man. "Just what do you think you're doing?!"
"Kuwabara…" Yusuke muttered with a sigh.
"You're friends with him?" Momiji asked curiously.
"I guess you could say that…" Yusuke answered.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara shouted again and Yusuke sighed in exasperation.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Yusuke yelled back. He then turned back to the girls. "I've got to go. I'll see you around…" He then pulled his arms from them and ran toward his redhead friend.
"Bye!" Serena called with a wave while Momiji frowned, slightly perplexed.
"Do you think we'll ever see him again?" she asked.
"I'm sure of it!" Serena declared. She then pensively placed a finger to her chin. "Still, he acts so…mysterious…"
"'Mysterious?'" Momiji inquired. "Well, I wouldn't call it that…more like…unfriendly, I guess. I wonder why he's like that…" Serena crossed her arms in a huff.
"I say he's just arrogant!" Both girls then frowned and sighed, dropping their heads in defeat. "I don't think we'll ever understand him…"
"I wouldn't say that, either," Momiji replied with an optimistic smile. "I bet we just have to get to know him a bit better, that's all." Serena smiled in agreement.
"I suppose you're right," she answered. Then, she extended her hand for Momiji. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Momiji."
"Same here, Serena." The two then shook hands.
"I can't believe you, Urameshi!" Kuwabara scolded Yusuke, slapping him upside the head.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Yusuke questioned angrily.
"For cheating on Keiko! With not just one girl, but two!" Yusuke couldn't believe his ears.
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me!" Kuwabara shouted furiously. "And don't try and deny it, either! I saw you with my own eyes!"
"'With your own…'" Yusuke then gasped. "You mean those two stupid girls I was with just now?" Kuwabara nodded vigorously.
"They had you by the arm and everything!" he continued enraged. "How could you be so sleezy?! And to cheat on Keiko of all people! She's the only person who could ever tolerate you and you just cast her aside like she's nothing!"
"Now just hold on a second!" Yusuke protested. "It's not like that at all!" Kuwabara blinked, suddenly confused.
"It isn't?" he asked, his anger subsiding.
"NO!" Yusuke shouted. He exhaled and then decided to explain further. "First of all, me and Keiko are NOT going out. We're…uh…I don't know what we are, but she's not my girlfriend."
"Not OFFICIALLY, anyway," Kuwabara muttered and Yusuke scowled. "Besides, it's like you two are practically married - I don't see what's the big deal if you two just go out for real."
"BECAUSE -" Yusuke began angrily, but then stopped and turned from him in aggravation. "Why am I having this stupid conversation with you again? It's not like it's any of YOUR business." He then started walking away.
"But wait! Urameshi!" Kuwabara called, catching up to him. "Who were those two girls, then?"
"Hmm?" Yusuke paused for a moment of thought. "I don't know."
"Well, are they friends of yours?" Kuwabara interrogated further. He smiled a bit. "They were kind of pretty…"
"They were more like pains in my ass…" Yusuke mumbled. He went to walk again, but Kuwabara suddenly took Yusuke by the arm and spun him around so he could look him directly in the eyes.
"There's something different about you, Urameshi," Kuwabara observed. "You look different."
"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked, slightly nervous.
"I can't put my finger on it exactly but…that scar!" he then declared. "Where'd you get that scar on your forehead, Urameshi?!"
"Oh, that…" Yusuke went to touch it again, but as soon as he placed his finger on it, it burned. He cringed and pulled away, shaking off the pain. Then he shrugged and turned away. "It's nothing, really, Kuwabara," Yusuke answered and then started down the street, leaving a dumbfounded Kuwabara scratching his head in bewilderment.
Coming Attractions:
Momiji: Well, the first Baken-Ai may have been destroyed, but there's still two more and we have no idea where to start looking!
Yusuke: Hey! I thought I told you two not to go looking for trouble!
Serena: We're not! Anyway, in the next episode, the trouble comes looking for us!
Momiji: That's right! But first, I introduce my new friend Serena to my friends at the TAC!
Serena: Aren't introductions exciting?!
Momiji: And Mr. Kunakida takes us out to a really nice place to eat, too!
Serena: Look at all the food!
Yusuke: Well, you two sure know how to waste time.
Serena: You don't do anything that productive, either!
Momiji: But wait, what's this? We're being attacked!
Serena: And it's not a Baken-Ai this time, either! But then what type of monster is it?! And why does it want us dead?!
Momiji: Don't worry, Serena! We're going to get a little help this time!
Serena: Wait! From who?!
Momiji: From Kusanagi, of course!
Yusuke: Did I mention how much I hate that guy?
Momiji: Why must you always be so mean?!
Serena: So stay tuned for the next exciting episode of "What's My Line Again…?," Episode 3...
Momiji: "Introductions! Serena Meets the TAC!"
Serena: Not to mention Yusuke meets Kusanagi! That's one introduction I don't want to miss!