Episode 11: "The Same Strange Symbol! The Second Baken-Ai Appears! Serena…quits school?!"
Ms. Haruna shook her head as she handed Serena back her test. "Serena, with grades like this you're never going to pass this year."
Serena grimaced and looked down at her test. Thirty seven?! she thought in shock, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets at the grade in red ink. She then groaned and slumped into her seat, feeling horribly dejected.
"Well, Serena, maybe you should study more," Amy told her friend at lunch.
"But I DO study, Amy!" Serena insisted, folding her arms. She then muttered, "at least, I try to…"
Amy frowned. "I think you just have to try and focus a bit more…"
Serena just let out a sigh.
"You got a thirty-seven?" Raye questioned in disgust after school as she swept outside the shrine. "How could you get a thirty-seven?"
Serena frowned in her own self-pity. "Well…"
"Jeez, Serena! You really have to learn how to be more responsibility and study once and awhile!" Raye continued to scold. "It has to be because you're irresponsible; no one can be THAT stupid."
Serena gave Raye a cross look, but said nothing.
"Well, Serena, I'd help you study," Darien began as he and Serena walked down the street together, "But the last time I tried to you fell asleep while I was lecturing."
"I KNOW, Darien," Serena began to argue, "and I'm sorry, but I promise I won't do it again! It was just that the last topic we were studying was SO boring…"
"Serena, that's what the test you just failed was on," Darien pointed out.
"I know…" Serena mumbled. "But that doesn't mean it wasn't boring…"
"Well, even if it is boring you're going to have to learn it if you want to pass."
"I know, Darien!" Serena exclaimed, clasping onto Darien's hand. "That why you have to help me study!"
"Serena, no offense, but I think I distract you more than anything else," Darien began with a frown. "You always end up wanting to go on a date or something instead of actually studying."
Serena cringed in dismay. "Well…" She let out a sigh of defeat. "I guess you're right, Darien. But what am I going to do? If I keep failing…"
"I'm sure you'll think of something, Serena," Darien answered, but Serena was still filled with despair.
"I've never seen such a lazy girl in all my life," Luna was scolding as Serena was trying her best focus on her studies as she sat at her desk in her bedroom. "A thirty-seven! How pathetic, Serena."
"You're not helping, Luna," Serena stated bitterly. She then let out a groan and leaned back in her seat. "This is so boring!"
"It isn't boring; it's your attitude that makes it boring," Luna reprimanded. "If you tried to be interested in what you were learning, then maybe you'd-" Serena cut her off with a loud yawn. "Serena! Are you even listening to me?!"
"Yeah, yeah, Luna," Serena brushed her off reaching for her phone.
"Now what do you think you're doing, Serena?" Luna questioned. "I thought you had to study."
"I know, Luna…I'm just calling Momiji…" Luna sighed in aggravation, but Serena ignored her and proceeded in calling her friend.
"Hello, Momiji speaking. May I ask who's calling?" Momiji picked up in her usual perky cheer.
"Hi, Momiji," Serena answered glumly. "It's Serena."
Momiji frowned. "Serena? What's wrong? You sound down."
"I just did badly on one of my tests today…"
"Oh…" Momiji trailed off. Then, she said optimistically, "Well, I'm sure you didn't do THAT bad."
"I got a thirty-seven."
"Oh," Momiji replied trying not to cringe. "Well, a thirty seven isn't TOO bad…" she lied, trying to cheer up her friend.
"What am I going to do?!" Serena sulked. "Miss Haruna said that if my grades stay this way I won't pass!"
"I don't know, Serena…" Momiji answered sadly. "Maybe you could try studying a little more?"
"But that just won't work! It's all so hopeless!"
Luna sighed as she listened, mumbling sarcastically, "Yes, complain, Serena, because that's so productive." Serena shot her a dirty look, but said nothing.
"Well, Serena, there must be SOMETHING you can do…" Momiji tried to reason, feeling pity for her poor, despairing friend.
"That's it!" Serena then suddenly declared. "I'm going to give up on school! Live life without any restrictions! Become a delinquent! Like…like Yusuke!"
"What?!" Momiji exclaimed. She then calmed down a bit and said, "What I mean is…um…don't you think that quitting school is a bit…harsh?"
"Yusuke has so why can't I?" Serena questioned.
"Well, Yusuke really hasn't quit school exactly."
"Besides, I need my freedom!"
"I can't believe it," Luna muttered. "The girl has gone completely bonkers."
"But, Serena," Momiji continued to attempt to reason, "what would your parents say?"
"They don't have to know!" Serena insisted.
"But don't you think they'll find out anyway…?" Momiji asked, but Serena didn't bother to answer.
"Tomorrow, be prepared for an all-new Serena!" Serena exclaimed, rising to her feet.
"All-new…?" Momiji inquired warily.
"This Serena's going to be a butt-kicking, tough Serena! A Serena who doesn't need school!"
"But, Serena, how can you be tough if you're just running away from your problems, like your failing grades?" Momiji asked.
"That's not the point, Momiji!" Serena insisted. "The point is that I'm going to live life like Yusuke lives life: free!"
"I guess so…" Momiji reluctantly agreed.
Serena then looked at her clock. "Oh, I have to go, Momiji! It's getting late and I have to be up early for school tomorrow!"
Momiji frowned in perplexity. "But, Serena, didn't you just say you weren't going to school anymore?"
"Oh…right," Serena realized. "But I still have to be up early anyway!"
"Why is that?"
"I have to get up early as to NOT go to school."
"What?"
"You know, so I can wander around and avoid school and do other delinquent things, you know?"
"Sort of…" Momiji trailed off, still a bit confused.
"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow, Momiji!"
"Okay…bye, Serena." Momiji then hung up the phone, frowning and very baffled.
Someone had been following Yusuke. He knew it right away, ever since he had started walking toward school that morning. Yusuke scowled bitterly, noticing that the pest wasn't going to go away. He was also annoyed by the fact that the idiot thought that she could fool him; that he wouldn't realize that she was a few feet behind him, marching along as if she were pretending to be tough. Yusuke, finally losing his patience, spun around and shouted, "Why the hell are you following me?!"
Serena nearly jumped out of her skin, dropping her briefcase on the ground. Face red, she quickly picked it up and stood up straight. "I'm not following you," she replied, although she was obviously lying.
"Yes, you are," Yusuke argued. "Don't you have to be in school or something?"
"No," Serena stated, crossing her arms. "I quit school."
"You what? When?"
"Yesterday," she answered curtly. Yusuke shook his head.
"You idiot; will you just go to class now? I mean, you're already dressed for it," he said, noting her school uniform.
"I'm being serious!" Serena insisted, marching over to him. "I quit school!"
"And WHY did you do that again?"
"Because I failed a test," Serena explained.
"Because you failed a test?" Yusuke questioned and then let out a spiteful chuckle. "Just go to school, Serena." He then turned to walk away.
"Yusuke!" Serena protested, grabbing onto his arm. "I am NOT going to school! I am going to live a life of freedom! Like you do!"
"Me?"
Serena nodded. "Yes! That's why I'm…observing you! So I can see what I'm supposed to do as a delinquent!"
"I'm NOT a delinquent!" Yusuke exclaimed, ripping his arm from her. "Now will you just go to school or go home or something?" He then began walking, shoving his hands in his pockets. Serena did the same thing, shoving her hands in her pocket and walking hunched over as he did. Yusuke could feel his right eye twitching. He halted. She did the same. Through gritted teeth, he said angrily, "SERENA."
"What? What?" Serena questioned, feigning innocence.
"Will you stop following me?!"
"I'm not following you!" Serena argued. "I'm observing!"
Yusuke clenched his fists and turned around. "Then stop 'observing' me!" he shouted. Serena frowned.
"But then how else am I supposed to figure out what I'm supposed to do as a delinquent?"
"I said I'm not an delinquent!" Yusuke exclaimed in frustration. Then, he added in aggravation, pointing a finger hard into her chest. "Don't you have your own stupid life? Quit copying mine!" He then turned from her and began walking away in a huff. Serena, copied his frustrated glare and pointed at the air, imitating just what he had done to her. Then, noticing he was fading into the crowd, she let out an "eep" and quickly ran to catch up to him, unfortunately slamming into him.
"Serena!" Yusuke exclaimed furiously, turning to her with hands raised as if ready to strangle her while she rubbed her shoulder in a great deal of pain. "I swear to God, if you don't get out of here and leave me alone, I'm going to-"
"So where are we going now anyway?" Serena obliviously cut him off and Yusuke let out a furious sigh.
"WE aren't going anywhere," Yusuke fiercely told her. "I'M…well, I don't know where I'm going, but as of now I know it's nowhere with you."
"But!" Serena protested.
"No buts, Serena!" Yusuke refuted her. "Now go to school! Your OWN school, not mine." He then sighed, shaking his head as he turned from her. He mumbled to himself, "I guess I ought to be going to school, too…eventually. Otherwise Keiko will kill me…"
"But, you're not supposed to go to school!" Serena exclaimed, overhearing him. "You're a delinquent!"
"SERENA," Yusuke began through gritted teeth, his patience wearing thin. "I already told you, I'm NOT a delinquent. Now go home!" He pointed his hand in the direction which she came from and eyed her sternly. Serena frowned and let out a whimper.
"But-"
"GO!" Serena turned, sulking, ready to leave as Yusuke started to smile, proud of his victory over the blond girl. However, his victory didn't last too long for suddenly Serena's pout became a scowl and she turned back to him, arms crossed and eyeing him severely.
"You can't make me go!" she exclaimed. "I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me! You know why? Because I'm FREE now!"
Yusuke gave her look of disgust. "Free? You keep saying that. What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know! Like you!" Serena exclaimed with a grin. "Free to do whatever I want, without school to hold me back! Free to become the all-new, tough, butt-kicking Serena!"
Shaking his head, Yusuke muttered, "You are such an idiot, Serena," and began walking away.
"Hey!" Serena protested, placing her hands on her hips. Then, realizing he was walking away again, she cried, "Wait, Yusuke!" Finally catching up to him and latching onto his arm, Yusuke's eyebrow beginning to twitch, she asked, "so where are we going again?"
Yusuke pulled his arm from her and said, "I said you're not coming with me."
"Well, I said I am!"
Yusuke let out an aggravated sigh. "Fine, whatever. I don't care anymore." He then gave her a cruel grin, a devious idea coming to his eyes. "But I'M going to school."
Serena stopped in a disappointed confusion, crying, "What?! But you can't do that!"
"Oh, yes I can!" he called back to her.
"But! That's not fair!"
"Well, that sucks for you then," he said with a callous shrug and then sarcastically added, "Have fun with that new found freedom of yours."
Serena glared at him as he walked away, furiously growling. "Ooh! I'll show him!"
No one, students and teachers alike, could believe their eyes when they saw Yusuke Urameshi walk into the schoolyard ten minutes before homeroom had begun. He was scowling, hands shoved in his pocket and eyebrow twitching as he plodded in, all eyes set on him in surprise. However, they were even more shocked to see a blond girl in pigtails and wearing a school uniform from a different school follow in after him; unfortunately his plan had not worked. In fact, it seemed to only fuel Serena more, determination glowing in her face as she marched along, head raised high in victory. Everyone began murmuring to each other, not sure what to make of the two, and Yusuke found himself growing even more irritated.
It was his teacher, Mr. Takenaka, that was the first brave soul to come up to Yusuke and stop him. He looked at Yusuke in puzzlement and said, "You're…you're here on time. Not only that, but you're even a little early."
"Yeah, whatever…" Yusuke grumbled. "It's no big deal…"
He went to walk away, but now Mr. Takenaka was grinning and give him a pat on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Yusuke. You seem to be making a real turn around." Yusuke was trying his best not to lose his temper when Mr. Takenaka noticed Serena walking toward them. "Excuse me…miss? What are you doing here? You don't go here."
"Well-"
"I'm out of here," Yusuke muttered, brushing past Mr. Takenaka and heading toward the school once more.
"Wait, Yusuke!" Serena called, and began to run after him, but Mr. Takenaka stepped in front of her.
"I'm sorry, miss, but you can't just-"
"Don't worry," Serena cut him off with a smile, "I'm with him."
"But-" Before Mr. Takenaka could question her further, Serena had already run past him and had caught up with the angry Yusuke.
"Yusuke?" Keiko's surprised voice came to his ears and he turned to see her. "Wow. I can't believe you're here on time."
"Yeah, well…" Yusuke trailed off, looking away from her.
"Serena?" Keiko now questioned, more surprised than before. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't worry; I'm with him," Serena gave Keiko the same answer she had give Mr. Takenaka.
Yusuke broke then, spinning to her, absolutely infuriated. "You are NOT with me, Serena! You never WERE with me nor will you ever BE with me! So will just get the hell out of here and leave me the hell alone?!"
"So if I want to be a delinquent does that mean I'm going to have to learn to be exceptionally rude, too…?" Serena pondered, placing a finger to her chin in thought. Yusuke's face was red in fury.
"SERENA!" he snarled. He looked ready to lunge at her and he most likely would have if Keiko didn't take hold of his arm to stop him.
"Maybe you should just calm down, Yusuke…"
"Me?" Yusuke questioned, turning on Keiko. "But she's the one-"
"Yeah, maybe you should just calm down, Yusuke!" Serena cut him off as she repeated what Keiko had just said, placing her hands on hips and giving him a sneer.
"My God!" Yusuke exclaimed. "You are the most annoying person I've ever met! Don't you know how to just leave people alone?!" He turned from her to run into Kuwabara.
"Urameshi?" he asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?! You never come to school on time! What are you sick or something?"
"NO," Yusuke answered bitterly. "I don't see why everyone's making such a big deal about me being here on time, because it ISN'T one."
"Sure it is!" Kuwabara argued and would have continued further if it hadn't been for the fact that he saw Serena standing there. "Hey…you look kind of familiar…"
"I'm Serena!" Serena exclaimed. "You're Yusuke's friend…uh…Kazuma Kuwabara, right?"
Kuwabara nodded. "And I remember you!" he declared, recalling her face now. "You're one of the girls who asked me about Urameshi awhile back." He then scratched the back of his head in confusion. "But what are you doing here? And where's that other girl you were with…" He looked around for her.
"Oh, Momiji is at school right now," Serena answered pleasantly. "And I'm here studying Yusuke."
Keiko now inquired, puzzled, "Studying Yusuke?"
"I'm heading up to the roof," Yusuke muttered before Serena answered and started to walk away from Serena and the others.
"Wait for me, Yusuke!" Serena cried, running after him.
"But, Yusuke! What about class?" Keiko protested, but Yusuke didn't bother to even answer. Keiko scowled. "Yusuke!"
Yusuke sat on the roof while Serena paced back and forth. "So this is what you do all day?" she asked, folding her arms as she walked.
"Yeah, I guess so…" Yusuke mumbled.
"But it's so boring!" she exclaimed before plopping onto the floor next to him.
"Hey, no one said freedom was interesting," Yusuke replied bitterly.
"But…" Serena trailed off into a sulk.
"So are you going to leave now?"
"No!" Serena resolutely declared, standing up again and raising a determined fist. "I'm going to stick this whole freedom business out! You'll see!"
"Whatever…" Yusuke grumbled.
Serena then let out a sigh, lowering her fist and finding herself bored again. However, she soon heard the sound of something overhead and she looked up to see a blue haired girl on an oar flying toward them. She let out a cry and stumbled back, pointing to the sky and stammering, "There's-there's-"
"What the hell's your problem now?"
"LOOK!" Serena cried.
Yusuke looked up. "Botan?"
Serena frowned, the name seeming vaguely familiar to her. "Botan?"
"Good morning, Yusuke!" Botan exclaimed as she landed on the roof. She then gasped when she saw Serena. "Oh, no!" Cringing, she tried to explain, "Well, you see-what you just saw right now was-um…"
"It's all right, Botan," Yusuke assured her, rising to his feet.
"You mean…" Botan looked to Serena and then grinned. "Oh, you must be one of those girls that have been helping Yusuke out! Now, wait! Don't tell me! You must be…Serena! Am I right?" Serena nodded. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Serena! I'm Botan; Yusuke may have mentioned me. I'm Yusuke's partner. I give him all of his assignments and such." Botan then looked puzzled. "But what are you doing here?"
"Please, don't ask," Yusuke grumbled, placing a hand to his forehead as if he had a migraine. Botan frowned. "Anyway…what are you doing here, anyway, Botan?"
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "I'm here with some good news. Well, not ENTIRELY good news. I suppose it depends on how you look at it, really. And it's a good thing that you are here, Serena; Yusuke might need some help."
"I don't need HER help," Yusuke stated coldly and Serena stuck out her tongue at him. "And what do you have to tell me, Botan?"
"Well, the second Baken-Ai has surfaced, of course!"
"What?!" both Serena and Yusuke exclaimed, both anxiously turning their full attention to the blue-haired grim reaper.
"Masaki, the second Baken-Ai. He is supposedly a ferocious demon, although I don't have much information on it…"
"When do you ever?" Yusuke questioned bitterly.
"I resent that, you know!" Botan cried. "It's hard enough to gather what little information is out there as it is!"
"Yeah, yeah…so where is this Baken-Ai going to be anyway?"
"Well, according to Lord Koenma, it should be somewhere around your school, actually…"
It was then that Serena turned her head, suddenly sensing the presence of something to her right. "Hmm…?" She then saw the little boy-the one who the first Baken-Ai had been trying to kill-standing at the roof's exit. He cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes, giving Serena a smile. But Serena scowled. "It's you! The little brat!"
"Serena?" Yusuke asked in confusion as Serena began running toward the boy, who disappeared behind the door. But Serena followed right after. "Hey, Serena! Where the hell are you going?!" Yusuke called after her. He turned back to Botan. "Thanks for the info, Botan!" he told her as he started heading after Serena.
"You're welcome, Yusuke!" she called after him, climbing back onto her oar and starting upward toward the sky. "You just work on finding that Baken-Ai! And good luck!"
There he goes! Serena thought as she ran down the stairs, eyes narrowed and face grimacing. As she watched him go outside, she immediately followed.
"Now, just where do you think you're-" Serena cut herself off, however, when she stepped outside to see that he was nowhere in sight. She frowned. "Well, where'd he go…?" She began wandering toward her right, across the grass, toward the school sport's field. "Hello?" she called out. "Did you come out here…whatever your name is…?" She frowned, scratching the back of her head. "But…he had to have gone somewhere…"
It was then that she spotted him again, standing in the middle of the soccer field. Serena narrowed her eyes again and marched toward him. "Now just what are you-" However, when she was a few yards away from him, the ground started shaking and Serena fell backwards, landing on her backside. She groaned. "Ow…"
Then, from the ground, came a beast. He was about seven feet tall, with the upper half of a man and the lower half that of a horse. He had two horns on the top of his head, long brown hair, and black claws on his fingers. And on his forehead was engraved the same symbol that had been on the first Baken-Ai.
Serena let out a whimper as the second Baken-Ai dug his hoofs into the dirt and she fumbled to open her briefcase as it began to speak. "My name is Masaki and I am the second Baken-Ai. I am here to kill this child." The little boy smiled calmly.
"You can't do that!" Serena exclaimed and then added, "Just give me a second…" as she tried to look through her suitcase for her wand.
"Do you dare to defy me?" the Baken-Ai questioned and then eyed her fiercely. "I know you; you are one of the three who are trying to protect this boy, are you not?"
"Well…" Serena's voice trailed off as he began to walk toward her, his large hoofs pressing their into the dirt. "Got it!" she exclaimed, pulling out her wand. She let out a groan, however, when she looked up to notice Masaki was hovering over her, meaning she would not have an opportunity to transform. "It's not because I like him or anything…but-"
"Silence!" the Baken-Ai snapped and Serena whimpered once more. "I will get rid of you first and then I will deal with the child."
"But-" Serena tried to protest as it raised it's massive hoof over her. She closed her eyes and let out a scream.
It was then that Yusuke arrived, charging toward the beast and kicking it to the side. It fell on it's side with a grunt. Yusuke now stood beside Serena and he eyed Serena in annoyance. "What the hell happened to the 'all-new, tough, butt-kicking Serena' you kept going on about, huh?" Serena winced, but the stood up, shaking her head.
"Right!" she exclaimed and raised her hand to transform. "Moon Crystal Power!" She then transformed into Sailor Moon.
By this time, Masaki was rising, murder glinting in his eyes. "Infidels! You dare to challenge me!"
"Just take care of the kid," Yusuke told Serena. "I'll deal with this."
"But-" Serena tried to protest, but Yusuke was already charging forward, fist raised. Serena pouted and muttered, "but I don't want to take care of the stupid brat…"
Meanwhile, Yusuke slammed his fist into the Baken-Ai's jaw. The Baken-Ai stumbled back, but kept his balance, and then swung his claws at Yusuke. They cut across Yusuke's chest and Yusuke fell back onto the ground with a grunt and a fierce glare. Masaki charged forward and Yusuke, still on the ground, raised his finger to him, the tip starting to glow.
And then, suddenly, the beast stopped, staring at Yusuke quizzically. "You…I know you!" he exclaimed in amazement.
Yusuke gasped as the wolf demon suddenly flashed across Yusuke's mind, saying the same thing to him. Yusuke narrowed his eyes furiously, his finger glowing brighter. "What are you talking about?" he questioned.
But the Baken-Ai was suddenly laughing. "Don't you know? We're the same. I can't kill you. And you can't kill me now, no matter how hard you try!" He then started laughing louder.
"Answer me!" Yusuke shouted, but Masaki was turning from him and walking away. "Damn it!" Yusuke, furiously, rose to his feet, and pointed his finger at the Baken-Ai one more time. "Spirit Gun!" The spirit energy went straight for the horse beast, but the beast didn't even bother to turn around. As soon as it hit Masaki, it deflected, as if Masaki had a shield around him. Yusuke was stunned as he looked down at the finger that just shot his spirit gun. "How? That was a direct shot…"
"I already told you, boy," Masaki said, turning back with a smirk. "It's too late for you to kill me now; we're the same." He then began toward Serena, now Sailor Moon, and the little boy who she stood in front of.
"But, why didn't your spirit gun work, Yusuke?!" Sailor Moon cried in a panic as the Baken-Ai advanced toward her. "And what am I supposed to do now?!"
"I don't know, Serena! Think of something!"
"I'm trying!" Serena shouted. "And it's not Serena, it's Sailor Moon!" She then turned her attention back to the second Baken-Ai. "Now stay back! I will not allow you to hurt this little boy! I stand for truth and justice! My name is Sailor Moon and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" She pointed her wand at him and the Baken-Ai snickered.
"Do you think your little trinket scares me, girl?" he asked coldly and Sailor Moon narrowed her eyes fiercely.
"I told you you were next," the little boy then said from behind.
Serena, frustrated, turned her back to the Baken-Ai and questioned the boy, "You keep saying that! 'Next' of what?!" While her back was to him, the Baken-Ai did not hesitating in attacking, swinging his massive arm into Serena, flinging her to the side. She slid across the ground with a shrill groan.
"Serena! You idiot!" Yusuke shouted to her. "What do you think you were going?!"
"I don't know!" Serena cried back as she pulled herself off the ground, her right arm and leg badly scraped and bleeding. She then fiercely turned her eyes to the Baken-Ai who was standing over the little boy now, the boy who did not seem frightened in the slightest. Serena raised her scepter. "Moon Scepter Elimination!" she cried and a large blast of energy went flying into the second Baken-Ai, causing him to fly back. But he dug his hoofs in the dirt, and began to try and fight it off, grunting and glaring severely at Serena. But Serena just narrowed her eyes and kept her hands steadily holding her wand. His body began to break under the force of the energy, his bare chest starting to cut and bleed as did his face. And as the light became more and more blinding until it was too much for the demon to handle. He let out a scream and went flying back, the mark on his head disintegrating, as the force of Serena's wand caused her to go flying backwards as well, hitting against the outside wall of the school with a loud scream. The Second Baken-Ai fell to the ground, dead. Serena then fell silent, slumping to the ground herself, her sailor uniform disappearing and being replaced with her ordinary school uniform. And as she laid unconscious, on her forehead, where her tiara had been, formed the scar of the Baken-Ai.
"Serena…?" Yusuke asked, but then turned to where the second Baken-Ai lie to see it turn to ash.
"I told her she was next," the little boy replied with a grin, before fading away from Yusuke's sight.
"Hey! Wait!" Yusuke protested, but he was already gone. Yusuke let out a sigh and then turned his eyes to where Serena laid.
Serena woke up to find herself lying in the nurse's office of Yusuke's school. "Where am I…?" she groaned as she groggily opened her eyes.
"I think she's coming to," she heard Keiko say and Serena slowly forced herself to sit up. She could see Keiko sitting there, as well as see Mr. Takanaka standing beside her bed. Yusuke was standing by the doorway, a severe expression on his face. "Don't try to get up, Serena," Keiko told her. "You just rest."
"But…what happened?" Serena asked in confusion, her head pounding.
"You passed out," Keiko explained.
"I did…?" she wondered aloud, placing a hand to her forehead. She immediately pulled back, however, with a shrill cry when she felt a burning pain cut into the flesh on her forehead.
"Be careful, Serena!" Keiko exclaimed in concern. "That scar still looks pretty sore."
"Scar…? But Yusuke's the one with the scar…" Serena looked over to Yusuke in puzzlement, but he was glaring at the floor, a scowl upon his face.
"Now tell me, Serena, what exactly happened?" Mr. Takenaka now asked, stepping forward. "Yusuke said he found you unconscious, but I'd like to hear what happened in your own words. Did Yusuke hurt you in anyway."
Serena blinked in surprised, but then immediately shook her head. "No! Of course not! I just…er…sometimes pass out at random! That's it!"
Mr. Takenaka didn't seem all that convinced. "And the scar, then?"
"Oh, this?" She went to touch it, but winced as her fingers barely brushed against it. "Um…I've always had this! Ever since I was little…" Keiko frowned and Mr. Takenaka still looked doubtful.
"See, old man? I told you I didn't do anything to her," Yusuke grumbled from the doorway. "Now can I talk to her alone?"
"Yes, yes…" Mr. Takenaka answered warily, walking toward the door and exiting, his eyes still on Serena in perplexity. Keiko then rose from her seat.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you two then…" she said reluctantly. But, when she reached Yusuke, she said, "But you better tell me what's going on soon, Yusuke."
"Yeah, yeah; I will," Yusuke brushed her off and she left. Serena had already risen from the bed and was examining her new scar in the mirror.
"It looks just like yours!" she realized and then cringed. "And it hurts a lot, too…"
"You get it when you kill a Baken-Ai," Yusuke explained, walking over to her. "It may be permanent."
"PERMANENT?!" Serena exclaimed in horror. "What do you mean permanent?!"
"That's what Botan told me."
"But…" Serena let out a whimper as she looked back into the mirror to examine the scar with a frown. "Well…at least the pain will go away soon, right?"
"Yeah…but Serena, there's something else I need to talk to you about."
"What's that?" Serena looked up at Yusuke to see his face was very severe. She frowned in perplexity. "Yusuke?"
"The Baken-Ai…it said that because we're the same I can't kill it."
Serena scrunched her eyebrows as she began to contemplate. She then began optimistically, "Well, maybe that's because after you kill one Baken-Ai, you can't kill another because…er…well…" She frowned and ended weakly, "you can't have two scars?"
"Yeah, I kind of figured it was something like that, but that's not the point."
"Well, then, what is the point, Yusuke?"
"The point is that I can't kill the Baken-Ai anymore and neither can you considering you have the scar, too, meaning that there's still a third Baken-Ai left that we can't beat."
"Well…there's always…Momiji?" Serena suggested. Yusuke sighed, shaking his head in doubt. "She can do it! I know she can!"
"I still can't believe that YOU did it."
"Hey!" Serena then shook her head. "And Momiji's just as much a part of the team as us, anyway!"
"Who said we were a team again? Because we're not," Yusuke told her. "This was supposed to be a solo mission."
"Yeah, well, without me there wouldn't have been anyway for you to beat the second Baken-Ai!"
"Technicalities!"
Serena stomped her foot in frustration. "You are so stubborn!"
Yusuke gave her a fierce glare and shouted back, "Yeah, well, you're worse!" He turned his back to her. "Like I said, there is no team. I don't even know why I even bothered telling you about the fact that we can't beat the third Baken-Ai because it has nothing to do with you anyway. And as for the second Baken-Ai, I would have figured out some way to defeat him, even if you weren't there. All you were was a nuisance."
Serena narrowed her eyes, let out a exasperated sigh and exclaimed, "Fine! Be that way!" as she gathered her things and marched past him, her shoulder hitting hard into his. When she reached the door, she turned back to him with fierce, wet eyes. "Why should I even want to help you? You're just a big jerk anyway! Just because I'm some girl in a sailor suit and don't go around being mean to people all the time doesn't mean that I can't be just as tough as you are! And even if you are stronger than me, that doesn't give you the right to be mean to me, anyway! And I do hope that you do have to fight the third Baken-Ai all by yourself because you don't deserve anyone's help! And when you do, we'll see what happens!"
She then left the nurse's office, leaving only a stunned Yusuke there.
"That jerk!" Serena was mumbling to herself as she walked away from Yusuke's school, wiping her tears from her eyes with her sleeve. "Who does he think he is, anyway? I'm not a nuisance…" Her voice trailed off with some doubt, but she then shook her head. "Why did I ever want to be like him, anyway? He's nothing but a mean, selfish, arrogant jerk!"
"Serena!"
Serena gasped and turned around to see Yusuke running up to her. Embarrassed, her face turned a bit red and she quickly wiped her eyes again as she waited for him to reach her. Panting, he stopped, bending over and placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath. Finally, he rose, and began. "I…uh…" He reached in his pocket and pulled out her moon wand. "You forgot your wand."
"Oh," Serena said, taking it from him in some disappointment. "Thanks…I guess…"
"Yeah, whatever…" Yusuke shoved his hands in his pockets and looked toward the sky. "Um…Serena?"
"Yeah, Yusuke?"
"I…good job, I guess, for taking out the second Baken-Ai…I forgot to mention it before…"
Serena grinned. "You mean it?"
"Yeah, I guess…" he reluctantly admitted. "That still doesn't mean we're a team or-" Yusuke was cut off, however, by Serena, who suddenly leaped toward him, swinging her arms around him in a big hug and Yusuke blushed wildly.
"Thanks, Yusuke! I knew you weren't that big of a jerk, after all!" she exclaimed as she hugged him. "And I was wrong to say all those means things about you! But don't worry, I'll make sure you don't fight the third Baken-Ai or Danjuro or Torazo or anyone alone, because you'll always have me, even if I can't do all that much! I promise you you'll always have someone to fight by your side!"
"Serena…" He then smiled himself and hugged her back.
"Me?!" Momiji questioned over the phone.
"That's right," Serena stated as she sat in her bedroom that evening, talking to Momiji on the phone. "You're the only one left."
"But I can't kill a Baken-Ai!"
"Sure you can!" Serena insisted, but Momiji frowned.
"I don't think it's a good idea to rely on me, Serena."
"Why not? You're reliable!"
"Yeah, but…" Biting her lower lip, Momiji decided it was best to change the subject. "So, how'd today go, Serena?
"Hmm?"
"You know; with the whole quitting school thing?"
"Oh, that!" Serena exclaimed, sitting up straight. "Oh, I've given up the free life."
"After one day, too," Momiji pointed out.
"Yeah, well…I've come to the conclusion that it's not for me. I've just got to be good old Serena; being Yusuke's too complicated, I think."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, one the hand, you have to be a rude, obnoxious jerk, but on the other hand, you really can't be any of those things at all. It's kind of confusing, actually."
"It sounds like it."
"Besides, good old Serena is just as tough and butt-kicking as new Serena was, anyway!"
Momiji laughed. "Yeah, I think so, too. So, is that it."
Serena leaned back in her chair. "I think so…" She then frowned and hesitated. "Actually, there was one more reason that changed my mind about this whole 'quitting school' thing…"
"Huh?"
"Serena! Are you on the phone?" Serena's mom called fiercely from downstairs and Serena let out an "eep" as she stood up.
"No, Mom!" she cried in her panic "Of course not…" She then whispered into the phone, "I've got to go…my mom is going to kill me!"
Momiji blinked in confusion. "Serena…?"
"Because if you are, you'll be punished for another week!" he mother scolded. "You're lucky I let you off with only one week of being grounded for skipping class today!"
"Yes, mom! I know!" Serena called back.
"Oh! So that's the other reason!" Momiji realized.
Serena frowned and whispered, "Yeah…Miss Haruna called my mom this afternoon about me missing class…"
"SERENA!" Serena's mother voice boomed, nearly shaking the house.
Serena let out a shrill cry of fear. "Bye, Momiji!" she hastily blurted out then and hung up the phone before Momiji even had the chance to answer.
"Bye…Serena…" Momiji said, despite this fact, and then hung up the phone.
Coming Attractions:
Momiji: So we have two Baken-Ai out of the way, but hold on a second! I have to beat the third Baken-Ai?!
Yusuke: Um, don't you think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Momiji?
Momiji: Oh, right! Sorry! Okay, although the final Baken-Ai doesn't show up in the next episode, there will still be plenty of action!
Serena: With suspense and comedy to boot!
Yusuke: Can you girls maybe be a bit more specific?
Momiji: Well, when all three of us get mysterious invitations to Okimoto's Tournament on Nagai Island, we go only to discover it's really a trap!
Serena: Now Okimoto's forcing us to fight in his tournament otherwise he'll sick all the demons on us at once! What else can we go but listen to what he says?!
Yusuke: Great…that means we really ARE going to be a team, huh?
Momiji: Yep! Isn't it great?!
Yusuke: Not really…
Serena: But why would Okimoto do this? What is his purpose? Could it have something to do with-wait a second! Who's that hottie with the pacifier?!
Momiji: Wow! I think I'm in love!
Serena: Me, too!
Yusuke: Please don't make me sick...
Serena: Well, he's not as cute as my Darien, but…anyway, what was I saying? Oh, yeah! Could it have something to do with…Danjuro?!
Yusuke: Yeah, I bet the audience didn't see THAT one coming… Did I mention how much I hate that guy?
Serena: It seems to me you mention those things a lot actually. With EVERYONE.
Momiji: Yeah, Yusuke! Is there anyone you DO like?
Yusuke: Well…
Serena: And Keiko doesn't count!
Yusuke: That's not fair! And don't you think you two are going off the topic again?
Momiji: Oops! Sorry! Anyway, the fists are going to fly as me, Serena, and Yusuke team up to fight in Okimoto's tournament! So tune in next time for the next all-new episode and the start of an all-new three-part arc of "What's My Line Again…?," Episode 12: "Okimoto's Tournament! What happened to having a choice?!"
Serena: No way! The next episode ends like that?!
Ms. Haruna shook her head as she handed Serena back her test. "Serena, with grades like this you're never going to pass this year."
Serena grimaced and looked down at her test. Thirty seven?! she thought in shock, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets at the grade in red ink. She then groaned and slumped into her seat, feeling horribly dejected.
"Well, Serena, maybe you should study more," Amy told her friend at lunch.
"But I DO study, Amy!" Serena insisted, folding her arms. She then muttered, "at least, I try to…"
Amy frowned. "I think you just have to try and focus a bit more…"
Serena just let out a sigh.
"You got a thirty-seven?" Raye questioned in disgust after school as she swept outside the shrine. "How could you get a thirty-seven?"
Serena frowned in her own self-pity. "Well…"
"Jeez, Serena! You really have to learn how to be more responsibility and study once and awhile!" Raye continued to scold. "It has to be because you're irresponsible; no one can be THAT stupid."
Serena gave Raye a cross look, but said nothing.
"Well, Serena, I'd help you study," Darien began as he and Serena walked down the street together, "But the last time I tried to you fell asleep while I was lecturing."
"I KNOW, Darien," Serena began to argue, "and I'm sorry, but I promise I won't do it again! It was just that the last topic we were studying was SO boring…"
"Serena, that's what the test you just failed was on," Darien pointed out.
"I know…" Serena mumbled. "But that doesn't mean it wasn't boring…"
"Well, even if it is boring you're going to have to learn it if you want to pass."
"I know, Darien!" Serena exclaimed, clasping onto Darien's hand. "That why you have to help me study!"
"Serena, no offense, but I think I distract you more than anything else," Darien began with a frown. "You always end up wanting to go on a date or something instead of actually studying."
Serena cringed in dismay. "Well…" She let out a sigh of defeat. "I guess you're right, Darien. But what am I going to do? If I keep failing…"
"I'm sure you'll think of something, Serena," Darien answered, but Serena was still filled with despair.
"I've never seen such a lazy girl in all my life," Luna was scolding as Serena was trying her best focus on her studies as she sat at her desk in her bedroom. "A thirty-seven! How pathetic, Serena."
"You're not helping, Luna," Serena stated bitterly. She then let out a groan and leaned back in her seat. "This is so boring!"
"It isn't boring; it's your attitude that makes it boring," Luna reprimanded. "If you tried to be interested in what you were learning, then maybe you'd-" Serena cut her off with a loud yawn. "Serena! Are you even listening to me?!"
"Yeah, yeah, Luna," Serena brushed her off reaching for her phone.
"Now what do you think you're doing, Serena?" Luna questioned. "I thought you had to study."
"I know, Luna…I'm just calling Momiji…" Luna sighed in aggravation, but Serena ignored her and proceeded in calling her friend.
"Hello, Momiji speaking. May I ask who's calling?" Momiji picked up in her usual perky cheer.
"Hi, Momiji," Serena answered glumly. "It's Serena."
Momiji frowned. "Serena? What's wrong? You sound down."
"I just did badly on one of my tests today…"
"Oh…" Momiji trailed off. Then, she said optimistically, "Well, I'm sure you didn't do THAT bad."
"I got a thirty-seven."
"Oh," Momiji replied trying not to cringe. "Well, a thirty seven isn't TOO bad…" she lied, trying to cheer up her friend.
"What am I going to do?!" Serena sulked. "Miss Haruna said that if my grades stay this way I won't pass!"
"I don't know, Serena…" Momiji answered sadly. "Maybe you could try studying a little more?"
"But that just won't work! It's all so hopeless!"
Luna sighed as she listened, mumbling sarcastically, "Yes, complain, Serena, because that's so productive." Serena shot her a dirty look, but said nothing.
"Well, Serena, there must be SOMETHING you can do…" Momiji tried to reason, feeling pity for her poor, despairing friend.
"That's it!" Serena then suddenly declared. "I'm going to give up on school! Live life without any restrictions! Become a delinquent! Like…like Yusuke!"
"What?!" Momiji exclaimed. She then calmed down a bit and said, "What I mean is…um…don't you think that quitting school is a bit…harsh?"
"Yusuke has so why can't I?" Serena questioned.
"Well, Yusuke really hasn't quit school exactly."
"Besides, I need my freedom!"
"I can't believe it," Luna muttered. "The girl has gone completely bonkers."
"But, Serena," Momiji continued to attempt to reason, "what would your parents say?"
"They don't have to know!" Serena insisted.
"But don't you think they'll find out anyway…?" Momiji asked, but Serena didn't bother to answer.
"Tomorrow, be prepared for an all-new Serena!" Serena exclaimed, rising to her feet.
"All-new…?" Momiji inquired warily.
"This Serena's going to be a butt-kicking, tough Serena! A Serena who doesn't need school!"
"But, Serena, how can you be tough if you're just running away from your problems, like your failing grades?" Momiji asked.
"That's not the point, Momiji!" Serena insisted. "The point is that I'm going to live life like Yusuke lives life: free!"
"I guess so…" Momiji reluctantly agreed.
Serena then looked at her clock. "Oh, I have to go, Momiji! It's getting late and I have to be up early for school tomorrow!"
Momiji frowned in perplexity. "But, Serena, didn't you just say you weren't going to school anymore?"
"Oh…right," Serena realized. "But I still have to be up early anyway!"
"Why is that?"
"I have to get up early as to NOT go to school."
"What?"
"You know, so I can wander around and avoid school and do other delinquent things, you know?"
"Sort of…" Momiji trailed off, still a bit confused.
"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow, Momiji!"
"Okay…bye, Serena." Momiji then hung up the phone, frowning and very baffled.
Someone had been following Yusuke. He knew it right away, ever since he had started walking toward school that morning. Yusuke scowled bitterly, noticing that the pest wasn't going to go away. He was also annoyed by the fact that the idiot thought that she could fool him; that he wouldn't realize that she was a few feet behind him, marching along as if she were pretending to be tough. Yusuke, finally losing his patience, spun around and shouted, "Why the hell are you following me?!"
Serena nearly jumped out of her skin, dropping her briefcase on the ground. Face red, she quickly picked it up and stood up straight. "I'm not following you," she replied, although she was obviously lying.
"Yes, you are," Yusuke argued. "Don't you have to be in school or something?"
"No," Serena stated, crossing her arms. "I quit school."
"You what? When?"
"Yesterday," she answered curtly. Yusuke shook his head.
"You idiot; will you just go to class now? I mean, you're already dressed for it," he said, noting her school uniform.
"I'm being serious!" Serena insisted, marching over to him. "I quit school!"
"And WHY did you do that again?"
"Because I failed a test," Serena explained.
"Because you failed a test?" Yusuke questioned and then let out a spiteful chuckle. "Just go to school, Serena." He then turned to walk away.
"Yusuke!" Serena protested, grabbing onto his arm. "I am NOT going to school! I am going to live a life of freedom! Like you do!"
"Me?"
Serena nodded. "Yes! That's why I'm…observing you! So I can see what I'm supposed to do as a delinquent!"
"I'm NOT a delinquent!" Yusuke exclaimed, ripping his arm from her. "Now will you just go to school or go home or something?" He then began walking, shoving his hands in his pockets. Serena did the same thing, shoving her hands in her pocket and walking hunched over as he did. Yusuke could feel his right eye twitching. He halted. She did the same. Through gritted teeth, he said angrily, "SERENA."
"What? What?" Serena questioned, feigning innocence.
"Will you stop following me?!"
"I'm not following you!" Serena argued. "I'm observing!"
Yusuke clenched his fists and turned around. "Then stop 'observing' me!" he shouted. Serena frowned.
"But then how else am I supposed to figure out what I'm supposed to do as a delinquent?"
"I said I'm not an delinquent!" Yusuke exclaimed in frustration. Then, he added in aggravation, pointing a finger hard into her chest. "Don't you have your own stupid life? Quit copying mine!" He then turned from her and began walking away in a huff. Serena, copied his frustrated glare and pointed at the air, imitating just what he had done to her. Then, noticing he was fading into the crowd, she let out an "eep" and quickly ran to catch up to him, unfortunately slamming into him.
"Serena!" Yusuke exclaimed furiously, turning to her with hands raised as if ready to strangle her while she rubbed her shoulder in a great deal of pain. "I swear to God, if you don't get out of here and leave me alone, I'm going to-"
"So where are we going now anyway?" Serena obliviously cut him off and Yusuke let out a furious sigh.
"WE aren't going anywhere," Yusuke fiercely told her. "I'M…well, I don't know where I'm going, but as of now I know it's nowhere with you."
"But!" Serena protested.
"No buts, Serena!" Yusuke refuted her. "Now go to school! Your OWN school, not mine." He then sighed, shaking his head as he turned from her. He mumbled to himself, "I guess I ought to be going to school, too…eventually. Otherwise Keiko will kill me…"
"But, you're not supposed to go to school!" Serena exclaimed, overhearing him. "You're a delinquent!"
"SERENA," Yusuke began through gritted teeth, his patience wearing thin. "I already told you, I'm NOT a delinquent. Now go home!" He pointed his hand in the direction which she came from and eyed her sternly. Serena frowned and let out a whimper.
"But-"
"GO!" Serena turned, sulking, ready to leave as Yusuke started to smile, proud of his victory over the blond girl. However, his victory didn't last too long for suddenly Serena's pout became a scowl and she turned back to him, arms crossed and eyeing him severely.
"You can't make me go!" she exclaimed. "I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me! You know why? Because I'm FREE now!"
Yusuke gave her look of disgust. "Free? You keep saying that. What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know! Like you!" Serena exclaimed with a grin. "Free to do whatever I want, without school to hold me back! Free to become the all-new, tough, butt-kicking Serena!"
Shaking his head, Yusuke muttered, "You are such an idiot, Serena," and began walking away.
"Hey!" Serena protested, placing her hands on her hips. Then, realizing he was walking away again, she cried, "Wait, Yusuke!" Finally catching up to him and latching onto his arm, Yusuke's eyebrow beginning to twitch, she asked, "so where are we going again?"
Yusuke pulled his arm from her and said, "I said you're not coming with me."
"Well, I said I am!"
Yusuke let out an aggravated sigh. "Fine, whatever. I don't care anymore." He then gave her a cruel grin, a devious idea coming to his eyes. "But I'M going to school."
Serena stopped in a disappointed confusion, crying, "What?! But you can't do that!"
"Oh, yes I can!" he called back to her.
"But! That's not fair!"
"Well, that sucks for you then," he said with a callous shrug and then sarcastically added, "Have fun with that new found freedom of yours."
Serena glared at him as he walked away, furiously growling. "Ooh! I'll show him!"
No one, students and teachers alike, could believe their eyes when they saw Yusuke Urameshi walk into the schoolyard ten minutes before homeroom had begun. He was scowling, hands shoved in his pocket and eyebrow twitching as he plodded in, all eyes set on him in surprise. However, they were even more shocked to see a blond girl in pigtails and wearing a school uniform from a different school follow in after him; unfortunately his plan had not worked. In fact, it seemed to only fuel Serena more, determination glowing in her face as she marched along, head raised high in victory. Everyone began murmuring to each other, not sure what to make of the two, and Yusuke found himself growing even more irritated.
It was his teacher, Mr. Takenaka, that was the first brave soul to come up to Yusuke and stop him. He looked at Yusuke in puzzlement and said, "You're…you're here on time. Not only that, but you're even a little early."
"Yeah, whatever…" Yusuke grumbled. "It's no big deal…"
He went to walk away, but now Mr. Takenaka was grinning and give him a pat on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Yusuke. You seem to be making a real turn around." Yusuke was trying his best not to lose his temper when Mr. Takenaka noticed Serena walking toward them. "Excuse me…miss? What are you doing here? You don't go here."
"Well-"
"I'm out of here," Yusuke muttered, brushing past Mr. Takenaka and heading toward the school once more.
"Wait, Yusuke!" Serena called, and began to run after him, but Mr. Takenaka stepped in front of her.
"I'm sorry, miss, but you can't just-"
"Don't worry," Serena cut him off with a smile, "I'm with him."
"But-" Before Mr. Takenaka could question her further, Serena had already run past him and had caught up with the angry Yusuke.
"Yusuke?" Keiko's surprised voice came to his ears and he turned to see her. "Wow. I can't believe you're here on time."
"Yeah, well…" Yusuke trailed off, looking away from her.
"Serena?" Keiko now questioned, more surprised than before. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't worry; I'm with him," Serena gave Keiko the same answer she had give Mr. Takenaka.
Yusuke broke then, spinning to her, absolutely infuriated. "You are NOT with me, Serena! You never WERE with me nor will you ever BE with me! So will just get the hell out of here and leave me the hell alone?!"
"So if I want to be a delinquent does that mean I'm going to have to learn to be exceptionally rude, too…?" Serena pondered, placing a finger to her chin in thought. Yusuke's face was red in fury.
"SERENA!" he snarled. He looked ready to lunge at her and he most likely would have if Keiko didn't take hold of his arm to stop him.
"Maybe you should just calm down, Yusuke…"
"Me?" Yusuke questioned, turning on Keiko. "But she's the one-"
"Yeah, maybe you should just calm down, Yusuke!" Serena cut him off as she repeated what Keiko had just said, placing her hands on hips and giving him a sneer.
"My God!" Yusuke exclaimed. "You are the most annoying person I've ever met! Don't you know how to just leave people alone?!" He turned from her to run into Kuwabara.
"Urameshi?" he asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?! You never come to school on time! What are you sick or something?"
"NO," Yusuke answered bitterly. "I don't see why everyone's making such a big deal about me being here on time, because it ISN'T one."
"Sure it is!" Kuwabara argued and would have continued further if it hadn't been for the fact that he saw Serena standing there. "Hey…you look kind of familiar…"
"I'm Serena!" Serena exclaimed. "You're Yusuke's friend…uh…Kazuma Kuwabara, right?"
Kuwabara nodded. "And I remember you!" he declared, recalling her face now. "You're one of the girls who asked me about Urameshi awhile back." He then scratched the back of his head in confusion. "But what are you doing here? And where's that other girl you were with…" He looked around for her.
"Oh, Momiji is at school right now," Serena answered pleasantly. "And I'm here studying Yusuke."
Keiko now inquired, puzzled, "Studying Yusuke?"
"I'm heading up to the roof," Yusuke muttered before Serena answered and started to walk away from Serena and the others.
"Wait for me, Yusuke!" Serena cried, running after him.
"But, Yusuke! What about class?" Keiko protested, but Yusuke didn't bother to even answer. Keiko scowled. "Yusuke!"
Yusuke sat on the roof while Serena paced back and forth. "So this is what you do all day?" she asked, folding her arms as she walked.
"Yeah, I guess so…" Yusuke mumbled.
"But it's so boring!" she exclaimed before plopping onto the floor next to him.
"Hey, no one said freedom was interesting," Yusuke replied bitterly.
"But…" Serena trailed off into a sulk.
"So are you going to leave now?"
"No!" Serena resolutely declared, standing up again and raising a determined fist. "I'm going to stick this whole freedom business out! You'll see!"
"Whatever…" Yusuke grumbled.
Serena then let out a sigh, lowering her fist and finding herself bored again. However, she soon heard the sound of something overhead and she looked up to see a blue haired girl on an oar flying toward them. She let out a cry and stumbled back, pointing to the sky and stammering, "There's-there's-"
"What the hell's your problem now?"
"LOOK!" Serena cried.
Yusuke looked up. "Botan?"
Serena frowned, the name seeming vaguely familiar to her. "Botan?"
"Good morning, Yusuke!" Botan exclaimed as she landed on the roof. She then gasped when she saw Serena. "Oh, no!" Cringing, she tried to explain, "Well, you see-what you just saw right now was-um…"
"It's all right, Botan," Yusuke assured her, rising to his feet.
"You mean…" Botan looked to Serena and then grinned. "Oh, you must be one of those girls that have been helping Yusuke out! Now, wait! Don't tell me! You must be…Serena! Am I right?" Serena nodded. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Serena! I'm Botan; Yusuke may have mentioned me. I'm Yusuke's partner. I give him all of his assignments and such." Botan then looked puzzled. "But what are you doing here?"
"Please, don't ask," Yusuke grumbled, placing a hand to his forehead as if he had a migraine. Botan frowned. "Anyway…what are you doing here, anyway, Botan?"
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "I'm here with some good news. Well, not ENTIRELY good news. I suppose it depends on how you look at it, really. And it's a good thing that you are here, Serena; Yusuke might need some help."
"I don't need HER help," Yusuke stated coldly and Serena stuck out her tongue at him. "And what do you have to tell me, Botan?"
"Well, the second Baken-Ai has surfaced, of course!"
"What?!" both Serena and Yusuke exclaimed, both anxiously turning their full attention to the blue-haired grim reaper.
"Masaki, the second Baken-Ai. He is supposedly a ferocious demon, although I don't have much information on it…"
"When do you ever?" Yusuke questioned bitterly.
"I resent that, you know!" Botan cried. "It's hard enough to gather what little information is out there as it is!"
"Yeah, yeah…so where is this Baken-Ai going to be anyway?"
"Well, according to Lord Koenma, it should be somewhere around your school, actually…"
It was then that Serena turned her head, suddenly sensing the presence of something to her right. "Hmm…?" She then saw the little boy-the one who the first Baken-Ai had been trying to kill-standing at the roof's exit. He cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes, giving Serena a smile. But Serena scowled. "It's you! The little brat!"
"Serena?" Yusuke asked in confusion as Serena began running toward the boy, who disappeared behind the door. But Serena followed right after. "Hey, Serena! Where the hell are you going?!" Yusuke called after her. He turned back to Botan. "Thanks for the info, Botan!" he told her as he started heading after Serena.
"You're welcome, Yusuke!" she called after him, climbing back onto her oar and starting upward toward the sky. "You just work on finding that Baken-Ai! And good luck!"
There he goes! Serena thought as she ran down the stairs, eyes narrowed and face grimacing. As she watched him go outside, she immediately followed.
"Now, just where do you think you're-" Serena cut herself off, however, when she stepped outside to see that he was nowhere in sight. She frowned. "Well, where'd he go…?" She began wandering toward her right, across the grass, toward the school sport's field. "Hello?" she called out. "Did you come out here…whatever your name is…?" She frowned, scratching the back of her head. "But…he had to have gone somewhere…"
It was then that she spotted him again, standing in the middle of the soccer field. Serena narrowed her eyes again and marched toward him. "Now just what are you-" However, when she was a few yards away from him, the ground started shaking and Serena fell backwards, landing on her backside. She groaned. "Ow…"
Then, from the ground, came a beast. He was about seven feet tall, with the upper half of a man and the lower half that of a horse. He had two horns on the top of his head, long brown hair, and black claws on his fingers. And on his forehead was engraved the same symbol that had been on the first Baken-Ai.
Serena let out a whimper as the second Baken-Ai dug his hoofs into the dirt and she fumbled to open her briefcase as it began to speak. "My name is Masaki and I am the second Baken-Ai. I am here to kill this child." The little boy smiled calmly.
"You can't do that!" Serena exclaimed and then added, "Just give me a second…" as she tried to look through her suitcase for her wand.
"Do you dare to defy me?" the Baken-Ai questioned and then eyed her fiercely. "I know you; you are one of the three who are trying to protect this boy, are you not?"
"Well…" Serena's voice trailed off as he began to walk toward her, his large hoofs pressing their into the dirt. "Got it!" she exclaimed, pulling out her wand. She let out a groan, however, when she looked up to notice Masaki was hovering over her, meaning she would not have an opportunity to transform. "It's not because I like him or anything…but-"
"Silence!" the Baken-Ai snapped and Serena whimpered once more. "I will get rid of you first and then I will deal with the child."
"But-" Serena tried to protest as it raised it's massive hoof over her. She closed her eyes and let out a scream.
It was then that Yusuke arrived, charging toward the beast and kicking it to the side. It fell on it's side with a grunt. Yusuke now stood beside Serena and he eyed Serena in annoyance. "What the hell happened to the 'all-new, tough, butt-kicking Serena' you kept going on about, huh?" Serena winced, but the stood up, shaking her head.
"Right!" she exclaimed and raised her hand to transform. "Moon Crystal Power!" She then transformed into Sailor Moon.
By this time, Masaki was rising, murder glinting in his eyes. "Infidels! You dare to challenge me!"
"Just take care of the kid," Yusuke told Serena. "I'll deal with this."
"But-" Serena tried to protest, but Yusuke was already charging forward, fist raised. Serena pouted and muttered, "but I don't want to take care of the stupid brat…"
Meanwhile, Yusuke slammed his fist into the Baken-Ai's jaw. The Baken-Ai stumbled back, but kept his balance, and then swung his claws at Yusuke. They cut across Yusuke's chest and Yusuke fell back onto the ground with a grunt and a fierce glare. Masaki charged forward and Yusuke, still on the ground, raised his finger to him, the tip starting to glow.
And then, suddenly, the beast stopped, staring at Yusuke quizzically. "You…I know you!" he exclaimed in amazement.
Yusuke gasped as the wolf demon suddenly flashed across Yusuke's mind, saying the same thing to him. Yusuke narrowed his eyes furiously, his finger glowing brighter. "What are you talking about?" he questioned.
But the Baken-Ai was suddenly laughing. "Don't you know? We're the same. I can't kill you. And you can't kill me now, no matter how hard you try!" He then started laughing louder.
"Answer me!" Yusuke shouted, but Masaki was turning from him and walking away. "Damn it!" Yusuke, furiously, rose to his feet, and pointed his finger at the Baken-Ai one more time. "Spirit Gun!" The spirit energy went straight for the horse beast, but the beast didn't even bother to turn around. As soon as it hit Masaki, it deflected, as if Masaki had a shield around him. Yusuke was stunned as he looked down at the finger that just shot his spirit gun. "How? That was a direct shot…"
"I already told you, boy," Masaki said, turning back with a smirk. "It's too late for you to kill me now; we're the same." He then began toward Serena, now Sailor Moon, and the little boy who she stood in front of.
"But, why didn't your spirit gun work, Yusuke?!" Sailor Moon cried in a panic as the Baken-Ai advanced toward her. "And what am I supposed to do now?!"
"I don't know, Serena! Think of something!"
"I'm trying!" Serena shouted. "And it's not Serena, it's Sailor Moon!" She then turned her attention back to the second Baken-Ai. "Now stay back! I will not allow you to hurt this little boy! I stand for truth and justice! My name is Sailor Moon and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" She pointed her wand at him and the Baken-Ai snickered.
"Do you think your little trinket scares me, girl?" he asked coldly and Sailor Moon narrowed her eyes fiercely.
"I told you you were next," the little boy then said from behind.
Serena, frustrated, turned her back to the Baken-Ai and questioned the boy, "You keep saying that! 'Next' of what?!" While her back was to him, the Baken-Ai did not hesitating in attacking, swinging his massive arm into Serena, flinging her to the side. She slid across the ground with a shrill groan.
"Serena! You idiot!" Yusuke shouted to her. "What do you think you were going?!"
"I don't know!" Serena cried back as she pulled herself off the ground, her right arm and leg badly scraped and bleeding. She then fiercely turned her eyes to the Baken-Ai who was standing over the little boy now, the boy who did not seem frightened in the slightest. Serena raised her scepter. "Moon Scepter Elimination!" she cried and a large blast of energy went flying into the second Baken-Ai, causing him to fly back. But he dug his hoofs in the dirt, and began to try and fight it off, grunting and glaring severely at Serena. But Serena just narrowed her eyes and kept her hands steadily holding her wand. His body began to break under the force of the energy, his bare chest starting to cut and bleed as did his face. And as the light became more and more blinding until it was too much for the demon to handle. He let out a scream and went flying back, the mark on his head disintegrating, as the force of Serena's wand caused her to go flying backwards as well, hitting against the outside wall of the school with a loud scream. The Second Baken-Ai fell to the ground, dead. Serena then fell silent, slumping to the ground herself, her sailor uniform disappearing and being replaced with her ordinary school uniform. And as she laid unconscious, on her forehead, where her tiara had been, formed the scar of the Baken-Ai.
"Serena…?" Yusuke asked, but then turned to where the second Baken-Ai lie to see it turn to ash.
"I told her she was next," the little boy replied with a grin, before fading away from Yusuke's sight.
"Hey! Wait!" Yusuke protested, but he was already gone. Yusuke let out a sigh and then turned his eyes to where Serena laid.
Serena woke up to find herself lying in the nurse's office of Yusuke's school. "Where am I…?" she groaned as she groggily opened her eyes.
"I think she's coming to," she heard Keiko say and Serena slowly forced herself to sit up. She could see Keiko sitting there, as well as see Mr. Takanaka standing beside her bed. Yusuke was standing by the doorway, a severe expression on his face. "Don't try to get up, Serena," Keiko told her. "You just rest."
"But…what happened?" Serena asked in confusion, her head pounding.
"You passed out," Keiko explained.
"I did…?" she wondered aloud, placing a hand to her forehead. She immediately pulled back, however, with a shrill cry when she felt a burning pain cut into the flesh on her forehead.
"Be careful, Serena!" Keiko exclaimed in concern. "That scar still looks pretty sore."
"Scar…? But Yusuke's the one with the scar…" Serena looked over to Yusuke in puzzlement, but he was glaring at the floor, a scowl upon his face.
"Now tell me, Serena, what exactly happened?" Mr. Takenaka now asked, stepping forward. "Yusuke said he found you unconscious, but I'd like to hear what happened in your own words. Did Yusuke hurt you in anyway."
Serena blinked in surprised, but then immediately shook her head. "No! Of course not! I just…er…sometimes pass out at random! That's it!"
Mr. Takenaka didn't seem all that convinced. "And the scar, then?"
"Oh, this?" She went to touch it, but winced as her fingers barely brushed against it. "Um…I've always had this! Ever since I was little…" Keiko frowned and Mr. Takenaka still looked doubtful.
"See, old man? I told you I didn't do anything to her," Yusuke grumbled from the doorway. "Now can I talk to her alone?"
"Yes, yes…" Mr. Takenaka answered warily, walking toward the door and exiting, his eyes still on Serena in perplexity. Keiko then rose from her seat.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you two then…" she said reluctantly. But, when she reached Yusuke, she said, "But you better tell me what's going on soon, Yusuke."
"Yeah, yeah; I will," Yusuke brushed her off and she left. Serena had already risen from the bed and was examining her new scar in the mirror.
"It looks just like yours!" she realized and then cringed. "And it hurts a lot, too…"
"You get it when you kill a Baken-Ai," Yusuke explained, walking over to her. "It may be permanent."
"PERMANENT?!" Serena exclaimed in horror. "What do you mean permanent?!"
"That's what Botan told me."
"But…" Serena let out a whimper as she looked back into the mirror to examine the scar with a frown. "Well…at least the pain will go away soon, right?"
"Yeah…but Serena, there's something else I need to talk to you about."
"What's that?" Serena looked up at Yusuke to see his face was very severe. She frowned in perplexity. "Yusuke?"
"The Baken-Ai…it said that because we're the same I can't kill it."
Serena scrunched her eyebrows as she began to contemplate. She then began optimistically, "Well, maybe that's because after you kill one Baken-Ai, you can't kill another because…er…well…" She frowned and ended weakly, "you can't have two scars?"
"Yeah, I kind of figured it was something like that, but that's not the point."
"Well, then, what is the point, Yusuke?"
"The point is that I can't kill the Baken-Ai anymore and neither can you considering you have the scar, too, meaning that there's still a third Baken-Ai left that we can't beat."
"Well…there's always…Momiji?" Serena suggested. Yusuke sighed, shaking his head in doubt. "She can do it! I know she can!"
"I still can't believe that YOU did it."
"Hey!" Serena then shook her head. "And Momiji's just as much a part of the team as us, anyway!"
"Who said we were a team again? Because we're not," Yusuke told her. "This was supposed to be a solo mission."
"Yeah, well, without me there wouldn't have been anyway for you to beat the second Baken-Ai!"
"Technicalities!"
Serena stomped her foot in frustration. "You are so stubborn!"
Yusuke gave her a fierce glare and shouted back, "Yeah, well, you're worse!" He turned his back to her. "Like I said, there is no team. I don't even know why I even bothered telling you about the fact that we can't beat the third Baken-Ai because it has nothing to do with you anyway. And as for the second Baken-Ai, I would have figured out some way to defeat him, even if you weren't there. All you were was a nuisance."
Serena narrowed her eyes, let out a exasperated sigh and exclaimed, "Fine! Be that way!" as she gathered her things and marched past him, her shoulder hitting hard into his. When she reached the door, she turned back to him with fierce, wet eyes. "Why should I even want to help you? You're just a big jerk anyway! Just because I'm some girl in a sailor suit and don't go around being mean to people all the time doesn't mean that I can't be just as tough as you are! And even if you are stronger than me, that doesn't give you the right to be mean to me, anyway! And I do hope that you do have to fight the third Baken-Ai all by yourself because you don't deserve anyone's help! And when you do, we'll see what happens!"
She then left the nurse's office, leaving only a stunned Yusuke there.
"That jerk!" Serena was mumbling to herself as she walked away from Yusuke's school, wiping her tears from her eyes with her sleeve. "Who does he think he is, anyway? I'm not a nuisance…" Her voice trailed off with some doubt, but she then shook her head. "Why did I ever want to be like him, anyway? He's nothing but a mean, selfish, arrogant jerk!"
"Serena!"
Serena gasped and turned around to see Yusuke running up to her. Embarrassed, her face turned a bit red and she quickly wiped her eyes again as she waited for him to reach her. Panting, he stopped, bending over and placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath. Finally, he rose, and began. "I…uh…" He reached in his pocket and pulled out her moon wand. "You forgot your wand."
"Oh," Serena said, taking it from him in some disappointment. "Thanks…I guess…"
"Yeah, whatever…" Yusuke shoved his hands in his pockets and looked toward the sky. "Um…Serena?"
"Yeah, Yusuke?"
"I…good job, I guess, for taking out the second Baken-Ai…I forgot to mention it before…"
Serena grinned. "You mean it?"
"Yeah, I guess…" he reluctantly admitted. "That still doesn't mean we're a team or-" Yusuke was cut off, however, by Serena, who suddenly leaped toward him, swinging her arms around him in a big hug and Yusuke blushed wildly.
"Thanks, Yusuke! I knew you weren't that big of a jerk, after all!" she exclaimed as she hugged him. "And I was wrong to say all those means things about you! But don't worry, I'll make sure you don't fight the third Baken-Ai or Danjuro or Torazo or anyone alone, because you'll always have me, even if I can't do all that much! I promise you you'll always have someone to fight by your side!"
"Serena…" He then smiled himself and hugged her back.
"Me?!" Momiji questioned over the phone.
"That's right," Serena stated as she sat in her bedroom that evening, talking to Momiji on the phone. "You're the only one left."
"But I can't kill a Baken-Ai!"
"Sure you can!" Serena insisted, but Momiji frowned.
"I don't think it's a good idea to rely on me, Serena."
"Why not? You're reliable!"
"Yeah, but…" Biting her lower lip, Momiji decided it was best to change the subject. "So, how'd today go, Serena?
"Hmm?"
"You know; with the whole quitting school thing?"
"Oh, that!" Serena exclaimed, sitting up straight. "Oh, I've given up the free life."
"After one day, too," Momiji pointed out.
"Yeah, well…I've come to the conclusion that it's not for me. I've just got to be good old Serena; being Yusuke's too complicated, I think."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, one the hand, you have to be a rude, obnoxious jerk, but on the other hand, you really can't be any of those things at all. It's kind of confusing, actually."
"It sounds like it."
"Besides, good old Serena is just as tough and butt-kicking as new Serena was, anyway!"
Momiji laughed. "Yeah, I think so, too. So, is that it."
Serena leaned back in her chair. "I think so…" She then frowned and hesitated. "Actually, there was one more reason that changed my mind about this whole 'quitting school' thing…"
"Huh?"
"Serena! Are you on the phone?" Serena's mom called fiercely from downstairs and Serena let out an "eep" as she stood up.
"No, Mom!" she cried in her panic "Of course not…" She then whispered into the phone, "I've got to go…my mom is going to kill me!"
Momiji blinked in confusion. "Serena…?"
"Because if you are, you'll be punished for another week!" he mother scolded. "You're lucky I let you off with only one week of being grounded for skipping class today!"
"Yes, mom! I know!" Serena called back.
"Oh! So that's the other reason!" Momiji realized.
Serena frowned and whispered, "Yeah…Miss Haruna called my mom this afternoon about me missing class…"
"SERENA!" Serena's mother voice boomed, nearly shaking the house.
Serena let out a shrill cry of fear. "Bye, Momiji!" she hastily blurted out then and hung up the phone before Momiji even had the chance to answer.
"Bye…Serena…" Momiji said, despite this fact, and then hung up the phone.
Coming Attractions:
Momiji: So we have two Baken-Ai out of the way, but hold on a second! I have to beat the third Baken-Ai?!
Yusuke: Um, don't you think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Momiji?
Momiji: Oh, right! Sorry! Okay, although the final Baken-Ai doesn't show up in the next episode, there will still be plenty of action!
Serena: With suspense and comedy to boot!
Yusuke: Can you girls maybe be a bit more specific?
Momiji: Well, when all three of us get mysterious invitations to Okimoto's Tournament on Nagai Island, we go only to discover it's really a trap!
Serena: Now Okimoto's forcing us to fight in his tournament otherwise he'll sick all the demons on us at once! What else can we go but listen to what he says?!
Yusuke: Great…that means we really ARE going to be a team, huh?
Momiji: Yep! Isn't it great?!
Yusuke: Not really…
Serena: But why would Okimoto do this? What is his purpose? Could it have something to do with-wait a second! Who's that hottie with the pacifier?!
Momiji: Wow! I think I'm in love!
Serena: Me, too!
Yusuke: Please don't make me sick...
Serena: Well, he's not as cute as my Darien, but…anyway, what was I saying? Oh, yeah! Could it have something to do with…Danjuro?!
Yusuke: Yeah, I bet the audience didn't see THAT one coming… Did I mention how much I hate that guy?
Serena: It seems to me you mention those things a lot actually. With EVERYONE.
Momiji: Yeah, Yusuke! Is there anyone you DO like?
Yusuke: Well…
Serena: And Keiko doesn't count!
Yusuke: That's not fair! And don't you think you two are going off the topic again?
Momiji: Oops! Sorry! Anyway, the fists are going to fly as me, Serena, and Yusuke team up to fight in Okimoto's tournament! So tune in next time for the next all-new episode and the start of an all-new three-part arc of "What's My Line Again…?," Episode 12: "Okimoto's Tournament! What happened to having a choice?!"
Serena: No way! The next episode ends like that?!