Chapter Four:

Operation What Hunt?

7/21

Minako's POV

Cherry blossom petals trickled down through the air like snow. I stared at them in wonder - always so beautiful and lighthearted. My entire life I envied them. They had no restrictions, they let the wind take them wherever, and they were surrounded by others just like them their entire lives.

Growing up that was all that I wanted; companionship and freedom.

Until I moved into the dorm... I never had either of those things. Since the loss of my parents I grew up with people that didn't want nor like me. You could say it was a "Cinderella" situation, except there was never a fairy-godmother and there were never any spells cast or wishes made.

My clock never stroke midnight so to say, although I guess it does every night now, huh? I smile lightly to myself and reach a hand out to catch a petal. Surprisingly a perfectly full blossom lands lightly on my open palm.

Taking a moment to appreciate the blossom's beauty I don't notice my name being called until the fifth time. "Minako!" Yukari practically screams from several yards down the path. Fuuka and Mitsuru stand next to her, staring at me expectantly. I guess when I saw the Sakura tree I had stopped without thinking...

"Sorry!" I apologize loudly enough for them to hear me before I rush over. "It's still kind of early, and I guess I zoned out," I explain further as I attempt to catch my breath. The small run I took from the tree to them had absolutely knocked the wind out of me. After a moment the tightness in my chest seeps down to grasp my stomach.

Covering my mouth I run to the nearest bush and empty the contents of my stomach behind it. Rushing to my side the three girls help me settle myself again. I mutter a few quick apologies and stand up once the nausea dissipates. "Should we go back?" Mitsuru asks worriedly, her eyes examining every inch of me.

"No," I respond slowly. "I think I just have a little bug from the island. Not used to this kind of place, you know?" Mitsuru's face relaxes a little and she lowers her shoulders, though I doubt this is the end I'll hear of it. By tomorrow I'll have seen 10 of the personal Kirijo family doctors all telling me I caught some island cold.

Out of nowhere a piercing ring breaks through the silence that had overtaken the group. Without pause Mitsuru reaches into her capri pocket and pulls open her cell phone. "Mitsuru speaking... One moment, let me switch over to speakerphone. Please continue."

"Well, I'm at the lab here on the island," Ikutsuki's voice feeds through over the speaker. "And a machine that was considered inoperable suddenly left the facility on it's own..."

"A machine?" Yukari interrupts sounding somewhat confused.

"What kind of machine is it?" Fuuka asks. "I need detailed information to locate anything other than shadows..."

"It's a combat vehicle," Ikutsuki explains. "An anti-shadow weapon, to be precise."

Confused again, Yukari interjects. "A combat vehicle...? You mean like a tank!? We gotta let the others know!... Where's my cell...?" Sliding her phone out of her pocket, Yukari starts dialing one of the boys.

Nodding at Yukari, Mitsuru looks back down at her phone to explain. "We're not currently with the others, so it might take some time for us all to assemble."

"I see," Ikutsuki says, thoughtful for a moment. "Well regardless, I want you to handle this as soon as possible. I'm on my way there right now."

"If the target cannot be captured, do we have permission to destroy it?" Mitsuru inquires.

All she gets in response is Ikutsuki's laugh feeding loudly over the speaker. "I highly doubt you'll be able to destroy it," he says, although he's unable to keep the smile out of his voice. The four of us look from one another. Our faces mirroring our inner fears. I feel like I'm going to be sick again...

"What?" Fuuka asks hesitantly. "Then how are we supposed to stop it...?"

"Just do your best. I'll call you again later." Then the line goes dead.

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Akihiko's POV

I like Junpei, I really do, but sometimes all I want to do is beat the crap out of him... Ever since we woke up this morning all he's been able to talk about is girls, beaches and bikinis. It's not that I dislike any of those things, but that doesn't necessarily mean I want to hear about them 24-7.

All that I wanted when I suggested we go to the beach this morning was to work out. I mean, I've still been keeping up with my protein shakes since we've been here but I haven't gotten in a single minute of training. When Junpei agreed to come to the beach with me I figured that I'd get in some time running in the sand - which is great for strengthening the lower body, or some swimming time in - which is great for upper body and core strengthening.

Much to my dismay though those hopes were dashed the second Junpei got his trunks on, and got all excited again.

Looking for a way to change the subject however, I pull out the letter that one of the maids had given me on the way out of the guest house. Junpei had been so absorbed in his fantasies that he hadn't paid any attention to the exchange. "So, one of the maids gave me a letter as we were leaving..." Just as I start to explain it's contents Junpei tears the note from my fingers. "Hey, wait, Junpei!"

Looking pleased and quite smug Junpei smiles widely at me. "You're such a stud, sheesh. Getting love letters from some lovely maids..." His smile takes a sinister turn for the worst. "And here I was thinking you were head over heels for our cute, little leader."

All the blood drains from my face. "Wh-what makes you think th-that?" I stutter, certain memories coming to the surface.

"Dude, it's so obvious," he teases as he wiggles the letter in my face. "The way you stare at her... It's like she's a four course meal and you haven't eaten in days."

My mouth goes dry as my hands ball into tight fists. "That's not true, and don't you dare go around saying that to anyone," I manage to say through gritted teeth.

"Calm down, man," he retorts nonchalantly. "Bro-code. I'm not gonna tell anyone. Althooouuugh I would be more inclined to keep my mouth shut if you joined me on a mission today."

My shoulders relax a little, but my body still feels rigid. "What?" I demand completely deadpan.

"Operation... Babe... Hunt!" he shouts enthusiastically.

"You mean you want me to... help you pick up girls just so you won't talk about... what you... think you know?" It's so dumb my brain can hardly comprehend.

"Yup!~" he exclaims, his smile more emboldened than before. I just shouldn't have said anything...

"This is so stupid, I don't have to do that!"

"Oh really?" he whispers. "So you want me to go tell Minako and the other girls how you feel?"

"I don't know what feelings you're even talking about," I growl back at him.

"Ho ho, so you're scared then?" he smirks accusingly at me.

Narrowing my eyes I suppress the incredible urge to punch the smirk off of his skinny face. "Fine, Junpei. We're doing this, but don't expect me to hold back. You won't get a single girl." Thinking about it for a moment I decide to sweeten the pot a little bit. "Whoever picks up the least girls buys dinner at Hagakure when we get back home!" Junpei's sudden hesitation brings a smile to my face. "Commence the Operation!

"Wait! Hit on them separately? That wasn't the plan! I don't agree to this!"

"Too bad. That's what you get for blackmailing me in the first place!"

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Groaning I make my way back over to Junpei. The past twenty minutes have been the most embarrassing and painful minutes of my life. I have no idea how Junpei puts up with this on a daily basis...

"What an unlucky day today has turned out to be," Junpei grumbles.

Crossing my arms I nod in agreement. "Something is definitely wrong."

"Yeah, it's your approach," he chides. "You're too indirect with your come-ons."

"Oh so I should use cheesy one-liners like you?" I challenge back.

"Honesty is the best policy," he says, like he did any better than me. Just as I'm about to continue the argument I notice that Junpei's eyes are completely glazed over.

"What is it?" I ask as I follow his gaze over to the dock. Standing at the edge is a slim girl with blonde hair in a sky blue sundress. She's not 'Minako' pretty, but she's alright... Wait what?... I shake my head and try to forget what just went through my mind.

"Okay," Junpei says as he swallows roughly. "She'll be the tie breaker. Whoever gets her wins Operation Babe Hunt." The famous last words of Junpei Iori...

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Minako's POV

Pouting, I lean against the sign in front of the cryptomeria tree. I know the other girls said that they left me behind because they didn't want me getting any sicker during the search, but I could tell that it was because they were tired of me slowing them down.

I'm just a little sick, it's not like I'm an invalid...

All of a sudden a chill goes up and down my spine. It's the same weird feeling I got the other night when I was talking to Yukari. I could almost tangibly feel the eyes on me. Surreptitiously I look around the clearing that was made for the site, but all that I could see was more trees and plants. No animals or people.

In an instant a girl appears from between the shrubbery. I have what feels like a heart attack, and almost pass out. "May I help you?" I ask hesitantly after a few moments, although somehow I'm able to keep the fear out of my voice.

"Now I am certain," the blonde says in a very proper voice. "I have found you." Another shiver rakes my frame. Is this girl a stalker? Then suddenly she wraps her arms around me, and pulls herself tightly to my side. "I have been searching for you," she whispers into my ear. "My highest priority is to be with you!"

Even after several minutes she still doesn't let go of me.

"There she is!" I hear Junpei shout from somewhere close by. I try to crane my neck to find him, but the blonde girl has me too tightly bound to move an inch. "Looks like she has the same preferences as you though, Akihiko," he says in a hushed voice, which is followed by a loud thumping noise. "Ow!"

"That would explain why we got the cold shoulder then," Akihiko says as if he suddenly had a revelation.

"I guess Operation Babe Hunt is a bust after all," Junpei responds dejectedly.

"Operation What Hunt?" I call to wherever the two of them are.

"Oh, Akihiko and I had a competition to see who could pick up the most chicks at the beach," he explains before another thumping noise sounds out. "Ouch! Would you stop doing that?!"

"Oh," I croak, at a loss for words. Not really sure what to think of this whole 'Operation Babe Hunt' fiasco...

"Hey!" Yukari shouts from somewhere else in the clearing. "We're back."

"Hello, welcome back," I say sarcastically as I do a half wave underneath the crushing pressure of the blonde's death grip. "I could use some help here."

Just as everyone closes in to help, the blonde girl snuggles into my shoulder... and oddly that's when I realize that she's not human...

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-