Episode 3: "Introductions! Serena Meets the TAC!"
Yusuke groggily woke up Saturday morning, dragging himself out of bed. His head still ached, but not so much as the day before. He forced himself into the bathroom and leaned over the counter, pushing his hair away from his forehead to examine the scar again. He frowned to see that it was still there and just as vivid as well.
"So…now what?" Yusuke asked out loud as he stared at the strange symbol that seemed to have been burned into his forehead. "You know, I think Momiji may be right; it kind of does look like that symbol the Baken-Ai had on its forehead…" Then, biting his lip, he brought his hand up toward the scar. He hesitated, remembering the last two times he tried touching it, his forehead suddenly felt like it was on fire. But he narrowed his eyes courageously and placed his fingers against it.
Surprisingly, it didn't burn this time. In fact, his skin felt cool against it. He ran his fingers along it, as if trying to solve a puzzle. However, once he realized he solved nothing, he frowned and scrunched his eyebrows in perplexity, dropping both of his hands to the side, his hair falling back over the scar. He sighed. "Well, at least it doesn't hurt anymore…I guess that stupid Baken-Ai decided he wouldn't die before giving me a damn scar as a present." Then, standing up straight, he said, "But today's another day, right?" Sighing once more, he lifted his hair off his forehead once more and pensively stared at himself in the mirror again, studying the scar with hard eyes. "Still, I wish it would go away…" his voice trailed off as he continued examining the image of the scar in the mirror. But all Yusuke could do was frown in dismay.
"I'm going to be late!" Serena cried as she stampeded down the stairs in a panic. Her mother stared at her in puzzlement.
"'Late?'" she questioned her daughter. "What are you going to be late for, honey? Today's Saturday; you don't have school."
"I know, Mom!" Serena exclaimed, gasping for air as she ran passed her mother and began frantically putting her shoes on. "But I promised my new friend Momiji I'd meet her and I'm LATE!"
"'Momiji?'" Serena's mother continued to ask her daughter. "Who's this 'Momiji' girl, Serena?"
"Just a friend I met the other day, Mom! She's the one who found my briefcase!" Serena explained hastily as she hurried toward the door. "I'd tell you more, but like I said, I'm going to be late!"
"Well, don't stay out too late, Serena!" her mother called to her as she left. "And try to call home every couple of hours so I know where you are!" Serena nodded and closed the door behind her. Her mother placed a hand to her chin in thought.
"Momiji, huh?" she asked herself out loud. "Hmm." Then, with a shrug, she returned to her house chores.
Momiji tapped her foot, growing slightly impatient as she waited outside the gates of Crossroads High School for Serena to show up.
"It's been fifteen minutes," she thought out loud, glancing at her watch. She then frowned in despair. "Say if she doesn't plan to show up?" Biting her lip nervously, she stood on her tip-toes in order to gaze over the crowds that passed on the streets, looking in both directions in hopes of seeing Serena. But there was no sign of her. She sighed in defeat as she fell back to her feet. "I guess she doesn't…I guess…" she lowered her eyebrows as her eyes became dejected. Then, as she started slowly walking away, she muttered, "Why am I such a loser…?"
"WAIT!" a familiar voice desperately called out to Momiji and Momiji's dejected eyes now lit up with hope. Hastily, she spun around with a bright smile to see Serena running toward her as fast as she could through the crowd. Then, once she reached her, Serena bent over, placing her hands on her knees and breathing hard.
"I'm sorry…I'm late…" she apologized as she panted.
"It's all right!" Momiji forgave her immediately, just excited to see Serena. "I thought you weren't going to come!"
"Me? No way!" Serena exclaimed, standing up straight. "I just - uh…happen to run late a lot of the time…"
"It does seem like a common trend," Momiji pointed out sympathetically as she recalled her first encounter with her new friend in the supermarket. But then, with an enthusiastic grin, she took Serena's hand. "But, come on! I can't wait for you to meet the TAC!"
"That's right - wait! What does TAC stand for again?" Serena asked, forgetting the answer.
"It stands for Terrestrial Administration Center," Momiji stated proudly. "Now come on!" She gave Serena's arm a yank and the two were off.
"So, you WORK there?" Serena questioned as the two girls reached the TAC building. Momiji nodded. "Working must be really boring! I mean, school's bad enough!"
"Not really…" Momiji commented and paused to think about it. "Actually, I think it's fun! Kind of…fulfilling!" Serena scratched the back of her head with a frown.
"That's funny; that's what Luna tells me about work, too…" As the two entered the building and stepped into the elevator, Serena inquired, "So, who makes up the TAC?"
"Well, lots of people!" Momiji exclaimed, wrapped up in her own excitement, but quickly corrected herself, saying, "Well, not LOTS, but quite a few. Now, let's see - there's me, who you already know, obviously. Then there's Ms. Ryoko, who's really nice and really talented, too, and Ms. Kome, who's a bit intimidating when you first meet her, but she's really a big sweetie once you get to know her. Then there's Mr. Tagashi, who's really smart, but a bit nervous sometimes, and Ms. Matsudera, who's even smarter than Mr. Tagashi. Then, of course, there's Mr. Kunakida. I guess you'd call him the boss."
The elevator doors opened and both Serena and Momiji stepped out. "Here it is!" Momiji declared and opened the door to the TAC office.
Serena cautiously stepped into the office, Momiji eagerly smiling by her side. The office was occupied with three other people that Serena did not know, busily working. However, upon entering, they all stopped what they were doing and stared at Serena.
"Hello, Momiji - who's this?" one of the women asked.
"This is Serena, Ms. Ryoko!" Momiji answered and then clarified, "The girl I was telling you about yesterday!"
"You mean that idiot who lost her briefcase?" the redhead in the pink jumpsuit questioned cynically as she went through her locker. Serena felt her face turn bright red in embarrassment.
"Kome! Don't be mean!" Momiji scolded. She turned to Serena. "Anyway, let me introduce you all to everyone! Serena, this is Ms. Kome, Ms. Ryoko, and Mr. Tagashi! Mr. Kunakida must be in the lab with Ms. Matsudera." Serena smiled awkwardly and waved. "Now let me get my jacket!" She ran to her own locker as Tagashi stepped next to Serena.
"How do you do, Ms. Serena," he replied bashfully, extending his hand for her to shake. She accepted it politely, although a bit warily. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You know, you're a very pretty young girl." Serena's face turned slightly pink and she became tongue-tied. Kome then stepped onto Serena's other side, leaning in to examine Serena's face. Serena let out an "eep!" at the sight of the giant gun in Kome's hand.
"She looks pretty stupid, if you ask me," Kome commented callously. But Serena was too nervous about the gun to be insulted. Instead, she managed to squeak out in a weak and shaky voice:
"That's - uh - a really big gun…"
"Oh, this?" Kome questioned standing up straight and patting the barrel of the gun as she held it up. "This is just kid's stuff, really. Nowhere near the size of a REAL gun." Serena let out a set of nervous chuckles before she felt someone tap her own the shoulders, causing her to nearly let out a startled scream of fright. She spun around hastily to see Momiji standing there with a wide and excited grin in her TAC jacket.
"What do you think?" she asked Serena as she twirled around to show it off.
"It's nice…" Serena answered warily and then, stepping close to Momiji, whispered urgently into her ear, "You know, that girl has a really big gun!" She glanced over at Kome who was now busy polishing it.
"You mean Kome?" Momiji laughed. "That's because she's our weapons expert!" This really didn't ease Serena all that much as she gazed warily at the giant gun.
"Oh…okay, then…" she answered in a trembling voice, standing behind Momiji as if she were some sort of shield.
"Why don't you take your friend to the lab, Momiji?" Ryoko now suggested. "So that she can meet Matsudera and the boss."
"That's right! You still have to meet them!" Momiji exclaimed and eagerly took hold of Serena's arm again. "Come on!"
The two reached the lab to find both Kunakida and Matsudera, Kunakida going over some of the results that Matsudera found on her latest experiments.
"Mr. Kunakida! Ms. Matsudera!" Momiji called excitedly. "There's someone I want you to meet!" With a pull of her arm, she pulled Serena in front of her.
"Hi," Serena awkwardly greeted them.
"Why, hello," Ms. Matsudera politely said, rising and shaking Serena's hand. "You can call me Matsudera. And who might you be?"
"I'm Serena," Serena answered, growing slightly more comfortable.
"Are you a friend of Momiji's from school?" she asked. Serena shook her head.
"Not from school…"
"I met her Thursday!" Momiji chimed in. "She goes to Crossroads High School."
"'Crossroads High School,' huh?" Mr. Kunakida now questioned, stepping forward. "That's nearby, isn't it?" Serena nodded.
"Not too far at all, actually," she answered.
"So how'd you two girls meet then, if not at school," he then asked.
"We met at the supermarket," Momiji began to explain. "She left her school briefcase there and I helped get it back for her. And then she helped me and this boy Yusuke -" Momiji stopped and laughed nervously. "Well, it's - uh - kind of a long story, but let's just say we became good friends fast!" And Serena nodded heartily. Mr. Kunakida eyed her for a moment before bursting into joyous laughter that startled both girls.
"Well, any friend of Momiji's is a friend of mine!" he exclaimed. "Put it there!" He took Serena's hand and shook it vigorously, Serena's whole body being shaken in the process. Momiji laughed happily.
"I knew you'd like her!" she cheered as Kunakida released Serena, who, after being shaken so much, felt a bit dizzy and disorientated and tried to keep her balance.
"Hey, I have a great idea!" Kunakida suddenly cried out excitedly. "How about I take you two girls out to dinner?"
"That sounds like fun!" Momiji agreed. "Right, Serena?" Serena, regaining her senses, blinked a few times in puzzlement, waiting for the conversation to sink in.
"Dinner…?"
Serena's eyes widened in delight as she looked at the menu filled with so many scrumptious meals. She sat on Kunakida's left side at the round table at the restaurant, Momiji on his right. Then, Serena beamed, estatic, and said, "Look at all the food!" she cried excitedly. "There's so much to choose from!"
"You girls can pick out anything you like," Kunakida told them generously. Both girls looked up at him with glinting eyes.
"Really?" they both asked simultaneously. Kunakida grinned and nodded. Their own grins widened. "Thank you, Mr. Kunakida!" They then each eagerly looked back at their menus.
"Now, let's see," Serena began with a greedy look in her ravenous eyes as she scanned the menu and licked her lips in anticipation. "I think I'll have that, that, that, and…that! Oh, and that!" She pointed at each meal she planned to order on the menu. She then raised her pleading eyes to Kunakida. "That is, if that's all right with YOU, Mr. Kunakida, sir. I mean, I don't want to put you out or anything."
Kunakida cringed, glancing over the pricey prices, but reluctantly forced himself to reply, "NO…of COURSE not…like I said, 'anything you like.'" Serena grinned.
"Thanks!"
As soon as their meals arrived (Momiji's and Kunakida's single meals and Serena's five), Serena immediately began voraciously devouring her meals. Momiji and Kunakida watched in disbelief, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"She sure does eat a lot for a small fifteen year old girl…" Kunakida commented in a bit of shock. Momiji gave a stunned nod.
"I'd say," she replied in response. Serena then swallowed hard and grinned.
"This is delicious!" she exclaimed. "But what about desert?!"
"Uh…" Kunakida hesitated as he glanced at the high prices on the menu again. He chuckled nervously. "How about we just get some ice-cream? You know, at an ice-cream shop?" he asked hopefully.
"All right!" Serena agreed with a pleasant grin and then went back to eating. Momiji just laughed and began eating herself.
"Wow," Serena said as she had a taste of her ice-cream and swallowed. "This is good ice-cream." The three stood by the ice-cream cart that evening, the city of Tokyo bustling with people as Momiji and Serena ate their ice-cream.
"I'm glad you like it," Kunakida replied with a gracious smile. He then glanced at his watch. "Well, Ryoko should be here soon. I don't want you two girls to have to hang out with an old fuddy-duddy all night. So you two have fun and enjoy yourselves. When you're done, just call and I'll have Ryoko pick you up."
"All right, Mr. Kunakida," Momiji replied.
"Oh, there she is!" he shouted as Ryoko spotted them and pulled up. As he got in the car, he said, "Bye, girls! Don't stay out too late!"
"We won't!" Momiji called as they drove off. "Bye!"
"She seems like a nice girl," Ryoko commented on Serena as her and Kunakida drove down the city street.
"She is," Kunakida confirmed. "It's nice to see Momiji has a friend her own age to talk with rather than a bunch of old geezer like us, eh, Ryoko?"
"Sir!" she exclaimed, slightly offended both for herself and Kunakida. But then she sighed and smiled thoughtfully. "I suppose it is nice, though." Kunakida's face then turned serious.
"Still, I get the feeling that there's something that Momiji's not telling us…"
"So, what do you want to do now?" Momiji asked Serena as they strolled down the street after finishing their ice-cream. Serena shrugged.
"I don't know," she answered. "Your friends at the TAC are really nice, though. Especially Mr. Kunakida; that dinner he bought us made me stuffed!" Momiji laughed.
"Yeah, Mr. Kunakida's really great. He's like a father to me!"
"Well, he really knows his stuff when it comes to restaurants!" Serena said, patting her stomach. Momiji laughed again, but then strangely stopped walking. "What's wrong?" Serena asked in concern, stopping herself.
"I don't know…this place looks very familiar, that's all," she explained wistfully.
"Hey, it kind of does," Serena agreed.
"I know!" Momiji unexpectedly exclaimed, her eyes widening as the answer suddenly came to her. "This is where we were Thursday when we were following Yusuke! He must live nearby here!"
"Yeah - I think you're right!" Serena then grinned, almost mischievously as they began walking again. "Do you think we'll run into him?"
Momiji shrugged and then inquired, "Do you?"
"Maybe," Serena answered casually. "What do you think he'd say if he saw us tonight?" Momiji smirked a bit herself.
"Oh, he'd probably yell at us and call us mean names again," she replied almost playfully. "Or he'd just ignore us and pretend that we don't even exist." Serena giggled as did Momiji.
"You think so?"
Then, both girls' laughter diminished and grew serious, Momiji saying, "Still, he didn't seem all that bad."
"I guess not," Serena concurred. "Not any worse than Darien when I first met him, anyway."
"'Darien?'" Momiji inquired. Serena's eyes became dreamy as she clasped her hands together.
"Darien!" she repeated breathlessly as if in a daydream. Then, after a few moments of her own silent meditation on the subject she loved best, Serena answered, "He's my boyfriend."
"Wow! You have a boyfriend?!" Momiji asked excitedly and Serena nodded proudly.
"We're destined for each other! Literally!" Momiji became perplexed as she thought about this comment for a moment.
"You mean…like your prince?"
"EXACTLY!" Serena declared. "And not only is he my prince, he even ACTS like one, too! He's sweet and he's smart and he's brave and he's just perfect!" Momiji smiled bitter sweetly and looked at the night sky.
"That sounds so romantic," she said longingly. "I wish I could have a boyfriend like that." She then grimaced bitterly as the image of the crude Kusanagi appeared in her mind. "All I have is Kusanagi and he's not even my boyfriend…and he's definitely no prince, that's for sure!" Serena now became curious.
"Who's Kusanagi?" she asked, but Momiji didn't have time to answer for her blue seed suddenly began glowing. Both girls stopped in their tracks and stared at the strange blue glow. "What is it?"
"I don't know…" Momiji began as she tried to concentrate. "It's not an Arigami…"
"Then it must be one of those Baken-Ai again!" Serena declared, but Momiji shook her head, growing anxious and worried.
"No, that's not it either!" she exclaimed and Serena grew very fearful. She repeated in a serious voice:
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure," Momiji finally answered. "But whatever it is, it doesn't feel good!"
"Which way is it coming from?" Momiji turned about, trying to pinpoint the location. Then, she pointed right.
"That way! It's coming from there…from the park, I think."
"Right! Let's go!" Serena exclaimed determinedly, but Momiji looked doubtful. Serena frowned. "Aren't you coming?"
"Well…didn't Yusuke say we shouldn't go looking for trouble…?" she asked innocently. Serena scoffed.
"Who cares what Yusuke said?"
"I don't know…he might be right. I mean, it's his mission and -"
"But you already said it wasn't a Baken-Ai!" Serena argued.
"I know, but…well, it seems just as strong as one…and even though you helped a bit, he's the one who killed the first Baken-Ai. And I really can't do anything…"
"Don't be so pessimistic! You can do stuff!" Serena insisted.
"Like…?" Momiji asked.
"Well, uh…" Serena frowned, unable to come up with an exact answer and Momiji lowered her head.
"Besides, like I said, Yusuke said we shouldn't go looking for trouble…and I have a funny feeling that it does have something to do with the Baken-Ai…"
"But we're not looking for trouble!" Serena protested earnestly. "You're blue seed's glowing on it's own! That means the trouble's really looking for us!"
"My blue seed…?" Momiji inquired and placed a hand over the illuminated seed. "I guess it would be wrong to turn our backs when we know that there's something dangerous lurking somewhere…" She then gasped. "And that little boy might be in trouble again!" She raised her head, eyes narrowed with courage. "We have to go!" Serena nodded.
"Lead the way!"
Yusuke stood on line outside the movie theater with Keiko, waiting to buy their tickets. He looked rather annoyed as he stood there, a cross look across his face. Keiko looked rather pleasant, however, excited to see the film.
"I can't wait to see it!" Keiko exclaimed happily. "I'm so glad you decided to take me."
"'Decided?'" Yusuke questioned. "More like you FORCED me to take you…"
"Oh, Yusuke! Why do you always have to be such a jerk?" Keiko asked, her face turning sour as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, why do WE have to see this stupid foreign film for? Can't we something where people get blow up or something?" he asked.
"No!" Keiko shouted, offended by even the mentioning of it. "Why would I want to see anything distasteful like that?"
"Well, why would I want to see anything sappy like a stupid foreign film?" he rebutted back.
"It's suppose to be an INTELLECTUAL movie, Yusuke!" she explained in frustration. "You know, something that's supposed to expand your mind!"
"You're supposed to watch movies, not read them," Yusuke muttered, crossing his arms. Keiko turned away.
"Fine - why don't you just sleep through the movie then?" she bitterly questioned.
"Maybe I will!"
"Do you always have to ruin everything?!" she shouted, spinning around and digging a finger into his chest. "You can never just once - huh?" She looked up at him curiously. "Hey, Yusuke - where'd you get that scar from?"
"Oh, this?" Yusuke lifted his hair off of it. "Nowhere really…"
"Well, you had to get it from SOMEWHERE," Keiko persisted. "And it doesn't look like an ordinary scar. It looks kind of like a funny symbol almost…"
"I told you it's nothing," he assured her.
"I thought you said you wouldn't keep any secrets from me anymore?"
"Well…" he trailed off. He then gave her a charming smile. "Don't worry about it, all right? Why don't you just enjoy the movie?" After a moment, Keiko frowned reluctantly and turned from him, folding her arms.
"All right, Yusuke. If you don't want to tell me, fine. But you better tell me EVENTUALLY; I don't want to have to be worrying about you," Keiko agreed although she didn't seem to happy about her decision. Yusuke just smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll get around to telling you…"
Then suddenly, he sensed something drawing near. It's something powerful, he thought. He was just about ready to follow whatever it was when he realized Keiko was by his side. He winced; Keiko noticed this and looked up at him.
"Something wrong?" she asked suspiciously.
"No - I - well…" he stammered. Then, he smiled nervously. "I just remembered I have something to do that's all…"
"Yusuke!" Keiko scolded furiously. "You better not leave me here! You ALWAYS just leave me!"
"I know, but…I'll be back in a second! I promise!" he told her as he began to run off.
"Yusuke! Get back here!" she demanded.
"Just buy the tickets! I'll be back before the movie even starts!" he assured her, although he wasn't very sure himself.
"Yusuke!" She stomped her foot in aggravation, but he was out of sight. She sighed bitterly. "Why does this seem so familiar…?"
Momiji and Serena arrived in the park to see that it was vacant, the night sky covering it in darkness. Both girls glanced fearfully at each other. Then, they gave each other a nod and stepped warily into the park. Momiji's blue seed was glowing faintly now as the walked through the dreary park.
"Do you sense anything still?" Serena asked with a trembling voice. Momiji nodded.
"I just don't know where it's coming from exactly…just somewhere in the park." Serena gripped onto Momiji's shoulder in fear.
"Maybe you were right; maybe we should go back," Serena whispered nervously.
"We can't do that!" Momiji reprimanded in a loud whisper. "What about the evil?! You know, that we have to fight?!" Serena whimpered.
"I know, but…" She let out another whimper. Momiji frowned in dismay, scrunching her eyebrows.
"Well…maybe you should transform or something…" she suggested weakly.
"Right!" Serena agreed, but as soon as she went to transform, but suddenly a voice hissed from the darkness:
"I have come to kill you both." Both girls let out a shriek of fright and clutched onto each other for dear life.
"Where's it coming from?" Serena asked fearfully, voice shaking.
"I don't know!" Momiji squeaked out, equally terrified. She then called out, "Why do you want to kill us?"
"Don't talk to it!" Serena scolded nervously.
"It is your punishment for murdering the first Baken-Ai, Shiko."
"But we didn't kill it!" Serena protested angrily. "That stupid Yusuke was the one who did it!"
"Serena!" Momiji exclaimed in shock.
"Well, it's true!" Momiji's blue seed then suddenly brightened with a brilliant light. Both girls blinked and stared at it.
"Huh…?" From above, a beast with wings soared down and attacked. Momiji and Serena, seeing it rushing for them, each let out a scream of terror.
Yet, surprising, they were both swooped off the ground.
"What's going on?!" Serena cried in a panic, eyes shut tightly.
"Kusanagi!" Momiji declared and Serena opened her eyes to see a handsome man carrying both her and Momiji.
"This is Kusanagi?!"
Kusanagi set them down on the ground with a devious grin. "So, Momiji, who's this cute friend of yours, hmm?" Serena blushed and Momiji smiled.
"This is my friend, Serena. Serena, this is Kusanagi."
"Hey, she's not bad for a kid," Kusanagi replied, looking her over. "I might even consider going out with her; after all, she's filled out better than you."
"Kusanagi! You jerk!" Momiji cried, ready to slap him, but Serena stepped in front of her, red-faced and highly insulted, and slapped him instead.
"Pervert!" she screamed furiously, holding her arm over her chest. "And I already have a boyfriend for your information, you creep!"
"Hey! Is that anyway to treat the guy who just saved your life?" he asked, rubbing his cheek. Serena just crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, she's more immature than you, I can say that much." Serena's face dropped, cheeks turning pink.
"Oh, no! It's coming back!" Momiji shouted as the bird-beast swooped toward them.
"Don't worry, girls. I'll handle this," he told them arrogantly and charged for it.
"Like we can't handle it ourselves," Serena muttered and Momiji frowned. Then, she let out a shrill gasp and cried:
"Duck!" Taking Serena's hand, she quickly pulled them both to the ground, the beast crashing to the ground only a few feet away.
"Now how's THAT for rescuing, huh?" Kusanagi asked with a grin.
"Well, maybe he isn't that bad…" Serena commented. The bird-beast, however, began flapping it's wings and was off the ground again. "Oh, no! It' flying again!" Kusanagi scowled.
"Damn tough, aren't you?" He then looked at Momiji and asked. "What the hell is that thing anyway? It's not an Arigami."
"Uh…I'm not sure exactly…"
"Who cares what it is?! Just kill it!" Serena exclaimed as the bird made another swoop for the girls. Kusanagi made a jump for it, knocking it off of its course and putting Momiji and Serena out of harms way for the moment. But with one violent flap of its wing, the beast flung Kusanagi from it, Kusanagi skidding across the grass.
"Kusanagi!" Momiji cried, rising to her feet, but the gasped at the sight of the horrifying winged creature, it's eyes glowing red and screaming murder.
Yusuke arrived at the park to see both Momiji and Serena as well as a bird-beast looking at them with violent eyes. He sighed in disgust.
"Not those two again…" he muttered to himself. Then reluctantly he said, "I guess I have no choice," and ran toward them. Then, pointing his finger up, he directed his spirit gun at the monster. "Just one shot…spirit gun!" However, his spirit gun missed; not because his aim was off, but because a green-haired man attacked the creature, knocking both the creature and himself to the ground and out of the range of his shot. He growled furiously and shouted, "Just who the hell are you?!"
The green haired man, jumping from the violently flapping beast, turned to him with a bitter look in his eyes. "I could say the same thing to you!"
"Yusuke!" Momiji and Serena both shouted running up to him.
"You mean you know this moron, Momiji?" Kusanagi questioned.
"I'm the moron?!" Yusuke asked feverishly. "You're the one who ruined my shot!"
"Me?!" With a scowl, Kusanagi leapt to him. Meanwhile, Serena was ranting on.
"This demon bird thing just attacks out of nowhere saying it has to kill us because we killed that stupid Baken-Ai the day before and I tried to tell it that it wasn't us - that YOU'RE the one that did it, but it wouldn't-"
"Who are YOU to blame ME for your lousy aim?" Kusanagi interrupted Serena, now only a few feet away and giving Yusuke a look of daggers.
"'My lousy aim?!' It was a perfect shot!" Yusuke protested, enraged.
"It's coming back!" Momiji cried frantically and all four immediately ducked to the ground. As soon as the beast swooped over them, they stood up and resumed their argument.
"I bet I could kill that thing faster than you even with both hands tied behind my back!" Yusuke shouted furiously.
"Well, I bet I could kill that thing faster than YOU with both hands tied behind my back AND blindfolded!" Kusanagi yelled back.
"Well, I bet I could kill it faster than both of you if I could just transform!" Serena cried in frustration.
"Well, it's not our fault that it takes you forever to transform!" Yusuke snapped infuriated and Serena looked ready to clobber him.
"Why you -"
"Duck!" Momiji cried again and all four dropped to the ground once more. As soon as they were out of danger, they quickly rose to their feet, Serena shouting:
"Who are you to say anything to ME?!"
"Maybe we should stop fighting and try and fight the monster that's trying to kill us…" Momiji suggested weakly.
"Shut up!" all three shouted back at her. Kusanagi then sneered at Yusuke.
"Listen, KID, you're out of your league here," he began condescendingly. "So why don't you be a good boy and go home and cry to your mommy or something, all right?" He gave Yusuke a flick on the forehead and then turned, ready to fight the winged-beast. Yusuke's face was consumed with rage.
"'KID?!'" he growled furiously. With a murderous look in his eyes, he went after him and it took both girls to hold him back.
"No, don't, Yusuke!" Momiji cried as she held onto Yusuke's arm, although she didn't seem to be holding him back all too well, both her and Serena being dragged by Yusuke's sheer strength.
"I'm going to kill that stupid punk!" Yusuke shouted and Kusanagi just snickered.
"Just watch how it's done, kid," he said with a sneer and as the bird beast swooped down again, narrowed his eyes. Then, when it was close enough, he gave a swing of his arm, the strange plant blade coming from right elbow slicing the creature's throat. The beast let a horrible screeching noise that caused all four to cover their ears as it flew upward in a painful rage.
"Yeah! That really worked!" Yusuke exclaimed sarcastically over the shrill shrieking of the monster.
"Now what are we going to do?!" Serena cried. "Especially now that that things flying all the way up there!" Yusuke now gave a cocky smirk.
"Well, there's only one way to kill a bird," he began, lowering his hands from his ears and aiming his finger at the shrieking beast that flew in the sky above them. "You shoot it." A burst of energy came from his finger again and went directly for the bird-beast, shooting it right through the chest. It let out one more horrible scream before it fell to the ground, dead. Then, it's body slowly disintegrated into the ground until there was nothing left of it. Yusuke gave a smug grin to Kusanagi. "And you said I had lousy aim!" Kusanagi scowled, shaking his fist angrily, and then scoffed.
"I'm out of here," he replied flatly and disappeared into the night.
"Kusanagi!" Momiji cried out, but it was too late. She sighed and felt herself begin to sulk. "Well…now what…?"
"I thought I told you two to stay out of trouble!" Yusuke now scolded. Serena grimaced annoyed.
"We TRIED to, but the stupid thing went looking for us!" Serena argued. "Well, sort of…but that's not the point! The point is…uh…"
"Who sent this monster to attack us?" Momiji suggested for her friend and Serena nodded. "Was it the Baken-Ai?" Yusuke shrugged.
"Probably…the thing was a pushover, anyway," Yusuke remarked casually.
"Well, thanks, I guess…" Momiji thanked him meekly.
"Yeah…well…don't mention it," Yusuke stated coldly, looking away. "You're lucky I happened to be walking by. That Kusanagi idiot -"
"Yusuke Urameshi!" Yusuke suddenly cringed at the sound of the familiar, very angry voice. Both Serena and Momiji looked puzzled as they stared beyond Yusuke at a brown-haired girl about their age. Yusuke reluctantly turned around.
"Uh…sorry, I -"
"Get over here now!" she demanded furiously and Yusuke, with a look of embarrassment, glanced at the perplexed Momiji and the equally perplexed Serena, and then ran to the fuming brunette. "You didn't think I would follow you, did you?" Serena and Momiji could here her shout as they watched her take Yusuke by the arm and start to drag him out of the park. "I can't believe you would leave me at the movie theater so you could go flirt with two stupid girls!"
"It's not like that -"
"Don't tell me what it's like!" the brunette interrupted.
"Look, I'll take you out tomorrow, all right?" he suggested. "All day."
"You better, Yusuke!" she told him fiercely. "After all I put up with…" The girl's voice slowly trailed off as they disappeared into the distance, leaving both Momiji and Serena very confused.
"I wonder what that was all about," Serena asked in a baffled daze.
"Beats me," Momiji answered just as confused.
"And I wonder who she was…" Both girls sighed, not having a clue in the slightest.
Coming Attractions:
Serena: Of course, with the whole Baken-Ai thing and that attack by that weird bird monster, we still have a lot to figure out! But now there's even a bigger mystery we have to solve!
Momiji: What's that, Serena?
Serena: Who's that girl with Yusuke?!
Momiji: I really don't think this is a good idea…
Serena: But I have to know! Is she his sister?
Yusuke: Don't make me sick.
Serena: Girlfriend, then?
Yusuke: She's NOT my girlfriend!
Serena: Then who is she?!
Yusuke: It's none of YOUR business!
Momiji: She did kind of seem like his girlfriend…does that mean I'm the only one out of the three of us who doesn't have a significant other?!
Serena: Well, there's always Kusanagi!
Yusuke: That stupid ass…
Momiji: Yusuke!
Serena: Anyway, me and Momiji will talk to friends and more just to find out what's the mystery behind Yusuke Urameshi!
Momiji: We really shouldn't spy!
Serena: We're not spying! We're merely observing!
Yusuke: I already told you it's none of your business!
Momiji: Don't you think we should mention we're attacked again?
Serena: Nah! Who cares about that? What I want to know is who that girl was! I need all the juicy details!
Yusuke: Can't you find someone else to harass?!
Serena: So be ready as we try to uncover the secret behind Yusuke Urameshi in the next episode of "What's My Line Again…?," Episode 4: "Spying?! Never! But who's that Mysterious Girl with Yusuke?!"
Yusuke: You know, you two are really starting to get on my nerves…
Yusuke groggily woke up Saturday morning, dragging himself out of bed. His head still ached, but not so much as the day before. He forced himself into the bathroom and leaned over the counter, pushing his hair away from his forehead to examine the scar again. He frowned to see that it was still there and just as vivid as well.
"So…now what?" Yusuke asked out loud as he stared at the strange symbol that seemed to have been burned into his forehead. "You know, I think Momiji may be right; it kind of does look like that symbol the Baken-Ai had on its forehead…" Then, biting his lip, he brought his hand up toward the scar. He hesitated, remembering the last two times he tried touching it, his forehead suddenly felt like it was on fire. But he narrowed his eyes courageously and placed his fingers against it.
Surprisingly, it didn't burn this time. In fact, his skin felt cool against it. He ran his fingers along it, as if trying to solve a puzzle. However, once he realized he solved nothing, he frowned and scrunched his eyebrows in perplexity, dropping both of his hands to the side, his hair falling back over the scar. He sighed. "Well, at least it doesn't hurt anymore…I guess that stupid Baken-Ai decided he wouldn't die before giving me a damn scar as a present." Then, standing up straight, he said, "But today's another day, right?" Sighing once more, he lifted his hair off his forehead once more and pensively stared at himself in the mirror again, studying the scar with hard eyes. "Still, I wish it would go away…" his voice trailed off as he continued examining the image of the scar in the mirror. But all Yusuke could do was frown in dismay.
"I'm going to be late!" Serena cried as she stampeded down the stairs in a panic. Her mother stared at her in puzzlement.
"'Late?'" she questioned her daughter. "What are you going to be late for, honey? Today's Saturday; you don't have school."
"I know, Mom!" Serena exclaimed, gasping for air as she ran passed her mother and began frantically putting her shoes on. "But I promised my new friend Momiji I'd meet her and I'm LATE!"
"'Momiji?'" Serena's mother continued to ask her daughter. "Who's this 'Momiji' girl, Serena?"
"Just a friend I met the other day, Mom! She's the one who found my briefcase!" Serena explained hastily as she hurried toward the door. "I'd tell you more, but like I said, I'm going to be late!"
"Well, don't stay out too late, Serena!" her mother called to her as she left. "And try to call home every couple of hours so I know where you are!" Serena nodded and closed the door behind her. Her mother placed a hand to her chin in thought.
"Momiji, huh?" she asked herself out loud. "Hmm." Then, with a shrug, she returned to her house chores.
Momiji tapped her foot, growing slightly impatient as she waited outside the gates of Crossroads High School for Serena to show up.
"It's been fifteen minutes," she thought out loud, glancing at her watch. She then frowned in despair. "Say if she doesn't plan to show up?" Biting her lip nervously, she stood on her tip-toes in order to gaze over the crowds that passed on the streets, looking in both directions in hopes of seeing Serena. But there was no sign of her. She sighed in defeat as she fell back to her feet. "I guess she doesn't…I guess…" she lowered her eyebrows as her eyes became dejected. Then, as she started slowly walking away, she muttered, "Why am I such a loser…?"
"WAIT!" a familiar voice desperately called out to Momiji and Momiji's dejected eyes now lit up with hope. Hastily, she spun around with a bright smile to see Serena running toward her as fast as she could through the crowd. Then, once she reached her, Serena bent over, placing her hands on her knees and breathing hard.
"I'm sorry…I'm late…" she apologized as she panted.
"It's all right!" Momiji forgave her immediately, just excited to see Serena. "I thought you weren't going to come!"
"Me? No way!" Serena exclaimed, standing up straight. "I just - uh…happen to run late a lot of the time…"
"It does seem like a common trend," Momiji pointed out sympathetically as she recalled her first encounter with her new friend in the supermarket. But then, with an enthusiastic grin, she took Serena's hand. "But, come on! I can't wait for you to meet the TAC!"
"That's right - wait! What does TAC stand for again?" Serena asked, forgetting the answer.
"It stands for Terrestrial Administration Center," Momiji stated proudly. "Now come on!" She gave Serena's arm a yank and the two were off.
"So, you WORK there?" Serena questioned as the two girls reached the TAC building. Momiji nodded. "Working must be really boring! I mean, school's bad enough!"
"Not really…" Momiji commented and paused to think about it. "Actually, I think it's fun! Kind of…fulfilling!" Serena scratched the back of her head with a frown.
"That's funny; that's what Luna tells me about work, too…" As the two entered the building and stepped into the elevator, Serena inquired, "So, who makes up the TAC?"
"Well, lots of people!" Momiji exclaimed, wrapped up in her own excitement, but quickly corrected herself, saying, "Well, not LOTS, but quite a few. Now, let's see - there's me, who you already know, obviously. Then there's Ms. Ryoko, who's really nice and really talented, too, and Ms. Kome, who's a bit intimidating when you first meet her, but she's really a big sweetie once you get to know her. Then there's Mr. Tagashi, who's really smart, but a bit nervous sometimes, and Ms. Matsudera, who's even smarter than Mr. Tagashi. Then, of course, there's Mr. Kunakida. I guess you'd call him the boss."
The elevator doors opened and both Serena and Momiji stepped out. "Here it is!" Momiji declared and opened the door to the TAC office.
Serena cautiously stepped into the office, Momiji eagerly smiling by her side. The office was occupied with three other people that Serena did not know, busily working. However, upon entering, they all stopped what they were doing and stared at Serena.
"Hello, Momiji - who's this?" one of the women asked.
"This is Serena, Ms. Ryoko!" Momiji answered and then clarified, "The girl I was telling you about yesterday!"
"You mean that idiot who lost her briefcase?" the redhead in the pink jumpsuit questioned cynically as she went through her locker. Serena felt her face turn bright red in embarrassment.
"Kome! Don't be mean!" Momiji scolded. She turned to Serena. "Anyway, let me introduce you all to everyone! Serena, this is Ms. Kome, Ms. Ryoko, and Mr. Tagashi! Mr. Kunakida must be in the lab with Ms. Matsudera." Serena smiled awkwardly and waved. "Now let me get my jacket!" She ran to her own locker as Tagashi stepped next to Serena.
"How do you do, Ms. Serena," he replied bashfully, extending his hand for her to shake. She accepted it politely, although a bit warily. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You know, you're a very pretty young girl." Serena's face turned slightly pink and she became tongue-tied. Kome then stepped onto Serena's other side, leaning in to examine Serena's face. Serena let out an "eep!" at the sight of the giant gun in Kome's hand.
"She looks pretty stupid, if you ask me," Kome commented callously. But Serena was too nervous about the gun to be insulted. Instead, she managed to squeak out in a weak and shaky voice:
"That's - uh - a really big gun…"
"Oh, this?" Kome questioned standing up straight and patting the barrel of the gun as she held it up. "This is just kid's stuff, really. Nowhere near the size of a REAL gun." Serena let out a set of nervous chuckles before she felt someone tap her own the shoulders, causing her to nearly let out a startled scream of fright. She spun around hastily to see Momiji standing there with a wide and excited grin in her TAC jacket.
"What do you think?" she asked Serena as she twirled around to show it off.
"It's nice…" Serena answered warily and then, stepping close to Momiji, whispered urgently into her ear, "You know, that girl has a really big gun!" She glanced over at Kome who was now busy polishing it.
"You mean Kome?" Momiji laughed. "That's because she's our weapons expert!" This really didn't ease Serena all that much as she gazed warily at the giant gun.
"Oh…okay, then…" she answered in a trembling voice, standing behind Momiji as if she were some sort of shield.
"Why don't you take your friend to the lab, Momiji?" Ryoko now suggested. "So that she can meet Matsudera and the boss."
"That's right! You still have to meet them!" Momiji exclaimed and eagerly took hold of Serena's arm again. "Come on!"
The two reached the lab to find both Kunakida and Matsudera, Kunakida going over some of the results that Matsudera found on her latest experiments.
"Mr. Kunakida! Ms. Matsudera!" Momiji called excitedly. "There's someone I want you to meet!" With a pull of her arm, she pulled Serena in front of her.
"Hi," Serena awkwardly greeted them.
"Why, hello," Ms. Matsudera politely said, rising and shaking Serena's hand. "You can call me Matsudera. And who might you be?"
"I'm Serena," Serena answered, growing slightly more comfortable.
"Are you a friend of Momiji's from school?" she asked. Serena shook her head.
"Not from school…"
"I met her Thursday!" Momiji chimed in. "She goes to Crossroads High School."
"'Crossroads High School,' huh?" Mr. Kunakida now questioned, stepping forward. "That's nearby, isn't it?" Serena nodded.
"Not too far at all, actually," she answered.
"So how'd you two girls meet then, if not at school," he then asked.
"We met at the supermarket," Momiji began to explain. "She left her school briefcase there and I helped get it back for her. And then she helped me and this boy Yusuke -" Momiji stopped and laughed nervously. "Well, it's - uh - kind of a long story, but let's just say we became good friends fast!" And Serena nodded heartily. Mr. Kunakida eyed her for a moment before bursting into joyous laughter that startled both girls.
"Well, any friend of Momiji's is a friend of mine!" he exclaimed. "Put it there!" He took Serena's hand and shook it vigorously, Serena's whole body being shaken in the process. Momiji laughed happily.
"I knew you'd like her!" she cheered as Kunakida released Serena, who, after being shaken so much, felt a bit dizzy and disorientated and tried to keep her balance.
"Hey, I have a great idea!" Kunakida suddenly cried out excitedly. "How about I take you two girls out to dinner?"
"That sounds like fun!" Momiji agreed. "Right, Serena?" Serena, regaining her senses, blinked a few times in puzzlement, waiting for the conversation to sink in.
"Dinner…?"
Serena's eyes widened in delight as she looked at the menu filled with so many scrumptious meals. She sat on Kunakida's left side at the round table at the restaurant, Momiji on his right. Then, Serena beamed, estatic, and said, "Look at all the food!" she cried excitedly. "There's so much to choose from!"
"You girls can pick out anything you like," Kunakida told them generously. Both girls looked up at him with glinting eyes.
"Really?" they both asked simultaneously. Kunakida grinned and nodded. Their own grins widened. "Thank you, Mr. Kunakida!" They then each eagerly looked back at their menus.
"Now, let's see," Serena began with a greedy look in her ravenous eyes as she scanned the menu and licked her lips in anticipation. "I think I'll have that, that, that, and…that! Oh, and that!" She pointed at each meal she planned to order on the menu. She then raised her pleading eyes to Kunakida. "That is, if that's all right with YOU, Mr. Kunakida, sir. I mean, I don't want to put you out or anything."
Kunakida cringed, glancing over the pricey prices, but reluctantly forced himself to reply, "NO…of COURSE not…like I said, 'anything you like.'" Serena grinned.
"Thanks!"
As soon as their meals arrived (Momiji's and Kunakida's single meals and Serena's five), Serena immediately began voraciously devouring her meals. Momiji and Kunakida watched in disbelief, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"She sure does eat a lot for a small fifteen year old girl…" Kunakida commented in a bit of shock. Momiji gave a stunned nod.
"I'd say," she replied in response. Serena then swallowed hard and grinned.
"This is delicious!" she exclaimed. "But what about desert?!"
"Uh…" Kunakida hesitated as he glanced at the high prices on the menu again. He chuckled nervously. "How about we just get some ice-cream? You know, at an ice-cream shop?" he asked hopefully.
"All right!" Serena agreed with a pleasant grin and then went back to eating. Momiji just laughed and began eating herself.
"Wow," Serena said as she had a taste of her ice-cream and swallowed. "This is good ice-cream." The three stood by the ice-cream cart that evening, the city of Tokyo bustling with people as Momiji and Serena ate their ice-cream.
"I'm glad you like it," Kunakida replied with a gracious smile. He then glanced at his watch. "Well, Ryoko should be here soon. I don't want you two girls to have to hang out with an old fuddy-duddy all night. So you two have fun and enjoy yourselves. When you're done, just call and I'll have Ryoko pick you up."
"All right, Mr. Kunakida," Momiji replied.
"Oh, there she is!" he shouted as Ryoko spotted them and pulled up. As he got in the car, he said, "Bye, girls! Don't stay out too late!"
"We won't!" Momiji called as they drove off. "Bye!"
"She seems like a nice girl," Ryoko commented on Serena as her and Kunakida drove down the city street.
"She is," Kunakida confirmed. "It's nice to see Momiji has a friend her own age to talk with rather than a bunch of old geezer like us, eh, Ryoko?"
"Sir!" she exclaimed, slightly offended both for herself and Kunakida. But then she sighed and smiled thoughtfully. "I suppose it is nice, though." Kunakida's face then turned serious.
"Still, I get the feeling that there's something that Momiji's not telling us…"
"So, what do you want to do now?" Momiji asked Serena as they strolled down the street after finishing their ice-cream. Serena shrugged.
"I don't know," she answered. "Your friends at the TAC are really nice, though. Especially Mr. Kunakida; that dinner he bought us made me stuffed!" Momiji laughed.
"Yeah, Mr. Kunakida's really great. He's like a father to me!"
"Well, he really knows his stuff when it comes to restaurants!" Serena said, patting her stomach. Momiji laughed again, but then strangely stopped walking. "What's wrong?" Serena asked in concern, stopping herself.
"I don't know…this place looks very familiar, that's all," she explained wistfully.
"Hey, it kind of does," Serena agreed.
"I know!" Momiji unexpectedly exclaimed, her eyes widening as the answer suddenly came to her. "This is where we were Thursday when we were following Yusuke! He must live nearby here!"
"Yeah - I think you're right!" Serena then grinned, almost mischievously as they began walking again. "Do you think we'll run into him?"
Momiji shrugged and then inquired, "Do you?"
"Maybe," Serena answered casually. "What do you think he'd say if he saw us tonight?" Momiji smirked a bit herself.
"Oh, he'd probably yell at us and call us mean names again," she replied almost playfully. "Or he'd just ignore us and pretend that we don't even exist." Serena giggled as did Momiji.
"You think so?"
Then, both girls' laughter diminished and grew serious, Momiji saying, "Still, he didn't seem all that bad."
"I guess not," Serena concurred. "Not any worse than Darien when I first met him, anyway."
"'Darien?'" Momiji inquired. Serena's eyes became dreamy as she clasped her hands together.
"Darien!" she repeated breathlessly as if in a daydream. Then, after a few moments of her own silent meditation on the subject she loved best, Serena answered, "He's my boyfriend."
"Wow! You have a boyfriend?!" Momiji asked excitedly and Serena nodded proudly.
"We're destined for each other! Literally!" Momiji became perplexed as she thought about this comment for a moment.
"You mean…like your prince?"
"EXACTLY!" Serena declared. "And not only is he my prince, he even ACTS like one, too! He's sweet and he's smart and he's brave and he's just perfect!" Momiji smiled bitter sweetly and looked at the night sky.
"That sounds so romantic," she said longingly. "I wish I could have a boyfriend like that." She then grimaced bitterly as the image of the crude Kusanagi appeared in her mind. "All I have is Kusanagi and he's not even my boyfriend…and he's definitely no prince, that's for sure!" Serena now became curious.
"Who's Kusanagi?" she asked, but Momiji didn't have time to answer for her blue seed suddenly began glowing. Both girls stopped in their tracks and stared at the strange blue glow. "What is it?"
"I don't know…" Momiji began as she tried to concentrate. "It's not an Arigami…"
"Then it must be one of those Baken-Ai again!" Serena declared, but Momiji shook her head, growing anxious and worried.
"No, that's not it either!" she exclaimed and Serena grew very fearful. She repeated in a serious voice:
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure," Momiji finally answered. "But whatever it is, it doesn't feel good!"
"Which way is it coming from?" Momiji turned about, trying to pinpoint the location. Then, she pointed right.
"That way! It's coming from there…from the park, I think."
"Right! Let's go!" Serena exclaimed determinedly, but Momiji looked doubtful. Serena frowned. "Aren't you coming?"
"Well…didn't Yusuke say we shouldn't go looking for trouble…?" she asked innocently. Serena scoffed.
"Who cares what Yusuke said?"
"I don't know…he might be right. I mean, it's his mission and -"
"But you already said it wasn't a Baken-Ai!" Serena argued.
"I know, but…well, it seems just as strong as one…and even though you helped a bit, he's the one who killed the first Baken-Ai. And I really can't do anything…"
"Don't be so pessimistic! You can do stuff!" Serena insisted.
"Like…?" Momiji asked.
"Well, uh…" Serena frowned, unable to come up with an exact answer and Momiji lowered her head.
"Besides, like I said, Yusuke said we shouldn't go looking for trouble…and I have a funny feeling that it does have something to do with the Baken-Ai…"
"But we're not looking for trouble!" Serena protested earnestly. "You're blue seed's glowing on it's own! That means the trouble's really looking for us!"
"My blue seed…?" Momiji inquired and placed a hand over the illuminated seed. "I guess it would be wrong to turn our backs when we know that there's something dangerous lurking somewhere…" She then gasped. "And that little boy might be in trouble again!" She raised her head, eyes narrowed with courage. "We have to go!" Serena nodded.
"Lead the way!"
Yusuke stood on line outside the movie theater with Keiko, waiting to buy their tickets. He looked rather annoyed as he stood there, a cross look across his face. Keiko looked rather pleasant, however, excited to see the film.
"I can't wait to see it!" Keiko exclaimed happily. "I'm so glad you decided to take me."
"'Decided?'" Yusuke questioned. "More like you FORCED me to take you…"
"Oh, Yusuke! Why do you always have to be such a jerk?" Keiko asked, her face turning sour as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, why do WE have to see this stupid foreign film for? Can't we something where people get blow up or something?" he asked.
"No!" Keiko shouted, offended by even the mentioning of it. "Why would I want to see anything distasteful like that?"
"Well, why would I want to see anything sappy like a stupid foreign film?" he rebutted back.
"It's suppose to be an INTELLECTUAL movie, Yusuke!" she explained in frustration. "You know, something that's supposed to expand your mind!"
"You're supposed to watch movies, not read them," Yusuke muttered, crossing his arms. Keiko turned away.
"Fine - why don't you just sleep through the movie then?" she bitterly questioned.
"Maybe I will!"
"Do you always have to ruin everything?!" she shouted, spinning around and digging a finger into his chest. "You can never just once - huh?" She looked up at him curiously. "Hey, Yusuke - where'd you get that scar from?"
"Oh, this?" Yusuke lifted his hair off of it. "Nowhere really…"
"Well, you had to get it from SOMEWHERE," Keiko persisted. "And it doesn't look like an ordinary scar. It looks kind of like a funny symbol almost…"
"I told you it's nothing," he assured her.
"I thought you said you wouldn't keep any secrets from me anymore?"
"Well…" he trailed off. He then gave her a charming smile. "Don't worry about it, all right? Why don't you just enjoy the movie?" After a moment, Keiko frowned reluctantly and turned from him, folding her arms.
"All right, Yusuke. If you don't want to tell me, fine. But you better tell me EVENTUALLY; I don't want to have to be worrying about you," Keiko agreed although she didn't seem to happy about her decision. Yusuke just smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll get around to telling you…"
Then suddenly, he sensed something drawing near. It's something powerful, he thought. He was just about ready to follow whatever it was when he realized Keiko was by his side. He winced; Keiko noticed this and looked up at him.
"Something wrong?" she asked suspiciously.
"No - I - well…" he stammered. Then, he smiled nervously. "I just remembered I have something to do that's all…"
"Yusuke!" Keiko scolded furiously. "You better not leave me here! You ALWAYS just leave me!"
"I know, but…I'll be back in a second! I promise!" he told her as he began to run off.
"Yusuke! Get back here!" she demanded.
"Just buy the tickets! I'll be back before the movie even starts!" he assured her, although he wasn't very sure himself.
"Yusuke!" She stomped her foot in aggravation, but he was out of sight. She sighed bitterly. "Why does this seem so familiar…?"
Momiji and Serena arrived in the park to see that it was vacant, the night sky covering it in darkness. Both girls glanced fearfully at each other. Then, they gave each other a nod and stepped warily into the park. Momiji's blue seed was glowing faintly now as the walked through the dreary park.
"Do you sense anything still?" Serena asked with a trembling voice. Momiji nodded.
"I just don't know where it's coming from exactly…just somewhere in the park." Serena gripped onto Momiji's shoulder in fear.
"Maybe you were right; maybe we should go back," Serena whispered nervously.
"We can't do that!" Momiji reprimanded in a loud whisper. "What about the evil?! You know, that we have to fight?!" Serena whimpered.
"I know, but…" She let out another whimper. Momiji frowned in dismay, scrunching her eyebrows.
"Well…maybe you should transform or something…" she suggested weakly.
"Right!" Serena agreed, but as soon as she went to transform, but suddenly a voice hissed from the darkness:
"I have come to kill you both." Both girls let out a shriek of fright and clutched onto each other for dear life.
"Where's it coming from?" Serena asked fearfully, voice shaking.
"I don't know!" Momiji squeaked out, equally terrified. She then called out, "Why do you want to kill us?"
"Don't talk to it!" Serena scolded nervously.
"It is your punishment for murdering the first Baken-Ai, Shiko."
"But we didn't kill it!" Serena protested angrily. "That stupid Yusuke was the one who did it!"
"Serena!" Momiji exclaimed in shock.
"Well, it's true!" Momiji's blue seed then suddenly brightened with a brilliant light. Both girls blinked and stared at it.
"Huh…?" From above, a beast with wings soared down and attacked. Momiji and Serena, seeing it rushing for them, each let out a scream of terror.
Yet, surprising, they were both swooped off the ground.
"What's going on?!" Serena cried in a panic, eyes shut tightly.
"Kusanagi!" Momiji declared and Serena opened her eyes to see a handsome man carrying both her and Momiji.
"This is Kusanagi?!"
Kusanagi set them down on the ground with a devious grin. "So, Momiji, who's this cute friend of yours, hmm?" Serena blushed and Momiji smiled.
"This is my friend, Serena. Serena, this is Kusanagi."
"Hey, she's not bad for a kid," Kusanagi replied, looking her over. "I might even consider going out with her; after all, she's filled out better than you."
"Kusanagi! You jerk!" Momiji cried, ready to slap him, but Serena stepped in front of her, red-faced and highly insulted, and slapped him instead.
"Pervert!" she screamed furiously, holding her arm over her chest. "And I already have a boyfriend for your information, you creep!"
"Hey! Is that anyway to treat the guy who just saved your life?" he asked, rubbing his cheek. Serena just crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, she's more immature than you, I can say that much." Serena's face dropped, cheeks turning pink.
"Oh, no! It's coming back!" Momiji shouted as the bird-beast swooped toward them.
"Don't worry, girls. I'll handle this," he told them arrogantly and charged for it.
"Like we can't handle it ourselves," Serena muttered and Momiji frowned. Then, she let out a shrill gasp and cried:
"Duck!" Taking Serena's hand, she quickly pulled them both to the ground, the beast crashing to the ground only a few feet away.
"Now how's THAT for rescuing, huh?" Kusanagi asked with a grin.
"Well, maybe he isn't that bad…" Serena commented. The bird-beast, however, began flapping it's wings and was off the ground again. "Oh, no! It' flying again!" Kusanagi scowled.
"Damn tough, aren't you?" He then looked at Momiji and asked. "What the hell is that thing anyway? It's not an Arigami."
"Uh…I'm not sure exactly…"
"Who cares what it is?! Just kill it!" Serena exclaimed as the bird made another swoop for the girls. Kusanagi made a jump for it, knocking it off of its course and putting Momiji and Serena out of harms way for the moment. But with one violent flap of its wing, the beast flung Kusanagi from it, Kusanagi skidding across the grass.
"Kusanagi!" Momiji cried, rising to her feet, but the gasped at the sight of the horrifying winged creature, it's eyes glowing red and screaming murder.
Yusuke arrived at the park to see both Momiji and Serena as well as a bird-beast looking at them with violent eyes. He sighed in disgust.
"Not those two again…" he muttered to himself. Then reluctantly he said, "I guess I have no choice," and ran toward them. Then, pointing his finger up, he directed his spirit gun at the monster. "Just one shot…spirit gun!" However, his spirit gun missed; not because his aim was off, but because a green-haired man attacked the creature, knocking both the creature and himself to the ground and out of the range of his shot. He growled furiously and shouted, "Just who the hell are you?!"
The green haired man, jumping from the violently flapping beast, turned to him with a bitter look in his eyes. "I could say the same thing to you!"
"Yusuke!" Momiji and Serena both shouted running up to him.
"You mean you know this moron, Momiji?" Kusanagi questioned.
"I'm the moron?!" Yusuke asked feverishly. "You're the one who ruined my shot!"
"Me?!" With a scowl, Kusanagi leapt to him. Meanwhile, Serena was ranting on.
"This demon bird thing just attacks out of nowhere saying it has to kill us because we killed that stupid Baken-Ai the day before and I tried to tell it that it wasn't us - that YOU'RE the one that did it, but it wouldn't-"
"Who are YOU to blame ME for your lousy aim?" Kusanagi interrupted Serena, now only a few feet away and giving Yusuke a look of daggers.
"'My lousy aim?!' It was a perfect shot!" Yusuke protested, enraged.
"It's coming back!" Momiji cried frantically and all four immediately ducked to the ground. As soon as the beast swooped over them, they stood up and resumed their argument.
"I bet I could kill that thing faster than you even with both hands tied behind my back!" Yusuke shouted furiously.
"Well, I bet I could kill that thing faster than YOU with both hands tied behind my back AND blindfolded!" Kusanagi yelled back.
"Well, I bet I could kill it faster than both of you if I could just transform!" Serena cried in frustration.
"Well, it's not our fault that it takes you forever to transform!" Yusuke snapped infuriated and Serena looked ready to clobber him.
"Why you -"
"Duck!" Momiji cried again and all four dropped to the ground once more. As soon as they were out of danger, they quickly rose to their feet, Serena shouting:
"Who are you to say anything to ME?!"
"Maybe we should stop fighting and try and fight the monster that's trying to kill us…" Momiji suggested weakly.
"Shut up!" all three shouted back at her. Kusanagi then sneered at Yusuke.
"Listen, KID, you're out of your league here," he began condescendingly. "So why don't you be a good boy and go home and cry to your mommy or something, all right?" He gave Yusuke a flick on the forehead and then turned, ready to fight the winged-beast. Yusuke's face was consumed with rage.
"'KID?!'" he growled furiously. With a murderous look in his eyes, he went after him and it took both girls to hold him back.
"No, don't, Yusuke!" Momiji cried as she held onto Yusuke's arm, although she didn't seem to be holding him back all too well, both her and Serena being dragged by Yusuke's sheer strength.
"I'm going to kill that stupid punk!" Yusuke shouted and Kusanagi just snickered.
"Just watch how it's done, kid," he said with a sneer and as the bird beast swooped down again, narrowed his eyes. Then, when it was close enough, he gave a swing of his arm, the strange plant blade coming from right elbow slicing the creature's throat. The beast let a horrible screeching noise that caused all four to cover their ears as it flew upward in a painful rage.
"Yeah! That really worked!" Yusuke exclaimed sarcastically over the shrill shrieking of the monster.
"Now what are we going to do?!" Serena cried. "Especially now that that things flying all the way up there!" Yusuke now gave a cocky smirk.
"Well, there's only one way to kill a bird," he began, lowering his hands from his ears and aiming his finger at the shrieking beast that flew in the sky above them. "You shoot it." A burst of energy came from his finger again and went directly for the bird-beast, shooting it right through the chest. It let out one more horrible scream before it fell to the ground, dead. Then, it's body slowly disintegrated into the ground until there was nothing left of it. Yusuke gave a smug grin to Kusanagi. "And you said I had lousy aim!" Kusanagi scowled, shaking his fist angrily, and then scoffed.
"I'm out of here," he replied flatly and disappeared into the night.
"Kusanagi!" Momiji cried out, but it was too late. She sighed and felt herself begin to sulk. "Well…now what…?"
"I thought I told you two to stay out of trouble!" Yusuke now scolded. Serena grimaced annoyed.
"We TRIED to, but the stupid thing went looking for us!" Serena argued. "Well, sort of…but that's not the point! The point is…uh…"
"Who sent this monster to attack us?" Momiji suggested for her friend and Serena nodded. "Was it the Baken-Ai?" Yusuke shrugged.
"Probably…the thing was a pushover, anyway," Yusuke remarked casually.
"Well, thanks, I guess…" Momiji thanked him meekly.
"Yeah…well…don't mention it," Yusuke stated coldly, looking away. "You're lucky I happened to be walking by. That Kusanagi idiot -"
"Yusuke Urameshi!" Yusuke suddenly cringed at the sound of the familiar, very angry voice. Both Serena and Momiji looked puzzled as they stared beyond Yusuke at a brown-haired girl about their age. Yusuke reluctantly turned around.
"Uh…sorry, I -"
"Get over here now!" she demanded furiously and Yusuke, with a look of embarrassment, glanced at the perplexed Momiji and the equally perplexed Serena, and then ran to the fuming brunette. "You didn't think I would follow you, did you?" Serena and Momiji could here her shout as they watched her take Yusuke by the arm and start to drag him out of the park. "I can't believe you would leave me at the movie theater so you could go flirt with two stupid girls!"
"It's not like that -"
"Don't tell me what it's like!" the brunette interrupted.
"Look, I'll take you out tomorrow, all right?" he suggested. "All day."
"You better, Yusuke!" she told him fiercely. "After all I put up with…" The girl's voice slowly trailed off as they disappeared into the distance, leaving both Momiji and Serena very confused.
"I wonder what that was all about," Serena asked in a baffled daze.
"Beats me," Momiji answered just as confused.
"And I wonder who she was…" Both girls sighed, not having a clue in the slightest.
Coming Attractions:
Serena: Of course, with the whole Baken-Ai thing and that attack by that weird bird monster, we still have a lot to figure out! But now there's even a bigger mystery we have to solve!
Momiji: What's that, Serena?
Serena: Who's that girl with Yusuke?!
Momiji: I really don't think this is a good idea…
Serena: But I have to know! Is she his sister?
Yusuke: Don't make me sick.
Serena: Girlfriend, then?
Yusuke: She's NOT my girlfriend!
Serena: Then who is she?!
Yusuke: It's none of YOUR business!
Momiji: She did kind of seem like his girlfriend…does that mean I'm the only one out of the three of us who doesn't have a significant other?!
Serena: Well, there's always Kusanagi!
Yusuke: That stupid ass…
Momiji: Yusuke!
Serena: Anyway, me and Momiji will talk to friends and more just to find out what's the mystery behind Yusuke Urameshi!
Momiji: We really shouldn't spy!
Serena: We're not spying! We're merely observing!
Yusuke: I already told you it's none of your business!
Momiji: Don't you think we should mention we're attacked again?
Serena: Nah! Who cares about that? What I want to know is who that girl was! I need all the juicy details!
Yusuke: Can't you find someone else to harass?!
Serena: So be ready as we try to uncover the secret behind Yusuke Urameshi in the next episode of "What's My Line Again…?," Episode 4: "Spying?! Never! But who's that Mysterious Girl with Yusuke?!"
Yusuke: You know, you two are really starting to get on my nerves…