.

Desires

Wade aimed his makeshift weapon at Ron's turned back. "Ready, aim…" he began. Suddenly it was snatched from him. "Hey!" Wade protested, turning. He started on seeing Fukushima. "What do you want?" Wade demanded.

"Little boys should stick to spears and rocks," Fukushima taunted, holding the device out of the boy's reach as Wade tried to reach it. What? He couldn't have some fun while saving people's lives? Okay maybe it was a cruel kind of fun, but Fukushima would never claim to be any kind of nice. Jerk was more his style with a mix of bully target depending. He tossed the device into a nearby duck pond.

"Why did you do that?!" Wade demanded angrily.

"I will not have murder committed on my watch," Fukushima replied.

"Oh yeah? Then you'd better be watching DNAmy. She's after Shego," Wade said.

"Of course she is," Fukushima said with a sigh. Quickly he ran off, all the while scanning for something that could be used. He wondered, would water work to deactivate the Moodulators? He wanted something sure-fire. The Outsider had spoken of a type of hot-sauce found at Bueno Nacho that had been able to short-circuit an explosive tick. Perhaps it would be useful here as well? Now to find a Nacho Stand. After saving Shego, that was.

KP

"I can't believe you agreed to walk with me!" Ron enthusiastically said, holding DNAmy's hand. "This is the best day ever!"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, nice," Amy replied. Honestly, she was just looking to make Hirotaka jealous so he would leave Shego. And if he didn't leave Shego, well, Shego wouldn't be a problem much longer. Ah, there was the green vixen now. Searching for Killigan no doubt, and probably trying to avoid Hirotaka. "Shego, hi!" Amy cheerily called.

Shego turned, eyes narrowed. "Where's Killigan?" she demanded.

"I don't know. Hey, can I talk to you?" Amy asked.

"Make it snappy," Shego replied, raising an eyebrow.

"I think it would probably be in your best interests to stay away from Hirotaka, honey," Amy sang, sounding cheery as ever. There was a darker undertone in her voice though.

"Uh, doy. What do you think I'm trying to do?" Shego asked.

"Just making it clear, pumpkin," Amy said.

"Yeah, uh huh, as long as you stay away from Killigan, we won't have a problem," Shego said. "There he is now. The Rogue Golfer thought he could elude me, did he? Hah!" Instantly she sprang after the man.

Ron, meanwhile, was frowning. Hirotaka was stealing away his girl! Err, woman. He didn't think so. "I, uh, have to go, you know, find someone," Ron excused. He pulled away from a confused Amy and raced off. Fukushima, having just caught up, instantly realized Ron's intentions and gasped, paling. Great, now Hirotaka was in danger! Instantly he pursued the Outsider. Humph he felt like he had to be everywhere at once. Fukushima slid to a stop suddenly and gasped. A Nacho stand! They would have the hot sauce he needed! He glanced after Ron, who he now saw closing in on an unsuspecting Hirotaka. The hot sauce would have to wait. He had to save his friend.

Meanwhile

"My word, Spain is stunning," Maim said to Senior.

"Yes. This is my country of birth, my dear. I do love it so," Senior replied.

"It's no wonder," she replied. She frowned after a moment suddenly. "Hmm…" she mused.

"What is it, Senora?" Senior asked.

"I'm not sure, but I have this sudden feeling my son is getting himself into quite some trouble," Maim darkly said.

"If you wish, our next stop will be Middleton to check up on him then," Senior said.

"Perhaps we had better," Maim replied.

"Then we will away immediately, Lady Fiske. Anything your heart desires," Senior replied, kissing her hand.

Middleton

"Hirotaka!" Ron called suddenly from the side. Hirotaka spun around and spotted his highly agitated friend.

"Stoppable-san, what is it?" this ninja asked.

"You're trying to steal DNAmy!" Ron shouted.

"DNAmy? You have lost your mind, Stoppable-san. It is Shego I want," Hirotaka answered. "Have you seen her? Where has she gone?"

"After Killigan, doy," Ron replied.

"I see," Hirotaka darkly said. "That is most unfortunate. At least I gave him a chance, I suppose. Now I must remedy this once and for all."

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere," Ron said. "I'm not done with you yet."

Hirotaka started and his eyes narrowed. "You are challenging me?" he incredulously asked. "Stoppable-san, you realize you will not stand a chance?"

"Not unless I bring out the Monkey Powers," Ron replied.

"No!" Fukushima suddenly exclaimed from the side, reaching the two just in time and getting between them. "There will be no fighting! Not now!"

"Girlfriend stealer!" Ron yelled at Hirotaka.

"Outsider, he has never tried to take Kim from you!" Fukushima shot, hoping the sudden mention of Kim would jolt Ron back to reality.

"Kim?" Ron asked, pausing a moment. "I didn't mean Kim. I meant DNAmy."

"It is not DNAmy who wears your promise ring," Fukushima firmly said. Ron started and looked quickly and uncertainly down at the ring he was wearing as well. The counterpart to the one he had given to-to Kim... Kim, not Amy.

He shifted uncomfortably, Fukushima saw the Moodulator spark, but suddenly it seemed to retake control. Ron looked up at him, eyes narrowed. "Dude, Kim's old news. DNAmy is the one I'm after now."

"You have lost your mind, all of you have," Fukushima replied, rolling his eyes hopelessly. He looked back at Hirotaka and gasped. His friend was gone! Inwardly Fukushima cursed. Not he needed to find his companion before something bad happened to Duff. Quickly he left Ron behind.

KP

Duff screamed in horror on seeing Shego and immediately bolted as quickly as he could, diving into a roller coaster car. He hit the button with a golf club and it took off. He hoped Shego wouldn't be able to catch him, but all at once she leapt into his cart and sat close to him, trying to get a kiss. Killigan held her away in horror. The moment the coaster slowed down to a speed he was actually willing to risk jumping out at, he jumped for it and ran, Shego pursuing him with Hirotaka pursuing her.

Killigan suddenly ran into Kim and immediately grinned, putting on the charm. Kim slapped him hard and marched away. He followed anxiously on her heels like a puppy. She scowled and suddenly spun, clearly about to deliver a blow to his neck that would break it, but at the last moment Fukushima dove between them, taking the blow and crying out in pain. At least he'd been ready for it, he guessed. If he hadn't been, he might have ended up dead. Kim ran away from them all with Killigan pursuing.

Kim found Drakken and leapt into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him. Drakken's eyes were wide in shock and horror. He tried to push her off but ended up stumbling back into the Tunnel of Love. Kim laughed in delight as they entered and instantly shoved him down, climbing on top of him. Drakken struggled desperately and sent out his vines, wrapping them around her neck. If she wouldn't leave him alone by choice, he would force her away through death! Fukushima suddenly sprang from the water, where he'd been swimming alongside them, and cut the vine strangling Kim with his Sais. Drakken scowled and dove overboard after the Ninja, leaving Kim alone and confused. Drakken resurfaced and looked blankly around. Fukushima had disappeared. Oh well. He guessed he wouldn't be killing anyone anytime soon as long as the Yamanouchi brat was spying. Unless, of course, opportunity struck.

Drakken emerged from the Tunnel of Love only to see Yori searching forlornly for Monkey Fist, who had vanished into thin air. She looked sadly down. Drakken approached her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, cooing sweet words to her as he tried to sooth her as well as belittle Monkey Fist in the process. Yori turned her head away with a grimace, though she was too polite to actually attack him. Drakken tried for a kiss, but Yori scoffed and jerked away, running from him to seek out her own infatuation.

Monkey Fist, meanwhile, was watching Amelia as the young woman delicately ate some cotton candy while seated on a stool, leaning coolly against the counter oozing seduction. Probably for that little pest Wade. He would deal with the child soon enough. He leapt down in front of Amelia and bowed cordially. Amelia frowned and shoved her cotton candy into his face. He wiped it off in disgust and looked after her, scowling. Why did she have to play hard to get?

Amelia didn't go far before she found Wade and put the flirt on. Wade was visibly annoyed as he walked with her, desperately seeking Monique. He saw the girl in question by some games and immediately took off on Amelia, leaving her surprised and a bit dejected. She winced a bit. Monkey Fist suddenly swept in, offering her a flower. She harrumphed and walked away from him. Monkey Fist was about to go after her again, but suddenly Yori leapt down in front of him, chastising him for trying to pursue Amelia. He cried out in alarm and fled, Yori chasing after him.

Monique shot Wade and annoyed look as the boy approached, then scoffed when he offered to buy her something. She haughtily walked away from the hurt boy and latched onto Ron with a beaming grin. Ron shot her an exasperated look but let her walk with him. Monique talked on and on to him until Ron found Amy again. Promptly he abandoned Monique as Monique turned to get a drink.

Amy looked at Ron in annoyance as he joined her on the carousel and talked on and on about things she had no interest in. Wryly she realized it must have been how she sounded to others. She spotted Hirotaka, though, and gasped. Quickly she leapt from the still moving carousel and hurried over, waving flirtatiously at him. Hirotaka gasped and fled in alarm. She went after him, Yori and Monkey Fist crossing her path. Monique raced by them in turn, fleeing from Wade and trying to find Ron.

Hirotaka kept running from Amy until he spotted Shego. He lit up and ran towards her. Apparently Killigan had managed to escape again, and Shego was getting annoyed. Hirotaka grinned at her, leaning in close and pouring on the flirt. Shego scoffed, blasting him away, but Hirotaka shook off the attack and fell to hands and knees begging her for a chance. She grabbed him and forced his head under water with every intention of drowning him. She lit her plasma for good measure as she held the young man under water. All at once Fukushima, who had been dizzily keeping track of them all, pulled Shego off his friend and pointed out Killigan to her. Shego gasped in delight and hurried off. Hirotaka came up sputtering and coughing and thanked his friend for his intervention with a punch across the face. Fukushima yelped in pain and winced, rubbing his face, but he wouldn't hold it against his friend. Not given what was going on with him. Hirotaka stormed off and Fukushima groaned hopelessly, rolling his eyes. Where was Sensei with that stupid remote already? Sighing in frustration, he walked in the opposite direction of Hirotaka...

KP

Hirotaka grimaced in pain, staggering through the fair and rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. It had been burned by Shego's plasma fairly badly, even under the water, but he felt like something else was wrong. Had the water and plasma done something to the Moodulator? Why was it suddenly so painful? Had the energy generated by Shego's plasma, combined with the bad effects of the water, made it worse? He wasn't sure he wanted to know. He groaned and paused, weakly leaning against a wall and trying to pull the chip off. "Wh-what is happening?" he asked out loud to himself.

All at once he cried out in pain as the Moodulator chip began to explode with emotions and patterns, sputtering but refusing to fall off. It was malfunctioning. It was corrupting him! Hirotaka shouted in pain again then suddenly stopped with a gasp, stiffening. The Moodulator had gone completely blank. He stood there still for a long moment, his pulse echoing through his head. He felt no emotions, no thoughts, no anything. Just emptiness. All of a sudden, without warning, he collapsed to the ground unconscious!

The Moodulator whirred, clicking, and began to slowly but surely take over its victim's mind, consuming it in nothingness. Images began flashing through Hirotaka's head, jumbled and muddied, and suddenly Shego wasn't his obsession anymore. No one was, for that matter. There were just blurred images and faces until suddenly the Moodulator focused in on Amelia. It began to flash brightly, fixating on her. The image began to tinge with red, but all at once he heard his sister's voice shout his name in the back of his head and gasped for air, eyes flying open and falling on Yori racing towards him and falling at his side. Monkey Fist lingering not far behind and gaping in disbelief.

Monkey Fist who Yori loved, but who chose to love Amelia instead...

A scowl spread darkly across the young ninja's face. Resentment and hatred began to well up from deep within his heart as he gazed at the Monkey Lord. Monkey Fist frowned a little, puzzled, but then started when he began to realize what emotion was smouldering in the ninja's eyes. "Hirotaka! Hirotaka!" Yori was screaming. Her voice sounded distant, though he knew she was right above him. A spike of resentment and hatred shot through him directed at her. How dare she pursue their enemy? How dare she dishonour her own brother after everything he had done for her and was yet destined to do?! That hatred, though, was quickly swallowed up by love and loyalty and protectiveness. As quickly as they had come, though, they faded away becoming indifference and... and obsession... He had fixated on Yori. He had fixated on his sister, and he felt nothing. No emotion, no remorse, no love… Just nothing… All at once his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he passed out once again.

"No!" he heard his sister scream. He heard nothing more after that.

KP

Fukushima stood in the middle of the fairground, panting. After preventing about thirty attempts at murder, he was exhausted. He had to end this. Luckily he'd gotten together the hot sauce he needed. He just hoped it was the right stuff. It was the hottest they'd had, so it should be. He whipped out his cellphone, quickly finding Sensei's number, and dialled it hopelessly.

"Kon'nichi..." Sensei began.

"Sensei, tell me you have found something!" Fukushima pled, cutting him off.

"We have not. The device was not in the mall. Someone has found it and taken it away. Rufus-san, however, is tracking something he calls 'the Larry'. Perhaps whatever or whoever that is, it will have the missing remote. I am afraid I cannot promise that it will still work, though."

"What? Why not?" Fukushima demanded.

"It would have been very badly damaged by being dropped and then kicked around," Sensei answered.

"Why must you give me only bad news?" Fukushima helplessly asked.

"Hope is not yet lost. I sense there are others who have come seeking Monkey Fist," Sensei said. "One of them, it seems, is very closely tied to him."

"Tied to him?" Fukushima said. His eyes lit up in realization. "Nanny Maim," he said.

"I beg your pardon?" Sensei asked.

"His mother!" Fukushima blurted. "Sensei, find her and whoever has come with her and get their help as well! I do not know if they will help matters much, but theirs will be extra sets of eyes if nothing else."

"Very well. We will come find you as soon as we can," Sensei replied. "Until then continue to work on 'overriding', as you say, the Moodulators."

"Yes Master," Fukushima replied. He hung up, tucked the phone away, then began counting up the hot sauce pacets he'd been able to salvage. There were twelve people under the Moodulator's effects, but only nine packets of sauce. Three short. He almost cursed, then sighed in annoyance. "How am I going to do this?" he asked nothing in particular.

For a moment he considered his dilemma. There was a saying, 'fight fire with fire', so what if he fought love with love? It didn't even have to be the same kind of love! He could play upon the love between friends or the love between family. He could even play with romantic love! If he could play with love in all its forms, then there was a very good chance that fighting love with love would work. It was just a matter of figuring out which three he could most easily use that tactic on. There had been hints of Monique overcoming it on her own, and Ron. There had also been hints of Drakken, Killigan, and Monkey Fist fighting it too though. Hmm... he would need to consider this matter carefully. Especially if he were the only controlling factor left.

Fukushima stood up straight with a deep sigh. He feared love becoming desperation and obsession. If love became desperation and obsession, he would have more than just murder on his hands. There would also be a very, very high probability of - and he dreaded to think it - the R word. While that was nothing any of them would have ever even considered under normal circumstances, these weren't normal circumstances. Not by any stretch of the imagination. There would be no recovering from that for anyone, so there was no time to lose. Quickly he ran off to round up the others and sort this nightmare out.

KP

"He will not wake up," Yori desperately said to Monkey Fist, eyes wide in worry.

"Calm down. He'll be alright," Monkey Fist replied, examining the young ninja. At least Yori wasn't chasing him anymore, he supposed, so he might as well take a moment to try and fix this. If it had something to do with the Moodulators, it could mean trouble all around. Just then the boy began to stir with a soft groan. Yori gasped in relief. "There! See? What did I tell you?" Monkey Fist said. "Right as rain."

"Hirotaka, are you alright?" Yori asked quickly as her brother's eyes flickered open.

He blinked up at them blankly, looking from one to the other, but soon his eyes began to darken and his lips curled into a scowl. Yori started and frowned a bit in concern. "Quit my sight," the young man icily ordered. Yori and Monkey Fist started and exchanged shocked looks.

"Pardon me?" Monkey Fist asked, eyes narrowing. He was offended, to say the least. Suddenly Hirotaka's hand shot up, seizing him around the throat! He let out a strangled shout of alarm. In one swift motion Hirotaka dragged him down, rolled on top of him, and began trying to strangle him to death! Monkey Fist shouted, grabbing the wrists on instinct and trying to pry them away from his throat, eyes wide in shock and horror. What did he do?!

"Hirotaka, enough!" Yori screamed, prying her brother off Monkey Fist. Hirotaka staggered up and shot her a disgusted look that made her wither. What had she done to insight her siblings wrath, she fearfully wondered? Monkey Fist and Yori gaped at him in shock, Monkey Fist with a hand still at his throat. He hadn't even begun to expect the boy had such power within him.

"Hirotaka, Yori, Monkey Fist!" Fukushima's voice called. All of them looked quickly over. "I have a way to fix this!" Fukushima blurted, sliding to a stop.

"Fix what? Nothing is broken," Hirotaka said, tone dark. Fukushima, puzzled, frowned curiously at his friend.

Yori looked from her brother to Fukushima. "Fukushima, something happened to Hirotaka!" she said, pointing at her brother. She cried out in pain when Hirotaka harshly struck her across the head.

"Hirotaka!" Fukushima blurted in shock.

"How dare you?!" Monkey Fist snapped at the young man, shooting to his feet and getting quickly between Yori and her brother. "What the devil has come over you, boy?!" Hirotaka sneered at him but chose not to answer.

Fukushima, still flustered and gaping, stared at his friend like Hirotaka had grown two heads. "H-Hirotaka?" he asked more uneasily now.

Hirotaka, fixated on Yori, turned sharply to him, eyes narrowed. "Very well," he finally said. "If you have a solution, brother, lead the way." Fukushima swallowed uneasily and nodded.

KP

A few minutes later, Fukushima found himself in the very uncomfortable position of being surrounded by people on all sides under the effects of some freaky emotional manipulation device, because why not? This was the last place he wanted to be, he decided, as he observed them all glaring at one another seething with jealousy and consumed by what they called love but was only an illusion.

"Out of the way, Fukushima. This is going to get hairy," Kim replied, scowling viciously at Yori.

"Enough of this madness! You have all lost your minds!" Fukushima yelled, looking around at them all.

"Move or die, Laddie," Killigan said, sneering.

"Wait, listen to me! All of you!" Fukushima insisted. Reasoning with them would do no good, he'd tried that and it had proven pretty well useless, so he would have to try another tactic. "I will let you battle, but let us first carry this out honourably." Now was the time to use tact. By releasing as many of them as he could with the hot sauce, he would cut back on the danger to himself and most of the others. Then they could all focus on the ones who remained under the effects of the Moodulator, and hopefully things would go smoother. The others seemed reluctant to agree to his suggestion, and for a moment he was afraid they would refuse, but soon enough they grumbled in response, relenting. He let out a breath of relief. "Good! Just let me make sure you are ready. Then I will signal you when to start."

"Ge' on wi' et laddie!" Killigan ordered.

Fukushima grimaced and sighed. He hadn't had a lot of time to work this out, admittedly, so he figured he would leave only Yori, Hirotaka, and Monique chipped. That way, if the Moodulator's malfunctioning rendered the others useless, he would still have a chance of causing the still-chipped ones to override their own devices. It might be a better idea to leave Monkey Fist chipped and free Yori, but despite their progress, he still didn't really know if he would have enough emotional sway over the man to be able to cause him to override his own chip. He knew he would most likely be able to do it for Hirotaka, Yori, and Monique though.

The first one he went to was Kim. Subtly he ripped open a pack of hotsauce and squeezed it out over the Moodulator. He heard a sizzling sound and Kim gasped, stiffening. He watched her a moment. She seemed frozen and he grimace. That didn't bode well for what was to come. Nonetheless, he pressed on. Quickly he went to Ron, Amelia, Wade, DNAmy, Shego, Duff, Drakken, and Monkey Fist, pouring an entire packet of sauce on each one of their chips. One by one, they each stiffened up. Fukushima grimaced and went to Hirotaka, Yori, and Monique. "Follow me. I must talk to you three about something before this begins. Allow me first to finish with the others. They gave him wary, suspicious looks, but nonetheless relented. He led them off to the side. "Wait for me here," he ordered before turning around and walking back to the others. He noticed Kim starting to show signs of awakening. The others as well

Kim grimaced, the first to recover, and groaned, covering the back of her neck. "Whoa. What happened?" she asked. All at once she caught her breath paling, eyes growing wide. She remembered. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no," she said.

"Calm yourself, Possible-san. I have a plan," Fukushima assured. She looked utterly appalled at the memories. Fukushima grimaced. It wasn't going to be pleasant once the others snapped back to themselves either.

"Whoa, head rush," Ron suddenly said. "Wait. Was I just in love with…?"

"Hush, outsider. Keep quiet," Fukushima warned. "Yes, you were."

"Oh man!" Ron exclaimed, freaked out.

"Oh my gods, was I seriously pursing a kid?" Amelia asked in embarrassment, covering her mouth in horror.

"And I was after Monique! Again!" Wade exclaimed.

"Big deal! I was after DNAmy! Ew!" Ron said.

"Oh cheese and crackers, please tell me I wasn't chasing Hirotaka," Amy begged, looking in the direction of the young man who was for some reason separated from the rest of us along with his sister and Monique.

"Forget Hirotaka! I was after Killigan!" Shego shot, jerking her thumb at Duff.

"Ye' really think tha's half as bad as me goin' far the lassie Kim?!" Killigan demanded.

"Or as bad as me going for Drakken?!" Kim blurted, mortified at the thought. She gasped. "Oh no. I kissed him. And he kissed well!"

"What?!" Shego freaked, hands exploding in plasma.

Drakken's eye twitched and he shook his head, grimacing. "Nrrgh, never mind that! You're looking at the man who was after Yori!" Drakken said.

"And I'm the one who was pursuing some college prep!" Monkey Fist said in audible horror and disgust.

"Hey!" Amelia protested, offended. She started. "Wait. Yori, Monique, and Hirotaka."

"Over there," Fukushima said, looking in the direction of the three in question. The others followed his gaze before turning back to him in confusion. "I only had enough hot sauce for nine," Fukushima explained.

"Okay. Okay, this is bad but under control. I think. Sitch us, Fukushima," Kim said.

"Do what?" Fukushima asked.

Kim winced. "Uh, right. Sorry. Tell us what we need to know," she corrected.

Fukushima nodded in understanding, eyes narrowing determinedly. "Master Sensei and Rufus-san are searching for the Moodulator control device, but I do not know how long that will take or if it will even work. Meanwhile, Hirotaka thinks Shego is in love with Killigan and believes that DNAmy is in love with him. That puts them in danger. Yori believes Monkey Fist still desires Amelia and knows that Drakken seeks her affections as well, so that puts them in danger. The Moodulators were malfunctioning and behaving strangely. You had all begun to hunt each other with intent to kill by the time I got things under control, but Hirotaka, Yori, and Monique are not yet under control, so they will still be on the hunt."

"Who's in Monique's line of sight?" Kim asked.

"DNAmy and Wade," Fukushima replied. "We can assume Wade, Drakken, and DNAmy are more or less safe. Now that they have stopped pursuing Hirotaka, Yori, and Monique on their own, there is no reason for those three to try and stop them with by more... fatal means. At least in Hirotaka and Yori's case.

"Which still leaves Killigan, Amelia, and DNAmy in the line of fire," Kim grimly said. "More so Killigan and Amelia than DNAmy. No offense to Monique, but she's not exactly... mission material? Yet? DNAmy could probably take her."

"Of course. It wouldn't be a problem with my little Cuddle Babies," Amy said, smiling and brushing it off. "Don't any of you worry about me. Worry about Duffy and Amelia."

"So what's the plan from here?" Amelia asked.

"I will waylay Monique first. She is the safest, but also likely the easiest to break free of the Moodulators. The rest of you will have to protect Amelia and Killigan from Hirotaka and Yori until I can get to them. Fight love with love. Try and break them free of Moodulator control, but if you cannot manage it, I might still be able to," Fukushima said. "I want Monique out of the way first, though. Often the one most underestimated is the one who goes most unseen. If no one views her as a threat, no one will be looking out for her. It would only take a moment of inattention to cost DNAmy."

"Okay. Let's do this then," Kim said. "Do your thing, Fukushima."

Fukushima bowed to them. They grouped up and began walking away. All except Monkey Fist, who stayed put and watched Fukushima closely. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about his little ward's plan. Especially in the face of a situation so unpredictable. Fukushima, noticing him still there, looked over at his mentor curiously then caught on and smiled in amusement. "I will be alright, Lord Fiske," he said, bowing to the man. "You taught me many things during my apprenticeship with you. Manipulation not least among them. I can handle this."

"See to it that you do," Monkey Fist replied. Turning, he walked away. Fukushima looked back at a now alert and suspicious Hirotaka, Yori, and Monique, then made his way towards them.

Meanwhile

Rufus raced towards a familiar house and climbed up to the sill of a window before scrambling through. Larry's bedroom! Larry was sitting at his desk, examining the remote he'd found. Rufus gasped then race over, chattering urgently. Larry started and looked curiously over before smiling. "Oh, hey there little guy. Where'd you come from? Where's Ron?" Rufus continued chattering and began pointing urgently at the remote Larry held. Larry looked at it. "What, this? Is it yours?" Larry asked.

"Uh huh, uh huh," Rufus confirmed, nodding.

"Awesome. I took the liberty of fixing it up a bit for you," Larry replied, pushing a button. He frowned when it became stuck between fear and helplessness. "Well, it still has a lot of work to be done," he said, shrugging it off.

"Thank you," Rufus chattered, grabbing it and darting away. Rufus ran straight to Sensei and presented the device. "Ta da!" he said proudly.

"Excellent work, Rufus-san. Now I must contact this 'Nanny Maim' and the one who has arrived with her. Then we must hurry to join Fukushima," Sensei said.

"Okay," Rufus agreed, nodding.

Elsewhere

"This has been the most marvellous time I've had for goodness knows how long," Maim said to Senior as they sat together at a table in a garden, champagne flutes next to them. Chez Couteaux, it was called. A fancy French Restaurant. Very high end. Senior had specifically requested a private table outside so they would be left more or less alone, and well, money talked so here they were.

"Only the best for you, Senora," Senior replied. "As soon as we have satiated our hunger, we will seek your son."

"Your proposal the other day was wonderful, darling," Maim teased gently, taking his hand.

"And I mean every word. Nothing would please me more than to be your husband, Maim," Senior replied.

"You don't think we are a bit too old for such things as romance and weddings?" she asked.

"Why should we accept age as a reason to stop doing what we love, or loving those whom we choose?" Senior asked. "I have loved you for quite some time, Lady Fiske. Since even before your marriage to your late husband."

"A pity you didn't move quickly enough. I did rather fancy you as well," she said.

"Yes, but then you would not have had your delightful son, and I would not have had mine," Senior answered.

"Then here's to being too late," Maim said, raising her champagne glass. He chuckled and raised his own, clinking it against hers. "I am most eager to marry you, you know. We need no large wedding. Why bother with one? If we find ourselves at a city hall, all we need to do is sign some papers with a witness or two present."

"Oh wouldn't our children be positively fuming?" Maim said. The two chuckled and sipped.

Just then a figure began to materialize off to the side. They gasped, turning quickly with eyes wide. All at once the form of an old man, a baby, and a nakes mole rat appeared! Maim's eyes widened in shock. "What on earth? Rufus, Hana!"

"Who is the older gentleman with them?" Senior asked, eyes wide.

"I am Master Sensei of Yamanouchi," the man said. Maim screamed a bit in surprise, not expecting it to interact. Senior stared with eyes wide. "I have come to you because I sense my students are in danger. They and all their friends and enemies with them. Including the one who I have been told is your son, Nanny Maim."

Maim's eyes widened. "Monty?" she asked in disbelief.

"If by 'Monty' you mean Lord Monkey Fist, then yes. You have come here sensing he is in danger, correct?" Sensei asked.

"Why I-I sensed something must be the matter but-but danger?" Maim asked.

"Grave," Sensei replied.

"Oh for goodness sakes! What is the matter with that man?!" Nanny Maim testily snapped, throwing down her napkin in agitation. "Where is he?! I should have a very stern word with him indeed."

"If you would please to meet Rufus-san, Hana, and I outside of your location, I will bring you to them. They have gone to an abandoned fair ground."

"Of course they have!" Maim testily said, throwing up her hands hopelessly as she stood. "Senior, come along."

"Si Senora," Senior replied as he stood, admittedly a little worried now as well.

KP

Fukushima stood alone before Hirotaka, Yori, and Monique. They watched him closely, gazes cold, dangerous, and suspicious. "Where have the others gone?" Hirotaka asked simply.

"Away," Fukushima replied. "They do not wish to fight."

"That is not an option for them anymore," Hirotaka said, arms crossed.

"No one pursues you anymore, and no one pursues the objects of your affection," Fukushima replied. "Let it go." He looked to Yori. "Do you truly wish Amelia harm? She wants nothing to do with Monkey Fist. She never did."

"But he wants everything to do with her," Yori despondently replied.

"Not anymore," Fukushima insisted. Yori looked hopefully up at him. "Go. See for yourself," Fukushima said.

"She will go nowhere. Least of all with the Monkey Man," Hirotaka said.

Yori started and looked quickly at her brother, eyes wide in surprise. "Hirotaka?" she uncertainly asked.

Hirotaka gave her a dangerous look. "You will go nowhere with Lord Monkey Fist," he repeated.

A chill ran down her spine. This did not seem like her brother was supposed to be... At least not towards her. "But..." Yori began.

"I forbid it!" Hirotaka sharply cut off.

"Hirotaka!" Yori began. She screamed in shock when suddenly Hirotaka struck her.

"Whoa! Hey, chill Hiro dude! The hell is wrong with you?!" Monique freaked, quickly pulling Yori away from him.

"It is not what is wrong with him. It is what is wrong with the chip on the back of his neck," Fukushima said, eyes narrowed at Hirotaka dangerously and warily. Hirotaka sneered at his friend, though somehow Fukushima doubted that 'friendship' was a concept Hirotaka grasped anymore. He was fast beginning to regret not using a packet of hot sauce on him. If something had gone particularly wrong with his chip in particular, this might not be as straightforward as he had initially hoped. "Monique, take Yori and go," Fukushima said.

"Wh-what?" Monique asked, looking quickly at him with eyes wide.

"It is not safe for us here," Fukushima said. He turned to Yori. "But most of all it is not safe or you," he said to her.

Yori was gaping at her brother in stunned disbelief, trying to wrap her head around what has just happened. "H-Hirotaka..." she numbly said.

Hirotaka neither moved nor spoke, eyes fixed coldly on all three of them. Mouth agape, Monique looked nervously back at Hirotaka as well. Fukushima moved between him and them. "Go," he repeated again.

"N-no! No way! We ain't leavin' you to face him alone!" Monique said.

"What does my fate matter to you? Go fawn over the Outsider," Fukushima said, looking sharply back at her with eyes narrowed. She started, and he heard the chip start to sputter a bit. He smirked a little. "Although I wonder... What will you do when you realized it is not Ron you love?"

"I certainly don't love you," she protested. The way the wind blew his hair, though, and the sense of dread that washed over her at the thought of him facing Hirotaka down alone… Maybe it wasn't love, but it was something. The Moodulator began to spark.

"What will you do when I tell you this may be the last time you see me alive?" he asked.

She caught her breath subtly. Hirotaka chuckled darkly in a way that definitely, definitely didn't seem like Hirotaka. A chill ran up and down her spine, her eyes darting to the ninja in question then back at Fukushima, wide and uncertain. "Boy, have you lost your mind?"

"No," he answered, solemnly a sad little smile on his lips. It fell soon after, though. "I am not my brother's equal."

"What do you mean?" she asked meekly. Hirotaka wouldn't hurt Fukushima. There was no way! He-he couldn't… Could he? The Moodulator was sputtering like mad now, being overrun by the emotions tearing through Monique. Terror, worry, sadness, alarm, fear… something else...?

"Tigress, do not worry," Fukushima murmured. "Everyone dies." He suddenly turned, stealing a kiss from her, and she caught her breath and the sudden surge of emotion that shot through her. The Moodulator sparked loudly then dropped to the ground. Fukushima withdrew, glancing at it, then crushed the chip under his foot. She gaped at it, then back up at him. Maybe she should feel more appalled at the memory of everything she'd been doing with that chip on her neck, but something else right now was weighing on her mind more.

"Don't tell me not to worry," she replied, concern filling her eyes.

He smirked. "Take Yori and go," he said again before turning attention back to Hirotaka, smile falling and eyes narrowing. Monique let out a breath.

Yori was silent, gazed fixed on her brother. "Hirotaka?" the ninja softly and worriedly asked.

"Go, sister. Find Monkey Fist. See what happens to you then. And to him," Hirotaka replied, eyes locked on Fukushima's.

"Y-Yori, Yori, we have to go," Monique urgently and somewhat fearfully said. "We have to go. Come on." Yori, still stunned, could only gape at her brother in dismay. Reluctantly, though, she allowed Monique to bring her away from him as quickly as possible. "Is your brother gonna hurt him?" Monique nervously asked. Yori, jaw clenched and tears threatening her eyes, didn't answer. She didn't know. If Hirotaka had been willing to strike even her, there was no telling what he would be willing to do to Fukushima...

For a moment, Hirotaka and Fukushima stared one another down. Finally Hirotaka's lips quirked up in a smirk and he darkly chuckled before withdrawing a smoke pellet. Fukushima's eyes widened and he lunged. Hirotaka tossed it down and Fukushima was left catching air and coughing. Waving away the smoke he gasped, looking around. Oh, this wasn't good. Hirotaka was going full shinobi. Hirotaka was not the one you wanted going full shinobi.