Ah man! You guys are really the best! All for your kind reviews and all of our newest readers joining, you guys are just so awesome! To you guys, you deserve the next chapter. This one had a lot of work put into it because Origami Cyclone is one of my FAVORITE charters in the show! He's so cute and shy, and hard working! He's also the silent one, too! He's like Canada from Hetalia! Daw, his cuteness is only increased because he's a girl in this fic! ^_^ Welp, I hope you'll all enjoy this as much as I had enjoyed typing this chapter!
Oh yes, and be warned! Due to copyright issues and my need to be original, a lot of pop!culture references have been switched and modified in this chapter. Good luck trying to figure out what was what originally. This was another fun thing to do in the story ^_^
Now let's get this chapter rolling!
Disclaimer: Tiger and Bunny is under the rights of Viz Media. I am only fulfilling a request.
~Episode Seven: Everyone Deserves a Second Chance
She stood in front of the door, double-checking her appearance. She pressed down on the folds of her puffy and ruffled, white skirt and made sure the sweet-heart neckline of the dress didn't leave too little to the imagination. Taking a breath, she raised her gloved hand and knocked on the door.
"That you, Iva?"
"Yes, sir."
"Ah, perfect!" The door was opened to her. "Come in, come in! Let's see how you look, hm?"
Iva walked into her boss's office, her hands held to the front of her body and her head held a little down.
"Oh, I knew dressing you up as Holly Bunny would be perfect! You look like an exact replica," Her boss walked over to her, smiling genuinely. "This is the perfect promotional stunt. None of the other heroes have thought about doing this yet, I bet! Haha, they'll all be jealous of you, Iva." He clasped his hands on her shoulders. "Don't you think so? Holly Bunny is one of your favorite shoujo characters, right?"
"She is," Iva nodded, placing her knee-sock-clad feet together. "And this is a great idea, sir. I-I was just wondering. . . What if I did something besides dressing up? I am suppose to be going to Hero Academy and there's more I can do besides advertise, right?" She asked. Her boss stood straight, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"Iva, that sounds great. Really, if we could do it, we would. But I think I need you to stick to advertising this season, you know?" He asked, almost feeling sorry when Iva's eyes dropped in disappointment. "Hey, none of that now, Iva. Please, this is beyond my control. Because of the recent activity and troubles the city's had with Lunatic, a lot of people are starting to give up on the League of Heroes. So the rest of us CEOs want to make sure all of the heroes' reputations are kept intact. Everyone in the League is going out for blood with the Media right now, so it's up to us and you, our extremely cute hero, to bump up the ante and make sure that Helperides is still in the top seven. Now, can I count on you to do your best for the company? For the League?" He asked.
"Sir. . ." Iva held the front of her skirt firmly before nodding. "Y-Yes, sir. You can count on me!" She agreed.
"There ya go. That's the Iva I know," Her boss clapped his hands. "Now, I want you to wear your cosplay when you arrive at the academy. After that, you're going be dressed in your hero suit. Then you can dress in whatever you like afterwards. What I need you to do then is give all you know to the group you'll be with, but make sure to show off your sponsors. You're going to be working withBarnaby Brooks Jr. and Wild Tigress, so you need to make sure that eyes are on you. Ever since Apollo debut them as the first hero couple in the League, ratings and supporters took off for them," Her boss paced on his feet, his hand to his chin. "Maybe we should get you a partner. . . No, no-no. We need to focus this whole thing on you, Iva. Forget that last idea." He shook his head and turned back to Iva. "For now, let's stick with today's work. Now, can you do Holly Bunny's pose. Oh, who am I kidding? You're a fan of her! I bet you know it by heart."
"I-I do, actually," With a twirl and small swing of her hips to the right, Iva placed a hand sign of peace near her forehead, smiling cutely as the rabbit ear of her headband flopped into her blonde hair. "Holly Bunny, here! To protect the world and you're heart! Pyon~!"
"Young ladies and gentlemen, today we are lucky to have a group of active heroes here to address Hero Academy." The old man in a the green suit gestured to Barnaby, Wild Tigress, and Origami Cyclone, all three wearing sashes reading "Let's Believe HEROES" in big bold and red letters. The group waved to the crowd of flashing cameras and cheering students as they all stood in the main auditorium of the academy. It was a wild buzz that day, all for the sake of getting the heroes onto the side of the citizens of Sternbild.
"What a waste of time." Barnaby whispered through his false smile.
"Huh?" Katsuko cocked her head in his direction, trying to look as discreet as possible while still smiling.
"We're not being effective here. We should be out on patrol, looking for Lunatic." Explained the orphan hero.
"Bunny, isn't this your alma mater? Enjoy yourself," Katsuko smiled at a group of students, waving a little harder. "Besides, the higher-ups want us to get back on the peoples' side. That means doing stuff like this. If you ask me, its pretty fun," She gave him a quick smile. "I never went to this school but I'm still impressed. A school made for NEXT, would you believe it? It's places like these we need to encourage, show people that NEXT can become something great with the powers they have." She expressed.
"Touching, but I don't see how our smiles can do anything," The blonde shrugged and moved his gaze to the third of their trio. "Or dressing up in ridiculous costumes. Just why was Origami Cyclone dressed in some sort of party dress when we got here? And with rabbit ears- and don't you start with me." He added quickly, casting a warning look to his partner before she could crack a joke.
The brunette pouted. "No fair, I had about five good ones that would knock this crowd dead," Bunny gave a deadpanned look at Katsuko threw her arms in surrender. "Kidding, kidding! Lighten up, will you? Besides, it was pretty cool seeing Origami dressed as Holly Bunny." She smiled as the youngest of their group waved her fan like a geisha, a humble smile on her lips. "It was almost as cool as watching her dress in a red keikogi like Minata from Snake Riders last week."
Barnaby raised his eyebrow. "Last week?"
"Yeah. You know, Origami is a web star," Confusing her partner further, Katsuko placed one on her hip to explain. "It's something her company encouraged her to do. She goes out and about around with a camera crew in Sternbild, dressed like different anime characters. She acts like them and even does a few stunts like them. It's pretty impressive since she can look exactly like the characters." Katsuko looked thoughtful. "It's pretty cool. Her make-up and costume team must do a really good job."
"And you know this how?"
"Well, I may or may have not become a fan of her show."
"Meaning you are, and you waste your time looking at internet videos. Typical old woman."
"You're so lucky we're in front of the cameras right now, Bunny."
Diverting their anger from each other, the both of them watched with raised eyebrows as Origami sudden strutted a pose with a lose swing of her hips.
"Ha! So we finally meet! Pay attention everyone! I shall now teach you the secrets on how to become a hero! Swing, swing! And now a flutter of the fan!"
As Origami Cyclone's voice boomed from every TV in Sternbild, including the largest one in Sternbild Square, a person took a sip out of a can of apple juice, his dark purple eyes glaring at the kimono-clad hero.
"That's right, everyone! Repeat after me, please: Swing, swing, and flutter!"
The person shifted his eyes to the streets, indenting his yellow hood as a squadron of police cars drove by. The can of apple juice fell to the floor, the empty can disappearing into a sinkhole of sand.
Katsuko sighed tiredly as she fell into the seat of a classroom desk, grimacing as her body suit stuck to her like a second skin. Despite the air condition in the classroom, it still felt as she was in a fever.
"Buh, it's so hot." She whispered, resting her cheek and sighing as she met cold wood. Barnaby's helmet sat right next to her head as the owner sat down with a look just as exhausted.
"I'm tired." He sighed, fanning out his hair to stop it from matting on his neck and forehead.
Katsuko looked up tiredly, switching to her other cheek. "Don't tell me you want to go home already."
"Sounds good to me," Iva walked into the room, removing her mask and taking a seat next to Barnaby. Out of her pocket came a white fan with a design of yellow fox with sneakers, a green bow on one of her ears and the words "Faster than the wind" across the bottom. She fanned herself with it, sighing.
"What, you're giving up?" Asked Katsuko. Iva cracked open an eye, the sleeves of her kimono hanging limply off her body suit.
"Why not?"
"Hey, what happened to you?" The older hero gave a wistful smile. "You were so jazzed up at the ceremony, waving your fan and shirirken here and there. You even came here dressed as Holly Bunny, acting all cute and excited," Katsuko cocked her head. "What happened?" She asked.
"It was all for the kids attending the event, and the bloggers and TV guys. My web show's a hit when I'm cosplaying, but my sponsors and company wanted me to try something to get more attention. To tell the truth," She paused, flicking her wrist to close her fan. "I'm not qualified to be teaching anyone, unless they want to know how to fix a tear in a sailor suit or how to get some attention in the background."
Katsuko moved her cheek to her open palm, propping her elbow up.
"That seems pretty useful."
"No it's not," The platinum-blonde shook her head, clamping her hands to the sides of her head. "There's no way any of that's useful. That's it, I'm facing reality; I'm not cut out to be a hero."
Katsuko gave a compassionate smile, reaching out and patting the young NEXT's head. "C'mon, Origami. Don't say that." Iva's head lowered further.
"I'm lowest-ranking hero."
"Origami-"
"Even the fans on my show agree. My blog, the comments on my web page, everyone's bashing me."
Katsuko winced. The Media was the greatest connection to the people. Bashing digitally was just as painful as a verbal blow.
"Seriously?"
"I should just quit now," A cloud of depression hung over Iva, storm clouds sent a thundering. "I can do that, yeah? I'll call it quits and head back to my parents' place in Moscow. They say they need some help with the cattle and my brothers and sisters."
"You're from Russia?" Katsuko asked, eyebrows reaching the top of her head. Now that she had a good look at Iva, Katsuko could see that she had distinctive European feature. Her skin was almost pale enough and her cheeks bones and chin weren't as curved as someone born in Japan.
"Born and raised," Iva sighed, placing her chin on the desk. "I should have stayed there. It's all my fault that our ratings are dropping. Forget Lunatic." She huffed.
"Aw man, quit talking like that. You have a little rain cloud over you and it's starting to affect me, too." Katsuko weakly chuckled just as the classroom door flew open.
"Hello, you three. Are you ready?" Asked the old man from the ceremony. Barnaby stood up with a nostalgic smile, a little bit of s skip in the small hop he made out of his chair.
"Principle Lucini, how are you sir?" He asked, receiving a hug from the man.
"Ah, Barnaby!" He praised, shaking the young man's hand enthusiastically. "Good to see you, son! I'm so proud when I heard you were accepted into the League of Heroes!" He smiled.
"Well, it's all thanks to this school and your guidance, sir." Replied the hundred-strength using NEXT.
"I'm glad to hear that, my boy. So good to see you, yes!" Lucini grinned before moving to Iva as she stood, pulling her into a hug as well. "Iva! Look at you! You were only a little girl when I last saw you. But now look at you! You're a beautiful young lady. I'm so proud of you, too!" He smiled.
"Please, don't call me by my first name, sir." Whispered the Russian, her former mentor chuckling and patting her shoulder.
"Ah, right! I should be calling you Origami Cyclone. What a wonderful name for a hero," He smiled, unaware of the sinking shoulders Iva possessed. "The both of you have done me so proud. I could not have asked for better students." He turned to Katsuko, who braced herself as the man walked over and surprisingly pulled her into s hug. "Miss. Wild Tigress, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person! Thank you so much for lending your time to us while working with your busy schedule." He greeted. Katsuko grinned back.
"You, too. Thanks for having me," She said, scratching the back of her neck. "I really hope you don't mind me here, since I'm not a graduate of this school." She laughed nervously. Principle Lucini shook his head with a smile, throwing one hand in the air out of excitement, almost striking Wild Tigress on the nose.
"It's no trouble at all! The students will be thrilled to have an ex-star hero lecturing them on what it takes to be a hero!"
"Uh, could you leave out the "ex-" part and just call me a start hero?" Katsuko laughed, a little annoyed and silently warning her "boyfriend" to not pull a snigger, no matter how hard he was trying to hide it.
"Yes, of course! I just hope you three are ready. The students are waiting." Beamed the head master.
"Right." Replied Barnaby and Iva.
"Sure." Katsuko shrugged.
"One of the most important things a hero needs to do is earn points!" Barnaby smiled and held a finger up in attention to the class he had. "Take before it is taken! That will help you once you are qualified to join the League!"
"Right!" Shouted his students.
"The most important thing a hero needs to know is this; saving the people before anything else!" Katsuko stood before her students, crossing her arms as they took over the track of the academy. "Don't do anything else beforehand! Destroy a few buildings if you have to! Remember; haste makes waste!"
"Right!" Agreed her students. One shot her arm in the air.
"Yes?"
"What was your kiss with Mr. Barnaby like?" She asked excitedly, half of the other female students buzzing with the same question and those of the like. Katsuko let out an aggravated sigh, a light blush skimming her nose and cheeks.
"Ladies, let me tell you something. Kissing Bunny is like catching a cold; it's unhealthy, nauseating, and you wish it was over the minute it started." She stated bluntly. The students stared at her, shocked, before Katsuko realized that she was supposed to sound like she was in love with Barnaby, much to her displeasure. "But. . . At least he tried he tried his best! That's why. . . I love him so much!" She clapped her hands, shying away from the conversation. "Alright, now let me tell you some techniques on how to save folks real quick!"
"One of the most important things about being a hero is to showcase their sponsors!" Iva pumped one fist in the air, her original fan held between her fingertips. "When the camera is angled directly on you, make sure the logos of your sponsors are shown! Is everyone with me?" She looked around, surprised to see that her students were looking at her in disappointment. "Huh?"
"I don't want to be a hero for screen-time." Sighed one student.
"Do you have anything, like, useful?" Sneered another.
Iva gulped and fanned herself nervously. "Uh. . . Let me think for a second." She said, her fan slowly touching her lips as nothing came to mind.
After her session was over, Iva stepped out of the auditorium and sighed, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her jacket. She knew this was a bad idea, coming back to her old school and teaching what she had only learned from her promotional artists and boss. Shame burned at her face worst than a bad sunburn and she began to wonder why she had agreed to come back in the first place.
She pulled out a small pill of aspirin wrapped in a clothe and she sighed, clutching it in her hand.
"Mr. Sky High. . ." She whispered, remembering the very person who gave her the pain reliever.
Iva raced into the hero's training room, trembling as she ran to the boxing sack hanging by the wall.
"I can't believe myself!" She punched at the boxing sack, gritting her teeth as a painful needles stung at her knuckles. "I fell off that building! Scratching out my company's logo, too! My boss was so steamed, too. . ." Her hands formed into together fists and they shot out at the boxing sack like angry hornets, unrelenting, non-calculated, and with a terrible sting. Iva threw one last rough punch, the skin on her middle knuckle splitting and bleeding. "Ow." She whimpered.
"Is someone here?" Iva yipped at the voice and turned to make a run for it, but she ran into something solid. She feel back, losing her footing, but a hand shot out and grabbed her own before she met the floor. "Miss. Origami? What are you doing here? I was sure everyone left half an hour ago." She looked at Sky High's surprised face, and her reacting was instantaneous.
She squealed, took a few steps back and bowed repeatedly.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I-I didn't m-m-mean to r-run into y-y-you! I-I just got so scared! N-Not by you, of course, M-Mr. Sky High! Wh-What I meant was-!"
"Whoa, slow down, Miss. Origami. You'll get yourself a headache." The senior NEXT placed his hands on her shoulders, making her stop her blabbering and turning her cheeks into a vibrant pink that could rival cherry blossoms.
"I-I already have one. . . And a sore hand." She sighed, her head throbbing from the blood that rushed into her head and her earlier injury.
"What happened?" Sky High gasped, grabbing her hand. Iva let out a pained cry and pulled her hand back. Unaware that the older blonde had a good grip, she pulled herself closer to Sky High and met his face, their noses a hairbreadth apart. "Miss. Origami?" Asked Sky High, looking at her worriedly.
"M-My hand. " Explained the scared NEXT, sniffling and fighting back tears. It would be an embarrassment to cry in front of a well-beloved hero and superior.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please, let me help you," Sky High pulled her out of the training room and to his own changing room, sitting down the blushing Russian on one of the comfortable couches and searching through his locker. Iva took a second to look around the room, noting the beige-colored walls had posters of Sky High and various photos of him at important events. It looked like the older hero was popular around Sternbild.
'Unlike me,' She thought with a sigh. 'I can never take the spotlight. The background's where I belong.'
"Here we go," Sky High sat on one knee, holding his free hand out while his other held a piece of clothe damp in antibiotic medicine. Iva offered her hand and winced as the cloth dabbed around her wound before it was firmly placed over the split skin to stop the blood. "I'm sorry if this is painful. Here," The blue-eyed man gave her two pain killer pills and a water bottle. "These should help with your headache."
"Th-Thank you, Mr. Sky High." Stuttered Iva, swallowing down one of the pills with her water bottle.
"We never actually exchanged our names, have we?" Sky High tilted his head with what was close to a puppy pout, the look almost making Iva turn more pink than she already was. "Keith Goodman." He introduced himself.
"I-Iva Karelin." Iva mumbled as Keith tied the cloth around her hand. "A-And thank you for helping me, Mr. Good. . . Mr. Sky High." She was too nervous to say his real name, feeling to exposed.
"Iva. . . What a nice name," Keith smiled, stirring up another blush and unaware of it. "Are you sure you're alright, though? Did someone hurt you?" He asked worriedly. Iva shook her head quickly, forcing a ghost of a smile on her lips.
"No, I-I hurt myself on accident." She assured, only making Keith more worried. "I was. . . Angry with myself. You saw what happened today, right?" She bit her lip, looking at her injured hand. "I made myself the laughing stock of my company and sponsors. And now I took my anger out and hurt myself." She shook her head. "And now I have to go to the lecture at Hero Academy next week. Mr. Sky High. . . I-I don't think I can do that."
"Why?" Asked Keith.
"I'm a failure." Mumbled the sad blonde. "How can I help those kids when I can't even help myself?"
"Then you should help yourself."
Iva looked up, taken aback by the grin on Keith's face.
"I-I beg your pardon-"
"Help yourself. Get yourself out of your slump!" Keith patted her on the back, the force almost sending Iva flying off her seat. "Being sad won't help you at all, Miss. Origami! The best of ourselves come out when we're excited, full of life! You don't worry about the "what ifs" and hardships! My best advice is this," He grinned brightly, his teeth beating the sun in a gleaming contest. "Have fun, and have fun, again!"
"Have fun. . ." Iva mulled over the words for a second, before looking at Sky High's ridiculous grin. Something bubbled in her and with the lack of holding back, she giggle quietly.
"There! Laughing is the best way to be happy," He pulled Iva up, clasping his large hands over hers. "Always smile like this, Miss. Origami. You look best when you do," Iva blushed, boring her eyes to her feet as Sky High smiled. "I wish you the best at Hero Academy. Remember to have fun!"
"Have fun," She repeated before nodding and smiling for real. "Yes! I promise I will, Mr. Sky High." She swore.
Sky High grinned and patted her head, proud of her. "Thank you for taking my word, Miss. Origami. Thanks, and thanks again!"
Iva laughed again, more freely and worries gone.
"He's right," The pale blonde placed the items back in her pocked and placed both her fist in front of her, mustering up a determined look. "I have to remember to have fun with this! This isn't just a day to teach! It's a day about fun. . . Right?" She added lamely. She crossed her arms with her lips held tight, her eyes aiming to the ground. "How though?" She asked herself.
A buzz of excitement roared in her ears and she whipped her head into the direction of the noise. Wild Tigress was having her hands full, the group she was with displaying their powers. All the while, despite how mundane or odd each was, Tigress was cheering them on and clapping her hands.
"Whoa! I've never seen a NEXT with sketchy skin before! Wicked!"
"Man, sweating? Talk about original! Awesome!"
"Balding, that's the distraction to take! Criminals won't see it coming!"
"Remember! Don't over-think your power, no matter what it is! You're true potential will become obvious as you train with your powers!"
The words triggered something in Iva's mind, and one memory was bought back to her.
A fifteen-year-old and just recent to discover her NEXT ability, Iva had been enrolled to Hero Academy a few months she moved to Japan. Enthralled by its culture and traditions, she dove herself into the world of anime and manga, collecting everything from light novels, director cuts of DVDs, a few trunk fulls of cosplays, and webpage that dedicated to almost every anime out there. Though enjoying her world of Japanese cartoons and books, she sat one day near a stature of Mr. Legend, her thumb running past the sides of pages of the manga she had, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"Can I actually become a hero, like the ones on anime and manga?" She asked to the air around her, tilting her head in expense. "I'm not sure I have what it takes. . ."
"C'mon, Weeaboo, you know that's not true."
"You calling me "Weeaboo" isn't helping," She huffed to thin air, her shoulders rising as her head lowered."You're lucky, Edward. Everyone says you're bound to graduate with your power. Not like me. I'm just a big failure."
A small pool of sand swirled in front of her and a young man popped out from the ground, his eyes glowing bright blue and his long hair a dark orange.
"Hey, don't pout, Iva. Just because it's cute doesn't mean you should be doing it."He teased, tugging on his own ponytail. Iva scowled and the young man chuckled. "I'm joking, 'Eve," He swore before looking at her considerately. "But why are you putting yourself down about your powers? You never said anything before."
"That's because I couldn't proper Japanese until two months ago." Iva sighed.
"Iva, I'm being serious here."
"Me, too. Partly," Iva rested her hands at her sides, palms flat on the surface of her seat. "And isn't what I said earlier obvious? My ability is useless," She held a deeper pout. "I don't even see how it can be useful." She said, pulling her legs up and to her chest and laying her head on her knees.
"You're obsessing way too much over this. You're gonna be, fine!" Edward smiled, optimism in his eyes infused with power. "There's gotta be something only you can do, Iva!" He said. Iva tilted her head, still doubtful of her friend's words.
"But what?"
Edward laughed, pulling himself out of the sand bath and brushing the white rocks off the shoulders of her training jacket. Throwing an arm over Iva, he squeezed her lithe body and smiled, enjoying the pink coloring that bloomed across her cheeks.
"E-Edward!"
"You're over-thinking it," He squeezed her again, nosing his face into her blonde hair. "It'll become obvious as you train."
"Hey, Miss. Wild Tigress!"
Katsuko stopped in her tracks, cocking her head and surprised to see Iva jogging over to her.
"Oh, hey, Origami," She greeted with a smile when the minor stood in front of her. "You know, you can just call me Katsuko. Everyone's left to Bunny's class. Your group too, right?" She asked.
"Yes," Iva answered. "Um, Miss. Katsuko, can you take a look at my power for a second?"
Katsuko pulled a face. Iva wasn't one to voice out a favor from anyone. One of the youngest of the current League of Heroes wasn't a girl of many words. Still, the way orchid-purple eyes looked at her pleadingly drew her in.
"Erm, sure! Lay it on me."
"Wow!" Katsuko gasped in awe, brown-gold eyes as wide as her own staring back her. Her hand pointed at the reflection, the duplicate of herself jumping and pointing back. Everything was right, to the last strand of cordovan-brown hair styled into cat-shaped ears to the sparkling flecks in wide, amber-crown eyes. "That's amazing!
"Wow, that's amazing!" Replied her double.
"That's OK! You don't have to copy me."
"That's OK! You don't have to copy me."
"I'm serious. You can stop now."
"I'm serious. You can stop now."
"Arrgh!" Katsuko had enough, throwing her fist once angrily. "I'm not kidding, Origami!"
"Oh!" Flushing, the second Katsuko clapped her hands over her mouth. "S-Sorry." She apologized, her voice gently resembling Iva's. Katsuko placed her hands on her hips, smiling and very impressed.
"Still, that's a pretty cool power. You're able to shape-shift into another person's appearance."
"It's not useful for saving people, though." Iva sighed, timidly brushing away her temporary brown hair.
"What do you mean?" Katsuko leaned on the edge of the statue of Mr. Legend, the back of her knees meeting the edge. "Sounds plenty useful. You could turn into me and use y Hundredth-Power!"
"Not really. You see, I can copy someone's appearance, but not their powers. . ." Her voice trailed off, Iva looked to the side in a lost state. Katsuko whistled. While Iva's power was interesting, there was little use to it.
"You got a point there. . ."
"See! It's just like I told you. I should just quit and move back home!" The shape-shifter's face turned red and tears burst from momentarily brown eyes, Iva sobbing into her hands and shaking her head. "I should just get a job here and pull some money together to get a plane ticket back home!" She cried.
"No I'm getting depressed," Katsuko giggled, trying to make the best of a situation. She smiled over to the sobbing NEXT in a motherly fashion. "Could you stop crying with my face there?" She asked, feeling odd. It was really weird to see someone crying with a face that looked exactly like your own.
"O-Oh, sorry," Wiping her face, Origami released a coat of blue light away from her and changed to her regular appearance, off-purple eyes puffy and red from crying. Katsuko patted the spot next to her, motioning Iva to sit next to her. Though reluctant, the blonde planted herself next to the older hero, squeaking as her head was patted at, her hair almost getting in her eyes.
"Miss. Katsuko!"
"You're still young, Iva. You're still a kid." Katsuko laughed. Iva prepared to retort but Katsuko beat her to it. "Which is why you shouldn't be obsessing over this. Your power is useful; you just have to keep working with it until you find something you think it will do good for." Katsuko advised. Iva looked at her past her obscuring blonde locks, turning still-silent for a second.
"You're not the first to tell me that."
"Who was that?" Katsuko asked. Iva's lips trembled, the name upon her lips wavering.
"Edward Keddy. He's. . . He was my only friend when I went here," Her face turned as red as a tomato, the times Edward would teasingly kiss her cheek to just to see her blush coming to mind. Happy memories were what she wanted to remember, yet Iva could not push back that horrible day, where hearts were as red as blood and the day that made her reel whenever she saw chocolate in heart-shaped boxes. "I didn't really take his words to heart. I should have, since he was my senior and he knew more than anyone else. He was at the top of our year."
"Really," Katsuko made that sound as if that wasn't a question, more like an assumption. "He never came into the League though, Iva. You did," She smiled, tilting her hat off her "kitten ears". "It means you were more suited for the job."
"No, I'm not." Iva muttered stubbornly. Katsuko sighed as she stood up, bringing the web star up by her shoulders and shaking her.
"Iva, quit doing this to yourself! You are the best choice!"
"No, I'm not!" Origami shook herself from Katsuko shaking her head roughly. "You don't understand!"
"Then at least let me! Iva, you'll only become more mad at yourself if you hold this in!" Katsuko shouted. Iva embraced herself, her body bowing forward.
"Edward should have been the hero! Not me!" Sniffling, Iva ran out of the area, kicking up piles of dirt as her feet raced her out of there. Katsuko didn't move to catch up with her, knowing that Iva needed some time to herself.
As much as Katsuko would have loved to sit and listen to the principle of Hero Academy go on and on about how popular and incredibly smart Barnaby was during his school days, another though preoccupied her mind as the three of them sat in one of the classrooms.
"Hey, can I ask something?" She paused her partner and his mentor's flighty chit-chat. "What was he like back then?" She asked. Barnaby looked away, a tiny and bashful smile on his lips.
"Hey, enough already, Tigress." He chuckled, so caught up in nostalgia that he felt flattered that Katsuko wanted to know more.
."Not you, Bunny. I meant Iva." Deadpanned his "girlfriend", a sour look making Barnaby turn away with a mumbling a sound close to disappointment.
'Why am I disappointed?' He wondered.
"Iva, well. . . She was an interesting one," Principle Lucini explained. "You must understand that it was difficult for her here. She joined this school at fifteen after she moved into Japan from Russia. Speaking Japanese wasn't too difficult for her since of her dedication of, well.-"
"Being an otaku?" Suggested Katsuko, Barnaby rolling his eyes at her knowledge of that word. Lucini scratched his head, moving on.
"Yes, well. Her power was unique as well. Vastly, I must say. However, I don't think she was able to reach her full potential due to how shy and quiet she was. She hid behind a friend she made while taking a senior class, Edward Keddy." Lucini sighed, clasping his hands in front of himself. "He was a fine young man. At the top of his class and very charismatic. Everyone enjoyed his company. He was like you, Barnaby." Lucini smiled bitterly, running one hand through his thinning hair in distress. "However, an accident occurred and, well. . . I'm sorry." He sighed. "It's not a subject we usually bring up, especially on February fourteenth."
"Wait, are you referring to the "Bloody Valentine" incident that happened three years ago?" Asked Barnaby. Katsuko cocked her head, the name faintly familiar.
""Bloody Valentine"? I heard of that somewhere. . ." Pondered the brunette.
"Having a fun day, Weeaboo?"
Iva looked at the ice cream in her hand, trying her best to make sure Edward couldn't see her red face.
"Yeah, I am," She managed to say, taking a bite out of her waffle cone. "Thanks for the ice cream, Edward."
"Hey, its Valentine's day, right? We gotta be stuffing ourselves this year, Iva," The achiving and bright young man took a bite out of his rocky road ice cream, gulping down the frozen desert and howling with laughter as his teeth turned numb. "Damn, I needed that!"
Giggling, Iva quickly licked-up her strawberry-vanilla-swirl as the two of them strolled down to Main Street, enjoying Valentine's Day the best as they could without becoming driven into public pressure and ignoring the stares at them that suspected them of being a couple.
Iva turned pink at the thought, only imagining being pulled into Edward's arms, his eyes closing his he leaned in to kiss her. She had a crush on her best friend, the only person to ever accept her, despite being from another part of the world and for having full doubt in herself. He was there for her, by her side as she was for his. Iva loved him.
'He doesn't feel the same,' Iva thought with a sigh, almost crushing her cone in her tightening grip. 'He can have any girl he wants. Why would he want me?'
"Iva," Edward suddenly grabbed her hand, his face looking urgent. "Something happening, look!" He jerked his head to the bank nearby, a group of people gathered by. Edward pulled the protesting Iva to the scene, the both of them hiding behind the crowd. A robber stood at the top of the bank's stairs, holding a woman at gun-point. Police were there, but they were waiting for the NEXT, lest the chance the woman would be hurt.
"Let's go, Iva," The younger NEXT chocked out a sound of worry as Edward lightly yanked on her hand. Her friend looked back at her, passion dancing in his eyes. "We're the only ones who can do this! C'mon, Iva, we can help!"He urged. Iva shook her head, looking the other way.
"Using our powers is against Academy rules, Edward."
"Are you kidding me?!" Edward scoffed, throwing Iva's hand. "This about it; our powers are needed here. We can save the day, Iva. What's the point of not using them right now when they're needed the most?" He asked, taking Iva by her shoulders.
"My power isn't even useful." Sighed the short NEXT. Edward cupped her chin, forcing her to burn her eyes into his own.
"Iva, you'll be fine. I'll be right there to back you up," He gritted his teeth when Iva looked away. "C'mon, Iva!"
"Please, no, Edward." The Russian begged, the responsibility eating at her, a black void swirling within the pit of her stomach. With a growl, Edward took a step to the scene, looking back at Iva with silent rage.
"You better be ready, Weeaboo. I'm counting on you." He muttered, running behind the building. Iva wanted to run after him but it looked as if Edward had already taken form of his plan. He jumped behind the criminal, camouflaged by his sand manipulation, and grabbing the gun. As he held it with a confident smirk, the criminal's partner snuck up behind him, the gun tosses from hand to hand amongst the three as Edward tried to break out of them.
"Iva, help me!" He shouted. Iva stood where she was, her hands shaking at her sides and her knees turning into jelly. Fear constricted around her, a voice of doubt in her mind screaming that she would die if she took a step forward. "What are you waiting for-"
The bullet was shot from the gun and a body fell. Edward held the gun in his hands, the cold metal stinging his skin. Iva could only see him standing there, blood soaking near his feet and gun smoke scarcely marking the area. Iva was too scared to scream, the blood upon the street slickly painting a bloody Valentine's day.
Iva stood by the stature of Mr. Legend once more, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the cloth Sky High had given her. She dabbed the soft cloth around her cheeks, sighing at the feel.
"Hey there, Weeaboo."
Gasping, Iva turned around and stepped back, believing she was seeing a ghost as Edward walked over to her with a cocky smirk. His peach-orange hair has turned into a short buzz cut, his rare-colored eyes holding confidence and a sinister glare.
"Edward!" She exclaimed, taking a step back as each of his steps grew closer to her. "I-"
"Hey, this is where we met to talk, right?" Edward asked, resting his leg on the platform of the limestone statue. "You always ran away here when people picked on you or ignored you. I had to stop you from crying your eyes out." He began to laugh, shaking his head like a drunk. "You were a crybaby back then, Iva."
"How did you get out?" Iva kept her distance, her heart beating a mile a minute. "I thought you were still in jail. . ."
Halting his laughter, he looked at her. Insanity twisted his grin.
"I was, but I came back for you, Iva." He crackled. Iva looked away, pressing her upper lip to her lower.
"I-I don't know what to say-"
"Oh you don't have to say anything," Edward's smirk turned into a snarl, his eyes turning a light blue. "You won't be able to speak after I'm done with you, traitor!" He lunged at her, a scream ripped from Iva's throat.
"Iva!" Katsuko raced out of the classroom with Barnaby and Lucini hot on her tail, coming towards the statue. Edward already had a vortex of sand convulsing around them, pushing Iva's head under the swirls of sand, pulling her head up the gasp and beg for air.
"Do you know how much I suffered because of you, Iva?!" He roared, plunging the struggling blonde back into the sand. "I was this close to becoming a certified hero! You ruined everything!" He yanked her back up, spitting as she looked at him desperately, a display that prayed for mercy. "Why didn't you try and help me that day!? I went to save someone so why did I go to jail when a whinny brat like you got to be a hero!" His chokehold tighten, eyes dilating as Iva could only struggle in vain. "It's all your fault, Iva! I lost everything all because you were too scared to move!" He threw her head back into the sand, waiting for her suffocating death.
"Origami!"
"Edward!"
The latter looked up, smirking when Tigress tried to grab at him. He slipped back into the sand, releasing Iva and fleeting the area. Barnaby caught Iva and helped her breath again, the red-faced hero trying to cough sand out of her air-deprived lungs.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Iva pushed herself out of his arms and look at the ground, trails of sand making puddles on the floor.
"Why did you interfere?" She sighed, dragging her hands through her hair to shake off sand."I would be willing to die if it somehow made him feel better." She confessed.
"Why would you say that?" Katsuko gasped in dismay. Iva hunched her shoulders to her neck, emotional and physical pain shattering down her spine and ribs.
"Don't you get it yet? I'm the one who ruined his life-"
"Edward is just trying to find someone to blame, Iva," Barnaby interrupted. As he explained, Iva's eyes widened at every word. "He should have never stepped in. What happened back then was not your fault." Iva looked ahead, her eyes glinting with what could not match tears.
"No. . . He asked for my help. I would have been willing to do anything for him back then because. . . Because. . ." She sighed, thrusting her fingers into her bangs and gripping her skull. "I loved him. I was in love with him, always at his side, always there to laugh and cry with him. But when he needed me the most, I froze. I couldn't do anything, but become afraid at the thought of being killed," She shook with anger, directing it all at herself, hiding her face in her hands. "I should have been. . . If I had jumped in, he would have been a hero!" Her shoulders shook, warm tears slipping past the crack of her fingers, her bones shackling with the burden she carried. "A much better hero. . . Than me. . ." She whispered brokenly.
"Iva. . ." Her shoulder was handled gently, the acting causing the otaku to look into Katsuko eyes, wisdom flooding through the golden pillars in her eyes. "You got this all wrong. Edward simply wasn't ready to be a hero back then. And he'll mess up again if you don't stop him." She warned. Iva averted her eyes.
"What am I suppose to do? My power-"
"It's not your power that held you back, back then," Katsuko stated. "You knew what had to be done. But now, you're a hero. I think you know what you have to do," Katsuko guided the girl to stand. "You don't want the same thing to happen again."
The words of the past and present clashed into her, the shape-shifting NEXT able to understand. Keith's, Katsuko's, Edward's, even Barnaby's words finally made sense to her and made her see the truth. Her delicate eyes narrowed, turning into a soft shade of baby-blue.
"Edward needs me. . ." She stood, running off without another word. Proud of herself, Katsuko grinned.
"I'm better than I thought!"
"And so humble, too." Barnaby added sarcastically. Katsuko frowned.
"It's no big deal," She huffed, standing up and looking back at him. "We have to go help Iva." She followed after the same trail the younger hero took, Barnaby staring while his former mentor smiled.
"You're a lucky man, Barnaby."
"So she keeps telling me."
"Edward!" Cupping her hands around her mouth, Iva called out for her friend in one of the parking lots, hoping to see him somewhere in the mid-twilight. Something grabbed her by the ankle and shoved her down, her wrists caught and her small body crushed under a stronger one. Her breath caught in her throat, the cologne the person held very recognizable.
"Edward." She whispered.
"You were looking for me, right?" He smirked, pushing himself off her and standing, his hands in his pockets. "Why do you look so scared? Gonna cry again?"
"I came to talk to you," Iva turned to sit, looking into Edward's eyes. "Please, Edward, I want you to stop!" She whispered with hope, lunging and grabbing at the front of his shirt. "Please, Edward!"
"Shut up!" He turned the tables and grabbed Iva by her shirt, ready to punch her lights out. A burst of flames separated the two of them in the next instant, creating a wall of blue and green fire around them. The both of them looked to the gaping gale of the red moon, Lunatic standing on top of one of the buildings with his crossbow held precisely.
"Sinful one, you're time has come." He whispered in dread.
"It's Lunatic. . ." Iva whispered in fright.
"Why did he shoot at me?" Edward demanded.
"You escaped prison without atoning for the murder you committed," Lunatic's eyes rolled to the back of his head, his green and blue fire surrounding his body. His cloak was burn away and the gathered flames were swirling around the arrow of his weapon. "You shall pay for it with your life!"
Volleys of fire arrows rained upon them, Edward trying to make an escape from his certain death. Iva held herself with horror making her solid, afraid for her life.
"Being sad won't help you at all, Miss. Origami! The best of ourselves come out when we're excited, full of life! You don't worry about the "what ifs" and hardships! My best advice is this; Have fun, and have fun, again!"
"Remember! Don't over-think your power, no matter what it is! You're true potential will become obvious as you train with your powers!"
"You're obsessing way too much over this. You're gonna be, fine! There's gotta be something only you can do, Iva!"
The assuring words bounced all around her, making her entire body swirl with blue NEXT energy.
"You're over-thinking it. It'll become obvious as you train."
"But now, you're a hero. I think you know what you have to do."
Her eyes turned bright, the violent blue resembling a strike of lightning.
"Wait a second."
Lunatic looked over his shoulder, his expression hidden by his mask as another Edward walked over, his purple eyes blazing by the dangerous fires around him. The first Edward looked shocked, unable to understand why there was a copy of him standing a few feet away.
The second Edward glared venomously. "I'm the real Edward." He took a step forward, holding his hands into fists. "You said you were looking for me, right?" He smirked, looking down at the dark vigilant of darkness. "So what are you waiting for?" He asked in a snarky tone. Lunatic eyed him, angling his weapon.
"You who resembles a sinner, identify yourself." He commanded. The second Edward growled under his throat.
"I told you, I'm the real Edward!"
"Are you prepared to atone for your sins?"
As if the question were asked directly to herself, Iva nodded in her Edward guise, ready to take the hit.
"Very well. . ." Lunatic redirected his crossbow, though only for a split second as he re-aimed at the first Edward, the two of them gasping as the flames grew larger. "Sinners must pay for the evil they caused. Accept your fate as justice. . ." He pursed, cocking the gun. Iva raced forward and threw herself in front of Edward, back to her usual appearance and a determined scowl on her face.
"Go ahead, shoot me!" She screamed, a fire in her stomach and her heart releasing itself, pounding with blood. "I'll protect Edward with me life! I won't let you take him away from me!"
"Foolish child," Lunatic cooed, aiming at Iva's heart. 'You're fool-hardy lust for this boy ends you."
"It's not lust . . ."
The arrow was pulled back and triggered, the ball of fire shooting to Iva. At the last moments, Iva turned and smiled sadly at Edward, warmth and admiration in her eyes.
"Edward. . . I loved you back then. . ."
The two of them were suddenly picked up and bought out of harm's way, a cavern of stone and fire made were they were. Lunatic made a turn and dodged the on-coming end of Barnaby's boot, the rookie chasing after him to the high buildings. On the ground, Katsuko high-fived Origami and tilted her hat at Edward.
"You kids stick around here," She ruffled Iva's hair, mindful of the sand that still lingered there. "Ya did good, Origami." She praised, Iva giggling and blushing light. Edward stared at them, having no idea what to say.
At the top of the bell tower of Hero Academy, Katsuko and Barnaby stood side-by-side as Lunatic stood by the edge of the building, glowering at them behind his mask.
"Why did you try to get rid of Edward? He has nothing to do with Ouroboros!" Barnaby shouted, his anger fueled by the dry laugh Lunatic gave. "You're not trying to silence people from your own organization?"
"I only came here to make evil-doers atone for their sins." He answered in a swaying tone.
"You're saying you're not with Ouroboros?!" Katsuko asked. Lunatic prepared his weapon, looking at the two heroes as if they were lower than dirt.
"You talk far too much, Miss. Tigress." Yawned the NEXT of the green flames.
"You made me lose a lead to Ouroboros, bastard!" Shouted Barnaby. Lunatic shrugged, speaking to Barnaby like a person would to a little kid who lost his lunch money.
"Oh, that's too bad."
"Don't do something stupid!" Barnaby was far too gone in his anger to listen to Katsuko's plea, running and swinging his foot in a roundhouse kick. Lunatic leaped into the air and flew on the winds, aiming his arrow.
"How reckless you let your hatred consume you, hero!" He sneered, firing the literal firearm. "Hear the voice of Thanatos!"
"Bunny!" Katsuko ran and jumped into the air, meeting the arrow dead on with her shoulder. A bone cracked somewhere in her, Katsuko crying out as the fire charred her vest and sweater, her hero's sash flittering with flecks of fire consuming it. Throwing back all logic, Katsuko winded her fist back and threw it forward, Lunatic squarely sticking back with a fist of flame. The both of them flew back to the ground, Barnaby managing to catch the panting Kaburagi. He inspected her injury, cursing as the wound bled heavily and form damage within the muscles and bones of the shoulder.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Katsuko opened her eyes, the twns watery from pain but still holding their happy-go-lucky shine.
"I've been through worst. Thanks for caring, Bunny," He helped her stood, his hands unable to let go of her at that moment. If she were to hurt herself more, even standing right now, he would blame himself. Katsuko had just ran and protected him like that, without even caring for her own well-being. What he thought he would brush away as annoying and stupid was what he saw as Katsuko's care for him. He felt grateful at that one moment and wanted to owe something to Katsuko. He turned and glared at Lunatic, his power increasing to a hundred.
"No," Katsuko gripped his shoulders, making him look back at her. "Didn't I say not to do anything stupid?"
"But-"
"I'm OK, Bunny," She leaned forward, hesitating before kissing his cheek softly. "I'm OK." She repeated.
"I have no wish to fight with you," The mad man lazily stood, his mask beginning to crack from the punch he had gotten from Wild Tigress. He turned to the couple, holding back every last ounce of anger. "Let me make myself clear; I'm just getting murderers what they deserve. . ."
"Killing people?" Katsuko spat, balling her fists and Barnaby's chest as he held her up. "That's what you call justice?" She snarled, never being able to dream she could hate anyone more than Bunny on a first-time-meeting bases. The villain sighed.
"The oldest form on earth. An eye for an eye."
"Yeah? Well, I have a very different approach," Katsuko eased herself on her feet, gnawing and barring her teeth like a fearsome tigress. "My idea of justice is arresting idiots like you!" She barked.
The mask cracked again and Lunatic held the bare pale spot to his cheek, eyeing the seething heroine before him.
"Interesting. We shall see where that sense of justice leads you." He kicked his feet off the ground and spun into the sky, vanishing along with the red moon.
"No. . .!" In vain, Katsuko fell forward to catch up to him, a hand grabbing her shoulder before she tripped.
"You can't even walk?" Asked Barnaby, wincing as a small tail of blood poured and stained an off-white vest. Katsuko didn't look as good as she was trying to be, her eyes crossing to meet each other and her feet scrambled messily.
"I-I've been through, worse. . ." She made a face and scowled at the burnt-blonde man. "Bunny, quit multiply! Just because I call ya that doesn't mean you can go and make your own little Bunny spawn army whenever you want." She muttered, confused to see three swirling "Bunnys" in her vision. Barnaby sighed, knowing that Katsuko was too injured to do anything else. Carefully as he could, he picked her up, red her head on his shoulder and looking at her foggy and confused eyes.
"Hang in there, old bat."
Back at the parking lot, Edward accepted the handcuffs locked around his wrists, keeping his watchful eyes on Iva as she scrubbed her hands together, looking at him with a faint color in her cheeks.
"So. . . Now you know." She sighed, remembering her confession, her proclamation of past love before the moment the two of them would have died. She just hoped Edward didn't feel as mad as he looked. "I. . . I just wanted to say it before anything else. I-I loved you back then, Edward. After what happened, I guess you could say what I felt for you then turned into compassion. I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure you were OK. Wh-What I'm trying to say is-"
"Iva, just shut up."
The snow-blonde looked up, gasping.
"Edward, please-!"
Edward bent down and silenced her with a kiss, her face painted pink and her the corners of her eyes spilling tears. Though chaste, it left Iva with unsteady knees, her breath taken away as Edward ended it and looked the other way, a pouting mutely with his own blush.
"I might have liked you back too, Iva. Maybe if things were different, ya know. . ." He sighed, Iva copying him and wiping her face. He looked up at her and smiled faintly, standing up straight as the Sternbild police came ready to take him to the squad car. "Come by some time, OK? I don't get to see your web show often, so bring a laptop so we can watch 'em together," He raised his hand in a mock wave. "See ya, Weeaboo."
As he was bought into the car and driven away, Iva raised her own hand, a smile of fully acceptance gracing her lips.
"Don't call me Weeaboo. . . And see you then, Edward."
"Hey!" Katsuko grinned, slightly limping into the heroes' training room, she shoulder looking stiff. "How's it been the past week?"
"You're looking better." Antonio grinned.
"Sweetie, we heard about everything. Oh, you poor dear!" Natalie wept, hugging the recovering Katsuko's healthy side.
"I'm good, Nat," Laughed the NEXT in question. She only had to go through a small surgery to snap a bone or two back into place, so nothing else but the little aftershocks of pain bothered her. Katsuko could still feel the burns that hurt the tender skin between her shoulder but other than that and other minor medical things, she was sure to be well again soon.
"You jumped in the way in ricking pretty boy's life. Props for you, Tigress." Kyle held no teasing in his voice, though he did speak lightly with a small grin.
"Say, where's Origami, by the way?" Katsuko asked suddenly.
"You wouldn't believe it but, she laying in her dressing room now, resting." Said Antonio. His high school friend tilted her head.
"Resting?"
"She fainted when Sky High walked in with a huge bouquet of flowers for her," Kyle held back a laugh. "We all thought they were gonna be for you ("He sent mine right after the surgery." Katsuko added awkwardly to the side.) but while Origami was running on the treadmill, he gave them to her and she fainted while running!" He was holding his mouth, trying not to laugh. "I-It was sweet of him but. . . S-So freakin' hilarious, too!" He laughed.
Katsuko shook her head with a gentle smile, walking past the group. "I'm gonna go check on her." She said, walking to the next set of hallways until she found Iva's dressing room. She was about to enter when laughter came from the crack of the door. Curious, she peeked through the crack and smiled gently.
Iva was lying on the couch of her room, giggling as Keith was telling her a story that was making her laugh with every word. She could see the positively happy red in the Russian's cheeks, her dear little heart probably pounding a minute as Sky High talked to her, his only attention drawn to her. Katsuko was happy for her, glad that Iva had finally come to terms with her powers. When people were allowed to visit her after surgery, Iva had raced in a gave the big news, excitedly stating that she would work as hard as she could with her power, no longer taking the background any more. Katsuko was proud of her then, and she was just as proud at this moment.
Silently, she walked away from the room, smiling as she could hear Iva and Keith's laughter.
She fell into his arms, lifeless, motionless, her entire body covered in flames as the red moon's shine washed over her. Barnaby held the woman tight, refusing to let her go even if he did get burnt. He looked up, the scene changing to a family living room decorated for the holidays. Fire ate at everything and three bodies scattered the floor; the one he had and two of ther bodies embracing, the man holding the woman protectively. Just as protective, Barnaby hoisted the woman, up, trying to make her wake from the arrow she had taken for him.
"Old bat! Damnit, wake up! Don't. . . Don't die!"
He looked around, a smirking figure of fire aiming a gun at him. A whip of fire was lassoed, Katsuko's body caught by it and dragged to the man. The man held her closer, his soulless eyes daring Barnaby to move as he caressed a dull cheek and angled a tan jaw to steal a press of the lips.
"Get your hands off of her!"
"Don't leave me!" Barnaby shouted, sitting up in his bed as a cold sweat stuck his shirt to his back. He took deep and shaky breaths, calming down his racing heart and rubbing his eyes. His laptop laid half-closed on his lap, Katsuko burnt sash fallen on the floor. He turned off his laptop and picked up the sash, feeling the burnt edges of silk, where Katsuko had dived and took the hit for him.
She had actually done that. She chose his life over her own. What Barnaby wanted to know was why and why it was leaving him so awfully flattered and bothered.
"Oh, of course I was. I care a lot about you, Bunny, don't you get that?"
"I don't get it. . ." He threw the sash in the other direction, not sure why he was now angry. "Why do you even bother with me!" He snapped. A vision of Katsuko stood across the room, her head tilted and her gentle smile on her face. Her eyes crinkled sweetly as she held one hand in a mute wave.
"You said "we"," Said the vision, reminding him of the warm and soft hand that ruffled his hair when those words were spoken. "That means you're opening up and letting me help. Doesn't surprise me, since we are friends."
"Friends," He groaned, some odd bittersweet feeling filling him. When Katsuko had placed it that way, why was he beginning to question himself? These warm and fuzzy feelings he was suddenly getting around Katsuko was eating at him alive. He didn't want what he had concluded to come true. It just couldn't be.
"I can't. . . Actually be falling in love with the old hag."
Frustrated with himself, Barnaby threw himself back into his bed, hoping to pass this night of confusion and nightmares.
Barnaby: Hi, I'm Barnaby. The member of Tigress and Bunny who's fussy- as the old bat puts it- about the design of indirect lighting in his apartment. What, we have to take care of some baby? We're heroes, not babysitters, damnit! What the Hell? The old bat knows EXACTLY what she's doing this time? Hey, don't mess with my stuff, kid! Seriously, I did not ask to be a parent yet, people. Man, I can't believe the old bat knows this stuff. Wow, she really loves kids. It's kind of sweet- Wait a second! Barnaby, you can't be thinking these things! Especially about her! Arrggh, damn you, old hag! Geez, next time, on Tigress and Bunny; Childish Games We Play. See ya!
Tigress and Bunny: Episode Eight: Childish Games We Play
Welp, I feel more than glad to have given you that chapter! Oh, believe me that it was very fun. I liked writing up the little scenes with IvaXKeith and IvaXEdward. All of them made me go "Awww~" :3 Seriously, I did enjoy typing this chapter and I look really forwarded to getting to work on the next. That one is really gonna be a favorite since we finally see Barnaby falling for Katsuko, awww~ Ha! I did it again! Well, please make sure to read and review! I have to go get some sleep now since its. . . Wow, half an hour to six AM over here I need my sleep since I'll be going to Anime EXPO on the fifth of July! Hey, if you guys are gonna be there, let me know! I'll be the one in the Kyohei/Nate (Pokemon Black and White 2) cosplay with an Oshawott plushie/backpack, a black messenger bag, and a Mei/Rosa (Pokemon Black and White 2) cosplayer with me^_^ I look forward to seeing anyone there and I really do hope I see some Tiger and Bunny cosplays. Hee-hee! :D Well, see you guys later! Happy Summer!
This is me saying, Peace!