Sunday, October 3, 2004

heres chapter ten!!
well, nothin much to say. lets get started! if u havent read the first 10 chapters, theyre in my archives ok? this chapters kinda long, so be ready ok? well, now lets start!

Chapter Ten
To the Rescue

"Its great that we're all back together again," Chie commented with a smile. Aishiteru dug into their bowl of popcorn and replied with a nod. "Its been a week since we left Nagoya to Kyoto for our little adventure," Chie continued. Tai cringed. 'I dont know if Aishiteru is totally over what happened. She cried the wholel way home and wouldnt speak a word of it since then. No one's brought it up until now,' Tai thought.
Tai watched as Aishiteru gazed down at her feet. He braced himself for what Aishiteru might do, but all she did was look up and let out a little grin. "Oh yeah, since we havent really gotten together since the whole Kyoto thingy, I never got to tell you what I learned from staying with them," Aishiteru told them. "They kept on talking of how they were going to stay there in Kyoto for a while and then go to they're southern base. I'm not sure what that means, but then they were talking about going to Osaka." "This kind of makes sense," Skye remarks. "I guess that one gang wasnt the only one. We have to go to Osaka!" "We can take the train like we did before. It wont be that far," Aishiteru stated. Chie jumped up, excited. "Saturday we set off on another adventure!" Aishiteru grinned. Skye just stood. "I need to get some fresh air," Skye informed. He trudged out the back door. Tai opened his mouth to say something when Aishiteru stood. She gave Chie and Tai a tiny grin and followed Skye.
Skye turned as Aishiteru joined him outside on her porch. "Hey," Aishiteru greeted. Skye didnt reply. "Its been a while since we've talked, huh?" Aishiteru continued. "We havent even been alone since..." Her voice trailed off. She blushed, remembering the kiss they'd shared.
All of a sudden, Skye turned to face her. He looked into her eyes. "You know, I do care about you Teru," Skye informed. "I was... scared when those people had you. I felt so helpless. Thats why I was so reckless during that fight with Haki." "Skye..." Aishiteru started, but was interrupted by Tai bursting outside. "Well, didnt want to break up the party, but we might want to start planning," Tai remarked, even though he knew he couldnt stand the fact of Aishiteru and Skye being alone together.
Aishiteru nodded. Tai led them back inside and they plopped down on the couch with Chie. While Tai and Skye conversed on their plans for the trip, Aishiteru smiled, glad to have everything back to normal.

The week rolled past and soon it was Saturday morning. Aishiteru and gang had agreed to meet at the train station at noon. It was only 9 o' clock now, so Aishiteru had a while to get ready. She first packed her backpack with whatever she thought might be handy and then showered. She quickly changed into a comofortable outfit consisting of khaki shorts and a plain, blue t-shirt. She scooped up her few belongings for their journey and headed downstairs. Only 30 minutes had passed, but Aishiteru was too excited to sit and wait. 'I'll just go wait with Chie-chan,' Aishiteru thought.
Aishiteru took the stairs two at a time. She hurried into the kitchen and was about to just snatch a roll and leave when he mother spotted her. "Sit," Mrs. Tadakashi ordered. "Its been such a long time since you've come down from your room. It seems like we never see you with school and your new friends." "Well, I've been busy," Aishiteru replied. "With what?" her mother inquired, turning to her. 'I cant tell my mom I've been demon hunting! What should I say?' Aishiteru pondered. Her mother seemed to be awaiting a response, so Aishiteru just said, "Stuff. Lots of stuff." Her mother sighed. "So much details," her mother commented sarcastically. Aishiteru just gave her mom a weak grin.
Her mother plopped down a plate of bacon, eggs, and a bagel in front of Aishiteru. 'Well, I have time and I'll need my strength,' Aishiteru thought. She gobbled down the breakfast. She stood and thanked her mother before dumping her plate in the sink. She was on her way out, when her little brother, Kero, appeared in the doorway. "Where are you off to?" Kero asked. "None of your business," Aishiteru answered, pushing past him towards the door. "Are you going out with your friends again? The same ones who were here before?" Kero questioned. "As a matter of fact, I am," Aishiteru responded. She was now at the door, slipping on her sneakers. "Can I come too?" Kero pleaded. "I won't embarrass you in front of your boyfriend, I promise!" "Boyfriend? Skye is not my boyfriend," Aishiteru insisted. 'Well, I dont think he is. Maybe, I dont know,' Aishiteru thought.
"Can I go?" Kero continued, knocking Aishiteru out of her thoughts. "No," Aishiteru answered. "Why dont you hang out with your friends?" Aishiteru asked, beginning to leave. "I dont wanna! I wanna hang out with you! We never get to hang out now that your boyfriend came along," Kero told her. Aishiteru turned to her brother and gave him a smile. "Sorry, but we're doing big kid things. It'd be too dangerous for you," Aishiteru replied. "Dangerous? Mom, Teru-onee-sama is doing dangerous things with her friends! Thats why she wont let me come!" Kero shouted. "Dangerous? You better not be doing anything dangerous!" Mrs. Tadakashi hollered from the kitchen. "Especially nothing too dangerous for your brother. Bring him with you." Kero jumped up in triumph. "No! I cant!" Aishiteru protested. "Well, if you dont bring him, you can't go," her mother remarked. Aishiteru groaned. "Fine," Aishiteru reluctantly agreed. Kero snatched his shoes and slipped them on, following Aishiteru out the door. 'I'm not that excited to go anymore,' Aishiteru thought.

Soon, the siblings arrived at Chie's house. They rang the bell and in a matter of seconds, Chie answered. Chie's smile faded as she spotted Kero. "What's your brother doing here?" Chie demanded. "Mom made me bring him," Aishiteru explained. "I dont mind that much, but I dont know about Skye-kun," Chie remarked. "You mean Aishiteru's boyfriend, Skye?" Kero quizzed. "Yeah," Chie replied. "He's not my boyfriend!" Aishiteru exclaimed. Chie shrugged and let them enter.
After what seemed like forever, it was 11:45. Aishiteru jumped up and headed for the door. Kero followed and as soon as Chie made some final preparations (with her make-up and clothing), she came too. The three arrived at the train station at 12:05. Tai and Skye were already there.
"You're late," Skye stated plainly. "Some greeting," Chie replied sarcastically. "Well, we wouldnt be late if Chie hadn't stopped to flirt with that skateboarder on our way," Aishiteru told him. "Well, you have to admit, he was hot," Chie remarked. Everyone sighed.
"Who's the squirt?" Tai asked, noticing Kero. "He's... my brother," Aishiteru groaned. "What?!" Skye demanded. "You're brother! This isn't daycare! This is a super-important, super-dangerous mission!" "Well, my mother doesn't know that. Thats why she forced me to bring him along. Sorry," Aishiteru apologized. Skye glared at Kero. "Well, there's nothing we can do now," Tai tried to calm down Skye. He kneeled down so his face was level with Kero's. "Hey squirt. What's your name?" Tai inquired. "It's Kero," Kero declared, trying to act older. "I'm Tai," Tai informed. "The other guy's Skye? So he's Teru's boyfriend?" Kero asked. Skye turned to the boy and Aishiteru blushed the brightest red. "Let's just get on the train," Aishiteru stated, pushing Skye inside so Kero couldn't embarrass her anymore. Chie giggled and followed. "I'd rather you be my sister's boyfriend. You're nicer," Kero whispered to Tai. "That Skye is kinda mean." "I've been telling Teru-chan that for weeks!" Tai agreed. "You want to be my sister's boyfriend?" Kero demanded. "No! Not that! I mean... I was telling her that Skye is mean," Tai corrected himself. Kero nodded and boarded the train. Tai sighed and entered also.

"I'm glad to be off that train," Aishiteru announced, exiting the train station. "I thought it was fun," Chie voiced. 'Yeah, well you didn't spend the whole time monitoring Kero, making sure he didn't say anything embarrassing,' Aishiteru thought. "This place brings back a bunch of memories," Skye muttered. "What's that mean?" Kero asked. "Well, I used to live in a little town by Osaka for a few years when I was like 5 and 6. My family and I came here to visit our relatives sometimes. I never got used to being in the city no matter how much we visited," Skye answered. "Cool. Maybe we could stop by your hometown when we're through," Aishiteru suggested. "I dont know if I'd even recognize the place. My family and I lived in Nagoya when I was born and then, when I was still a child, I moved here. Then, only a few years later, my favorite uncle died. He and my dad were so close, he couldn't stand living here. Everything reminded him of his lost brother. We moved to Europe where I spent most of my adolescence. I barely remember ever living here. After my uncle died, we seldom talked about here or even thought about here. Just being here brings back bad memories," Skye spoke, talking more to himself than the others. Aishiteru gave Skye a weak smile and rested her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her and just shook his head. "Don't feel sorry for me. It was a long time ago," Skye told her. "See, we dont have to feel sorry for him. He's just fine," Tai told them. "We should be looking for this gang." He grasped Aishiteru's arm and led her away. Aishiteru looked back at Skye and could tell he was hurting deep down. She gave him a reassuring smile, but he just looked away.
Soon, Tai halted. "Do you feel that Teru-chan?" Tai asked. She stopped and gasped. "Its a tremendous amount of... demons," Aishiteru replied. "Demons?" Kero demanded. "We must be getting close," Skye remarked, ignoring the boy. They all began to jog towards the demons. Kero struggled to keep up.
All of a sudden, the boy halted. Aishiteru looked back. "What is it now?" Aishiteru asked. Kero picked up a newspaper that he had stepped on. He held it up. "Whats this mean?" Kero inquired. Aishiteru groaned and came over. She gasped when she spotted the headline. She read it aloud: "Gangs appear in Osaka! Many new gangs have popped up in Osaka and little towns surrounding it. They are beginning to wreak havoc on innocent people. Just yesterday, they killed many in a little city right outside the city limits of Osaka."
Everyone gasped. "Right outside of Osaka? You dont think it could be..." Skye started. Before Aishiteru could answer, Skye took off. "Skye!" Aishiteru hollered after him. "Finally, we're rid of him," Tai grinned. Then, Aishiteru began to follow Skye. "Teru-chan," Tai shouted after her. Chie shrugged and began to follow Aishiteru. Before Tai could say anything, Kero trailed after Chie. Tai rolled his eyes in annoyance, and began to follow his friends.
Soon, they were out of Osaka. Aishiteru knew where they were headed and kept up. She knew it was probably torture for Chie and Kero who weren't as athletic as herself, but she didn't care. 'I have to be there for Skye-kun like he was there for me,' Aishiteru thought.
In a few minutes, Skye halted. Aishiteru soon caught up to him. "What's up?" Aishiteru asked. They were standing in front of a house. He gulped and knocked on the door. As they awaited for the door to be answered, Chie and Kero made it to them. The door swung open and a middle-aged woman with brown hair that reached mid-back was standing there. Tears welled up in her eyes, as she noticed Skye. "Is that you? Skye?" the woman asked. He nodded. He opened his mouth to say something when the woman scooped Skye up into her arms. "Oh Skye! We've missed you and your family so. So much has happened," the woman told hin. "Yes, Aunt Kiori," Skye replied. "Your cousin Yume.... she's..." Aunt Kiori hesitated. "She was taken by the gang! They took her and a bunch of the neighborhood kids. I dont know whats happened to them! She may be... dead." "What?" Skye asked. "They killed her friend Rini on the spot. What could those little kids have done to them to deserve that?" Aunt Kiori sobbed. "Dont worry. I'll get Yume-san back," Skye comforted. Then, Aunt Kiori noticed that Skye wasn't alone. "Oh my! Sorry. I've been so emotional lately. Come on in," Aunt Kiori greeted. Aishiteru gave the woman an assuring smile and entered her house. Chie and Kero entered also. Skye came in and Aunt Kiori closed the door behind them. They sat down in the sitting room and as soon as Aunt Kiori opened her mouth to say something when there came an urgent knock on the door. Skye stood to greet the visitor. Aishiteru could hear Skye's annoyed voice all the way from where she sat. "What are you doing here?" Skye growled. "Why wouldn't I be here, I'm apart of the team too," Tai's voice replied. Aishiteru stood and joined the boys. "What took you so long?" Aishiteru inquired. "Well, after you guys left me, I got a little lost," Tai told them. Skye shook his head in shame and returned to his aunt. Aishiteru followed and Tai trailed behind.
"Well, we never introduced ourselves," Aishiteru stated. "I'm Tadakashi Aishiteru and this is my little brother Kero." "I'm Chie," Chie informed. "This is Tatsuyaimo Taikichi," Skye told his aunt, pointing to Tai. Tai waved. "What's going on?" Tai asked. Skye filled Tai. Afterwards, Tai had a really sympathetic look on his face.
"What are we waiting for?" Tai asked. "We have to go save them!" Aishiteru jumped up, nodding. "Lets go!" Aishiteru exclaimed. "We'll be back," Skye promised his aunt. "I'll stay here," Chie offered. "I'm not going to be much help with the fighting so I might as well take care of things here." Aishiteru nodded, but deep down she wanted her best friends there. Reluctantly, she agreed and followed the boys out the door, hoping she could return peace to Osaka.

Well, next week you'll be seeing the next chapter. Not much excitement in this one, but its leading up to something big! Well, c ya guys later!

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