Hey, guys! Welcome to another chapter! ^^ Told you I'd be back to writing this, and hopefully getting these chapters done as soon as possible, too ^^' Mnn, thanks for stopping by, again! OK, this is it; the final part to the "Jake Martinez arc"! I hope you guys are ready, 'cause here we go! Let's get this chapter rolling! ^-^
Disclaimer: Tiger an Bunny is under the rights of Viz Media. I am only fulfilling a request.
~Episode Eleven: But Without Trust...~
Lost. Hurt. Anger. Betrayed. Confused. Hopelessly in love.
Those kinds of emotions were racing through Barnaby's mind as he looked onto the dark, and foggy world that was now Sternbild. He wish he could do what he usually did whenever he felt this way. Take a drive or dive himself into one of the collections of classical music CDs he had. But he couldn't do any of that. Not when it came to getting angry at Katsuko. Especially this mad. If he tried to drive, he would probably crash from thinking about her too much. If he listened to music, he wouldn't be able to hear it. Only the brunette's annoying yet oh-so caring voice would echo in his mind.
"Helping?" He asked, remembering what she had tried to say to him earlier. "How could you help with anything? You're. . . You're a useless, washed-sup, old bat. That's all you'll ever be. . ." He looked down at the torn sash in his hands, "Lets Believe HEROES" glaring back at him. It mocked him. "Believe. . . What am I suppose to believe in anymore?"
"You really did it this time, Tigress," Kyle didn't know what annoyed him more; The fact that what was happening was actually happening, or the fact that Katsuko hadn't shot back a remark after what he just said. Usually, she would lazily give a wave of her wrist and tell him that getting mad would give himself wrinkles at an early age. But when she didn't, he went on, getting more angry. "You should have just listened to pretty-boy and stay out of his way. For once, I'm actually siding with him. I'm siding with him, Tigress! Don't you see what you've done? Can't you see that you really screwed us over this time?"
"I know I did," The blonde blinked. Did Katsuko just agree that she had done wrong? It couldn't be. "I kept trying to convince him that we were a team, but in the end, I'm the one who didn't trust him." She sighed, staring at the lukewarm-coffee she had bought earlier. "And now. . . He really doesn't want to do a thing with me. Kyle. . ." She looked up at the boy, and the latter stepped back as he saw tears make their way down her cheeks. "I really screwed up this time, huh?" She whispered, beginning to tremble.
"Katsuko. . ." How he wanted to pull her into his arms and take back what he said. She didn't need to hear any of that. Not when she was already beating herself over what she had done. Before he could open his mouth again, their wrist-communicators began to light up in sync, the red light telling them that something amiss was going to start.
"C'mon," Katsuko took a running start before the blonde, the younger hero trailing right after her. "Whatever's happening next, we gotta be ready. Something tells me that Jake decided to make another appearance."
"Citizens of Sternbild, if I may have your attention."
"Oh, goodie, American Horror Story decided to grace us with his presence." Nonetheless, Natalie and the others looked up at the large screen that occupied the hero lounge, Kryme poised with that sugar-sweet smile of his. Whenever he smiled like that, everyone could feel a chill run down their spines.
"Mr. Jake has decided to announce to you all about what he likes to call, "The Seven Deadly Matches."
"What exactly is that?" Asked Dragon Kid as Barnaby came walking in. Katsuko couldn't keep her eyes up anymore.
"Who knows?" Sighed Rock Bison as he looked over to Katsuko, biting the inside of his cheek. "We're just going to have to wait and see."
The camera then panned over to Jake as he stood from his recliner, a visible tick mark appearing on Barnaby's head as the top dog of Ouroboros grinned right into the lenses.
"I know how much you love your so-called heroes, but I'm gonna show you how worthless they are." He knew that the heroes were watching him. That was how he wanted it. He wanted to get them mad and riled up. He saw that as a way to have his little 'game' become more interesting. Katsuko knew that for a fact. He always told her that she looked 'cuter' or 'excited him more' when she got angry.
"Here are the rules-" Jake glared at Kryme as the boy took over the live-feed, but otherwise said nothing.
"Mr. Jake will pick a hero at random and he will battle them one-on-one."
"Say what?!" Exclaimed Antonio.
"If any of these heroes can defeat me, then I'll shut down my exo-suits and leave your fair city in peace." Jake cooed, like a bully who was sweet-talking out of his punishment.
Kryme giggled on screen. "That sounds great, Mr. Jake! But tell the viewers at home what happens if they loose!"
"Then I'll blow up the support pillars and destroy the whole place!" Chortled Jake.
"Fantastic! You heard it here, everyone! Your fate relies on your precious heroes! Just remember when you're drowning in that ocean floor beneath you that you'll have your heroes to thank!" Kryme giggled impishly.
"Until then heroes." Jake threw a kiss with his purr before the screen went to static. His smirking face burning in Barnaby's mind.
"That guy's insane! Does he really expect us to do what he wants?!" Exclaimed Kyle.
"Considering what he did to Iva and how he just killed off his own man a few hours ago, I can't say that I am." Natalie sighed, tugging at one of her pink locks.
"Actually, we could make this work for us," The lot of them looked over to Barnaby as he narrowed his eyes at the screen. Katsuko, of course, kept her eyes on the ground. Just listening to the blonde right now hurt. "As long as it's one-on-one and nobody interferes-" Katsuko bunched her shoulders to her neck, her inside squirming. "Then I should be able to beat him."
Anyone would have said that he shouldn't. Surely the girls would have said he shouldn't, Keith as well. Antonio would have taken the chance to backhand him for speaking that way in front of Katsuko, especially when it looked like she was already hating herself for what she had done. Barnaby didn't need to fan the flames. But the static on the TV switched back to the pair of doom, Kryme smiling with his hands set on a game-show sort of wheel.
"Now that we've got the wheel set up, we can start the game!" It would have looked cute. That boyish face with those cute dimples was completely ruined with that black lipstick and hollow-looking eyes. "As you can see, we were kind enough to give each hero their own spot. Except, of course, for Miss. Origami Cyclone," He gave another giggle. "You already took care of that little hermit of a hero, right, Mr. Jake?"
"Didn't put up much of a fight, but she was a cute one." Jake grinned sadistically. "And a Hell of a screamer."
A water bottle was split in two. No one could have believed that it came from Keith's trembling fist, his usually kind eyes hardening for a second.
"Then lets get spinning!" With a small grunt, Kryme sent the wheel spinning, everyone watching with held-in breath as it slowly landed on the best of the best; Sky-High. "Ding, ding! We got ourselves a hero! Wait, what?" Jake plucked the trading card from the wheel and pouted. "Sky High? I have to face the King of Heroes first? Not fair! Then the rest of this competition won't be any fun if he dies first!" He tore the card right into pieces, crossing his arms like a child.
"As the King of Heroes, I promise to defeat him!" Announced Keith, pointing at Jake as the TV cut off to static.
"You just gotta be careful," Katsuko stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. "His NEXT ability is one we haven't come across yet. He's able to shoot laser beams from his fingertips, and they're strong enough to go through solid-concrete."
"That strong?" Pao-Lin looked worriedly at the King of Heroes. "Mr. Sky High, maybe you shouldn't-"
"I'm afraid that even if I wanted to quit, I could not." Keith replied, looking at them all as his eyes glowed, powered by something they never seen from him before. "After what he's done. . . Especially what he did to Miss. Iva. . ." He clenched his fists once more, something like anger flaring within him when he saw the young heroine after the failed mission. With her fair skin bruised and her breathing faint and weak, he could never forgive Jake for what he did. "I simply cannot just back-down and give up on the chance to bring back Miss. Iva's honor. But," He looked over to Barnaby. "I promise you, Barnaby. I'll bring him back to you. You may choose what he deserves after all he's done."
Barnaby didn't say anything in return. Although, it seemed like the two of them sealed that agreement silently. Katsuko secretly wished she and Bunny could do that again.
"Hi, I'm here to see Iva Karelin."
"Are you family?"
"Err, no, not really. But, well, she's like a little sister to me! Please, you gotta let me see her! You just gotta!"
The nurse gave a look with her pursed lips. Normally, it would go against her better judgement to allow a strange woman wearing a mask go into the hospital but the words sounded sincere. That, and it looked like the patient could really use some company after what happened to her.
"Alright," The nurse sighed, giving a violent, "shhh!" when Katsuko jumped and cheer. "Miss! I must ask that you at least keep your voice down. This is still a hospital."
"A-Ah, right," With a bashful nod, Katsuko thanked the nurse once more and hurried over to the elevator, set on seeing Iva and making sure that she was alright. She was lucky that the hospital Iva was staying in wasn't too far from the HQ, so she had enough time to get back to the hero lounge in case anything happened.
Reaching the correct floor, the brunette made her way to Iva's room and knocked lightly on the door, Iva softly calling out that the door as open. When Katsuko walked in, her lips parted in shock or a split second, before she snapped them together in a nervous/friendly-forced smile. "H-Hey, Iva."
"It looks that bad, huh?" The Russian was laying in the hospital bed with bandages wrapped around her and a few tubes and needles connected into her arms. Katsuko held back a wince; she hadn't seen anyone look in such bad shape beside Tomoharu when he got ill. However, instead of seeing a kind man smiling at her painfully, she saw Iva look at her with a small frown. "Miss. Katsuko, what are you doing here?"
"What? I couldn't come by and check on how the princess of anime was doing?" Laughed Katsuko, walking over and taking the seat right next to Iva's bed. "We were all worried about you, Iva. I know it's kinda awkward to ask this now, but did you figure anything out at Jake's hideout? Anything at all?"
Amethyst-colored eyes suddenly brightened with memory. "Y-Yes! I did find something else out! That boy who was with Jake! He's a NEXT that can control those odd teddy bears they have to do whatever he tells them to do. That's how they're able to power the exo-suits!"
"Wait, if you what you're saying is true, then that means all we have to do is somehow jam that signal he's sending out to all of them-"
"And then millions of lives could be spared if the bears aren't controlling the suits!" Iva finished, giggling as Katsuko lightly ruffled her hair like always.
"Iva, you just saved us a whole lot of work to do! I swear, sponsors from all over are gonna want you to represent them once they hear your idea." Smiled Katsuko. "You really are a hero, Iva. In everything you do."
"E-Even after all I went though, it seems." The blonde said with a titter. Katsuko suddenly gave a worried look.
"Hey, um. . . You sure you're doing alright, Iva? Anything hurting, you know. . . Real bad?"
Iva blinked at her, looking a little confused. "Ah. . . Besides some parts of my body and the obvious injuries? Um. . . I'd say I'm OK."
"You sure?" Katsuko leaned in a little too close for the blonde's liking. "You know, we're both girls, Iva. We can talk to each other about anything."
Iva's brow wrinkled a bit. "And just what are you referring to, Miss. Katsuko?"
"Iva, don't make me say it!" Katsuko banged her head on the mattress with a groan. "Gods, it's one thing if he had sex with me in high school, but if he raped you, Iva-"
"Rape?!" Squeaked Iva. "Who said anything about rape? I was never raped!"
". . . Uh, what?" Katsuko looked up at her in astonishment. "Wait, you mean Jake didn't. . ." Realization hit her, and in the deepest parts of her senses, Wild Tigress could almost tell that Jake was probably laughing his ass off about this. "That rotten bastard! He went on about how he made you scream and suffer! He had us worrying sick and nearly made Sky High blow a gasket!"
"M-Mr. Sky High was worried about me?" Iva blushed. Katsuko's anger immediately melted away when she saw that adorably flustered expression. How could anyone ever be mad when they saw something that cute.
"Heh, yeah. He's out there right now, fighting for your honor." She said, quoting him. Iva bushed further, burying her head to hide her red face and to let her thoughts dance about what it could have meant. "In fact, I bet he's beaten Jake by now. Here, I'll turn on the TV." Finding the remote, Katsuko clinked on the TV with a smile.
It dropped when the screen showed a half-dead Sky High. Like a man hung in crucifixion, his body dangled over the city like a lifeless doll. His arms were spread out like an eagle's wings, his costume torn and burned up. Katsuko couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Iva, don't look-!" It was too late to say that. Iva had already fainted from the site, her pulse on the heart meter escalating. Katsuko gasped and made a move to help her, but the room was already flooding with doctors and nurses to see what was wrong. The nurse from before ran in and gave a cold, hard look at the veteran hero before she set out to help knocked-out Russian. Katsuko left after she heard Iva would be fine, but that still didn't held the gaping hole that was in her heart.
Another hour had passed and Jake had already taken out Sky High and Rock Bison. As at had turned out, Jake's ability didn't use lasers. He was able to create force fields and use them as both a defense and an offense (Barnaby made sure to grill Katsuko on that, despite feeling that nagging concision that told him he needed to stop saying all those things to her.) Fortunately, with the information Iva reported, the CEOS were cracking up the plans they needed in order to take out the exo-suits. And though that would take some time, it left Jake to continue his Seven Deadly Matches.
"And the winner is. . ." A Mad Bear was knocked off Kryme's spinning parasol. It was green with black stripes and had tiger ears instead of bear's. "Wild Tigress."
"Oh, yeah!" Katsuko cheered, feeling that there was nine-years worth of butt-kicking she would get to do.
"You mean that idiot who destroys anything she touches? For crying out loud, this is a show that leaves people speechless, not laughing!" Katsuko hissed at the way Jake tossed her bear aside and went for a random bear on the parasol; a pink one with rabbit ears. "Aww! I've picked Sternbild's first ever, superhero couple! Isn't that cute? I just can't wait to see one of them cry over loosing the other!" He tossed the pink bear to the green one and wave childishly. "See you two later~!"
Shaking his head, Barnaby strode past Katsuko while she stood up. "I'm going to get my suit ready."
"Eh, don't bother. I can take this guy out with one hand tied behind my back." Katsuko laughed, not even getting an eye-roll from Barnaby. That only made her worry. "Hey, Bunny, I really am sorry-" He left before she finished, everyone now worried as the brunette slumped her shoulders and headed out the room herself.
It was either he was too mad to work with her, she was too fast for him, or he actually listened to her. But one way or another, Wild Tigress found herself being the one under Jake's spotlight as she appeared in the football dome Jake had taken refuge, the place already torn up a bit from Sky High's and Rock Bison's battles. Standing a few feet acoss from her was Jake, shirtless and grinning as insanely as the colors of his newly-dyed hair. He always loved to live on the wild side. Maybe that was the only reason he led Katsuko on when they were younger.
"Well, well, well, look who it is! The heroine who has two left feet when it comes to doing her job." Jake smirked, speaking to her as if she were nothing more than a defenseless kitten. "They call you the, "Crusher of Justice"? Ha! You don't look like you can even crush a soda can!"
"Then allow me to show you why I gained that title." Growled the senior heroine, pulling her fists into a battle stance as her eyes began to glow. The action made Jake grin. Another trait Katsuko remembered. He had a thing for feisty women.
"Remember, Tigress. Strength alone won't help you out." Agnes reminded her over her headset. "You saw what he did to the others and you know what he's capable of."
"I got this," Katsuko threw her visor over her eyes just as her hundred-strength kicked in. "Lets see if he can catch up in a game of tag, then!" With a roar, Katsuko charged right at Jake, preparing for a battle she had to put every second into.
Jake had dodged all the attacks, though. Katsuko went this way and that, trying to take the advantage of when the boss of Ouroboros's back was turn, but no avail. Jake seemed to have seen her coming before she could even touch him. From the large screen that was broadcasting the battle in the city's square, a man cursed and raced over to the nearest taxi, banging on the window.
"Hey, you gotta get me outta here!"
"I can't do that. The city's on lock down, remember?"
"I don't give a shit, just get me out of here! These heroes are all washed-up, they got no chance against Jake!"
"Well, then," Ben popped his head out of the window, shaking his head at the stunned man. "I guess that gives me more than enough reason not to let you on. After all, you just insulted a very good friend of mine." The man followed his gaze back to the screen as Katsuko's next punch missed Jake again, her old boss looking concerned. "Katsuko. . ."
"Lousy. . . Jerk. . ." Katsuko panted as she shakily got back on her feet after getting hit by a force field. "Too scared to. . . To actually fight. Hiding. . . Hiding behind your sheild. . ."
"Hey, don't blame me. You're the one who keeps jumping around." Jake snickered as he stood in the exact place he was, not a single scratch on him. "By the way, where's that "boyfriend" of yours? Is he getting tired of dragging around an old woman?"
'He might be right about that. . .' Katsuko shook her head and growled. "That's none of your business!"
"Ooh! Did I hit a nerve?"
"Fuck you!" Incredibly angry now, Katsuko flew right at him as she activated her GOOD LUCK! armor and threw her fist back, only to yelp as she was pushed back by another force field and sent flying to a wall, wheezing as she laid in a pile of rubble.
"That didn't work the first ten times you did that." Jake huffed as he strode over, knowing that he had nothing to worry about.
'Shit. . . No. . . Why didn't that work?' The brunette sat up with some difficulty, her ribs screaming. "Goddamnit. . . W-Why can't I land a single hit?"
"I can hear what you're going to do before you even do it." The mafiaso snickered, leaning down and grabbing her by the chin. "Hm. . . What is it about you that seems so. . . Familiar? Like an annoying itch that I just can't get rid of. Seriously. . ." He narrowed his eyes a bit. "It's pissing me off."
'Wouldn't be the first time. . .' Katsuko thought, her jaw too sore to yank out of his grip. 'You never changed, Jake. Not matter how strong you are, you'll always be that jerk who left me to take care of Kaede on my own. Agh! Katsuko, c'mon! You shouldn't be thinking about the past right now!' She was drawn out of her thoughts when the grip of her chin tighten, amber green eyes glaring right into Jake's excited-looking pair.
"Well, shit," He laughed, raising Katsuko high by the chin and tossing her into the air. "Never thought I'd see you, of all people again!" He crackled as she landed hard on the ground.
'What?' Katsuko thought as she stood on wobbly feet, her suit warning her that she only had ten seconds of power left. "No! Not now!" In her last attempt to deliver some kind of blow, Wild Tigress staggered quickly and tripped on a piece of concrete, her entire body flipping over and her foot managing to kick Jake right above the eye. As Katsuko met the ground, she was suddenly kicked and jabbed at all sides, Jake upon her like a wild animal.
"You fucking bitch! No one hits me! You hear me?! NO ONE!" He hauled her up and smashed her body into the next wall he saw, several pieces of her armor breaking. Through her cracked visor, she could see one of Jake's eyes coated in red, a cut bleeding from the sot she had kicked him. Another thing she remembered about him. He had the worst temper one could possibly had. "You fucking know this! You remember, don't you, Katsuko?! Or do I need to hit you some more like I did a long time ago?!" He spat right in her face, snarling. "I should have killed you when I could have. You and that freakin' baby you had! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU BOTH!" He whirled his fist back, gathering a large, force field-covered glove that would have surely killed Katsuko like he promised if Agnes hadn't stepped in at the right moment.
Katsuko could barely hear what they were saying as she slowly slid down the wall, her power suit dying down with it's last flashes of green light. The pain was so bad, every part of her aching as if she had been crushed by a giant hammer. An relentless hammer at that. Sleep was her only escape from this pain and humiliation. It was the key to letting her out of what was going on. With a whimper, her eyes closed and she slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
"You got the kind I wanted, right?"
"Sorta," Katsuko scratched the back of her head before tossing Jake the box of cigarettes. She had to be careful. Jake didn't seem to be in the mood to be angry that day. "Actually, the kind you needed was really expensive. A-And when the clerk wanted to see my ID, I-I knew I had to book-it or else. So I-I stole a random one I saw, a-and-!" She bowed her head and cried out. "I'm so sorry! I really am!"
She waited for the sucker punch. Or the kick, depending on ho Jake felt like messing her up that day. But surprising, she was pulled over to him by the waist, a sigh escaping her as she was petted like a cat.
"S'no problem. At least you got me some and that's all that matters. Right, kitty kat?" She never did like that nickname he gave her. It sounded demeaning. But then again, no one treated her like Jake did and she was afraid to loose that feeling. So she sucked it up and nodded obediently. "Good girl. Now, c'mon."
"Huh?" The high school student raised a brow as she was pulled along by Jake's massive grip, taking her straight to his car. "Where are we going?"
"To a hotel, where else?" Katsuko gasped and blushed. Was he serious? Jake smirked at her look. "C'mon, kitty kat. I'll give you a night you'll never forget."
Groaning tiredly, amber-brown eyes fluttered opened to see her breath fogging the mouth guard that helped her breath. Vertigo hit Katsuko like a baseball bat as she sat up with some difficulty, her torso searing in a terrible fire of agony. Grunting, Katsuko sat up in the hospital bed she was in, looking around and widening her eyes in surprise when she saw Keith and Antonio a few beds away from her. Were they all in the same hospital after the number Jake did them in?
'Jake. . .' What did she ever see in him? Did it really matter that he actually looked at her and spent some time with her, acting like she existed and treating her, even for just a few moments, like she was a girlfriend? "I don't know what to think anymore. . ."
"The more I hear you, the more it sounds like you speak like Mr. Barnaby, Miss. Katsuko." One of the eldest of the hero league whipped her head about, with some pain in her movements, before she blinked when she saw Iva coming over on a wheel chair, her legs most likely still healing after her run in with Jake.
"Iva? When did you get here?" Asked Katsuko as the younger hero came closer.
"A short while ago. When I heard that you and the others were here, I requested a wheel chair and got down here as fast as I could." She bit her bottom lip. "Are you OK? They said that Jake nearly killed you."
"Meh, as if he could. I'm too strong for him!" Her senior laughed, but winced and lied back down when even laughter hurt her ribs. "Ugh, too soon, too soon. . . Geez." She took a few deep breaths before she looked over to Iva. "So, did I miss anything while I was knocked out?"
"Ah, well," If Iva bit her lip more, it would surely start to bleed. "M-Mr. Barnaby is already on his way to go up against Jake. Based on what the other's told me, he's not going to be using his powers until he absolutely needs to."
Katsuko sighed as she rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "That's so Bunny." She said under her breath. Why did she have to fall in love with guys who did the most impossible things? "He's going to get himself hurt if he's not too careful. Sometimes, I really just wonder what's going through his head and I wish he told me exactly what, you know what I mean, Iva?"
"A-Actually, I do," Katsuko turned her head to the Russian, watching her bunch up her jacket in her hands as she looked over to Keith, the latter snoozing away with his bandaged chest rising and falling. "Sometime's, I wonder what goes through Mr. Sky High's head and I wish he could tell me what he's thinking. But then I remember; I can't just hope or wish for that kind of thing. First, I need to tell it to him straight and see if he'll give me an answer of not. If he doesn't want to tell me, well then, I'll accept it as that. Trying to pry it out of him would only make us more distant. If he does tell me, then. . ." Her ears turned pinked and she threw a bashful smile at Tigress. "W-Well, then that would make me really happy."
Was it just Katsuko, or did Iva actually give her one of the best pieces of advice she had ever heard? Maybe that was the way she could actually make up with Barnaby. Trusting him and giving him time to give an answer rather than to pry it out of him. "Iva-"
"M-Miss. Iva?" The blonde in question gasped and spun her head right over to the beds a few feet away, Keith and Antonio both stirring from their cots. Keith sat up but he was immediately bought down when a smaller weight crashed into him, the older blonde only having a few seconds to register that a younger blonde was clinging to him. "M. . . Miss. Iva?"
"Mr.-Mr. Sky High!" Iva was sobbing into his neck, crying as she dangled from the side of the bed and clung onto Keith. "I-I was so worried! I thought you. . . I-I saw you. . . Mr. Sky High, please don't scare me like that again! Please!" She wept. Keith sat there, stunned for the longest time, before he wrapped his arms around the young girl's waist and hefted her on top of him, cradling and petting her hair.
"I-It's OK," He assured her softly, resting his chin on Iva's hair as he held her close. "And it's OK, again."
Antonio chuckled and shook his head. "Those two," He sighed softly before he looked over to his childhood friend. "How you been holding up?"
"Ugh, my ribs hurt like a bitch but I should be better in a while." Katsuko rubbed her side and offered her brother-in-arms a smile. "Good to see you still in one piece, Tony."
Those happy smiles and reunions were cut off when everyone's wrist communicators flashed on with an emergency call, Agnes popping right into the holographic screen with Mr. Maverick right next to her.
"Hello, heroes. We've set up the signal jack that we prepared to take out the control that boy has over the Mad Bears. Quite frankly, Barnaby could loose at anytime. I want you three uninjured heroes to remove the Mad Bears from the power exo-suits before they destroy the support beams," At everyone's gasps, she looked back at the screens that covered the feed of Barnaby's battle with Jake, the outcome so far at a stalemate. "That should stop them, right? Origami. . . Origami?"
"A-Ah!" Iva squeaked, jumping right back into her wheelchair, unable to see the pout on Keith's lips. "Y-Yes, ma'am. It should end the threat, for the time being."
"Good. Blue Thorn, Dragon Kid, and Fire Emblem, I want you all to split up and cover the following districts-"
"What about me?" Katsuko ripped off her oxygen mask as she sat up, ignoring everyone's protests as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and made a grab for the stand that held her IV bag to get to her feet. "Give me a district to go to and I'll rip all those bears to shreds, Agnes. C'mon, where do you want me to-"
"Tigress, would you quit trying to do this all by yourself?!" Katsuko froze when Blue Thorn yelled at her. "This is why you screwed up in the first place and got Barnaby mad at you, remember?! Instead of trying to do this all by yourself, why don't you find a way to help him somehow?! You aren't alone anymore, you got us here, too! And if we need to work together on this one, then we need you to stay in that hospital and rest up! Geez!" With that, he hung up, Katsuko cursing, "Damned brat." under her breath as she flopped back in bed.
"Take it easy there, Kats," Sighed Antonio. "Blue Thorn is right. Stay. You're no use out there at the moment." It was the truth. Katsuko needed to rest a little more before she sprung back into action. The heroine herself shot him a glare before she looked at the TV that aired Barnaby's battle, the blonde not looking so hot as he was shown hunched over and trying to catch his breath.
"Tell me, has Bunny managed to land a single hit on Jake yet?" She asked.
"Not even one," Keith said with a shake of his head. "They were all rebuffed by Jake's force field."
Iva nodded in agreement. "He's right. No one's been able to even lay a finger on him." She said as she bit the tip of her thumb in a nervous action. Katsuko got to her feet with a few heaved breaths, propping herself on her arms as she looked down at the white sheets beneath her.
"Except for you, right, Kats?"
"Wait, what?" The brunette looked at Antonio in confusion. Since when had she done that?
"Think back. It was that time you ran out of time and you managed to kick him right in the head."
"Uh. . ." Katsuko bit the tip of her tongue and tried to remember what had happened that short time ago. Was her childhood friend referring to that slip she made? "Tony, I really don't think that counts as a hit. It was more like a fluke." She pointed out.
"Fluke or not, you were still able to land a hit, Miss. Tigress," Sky High pointed out. "The question is, why didn't he see it coming? It was as if he knew what our other attacks would be."
"Knew our attacks. . ." Brown eyes widened all of a sudden. "Sky High . . Maybe you're onto something. . ."
"I am?"
"He is?"
"Yeah. . . I mean, call me crazy but. . . Maybe that dickhead has more than one NEXT ability. And that other ability is what's helping him stop our attacks before we hit him." It was rare to hear such a thing. That a person could be born with two types of abilities. But maybe Jake was just one of those rare people. Looking back, there was one thing that disturbed Katsuko during her battle with Jake.
"I can hear what you're going to do before you even do it."
"You fucking know this! You remember, don't you, Katsuko?! Or do I need to hit you some more like I did a long time ago?!"
'There's no way. . . But that's the only way to describe it. . .' With a grunt, Katsuko picked herself up again and attempted to stand, only to fall back into bed when her legs gave out. "No. . . Fuck, no, c'mon! I need to stand! I. . . I need to get to Bunny and fast!"
"Please, Miss. Katsuko, you can't!" Iva beseech. "You don't have enough strength and you're still hurt from your battle with Jake! You need to rest up!"
"Miss. Iva's right, Miss. Tigress. You must take some time to rest." Said Keith, agreeing. Katsuko wasn't listening to either of them. Rather, she stumbled a few feet away from them and turned her back from them, suddenly turning bright blue.
"Sorry, guys. . . But right now. . ." She threw her head back and gave a wild roar as her body engulfed in blue, her bandages ripping right off her body and her cuts and gashes beginning to close themselves over at a rapid pace, all of them healed up in no time. With a few seconds, Katsuko grabbed her top and jacket and fitted her hat snugly around one of her "cat ears," smiling at the three astonished heroes as she turned to them. "Right now, my Bunny needs me."
"Katsuko. . . Did you just use your hundredth-power to speed up your healing?" Antonio asked her.
"Yep!" The heroine in question giggled. "Pretty cool, huh? I just made a full recovery!" She tipped her hat at the three of them before she made her way out of the room. "I'll be checking myself out now. I'll see you guys later!" With that, she shut the door behind her, grunting when her side started to ache.
"I had no idea that she could do that." Iva said, blinking in awe. Antonio sighed as he laid back in bed.
"That idiot."
It was then that Sky High decided to voice out.
"Did Miss. Tigress just say, "my bunny"?"
Saito happily sat in his office chair and placed his cup of hot chocolate on his desk. Even at times of crisis like this was he able to keep a smile on his face and focus on the positive things. Before he was going to take a sip of his drink, he noticed that Wild Tigress's communication link was flashing on his computer screen. Curious, he accepted the call and tilted his head when he saw Katsuko. Wasn't she suppose to be on mandatory bed rest? Nonetheless, he was happy to see that she was alright and he was willing to help her in any way he could.
"What can I do for you, my girl?"
"M-Mr. Saito," Despite how badly her ribs were squeezing against her lungs, Katsuko's amber-gold eyes burned with a fire that could never be doused. "I need you to do me a huge favor."
'I'm . . . I'm going to die. . .'
The words echoed through Barnaby's head. It was all he could ever think at that moment as he laid on top of the dome roof Jake had thrown him over, his body spasming from the attacks the mad man had inflicted upon him. Everything hurt at that moment. His body. His pride, his unquenchable revenge. His ego. Everything was bought over to the point of numbing and scarring. Was this really how it was going to end for him, for how it would go on for the rest of his life? Years after years of brutal searching and questioning, only finding half-ass answers that would only lead him further down the path of questions and pain? Was this really the way he was going to die?
Slowly did he get to his feet, looking up at the cloudy skies. He wondered if his parents were looking down on him from wherever they were. Right now, he felt like he had disappointed them, like he had disappointed everyone. Everything and everyone he worked so hard for would all be taken away from him because of Jake. Just like he had taken everything away from him twenty years ago.
'Mother. . . Father. . . Everyone. . .' Thick, wet pearls flooded into his eyes as his body began to fall back, his mind turning dark and blank.
". . . nny!'
He was nearing the ground, almost not able hear a sound at all.
"Bu. . . ny!"
Except for one voice. One that he was both happy and regretful to know it would be the last voice he heard.
"Bunny!"
'Katsuko. . .'
"Bunny!" He was held up, surprise over-taking him as he looked over his shoulder and saw Katsuko smiling up at him, holding him up as best as she could.
"What's the matter, Bunny? You happy to see me or something?" She giggled. The blonde was glad his mask could hide his red face. It was steamed from both anger and embarrassment.
"Tigress!" He exclaimed, jumping away from her even as his stance got a little shaky. He had no time to worry about that. Not when someone who was suppose to be at the hospital was standing right there before him. "Why are you here?" His body caught up with him and Barnaby dropped to the floor on one knee, panting as he looked up at Katsuko. She was dressed in her usual outfit, domino mask and all. He never thought she could look more beautiful in that mask. "Wh-What about your injuries?"
"Those things?" Katsuko laughed as she helped the rookie stand, shaking her head. "Those were just some scratches. Nothing to-"
"Hey! Are you coming down there, or are you already dead?!" The power couple whipped their heads to the edge of the roof, knowing that Jake was down at the ground below it, waiting for Barnaby. "Or should I climb up there and finish you off once and for all?!"
"Hold on a sec, Bunny." Katsuko said before Barnaby could take another step, not needing see through metal to know that he was glaring at her under his mask.
"Why are you getting in my way this time?" He huffed. "I don't need you getting in my way again-"
"Now, is that anyway to talk to the one who discovered Jake's other ability?" Katsuko asked as she tilted her head. "You've noticed it, too, right? He's been hinting that he's had two powers this whole time. One that allows him to anticipate our every movement." She could tell her partner's eyes were widening. She decided to continue. "I thought about it for a long time, and I think I just might know what it is." She pointed at her ear. "His hearing is super sensitive. During my battle with him, Jake said he could hear every attack I had ready for him." She smiled and gave a shrug. "Should have seen it sooner, but my ass was getting kicked, so I had so little time to notice. Don't you get it? His power is super hearing! He's able to hear the sound of our muscles before we land an attack! It's the only possible way, Bunny."
Barnaby shook his head, unable to believe what he was being told. "Impossible. . ." He made a sound when both his hands were grabbed and something small was placed in them, Katsuko looking up at him seriously..
"Here, you'll be needing this." She said. "It's Mr. Saito's Ultra-Sonic Sound grenade. You won't have a chance against him unless you take his super hearing out first."
Barnaby stared down at her, meeting her eyes like he did hundreds of times before. Something like this would mean trying to put his faith in her once more, and he wasn't sue if he was ready for that.
"I only have a few minutes of my power left," He broke their hands from each other's, the grenade still in one of his hands. "I have no time to think that I can trust you again, old bat. Just get out of here and let me. . ." His voice trailed off when he noticed something strange. A red stain was left right across the surface of the grenade. "Blood?" He asked, turning back to Katsuko and biting back a gasp when he saw her holding her bleeding side, grabbing her by the shoulders as she wobbled on her feet. "You idiot! You're still-"
"Aren't you forgetting something you little snot-nosed brat?!" The couple leaped away from each other when the bullet-like force field broke through the roof, Barnaby landing on the ground a few feet away from Jake as he crackled. "There you are! And here I thought our play-date was over!"
Barnaby was barely paying attention to him. His eyes were focused on the grenade, the metal still marked with Katsuko's blood. His eyes scaled above and he saw the veteran herself standing over the edge, holding her side and meeting his eyes once more.
Please. . . You got to trust me, Bunny.
Barnaby broke the gaze as a rush of adrenaline burned right from his heart, a growl torn from his throat as he pulled out the safety wire and launched the grenade straight into the air, a sound wave breaking right through it as Barnaby made a wild dash for the big boss.
"Nice try!" Jake laughed wildly as he dodged the attack, smirking as the blonde rounded himself on his feet. "You think you got me beat, kid?!" He crackled as he threw a force field at the bomb, a light as bright as the sun suddenly bursting from it. Jake yelped as the brightness, shielding his eyes.
"GET HIM, BARNABY!" Katsuko shouted from her perch, her partner not missing a beat as he flew straight at Jake and clipped him right in the jaw, sending him straight to the roof.
"Mr. Jake!" Kryme called out as his "father" landed heavily on the roof with a grunt, another one escaping him as rookie whose life he destroyed twenty years ago grabbed him by the neck and lifted him him the air, the escaped convict chocking and trying to pry the mechanical glove off him. He was begging for his life to be spared, pleading to Barnaby to not kill him. The rookies found it pathetic and he would have killed him on the spot. Had he not looked over to Katsuko, he would have. But her eyes said it all.
You would be no better than him.
". . . You'll spend the rest of your life repenting for your sins." He warned the squirming man as he placed him on the ground, just as his hundredth-power gave out. From everywhere in Sternbild, people were cheering his name as they all witnessed Jake's defeat. Finally, finally, they could all rest easily. However, instead of hearing their cheers, his attention was drawn to Katsuko as she smiled at him.
"Don't thank me!" She gigged.
"I wasn't about to," That immediately dropped her smile. "Why did you think you had to trick me? You should have said it was a flash grenade from the beginning." It was his turn to look surprise when Katsuko shook her head at him.
"He would have totally figured it out if I said that," She said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "The guy has the ability to read minds." She explained. This left the "bunny" looking even more stupefied.
"But what about the super hearing? Doesn't he have that?"
Katsuko gave a giggle and patted his cheek teasingly.
"Man, Bunny, you're so gullible sometimes, it's cute," Ignoring the glare sent her way, the brunette patted his shoulder and went on. "I only said that to throw Jake off, too. His actual second ability is to read minds."
"How did you figure that out?" Barnaby asked with wide eyes.
"Well, it took me a while to figure it out, but I think the final piece of the puzzle hit me when he called me Katsuko." Barnaby's mind reeled back to that moment he saw it on screen. It was faint because how bad the reception was but his partner was right; Jake had called her by her first name. "I had never, not once, revealed my name to the public. That, and he remembered he knocked me up and how he treated me back then." At Barnaby's stunned look, Katsuko gave one of her signature dorky smiles. "Oh, uh, heh-heh. Did I forget to mention that he's the guy who knocked my up nine years ago?"
Barnaby was going to be sure to join the interrogation team when they had their hands on Jake, just in case they needed to use some of his strength to get a question or two out of him.
With Jake and Kryme placed in special handcuffs and strait-jackets that were sure to put their powers on hold, Barnaby carefully helped Katsuko to the front of Apollo Media, where medical teams and the police were waiting for them, the pair looking exhausted after the long day.
"Well, aren't you two a hot mess!" The two of them looked over as Fire Emblem came bounding over with Dragon Kid and Blue Thorn in tow, though the trio did look like they were worried.
"She's right, you two look horrible." Dragon Kid winced.
"You weren't listening to a word I said back there, were you?" Blue thorn rolled his eyes when Katsuko stuck her tongue at them, all of them giving their attention to Barnaby's wrist-communicator as those from the hospital decided to join in on the fun.
"You were fantastic out here, Barnaby!" Sky High praised. "Thanks, and thanks again!"
"He's right," Rock Bison agreed. "You both did a good job."
"The both of you were so awesome out there! Mr. Barnaby! Miss. Katsuko! Thank you for your hard work!" Cheered Origami Cyclone.
Natalie pulled her mask up just a little and winked at Katsuko. "You really did good out there, Sweetie." Despite the compliment, Katsuko was pouting for some reason. Barnaby couldn't help but wonder why.
"Why the long face?" He asked, prompting the veteran to look up at him. "What, you want really want attention from the audience for once?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Barnaby narrowly swung his head away from the swipe that was meant for his face. Katsuko was red and barring his teeth at him like a wild cat. He couldn't describe anything more adorable.
"Come on," Katsuko yelped as she was grabbed right under her and lifted right into Barnaby's arms, everyone shocked to see the blonde carrying her like a princess. "Lets get you patched up and cleaned up. I think we got to do one last thing before we rest up."
"Eh. . ." Gold-colored eyes blinked at him in wonder. "What do you mean, Bunny?"
"Wild Tigress and I . . Were never a couple to begin with."
Katsuko's jaw was by far not the only one dropping at what Barnaby said. By, "one last thing they had to do," she didn't think it would be to tell the whole city the whole truth about their promotional stunt. But sure enough, here she was, patched up, dressed in her newly-refurbished costume, and planted right next to Barnaby as he spoke the truth to the group of reporters there and to the whole audience that was Sternbild.
"I'd like to be honest with you all, considering you know a few things about me already," Barnaby continued. "I never wanted to work with Wild Tigress at all. In fact, when we first met, I knew we would not get along from the start. She was my complete opposite, even when it came to how we used our powers. But. . ." A small smile appeared on his lips. "As they say, opposites attract." He turned to the astonished brunette and held out his hand with a kind smile. "Wild Tigress."
Katsuko
Wild Tigress gulped once, her face burning red as she shakily took his hand. "B-Bunny."
Barnaby
With a softer smile, Barnaby pulled her to him and dipped her romantically, staring into her eyes as he held her close by her waist, leaning forward as he flipped her visor off her face.
"Can we start over?"
Will you give me another chance?
"Can we actually make this real?"
I've been in love with you this whole time.
"Will you be my real girlfriend?"
Will you be mine?
Amber-brown eyes melted in return as they filled with tears. This really meant what she thought it meant. In font of everyone, in front of all of Sternbild, Barnaby was confessing to her. It wasn't just for the public, the media, or the points. He was actually in love with her. She nodded, feeling her tears spill. She never was really good with her words.
Of course, I will.
He kissed her. It was not like the one from a few months ago. Far from it. It was sweet and soft, and Katsuko could faintly taste mint and chocolate. She loved it. She loved Barnaby.
He was the one to break the kiss first, pulling Katsuko tightly into his arms as reporters badgered at them and cameras came about like biting gnats. Yet neither of them seemed to care. Katsuko was safely in Barnaby's arms, and the blonde knew he wasn't going to let her go.
"Bunny. . . Barnaby. . ." She whispered in his ear, like his real name was a secret. '" I. . . I love you. . ."
Green eyes as dark as emeralds closed as they began to fog up, Barnaby choosing to hide them as he nuzzled the top of Katsuko's head.
"I love you, too. . . Katsuko. . ."
Katsuko was glad to be in Barnaby's arms at that moment. Otherwise, she would have fallen on the spot after finally hearing her name pass his lips.
Katsuko: Hey, you guys! Katsuko here! The member of Tigress and Bunny who now has the most incredible boyfriend in the world! Ahh, crap, wait, is boyfriend the right word? That make him sounds younger than he already is for me.
Barnaby: There's only a one year gap between us.
Katsuko: That really didn't seem to matter to you when you've been calling me "old bat" or "old hag" for months now.
Barnaby: Hey, quit bringing that up! I said I was sorry, wasn't I?
Katsuko: Not sorry enough, lil' Bunny! I demand a hundred kisses, on the spot, right now!
Barnaby: Heh, think you really have the stamina for that, Katsuko?
Katsuko: Whaaa! You said my name again! Bunny, you just know how red that makes me!
Barnaby: All the more reason for me to keep calling you that. Next time, on Tigress and Bunny; Eternally Loved
Katsuko: Speaking of which, I-I really do love you, B-Barnaby.
Barnaby: Katsuko. . . I love you, too. . .
They are together. Hot. Damn. Guys, they are together. THEY ARE FINALLY TOGETHER! 0U0 About damn time, right? Holy crap! I'm so glad for how this chapter turned out! And I hope you all are to! If you would be so kind to drop a review and tell me what you think, well then, I'd really happy! Now, I'd like to cover three things before I must say bye for now.
Number one; I let Jake and Kryme live at the end simply because I need them. That's it. I never was a fan of Jake at all but in this fic, I need him to live. I just need him, guys. This will all be explained later.
Number two; A very kind person was nice enough to remind me that there is are Tiger and Bunny movies out there and was wondering if I was going to add them along to this fic. Let me first say, thank you to MirixKiwilover for bringing that up c: Second of all, I have been thinking about adding the second movie to the fic, since it happens right after the main story line and it picks up on some interesting things. So there is a strong possibility that it will be featured in this fic. I'm not sure if the whole movie will be in one chapter, or if it'll be broken into several chapters, or if it will have one story all to itself. We'll just have to wait and see ^-^
Number Three: The next update might be as early as Thursday or Friday or as late as Sunday or Monday due to the fact that I will be busy helping plan a birthday party for a very close friend of mine next Saturday. So please, be kind and wait patiently for the next update. I am only human and there's only so much I can do. It's around six AM in the morning where I am right now and I have to proofread this before submitting it as well (and yes, I am well aware there are still some errors here an there in the story. My apologies.) But aside from that, please also look forward to the next update! ^^
Well, I guess that's all I have to say! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get some sleep and drink some medicine for my cough ^^' Please remember to drop a review and I'll see you all later! Bye-bye!
This is me saying, Peace!