"Welcome to Kori's Ice Cream Parlor. Oh. Emiko and friends. Just five this time?" The same greeter from last time, Cordelia, inquired, looking at the group.
"Yes, please. Can we sit in an area that's quiet? Is that possible?" Trunks answered before requesting.
"Of course." Cordelia replied with a smile, leading them to a spot.
"Will this do?" Cordelia inquired, showing the group to a table in a back corner.
"Yes, thank you." Emiko replied after everyone looked at her.
"Ok. Here are your menus. Tegan will be with you shortly." Cordelia informed the group with a smile before heading out.
"Hi, Cordelia." The group heard two familiar voices, causing Emiko to groan as she plopped into a booth.
"Hi, Emiko, Trunks, Mr. Vegeta, Knickers, and Momo." Nami cheerfully greeted everyone.
"Hello." Trunks and Knickers politely greeted. At the same time, Vegeta huffed, and Momo happily waved.
"Good to see you too. We've actually been looking all over for you. We've also been trying to get a hold of you." Jasper sternly spoke to Emiko.
"Why?" Emiko dully questioned.
"You know…" "That witch hunter has been all over the town looking for you—demanding for your whereabouts. Jasper just wanted to make sure you were ok and safe. We also wanted to know if you were coming to our wedding in September—on the twelfth." Nami quickly interrupted Jasper before he could cause a scene. She then became remarkably hopeful—almost sounding desperate.
"Sorry. I've been sick. The doctor I saw said it was something called a flu." Emiko replied, trying to be pleasant.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Do you need anything?" Nami immediately jumped at Emiko, taking her hands in hers.
"Nami…" Jasper sighed.
"I'm fine, thank you." Emiko replied.
"Liar. I can see from here that you're still flushed. And—wait. Where's Yuki? Is she ok? Did anything happen to her?" Jasper sternly replied before becoming concerned when he didn't see Yuki.
"She had her kittens a few days ago. She's got to stay close to them." Emiko answered.
"How many?" Jasper firmly demanded.
"Seven." Emiko answered.
"Seven?" Jasper questioned, shocked.
"Yes, seven. I know; that's a lot—and the most a cat from Venus or the Moon has ever had before. And don't worry; I will find homes for all of them—somehow." Emiko answered.
"What are the rules?" Nami inquired, interested.
"What do you mean?" Emiko and Jasper questioned, confused.
"Well, I know you said there were certain rules you have to follow when it comes to Yuki and her kittens. When do you have to get rid of them by? How many can you keep if you can? Does it matter where they go? How many can go where? All that good stuff." Nami clarified what she was asking.
"Along with Yuki, I am allowed to keep two of the kittens. I got a notification saying they knew Yuki had her kittens and that she had seven. Seeing as she's had the most kittens out of any cat of Venus or the Moon, I could keep two. Yuki will pick one, and then one will pick me. The others I have to find a home for. No more than three can go to one home." Emiko answered, speaking before Jasper could say anything.
"Then it's settled." Nami declared.
"What's settled?" Jasper and Emiko questioned, confused.
"Jasper and I will take two of the kittens, ensuring two lives." Nami cheerfully answered.
"Are we going to talk about this?" Jasper questioned in disbelief.
"Nope. When can they be separated from Yuki?" Nami replied before asking Emiko.
"Three months old." Emiko replied, stunned.
"Perfect. They can be a wedding present, and two kittens get a home." Nami cheerfully insisted.
"Fine. Emiko, do you have any objections?" Jasper questioned Emiko after giving in to his fiancé.
"No." Emiko replied.
"Good. Well, then that's settled. Now, it's time to get to why I'm here." Jasper insisted.
"Ok." Emiko dully answered.
"With that witch hunter hot on your heels, you need to be careful when you're out and about. Do you understand me? Unless one attacks you directly, there's nothing I can do about a witch hunter." Japer firmly told Emiko.
Emiko just stared at Jasper with blank eyes. She didn't know how to react because she had never heard this kind of concern toward her from him.
"Thank you, but I know how to take care of myself. But yes, I know who you're talking about; he's persistent." Emiko replied, getting under Jasper's skin.
"You know about this witch hunter? What do you mean he's persistent?" Jasper demanded.
"Exactly what I mean: he's persistent. His name is Hajime, and he's the same guy who has been after me since Halley sent him after me. None of the witch hunters from Earth bother me because they've learned there's nothing they can do to me. It's just Hajime from wherever Halley got him from. Achoo. I'm very well aware of how dangerous he is—or how he's supposed to be. I also know he's becoming increasingly agitated because he's been unsuccessful in killing or even just capturing me. If you want peace and quiet or whatever, you need to talk to Halley and her husband. Achoo." Emiko answered and explained, sneezing twice.
"Jasper, we have to go. Bobbert is at it again." Nami told Jasper after getting a dispatch call.
"I'm coming. You… Emiko, please just be careful. I don't care what you say or how you say you're feeling; I can tell you're still sick from here. You're not as strong as you think you are normally when you're sick." Jasper warned Emiko before leaving with Nami.
"Do you still need time?" A server with long blonde and red hair questioned, slowly walking over.
"I think we're all ready." Trunks replied after looking at Vegeta and his children.
"Emiko?" The server questioned, watching Emiko, who looked deflated.
"I just want a small bowl of vanilla ice cream. Thank you, Tegan." Emiko softly spoke, laying her head on the table.
"And for the rest of you?" Tegan asked, watching everyone.
"I'll just have a large, iced coffee, please." Vegeta ordered.
"Can I please get two scoops of chocolate ice cream in a bowl?" Knickers requested.
"I's want nilla shake, pease." Momo told Trunks.
"He can have his two scoops of chocolate ice cream, she can have a small vanilla shake, and I'll just have a vanilla ice cream cone." Trunks ordered what he, Knickers, and Momo wanted.
"Ok. I'll have that right out to you." Tegan informed them after writing everything down.
"What's going on with your mom?" Emiko questioned once it was just them.
"She's been cursed or something. That's what your cat said." Vegeta answered right away.
"Yuki said there was a cursed seal embedded on the back of Mom's neck and that it was a normal day-to-day curse that changes someone's mindset. She also said the curse could be permanent even after the seal was removed because she didn't know when it was placed. She said someone has been keeping an eye on Mom, but that doesn't mean they placed the curse; they probably found someone to do it for them." Trunks calmly explained, watching Emiko.
"Yuki also said she could tell just by looking at the seal, that it didn't go as planned; she said Grandma fought it until she couldn't. And because of that, Grandma thinks everything she's doing is what she does normally. And she couldn't ask for help in the beginning because if she did, someone else would get hurt." Knickers explained, becoming frantic.
"Ok, Knickers: calm down a little." Trunks calmly instructed.
"Ok… I have one large, iced coffee, one small vanilla shake, a bowl of chocolate ice cream, a bowl of vanilla ice cream, and one ice cream cone. Can I get you anything else?" Tegan asked after placing everyone's ice cream treat in front of them.
"I think we're good, thank you." Trunks replied.
Tegan bowed slightly before walking away.
"Did Yuki say what kind of curse it was?" Emiko softly inquired.
"She said it was a Day-To-Day curse." Vegeta answered, becoming agitated.
"Dad, don't start." Trunks warned Vegeta.
"Day-to-day curses are what uncompleted curses are called. Curses that are correctly completed without interruption have proper titles. I understand that you're upset or even angry, but I can't start looking into anything unless I know what the curse is. And then, I need to know how far along—or what stage the curse is in." Emiko spoke, holding her head.
"Emi, you k?" Momo questioned, sounding concerned.
"I'll be ok, thank you. I'm just tired—and have a small headache." Emiko gently told Momo.
"So, basically, you need to see Bulma to know anything." Vegeta gruffly questioned, watching Emiko.
"No. What I need is to see the curse. Curses, even uncompleted ones, manifest some kind of mark somewhere on a person's body." Emiko answered.
"How is everything going over here?" Tegan questioned, walking over.
"It's fine. Cordelia!" Emiko replied before calling for Cordelia before Knickers could say anything.
"Yes, what's going on?" Cordelia questioned, rushing over.
"Cordelia, I need you to help Tegan. Tegan, listen to me very carefully: you're tired, right?" Emiko told Cordelia before asking Tegan.
"Very." Tegan answered, sounding like she was in a trance.
"Tegan: go with Cordelia and lie down in the back by
some ice for a nap. You will wake up in two hours feeling better. Ok?" Emiko calmly told Tegan, her eyes lighting up light blue.
"Yes, ok." Tegan and Cordelia replied, heading to the back without question.
"What was that?" Knickers questioned.
"For someone who hates witches, Hajime sure relies on dark magic to get what he wants. Everyone who works here knows me: Cordelia, Tegan, and Fay all used to be witches before a different witch hunter stripped them of their powers. Once a witch—a witch from Earth, loses their powers, they can't get them back. Cordelia, Fay, and Tegan were unable to get their powers back, so they asked that they be given to nature, allowing everything to grow and flourish. But Hajime uses dark or black magic on those I get close to in order to keep an eye on me to get information. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't realize I can tell when others are being used to get to me. Plus, I don't think he realizes that using dark or black magic on someone leaves marks. That's why I stopped you from asking what you were going to ask Tegan. If Hajime hears and learns anything about Bulma being cursed like she is, he'll use her to his advantage. Or he'll try to. However, instead of getting to me, he'll only end up hurting Bulma." Emiko explained, looking out a window and waving a little.
"He's out there now?" Trunks questioned, looking out the window.
"Yeah. That's him over there. Halley desperately wants me dead, so she made sure he knew who I was and what I looked like. However, there are things neither of them know about me—about my powers and abilities." Emiko explained, sighing a little.
"Do you have any pencils or anything to color with or on?" Knickers questioned, watching Emiko, changing the subject.
"What do you want or need?" Emiko inquired, watching Knickers in return.
"Paper, a lead pencil, and some colored pencils or crayons." Knickers carefully requested.
"Sure." Emiko softly replied, conjuring up what Knickers wanted.
"Thank you." Knickers thanked Emiko before going straight to work.
"So—how do you want to do the buddy schedule?" Trunks inquired, watching Emiko.
"What do you mean?" Emiko questioned, confused.
"What days work best for you to come over or meet Knickers somewhere to work on his schoolwork or just to talk if he wants?" Trunks clarified what he meant.
"Oh. Well, I'm free whenever you want me to come over. I know where you live because of that night. Other than Yuki, I have no real life." Emiko answered.
"You don't have any other students to work with? The librarian said a few weeks ago that you had a different family you were working with. He asked how we knew you, and I told him you were going to be Knickers's school buddy. He seemed a little shocked." Trunks questioned.
"Yeah… Yami and Yugi something or other. Their father, Mr. Yamcha, makes me uncomfortable. Honestly, so do the boys. I know Yuki doesn't like them. But one of them pulled three of her whiskers out." Emiko honestly answered.
"When was that?" Trunks questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Ummm… End of May sometime. I don't remember the exact date, but I do remember Mr. Yamcha was angry—very angry." Emiko answered.
"Why?" Trunks and Vegeta questioned, watching Emiko.
"Hmm?" Emiko hummed, confused.
"Why was he angry?" Vegeta clarified, clenching his fists.
"His girlfriend broke up with him—for her husband. I don't think he was an ex; I think they were just separated or something along those lines. But I don't know for sure. I just know she left Mr. Yamcha for him. Which, good for her. Not only because Mr. Yamcha was creepy because some people are into that, but more so because if someone truly loves someone and only needs a break, they should try to work it out with each other. But what do I know? I've never been in love with anyone before—and my parents… I don't know how my dad truly felt about my mom anymore. Did I say something wrong?" Emiko answered, becoming dull. When she saw how angry Vegeta was becoming, she became concerned.
"No, you didn't. We know Yamcha; he was a family friend. No, don't apologize; you have nothing to apologize for. Way back when, Mom and Yamcha used to date—and it became off and on because he cheated on her. They just went back and forth until Mom met Dad and then later had me. They then later had my younger sister, Bulla—who you've met. You met her while she was on a class vacation; she asked you to make Momo some dresses. But there were some personal issues between Mom and Dad, and she ended up cheating on him with Yamcha. Momo ended up in the hospital and Mom and Dad reconciled. However, later on, she started acting strange. I guess that's when the curse was placed on her. But we haven't seen Yamcha since Mom broke up with him—when Momo was in the hospital in May." Trunks explained, watching Emiko.
"Oh." Emiko replied, stunned.
"When was the last time you seen or talked to them?" Knickers inquired, hearing something in Emiko's tone.
"I saw them—I wanna say two weeks ago—maybe three. I talked to him a day or two before I got sick." Emiko answered before she started biting at her thumbnail.
"Did he say something to you?" Trunks questioned, watching Emiko.
"I'd rather not say. Simple answer: he yelled at me a lot because I told him I couldn't tutor his sons. I already had someone else who wanted me to be their buddy and I told them yes. I told him I didn't think I could handle being a buddy to three young boys at one time—which was only kind of a lie. I suppose I should have told him that trying to be a buddy and tutor two different households would be difficult for me. It's too much. But somehow, I don't think that would've mattered too much to Mr. Yamcha." Emiko answered, still biting her nail.
"But you think you could handle me and Momo?" Knickers questioned, looking up from what he was doing.
"Yes. And for as long as you want me to help you and be your buddy, I'd like that as well." Emiko softly answered before going into a sneezing fit.
"Sorry about that." Emiko apologized after blowing her nose into a napkin.
"You're fine." Trunks replied, a little concerned. Emiko was becoming pale.
"I should head out before I can't fly anymore." Emiko muttered, standing up.
"Flying?" Trunks and Knickers questioned right away.
"On my paddle. Don't worry; it won't take me long to get home; I'll be fine." Emiko insisted, making her way around Trunks.
"Wait. Please. Does this help you?" Knickers stopped Emiko to show her what he drew.
"What is that?" Trunks questioned, looking at what Knickers drew over Emiko's shoulder.
"It's the symbol on the back of Grandma's neck." Knickers answered.
"It's a failed sex curse symbol. It also looks like a failed love curse symbol. Whoever had the curse placed on Bulma wanted it to be a sexual curse. However, it looked like someone interrupted it and tried having it turned into a love curse. But with both curses, it seems that Bulma tried fighting it. Because she fought it, the chains were added. With that said… How long ago did you see this symbol?" Emiko started to explain before inquiring.
"Three weeks ago." Knickers answered.
"And this is exactly how it looked then?" Emiko questioned.
"Yes. Same shades of the colors and everything. Why?" Knickers answered before asking.
"Three weeks ago… So, now the symbol is five or six months old. She's a fighter." Emiko muttered to herself, stunned.
"What the hell does that mean?" Vegeta demanded, watching Emiko.
"Dad, calm down. I think she's saying Mom's a fighter. Why, I don't know." Trunks scolded Vegeta.
"Sorry. Mr. Trunks is right. Your Bulma is a fighter. This symbol is two strong curses—both incomplete or interrupted. Irregardless of the completion status, these chains should be broken by now. Your Bulma, despite how she may be acting because of the curse, is still fighting the curse. Same with the roses. I know both of these curses: neither of them have roses—not in a curse. Also, these roses symbolize love. The chains mean she's fighting—and fighting hard. The chains with the crosses and the roses, to me, mean she's fighting for someone she loves very much. And with the fight I see, I can only assume she's fighting for more than just one person. This was three weeks ago, so I don't know what the symbol looks like now, but I can guess she's most likely still fighting. Can I keep this? I want to look into this some more. Maybe Yuki will know more." Emiko enthusiastically explained before requesting.
"Of course." Knickers responded with a smile.
"Thanks. I'll be in touch. As soon as I figure something out, I'll find you. See you later." Emiko promised before leaving.
"Well, there's something. Dad?" Trunks sighed before questioning when he saw Vegeta trying to hold back tears.
"I knew I loved that woman." Vegeta declared before marching out of the building.
"How much do I owe you?" Trunks asked Cornelia.
"$12.43." Cornelia answered with a small smile.
"Keep the change." Trunks insisted, giving Cornelia thirteen dollars.
"Thank you. Have a good rest of your day." Cornelia replied, taking the tip…