Yu Yu Hakusho Re Pure Episode 17 - Space Pirate Strawberry
The rays of sunlight beam through the second story porch sliding doors. They slowly pan across the floor of the bedroom until they reach a basket. Touched by the sun's rays, Strawberry wakes up and starts stretching her feline frame.
The bedroom is small and unremarkable, containing the usual sorts of posters and cultural bric-brac that a normal junior high school girl would be expected to have.
Strawberry notices that her human pet was already up. She also notices that food and water have been laid out for her, so she avails herself.
Suddenly she hears footsteps on the stairs.
"You're crazy. You're going to make me late. I'm the class representative."
Strawberry's human pet and another human girl enter the room. "Kayko, I want you to meet my cat, Strawberry. Strawberry this is Kayko."
Strawberry's habits from the pet store kick in and she stands on her hind quarters and waves a paw. "Avast ye maties!"
Kayko blushes. "She's so cute waving that sword around."
Megumi looks at Kayko funny. "Kayko you're so strange. It's almost like you actually see a sword in Strawberry's paw."
Kayko puts her hand to her head, embarrassed. "It was just a figure of speech." Kayko reaches down to pet Strawberry.
Strawberry is very careful to act like a normal cat and allows herself to be excessively petted. However, Strawberry is very nervous that this human girl was able to see her spirit sword.
"Oh my god. We are so late!" Kayko grabs Megumi and drags her downstairs and out of the house.
Strawberry notes with pleasure that some of her spirit essence had rubbed off on Kayko and Kayko had left a faint but traceable spirit trail. Strawberry knew that she had to investigate this new spiritual phenomena. She might now be a house cat, but the streets would forever course through her veins.
Strawberry pats her front right leg with her left paw.
Strawberry notes that the balcony sliding door is ajar. She slides through the opening and squeezes through the balcony's fence. She sits on the balcony's six inch ledge and judges her escape plan. The ten foot drop is too far for her to jump, but if there was something that she could bounce off of and break the fall she would be okay.
She finds one. A large tree is growing by the balcony. With joy she runs toward the tree, and stops at the edge, terrified. Strawberry is afraid of heights. Strawberry slaps herself with her paws. "It's no problem. We've made jumps twice as far. Let's go!"
Strawberry makes another pass at the jump and again stops short.
"I can't believe Space Pirate Strawberry can't make a jump!"
Strawberry turns around to see her partner in crime Parfait. She is a cute cat and quite a tease, but she was always there for Strawberry when she needed her (with the exception of that time two weeks ago when Strawberry was captured by the pet store owners).
Angered, Strawberry makes the jump, preferring death to having to listen to Parfait's teasing. She bounces easily off of the tree and lands gently on the ground. After a quick squeeze through the fence Strawberry tastes the freedom of the streets for the first time in weeks.
Parfait rubs Strawberry's check with her cheek. "I though I had lost you for good, Strawberry-sama."
"How did you find me?"
Parfait puts her paw to her chest. "I followed your spirit trail and it lead me right here."
A giant sweat mark appears beside Strawberry's head. "You do remember how to tell which way the trail was going and which way the trail had come from?"
Parfait blushes. "Well, um, of course Senpai. I got here, didn't I?"
Strawberry sighs in exasperation.
"I didn't?"
"You followed the trail of a girl I marked. Only you followed it backwards."
Tears flow from Parfait's eyes and she turns white. Video game music signifying that Parfait has lost is heard.
"But it's good that you're here. That girl I marked saw my spirit sword. We need to get a handle on her, to see if she is a friend or a foe."
Parfait smiles. "I'm right on it!" Parfait runs to the faint spirit essence trail and then runs full speed along it, running full speed into Megumi's front door.
Strawberry drops her head in despair.
...
The school stands before Strawberry and Parfait like a giant castle. Spirit energy seemed to ooze from every window of the school.
Parfait stands wide-eyed. "Awesome."
Strawberry nods. "Definitely something that must be investigated."
"Leave it to me boss. I got us here, didn't I?"
Strawberry sighs. "Only after leading me on a dozen detours through every fish market in town."
Parfait hangs her head.
"Really, I don't understand how you got an Apprentice Space Pirate license, third class with no restrictions."
Parfait winks and sticks out her tongue. "Beda!"
Strawberry smiles. She could never stay mad at Parfait for long because Parfait was just too cute. "Focus, Parfait. This mission is very dangerous. Even if we don't encounter any problems from the spirit world, those students might want to catch us and make us pets."
"It's not that bad. I was also caught and placed in a nice home. The place doubles as a business. I'll have to show it to you."
Strawberry nods. "I would like that. But, let's do it after this mission. There appears to be a field and some woods on the other side of this castle. We should be able to get some cover there."
...
Parfait and Strawberry hid in the bushes. Some of the humans play softball in the field by the bushes.
Parfait nods. "You're right. I have never seen such an active zone of spiritual warfare."
Strawberry looks serious. "I'm sure that we're not the only ones who have noticed this. You can bet the Iron Jaw Gang will be trying to exploit this area."
Parfait nods her head.
Suddenly Strawberry and Parfait hear something farther into the bushes. They squeeze through the undergrowth to an isolated clearing to see a scary looking short student doing a martial arts form. He concludes each cycle of the exercise with kicking a crudely made practice dummy. The dummy has glasses, shabby clothes and a cocked head.
Strawberry whispers in Parfait's ear. "Just walk backward like nothing's happening."
On the way back to the baseball field they notice a stirring above them. They look up to see a girl student with pigtails and a gym uniform on swinging from branch to branch.
Parfait looks at Strawberry with a bewildered expression.
"She must be in love."
Strawberry and Parfait arrive at the softball field.
"Senpai, what could the Iron Jaw Gang do to exploit this energy?"
Strawberry nods her head. "Their leader, Chewy, has many abilities that he could enhance with this energy."
"Like biting?"
"That and telekinesis. The ability to move objects with his mind."
"Scary."
"Yes, I hope he hasn't already gained such a horrible ..."
Strawberry is hit in the head by a softball.
"Senpai! Senpai!"
About a half a mile a way, on the other side of the field and across the street, Chewy, a small black cat with a monstrous mouth snaps his jaws in excitement.
...
Strawberry wakes up underneath a tree in the woods.
"Boss. You're okay!"
"What happened?"
"You were brained by a softball. I was able to drag you to safety before the humans came to find the ball."
"How long was I out?"
"Many hours."
"Any developments?"
"There was a larger human who had an enormous evil aura. I don't think he's left the castle yet."
Strawberry tries to stand but stumbles.
"Senpai, you're in no shape to fight today. Let me show you my new home. We can fight again tomorrow."
Strawberry smiles. "As expected from an Apprentice Space Pirate third class with no restrictions."
...
Parfait leads Strawberry to a large building and helps her get in through the back stairs door.
"It's only ten floors up."
"Parfait, you do this every day?"
"Yes, one gets used to it. Just keep facing forwards and there's nothing to it."
Strawberry and Parfait negotiate the first half flight. Strawberry is winded, but looks at Parfait, determined not to lose to her. "Let's go!"
...
Strawberry almost keels over, but she makes it to the tenth floor. "Your pet's place had better be pretty good."
"It's the best. All sorts of girl humans come in and sing. They treat me like royalty."
Parfait jumps up to an open window ledge. "This way."
Strawberry gulps but follows.
Strawberry and Parfait walk about one quarter of the length of the building before coming to a window ledge with flower pots. The pots face a narrow alley with very little sun.
"This is the place. Be careful with the pots. They tip over easily."
Strawberry nods. She gets around the pots and jumps into the room.
The room is very nice and comfortable. A large amount of food and water is laid out for Parfait and Parfait invites Strawberry to fuel up.
Parfait winks. "Now watch the master in action."
Parfait squeezes through a door to another room. Strawberry sticks her head out to watch. The other room is a very nice office. A young girl and her mother are there with a young woman in a uniform. The girl is apparently trying to audition for a singing part.
"Ma'am, it's really wonderful that your daughter has these dreams. She is also very young. She might not be where she needs to be now, but I know some very good coaches who can help her nurture her gift."
"Do you want that sweet heart?"
"Neko-chan!" The little girl runs over and starts petting Parfait.
"That's our cat. She usually sleeps all day."
Suddenly the door swings open. Parfait looks up with a start. It's the human with the evil aura.
Strawberry senses the aura as well. "Get out of there now!"
Strawberry leans against the door so Parfait can get through. "He's going to use a mind control weapon. We have got to get farther away."
Parfait looks at the window. "Only one way."
Strawberry gulps, but hears the evil human laughing. "Let's go!"
Both Strawberry and Parfait rush the open window. They jump as the energy from the mind control weapon starts filling the room. On the way out of the window Strawberry knocks over a flower pot that falls down the alley. The don't make the tenth story ledge on the building across the alley but their momentum allows them to land on the ninth story ledge.
Strawberry hugs the ledge.
Parfait smirks a little. "We're safe, fraidy-cat."
Strawberry relaxes. "For now. However, your home base has been compromised and there's no room to hide you at my place. We're going to have to get you back with the pirate gang."
"How are we going to catch up with them? This is a big city and they move swiftly from port to port."
Strawberry smiles. "At sundown, there are two places they keep watch, depending on the Iron Jaw Gang's movements. I'll take you to the closest one."
...
The sun is going down as Parfait and Strawberry approach the bush.
Strawberry smiles. "If they aren't here, they would be in back of the fish store five blocks farther up."
When they arrive at the bush they see no scouts. Suddenly they hear a snapping.
Strawberry looks up. "Chewy!"
Chewy snaps his jaws twice.
Strawberry pushes Parfait. "Run. Meet up with the gang. I can hold off Chewy, but you can outrun him. Go!"
Parfait nods. "But, senpai, you're hurt. I'll get help."
"No, I can handle myself. Now go!"
Parfait runs off at a dead sprint.
Strawberry looks Chewy in the eyes. "Come on, you and me. What do you have?"
Strawberry feels something strange around her leg. She looks down to see a string tying her leg to the bush.
Chewy laughs, then charges.
Even with one leg tied, Chewy is no match for Space Pirate Strawberry in a fight. After five minutes, Chewy crawls away, nursing his bruises.
Strawberry tries to free herself but cannot.
...
A human on a bicycle comes by. Strawberry moans and the bicycle stops. A tall, attractive lady uses nail clippers to free Strawberry.
Strawberry meows for the human in gratitude.
"You're lucky my job is giving life today." Suddenly the human's aura changes to a cold malevolence. Not one of pure evil, but of of indifferent death dealing. "Usually it's taking life."
Terrified, Strawberry sprints for home. She is able to climb a tree branch to get back to the balcony and sneak back inside her room and back into the basket.
A few minutes later Strawberry hears her human pet come home.
"I'm home!"
Strawberry's pet enters the room. "Now who is the laziest cat in the whole world? Did you sleep all day?"
To Be Continued