Blossom was in a bookstore looking up at the shelf, she was holding a Micro Economics for Dummies book but she looked around the corner and around, she snuck to the Comic book section.
"They have it!" Blossom squealed in excitement to herself, Randy was right. Blossom bit her lip as she quickly grabbed the Manga that she's been looking for a whole month.
"That doesn't look like a French Language book to me." Brianna suddenly appeared behind Blossom, glaring at her with her hands on her hips.
She jumped surprised, "B-B-Brianna, what are you doing in the manga-"
"I didn't see you in the Foreign Language section." She grabbed the Manga book from her, "You don't need this."
She crumpled to her knees begging, "Please Please Please, I'm studying extra hard...c'mon even I need a break. I'll study even harder if you let me have it. I've been looking everywhere for it. It's the newest edition of Night in Hell series, please please please!" She whined loud enough to get attention. Among the crowd of people, two men were looking closely at Brianna and Blossom.
Brianna blushed, embarrassed at the scene she was causing, Brianna losing her patience had tick marks appeared on her forehead, "Get up you Fool." She whispered harshly like a Mother scowling at a child in a public place
OW BRIANNA YOU BIG MEANIE!" She shouted louder, but then she pouted when she saw Brianna holding a book, " I see you have your 'book'."
"But I'm not failing in my studies. You need to focus. You got a 73 on your last French quiz, you've been skipped to French 3." She was tapping her foot, not budging even though she was embarrassed that there was still people around them, "Honestly, I fail to understand why you can't wait until after your French test to get this book. Now get your ass off da floor before I lose my patience." Brianna threatened through her clenched teeth.
"Because I've been looking for this for a month, it might not be here when I come back. My brain needs horror as well as superheroes." Blossom whined, she yelped louder when Brianna knuckled her on the head, "Owie….that hurt."
"I varned…*clears throat* warned you. I'll hit harder if you keep up this foolishness."
"Certainly you of all people understand, the hunt for book you've been waiting for." Blossom whimpered, she covered her head expecting Brianna to hit her again.
"Touché", "Brianna sighed, annoyed but she gave Blossom the graphic manga. Blossom hugged it in joy with hearts floating above her head, "You better pass that test."
"Of course I will." Blossom walked with a pep in her step and she didn't meet Brianna until they were standing in line at the cash register, she showed her, "See I got the French book."
"Acceptable, but I hope you study or do you wish me to tutor you again?" She gave her a sly smile, "Auntie Rosalina won't be riding for a while, so I can burrow her riding rod."
She laughed nervously, that was scarier than any horror movie or manga she could read, "No..No..No...I'll be fine."
"I hope not, if you fail this test, that's what will happen. Another tutoring Lesson with me."
"Noooo….Look it just confuses me, not all of us lived in Paris." She whined at the threat. She looked down at her phone, as she received a text. Instead of meeting at the Apartment, she was ordered to meet at another location. She grumbled as it was really out of the way
She texted back, "Why? I'm closer to your home from my location right now."
"Just do what I'm telling ya." An Angry face emoji was next to the order.
She pouted, looking at the time, and started calculating how long she had to study after she had to meet 'him' today. She steamed as this pushed all her plans back.
"Stop your whining. Your accent and pronunciation is spot on, you just need to practice on the verbs and Grammaire." She gave Blossom a cocky smile and stuck her tongue out, letting her playfully side slip to the surface. Blossom smiled back at her, stuffing her phone back into her bag.
"Show off. What book do you have now? More of those Boy Love graphic novels?" Blossom whispered, looking around, hoping that no one else heard her.
"No, I'm holding off on Yaoi for a moment...for this." She held up two books and hugged them lovingly, she was showing her complete fan girl side, brimming with more excitement than Blossom was, "For Edith Passion's two novels, I've been waiting for a year...a year...and two were published at the same time. Her work is so...*sighs lovingly* I read her short stories from another Publisher and I've been hooked ever since and now two books...two..." She sighed again, blushing.
"You sure are excited."
"Of course I am. This is her first book of the Hana's Love series. I read a preview on her website and I knew this is something to look out for. Her work is so realistic. She really writes about love, not just the good and mushy drama but the complicated bad of having the pain of cherishing people and her characters are so real." She rubbed her face against the book but realized what she was doing, she cleared her throat and was back to her serious, proper self, " So yes...I'm excited."
"What's this one about and please...keep it PG at least. Last time you explained a book, the old lady beside us almost had a heart attack." Blossom asked.
"Well it's about a high schooler named Poor Hana, who with hard work and studying gets into the Prestigious Kokusai High. She is met with opposition from Students and some teachers because she can't even afford the uniforms, basically they think she's trash. She's bullied by the Mean Three Harpies, girls who one day push her down and stepped on her hand when the school's boy idol shows up, his name is Haruto and rescues her."
Blossom blushed as she sighed, "A Hero to the rescue."
"Well that was from the preview, but Edith seems unpredictable. Her short stories seem to reveal that love is never simple. Sometimes, it's the ones you never think about or hate that captures your heart. The back of the book says there's another boy, so you never know." Brianna explained.
"It seems a lot more tamer than the stuff you normally read." Blossom commented as the cashier rung her books and she paid, she waited to the side for Brianna.
"What do you mean tamer? These are things that men and women do behind closed down or in public as my last Boy Love: Senki's book or Fifty shades of gray. I don't get what's the big embarrassment about, that book only had a little S&-"
"Shush Brianna...not out loud. People will think you're a pervert or something. So where are you going after this?" Blossom asked as they walked outside, she looked at her phone, wincing to herself at the time.
"I'm going to enjoy a quiet afternoon reading of course. Matei had to go back to Romania and Maggie is planning the catering for the charity party whatever for the dogs, the party is gonna be bigger apparently."
"It's been a month now and she hasn't made up her mind yet?" She whined.
"Well apparently she got the sudden idea to 'what do you call it' I guess an adoption of a sort. I kinda like that idea better though. I hope you guys can still come. I hate to be alone with those...blue blooded snobs."
"Of course, Belle has been going through all these baking recipes for it. It was kinda strange, she just left me behind like that."
"Perhaps she's going to visit 'her' again." Brianna said, both of them seem oblivious to the stares they were getting.
"Nah...that's not it...anyways, "Blossom looked up and saw how it was going to be dark soon, "Are you gonna be ok getting home by yourself?"
Brianna looked up, "There's plenty of light, damn, I'll be fine. You just get home and study."
"Of course, of course. See ya later." Blossom smiled rushed off. She hate lying. She went down a couple of blocks rushing and got onto the bus. She couldn't afford to be late, she would study when she got home. She sat on the bus, putting her shoulder bag on her lap, she pouted as she was no closer to figuring out her secondary ability yet. That was the key to tapping into her true powers.
Mini flashback
"It's like this, "Ken started to explain when he placed a large bowl of water around the four girls, Belle was swinging on her shadow-made swing, "According to our theories and from the battles with the Rowdy ruff boys, think of this bowl of water to represent all your powers. It seems to me and the Professor, that your belts only seem to scratch the surface."
"Scratch the surface?" Bubbles tilted her head confused.
"Yeah...like scooping the water with your bare hands. No matter how often or how much you scoop, it's pretty limited right? Even the reading from when you transform confirm this, " The Professor took over, grabbing the results, and placed them in front of the girls two sets of results, he points at the first one, "Look at this, for some strange reason your readings are stronger when you use your secondary abilities without transforming."
"But we got the belts when we were hit with the White Z rays. How is this possible?" Blossom asked.
"I know, back then, your readings were pretty strong but now, it's stronger without your belts. One conclusion we came up with, back then, your bodies were just getting use to the White Z and the belts helped transition through it, but now your bodies are emitting stronger rays." The Professor almost seemed like it was talking to himself, leaving the girls puzzled and confused.
Ken explained in simple terms, "You remembered how you guys had to run on track during PE. Think of it like this, when you girls first started walking, it was hard-"
"Speak for yourself." Buttercup nodded, looking smug at how fit she was.
"Shut it, Stork...some of us are actually trying to learn." Brianna snapped.
"Wh-"
Ken quickly interrupted before a fight could start, "I'm trying to explain. Now, walking was quite hard but your bodies adapted and it becomes easy to walk around track. The belts, made it easy to do it without causing any physical deformities like what it did to the others who were hit with Dark Z but now that your bodies are well adjusted, the belts don't help as much anymore, they only help you walk around track."
"Ok...so we are now adjusted to our abilities." Bubbles after a few minutes of explaining more, she finally figured it out, "It's like going to Level 2."
"Discovering and unleashing your secondary minor powers slowly, is sort of like your bodies going into a sprint. It's tiring and tough but you're scooping much more deeper into the water, which is way, your bodies get so tired."
Blossom nodded as she fully understood.
I have to figure what my secondary ability is.
End of Mini flashback
Blossom sighed as she made it to the Mizunaki Gym, she was able to make it passed the desk clerks. There was a group of people all standing and she just had an educated guess.
"I bet that's where he is." Blossom grumbled as she was getting use to the swarm of admirers around a certain hot head.
Blossom made her way through the crowd and could hear the ladies.
"Who is that?" One lady commented
"Oh my god, that brown hair guy is pretty cute."
"What, not as cute as that red head. What color is that, like Apple red, it's too beautiful to be real."
"And dat ass." One woman howled.
"Yep," Blossom sighed as she knew she was right, "Excuse me," she yelled loud enough, she repeated the words over and over until she was finally able to make it to the front. There was a large plastic window revealing a basketball court and two teams of five playing, she watched as the ball was passed to Brick, who faked a guy out and passed the ball to the brown hair guy. Blossom gasped as she saw this cute black haired guy standing next to Brick with a smile.
Brick shouted, he was covered in sweat, he stretched his back muscles and looked to the side, seeing Blossom watching, he frowned and she frowned right back at him but gave him a small wave hi, "Let's wrap this up...last point wins all."
"Sure boss." The black hair guy smiled and ran to the other team, "And the winning team gets the bonus, c'mon everyone!"
Brick let it slip, this genuine smile as he spun the ball on his fingertips, all the girls around her sighed, lovingly.
"What a hottie!" One of the girls sighed.
"More like a selfish jerk." Blossom frowned. Blossom bit her bottom lip as she watched the teams started to play. She was never really into sports but she didn't mind watching the cute men play. They seem a bit older than Brick, she sighed as the one with black short cut hair tried to slam dunk but the man with brown hair slapped it out of hands and the ball bounced before a blonde guy grabbed it and tried to make his way down the court.
She pulled out her phone when it vibrated, getting the exciting news that Bubbles was hired. She text her back and then everyone around her started to cheer. She looked up as Brick had the ball. He gave a tall guy with brown hair the fake out and bounced the ball between his legs and rushed past him to catch the ball.
Blossom gasped as she felt a rush of adrenaline just from watching. The Black hair guy was trying to block and some of the other guys tried to block him but then he made a swift pass to a guy with dark blue hair guy blocked the past and rushed past them. Brick shouted something and shouldn't the blonde hair man stood in front of the dark blue guy, creating a pit. The dark blue guy was surprised and dropped the ball, the brown hair guy had it and passed it to Brick. He was so far down the court that no one could catch up to him. He jumped up...
She squealed, completely into the game, seeing Brick was hanging off the rim of the basket, and he let go and landed with a thud. She cheered wildly and smiled brightly.
The team was walking out of the basketball court, the other team was whining.
"Relax, relax guys...you all can get the bonus." He sighed, drinking out of his water bottle, everyone gasped, but then he said, " Provided you finish all your work and research for the Traverse Company holdings Meeting next week." He commented, waving back at them.
"Oh c'mon." The blonde guy whined having a strange welsh accent
"Hey I never said you will just get a bonus just like that. Ya gotta work for it. Hit the showers guys. See ya next week." He gave them a smile.
"Hey there, is there anyway I could get your-" One of the women tried to ask but Brick just walked right past them and Blossom went over to him.
"You were awesome. I didn't know you could play sports like that." She crossed her arms, "I'm glad you took my advise. Working out will do that hot headed blood some good." She nodded agreeing with yourself.
"You're late." That was all he could seem to say.
"Hey! I just gave you an compliment you jerk, and-" Blossom winced as she suddenly felt cold, evil stares chilling her spine. It was a very familiar feeling, she whispered, "Do you always have to avoid everyone and come straight to me, why don't you try and talk ta some of those other ladies?" She asked impatiently as she glanced back and saw some of the women looking at her and whispering to each other.
"Why the hell do I need ta talk ta those ladies? You're here, frankly I don't need to look at anyone else while my Puppy dog is around."
"I'm not your dog." She stomped and pouted angrily.
"Don't change the damn subject, why were you late?" He grabbed a fresh towel and wrapped his forehead and hair, then draped it around his shoulders.
"I've got a life to ya know and I can't control traffic." She gave him a snide remark, following him, "Fine I had ta go to the Bookstore."
"You would've gotten here faster if you flew." He said back, drinking water.
"I'm not flying...for you and risk your family seeing me. Besides, you were busy playing your game with your guys, making me wait like that is so...selfish. Who are they anyways?" She asked, looking at the black haired guy, the man's head moved in her direction and gave her a smile of his own.
Brick saw this, he glared, "Just my employees and They're too old." He grumbled, snapping her attention back to him.
"What are you implying?"
"I'm implying you can get that love struck look out of your damn eyes, they're too old for ya."
"Maybe I like mature guys, instead of emotionally insecure crybabies." Her frown deepened, "Are you going to eat or not? I got some things ta do and I want ta get this over with."
He clenched his teeth tightly in frustration.
"She acts like being around me is a chore. I'm not emotionally insecure."
"I'm hittin' the showers, wait out here." He commanded her but he stopped himself, "I-I-I won't be long." He seemed to face palm himself and just walked into the Men's changing room.
She sat on a chair, waiting impatiently. She pulled out her French language book, she skipped vocabulary and went straight to grammar and their rules. She rubbed her forehead in instant frustrations and her eyes wondered to her...Night of Hell book.
"Just...one chapter...couldn't hurt. Just one and I'll study." She bit her bottom lip and gave into temptation. She stuffed the French book and opened up the graphic manga. She gasped as their was a link to the reading and sounds of the book, and she squealed at the same of a freshly opened and marveled at the illustrations. She went on to the website on her phone, scanning the bar code on the book and clicked on the file underneath the book and was about to put her earphones on when...
"Ahem." A voice cleared it's throat loudly.
She slammed it shut as she thought for sure it was Brianna, "I promise I was gonna study!" She shouted, she covered her head, waiting for Brianna's fist.
"Excuse me?" A man's voice asked.
Blossom opened her eyes and looked up, she blushed and took a deep sigh in relief, she smiled widely, "Sorry about that. I...I thought you were someone else."
It was the cute guy that was smiling back at her with the black hair.
"Sorry to surprise you like that. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important." He pointed at her book, she stuffed it into her bag.
"Oh...no...not at all."
"My name is Natsuki and you are?"
"Oh I'm Blossom."
Mini flashback, just before the men of the Black Hand Gang arrived at the Restaurant.
The man with the dyed Blonde hair was smoking a cigarette. He had tattoos on his knuckles that said Black Hand proudly with the 10 of Spades on his right hand and a spider web tattoo on his net. He was sitting in the back seat, one of the men (Rin) was loading a small semi-automatic hand gun with a silencer ready.
"I don't care if the bitch is rich or lives in a big mansion. Screw and f*ck her up, give her the special Royale Flush, text me back when you're done, send pics and have fun. They mess with the Black Hand, no one's safe." He ordered, he hung up one call and went to another one, "You're in front of White Haven Apartments, good...good...bash his brains out, Jumbo. Keep me posted." He hung up that call and went to the next, "Follow that dumb bitch. I'm telling ya, he killed Good ol' John over her. She's important, slit her throat."
"Are ya sure about this? I heard bullets don't affect them." The driver, Rango look back in the rearview mirror.
"Those boys got a weaknesses, I learned everything I need ta, I 'ad 'em tailed for a week. I just wish I could've found the Sister, wouldn't mind giving her the Royale Flush myself. But I think going after three is 'nough. They'll know, that green eyed bastard will be cryin' like a bitch when I's done with him. The Black Hand always deals a winning hand."
End of Mini Flashback
Buttercup growled at the comment but she placed her hand on her stomach as it rumbled loudly.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. Let me treat my little lady here." Butch said slyly and slid a menu to her, "Order whatever you want, I'm paying. Gentlemen, if you wish to try something, please feel free."
Buttercup looked at the menu, she was a slave to her stomach, free food is free food, even if it was 'Him' who paying for it.
One of the waiters came by the table and placed a gray and green sake mug and cups on the table. The three men were just sitting there waiting, the one with a pierce lip and dyed blonde hair combed upwards giving him a tough delinquent look. He felt his phone vibrated, he snuck a look when the waiter approached.
"I'm here." Texted Jumbo.
"Are you ready to order?" Butch asked her. He gave her a half smile.
"Eh….sure?" Buttercup ordered, "Miso pork and eggplant dinner sounds awesome."
"With Noodles or rice?" The waiter asked.
"Noodles."
"And the drink?" The waiter asked.
"Oh….Mango green tea." Buttercup said.
"Excuse me Gentlemen, I'm pretty hungry myself." Butch said, he ordered without looking at the Menu, "Pineapple fried rice. Now are you sure you three don't want anything. Nothing at all? It's all on me." Butch asked but all three nodded. The waiter left and came right back with Buttercup's mango green tea.
"Now I was quite...interested in your invitation after all that's-"
" Of course, but gotta be hospitable. Sung Lee, may I called ya that. Try some Umimoto Sake, the company that makes it does it right, they really appreciate quality over quantity." Butch poured them a glass, they grabbed theirs, waited until Butch drunk his before taking a swish. All three of them cough and started to tear up at such a powerful drink, while Butch placed his cup down and poured another him and Sung lee another.
"Nothing like it, Wooo, really kicks but has a sweetness." The blonde one named Sung Lee comments.
"I don't mind lettin' ya have a bottle, as a gesture of 'good 'will. It's really something with sweets."
"I'm not much into...sweets."
"Really, you and my Elder Brother have something in...common." Butch drunk another cup full and looked at Sung Lee, who hesitated but followed his lead. Buttercup looked back and forth as their was a moment of silence. The atmosphere was starting to become thick. Buttercup's and Butch's food came between that moment of silence, she grabbed her chop sticks and started to eat but she continued to look back and forth at them. Butch didn't touch his, he just kept looking right at Sung Lee and Sung Lee kept looking down at Butch's silverware.
"No knives. Jumbo is in the building, the others haven't text me back...yet. This fool is right in the open and I have a hostage in arms reach. This Bitch thinks he can beat us."
"I thought for sure he would be meeting us...instead of you." Sung Lee lit a cigar up and exhaled it over the table almost directly into Butch's face, "Being the Little Errand Boy and all."
Buttercup's eyes widened, her eyes darted to Butch's face but as always the face remained emotionless.
"Well I think it would be better if it was me...for your sake. He would've just jumped over the table and beat the shit out of you."
"Shall we begin."
"Let's." Butch had this half smile, then he tilted towards Buttercup, "This won't be long, then I'll give you my full attention."
A Large man was able to sneak passed the large Guard at the White Haven Luxury Apartments. He click the button and the elevator closed behind him. He made doubly sure that his body tattoos were covered and that his face was turned from the camera, making sure his 10 of Spades was covered. He placed black leather gloves and as the elevator dinged at his arrival on the floor, he smudge the previous button he pressed as to not leave any finger marks. He was uncomfortable with what he had to do but Sung lee's orders must be carried out.
"I'll make it quick, poor kid had nothing ta do with it." He walked down the hallway and right to the door, surprised it was left cracked opened.
Two men arrived at the Large Mansion which looked exactly like Dracula's castle, with its Gargoyles, gingko trees lining along the long drive way.
They walked quietly, hiding behind the trees, making their way along the drive way. The two men had tattoos of the 10 of spades on their hands.
"This is nuts. The Royale Flush. Look at this place, I don't know about this."
"Didn't you see that fine ass? I ain't gonna argue with the boss when he's giving us something so tasty to devour." One of them men licked his lips in anticipation.
