"Tell me Raika, how many times has it been?" Hirutaro asked. He and Raika were in a dark cold room by themselves to discuss Raika's failures and impractical methods. He did tell her not to disappoint him.
"How many?' Raika repeated. Her cheeks were flushed and her voice sounded unusually emotional.
"Several." Raika drooped her head in shame.
"Perhaps several too many." Hirutaro stated.
"Alright what are you trying to say?" Raika shouted. She suddenly then felt regretful with her tone of voice to her superior. Hirutaro didn't quite pleased either. He cracked his knuckles and Raika shut her eyes. He then shook his head slowly and walked the other way.
"It's most likely you are growing fond of the Pretty Cure, and growing a soft side towards them," Hirutaro suggested.
Raika was evidently offended with," There would be no way of me growing a soft side for those brats! I'm the most deathly Major there is!" Raika claimed.
"Then prove it to me!" Hirutaro shouted. Raika timidly took a few steps backs.
"I will! I have-"
"No chance of living for another day unless you've defeated the Pretty Cure.." Hirutaro warned. He left Raika alone in the room.
"He..cut me off." Raika intended to tell him about Cure Songstress' identity. But maybe it was too soon, then again it would be her ticket out of this dilemma.
"Would he really.." Raika trailed off. She shook her head in denial. The amount of time she had left was fleeting and there wasn't any way she would let herself waste another second. She left the room and headed off.
She walked around the allies in town, doubtful that she would get to see another day. Unlike the rest of the Majors, she was practical and realistic.
"Why me?" She asked herself," They'll be making a terrible mistake if they let me go." She mentally ran through all her failed attempts. They weren't as bad as Ignis' or Hydra's screw-ups. She was better than them.
She then suddenly heard a group of familiar voices walking down the main road. She stuck her head out of the ally and looked around.
"That girl!" Raika said. She saw Sensaina and the other Cures walking down the street.
"My chance is here," She said.
"Jonetsu, I can't believe you signed us up for something as stupid as this!" Sensaina pouted.
"Oh come, how many times in life will you actually get to take tango lessons." Jonetsu defended.
"Well I'm was intending for never," Haruko claimed.
"Tango lessons?" Raika repeated unsurely from nearby.
They reached a small building.
"In we go!" Jonetsu exclaimed.
"If I go in they'll defiantly notice me," Raika stated outside of the building," Unless.."
Soon, another person walked into the dance building. She had very straight chestnut brown hair that reached her shoulders and blue eyes.
"Well, desperate times call for desperate measures." She said. She sounded like and probably was Raika.
"Good afternoon, senorita," A man with a tasteful accent walked towards her.
Raika was about to panic but then attempted to be bubbly," G-good afternoon, Monsieur."
The man wasn't even the slightest bit phased with her response," You're here to take lessons, yes?"
"Y-yes I am," Raika responded timidly.
"Then tell me, what is your name?" The man asked.
Raika fought the urge to flee the building," You first."
"I am Alejandro! Your turn."
" My name is.." Raika trailed off. She looked around the dance studio for ideas. Her eyes met a poster with a fox and wolf on it.
"Ki-kitsune," She said. The man was was amused with Raika's bashfulness and considered it an indulgence. Raika wished this man would just leave her alone so she could get to the Pretty Cure. They were less than steps away! She had the intent to kill and she could probably think of a thousand ways to commit and get away with the crime. But no, every possible way of destroying the Pretty Cure right now was getting put on hold because of this cheesy man.
"Would you like to start dancing?" Alejandro asked.
"Why not?" Raika responded bitterly.
Alejandro picked out a rose from a nearby bouquet and put into his mouth just before the two began to dance.
"My, my Senorita Kitsune. You're quite heavy on your feet." Alejandro remarked.
Raika reddened and she wasn't fully understanding the lingo of this man. She was so tempted to stomp on his foot or put a 'little' spark into him. Instead, she let it go and plastered onto herself a decent smile.
"Wow, check those two out." Jonetsu said as she watched Alejandro and Raika dance.
"That girl's so pretty." Haruko exhaled.
"Aha! I knew something was off!" Alejandro said to Raika.
"I've been found out already?!" Raika screamed in her mind.
"You are not wearing a dress!" Alejandro pointed out.
"Huh?"
"In order to let this dance flow more smoothly, girls are required to wear dresses." Alejandro stated.
"I don't have a dress." Raika said sheepishly.
"Rest assured. We have extra dresses in the back." Alejandro said. Raika went to get a dress and then change in the dressing room.
"Darn it! I'm so close, yet so far." Raika said in frustration. She looked at the reflection in the mirror. This didn't look or feel like her. It seemed like another person just happened to be taking her place in where her reflection was. Staring back at her was Kitsune.
"Jonetsu, my legs ache!" Sensaina groaned. Jonetsu went to Sensaina house's and Haruko and Toki left to go home.
"It's not my fault you took the tango lessons," Jonetsu pointed out.
"Yes it is!" Sensaina cried," Jonetsu, can we please quit?"
"Well, I'm petty tired of dancing too.." Jonetsu stated.
"You can't leave yet-kore!" Doki shouted.
"We don't any other reason to stay!" Jonetsu hollered.
"Well-kore.." Doki began.
"Well?" The two girls repeated.
"That one girl at the studio dancing with the instructor.." Doki trailed off. The girls were reminded of the shy brunette and her effortless beauty.
"She's completely raised my suspicions-kore!" Doki finished.
"Really? She seemed pretty meek to me.." Jonetsu said.
"It felt like a thunderstorm when she came into the studio-kore!" Doki claimed.
"Thunderstorm?" Sensaina repeated curiously, " Do you think it might be..Raika?"
"What would Raika want with a tango instructor?" Jonetsu asked skeptically.
"We never looked at his dreamstone." Sensaina pointed out.
"But she's not the Major we'd think to starting scoping out the hot guys for dreamstones." Jonetsu noted.
"I just don't know," Sensaina said.
"Either way we should keep an eye on her-kore." Doki advised.
"Of all things I can't believe I forgot my shoes!" Raika shouted to herself. During her lesson at the studio, she was forced to take off her yellow and blue platforms in exchange for solid black heels. The studio was still opened and Raika peered through the glass door. Alejandro was still in the studio practicing. It tugged on the few heart strings she had to see a man like him in solitude. It was hard to tell whether he was enjoying it or not and now Raika couldn't just let herself walk in. She glanced at the black pendant that hung around her neck.
"Maybe if I'm lucky.." Raika trailed off. It held so much power according to Hirutaro, but would it be able to let her go inside without notice? She concentrated on she wanted and instead of teleporting into the studio, a sharp painful shock momentarily restrained her body.
"Then I guess I'm doing this the old fashioned way." Raika concluded as she timidly opened the door. Alejandro stopped his dancing and looked over to the doorway. He instantly lit up as he saw Raika enter the studio.
"Ms. Kitsune! Did you forget something?" He twirled around and his seductive side appear," Or did you come back for more?"
Raika laughed awkwardly," I..I just forgot my shoes." She went to the back to swap the shoes. As she was ready to leave the dressing room, a fluorescent piece of paper caught her eye. It was the hours of the day the studio was opened.
"From twelve to ten.." Raika read aloud. It was strange, it was only eight and there was a single dance, other than Alejandro in the studio.
"Don't you ever close early?" Raika asked as she came out from the dressing room.
"Me? No, I mean you're never too sure that you're done for the day unless it's closing time." Alejandro responded.
"But..there isn't anyone else here." Raika stated.
"Not yet, but I never leave early, just because there might be some nocturnal person who wants to tango..and for them, I promise myself to stay for the very end."
"Then tonight, that person will be me!" Raika exclaimed.
Alejandro seemed a little doubtful," Are you sure, I-"
"Do you only dance tango?" Raika asked playfully.
"No, I-"
"Good!" Raika turned up and changed the music on the stereo. The song had a catchy,infectious beat.
Alejandro began to dance and so did Raika. She felt good for once. It was like she didn't have to worry about Malevolent, or the Pretty Cure. After all, the only people that were in the studio was Alejandro and Kitsune.
The next day, the girls, along with Toki and Doki, were determined to out the identity of the pretty girl from last night.
"Toki, did you feel anything wrong with her?" Haruko nonchalantly asked.
"I think-desu," Toki responded vaguely. Haruko groaned unsatisfied.
"What the-?!" Jonetsu began. Sensaina and Haruko walked up to see what was wrong.
The studio was closed as it was apparently their day-off.
Haruko was as frustrated as the rest,"Well then, Raika and the instructor could be anywhere by-"
"-There's the instructor!" Jonetsu interrupted. He was at a nearby flower booth.
"Shame on him for not going to Hanakaze Extrodinaire." Haruko scoffed. Jonetsu delivered to Haruko a bump on the head.
He didn't buy any flowers as Raika walked towards him. She hugged him and as they broke the hug, the girls gave a quick head to toe examination of the her.
Sensaina gasped as her eyes met the black gemstone, which she wore as a belt buckle today. Jonetsu clasped Sensaina mouth shut and as she saw the black gemstone, Jonetsu had to clasp her own mouth shut.
"Do you think they going on a-a-a-" Haruko stammered frantically.
"A date?!" The three said.
Raika giggled childishly and the two walked off.
"So, Kitsune tell me, have you been to the beach here?" Alejandro asked.
Raika jogged her memory. She did go to the beach, but she wasn't splashing around in the ocean like the average person.
"No I haven't." Raika responded casually.
"There's a first for everything," Alejandro jerked at her arm and the two ran off.
At this time of year, the beach wasn't as packed as usual, the crowd gradually dies down by September. It was pretty empty and Alejandro didn't seem to mind. He took off his shirt and dove into the water relentlessly. Raika cautiously dipped her foot into the water and shivers were sent down her spine.
"Even I'm not that cold-blooded." Raika remarked. She sat up against a rock and watched Alejandro bob in the water. She licked her lips as she looked at the shirtless Alejandro.
A few minutes later, Alejandro left the water to find something else that would hopefully appeal to her.
"This was not fun was it?" A soaked Alejandro asked.
"Well, it was fun for me to watch you swim," Raika said as she attempted to sound cheerful.
"Don't worry, there are plenty of other things I have planned!" Alejandro exclaimed.
They went to a frozen yogurt stand and Alejandro treated the two of them to cups of yogurt. Raika was weary at first, but then she popped a spoonful into her mouth and ended up enjoying the frozen dish. She looked over to Alejandro, who had already finished his dish. They then walked around the shopping district and a rather large straw hat caught Alejandro's eye. He took the hat off the stand and placed it on Raika's head. Raika smiled bashfully and Alejandro took a picture with his phone. The two went around sight seeing and took pictures of every landmark they could find. The last landmark they went to for the day was a large statue of a heart placed at the outskirts of the city and in their picture at the heart, Raika affectionately kissed Alejandro on the cheek.
By nightfall, they went tiredly went back to the studio.
"Today was amazing," Raika panted.
"I'm glad I spent today with you!" Alejandro exclaimed. He went to the fridge inside the studio and took out two cold beverages for himself and Raika. Raika gratefully took the drink from him. Raika looked around the empty studio and wondered how full it's ever been.
"Tell me, has business usually been this slow?" Raika asked," I know today it was closed but on normal days."
"Well in the early years, it's never was this bad." Alejandro stated," Business was moderate but good and sometimes I wondered what would bring the people back. Then I realized what it was. There was this girl who would dance here with such a flare that she would have all the men in the studio down on their knees. Then one day she just, stopped coming. The business died down with her gone and I don't know if this place will remain to see another day."
Raika felt a great strange remorse for Alejandro. He never seemed so deep and Raika wished she could've done something to bring this mysterious girl back. She was shortly at a loss for words, then finally she lifted up her glass towards him.
"To tango?" She toasted.
"To tango." He toasted.
Outside of the studio, heavy breathing could be heard. It came from the girls.
"Was following them the entire day ever going to accomplish something?" Haruko gasped for air.
"Well at least we know it's Raika and now we can split them apart!" Jonetsu exclaimed while she tried to catch her breath.
"Yeah, because it's such a great idea to tell the instructor that the girl he likes is a Nightmare Major from Malevolent that only wants him for his dreamstone!" Haruko sarcastically shouted.
Sensaina stared through the glass door. She could tell Raika was enjoying herself when she was with Alejandro and even she couldn't fake emotions to such an extent. Maybe she really did like the instructor.
"What if..." Sensaina began," She's on a vacation from Malevolent and she's just trying to enjoy herself?"
"Are you serious? A vacation?" Jonetsu said skeptically.
"And what if she's not around Alejandro for his dreamstone?" Sensaina suggested," We never checked it's color."
"Might as well check now!" Haruko yelled.
"Not so loud!" Jonetsu shouted. It seems Alejandro heard them shouting outside of the studio as he was walking up to the doors.
"Run-kore!" Doki shouted. The girls rushed off and as Alejandro arrived at the vacant doorway, he shrugged and went back to Raika.
A few hours later, Raika had to leave and go back to Malevolent but it seemed she wasn't so welcomed there.
"So, Raika where have you been the past few days?" Hydra asked bitterly. She then looked to the black gemstone on her belt," Harvesting those dreamstones?"
"The fastest process is never the most efficient." Raika said bluntly.
"Oh so you go one at a time, right?" Ignis questioned," But you have quite the selective taste, going for those tanned dancers, huh?"
Raika clenched her fists and reverted to her usual personality which no longer felt the same.
"I will get that dreamstone, and I will make sure the both of you are terminated before you get the chance to see daylight." Raika declared as she walked off.
"Hope you keep that word of yours, Kitsune!" Hydra called out.
"They're opened today, I know it!" Jonetsu shouted.
"Well, you're probably right," Sensaina giggled awkwardly at Jonetsu's enthusiasm.
The three girls walked up to the studio and it was opened. But something inside the studio told them it'd be best if they stayed out. Inside the studio was Alejandro and a very beautiful woman with very long dark hair. They danced an intense tango and Alejandro seemed so joyful.
"Who the heck could that be?!" Jonetsu yell-whispered. She learned her lesson from last night.
"That must be the girl who brought the men on their knees." Sensaina said quietly.
"Good day ladies," A painfully familiar voice said from behind them. It was Raika in her Kitsune appearance.
"Uh-oh.." Haruko trailed off.
Sensaina panicked and attempted to block the entrance of the studio.
"It's closed!" She shouted.
"It's Monday, and I know they're open." Raika said impatiently as she fought her way to the door.
"No the instructor's changing!" Jonetsu improvised.
"Then let me at him." Raika said as she fought even harder into the studio.
"This is all one big dream!" Haruko yelled. They all stopped their fighting to look at Haruko. Raika then made her way into the studio
"Good morning Alejan-!" Raika stopped her sentence as she saw Alejandro dancing with the woman.
"Oh Kitsune, this is the girl I was talking about last night. Isn't this great, Now I'll get my business again!" Alejandro awkwardly exclaimed. On his cheek was a red lipstick kiss stain. It was the same cheek where Raika had kissed him.
"In broad daylight.." Raika sniveled," Shame on you!"
"Kitsune, wait please!" Alejandro called," Rio, please wait here."
He went outside of the studio and Raika couldn't be found.
"You three help me look for her, please!" Alejandro begged. The girls agreed and began to look for her.
Raika was in the nearby ally choking back tears. She never felt so anger, so defenseless, so heartbroken. She looked down at her C-cup chest. Tears were splattered onto her shirt and suddenly, the words she said to Hydra and Ignis echoed through her brain.
"I have to get his dreamstone," Raika told herself. She looked at herself in her Kitsune appearance for one last time. She was sick of being Kitsune. Kitsune was worthless to her now and the only thing useful of Alejandro's was his dreamstone.
She slid on her yellow and blue catsuit and and zipped up her thigh-high blue heels. She then put on her yellow and pink helmet and finally she put on her blue framed, red lensed goggles.
She went to the top of a building and searched for Alejandro. It didn't take too long and from their she checked on his dreamstone. It was perfectly fine to her dismay. She then looked down to the onyx pendant.
"Would it be able to..?" Raika wondered. She took the pendant off for a moment and weakly aimed to Alejandro. The pendant trapped Alejandro in a very dark atmosphere.
"What the-?" Alejandro said. He soon dropped to the ground as his dreamstone was taken. She looked around to find something to make a Malvoid out of. Blowing in the wind was the same straw hat Alejandro put onto Raika yesterday.
"Escape, Malvoid!" Raika yelled as she pointed to the hat.
"Malvoid!" The monster like hat roared.
"Sensaina!" Haruko shouted pointing to the hat Malvoid on the roof.
The wind was gusting and Sensaina was barely able to catch a glimpse of the Malvoid.
The three of them held out their dreamkeepers.
"Pretty Cure, Dream On!" They yelled as they transformed.
"Singing the everlasting melody, Cure Songstress!" Songstress announced.
"Joining two hearts together, Cure Matchmaker!" Matchmaker announced.
"Growing everything in a lifeless land, Cure Garden!" Garden announced.
"Guardians of dreams, side by side, together we are.." They struck a pose," Dream High! Pretty Cure!"
"I want them destroyed." Raika said coldly to the Malvoid.
The Malvoid went full throttle towards the girls. It was powered by Raika's anger and broken heart.
It slammed the girls into the the neighboring building.
"How is this one so strong?" Matchmaker gasped as she tried to get up.
"The onyx gem, duh!" Garden responded.
Songstress thought differently. She lifted herself up and and was ready to fight again. She went up into the air and threw several punches to the Malvoid. Matchmaker and Garden shortly followed along and harmonized a kick that temporarily threw the Malvoid off it's balance.
"Pretty Cure, Musical Clash!" Songstress shouted," Ah!" The wind was blowing her off of her balance. She fell clumsily onto her back.
"Stupid wind!" Matchmaker shouted as she struggled to stay on her feet.
"Pretty Cure, Budding Charge!" Garden shouted.
After each and every attack, the Malvoid still managed to get up. Raika was exerting the power of the onyx gem just so she could live to see another day. It was tiring and unbearable but she knew she could withstand something like this. After all, she was the strongest Major. Then again, if she was the strongest Major, why would she have to fight so hard to live?
Songstress concentrated all of power and was hoping she'd get a positive outcome from it.
"Pretty Cure! Opera of Madness!" Songstress shouted as she made a G-clef in the air. She clapped her hands twice and the G-clef rushed and hit the Malvoid down.
At Malevolent, Hirutaro and the mysterious figure were viewing Raika's fight against the Pretty Cure.
"She tries so hard. Maybe we should keep her." Hirutaro suggested.
The figure remained silent and continued to watch the battle drag on.
"Pretty Cure Heartless Beating!" Matchmaker shouted as the large heart came before her.
"Awake!" She shouted, cleansing the Malvoid.
"No,no,no,no! It's not over!" Raika shouted in denial. She snapped her fingers and bolts of lightning came down and struck each of the Cures.
The Cures weakly stood up and walked a few steps.
Raika snapped her fingers again and this time the Cures put up shields but the lightning still tore through and struck them down again.
An idea came into Songstress' head.
"Guys, stay still!" She whispered to her fellow Cures.
The Cures did as told as stayed in place. Raika relentlessly snapped her fingers again, but the Cures weren't struck down again.
"What?" Raika said as she continuously snapped her fingers. She eventually gave up.
"Didn't you know?" Matchmaker asked," Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice."
"I...I..." Raika fell to her knees in defeat. She lifted off her helmet.
"I give up. I can't take this anymore." Raika said.
Back at Malevolent the figure was walking away from his spot.
"Y-you don't have to go sir," Hirutaro said. But it was too late.
Raika angrily ripped the black pendant off herself.
"Go! Purify it! It'll destroy me peacefully!" Raika yelled.
"No, nobody deserves to die like that." Songstress responded somberly.
"Just do it!" Raika begged.
Songstress sighed and did as told.
Suddenly, Tsuchiyo came out of nowhere and grabbed a hold of Raika.
"What are you doing you big oaf?! Put me down!" Raika demanded.
Tsuchiyo shook his head and Raika soon realized what was going on. Tsuchiyo ascended into midair and a man appeared.
He had silvery white hair with one blue streak and pale colored eyes. He dressed sharply and he wore a deathly expression.
He opened up he palm and Raika's onyx gem was drawn in.
"NO! Hatred, please give me another chance. Please! Please!" Raika bawled.
The man seemed to be enjoying this as he smirked when crushing Raika's onyx gem.
"No..!" Raika said," Why was I..first to go..?" Tsuchiyo disappeared and the man descended to the ground. He took one step to his right and a few moments later, Raika's dead body fell to his left. He walked off.
"Are..are you Hatred?" Songstress asked timidly. The man stopped walking and glared back towards Songstress.
"I take it as a yes.." Songstress said. The man disappeared and it began to rain.