SZ: You know...I bet some of you have been wondering ever since we brought Litchi into the story…'What about Bang? Are you gonna bring him into the story?' *raises brow at the camera*...Now what do you guys and gals think?

Z0: *walking on the ceiling* We've been working on that for a bit.

SZ: And we hope you all like what we came up with, especially(and hopefully) in time for Halloween~

Z0: Halloween….*wings rip out of back* Halloween~

SZ: 0-0...oh shit...I triggered Z0...GT, Z0's gone Halloween mode again!

Demon Z0: The night of terror and treats has arrived once again, let the darkness and hour of witches unleash that which we hide away! AHAHAHAHAHA!-!-!-! *flames shoot from eyes burning down the building*

SZ:...*coughs from underneath the ashes and rubble that used to be the studio*...we own nothing aside from original content…

Demon Z0: HAPPY HALLOWEEN~! *bites the screen*

GT: *far away from it all, armed with a complete Ghostbuster arsenal* I'm just on standby for the aftermath. *sips a mug of Eggnog while resuming watching The Real Ghostbusters, Extreme Ghostbusters, and Filmation's Ghost Busters*

"Mmmm~ Bored…" Luna groaned as she lay sprawled out on the couch, "Big sis Gwen is busy with schoolwork and that spell book...and Luna is stuck with...ugh. Baka Leven…"

'Halloween is coming up in a few days…' Sena pointed out.

"Luna can't wait that long!" Luna complained.

'No matter how much you want to make it come faster, we can't move time. And please do not try...last thing we need is a mistake making us Old…'

"Oh come on..Luna's not that stupid," Luna muttered as Zed poked her head up, letting her get the chance to gently rub her head, "Mmm...Zed-chan, what do you

think we should do to break our boredom?"

"Rrrow?" Zed muttered, tilting her head.

"Hmm...You make a good point…"

"Arf!"

"Meh...Your owner is a dingus…"

"Mmm~"

"Okay...just for you. I'll take it back," Luna smiled, petting Zed again, "Let's just go for walkies!"

"Arf!" Zed happily barked as she rolled across the ground several times before getting back up with her tail wagging excitedly.

'...Are you sure you don't have a motive behind this?' Sena asked as Luna hopped off the couch.

"Of course not! Luna just wants to have some nice fresh air and give Zed-chan a nice walk," Luna argued, "'Sides it's better than being bored in here all day."

'...F-fair point...Still, will Kevin-san let you…?'

"Baka Levin isn't the boss of Luna," Luna huffed.

"I heard that, twerp!" Kevin shouted from the garage, "Wait...You're not trying to sneak out again, are you?"

"No. Luna is just gonna take Zed-chan out for walkies is all!" Luna argued as she was putting the leash on Zed's collar.

"Sure...like the last time so you'd have an excuse to be Lucky Girl's Sidekick," Kevin scoffed.

"What's your point, dingus?" Luna blinked.

"Why are you always thinking of new names to call me?" he groaned.

"Ben keeps sending me notes of names to call you," she smiled, "He said he's got 5 years worth of 'em, including a few pages worth just about that mullet you call hair."

"Ben!" Kevin groaned.

"He says it's payback for being a tool," she smiled as she opened the front door, "Also bye~!"

"Hold it, y-!" Kevin began as he rushed out of the garage...only for Luna to close the front door on him, "...ugh. Oh yeah, Gwen…'Great' idea on letting a kid with multiple personalities live with us...no way one of them is gonna cause me nothing but trouble…" he muttered to himself sarcastically, "Oh god...Is this how Ben felt when we first made a team…? Karma blows..."

"Kevin?" Gwen spoke up as she walked into the room, "Have you seen Luna or Sena? I just finished with my school work and was thinking of teaching them something new."

"..."

"...Kevin…"

"...Funny thing you mentioned one of them," Kevin sheepishly muttered, "They just took Zed out for a walk."

"Really? That's oddly...wait...was it an excuse to get out because they were bored?" Gwen asked.

"Yes…" Kevin gulped.

"...You're gonna make such a bad parent…" Gwen replied simply.

"Haha...yeah...wait, what? Babe, what does that mean...that has to mean something...right? RIGHT!?" he panicked as Gwen began to step out the front door, "Babe...babe! That's seriously not funny!" he freaked as he gave chase.

"Mmm...nothing yet…" Luna muttered, riding on top of Zed as she looked around.

'Nothing? What do you mean nothing?' Sena asked, 'We're just taking Zed for a walk, right?'

"..."

'...I knew it. You're trying to find a badguy to fight, aren't you?'

"...Mmm~ It's not fair!" Luna groaned, "Lucky Girl gets to be a hero, Ben gets to be a hero...even Baka Levin gets to be one; but when Luna tries to be one, she gets in trouble with big sis Gwen!"

'Yeah...but they are all older. They have stronger powers. Ben-san can turn into dozens of powerful alien monsters, Gwen-neesan has amazing magic, and even Kevin-san is half alien and can make his body into stronger materials. Also they all have adult bodies…'

"Big Sis Gwen and Ben fought bad guys when they were younger, and they were no older than us!" Luna argued, "Plus, we have Muchorin and the spells we learned to give those bad guys what for!"

'Recall the last time you ended up casting a spell when you wanted to help Lucky Girl out?' Sena reminded.

"...Luna's not apologizing…"

'I still think this is a bad idea...plus Neesan always says Ben-san only did so good 'cause he had her to help him…'

"And Ojii-san! Don't forget him!"

'Why are you using my own point against me somehow….Kami-sama, you see this right? Right?'

"Oh shh shh! Luna sees something happening!" Luna hissed, narrowing her eyes as she saw a nearby store rumbling, "Hmm...store rumbling funny...no armed thugs….bad guy~"

=Ow~!= a reverbing echo went off as the store's windows shattered, letting a figure hop out while carrying a large sack of money and CDs =This should help me come up with a new track, yo~=

Standing there was what appeared to be a young man in military camo-colored armor with speakers decorating his chest armor, shoulder guards, and leg armor. Underneath was a pure full-bodied blak jumpsuit with neon-green lines going up the side of the arms and legs and data-lines along the hands. Covering his head was a military-camo colored helmet with a large black screen on the front, showing a pair of digital eyes and a single mouth on it.

'...Huh. I don't think we've seen him before…' Sena noted, '...We should wait up on Gwen-neesan before…'

"Ike, Zed-chan!"

'Why do I even try?' Sena sighed.

=Hmm?= the young man blinked before turning to see Luna charging at him while riding on top of Zed =Oh...it's just some kid…=

"I am no kid!" Luna snapped as Zed skid to a halt, "I am the bane of your existence, bad guy! I am the protector of all things pure and cute! I am Pretty Magical Girl Platinum!"

=...AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!= the young man laughed, his screen showing a digital laughing emoji as he pointed at her =That's a real funny kid...naw but really. Y'all ain't on my level…shorty=

"?! SH...SHORTY?!" Luna snapped before leaping at him, transforming Muchorin into its hammer from, "YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"

The young man just 'grinned' before turning a dial on the side of his helmet, causing the lines on his jumpsuit to glow. He then let out a yell that sounded like a reverberating growl/snarl, the speakers letting out soundwaves that caused Luna to be sent flying into a nearby set of bushes.

"..THE HECK WAS THAT?!" Luna snapped as she shot out, Zed growling as she stood defensively near her.

=That be my power, short stuff= the young man 'grinned' =Name's DJ Major Jamming, and I'm declaring war...on the flat beats y'all call music!=

"FLAT?!" Luna snapped before Sena quickly took over, "N-not that kind, Luna! Also...hah? A war...on music?"

=That's right, kid! For too long, music has become too stale and bland with famous bands and music stars forgetting their roots...only giving out new songs to appease their fans while straying off what made them who they are!= Jamming declared =So what I'm gonna do is take back the people's music...and create something new to remind the people just how powerful music really is!=

"So...you robbed a store of its money and music CDs?" Sena blinked at that.

=Duh. How else am I gonna succeed in my plan?= Jamming stated =And I ain't dealin' with no IRS, thank you very much. No self respecting bad guy wants to deal with 'em…=

"Eh…?" Sena blinked, "O-oddly respectful of a government agency...It's so stunning…"

=Now if you'll excuse me...= Jamming began before a pair of skating wheels popped out of his shoes, letting him slide to the side to avoid Zed's pounce =I need to head back and starting burning these CDs...ciao little…= he began before doing a split, dodging a magenta beam aimed at him =...oooh~ what timing! Lucky girl's here!=

"Uh oh…" Sena whispered as Gwen-in her Lucky Girl attire- and Kevin ran into the area, "...It was Luna's idea! Not mine!"

'SENA!' Luna snapped.

"We'll talk about this later," Lucky Girl sighed.

"Okay, buddy...what's your deal? We're just getting here." Kevin sighed, touching the ground and covering his body in a layer of asphalt.

"He wants to steal music CDs to make new music to 'help remind people how powerful music is'," Sena explained, making Jamming nearly trip up.

=Ey yo! I was gonna explain that!= Jamming complained, his screen showing an annoyed emoji.

"...and why the money?" Lucky Girl asked.

"He wanted to avoid the IRS…" Sena muttered.

"That...is oddly sensible...still wrong...but...sensible…" Kevin muttered.

"I said the same…" Sena muttered.

=Thank you! Someone who gets it!= Jamming exclaimed.

"Okay, but like even if that part has some sensibility behind it...you're still stealing." Lucky Girl pointed out.

=Ey~ I never said I was a good guy...I just ain't an idiot=

"Yeah...but you're gonna be the guy whose face will get punched in," Kevin grinned as he charged.

"M-matte! He can…!" Sena began before a loud reverbing growl/snarl went off again, Kevin flying overhead as he crashed into a car, "...make soundwaves…"

=Ironically, I have Ben 10 to thank for the idea of this little suit of mine, mainly his Echo-Echo Form yo!= Jamming laughed as he spun in place, dodging another beam from Lucky Girl =See, he got the whole 'using sound to attack' thing down; but I figured 'why not let a music expert take it a step further?' I whipped this bad boy up…= he paused as he patted his chest a bit, sending out another soundwave that sent Lucky girl flying, =And lo and behold! Y'all are getting yer butts whooped by the power of music, yo~!=

"I...never thought I'd get blasted by an Echo-Echo soundblast again...oh...here comes the nightmares where Ben is scary…" Kevin groaned.

"I told you to talk to him about that…" Lucky Girl groaned as she got up.

"Guys don't talk…" Kevin grunted, "Ugh...why am I so dizzy?"

=Don't ya know? The ear is a delicate thing, the tiny crystals in your ear that help your sense of balance have been rattled by my beats~! Now you're gonna find it hard to stand on your own two feet~= Jamming 'grinned'.

'Oh god he's rapping now!' Luna groaned in annoyance.

"That's...ugh...hrrk…" Kevin groaned as he tried standing up. He moved to step forward but...just fell on his face, "Nope...I'm...I'm gonna stick to hugging the ground…"

"This...This is oddly impressive…" Lucky Girl admitted, putting her hands over her ears, "You made a device that...not only blasts people with sound so strong it forms shockwaves...but hits a frequency that induces vertigo...by matching the frequency of the inner ears construction…"

=Hard to believe I'm self taught, ain't it~? Hahaha suck it school!=

"Why are we fine?" Sena blinked.

'Nerd stuff that doesn't matter to me!' Luna declared.

"But sh-"

'Doesn't matter to me!'

=Ow! Ah ha!= Jamming shouted as he kept dodging most of Lucky Girls's Mana beams =Break down now...can't hit me, Lucky Girl! Hee heee! WHOO~!= he whooped as he did a quick split to dodge a laser. He then adjusted the knob on his helmet before doing a loud 'ooh~!', creating a wall of sound that blocked a mass spread of mana beams.

"How are you doing this?" Lucky Girl asked.

=You kidding? This is the basic stuff I've seen Ben 10 do=

"Damn you, Ben...why do you keep making more extreme ways to hurt people?" she groaned under her breath.

=Oh you haven't seen me try to hurt yet= Jamming smirked as he adjusted his dial. He then took a deep breath while holding his arms out, the lines on his suit glowing brighter =D-D-D-DROP DA BASS~!= he declared as he slammed his fist together, sending out a series of sonic blasts at her while Dubstep music began to play.

"Oh come on!" she groaned as she quickly formed a barrier, only for it and her to be pushed back.

=Whoo~! And to think I nearly wasted that on a Dubstep Gun!= Jamming laughed before blinking =...Note to self. Go back to working on that…=

"How do we keep getting weirdly smart villains?" Sena asked, "They keep popping up with very impressive stuff…"

'It's honestly annoying…' Luna added.

"RAWR!"

=Woah doggy!= Jamming yelped as he avoided a lung from Zed before kicking her square in the jaw =Back into the doghouse!=

"HEY!" Luna snapped, taking back control as she pounced at Jamming while transforming Muchorin into its bat form, "DON'T HIT ZED-CHAN, YOU OUT OF WHACK STEREO!"

=AH!= he cried as he was struck =Stop it! Quit it!=

"NO!" Luna snapped as she kept hitting him with the bat, "LUNA WILL DELIVER DIVINE PUNISHMENT FOR HURTING THE PRECIOUS DOGGO!"

=Hey! That's-AH! You're gonna seriously-AAAHHHH~!~!~! The Kiwis…=

"I know….your pain…" Kevin groaned from the ground.

=Get...OFF!=

"KYA!" Luna screamed as a soundwave blasted her away from Jamming, ending in her flying into Lucky Girl as she caught her.

=Yo...That little kid is cray cray…= Jamming grunted as he got up.

"Well, you did hit her favorite dog," Lucky Girl pointed out, a faint glow in her eyes.

=Why is it always about the dog?!=

"You just make it easy to aim at," Lucky Girl replied.

=?!= Jamming tensed at that before he readjusted the dial, calling out the sound barrier once more as he blocked her incoming lasers =Ha! I saw that coming, kitty cat!=

"Why are you so annoying?! Why are people who think they are grown up all losers like you?!" Luna complained.

=Loser?! Girl, I am on my way to being notorious!= Jamming declared as he struck a pose.

"...Girls don't like you, right?" Luna asked in a deadpanned tone.

=?!= Jamming nearly fumbled at that.

"Knew it…" Luna grinned as Zed snickered a bit.

=Okay, just for that, I'm taking this up to eleven!=

"Hey! Baka Levin is already here!" Luna argued.

"Oh screw you….twerp…!" Kevin grunted as he forced himself up.

=Now...here comes DA…!= Jamming began before a few objects landed right before him =?...Yo, are those...nails?=

*BOOM!*

=AHH!= Jamming groaned as he was caught in the explosion, the smoke dying down to show he was covered in a glue like substance =The hell, man?! Nails that explode into glue?!=

"There will be no more of your perversion to the musical arts, villain!" a voice dramatically declared.

Everyone looked up at a nearby building's roof to see someone standing on top of it in a dramatic manner. It was a tall man about 6'3'', with spiky brunette hair, amber eyes, and an X shaped scar across his face. He was dressed in dark green ninja-esque attire. His top was more or less two sleeves covering his arms, shoulders and back with all of his muscular torso exposed, green pants held up by a brown belt, his legs covered in metal boots. A long red scarf around his neck and around the...giant...metal Nail strapped to his back.

=...Now who in da hell is this guy?!= Jamming exclaimed as his screen showed an angry and confused emoji.

"TOH!" the man shouted as he jumped off the roof, doing a few spins in the air before landing right on his feet between Jamming and Lucky Girl, "The Mountains...the ocean...even the people cry out for justice! Evil doer beware, I am the one hailed from the heavens, Earth and humanity...the ninja warrior who fights for love and justice! Shishigami Bang…" he began before striking a pose, an explosion going off right behind him as he did, "SANJOU!"

"Okay…" Kevin muttered in stupefied awe.

'Luna...isn't that…' Sena began.

'Ahh~! It's that scruffy old man again!' Luna mentally exclaimed, 'Sena, take over!'

'Ahh! L-Luna, wait!' Sena yelped before they blinked and he sighed, "Of course she'd do this to me…"

"Do not think I will let you get away with such crimes, purveyor of evil!" Bang shouted as he dramatically pointed at Jamming, "To steal money from someone trying to live day by day...it is a sin I cannot forgive!"

=Man you are loud…= Jamming muttered =...Luckily so am...am…= he grunted when he tried to turn the dial =...ah shit, there's glue in it!=

"Wow...sucks to be you, M.C. Lamer…" Kevin noted.

=IT'S…!= Jamming began before Bang was instantly before him =?!=

"You cursed in front of a child...I cannot let that stand," Bang frowned as he reeled both fist back, flames starting to spark off them, "Bangu Sōshōda: Kongō Geki (Bang's Twin Palm Strike: Adamantine Halberd)!"

=AW SH-!= Jamming began before he gagged out when Bang jammed both fist into his gut, the flames taking the form of a roaring tiger head as the sound based Villain was sent flying straight into a nearby tree, causing it to crack and fall right on top of him =...Ninjas be whack, yo…..bleck=

"...what...just happened?" Kevin asked.

"He manipulated fire to take the form of a tiger head to add to his punch's force," Lucky Girl explained, tapping a cheek in thought as Zed stumbled over and leaned against Sena.

"Now then…" Bang began as he turned to face the group "Are you alright, fellow champions of justice?"

"...Did he just say 'champions of justice' or was that my concussion talking?" Kevin asked.

"A bit banged up from all the sonic attacks sent our way, but we'll manage," Lucky Girl assured.

"Um...M-Maybe we should get Kevin-niisan to M-Ms. Litchi's clinic," Sena spoke up while petting Zed as they looked at Kevin in concern.

'?! They know...where Ms. Litchi is…?' Bang thought with wide eyes.

"I don't need a doctor...I've taken far worse from far stronger...mainly Ben...and that one time I'm banned from mentioning out of fear of my girlfriend...but mostly Ben…" Kevin muttered, "Hey, why are there two of the kid…?" he squinted, "Oh nope...double vision...Babe...call the doctor," he groaned.

"...yeah. We're taking you to Ms. Litchi's clinic," Lucky Girl sighed.

"Allow me to assist!"

"Gh?!" the trio nearly jumped from Bang's sudden exclamation.

"I happen to be an old friend of Dr. Faye Ling," Bang explained, "I am sure she will be elated to see me again!"

'Does he seriously not recognize us after calling us his third disciple?' Luna deadpanned.

'Maybe it's a version of him from before Master Jubei told us to find him…' Sena offered.

'I really hope so...that is too much for Luna to deal with…' Luna muttered.

-linebreak-

"Thank you, please come again…" Linhua sighed a bit as a large Arachnochimp stepped out the door, "...I honestly can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm missing Skurd…"

"True. Even with some of the minor issues we had with him randomly growing a limb from us or the patient, he did have a way of finding issues we wouldn't normally notice," Litchi noted.

"True…" Linhua muttered, "...Oh by the way, you got a call from Mr. Hex...It seems he's out of that herbal tea you gave him a week or so ago, and will be coming to purchase some more."

"Oh? Well, good thing I made more last night," Litchi noted.

"And it looks like we have another customer coming…" Linhua noted, looking at the window to see some figures walking to the door before it began to open, "Welcome T-oh. It's Gwen and Kevin again."

"Everything okay?" Litchi asked once Gwen and her small group walked in.

"We had to deal with this criminal with dangerously strong sound based weaponry. And a very annoying gimmicky theme…" Gwen sighed, "The short of it is, he blasted me and Kevin with a soundwave weapon that hit us with a shockwave and messed with the semicircular canal."

"Ahh...then please follow me," Litchi suggested, "I believe I might have something for that...I just need to check both of you for any further damages."

"Thank you," Gwen nodded as she began to turn...and saw no sight of Bang anywhere, "..." 'That's...odd. He was right behind us…'

"He's hiding outside…" Luna blurted out, seeing the bits of Bang's hair lightly poking out the corner near the window outside the store.

"Is...is that?" Linhua blinked, seeing the hair.

"Oh my...I believe it is," Litchi noted, "Bang-san!"

"?!" the hair tensed up a bit at that...before their owner quickly came in, "Ms. Litchi, it is great to see that you and your assistant are okay! I had honestly been searching for you for months now. I had searched high..low..the tallest mountains, the deepest rivers...I even had my men…!"

"He knows there is a thing called the internet, right?" Luna asked, sharing deadpan expressions with Linhua.

"Probably not…" Linhua muttered.

"Bang-san, where have you been?" Litchi asked.

"A settlement where the people welcomed me and the people of Ikaruga with open arms," Bang explained, "And believe it or not..it is located underneath the city, much like that of the Kaka Clans's village!"

"Wait, we have an Undertown?!" Gwen gawked.

"I knew!" Kevin spoke up, "It's where I get my alien car parts!"

"Sadly, we have not been able to get much information from the outside world outside of scouting patrols," Bang admitted, "Seems the 'systems' were down after an invasion of the humanoid frogs from space."

"You mean the Incurseans?" Linhua raised a brow.

"Yes, that! Thank you!"

"You guys have just been down there with zero link to the outside world?" Gwen asked, "I...but...how have you even survived?"

"Growing our own crops that we'd use for both food and making fibers for clothing of course," Bang replied.

"How...resourceful…" Gwen muttered.

"They're just pointlessly playing on hard mode…" Luna muttered.

"Kinda makes sense," Kevin noted, "He's a ninja, right? They're supposed to be pretty resourceful like that."

"I...can see why you say that...but even still…" Gwen muttered.

"The people of Ikaruga have dealt with this before...especially after we lost our home to…" Bang paused, frowning a bit as he clenched his fist, "The NOL…."

"...I'll explain later," Litchi whispered to Gwen and Kevin, a somber tone in her voice before she adapted a smile as she looked back at Bang, "Well I am glad to see that you are doing okay, Bang-san."

"Eh heh heh...I just try my best to make each day more safe…" Bang sheepishly chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as a blush formed on his cheeks.

"Oh…" Gwen noted to herself.

"Ms. Litchi, the sound attacks?" Linhua reminded.

"Oh yes," Litchi recalled as she began to escort Kevin and Gwen to the back, "We'll be back shortly."

"And please behave for Mr. Shishigami, Luna," Gwen added with a sigh.

"...Oh one babysitter…" Luna began.

'Several…' Sena deadpanned.

"That last one had it coming!"

"Behave or no new spells or your 3DS for a week," Gwen warned.

"...Yes, big sis Gwen…." Luna meeped.

"I will keep my eye on them, young Gwen!" Bang assured just as Gwen, Kevin, and Litchi walked down the hall. After a moment of silence...he quickly turned and crouched down, holding his head as he had a panicked look on his face, "Shimata…! I finally find Ms. Litchi...and I didn't think to bring the special gifts I had procured for her…!"

"You thought that far ahead?" Luna and Linhua sweatdropped.

"What a blunder on my part...I was so lost in the moment…" Bang sighed.

Linhua and Luna shared deadpanned looks once more before simultaneously facepalming and thinking, 'And he's supposed to be watching us?'

"...No matter…" Bang whispered as he stood up, "All I have to do is call my men, and they'll be here with Ms. Litchi's gifts as soon as I can s-" he began before the door opened up right on his face, "GH!"

Entering was an older man with grey skin with curly black hair pulled back into a small bun by a red headband. He wore a red jacket with a black button shirt beneath with a white, fluffy ascot tucked into the front of his buttoned up jacket. He wore a pair of black slacks with black formal shoes. The man looked around before his sharp onyx eyes behind a face painted black and white to resemble a skull with a crack before settling on Linhua and gave a gentle smile.

"Good day, Linhua," the man greeted.

"Oh, Mr. Hex! You got here faster than expected," Linhua noted.

"I finished early today," the man chuckled a bit before he heard a faint groaning, making him blink as he moved the door...and saw Bang standing there while holding his nose, "Oh...I do apologize for that…"

"Mmmm…!" Bang groaned a bit before shaking his head.

"Hmm? Hex?" Luna blinked, "Luna thinks she heard that name before...but from where…" she whispered to herself, "Oi, Sena. You pay attention to the boring stuff...anything?"

'I think I remember Gwen-neesan talking about him once…' Sena muttered, 'I think he was a bad guy she faced back when she and Ben-san were kids…'

"Wait...HE'S A BAD GUY?!" Luna exclaimed.

"NANI?!" Bang gawked before moving Luna and Linhua behind him defensively, "Stand back children! I shall deal with this purveyor of evil myself!"

"Oh, you're the girl I heard lives with Gwendolyn…" Hex muttered in realization, "Now look, if I can explain the nuance of my past and the present…"

"Like Lu…!" Luna began before Sena quickly took over, "Please explain...er...Hex sir…please don't curse us..."

"A single body with multiple souls…" Hex muttered, raising a brow before shaking his head, "If I may explain before another attempts to attack, please?"

"...you may explain, but know this…" Bang stated as he stood straight, "I have my eye on you…."

"He's an old friend of Dr. Litchi's…" Linhua explained to Hex from behind the loud-mouthed ninja, "Really defensive of her too…"

"Ahh...noted," Hex nodded, "Now then…it began on a rainy day…"

-flashback-

"Ack...ahh...damn…" Hex grunted as he staggered about in the rain, the black and dark-red robes he was wearing burnt and soaked from the rain, "Of all the reckless things for her to do...She has no idea what forces she's messing with…" he whispered as he staggered against a wall, "Gh...too weak...from that spell...I don't think...I can…"

"Oh my….are you okay?"

"?" Hex raised a brow as he looked up, seeing Litchi looking at him in concern as she held a oriental-themed umbrella over her to keep herself and Lao Jiu dry from the rain, "...go away. This...is no concern of yours, madam…"

"...I don't think so," Litchi frowned, a serious look on her face as she walked over to him, "Come along now..I own a clinic where I can treat you."

"I...do not need…" Hex began.

"You look like you were in a bad fight and are sporting burn marks on your robes, leading to the chance you might have burn marks hidden underneath," Litchi stated, "And on top of how your positioned, several of your ribs are broken, and you're currently suffering a limp leg."

"...how…" Hex began with wide eyes.

"Now come on. We don't need you getting a cold as well," Litchi urged.

"...who is this woman…?" Hex whispered.

"Here...this should help with any lingering effects," Litchi said as she placed a cup of tea before Hex, who was sitting down in a medical bed with multiple bandages covering his upper arm and waist.

"Th-thank you…" Hex muttered, "Why are you helping me? You know who I am right?" he blinked at the confused and innocent expression she gave him, "You're kidding right? I'm a wanted criminal! I've been stopped by that insufferable Tennyson family dozens of times...I almost turned Las Vegas into ground zero for a magical ritual that would have granted me unlimited power…" she just tilted her head, "Ah...have I really been forgotten that much in such a short time?"

"...Well, even if you are a criminal...I am a doctor," Litchi stated as she sat down, "And it is my job to make sure my patients, no matter who they are, are treated well."

"You...are an odd woman…" he grumbled, his normally guarded and standoffish composure crumbling, "I've not felt this way since last I got bested by the Tennyson boy and his cousin…"

"So you also know Gwendolyn and her cousin Ben?" Litchi asked, making him look at her in surprise, "I guess that makes sense, they are superheroes. And you did just admit to being a criminal. So...are you here looking for Gwendolyn? Or Ben? The latter is rather busy, but the former is off at school…"

"Sh-She's here?!" Hex gawked, "Wait what do you mean the boy is busy? Those two go everywhere together!"

"Gwendolyne is busy at school while Ben is busy protecting his hometown from threats," Litchi explained, "He even has a girlfriend and a team to help assist him in battle…"

"..." Hex could say nothing. It seems like those brats had somehow lept ahead vastly in life since last he saw them, it was oddly impressive given he recalled first meeting them as brats half his size...

"Now then...please drink your tea before it gets too cold."

"I...I am not used to such warmth and kindness in this dimension…" he admitted, "Ever since those kids bested me...my life has been nothing but ceaseless humiliation and failure."

"I suppose that is to be expected of a supervillain, isn't it?" Litchi sheepishly agreed, "From the many movies I saw with a small friend, I believe the normality is they always fail even when they worked out something clever."

"...So very true, madam…" Hex sighed, picking up his cup and taking a sip of his tea, "?! ...This is…" he began to whisper, slowly lowering the cup as he looked down at it, "...Madam, where...did you procure these herbs from?"

"Out in the back," Litchi replied with a soft, warming smile, "I home grow herbs to help my patients…"

"Y-You grow them?" Hex asked, "It's just that...this taste. It's so much like something from my home...I haven't had it since I was banished to this world…"

"...Then I am glad I was able to help remind you of home," Litchi smiled as she stood up, "Now rest up...I'll check back on your wounds in an hour or so…"

"..." Hex took another sip just as Litchi stepped out, "Hah...Brother...what would you say to me in regards to that child? Or how I badly I failed her and you?" he looked at his reflection in the tea before putting a hand to his face, "...Maybe tattooing this to my face...deserved more thought…"

-flashback end-

"And during my rest here in the good doctor's clinic, I began to rethink my life choices," Hex stated as he continued his tale, "Rather than using my spells to subjugate people and exacting revenge on the Tennysons...I decided to put them to a more...helpful use by becoming a professor."

"Professor?" Bang blinked.

"Believe it or not, before coming to this dimension I was a scholar of magical arts and a historian," he argued while crossing his arms, "It just so happens coming to a world where magic is myth...fed my ego…" he coughed.

"Did the ego make you get the face paint?" Luna asked.

"Never tattoo a skull to your face, children...it is something appealing in the moment...but it vastly limits your job prospects," Hex sighed, "Anyway...thanks to Aliens living on Earth, I was able to prove I had the credentials for a teaching degree, and donating my vast personal library to the school along with the...ahem...riches I procured in my life here…"

"You donated the stuff you stole!?" the trio all gawked.

"Technically, it's not stolen if it's from abandoned ruins with magical significance…" he chuckled while looking away.

"...He oddly makes sense…" Luna muttered.

"But the important thing is...I no longer wish to bring harm to this dimension," Hex stated with a small chuckle, "I am a professor now, so my days of villainy are behind me...all thanks to the wonderful angel that is Doctor Litchi Faye Ling…"

'...Mmmm…' Bang mentally growled as he narrowed his eyes a bit at Hex.

"Linhua, can you help me bring Zed to the back? I promised Kevin and Gwen I'd…" Litchi began as she stepped out the corner, "Oh! Hex-san...you're early. I was not expecting you until later on."

"As I told young Linhua, I finished early today, Dr. Faye Ling," Hex explained with a smile, "And I was just telling her and the young child here how I became a changed man and thanks to you."

"Luna still doesn't buy it!" Luna declared, "But she also has no proof. So...meh…"

"Hmm...so that's what talking in the 3rd person sounds like from the other side…" Hex muttered, "The boy was right. It is oddly annoying…" he whispered, recalling an encounter with Ben in the past.

'...Uh..Luna? Zed-chan?' Sena reminded her of the alien dog currently resting nearby.

"Oh! Right!" Luna recalled before glaring at Litchi, "You better make sure Zed-chan gets treated well, B...er...ma'am."

'Wow...You actually struggled to not call an older woman that…' Sena noted.

"Well of course! ...Luna wants to be a good girl for Oji-san," Luna huffed.

"It seems like someone put a lot of effort into teaching you to be a good girl." Litchi smiled.

"Thank Big Sis Gwen for that!" Luna beamed as she helped Zed stand up, "She's even helping Luna-and inadvertently Sena…- learn how to use better magic!"

'So long as you don't get us into trouble…'

'SHUT UP, SENA!' Luna mentally barked.

"Hmm hm. Well I'm sure she'll make a fine apprentice out of you," Hex chuckled as he gently patted her head, "I feel a great potential from you both."

"...Th-Thanks sir…" Sena whispered as he took control.

'His headpats aren't as nice as Oji-san's…' Luna muttered.

"Hmm…" Litchi muttered as she looked into Kevin's ear, Gwen sitting nearby as Zed rested at her feet "...There's some damage to your ear drums, but not enough to tear it...though I recommend not listening to any music for a while. From what I can see, the person who caused this made it where any type of music will cause your vertigo to come back…"

"Aw man…"

"Don't worry," Litchi assured as she walked over to a shelf, "I have an oil that can help mend the damages to your ear. Just put in two drops a day, and it'll be healed by this weekend."

"Thanks Doc," Kevin sighed, "How do people make this stuff...I didn't even know you could do that to people with sound…"

"It wouldn't kill you to read something other than owners manuals and car catalogs," Gwen teased.

"I do...I read my comics," Kevin muttered.

"As for Zed here...hmm…" Litchi pondered as she approached Zed, getting down to examine her, "Hmm...a bruise on her lower jaw...nothing too serious."

"Thankfully Zed is a really strong alien dog," Gwen sighed, "She did give Ben a lot of trouble for a few months."

"I can see that. Anubian Baskurr's can be pretty powerful hunters if raised right," Litchi informed, "And thankfully Zed here is doing well...though you may need to cut back on her treats a bit."

"Mmm…" Zed grumbled at that while Lao Ju gave a small 'sigh', almost like it was saying 'I can relate…' to the alien dog.

"...So doc, you really know that loud mouth?" Kevin asked.

"I do, yes," Litchi nodded as she stood up, "I often helped take care of him and the people of Ikaruga back in Orient Town."

"Well that explains it," Kevin nodded.

"It's the least I can do…" Litchi nodded...before a somber look appeared in her eyes, "Especially with how much they lost…"

"Oh yeah...your old world totally sucks…" Kevin muttered, "Well, at least more folks from it are safe here."

"That is true," Litchi agreed before looking over at where Roy was held in, the sludge with a mask on chain of bones coming out of himself while looking at a book before tugging at a string in his container causing a mechanical hand attached to it to turn the page, "A lot has changed since this strange happenstance came to be."

"It has…" Gwen admitted, lightly scratching Zed behind her ear, 'And that spell book Nine left me...I'm still having a bit of trouble trying to use the spells in it. At best, I can make a fireball from it, and yet…' she mentally paused as she recalled her fight with Nine, 'She's able to use those spells effortlessly...with no incantations no less…no...I can't let that rattle me. She expects a rematch...and I intend to give her one.'

"Still...I'm glad things are for the better," Litchi smiled a bit, walking over to a shelf as she picked up a small box of herbs, "And I hope the rest of your day will be better Gwendolyne, Kevin."

"Mm…" Zed grumbled.

"And yes. You too, Zed," Litchi giggled, picking up a meatbun from a nearby plate as she held it out to her, "And since you were a good girl, I suppose a treat wouldn't hurt."

Zed quickly rushed over to accept the offered treat.

"I'm just glad that I can go home and not have to deal with annoying super villains…" Kevin sighed as he got up and opened the door only to pause as he saw Hex, "...hmm...Nope!" he declared before he slammed the door, "Jinxed it. Jinxed it bad."

"Kevin…" Gwen began.

"Babe...whatever you do...do not open that door."

"...what did you see? You look like someone else you wronged is waiting for us on the other side," Gwen pointed out.

"Not inaccurate…" Kevin muttered.

"Honestly, It's rude to slam the door on someone like that," Litchi sighed as she walked up to the door, only for Kevin to block her way, "...Mr. Levin, please move."

"Hmm?"

"You're blocking my way…"

"Wha…? No I'm not."

"...I apologize in advance for this, Gwendolyne."

"Wh-" Kevin began before Litchi jammed her pointer finger in his neck, causing him to go limp as he plopped onto the floor, "...What just happened?!"

"I hit a 'sweet spot' in your neck, causing your muscles to lock up for a bit….oh and heads up...you might start slurring your words."

"What are you dalking ab-why bant I beel by fash?"

"Oh Kevin…" Gwen sighed, "What's the big deal? Who could possibly be on the other side of this door?"

"Is everything okay in there, Dr. Faye Ling?" Hex's voice asked from the other side of the door.

"..." Gwen blinked twice before looking to Litchi, "Dr. Faye Ling...the name of the person on the other side of this door wouldn't happen to be 'Hex,' would it?"

"...Oh, I knew I was forgetting something to tell you," Litchi bopped the bottom of her fist into her empty palm before turning to the door, "It's quite alright. Just a bit of a misunderstanding."

"Ahh...It is quite…" Hex began as he opened the door...and immediately saw Gwen sitting there, "..."

"..."

"...I see...a very large misunderstanding," Hex slowly agreed, looking at her with a surprised, worried expression.

"Clearly…" Gwen crossed her arms.

"You look upset…" Hex muttered.

"No~ Why would I be upset to see the man who nearly killed me, almost destroyed the world, and in one potential series of events tortured my cousin…?" Gwen listed.

"Ah...you messed with Time Travel," Hex spoke, "Oh...oh…" he cringed while backing up a bit, "Clearly in one timeline...I won…"

"Yes...you did…." Gwen frowned as her eyes faintly glowed a bit.

"...oh dear…" Litchi whispered as she quickly handed Hex the box, "N-now now, Gwendolyn, there's a good reason he's here…"

"Good reason? How do I know he's not manipulating you?!" Gwen snapped, "I mean...what did you give him?! Some secret talisman th-"

"No. Herbs."

"...for spells?"

"No. Tea Herbs…"

"Momsens…" Kevin slurred, "He'd badguy…"

"I can assure you I am no longer a villain," Hex assured, holding his hands up and fingers spread far apart, "Left breast pocket has my business cards."

"How do we ble…"

"Kevin, why do you think I never have all my fingers spread out at any given time? A spellcaster keeps at least two together at all times to cast spells," Gwen explained, holding up two fingers and making a magenta magic tendril form and reach into his pocket before pulling out a business card, "Spreading them out means he can't cast any nonverbal spells and doing so to another means they mean no harm."

"Read that from the grimoire from our earliest encounters, I see," Hex chuckled as Gwen looked at it.

"...Wait...You're a professor? At the academy I attend?" Gwen asked in surprise.

"?" Zed tilted her head at that.

"Bah?"

"I am. Have been for a few months now," Hex replied, "I wasn't even aware you were attending it."

"Yeah that's an annoying trend…" Gwen sighed, "No doubt you knew Ben already graduated with a PHD…"

"Ben...That Ben?" Hex asked with a look of shock, "He...he...I…"

"Get...over...it…" Kevin groaned, "It's literally stupid to get mad over…oh hey...I can feel my face again..."

"...Fair...point," Hex whispered as he took a deep breath, "Nevertheless, it is good to see you again Gwendolyne, and I hope to see you attend one of my classes."

"Okay...let's just...say that I believe this," Gwen sighed, "You really think hearing you changed makes up for a literal summer's worth of you trying to kill us with gargoyles, magic and not to mention your totally insane Niece?"

"She gave me more of a chance...and I used to be a literal monster…" Kevin grunted as he forced himself up, "Jeez, dude...how much of a jerk were you?"

"It may also be colored by her experience with messing with time travel," Hex noted before cringing at the glare from Gwen.

"Speaking of, I said my piece to Skeletor…" Kevin began.

"Hey…" Hex complained.

"You have a skull for a face…" Kevin replied, "Now...I know...you really don't like him. But...isn't it you always preaching the second chance bit, babe? I recall how you literally fought Ben over that...and Ben was the one trying to do the harsh thing of 'kill the danger'...Don't you think you can give him a chance...and then if he screws up...then you can karate kick his teeth in?"

"...I...suppose that's true," Gwen sighed a bit before glaring at Hex, "But just know...if you or your psychopath niece try anything…"

"Charmcaster no longer lives with me. We had a…'falling out'..."

"That's not a shock...she's crazy!" Kevin complained.

"Kevin…" Litchi sighed.

"No...He's not wrong…" Hex admitted while turning his head away, "Charmcaster was always...unhinged as a child...rather power hungry, too…" he shook his head, "It only grew worse after her father passed and we arrived here where magic was considered myth."

"And you took advantage of that," Kevin retorted.

"Yes...and I immediately regret it now…"

"See...he's trying. Better than me at least. For the first few months we became friends, I was still running an illegal money laundering scam and selling half the stuff we stole from villains on the black market!" Kevin laughed.

"Again true…" Gwen muttered.

"Kevin...just how much of a delinquent did you used to be?" Litchi muttered.

"I am allowed to plead the Fifth Amendment of the United States, the Twenty-Fifth Amendment of seven different planets, and the Sixth for the intergalactic court…" Kevin replied in a neutral tone.

"Ahh….so you were that type of trouble maker," Litchi noted

"He...used to be a handful." Gwen sighed.

"But you didn't give up on me," Kevin pointed out, "Now I'm a respectable punk of society."

"Which again..is true," Gwen sighed before smiling a bit, "And a meaningful boyfriend when you want to be…"

"What can I say, my romance skills are on point," Kevin gloated, "Also kids love me…"

"No we don't, Baka Levin!" Luna called out from the waiting room.

"Don't start with me, kid!" Kevin complained.

"BLEUAGH~!"

"...Excuse me for a sec," Kevin said to the others before he rushed out, "You wanna start something?! Bring it on, twerp!"

"Luna isn't scared of you, mullet head!"

"It seems you truly have your hands full at home," Hex noted to Gwen.

"You have no idea…"

"Hey hey! No fighting in the clinic!" Linhua snapped from the waiting room, "You want to fight, then take it outside...away from sane people!"

'Well this certainly turned out to be quite the day…' Litchi thought with a sheepish chuckle, a bead of sweat going down the side of her and Laojiu's heads, '...just hope the commotion doesn't cause Bang-san to act up.'

"Mmmm…" Bang growled as he sat in a seiza pose on top of a building, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Hex walking down the street.

"Bang-sama…" a voice spoke as a trio of men in red, green and yellow ninja garbs respectively landed behind him.

"We were wondering where you had been hiding," the red one spoke.

"You had suddenly rushed off after that villain with the sound manipulation," the green one added.

"Did he escape perhaps?" the yellow one asked.

"No...he was detained," Bang assured as he stood up, "However...I bring good news and bad."

"Hmm?"

"The good news is I have found Ms. Litchi and her loyal assistant."

"Oh! That's gr-"

"The bad news is she is under the spell of...of…" Bang began before dramatically pointing down at Hex, "That sorcerous villain!"

"Eh…"? they blinked looking down, "EH!?"

"Take a good look, men," Bang whispered as he clenched his fist, "He may look normal, but deep down lies the heart of a black sorcerer, using his magic to enslave good honest people like Ms. Litchi!"

"What shall we do, Bang-sama?" the trio of ninja asked in a serious tone.

"Investigate him," Bang ordered, "Find out anything and everything on this man so that we may bring him to justice, and free Ms. Litchi's innocent heart from his cold, icy grip of evil!"

"Hai!" they all shouted as they jumped away in different directions.

"Heed my word, villain…" Bang whispered as he continued to glare at Hex just as he turned a corner, "You will rue the day for manipulating Ms. Litchi with your poisonous lies…!"

The three ninjas kept hidden in the shadows as they followed after Hex, making sure to stay out of sight as they kept a close eye on him. After a little while longer, they followed him up to Gwen's school as he walked in through a set of doors.

"He went in...what shall we do?" the green one asked.

"Isn't it obvious? We sneak in through the back, and start searching the place," the red one suggested.

"But...if he's a sorcerer, wouldn't he know any spells to prevent intruders from sneaking in from the back?" the yellow one asked.

"We can't just do nothing; we must observe him and find a weakness." the green one spoke.

"So we must take this risk...for Lady Litchi..!" the red one added, determination in his voice.

"Hai...for Lady Litchi…!" the other two added before all three rushed off.

"Now then...what shall I read while I am waiting for my tea to finish?" Hex pondered to himself, walking over to a very large bookshelf filled with various books, "Hmm…Ahh..." he reached out and plucked a book, "It has been a while since I last enjoyed the depths of the works of Poe."

As Hex walked off and out of the room, the three ninjas poked their heads out from another doorway, looking around for a moment.

"Hmm...no traps...ok. Men, ike," the red one whispered.

"Hai!" the other two quietly nodded as they rushed over to the bookshelf.

"Find any books that seem suspicious," the red one whispered to the other two as he began to look through the books, "There is a chance this is one of this special hidden doors.."

"And if it's a normal...yet big book shelf?" the yellow one asked.

"We search up any information we can find out about him in the books," the green one added.

"All I can find is mystery and horror novels," the yellow one muttered as he held up a few books, one being open, "Some by a Steven King and an Edgar Allen Poe…" he looked at the open one, "...Oh, this poor guy lost his wife named Lenore in this one."

"This one mentioned a writer being kidnapped by a fan of his work," the green one spoke as he looked at one book, "...wait. What is she doing with the ha-GH!"

"What is wrong?" the red one asked.

"She...She broke his legs with a hammer so he wouldn't run…!"

"What?!" The yellow one hissed as silently as possible, "Th-that's insane!"

"D-Do not falter….we can persevere and find that info…!" the red one assured as he pulled out another book, "This one is simply called It...lets see…" he flipped through several pages, "Spectral clown...children protagonist…" he got to the middle before his eyes widened, "Ah…" he blinked.

"Is it that horrible…"

"Th...these are children...what is this atrocity…" he gagged, dropping the book, "No words...can explain the depth of my disgust…"

"This just proves how horrible this sorcerer is...and this is just his books!" the yellow one added in fright.

"Surely all the books can't be this horrific…" the green muttered trying to stay strong as he grabbed another book, "A Clockwork Orange…" he looked at the cover before putting it back, "Something tells me...not that one…"

"Oh! I think I found one," the yellow one spoke up as he held a book, "Kujo...odd name to give to the cute dog on the cover….surely people in America can't make a dog sc-" he began as he opened the book, "..."

"A Song of Ice and Fire…" The Red one muttered, "Long!" he gawked, opening the book, "This is just part 1…"

"Part 1?!" the other two quietly exclaimed.

"The writer enjoys killing people in this…" he flipped the page, "A….a lot…did they pour molten metal on his head...how cruel..."

"Just what type of unholy place is this…?" the yellow one whispered with a gulp.

"...I think we gathered enough info, hai?" the green one asked nervously.

"Lets get out of this den of insanity." The red one suggested as he quickly put the book back.

"Agreed," the other two immediately nodded before all three ninjas rushed out.

"Hm...I swore I heard something in here…" Hex muttered as he poked his head in, a cup of tea in hand, "...must've been another pigeon that got in…"

"Ahh...so you have returned," Bang noted as his three ninjas returned to him, "What have you learned about our magical foe?"

"America is a much scarier place than we thought…" the yellow one whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Their literature is...horrific."

"...how so?" Bang questioned with a frown.

"We'd rather not relive it...just know...he reads some disturbing content…"

"...Dear god…it's worse than I thought," Bang whispered with a growl, "The sorcerer has not only enslaved Ms. Litchi..but he has sullied the world of literature with vile horrid stories!"

"I'm fairly sure those are some old books…" Yellow muttered.

"I think Bang-sama is on a roll, besides...he's technically not wrong…" Red whispered.

"I am not gonna sleep right tonight…" Green shivered.

"Men, where does this Hex live?! I cannot let these injustices stand any longer!" Bang declared.

"We have mapped his home's location for you." Red spoke up as he held up a map.

"Thank you!" Bang exclaimed as he took the map, "Men, you go and keep an eye on Ms. Litchi for me...I will go confront this villainous sorcerer myself."

"Bang-sama, shouldn't we gather more information on his abilities? Who knows what powers he could have?" Green spoke up, "Magic users are notoriously tricksters and deceivers."

"Hmm...that is a good point." Bang took a second, "Hmm I recall hearing an old enemy of the Sorcerer is also living in this town. Mayhaps she knows of his abilities?"

"There is a good chance."

"Perfect! Then who is this old enemy of Hex and where may I find them?!"

"Hmm?" the three muttered. Realizing their superior had no info.

"...ok. Let's try this again," Gwen whispered as she stood out in the backyard of her and Kevin's shared home, wearing a light-blue tank top and a pair of grey sweatpants with a light-blue sweatband around her head. She took in a deep breath as she held her hands in, focusing her mana as a fireball began to form within her opened palms. As she spread her hands out, the ball started to get a little bigger, 'Okay...so far so good…'

Kevin, his skin turned to stone, poked his head out from behind a bunker shield he formed with his own abilities, "You got this babe!" he called out in a low tone so as to not distract her.

"G-ganbatte, Gwen-neesan!" Sena added from behind Kevin.

'Okay...its staying stable so far…' Gwen thought as the fireball was getting bigger and bigger, 'Now...to fire it at the target, and hope it doesn't…'

"Excuse me, miss?"

"?!"

*BOOM!*

"...I….apologize…" Bang groaned, his body and clothes burnt up as he coughed up a bit of smoke, "For start….ahh...Gwendolyne!"

"Oh great...the loudmouth's back," Kevin muttered to himself.

"Joy…" Luna deadpanned as she took control of her and Sena's shared body.

"Oh its you Mr. Bang." Gwen sighed as she took a few deep breaths from the compound scare of his sudden calling out to her...and her spell exploding in their faces, "This...is a surprise. Can I help you with something?"

"Given you are a champion of justice…" Bang paused as he shook his head, knocking his own shock off, "You must know who the hero is that has beaten the dark sorcerer that is Hex!"

"Hex?" Gwen blinked, "Well...that was me and my Cousin Ben. We've been fighting him regularly since we were children...wait. Why do you want to know about him?"

"Because he's evil incarnate is why!" Bang snapped as a literal fiery aura surrounded him, "That dastardly fiend has a collection of grim and dark tomes, one of which is probably a spell book that he used to enslave Ms. Litchi!"

"...okay...hold that thought." she spoke, "I need to have a quick talk with my boyfriend. Couple stuff…" she quickly thought of an excuse as she backed away and ducked around the shield Kevin made, "So...he's a good natured but super jealous, possibly clingy not-so-secret admirer to Dr. Litchi…" she whispered as Kevin tried to hold back a giggle, "Kevin...not funny."

"I know...I know...hahaha...oh...okay so...what do we do? If we give him what he wants...chances are he'll explode the guy's living room and Dynamic Entry his face in…" Kevin sighed, "And if we don't...he's probably gonna ego olympic gymnastics his way into thinking we are also compromised."

"That was oddly well said...I am proud of you." Gwen admitted, "But you see the problem."

"I see that we need to get a doorbell and some form of anti-ninja home security system…" Kevin added, "Okay look. Clearly we are not cut out to handle this...Gwen...we left Bellwood to get away from this kind of crazy."

"Technically I left...you followed…"

"Cause I wanted to A: Be with you...and B: Stop waking up in the middle of the night to hear Ben call me and say 'Mutant Lizard men made by Animo are invading city hall'…" Kevin went on, "This...this is a problem on the level of 'Ben is now a super hyper alien that eats car parts…!'" he hissed.

"We can't just do nothing! You talked me into giving Hex a chance so like it or not, you are the responsible one in this!" Gwen hissed back.

"Damn it!" Kevin groaned.

'And this is our cue to step out…' Sena muttered as Luna began to slowly back away from the two young adults.

"Is everything okay over there?" Bang asked out of concern, "You are scaring the young child off."

"It's A couple thing!" they both shouted.

"Don't engage them while they do it...it's never a good idea." Sena whispered, "The best thing is to back away...and let them finish…"

"Ahh….ahem. F-fair enough…" Bang muttered, coughing into his closed hand a bit.

"So what do we do?" Gwen asked.

"I don't know...why don't you try talking him out of it? You're all about talking and feelings and stuff...I stopped you from trying to kill Hex, that's enough as is." Kevin argued.

"...darn it you're right…" Gwen whispered, "But I need to be careful on what I say…"

"...Why not bring up the fact they're more or less the same?" Kevin offered..before holding his hands up when Gwen raised a brow, "As in they were both kicked out of their homes."

"Huh…" she blinked, "How are you good at this…?"

"Do you know how many times you left me with Ben...while he was still in his ego fueled jerk phase in life?" he asked, "Do you know how often you forced me to be the mature one? How many times Ben dragged me into war zones...firefights...tense situations with the fate of space on the line...and he literally just screamed Leeroy Jenkins...and rushed in?"

"You're making that last one up…" Gwen deadpanned.

"Oh no. I heard him declare it loud and clear...as Rath," Kevin countered, "But look...we're getting off track here, babe. Try and play the sympathy card with this guy...besides, he seems to type to gush over things like that anyway."

"You have a point but it feels a little manipulative." Gwen muttered.

"Fine...you let him and Hex fight it out...see how bad the town gets...probably cancel classes for a while…" Kevin muttered.

"..." Gwen slowly blinked before turning and walking towards Bang, "So Mr. Shishigami...I have something I'd like to share about Hex."

"Hai?" Bang questioned as he super focused on her.

"And they say she wears the pants…" Kevin whispered to himself.

"I feel there has been some...gross misunderstanding here." Gwen spoke, "First, I've faced Hex and know what he can do...trust me...if he could mind control anyone...he wouldn't have lost to a couple of ten year olds and a retired old man."

"Hmm...that...is a good point…" he muttered in realization.

"Trust me when I say it is embarrassing...my cousin has amazing power...but he was as clever with it as...well...as any 10 year old child with limitless power can be…" Gwen muttered.

"Gwen…" Kevin sighed.

"Hex is not as all powerful as you might fear. I mean for crying out loud, the moment he lost his magic charms he was easy to take down as any random mugger."

"Truly?" Bang noted while holding his chin in thought.

"But...there is something both you and him have in common," Gwen added.

"Eh?! Wh-"

"You've both lost your homes…"

"...ahh. So you know about the loss of Ikaruga," Bang noted with a sigh, "And I recall..that he mentioned that he too was exiled from his homeland…"

"His dimension was one of magic and was ruled by an evil King who held an item which granted him limitless power. He enslaved and tortured all of the humans...or rather human-like people who lived there. Before you ask or wonder...this Evil King literally wasn't human...he was an alien, a sub-species of a kind who can be immune to magic."

"He had all the power...but at the same time the very power they used...was pointless against him…" Bang noted.

"Exactly."

"...Mayhaps...we do have more in common than I thought…" Bang whispered with a sigh, "...and I feel the need to apologize to him as well…"

"Hey look I get it, he tormented me for an whole summer...and on again off again a while back." Gwen sighed, "But...given the sheer amount of evil monsters I've faced since then...he's just kinda a simple badguy. Clearly he's lost one to many times, and I think Dr. Litchi has had a weirdly positive effect on him. I mean look at my boyfriend, He's a Hero and a great person...but he used to be a literal mutant monster hellbent on murdering my cousin."

"It was a phase…" Kevin huffed as if hurt.

"Sure he's no paragon of good. Honestly I still worry about his hobbies." Gwen sighed.

"Hey! I get my car parts legally now! I just finally found a legal market!" Kevin complained.

"But me and my cousin took him in and gave him a chance. Like a sheet of raw iron we forged him into pure steel." Gwen smiled, "My cousin just really enjoyed the striking him part, to help...make the lessons stick."

"I will have you know I am still deeply afraid of him everytime he transforms." Kevin added.

"Get over it, your car is not important."

"It is to me!"

"Hmm...I see what you mean. I would never assume this boy who lacks courage to stand up for himself used to be a being of evil." Bang nodded.

"I was 11!" Kevin shouted.

"Perhaps due to the lack of not having a male role model growing up…" Bang added, "...very well. I have decided…"

"Hmm?"

"After I am done talking with Hex, I shall make Kevin here my third disciple!"

"WHAT?!/HA!" Kevin gawked while Luna laughed.

"That's...interesting." Gwen blinked, "Why would you...well you know, decide that?" she asked out of curiosity, "I mean...he kinda does need it. With my Grandfather so far away he is lacking in a male authority figure who can control and stop him from being...well...a boy."

"Oh come on! I thought we were done with the 'pick on Kevin' bit!" Kevin complained, "And who said I want to be trained to be a ninja? I know what Ninja's do, its not as awesome as movies make it seem to be."

"Well when your not at work, all you do is fix your car…" Gwen argued, "I mean...how much fixing does a car need?"

"How dare you say that to me after Ben used it as an exploding club...twice!" Kevin huffed.

"Also there's the fact you keep getting into fights with Luna, Kevin…"

"Hey to be fair...she's a brat."

"Says the street punk who gets whiny over his car," Luna deadpanned.

"Hmm...yes indeed. He needs discipline." Bang nodded.

"I keep telling him that," Gwen agreed.

"You planned this...I don't know how...but you somehow planned this outcome." Kevin accused his girlfriend.

"Then it is settled!" Bang laughed, "I will make sure your Kevin is trained to be a fine warrior, one that would make even my former master call him a true warrior of Ikaruga!"

"This is my life now…" Kevin sighed as he facepalmed, "Why do I feel like Ben is happy right now?"

"Hmm...nothing too out of the ordinary," Hex muttered, a pair of glasses over his eyes as he was looking at some papers while his cup of tea rested near him, "A few incorrect answers, but they have enough to pass….oh? A new teacher will be joining soon? Interesting...a Ms. Mercury hmm? This should be…" he began before he heard knocking coming from his door, "?...now who could that be?" he pondered, putting the papers down as he walked over to his front food, opening it to see Bang standing there, "Oh. You are Dr. Faye Ling's friend...is everything ok?"

"Yes. I'd...like to apologize, dear sir," Bang sighed as he bowed his head.

"Hmm?"

"I had the suspicion that you had Ms. Litchi under some sort of sinister spell...but I was assured by an old enemy of yours that you are trying to change for the better," Bang explained, "Also...I too know how it feels to be exiled from your homeland."

"...why don't you come inside?" Hex offered as he motioned for him to enter. "I could make a cup of tea for you while we talk. Courtesy of Dr. Faye Ling."

"She truly does make the most amazing tea," Bang admitted as he walked in

"Yes indeed she does." Hex added, "Somehow it reminds me of a type of tea I only had in my home dimension…"

"Truly now?" Bang asked as he sat down.

"I don't know how, but its a bitter-sweet reminder of a better time...for however short it was."

"...again, I can relate," Bang sighed as he looked down, "There are times I wish I could see Ikaruga in its full beauty again...I am just glad the citizens were able to get out safely before the NOL took over."

"The NOL?"

"A corrupt world organization that kills anyone that defy them and their leader," Bang explained with a frown, "My master, Lord Tenjo refused to bow to their leader, and it resulted in a great war...one that cost thousands of lives...and…" he paused as he gripped his fist, "The life...of Lord Tenjo…"

"So you do understand...to have it all taken away by one heartless being…" Hex chuckled, "When I first came to this world, I thought myself above everyone. I am a man of mystic arts from a world of pure magic. I even had powerful magical items that made me even stronger...but I end up being bested by...ten year olds and their elderly grandfather...hah…" he chuckled sheepishly, "Honestly the pain of some of those beatings young Ben Tennyson gave me...flare up as phantom pains…" he winced, "He was...a brutally effective fighter for a 10 year old goofy boy…"

"...Same could be said...for the man who gave me this scar," Bang whispered, putting a hand on his scar.

"Anyway...I was but a man trying to survive...but I let my ego and pride turn me into Hex the Sorcerer...thinking I could rule this world. Instead my foolishness led to me being humiliated by children...and failing my only family. I thought with that monster dethroned I could go home...but it seems my Niece has also fallen to the sway of power. Several...mistakes in trying to disrupt the balance of life itself...and now I'm once again banished from my home. Here again in a world where I am just a fool who is bested by child warriors..."

"Even the youngest of us can prove to be a hero when the time comes," Bang nodded a bit, "And you have learned from those experiences...and thanks to Ms. Litchi, you are putting those lessons to good use."

"Hm yes I suppose that's true." Hex sighed, "I suppose I just finally got tired of trying to be like that person I hated. I realized...I can have an actual life here. I could just live here. Sure there's the issue of my face tattoo...but...well we all did something stupid in youth…"

"Once more very true," Bang admitted with a chuckle, "I suppose I acted rather childish myself, honestly...I mean, I had-and I dearly apologize for this- the assumption you had Ms. Litchi under a spell and intend on taking her from me!"

"Please...if I could mind control people like that I would have become overlord of this world ages ago. Free will is indeed an annoyingly fickle thing." he chuckled, "But if we're being honest...I am attracted to the good Doctor…" he coughed into his hand.

"Hm?" Bang blinked at that.

"She is….how can I best describe it?" Hex pondered as he crossed his arms in thought, "She is...a kind and gentle soul, and yet somehow...I feel she has her own pain within her own heart."

"Hmm...yes, I totally understand." Bang nodded, "Completely understand!"

"Yes...and I wish to give her a peaceful, calming life," Hex added on, "A woman of her caliber requires someone of class and tenderness...not of someone with a brash attitude and a loud voice."

"...oddly...specific…" Bang blinked a bit, "..heh heh. But come now, Hex-san...there is also the chance she would go for someone righteous and good of heart!"

"I like to think I am slowly becoming just that...and an upstanding productive member of Earth's society." Hex replied.

"...yes well...I have protected my fellow people of Ikaruga, and take down evil wherever it may strike!" Bang declared as he shot up, "If any villain attempts to harm Ms. Litchi, they shall suffer the wrath of my iron fist of justice!"

"Yes...but she does not need someone who pretends to be a ninja," Hex simply stated.

"...excuse you?" Bang questioned with a frown.

"Do not take this the wrong way, but while you dress as a ninja, but from what I am seeing so far...you barely fit the role of one," Hex stated, "For one...Ninjas are meant to be silent, and yet here you are screaming to the heavens like a complete lunatic…"

"...well last I checked, a good person doesn't own books depicting horrid situations," Bang countered back with a frown.

"So it was you who went through my library! That's why my first issue of Game of Thrones was in the Stephan King section!" Hex snapped.

"If you truly were going straight, then you'd dispose of those monstrosities!" bang snapped as he and Hex began to glare at one another, "What if Ms. Litchi saw one of those books and read it?!"

"Well at least I don't smell like rotten Bell peppers!"

"HOW DARE YOU! I DESPISE BELL PEPPERS!"

"And what sort of ninja uses nails to fight?! A ninja us supposed to use shuriken! Not Nails!"

"It is something I learned while serving under my lord!"

"I…!" Hex began before taking a deep breath, stopping himself form saying something he'd regret, "This is getting us nowhere...and I'd rather much not get my hands dirty thank you…"

"So you concede?"

"No...I propose a challenge," Hex offered, making Bang raise a brow in confusion and interest, "Whichever of us can win the heart of Dr. Faye Ling will prove who is the right choice for her."

"...and what happens to the loser?" Bang questioned with a slight frown.

"Then they must be happy for her, and must not interfere with said happiness," Hex stated, "I would say the loser is forbidden from seeing her...but even I am not that cruel."

"Hmm...a fair arrangement." Bang nodded, "Very well, it is a duel between men!"

"Then I wish you luck," Hex nodded as he held his hand out, "May the best man win, Mr. Bang."

"Indeed," Bang nodded as he accepted the hand shake, gripping his hand as the two stared seriously in each others eyes, 'I will win and make sure Ms. Litchi does not fall for your lies…!'

"Hmph…" Hex smirked, 'I can't just let the only good thing in my life be taken so easily, out understanding one another has nothing to do with this challenge,'

'I shall not lose to you!' both mentally declared at the same time.

(5 Days until Halloween)

"A gift?" Litchi blinked as Bang presented her a fairly large box to her, "..Bang-san, you didn't have to do this."

"Oh but I insist, Ms. Litchi!" Bang beamed as he handed her the box, "Please open it...I know for a fact it is something you may like!"

"Hmm?" Litchi blinked at that before opening it, revealing a beautiful light-sky blue and white scarf inside with an intricate crane design on the lower half, "Oh my...this is beautiful."

"Thank you! I was thinking of you when I saw it!" Bang beamed, '...and also making sure it was wrapped up perfectly last night...I can still feel the tape.'

"Well thank you, Bang-san. I…" Litchi began before a knocking could be heard, "Hmm?"

"Dr. Litchi, Mr. Hex is here to see ya!" Linhua called out.

"Really? Odd I was sure he'd still have some tea. I wonder what brings him here?"

"I don't know! He said he has something for you!"

"Something for me?" Litchi repeated, Bang tensing up a bit as she began to step out, "I wonder what it could be…"

'...what could that sneaky wizard be scheming?' Bang pondered as he followed.

"Oh my!"

"GH?!" Bang tensed as he quickly rushed outside..and saw Litchi looking on at a beautiful sky-blue kimono that bled out in a beautiful cloud white, an intricate design of a crane flying through the clouds with a smaller black crane and white crane flying near it, "?!"

"Hex-san...wherever did you find something like this?" Litchi asked with wide eyes.

"I still have many connections from my years traveling the world in search of magical artifacts and they also work in selling normal items for the sake of day to day life." Hex explained, "One of them is an Old woman from Japan who not only sells such fine fabric...but also delved into the work of occult."

'OCCULT?!' Bang mentally panicked.

"It looks like it cost a fortune," Linhua noted as she looked at the kimono.

"It normally would, but as I said...I had many items which sell for a decent penny to the right collectors. In her case it merely took trading back to her a cursed sword. Don't ask what she plans to do with it...I...prefer not to know…"

"...still, it really is a lovely kimono," Litchi noted wit ha small smile, "Thank you for the amazing gift Hex-san."

'Ghh….!' Bang mentally growled at that, gnawing on his knuckles a bit in frustration. IT only grew when Hex shot him a slightly smug grin when Litchi and Linhua weren't looking, 'T-teme! I concede that you have outdone me here! But enjoy your one victory, sorcerer...it shall be your last!'

(4 Days until Halloween)

"Hmm...it is rather late," Litchi whispered as she walked through the streets with a bag of groceries in hand. She was about to take a step forward before it began to rain, "...Mmm..and I had to forget my umbrella…"

"Allow me, Dr. Faye Ling."

"Hmm?" Litchi blinked before looking over, seeing Hex standing next to her while holding onto a balck umbrella, "Hex-san? This is...quite the coincidence," she noted while Lao Jiu blinked a bit in confusion.

"Believe me, they happen so often to me I choose to just ignore them." Hex sighed, "I just roll with the punches as the saying goes. Otherwise I'd stay up all night asking how I always ran into the Tennysons...every single time…"

"Ahh...I see," Litchi noted, "Still, thank you for the offer, Hex-san. I just went shopping today and...I…" she trailed off before she heard the rain starting to die down a bit to her left, "...it stopped?"

"Hmm?" Hex blinked at that before looking to his side, seeing the rain still going, "...But it is still rain….ing…." he trailed off when he and Litchi finally noticed something..a bridge of umbrellas going from building to building, "..."

"Who…" Litchi began before she looked down across the street, seeing Bang waving at her while completely soaked in water, "Oh my…"

"How do do today?!" Bang waved with a hearty laugh, "I had noticed it was raining, and I figure the people would end up getting caught in this horrid rain, so…!" he began while motioning to the bridge of umbrellas above them, "I used my Shishigami ninpo to bridge multiple umbrellas together so the people wouldn't get soaking wet!"

"Oh! That's so thoughtful Bang-san!" Litchi smiled, "This is such a grand gesture...but it seems so like you to go above-and-beyond over something so simple. That's what makes you such a good person."

"Eh heh heh heh…" Bang sheepishly chuckled at that, "Just being a good Samaritan to my community!"

'...so. That is how you want to play, hmm?' Hex thought as he frowned a bit at Bang, 'I suppose I was wrong to assume you'd be as blunt as I am. But don't think you've won the war yet my friend.'

(3 Days left until Halloween)

"Okay. Everything is perfect!" Bang beamed as he stepped back, looking at a picnic cloth with various plates and a picnic basket laying upon it, "Now I just need to wait on Ms. Litchi, and I will treat her to a fine day at the park to enjoy some…"

"Uh, Bang-sama?" Yellow spoke up, earning Bang's attention, "Ants are trying to confiscate the basket's contents."

"Eh?" Bang blinked before he shot towards the basket, eying it a bit before he began to see a line of ants beginning to step out..carrying bits and pieces of food, "GH?! Men, do not let them get away with the food!"

"Hai!" Yellow, Red, and Green quickly saluted before rushing for the food...and yet somehow they were struggling against the ants in trying to get the food.

"These ants...are not normal…!" Red grunted.

"Ants are not this strong...this...this is impossible...WAIT! AH! Magic!" Bang shouted in realization "They are empowered by Sorcery!"

"Eh?!" Green exclaimed, "Then that would mean…"

"Ahh! I've been caught!" Yellow screamed as he was being dragged off by some ants, "But I have the basket!"

'Tch! This is his doing!' Bang mentally snapped as Red and Green were trying to pull Yellow away, 'It has to…!'

"Oh my…" Litchi's voice spoke up, making Bang tense up as he quickly overlooked a hillside..and saw her looking at a daily large banquet of food placed out before her while Hex stood nearby, "Hex-san, this seems rather...much for a picnic."

"Think nothing of it, this is just a thanks for the never ending support in my new walk of life. I have been dabbling in cooking anyway. Turns out years of potion crafting is no different than preparing a meal." he chuckled, "And I find cooking is a good way to pass time, I hope it's to your liking. I'm afraid I haven't practiced making many Japanese or Chinese dishes, but I learned to cook some food from the town I first met the Tennysons, it's called cajun, a unique mix of styles taking that of West African, French and Spanish. It's explosively flavorful."

"Interesting," Litchi noted, "Hmm...well Linhua has been asking on a change to our usual cooking. Maybe I could trade a few recipes with you in exchange for a few from you?"

"That sounds wonderful!" Hex smiled, "I made plenty so be sure to take some to Miss Linhua."

'Shimata…!' Bang mentally snapped, biting down on his scarf while Red, Yellow and Green were high up in a tree to avoid the ants, 'He one upped me without me being there, and he sabotaged my well planned picnic!' Well...two can play this game!'

(2 Days until Halloween)

"Hmm...what flowers shall I get her?" Hex pondered as he stood inside a flower shop. He then noticed a bouquet of flowers of various types, all of them being a mix of Chinese and Japanese foliage, "Ahh...excellent. Surely she'll enjoy these," he smiled as he picked up the bouquet and sniffed one of the flowers...only to end up sneezing, "Ah...so much pollen…"

"Is….everything okay sir?" the woman behind the counter spoke up, noticing him sneezing up a storm.

"It i-achoo! Fine!" Hex assured as he attempted to put the bouquet down..only to blink when his hand wouldn't' even open, "...oh no…"

"Oh my! Peonies?" Litchi's voice gasped, making Hex look out the store window to see Bang holding out a bouquet of beautiful blossoms, "But...how were you able to get a hold of these, Bang?"

"I have my ways, Ms. Litchi," Bang smiled a bit, "And while they may appear beautiful, they cannot compare to your beauty."

"Oh you…" Litchi giggled a bit.

'...Why that conniving…!' Hex mentally began before he let out another sneeze, 'All this has caused is a stalemate...so the next day shall be most important…' "ACHOO!-!"

(1 Day left until Halloween)

"Ok...you can do this Hex," Hex whispered to himself as he turned a corner, walking towards Gwen and Kevin's home, "Just ask them for some advice...and then…" he trailed off before he stopped, seeing Bang stopping before him, "...Shishigami."

"Warlock," Bang greeted in a neutral tone, "...here to ask for advice?"

"Yes. You as well?"

"Correct."

Hex just nodded as the two began to walk towards the front door...only for Bang to give Hex a light nudge. Hex kept his neutral expression as he bumped into Bang, causing him to step back a bit...only to end up walking faster than him while nudging him to the back.

"...Big Sis Gwen, Baka Levin! The old men are fighting!" Luna shouted, peeking out from the window with Zed, "..Passively aggressively at that!"

"Okay what?" Gwen blinked, walking up behind Luna, "Okay...so I guess both something good...and something bad happened."

"Nope." Kevin walked off with a can of soda, "It's my Saturday, so none of this. Forget this stuff I'm out~!"

"He misses saying the uncensored version." Gwen sighed.

"They're starting to slap each other kinda," Luna blurted out, making Gwen look back out to see Bang and Hex lightly slapping one another...while walking towards the door.

"Well knowing they could do far worse...this is probably the best we're gonna get." Gwen sighed, opening the door and forming a mana barrier to stop them early as they walked into it, "Okay...what's up?" she asked after a moment to let them slide down the barrier.

"And why are you bringing the smell of old guys to our house?" Luna asked.

"Okay imagine she asked: What brings you here?" Gwen spoke up.

"I said what I said…" Luna crossed her arms.

"I am here to ask you for advice o-gah!" Bang shouted as Hex pushed him aside.

"I was hoping you could provide some advice to help me with Dr. F-" Hex began before Bang shoulder checked him into the grass.

"I am in need of some advice to ask f-!" Bang began before Hex tried to shoulder check him, the two struggling to topple the other.

"To ask..for advice...on Ms. Litchi/Dr. Faye Ling!" the two shouted in unison.

"Oh god…" Gwen sighed.

"So...they're stupid…" Luna muttered.

"Unfortunately Luna...most men are stupid…" Gwen whispered, "Its rare to find the one who isn't…"

"...so just Ojichan?"

"Just Grandpa…" Gwen sighed.

"Ahh…still Luna can't wait for Halloween tomorrow! She is gonna look…!"

(Halloween Night)

"...Don't….laugh…." Luna frowned, currently wearing a black attire consisting of shorts, black boots, with a long black coat that went past the shorts, over a white button up shirt, and a long white ribbon acting as a bow tie around the collar. Their blonde hair hidden under a wig of short auburn hair. Their staff changed into a crescent moon topped magic staff.

'What's wrong with the outfit I chose?' Sena asked, 'I like it…'

"Well Luna doesn't! Luna wanted to be a magical girl, like...Precure o-" Luna began in her rant before she heard a snicker, "LUNA HEARD THAT, BAKA LEVIN!"

"Kevin." Gwen sighed.

"What? It's kinda funny." he chuckled, using an old pair of coveralls to make himself a Ghost Buster, with random junk from his garage to make his Proton-pack.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Luna complained.

"Sorry, twerp. You lost the coin flip to your bro, so you gotta suck it up," Kevin countered.

"Mmm…"

"If you don't like, let Sena enjoy his costume." Kevin complained, "He won so he should get to enjoy wearing it."

"Mmm….fine," Luna pouted before Sea took over their shared body, 'But I get to decide next year's costume!'

"That's fair…" Sena sighed.

"Let's just be glad that she agreed in the end." Kevin sighed.

"And yet it still hurts her pride in the end," Sena sighed again.

"Hey~!" the three turned to see Linhua running up to them, dressed up as a jiangshi with her sleeves torn a bit, "I was wondering if you guys were showing up."

"Hey Linhua," Kevin greeted as Sena smiled and waved, "I take it the doc's taking a break tonight?"

"Of course. She deserves a break now and again," Linhua nodded...while muttering, "That and she kinda promised to let me check out the costume party if you guys were attending."

"Alright," Kevin chuckled, "You're free to join us. The more, the merrier."

"Cool," Linhua smiled a bit before looking around, "...by the way, have any of you noticed something...odd with Mr. Hex and Mr. Bang lately?"

"...odd how?" Gwen cautiously asked.

"Like...whenever I spotted them, they were being passive aggressive towards one another around Ms. Litchi."

"...oh no…" Gwen groaned in realization.

"What?" Sena blinked.

"Trust me when I say...its pretty stupid." Kevin explained.

"And I more or less caused it…" Gwen sighed as she facepalmed.

"...oh don't tell me…" Linhua sighed as she began to catch on.

"Is it okay to say I still don't get it?" Sena asked.

'Oh gross the old guys have a crush on the Doctor lady…' Luna sighed.

"...o-okay….I can fix this," Gwen whispered to herself as she began to pace, "Maybe if I talk to one of them and get them out of trying to compete for Dr. Faye Ling, there won't be anything chaotic…"

"Right...you're gonna talk a man I'm sure is living excitement, and a former super villain...into not liking a woman who is unbiasedly attractive?" Kevin asked, "Knowing they probably spent the last week doing this to some unknown extremes?"

"He makes a point." Linhua and Sena nodded.

"...shoot you're right!" Gwen hissed as she bit her thumb a bit, "Still...we need to stop them. Who knows what'll happen if either of them set the other off…"

"Something tells me we better hurry." Sena spoke.

"Why?" Gwen asked.

"I just saw Mr. Hex walking off with what I could best describe as a witches cauldron…" Sena pointed.

"...oh no…."

"Hmm...where is she...I swore she'd be coming tonight," Bang muttered as he walked around, not noticing the people whispering about the man in the 'ninja cosplay' outfit. He then stopped when he saw Hex carrying what he assumed was a cauldron, "...Grr…"

"Now where is the good doctor? I…" Hex began before he finally noticed Bang, "...oh….you…"

"What are you scheming now?" Bang demanded.

"I am not 'scheming' anything," Hex argued, "I am merely looking for Dr. Faye Ling."

"What are you holding?" Bang arched an eyebrow.

"Something I had made just for her," Hex stated, "...and before you assume no. I did not curse it or pour any elixir into it."

"You play dirty...but I believe you on that much…" Bang responded, "For now…"

"Now for my question...what are you planning, Mr. Shishigami…?" Hex questioned.

"What?! I am plotting nothing!" Bang snapped as he got in Hex's face, "I am searching for Ms. Litchi myself!"

"You may not have magic, but you are one sneaky fellow. I can't trust you haven't somehow set up a snare trap I'll walk right into." Hex argued.

"Don't be absurd-!"

"AH!" Kevin's voice screamed, "Who sets up booby traps in the street!?"

"My point exactly," Hex frowned.

"...I still do not trust you!" Bang snapped, "How do I know you aren't hiding any forbidden talismans or some sort of evil tome?!"

"Again with that!"

"Ehem!" they both paused to look at Gwen, "You know, I like to think I've calmed down a lot...but clearly some things still set me off…"

"Oh this is gonna end poorly…" Sena whispered as he, Linhua and Kevin peeked out from behind a nearby tree.

"But-!" Bang began.

"No talking!" Gwen snapped, her hair turning pink and lifting up for a moment.

"Y-yes…" Bang nodded as he and Hex stood still.

"Okay...first off...you guys can live your lives. Dr. Litchi is a friend but she's also an adult woman with her own life, and I have no right to intervene. But clearly...you two don't know the first thing about women!" she pointed at them when they opened their mouths to speak, "No talking." she warned as they closed them, "Okay...look. It's kind of sweet how far you're going to get her attention, but she's not a prize you Dinguses! She's a woman who has her own nonsense to deal with! Do you even know the very difficult thing Me and Ben helped her with when we first met her? It was very complex and frankly I don't think romance is even in the forefront of her mind 'cause of the work she is putting herself through! Does that mean you guys have no chance...no...I don't know...no two girls are the same. We hardly understand each other, okay. It's a complex system, unlike guys, where even if you fight...you kind of understand each other."

"...I see," Bang and Hex noted, "Th-"

"NO! NO FIGHTING!" Gwen snapped, making the two flinch as her hair turned pink and her eyes a mix of pink and hot magenta, "Mr. Bang, the way you are behaving is not appropriate talk or manner for someone who claims to fight for justice!"

"...ahh!" Bang gasped in realization as his entire body turned white, "SHE IS RIGHT!"

"AND YOU!" Gwen snapped as she turned her attention to Hex, "Oh have I been holding this back cause I can see your trying. But you have to see you are clearly going back to some old Hex nonsense. You have so much to work on still, heck I'm probably gonna enjoy seeing Ben react to you when he visits. But the point is, this...this is a problem. You can't just use magic and nonsense when things don't go your way."

"...but...I wasn't g-" Hex began.

"IRREGARDLESS!" Gwen snapped, her form changing for a moment as magenta flames formed underneath her, "Ugh…" she took a moment to try and calm down, "You two should be the adults here...I'm literally a kid who got into college early...I shouldn't have to be the mature one among the many adults in my life…"

"So she admits she's not an adult...note for later." Kevin muttered.

"Alright you both calm…?" Gwen sighed, earning nods, "Then go home please...If you do care for Dr. Litchi, give her some space and when the time is right...just talk to her...like people…"

"...ahem. Th...that is...very true," Hex whispered.

"I...have shamed myself…" Bang hung his head in shame.

"Ah...well you're Men...that's typical." Gwen replied.

"You know it's true," Luna spoke up, taking over for a bit.

"Men are prone to more accidents because of bouts of...poor judgment." Linhua noted.

"We...admittedly can be at times," Kevin muttered.

"Thank you Kevin." Gwen nodded.

"Dating is a difficult to understand form of super chess…" Kevin added, "Mostly for guys...we never know what we did wrong."

"You never do," Luna and Linhua deadpanned in unison.

"From the mouths of kids, even," Kevin mock-groaned.

"...ugh. I cannot believe I got pulled into this ridiculousness," Hex sighed.

"I will live with this shame for the rest of my life…" Bang muttered, "...perhaps it is best I do go home…"

"Agreed," Hex sighed, "I...do not deserve to be around Dr. Faye Ling after behaving so….childishly."

"Honestly? This didn't even hit the top five for childish moments of adults around me," Linhua sighed.

"...Pardon?" Hex asked.

"Seriously?"

"Wouldn't hit the top ten even if we included you," Linhua noted, looking at Kevin.

"Hey…" Kevin frowned.

"What do you mean?" Bang asked, tilting his head.

"I mean that be thankful you haven't seen Ms. Litchi when she drinks alcohol by accident," Linhua sighed, facepalming with a blush, "The nonsense that happens when that happens makes me go and stay far away from her so I don't roped into shenanigans."

"Grown ups make no sense…" Luna muttered, "You talk about being mature and responsible...then most of you drink something that makes you into the exact opposite…"

"I know, right?" Linhua sighed, shaking her head.

"...That would explain why Tao was dressed differently when I ran into her one time," Bang whispered.

"Exactly," Linhua responded, "When Ms. Litchi gets like that...she overindulges in her secret hobbies...mostly revolving around cute clothing and how they look on girls...don't ask." she held a hand up to stop them, "Please...just don't…"

"...fair….enough," Gwen muttered.

"...Mr. Shishigami," Hex spoke up, earning the ninja's attention, "It would seem we've both acted the fool tonight…" 'That and I am starting to believe Dr. Faye Ling isn't as...innocent as I originally thought…'

"Right okay...can we like...go do some fun stuff now? Like Trick-or-treating...no offense but I'd rather be getting candy then stick around to help two dudes with their love troubles…" Kevin muttered.

"Ooh! Candy!" Luna cheered.

"Yeah, let's get out of here." Kevin smiled as they walked off.

"Just...try and talk it out you two," Gwen sighed as she walked off after her boyfriend and the youngest of the group...before shooting a glare at the two older men with a magenta glow in the glare, "And no fighting…!"

"H-hai/y-yes!" Bang and Hex yelped as they raised their hands up in defense.

"Good," Gwen nodded, the glow fading as she resumed her walk.

"...And you've been bested by her dozens of times?" Bang asked, sweating a bit.

"When she was 11," Hex insisted, sweating a bit as well, "And she's only gotten stronger since."

"...You are truly a brave man, S….er...Hex," Bang muttered.

"The annoying one was the other one…" Hex muttered, "He somehow always beat me...even when I turned him into a literal toddler...he still bested me...all while destroying the Fountain of Youth out of spite…"

"What?!" Bang gasped at that, "How…" he began before shaking his head, "No no...I should not make such a commotion...even if it is the night of hallows."

"You must not know of her cousin, I take it," Hex chuckled, "If I had to say it in terms you'd easily grasp...her cousin Ben Tennyson...is the Number 1 Hero on this planet, and easily its strongest champion. Our powers pale compared to what he can achieve, which I can only say with a straight face now."

"...Truly?" Bang questioned.

"Yes. He has probably faced many hardships since our last encounter."

"...What a commendable young man," Bang whispered as he sat down on the sidewalk.

"I suppose since my new change in life, yes I can agree with that. He was still annoyed given I have faced him since he was 10...and never stops talking…" he chuckled awkwardly, "Honestly, the humiliation haunts me as trauma...Can you imagine losing to a little boy who ignores you in favor of playing a video game...and still wins…?"

"...that truly does sound like a wound to someone's pride, yes," Bang muttered before touching his scar, "But none more...than seeing your master's life end before you...and you cannot do nothing…" his fist then began to ball up as a frown grew on his face, "All while their killer and the man who gave me the scars you see on my person…!"

"...A member of this NOL, correct?" Hex guessed.

"Hai! I will never forgive him...I will never forgive the bastard who killed Lord Tenjo…" Bang growled out a bit, "The so-called Hero of Ikaruga, Jin Kisaragi…!"

SZ: *pokes out of the rubble, coughing up a bit of dust*ack..well….what a way to end the halloween chapter…

GT: *cleaning up the place, catching ghosts and having nanites repairing the ruined structures* Yep. And a bit of a better explanation on how Hex is who he is in Omniverse.

Demon Z0: AHAHAHAHAHA! *tearing up the rest of the city*

SZ; And z0 is still on a rampage…

GT: At least I convinced him to not wreck what's fixed until noon tomorrow. Even if it did cost me my first born ghost.

SZ: OH th-wait. You're first born what…?

GT: First born ghost. You got candy corn in your ears?

SZ:...uh…*looks at the readers*happy halloween folks...and hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Demon Z0: Go Forth my Hell Minions! *imps from hell begin rampaging in the streets*

GT: Please read and review. *spots one imp trying to break a wall just put back up and quickly blasts it to pieces, a chunk of its burning remains smashing the screen*

Z0 Imps: That's first blood! Get em!

SZ: AHH!