Hello wonderful readers! I'm so happy people are enjoying this fanfic, and I hope you continue to enjoy it! Another character is introduced ~

Chapter Seven: Operation Take-Down

The next day, she walked into the armoury. 'It's not really a plan. I just become Lady Bunny-man again,' Mafuyu lifted the mask up from the shelf she had put it on. 'I'm relying on you, Lady Bunny-man!' she threw the mask in the air. And then she failed to catch it. It fell to the floor, and cracked in two. Mafuyu was horrified. 'It…it broke!'

'My bunny…my hero…' Mafuyu sobbed on Advisor Saeki's office floor.

'Stop making a fuss,' Takaomi lifted the mask up.

'But without it, I can't transform! If I fight, I'll be expelled! I'll be disowned, I'll have to life my life on the streets, and I'll die a slow, merciless…'

'Okay, okay, I'll fix it. Let me see how it broke,' He put the two pieces together. 'It's like…oops,' he muttered as the mask slipped out of his fingers and dropped to the floor, where it broke into more pieces. 'How clumsy of me.'

'You did that on purpose!' Mafuyu roared, grabbing his robe.

'I didn't, I swear! And I'm sure the Palace has more of these lying around. I'll look for them when I'm bothered,' Takaomi peeled her hands off his expensive clothes.

'But I need it today!'

His eyes wandered over her. 'Wait, I think I have just the thing…'

'Drama Supply Closet?' Mafuyu read off the door.

'Yeah. Quickly go in and dress up in something,' Takaomi ushered her in and closed the door. She looked around her. So many costumes…!

'Bow down to me,' she purred as she opened the door. A large, flowing dress adorned her, full of frills and glitter, 'for I am your Queen!'

Takaomi stared, smirking. 'I'd like to see you fight in that.'

She scowled and went back in, coming out wearing an outfit of a demon, with a short skirt, feathers and high boots. 'Fear me, for I am evil incarnated!'

'Nice legs you have there,' he mused, smiling slyly. She blushed violently, storming back inside. 'Hey, you aren't wearing that? It looks good!'

Damn him to Hell! I wish he had just laughed. I feel so stupid! She opened the door and Takaomi blinked.

'That's your normal uniform. Done already?'

'Yeah,' she sighed, checking the tightness of her corset. 'I don't want it to be too eye catching. Maybe one of those horse-hair wigs…' her head tilted. 'Takaomi, what's that?'

Takaomi looked to where she was pointing. 'Oh, that's something that a student left behind last year…actually, it might just work!'

Hayasaka loitered around in the courtyard, waiting for Mafuyu to show up. She's taking too long. It's close to impossible for me to fight Okegawa, but I have to protect…

'Sorry to keep you waiting.'

'You're late…' Hayasaka turned around...but didn't see anyone. Just a tree.

'Above you.'

He looked up and stepped back in surprise. Standing in the tree was a young boy with light brown hair and a slightly feminine face, dressed in a loose fitting Third Year Squire uniform. He leaped down, landing in a squatting position before getting up. Hayasaka blinked. The boy had a confident, comforting, big-brother aura about him – as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

'Who are you?'

'Your back-up,' he answered, his voice rough. 'Lady Mafuyu Kurosaki asked me to help you. She was scared she would get in the way and so sent me to come instead.'

Hayasaka stared more. 'Um…okay…' he shrugged. 'I guess it doesn't matter.'

He believed me! Mafuyu thought, gulping. Go me…! She was wearing a horse-hair wig, squinting her eyes to make them seem smaller, lowering her voice and wearing a squire uniform left from last year. She also had secret, pumped boots to boost her height a little. Hayasaka is pretty dense, she thought. He didn't even recognise her when she wore the rabbit mask. Oh well, at least it's going according to plan! First dressing up as a rabbit, and now cross-dressing? Mother, see the things I have to do?

'Let's go,' Hayasaka started to make his way to the building. Mafuyu followed. 'I forgot to ask, but what's your name?'

'Huh?' Mafuyu swallowed. I…I didn't think up of one! 'My name…is Na…Natsuo!' What the hell is Natsuo? Who the hell is Natsuo? What a horrible name!

'That's a cool name,' Hayasaka nodded.

'Which part is…?'

'It sounds cool. Natsuo.'

'I…I guess,' Mafuyu – Natsuo – said. I don't get how Hayasaka's head works.

They came up to the building, only to see around fifty guys gathered outside, all of them delinquents. And before them all was Okegawa. He wasn't wearing his armour.

'Eh, what's this?' his snorted. 'Are you okay with having such a tiny man helping you? I didn't even wear my armour today, to give you a fighting chance,' he said, a large plank of wood resting on his shoulders. There was another lying on the ground next to Mafuyu.

Okegawa hasn't realised it's me - the girl from the day before - either. Good, Mafuyu picked up the piece of wood. 'Hayasaka, you should use this…' her eyes widened as she saw Okegawa lift the plank from behind Hayasaka's back, bringing it down. Hayasaka!

WHACK!

Mafuyu had managed to push Hayasaka away, blocking the blow with her own wood. That was close! She glared at Okegawa, smiling. 'Why don't you fight me instead?'

He's able to withstand my strength? Okegawa clicked his tongue in annoyance.

'Hayasaka,' Mafuyu yelled. 'Stay back, alright?' I have to keep him away from these delinquents!

'I get it!' he nodded, turning to the other fifty. 'I'll take care of these guys. Since we're outnumbered!'

Mafuyu groaned. That's not what I meant! Oh, whatever. I'll leave them to you!

'Hey, you're alone now,' Okegawa sneered, stepping back. 'Is that okay, little boy?'

'So are you,' Mafuyu said.

Okegawa smirked. 'Attack!' he yelled, and the fifty men thundered towards Mafuyu.

'What? It's not one-on-one?' she shouted, whacking her opponents left and right.

'Of course not. All I have to do is win. It doesn't have to be fair at all!'

How dishonourable! Mafuyu scowled just as an arrow hit the ground next to her. She looked up to see Takaomi with a bow standing beside the open window of his room. Takaomi! Everyone paused, curious, as she picked the arrow up and read the note attached to it. I'll take care of the subordinates. DUCK. She raised an eyebrow, but bent her knees slightly to duck. A volley of arrows flew above her head, shocking her. She got up and looked behind her to see all fifty men trapped in a makeshift fence of arrows that caged them in.

'What the hell?' she murmured. She knew it! Takaomi is not human!

'They're just arrows,' one squire said, stepping over them and running towards Mafuyu. There was a whistling in the air and before he could blink, he found himself pinned to the wall with so many arrows in his clothes that he couldn't move.

My followers are useless! Okegawa though, but grinned as his eyes slid to the short boy. But I'm not Chief for nothing. I'll beat this wimp any day of the week! He dashed towards the boy, his fist raised. Mafuyu easily dodged, tensed her legs and hurtled one strong punch that landed right on Okegawa's cheek.

There was only one though going through Okegawa's head before he blacked out: Looks could be deceiving. Very deceiving.

No way, Hayasaka gawped. One hit knock out!

The fifty men stared, gobsmacked, at the body of their fallen leader.

'A man who can't defend himself,' Mafuyu thundered, 'has no right to be Chief!' She turned to the men and they flinched, scared. 'I'm your new boss!' she yelled. 'I make the rules. There are only two rules you must follow, or you will suffer a beating much worse than you previous Chief! One is to go to class, and the second is to not fight with regular people! Any objections?'

Everyone was silent, the blood drained from their faces.

Hayasaka got up, bruised and battered. He's got such an impact! He's short, but he sure is a man. He's a true born leader. He smiled. And pretty cool, too.

'Good job, Natsuo,' Hayasaka patted his back.

'No…' the cross-dresser murmured. 'I'm an idiot! I forgot to order them to break up the gang!' Mafuyu moaned. 'Takaomi is going to kill me…I'm going to be called useless…' she sobbed.

He calls Advisor Saeki Takaomi? Hayasaka thought. 'I'm sure it'll be okay,' he said, dismissing the previous thought.

'Really?' her face lit up.

'Yeah…probably…'

'Thank goodness,' Mafuyu grinned, prancing away.

He reminds me of someone, Hayasaka wondered. But who?

And that was the story of how the Juvenile Guard got no one to gather at the old building anymore.

'You chickened out,' Hayasaka grumbled to Mafuyu. 'Shouldn't you have at least made an appearance even though you're weak?'

'I'm sorry,' Mafuyu said. He thinks I'm useless. But I can't reveal my identity; I don't want to be expelled! She felt his hand on her head.

'I'm kidding,' he muttered. 'It's normal for a girl to run away from a fight. I'm relieved you didn't get caught up in it.'

She blushed lightly. You're such a nice guy, Hayasaka. Never calling me a Lady but always treating me like one.

'You look like you're really hurt, Hayasaka,' Takaomi muttered from where he was standing a few metres away. 'How awful.'

Hayasaka glared at him. 'How long have you been there?'

'Not long,' Takaomi smiled. 'You did well, Hayasaka,' he came up to Mafuyu and patted her on the head. 'And back-up too,' he whispered softly so only she would hear.

Mafuyu felt a glow of pleasure as she stared at Takaomi's receding back. I remember now why I always chased that mean Takaomi back when I was young. It wasn't to become stronger, or because I wanted an older brother, or because I liked to be bullied. She sighed, touching her head. I only wanted Takaomi…to tell me he was proud of me. Yes, more than anything else, I wanted Takaomi's praise.

Yay! Natsuo is here! My favourite cross-dresser finally makes her (his?) appearance! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, hopefully not long before the next one is up! ^.^