Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z:
Suteki da ne?
Morning came too early for the weary superheroine. As the sun spilled in through her window, Momoko curled up tighter under her blankets, like a caterpillar in a cocoon. She moaned when her alarm began to blare, but kept her eyes shut, determined to get a few more precious minutes of sleep. Kuriko had abandoned her nearly an hour ago, washing up and saying goodbye to their mother before she left for the day. After five minutes of her alarm beeping, her door creaked open and her father snuck inside.
"Momoko? Will you be going to school today?" He gently shook her shoulder, speaking just above a whisper. Momoko moaned and slid out from her blankets, blinking in the sunlight. She reached over to turn her alarm off, but simply flipping the switch was painfully difficult. Her father waited in silence, until Momoko finally gave up, whining.
"Mou...I can't do it, Otousan..." she sighed.
Hachizou smiled and flipped the switch for her, stepping aside as she stumbled out of bed. He couldn't resist frowning when he saw her injuries. With a heavy sigh, he followed her as she stumbled out of her room.
"I need to change your bandages after you shower, Momoko. Please don't take too long, alright?" he asked. Momoko blinked, looking at her hands, then up at her father. He simply smiled. In spite of her fatigue, Momoko smiled back and nodded.
"Okay, Otousan, I'll be quick as I can," she started for the bathroom, then paused as she reached to turn on the light. She and her father traded a look. Momoko sighed and looked away, blushing, "Actually...Otousan...could you maybe...help me..."
Hachizou smiled, patting her shoulder, "Of course, Momoko,"
XxXxX
"I'm sorry, Otousan," Momoko muttered, watching as her father carefully wrapped each of her fingers individually. When he was done, she found she could move them, if only just barely. She winced when she tried making a fist. That was still too much, she realized.
"For what, Momoko?" Hachizou asked, finishing up with her other hand, "Better?" he asked.
Momoko nodded, flexing her fingers as well as she could, "Yeah! It's nice to not have flippers anymore..." she joked. The two laughed and hurried downstairs. Hachizou helped Momoko slip into her backpack and outside. In the front lawn, she paused, then repeated.
"I'm sorry, Otousan," she turned, but kept her gaze low.
"You don't need to be, Momoko," he reassured her, patting her shoulder and nudging her down the sidewalk, "Now, hurry along. You may still be able to make it," Momoko nodded and waved, starting down the sidewalk, "I packed your pills with your lunch, Momoko. Don't forget to take two after eating," Hachizou called after her.
Momoko nodded and waved again. Just as she turned the corner, though, she yelped, nearly tripping over the little body sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for her. Kuriko jumped to her feet, catching Momoko around the waist and, with some effort, kept her from falling face-first to the street. Momoko sighed and glared at Kuriko.
"Kuriko-chan! You should be at school!" she chastised. She flinched when her sister reached for her hand. Kuriko gasped and quickly pulled away, instead falling into step beside Momoko.
"I wanted to wait for you, Oneechan. In case you got sick or needed to go home, or something before you got to school! That way, Oneechan wouldn't be stranded all alone," Kuriko explained, running ahead and waving her arms for emphasis. Momoko shook her head, but smiled.
"Okay, but don't blame me if you lose your perfect attendance, I didn't ask you to wait for me!" she teased. Kuriko's eyes widened; she hadn't considered that possibility.
"Ah! C'mon, Oneechan, let's go faster! Oh!" Kuriko gasped and pumped her fists, "I know! You can transform and fly me to school, that way I'm not late!" her face fell when Momoko started giggling, then doubled over laughing.
"No way! I'm not gonna reveal myself just so you're on time!" Momoko laughed. Kuriko stomped her foot, pouting.
"Why not? Superheroines are supposed to help people in need, and I'm in need! This is important!" Kuriko insisted, running alongside Momoko, the two now hurrying down the street. Momoko could only laugh and shake her head.
"Kuriko-chan, I love you," she giggled, before breaking into a jog. Kuriko pouted, then hurried to keep up with her.
"Then fly me to school!"
XxXxX
The door to the roof opened and closed softly, a couple of students making their way toward the sound of someone crying quietly in the corner. When they found Momoko, Miyako quickly rushed to her side, while Kaoru shoved her hands in her pockets and sat down on the redhead's other side.
"Momoko-san, what's wrong? You ran out of class so fast!" Miyako commented. She pulled Momoko's hands away from her lap, mentally admiring Hachizou's bandaging. She blinked, noticing that her friend's lunch box was turned over, a little white bottle lying on the ground nearby. Momoko sniffled and wiped her nose. She hissed and bit her lip, a few fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I...I can't open the bottle," she moaned. Without another thought, Kaoru leaned over and snatched the bottle, popping it open.
"Two, right?" She asked, pouring the pills into her hand. Momoko nodded, "Okay, say 'ah'," Kaoru popped the painkillers in Momoko's mouth, while Miyako held her drink up to her lips. Momoko took a big, thankful drink and swallowed, sighing.
"Do you feel any better, Momoko-san?" Miyako asked.
"It'll..." Momoko coughed and cleared her throat, before continuing, "Take a few minutes, but I will, yeah. Thanks girls," she flashed a quick smile, reaching for her lunch. As soon as it was in front of her, though, she groaned and hung her head in defeat, "Mou...this is so terrible,"
"I can help you, Momoko-san," Miyako offered, setting aside her own lunch to take Momoko's out for her. Momoko glared at her hands and huffed.
"Stupid Kare, I can't do anything by myself because of him! This is so embarrassing!" she cried. Her cries were cut off when Miyako popped a fork full of food into her mouth. Momoko's eyes lit up and a bright smile spread across her face, "Mmm...so good!" she moaned. The three ate their lunches in relative silence, Miyako giggling as she tried to keep up with Momoko's ravenous appetite.
"Momoko-san, you should slow down...I don't know how you can really enjoy your food, eating it so fast," she commented. Momoko laughed sheepishly and looked away, blushing.
"I do enjoy it! So much that I just can't wait for the next bite!" Momoko exclaimed.
"You'd get along with Kenichi, then!" Kaoru pointed out, chuckling, "He's half the bill whenever the boxing team goes out for ramen,"
Momoko blushed a little darker, "I don't eat nearly that much, do I?"
"Hm..." Miyako thought, tapping her chin, "I've seen Kenichi-san eat, and it is quite impressive. Though, I don't doubt Momoko-san could keep up with him!" she teased.
"It would be the battle of the century!" Kaoru snickered.
"Mou...you guys are awful!" Momoko pouted. When Miyako offered her another bite, she quickly snapped it up, blushing when her friends began laughing again.
"Oy, Momoko..." After the teasing died down, Kaoru got to staring at Momoko's hands again. She scratched her head, wincing, "You're...able to write, yeah?"
Momoko blinked, looking from Kaoru to Miyako. Her blonde friend was touching her arm again, the same look in her eyes that Momoko had seen the night before.
"That's right, Utonium-hakase said it would be a while before you could really grip anything. Are you struggling in class? Can I help somehow?" Miyako asked, her voice raising with each question. She also, unconsciously, was tightening her hold on Momoko's wrist.
"I um...well, I had a quiz..." she laughed, at first, but quickly sighed, "That...didn't go so well. I know Toriumi-sensei looked appalled when she saw my handwriting," She tilted her head back and forth, "And taking notes wasn't...actually I really couldn't keep up at all. Mou...I'm probably going to fail that quiz too, I was really too tired this morning," she laughed nervously.
Miyako jumped to her feet, "This isn't fair, Momoko-san. We should speak with the Mayor and Utonium-hakase, and anyone else we can to get you a pardon or some kind of pass or something!" Momoko and Kaoru were both, admittedly, taken aback by the determined glint in Miyako's eyes. She wasn't normally the one to be so forward.
"I'm sure it'll get better, Miyako-chan. I just need some time to recov-" Momoko trailed off, her gaze falling to her beeping belt. Miyako and Kaoru slowly turned to look at their own belts. After some hesitation, Momoko bit her lip and reached for her compact. Her eyes screwed shut, she managed to pull it out. She shook her head when her friends moved to help her. With great effort, she managed to press her thumb against it enough to pop it open.
"Ah!" she gasped, shaking her hand, "Wh-What is...ah...what is it Utonium-hakase?"
"Momoko-chan! Are you alright? You shouldn't be pushing yourself, you'll only slow your recovery!" he chastised.
"Is there trouble, Utonium-hakase?" Momoko asked again, ignoring him completely. Professor Utonium looked to both Kaoru and Miyako for support. Kaoru merely shrugged, while Miyako helped Momoko to her feet, repeating her question. The Professor shook his head.
"Ahem," he began, "There's been a monster attack of some kind. We're not entirely sure...we haven't been able to find the monster, but it looks pretty bad. We need oof!" The Professor was suddenly pushed out of the way by Peach.
"Powerpuff Girls Z, transform, wan!"
XxXxX
The girls were on the scene in minutes, landing at the heart of a mostly quiet city street. Buttercup double-checked her compact, nodding to her companions.
"This is the place according to Utonium...but, I really don't see anything," she commented, looking around, leaning on her hammer. Blossom and Bubbles spread out, searching the surrounding area. No broken glass, no over turned recycle bins...not even a blade of grass out of place. Nothing except...
"Where is everyone?" Bubbles commented, peeking inside a jewelry store. No one, not even employees looking bored behind the counter. Blossom crossed her arms and closed her eyes, deep in thought. Bubbles was right, even if there was a monster attack, the citizens weren't exactly good at getting out of the way. Odds were, they'd have seen at least one person...Blossom opened her eyes and tilted her head back. She gasped, taking a few steps back.
"G-Girls..." she called, pointing up at the sky. Buttercup glanced up, then gasped and jumped back, raising her hammer in defense. She grunted slightly—it was heavier than she remembered. Bubbles rushed to Blossom's side, wand at the ready. All three couldn't help trembling when the demon above them threw his head back and laughed that oh so familiar laugh.
"Little Powerpuff Girls Z, finally come out to play. Did you miss me?" Kare dropped to the ground, leaving a small crater where his feet hit. He looked up, eyes glowing and black energy whipping around him like a small storm, "Because I've missed you...oh, how I've missed you," he spat.
"Kare! So you really are back, I was right!" Blossom shot back at him. She started to summon her yo-yo, but cringed and quickly pulled her hand back down. Kare snickered and sauntered toward them, hips swinging.
"Where is everyone?" Bubbles asked, stepping forward, putting herself between Blossom and Kare. Buttercup had made her way closer, too. She tightened her grip on her hammer, waiting for just the moment. Kare paused, looking around, stroking his beard.
"My that is strange, now isn't it? Hm..." Kare snickered, his eyes glowing red again, "It was the oddest thing, they all just...up and left, without a word. Almost like they knew they weren't wanted..." his voice darkened, "Almost like they knew what was about to happen,"
Blossom blinked, taking an involuntary step back, "What...do you mean?"
Kare threw his head back and roared, his black power erupting around him, pouring out like a geyser. His eyes were now twin beacons of red light. His muscles tightened, his teeth grew sharper. With a small hiss, he vanished, suddenly just above Bubbles and Blossom.
With a grin, he spat at her, "REMATCH!" He swung his claw down with all his might. Blossom and Bubbles dove out of the way, the latter whipping around and swinging her bubble wand.
"Bubble Popper!" Bubbles shouted, unleashing a torrent of explosive bubbles. Kare's claw smashed the ground effortlessly. The bubbles collided with him, plastering him with tiny explosions, driving him back one step at a time.
"Ugh! That hurts!" He growled. He recovered and made to dive at her, but Buttercup cut him off, stepping into his path, "Huh?"
"My turn, Megaton Dunk!" With a mighty swing, Buttercup drove Kare into the ground. She spun around, adjusting her grip and swinging her hammer again, "Swing Sonic!" Both the shock wave and the hammer collided with his chin, sending him spiraling across the street, colliding with an overturned trashcan. Kare climbed to his feet, cursing and sputtering.
"Dammit...still not at full strength," he cursed. Kare wiped a trickle of blood from his lip and arched his back, throwing his arms out. His power erupted again, his muscles tensed once more.
Meanwhile, Powerpuff Z had regrouped. Blossom noticed, with a nervous shiver, that Buttercup seemed winded. She noticed Blossom's concern and stood up straight, rubbing her nose.
"I'm fine...just, a bit out of shape," She smirked, but the expression vanished as quickly as it appeared. Kare roared and rushed them again. This time, his dark seeds erupted from his claws, forming two more, much more massive, arms. With a grunt he swung, knocking Buttercup aside. He raised one of his dark arms and brought it down at Blossom and Bubbles.
"Blossom! Look out! Bubble Boing!" Bubbles swung in a wide arc, creating a massive bubble above them. Kare's blow collided with it and bounced off, but not before popping the bubble and knocking the two heroines to the ground. Blossom was the first to her feet, dodging Kare's next swing.
"Bubbles! Ah!" Blossom yelped, diving away from Kare's first strike. She made the mistake of trying to land on her hand and collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain. Kare grinned, lashing out at her mercilessly. In spite of the pain, Blossom dodged the next attack and flew to her feet.
"Ho ho ho!" Kare laughed, advancing on Blossom, "You can't even fight back, can you? Your poor little fingers, such a nice gift from your dear partners!" Blossom narrowed her eyes, leaning back just enough to dodge Kare's swing. Activating the jet in her shoe, she threw a powerful rocket knee right into his chin, knocking him off the ground.
"Don't underestimate me!" Blossom shouted, "And don't you dare talk about Bubbles and Buttercup like that! Candy Crush Kick!" Blossom spun around and threw another jet powered kick, knocking Kare across the street. Buttercup tore through the air, grunting as she brought her hammer up.
"Damn monster! I'll show you! Megaton DUNK!" With a yell, Buttercup swung with all of her strength. Kare sat up, growling and preparing to dive out of the way.
"Bubble Neba-Neba!" Bubbles cried, swinging her wand and nailing Kare in with a massive bubble. It promptly exploded, leaving behind a sticky substance that stuck him to the ground.
"Dammit, no!" Kare shouted, just as Buttercup's blow landed, driving him deep into the ground. Buttercup flew back, stumbling slightly when she landed. Blossom looked from Buttercup to Bubbles. The blonde heroine was panting, leaning on her wand for support.
'They're so tired after this brief battle,' Blossom thought, turning to Buttercup. The normally tough heroine was panting, her hammer laying against the ground, rather than aloft. 'They haven't had to fight like this in a year...I think...' Blossom took a deep breath and closed her eyes, steeling her nerves. That combined with her injuries...when Kare stopped toying with them, they were going to be in trouble.
"Is he...beaten?" Bubbles asked hopefully.
Buttercup laughed, rubbing her nose, "Probably, I put everything I had in that hit!"
"He's not even trying," Blossom whispered. Bubbles gasped, turning to her in disbelief.
"No, that can't be true!" she cried. Buttercup nodded, grunting and lifting her hammer off the ground.
"Yeah, there's no way..." She trailed off, hearing Kare's sinister laughter echoing from the hole in the ground. It grew louder and louder, deeper and darker, until a torrent of fire and darkness shot from the crater. A glowing silhouette rose up from the ground, red eyes shining.
"Pathetic, Powerpuff Z! You haven't tasted even a fraction of my power! Miserable, pathetic, crying, cold, freezing...KYA!" Kare threw his head back, his power exploding. He dropped to the ground, his body limp, stopping to hover just inches above the street. The wicked grin spread across his face flashed to a wicked snarl with every flash of dark lightning crackling around him.
"W-Woah...he couldn't do that before, right? Right? I don't remember that!" Buttercup exclaimed, digging her feet into the ground and preparing. Bubbles shook her head, aiming her wand at the demon.
"No...never anything like that," she commented. For a moment, an excited grin spread across Blossom's face. It vanished when Kare released a beam of dark light from his mouth, flying at them faster than she could react. Blossom realized, too late, the beam was aimed straight for her.
Thankfully, Buttercup snapped out of her shock and reacted, jumping in front of the beam and swinging her hammer.
"Smash Block!" She cried, grunting with exertion when her hammer collided with the beam. Her arms trembled, sweat poured down her face. With a mighty scream, she finished her swing, sending the beam straight up in the air.
"Buttercup!" Bubbles and Blossom called. Though she had managed to save Blossom, Buttercup collapsed to her knees, her hammer sliding out of her hands. Her eyes were wide, her body coated in sweat.
"I...I...I'm done..." she managed to stammer between gasps.
"Mou..." Blossom moaned. Blocking that attack had taken what strength Buttercup had left. Now, it was up to Bubbles and her to stop Kare. But, how?
"Weak little frigid girls! Die! Die! Die!" Kare launched himself at them, his body spinning like a tornado. He screamed as he flew through the air, eyes wide and glowing. Blossom took one look at Bubbles and saw that she was frozen. Without hesitation, Blossom shot toward Kare.
"Blossom!" Bubbles gasped, snapping out of her daze.
"Die!" Kare roared!
"Not this time! Strawberry Jackhammer Jam!" Blossom shot toward Kare with all of her might and collided headfirst with him. Kare and Blossom both screamed, thrown away from each other. Blossom collapsed on the ground, cradling her head and moaning. Kare slammed into a mailbox and sat up, cursing and holding his head.
"Ow! That hurt!" Blossom cried.
"Shit! Dammit! What was she thinking!? What was that!? What is her head made of!?" Kare sputtered, tears pooling in his eyes. He slid to his feet, still cursing and grunting.
"Blossom, that was a...unique approach," Bubbles laughed, helping Blossom to her feet. The leader giggled, groaning and trying to hold her head without aggravating her hands.
"Kaasan told me I should use my head more..." she muttered wryly. Buttercup chuckled, shaking her head.
"Damn, Hero Maniac..." With a hiss, Buttercup climbed to her feet, slouching and panting, but standing nonetheless, "So much harder than I remember," she muttered again. Bubbles nodded, once more positioning herself between Kare and her partners.
"I agree, Buttercup..." she shook her head, narrowing her eyes, "Still, that is no excuse, we'll beat him together, right, Blossom?" She glanced to their leader. Blossom smirked and nodded, shifting her stance.
"Right! Together, there's nothing we can't do, we've beat him once before!" Blossom reassured them. Kare sat up, growling. Just as he prepared to charge at them, the ground began to shake. Kare gasped, his eyes returning to normal and his dark power fizzling out.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no...no, it's much too soon! I haven't won yet!" he muttered, suddenly fearful. Blossom's hands dropped to her sides, her eyes widening.
"It's..." She began. The ground suddenly split, a great scar tearing its way across the street. The sky overhead darkened, as if a fierce storm was gathering. Powerful gales of wind began to tear at Tokyo City, while lightning crashed and thunder roared. A great torrent of wicked power erupted from the ground, rising until it eclipsed the sun itself.
"What is it?" Bubbles asked, her voice quivering.
"It's him," Blossom replied, her fear belying the glimmer of excitement in her eyes. Buttercup glanced at her leader. She swallowed nervously.
"You mean...the one...above Kare?" she asked. Blossom nodded. The power began to fade, revealing a shadowy figure floating in the sky, his arms outstretched. Slowly, he turned around, tilting his head back to face the sky. He opened his eyes and flames rose up from his crimson orbs, flickering in the bitter wind rushing around them. Staring into the blackened sun, a grin spread across his face.
"How long has it been since last I saw the accursed sun?" he spoke at last, in a deep, dark voice that seemed to cause the planet itself to tremble. He chuckled, lowering his piercing red eyes until they locked with Blossom's own pink ones, "I hope you've enjoyed it."