Me: Hey guys, sorry about the wait…and future delay…

Not too long ago, I was admitted in the hospital and I just barely got out. They found three mass in my liver and not sure it's cancer or not. I'm waiting for the results and see what the surgeon will do afterwards…but there is a slight high that there will be a surgery to remove them… In my next update, I'll let you know what the doc decision will be.

Anyway those who reviewed: poseidon7, CMC (3x), androzani84, Peter Sam, and skyarloey – thank you to you all.

Peter Sam: most likely that Odin will evolve since he wants to beat Drago so the doc will think of a way to make him stronger or something…

Skyarloey: I'm not sure if Darien will have a bakugan partner…let me talk to my friend.

Well enjoy this update.

-Shopping Center-

"How about this one?" said Darien, showing Rini a white rabbit backpack.

Rini's eyes sparkle, happily, "It's perfect!" She grabbed the backpack from Darien and hugged it, "Thank you Darien! Look Dan, isn't it cute!"

"Sure whatever you say Rini," murmured the brunette. He leaned over at Shun, "Why did we agree on coming again?"

Shun opened one of his eye, "Did you want to be tortured with the other girls who by the way went to the mall down the street."

Dan paled, "Good point…man Marucho is the lucky one."

Shun nodded, quietly.

Serena appeared behind Darien, pouting, "Why do you always buy things for Rini? What makes her special?"

Darien shrugged, "Can't help it. Besides, she's going on a field trip so she needed one."

"That's right, I remember hearing about that as well," said Luna who was in Serena's arms. The blond teen glared down at her guardian cat and started squeezing her tightly. She hissed, "You, too Luna!"

"Hey, don't take it out on Luna," said Rini as she was trying to put on the backpack but her small hands wouldn't let her. She sighed, "Dan, can you help me?"

"Mm – oh sure," said Dan before helping Rini putting on the small backpack.

Serena simply glared before her eyes brighten. She let go of Luna and smiled, "I know! Darien, let's go on a picnic – just the two of us!" She grabbed hold onto Darien's arm, "Let's, Let's!"

"No fair! I want to go, too!" said Rini, angrily and jumped onto Darien's right side.

Dan slump his shoulders as the two argue again. He sighed before his eyes wonder over to the entrance of the store to see Hotaru looking over at them with a sad expression.

"Hotaru!" shouted Rini, happily and jumped down from Darien's arm. She ran over to her, but the teen started to run off, "Wait, Hotaru! Don't run away! We're friends!"

Outside, Hotaru stopped and turned around, "F-Friends?"

"Yes, we are, right?" said Rini, innocently.

"Rini…" said Hotaru, softly before looking away, "I'm sorry!" and started to run off again.

Coming out of the store, Darien frowned, "That girl seems to have some major issues…"

'You don't know the half of it,' thought Dan.

Serena sighed, "Amara said to not let Rini near her – but she's not a bad girl! I just know it, right Dan, Shun? You can feel if someone has a good aura or not?"

Shun and Dan nodded while Darien smiled.

"Hotaru," said Rini with worry before making a decision. She turned around, "I know what we can do to help her!"

Darien widened his eyes while Serena had a smile on her face.

-Hotaru's house-

Kaori walked to the door to answer who was ringing the bell. She opened it and looked down to see it was Rini, "Oh, it's you…"

"Uh…here!" said Rini, showing her a white rabbit backpack to Kaori, "Please give this to Hotaru." The redhead accepted the small backpack as Rini gave her a respected bow, "Goodbye and thank you!"

Kaori watched as Rini run off and closed to the door. She turned around to see Hotaru standing behind her.

"Kaori is that…?" said Hotaru before seeing the white rabbit backpack. She snatched the small backpack from Kaori's hand.

"It was that girl again. She said to give it to you," replied Kaori.

Hotaru smiled a bit before seeing a small note in the backpack. She pulled it out and read it, "Hotaru, let's go on a picnic tomorrow. I'll make lots of things to eat! Please bring this backpack with you, okay? From Rini."

Kaori crossed her arms, "The nerve of her…she knows you're not well to go out; besides your father wouldn't allow it."

Hotaru frowned, knowing what she said was true.

"I think it's a wonderful idea."

Hotaru and Kaori turned around to see Dr. Tomoe, standing behind them. He smile, "I've been so busy with research; I haven't spent much time with you. Go on and have fun."

Hotaru smiled, happily while Kaori snorted.

-Next day, Serena's house-

"We're on our way!" shouted the girls, dashing out of the house. Dan was waiting by the car with Shun as Serena carried a rather large brown basket to the trunk.

"Is that all food?" said Darien, opening the trunk.

"That's right! I woke up early this morning to make them! Dan and Rini helped!" said Serena, having a small trouble holding onto the basket. She smiled, "Besides, there is no rule of having too much food!" before stuffing the basket into the trunk.

"Will it even fit in the trunk?" wondered Darien, helping Serena with the basket.

Meanwhile Rini was looking for Hotaru if she accepted her invitation or if she could make it. She looked around the road before leaning onto the red car, "Hotaru wasn't able to make it, after all…"

Luna, who was using Dan's head as a watching post gasped. She jumped onto Dan's shoulder and leaned over to Rini's ear, "Oh, Rini, look again…"

Rini turned around to see Serena and Darien working together on fitting the basket in the trunk, but behind them was Hotaru, leaning onto a pole.

Rini smiled, "Hotaru! You make it!" She ran over to her and gave her a large hug. "You came to our picnic!"

Hotaru smiled, pulling out the white rabbit backpack, "Yup!"

-The Park-

"Oh wow! Look at this place," said Rini, happily. She ran down to the open field and circled around, "Come on, you guys!"

"Wait Rini!" said Hotaru, running after her. Dan and Shun went with the girls while Serena and Darien were standing by with a smile on their faces. That's when Darien winked at his girlfriend and took out a camera.

Rini jumped onto Dan's back and gave a victory pose while Hotaru was sitting on the ground, smelling the pink flowers and Shun was lying on a tree branch as Darien was taking pictures.

That's when Rini saw that Hotaru made some flower crowns out of the pink flowers. The small pink hair child giggled as Hotaru placed one flower crown on Dan who blushed.

Serena walked over to them and placed a flower crown on Rini and Hotaru. Shun was able to avoid them by staying up on the tree branch.

Not too far from them, the three Outer Scouts and their bakugan partners were watching them from a distance.

Amara frowned, "I told them to keep away from that child."

"But is she really connected with the enemy?" wondered Trista.

"I'm not sure, my lady," said Kyubina, seriously. "I sense some sort of evil aura around that girl, but it's faint."

"I agree….I have a bad feeling about her as well," said Amara as her bakugan partner agreed.

Michelle smiled, softly, "That may be true, but they seem to be having so much fun. It's rather cute and relaxing to see them carefree, not worrying about the enemy."

Trista and Amara nodded.

Meanwhile, Serena and the girls were playing leap the frog while the boys were relaxing on the grass, but when Hotaru jumped over Serena's back, her chest started to hurt once again. She collapsed onto the ground but Darien helped her up.

"Are you alright?' asked Darien as Hotaru nodded. He picked her up, "Come on, take a break with Dan and Shun."

Hotaru smiled and followed Darien to where the boys were relaxing as Rini was trying to jump over Serena's back but fell on top of her instead. This caused Serena to fall onto the grass in pain before getting angry and started chasing Rini around the opening field.

Shun opened one of his eyes before spotting a large glass building not too far from them. He looked over at Darien, "What's that over there, Darien?"

"It's a greenhouse. A good friend and colleague of mine work here. He's a scholar whose life work is the study of roses."

Behind them, Rini was running away from Serena before spotting Dan and used him as shield. Rini stick out her head before sticking out her tongue at her teenage mother.

"Don't you dare use Dan as a shield! Come back here and apologize, Rini!"

Rini shook her head with a smile on her face while Dan had a defeat look on his face. Darien, Shun, Hotaru and Luna had their eyes closed but had a smile on their faces.

-Witches 4-

"Yes, Professor?" answered Mimete.

"Mimete, what color roses do you like?" asked Tomoe as he was attending a yellow rose.

Mimete's eyes sparkle, "Well, if someone were to give me some, I'd like a million deep red ones! Um…why do you ask Professor?"

Tomoe chuckled, "Breeding a better rose requires senses and perseverance. I understand there's a botanist who has had great success," as he was clipping off a leaf from the yellow rose.

Mimete carefully moved Odin from his usual resting location, but carelessly moved the junk from her keyboard and started looking for the selected person. "That person would no doubt possess a pure heart," she said before finding her target who was in a middle age man in his mid-forties that caused Mimete to frown, "…I've identified the target."

"All right, I will create an appropriate a Daimon immediately," said Tomoe as he placed the finished yellow rose into the machine. "I'm counting on you…both."

-Greenhouse-

"Oh wow," said Dan while Shun looked around.

"It's amazing!" said Rini, happily while Hotaru looked in awe.

"They're so beautiful and so many different varieties!" said Serena.

Kneeing down and attending some roses, there was a tan man with a straw hat. When they got close to him, the man got up and smiled upon seeing Darien.

"Hey there, if it isn't Darien."

"Hello, there Kenny!" greeted Darien.

"How've you been?" asked Kenny as he was dusting his hands from the dirt. He chuckled, "As usual, you've brought along some lovely ladies with yea though this a first for the young gentlemen."

Rini and Hotaru blushed upon being called ladies while Serena leaned over to Darien's side with an annoyed glare. She hissed, "As usual?!"

Darien shook his head, nervously, "He was only kidding!" as Luna gave him an amused expression. "Kenny, cut that out! These are my friends! Well, Serena is my girlfriend, and Rini and Dan are her cousins. Shun, here is a distant cousin of mine and Hotaru is a friend of Rini and Dan."

"Alright, alright,' laughed Kenny when a bunch of kids ran up to him. Two twin boys jumped onto his shoulders while the other was hugging his legs. One young girl was carrying an orange box and handed it to him.

"Mama made this for you Papa!"

"Is it croquettes?" asked Kenny, playfully.

"You guessed it! You guessed it!" laughed the children.

Meanwhile, Serena and Rini had a disbelief look on their faces; Darien, Shun and Dan were shocked while Hotaru had a surprise look.

"He's got so many!" gasped Serena, softly.

"There's more than before" whispered Darien.

"Who can have that many kids is beyond me," whispered Dan to Shun who agreed.

Meanwhile outside of the greenhouse, Mimete was walking on the pathway while arguing with Odin about her professor's decision of their next target.

"But the targets are chosen by intuitive feelings, Odin."

"Yes, yes and that human show it by creating new plant life with his hands. Ever thought about it that way or you just want to chase your secret human crushes that have little feelings to your own feelings?"

Mimete was about to burst when she heard voice coming from the entrance of the greenhouse. She quickly hid behind the side of the glass wall.

Kenny bends down and places his hands onto two of his children. He smiled," Okay, that's enough. Now go home and help your mama."

"Okay!" shouted the children before running off. As the children passed by her, Mimete was in disbelief on how many children the target had. She made a face, "No way…!"

Odin had a sweat-drop, "Never in my life…have I see that many human children…"

When it was lunch time, Kenny led them to a nice spot in the park to eat their lunch together. They placed the blanket over the grass where Serena started passing the plates around to her boyfriend and the kids while Kenny opened his lunch box with a smile on his face.

"Croquette!" Kenny grinned, happily.

"How's your research on the new rose varieties going?" asked Darien.

"Well, I'm almost there," said Kenny as he stuffed his face with rice while Serena encourages Hotaru to help yourself with anything they have.

"Thank you Serena," said Hotaru before handing some to Luna as well, "Here you go."

That's when Serena noticed Rini was separating some of her food around. She leaned over to her and narrowed her eyes, "Rini, be sure to eat your green peppers."

Rini closed her eyes, "I don't have to eat them. Even Darien is avoiding them, see?"

Serena widened her eyes and looked over to see her boyfriend was indeed separating the green peppers. She placed her hands onto her hips, "Darien, you have to eat them!"

"But I…"

"Eat!" scolded Serena like her mother does.

"Okay, I'll eat them," said Darien and quickly ate the green peppers.

Serena nodded before leaning over to Rini, "Now it's your turn, Rini – no excuses!"

"All right, already!" whined Rini as she copied Darien.

Dan and Shun had a small smirk on their faces. It's clear to see that Rini is indeed the future daughter to Darien and Serena. The young pink hair girl had the same whining attitude from Serena and has the same stubbornness from Darien.

Hotaru laughed before looking rather sad.

Rini noticed, "Hotaru, don't you like your lunch? You don't have to eat it if you don't like it. You should avoid anything that Serena makes…well minus her curry, she makes them pretty good. Do you want to try Dan's dumplings? They're pretty good."

Hotaru shook her head, "No, it's not that. The food is amazing…It's just…I was thinking it's been a long time since I ate with my papa. And seeing you with your cousins…"

Darien, Serena, Dan, Shun and Rini had a sad look on their faces.

Kenny stopped eating and placed his lunch box in front of him. He placed his hand over at Hotaru's shoulder where she looked over at him with a surprise look on her face. Kenny smiled, softly, "We adults sometimes get completely bogged down. Rather than complain, it's better to have fun with friends," before he lightly pushed Hotaru to Rini, "Isn't that right?"

Hotaru landed onto Rini who landed onto Luna.

Darien, Serena and Dan laughed while Shun had a smirk on his face. Rini and Hotaru laughed shortly after before getting up, making sure Luna was alright before they all continued to eat.

Inside the greenhouse, Mimete opened a window where she could see her target. She was about to release the daimon when she spotted Darien and started to blush. Her eyes sparkle, "Oh, that one! He's way better!"

Odin sigh, knowing she would chose a hot looking male instead. Mimete placed the suitcase onto the floor and was ready to release the daimon when the words of her professor's echoed though her mind.

"I'm counting on you, Mimete."

Mimete closed her eyes before standing up and grabbed the suitcase. She walked away from the window and headed back deeper into the greenhouse, puzzling Odin a bit.

After lunch, Kenny offered a tour to Darien and the others.

"In this greenhouse, there's just about every rose variety in Japan," stated Kenny.

"Incredible and they're very lovely, don't you agree Dan?" said Rini.

"I guess," murmured the brunette that's when he noticed Hotaru had her shoulders down, "Hey, are you alright, Hotaru? Do you feel tired?"

"Oh – no, I'm alright," said Hotaru.

"It is lovely, no? And we've developed many specially bred varieties as well," said Kenny.

Hotaru frowned, "Specially bred?"

"It's hard to believe that an old dude like him bred these," whispered Serena as she was looking at some purple roses. Kenny, however, was able to hear her and gave her a slight glare which caused Serena sheepishly gave him a smile of apology.

Hotaru looked back at the roses, "He should let them just grow freely…"

Dan and Shun looked at each other, feeling the sadness coming out of Hotaru while Rini looked at her friend with an understanding but sad look.

"In here, we have tropical plants," said Kenny, opening another door.

Rini pulled onto Hotaru's sleeve to get her attention but the older teen shook her head. Hotaru told her to go without her as she was feeling a bit tired, but she'll catch up later.

Rini looked down sadly, but understand her friend. She nodded before running over to Serena and Darien where they entered the other greenhouse. Dan and Shun notified to Serena and Darien that they will be staying close by to Hotaru just in case.

"You didn't go?" said Hotaru.

Dan shook his head, "To be honest, I'm not a plant lover. Besides…you could use a shoulder to lean on or do you want to talk about it?"

Hotaru blinked a bit before given them a warm smile.

For Serena and Darien, when they entered the other greenhouse, they came across a woman with a red scarf covering her hair and a large red sunglass holding an unknown plant to Darien's face.

"Excuse me, could you tell me what this flower is called," asked the woman as she moved over to Darien's side, causing Serena to get mad.

"I'm not sure," said Darien, feeling slightly awkward.

"Ask the expert over there!" snapped Serena, pushing the strange woman away from her boyfriend and placed herself beside him.

"Oh, I just assumed this man was the expert," said the woman before elbowing Serena away from Darien. She slightly blushed, "You seemed so scholarly. Would you mind speaking alone with me?"

"I'm sorry. I'm with family today," said Darien, placing Serena and Rini by his side.

"Oh, your little sisters?"

"No, my future wife and daughter, excuse me," replied Darien before walking away from the strange woman as Serena's eyes sparkle in love.

Mimete gritted her teeth, "H-How dare he! In that case, I'll take his pure heart by force!"

Odin jumped onto her shoulder, "Mimete! Get a hold of yourself! You need to forget that human and got to your real target! Don't forget about the professor's words!"

Mimete paused as she clenched the suitcase holder, tightly.

Meanwhile Darien was blushing while Serena was holding onto Darien's arm with a loving smile and was mumbling to herself 'your future wife…future wife…wife…'

That's when Rini stopped, "I'm going back to Hotaru, is that alright?"

Darien nodded, "Alright, but stay close to Shun or Dan and don't leave Hotaru alone."

Rini nodded before running back to the other greenhouse where Dan, Shun and Hotaru stayed behind. Suddenly the sky turned dark and dark clouds covered the sky where thunder started to be heard.

The three teens who were outside of the greenhouse entrance noticed the sky.

"Oh no, it looks like it's about to rain," said Hotaru. She bit her lip, "I…I think better get back home before it starts pouring."

Just before Dan and Shun could say anything, the rain started to fall down heavily, instantly. The people in the park started to get out of the rain and headed out from the park. That's when hail started to fall down as well.

'Hail? This is not good,' thought Dan before looking over at Shun. His friend nodded before the brunette addressed Hotaru, "Come on, we better head back with the others. You wouldn't be able to head home by yourself in this weather."

Hotaru bit her lip, but nodded and entered into the greenhouse with the boys. Inside of the other side of the greenhouse, Darien, Serena and Kenny looked up at the glass windows.

"What's going on? It's not the season for hail!" said Kenny in shock.

"This is bad; its looks pretty severe," said Darien.

Suddenly, a glass window broke and hail started to fall down at the plants and the light was turned off.

"Uh-oh, this isn't good!" said Kenny before dashing away from Darien and Serena.

"This doesn't look good!" said Luna.

"Let's give him a hand," said Darien as Serena nodded.

Meanwhile, Rini opened the door to the other side of the greenhouse. She looked around for her friend and the boys, "Hotaru! Dan! Shun – ahh!" she screamed upon hearing the thunder.

With Kenny, he was placing the planks of wood to cover the broken window to protect his roses, but he was slightly struggling for him to hold onto the plank with one hand while hammering. Suddenly, another pair of hands appears and was holding onto the plank of wood.

Kenny looked to his left to see it was the young girl that came with Darien and looked down to the ground, the two boys were holding onto the ladder. He offered a smile, "Thank you."

"Not at all," said the teens.

Continuing hammering, Kenny explained, "I have to protect these seedlings. They're a disease-resistant variety I finally managed to create."

"Disease-resistant?" asked Hotaru.

Dan and Shun looked down at the small plants that the snow was falling at. They both couldn't believe this man created something that can help cure some diseases.

"Beauty isn't everything when it comes to new varieties," said Kenny.

Suddenly, out of nowhere something hit the ladder and caused it to break. Kenny holds onto Hotaru and turns his back, causing him to land on it on the cement floor. He was able to spare her from getting hurt, but the shock caused her to faint.

"She's going to be alright," said Dan as he placed her beside the shelves of flowers. Suddenly they heard some footsteps, coming towards them.

"Who's there?!" shouted Kenny.

Leaning onto the door frame Mimete sighed, "Work is work, I guess. I'm taking the road to top management over love," as she pointed to Kenny, "Mister, I'm taking your pure heart – come forth, daimon!"

The suitcase opened and came out was a woman with a yellow rose skirt, a black top that covered her chest and arms and her hair was styled as a rose. She grinned, "U-Bara! Bara! Bara!"

"Would just hurry up and get this over with!" snapped Odin.

"Get away from here boys!" shouted Kenny.

Dan and Shun nodded their heads before dashing away from them and looking for a place to transform, but before sending a message to Serena, Darien and Rini.

U Bara grabbed onto Kenny's shirt and lifted him onto her face where she started to suck out Kenny's pure heart and swallowed it. She dropped him to the ground next to Hotaru who was still unconscious.

Just as Mimete was about to leave, the doors opened and they saw Sailor Mini Moon and two of the Warrior Brawlers.

"You have no appreciation for flowers! People like you will ruin the world!" said Mini Moon, pointing her wand at them, "I am a Sailor Scout trainee who fights for love and for justice – Sailor Mini Moon! In the name of the future Moon, I'll punish you!"

"We're not saying anything," murmured Ventus and Pyrus.

Mimete gritted her teeth, "Sassy little girl! U-Bara, deal with them!"

The daimon nodded before creating a few yellow roses and throws them towards Mini Moon and the warriors' direction. Rini screamed but the yellow roses stopped when Pyrus used his sword and a single red rose cancelled the rest out.

"The rose attack is my special technique. I don't like cheap imitations," said Tuxedo Mask, jumping in front of Rini.

"And I don't like you snatching good people's pure hearts," said Sailor Moon as she walked beside Tuxedo Mask. "I am the Sailor Scout who fights for love and for justice – Super Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"

Mimete stomped her feet, "Curse you – hey, did you change outfit brat?! Well it doesn't matter! U-Bara, defeat them – all of them!"

"Let me deal with that warrior brawler Mimete," growled Odin.

Mimete looked around, "Even if we go to that different dimension, the whole place could break. I'm not risking getting my face scratched by glass Odin. Besides, U-Bara can take them!"

Odin sighed, "Fine…I'll deal with them some other day."

That's when he saw U-Bara getting hit by Mini Moon's small attack. He snapped, "How can you let a human brat beat you like that?! Get a hold of yourself and take them down!"

U-Bara shouted before slamming her roots arms into the ground, causing a small quake. The daimon smirked, "Yellow is the color of jealousy!"

Pyrus and Shun jumped just in enough time when roots came out of the floor and captured Sailor Moon, Mini Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

"You did it! Took you long enough!" praised Mimete. "Now get those warrior boys!"

"I don't think so," said Pyrus before looking over at Shun. "A little help, if you please."

Ventus nodded before creating a small tornado around the daimon as Dan used the fire sword with burning dragon and cut the roots that were holding onto the two scouts and Tuxedo Mask. The fire spread to the daimon which in result created a flaming tornado.

Unknown to them, Hotaru unconsciously woke up and grabbed hold onto one of the roots. She grabbed it tightly and started to glow with unknown power while the root started to wilt along the heart snatcher.

Ventus spotted the sudden glow, but stay quiet.

"It's so hot…I'm wilting away," gasped U-Bara. Mimete back away before closing her eyes and ran away from the scene.

Sailor Moon took out her staff, "Rainbow Moon Heartache!"

The attack destroyed the daimon, leaving a single yellow rose and the pure heart. The daimon pod was destroyed as well.

At the emergency door, Mimete pouted, "Damn those brats! Let's go Odin. I have a feeling that you wouldn't be able to beat that Pyrus with his new…upgrade. You need one for yourself."

Odin hates to admit it, but he had to fall back. With Drago getting an extra power boost, he wouldn't last that long against him in a brawl. He allowed Mimete to hold him in her hands and both left the greenhouse, unseen.

Not too far, the three outer scouts watched the fight from a distance.

"What was that? I sensed a moment of incredible power," said Neptune.

"An ominous pulse from the darkness, no doubt," said the darkus siege.

"Be careful, Rini," whispered Pluto, placing her hand over her heart.

Once the daimon was destroyed, the sky returned to normal and no heavy rain or hail came down. The girls, the boys and Darien changed back to normal as Kenny's wife and children came running in and rushed over to their father who was barely waking up after Sailor Moon gave back his pure heart.

That's when Rini ran over to her friend, "Hotaru?" as she shook the older teen, gently. Slowly, Hotaru started to wake up which caused Rini to sigh in relief. "Thank goodness."

"Rini? W-Wha…What happened?" asked Hotaru.

"Oh, nothing…minus that terrible storm!" said Rini.

"You were helping Kenny when the ladder broke, causing you to fall and faint," replied Dan. "Kenny was able to protect you from getting hurt. I'm guessing his back…is a bit bruised up after that kind of fall."

"I think he will be fine," said Shun, looking over at the large family before spotting the wife that was pregnant. He made a face, 'There is another one on the way?!'

Rini whispered to Hotaru, "Let's come back here again some other time, okay?"

Hotaru nodded as all of them looked up at the sky to see a bright rainbow above them.

-Break Line-

What you guys think? Next chapter: Heightened Harzard