"Mou..." groaned Satoshi. Pikachu pulled at his hair a little bit, begging his owner to keep on walking. "I'm so tired." "We're right in front of the castle," Shigeru put his left foot on the bridge. "Do you really want to take a rest?" "Just for breakfast," he answered. "Please, Shigeru..." Shigeru shrugged. "If you insist." -- "I thought you'd be full of energy by the time we got there," said Shigeru. Satoshi planted his hashi in his mouth. The meat was undercooked, but he was starving. "Well, I didn't think it'd be such a long walk." "You're such a cheetah." "Are you trying to say something?" asked Satoshi, seductively and leaned towards him. Shigeru ignored him and shoved in his breakfast. "Yes," he said with his mouth full, "I'm saying you're all revved up at first, and then you die down too soon. So you need to slow down a little and keep it steady. Do you get it?" "Yeah," Satoshi said and looked to the ground. "Good. You'll need to do just that when we sleep, I mean when we battle Kasumi," said Shigeru. He stroked the fur on Ibui. "I thought you said she wasn't that tough." "Doesn't matter. Anybody can out-run you if you speed up for a short amount of time." "I thought maybe speed would be power." "In a way, yes, but not without a lot of stamina." Satoshi nodded, but then turned back to Shigeru suddenly. "Were you saying something about sleep earlier?" "No." "Darn..." * The water's so cold... yet I still feel so warm by you... I thought you were just playing around with me? Kenji narrowed his eyes a little. Why did he feel so happy around this water sprite? How could a human possibly fall in love with even a nymph? But how could a nymph or sprite fall in love with a human? "I think I might be... in love," he said. Ayame looked up at him, sitting on the rock below, and smiling. She sat with her hands wrapped around her bare legs. Kenji swam up to the surface and she went after him in fear of his unknown absence. Kenji sat at the bank of the river, his clothes soaking wet, and he shook his head, shaking off the water in his hair. "Please don't go," Ayame said as she surfaced. "I can't breathe underwater. And besides, I have a mission to complete," he replied, unaware of his replacement. Ayame blinked slowly, looking down a little. She stepped out of the water and hugged him. "Let me go with you." Kenji blushed a little, but pushed her away. "No, you don't want to." "Yes I do." "No. You shouldn't even like me. You-" "Why not? Why can't I love you? What's so wrong? Is it because you're a human? It's that, isn't it..." "Listen," he said. "I work for your sister, Kasumi." "How do you know she's my sister?" He didn't answer, and only continued. "She's ordered me to kill Botan and Sakura." "She's what?" Ayame's eyes widened and clasped her hands together above her waist. "I had already killed your eldest sister, Sakura, but I still have to kill Botan or punishment will be granted to me," he finished. Perhaps he would get a punishment from Ayame anyway. Maybe this time she really will suck out his blood and shut his eyes once again. Yet, he could only hear crying. Kenji opened his eyes when he felt her body against his, hugging him tightly. "First I become a sprite... then I run away and get lost... I live alone for almost three years... and now I learn my little sister's gone after Sakura and Botan...." she said shakily, almost like a whisper. Her ears flattened out. "I suppose you're going to say she's sent you to kill me now." Kenji shook his head, and hugged her back. "No... she told me not to kill you. She said you were the only sister that ever cared for her." "Really? Oh, well, then everything's okay!" squealed Ayame and pushed Kenji away from her, but still held his arm and dragged him out from the clearing. "Come on, we can't stick around here like you're going to live here forever!" -- "Do you even care? At all?" Kenji looked into the dark eyes of Ayame. They were so innocent, unlike his, which had grown so full of guilt in his life. "Yes. I care about the people I'm sent to kill. But as Kasumi's employee, I know I must, and I can't let her down. I'm sorry to do this to you, Ayame. I don't believe now was the right time for me to meet you." "Wait a minute," she said and stopped. "You mean, you actually care about the people you kill?" "Well, I..." Kenji stuttered, "I thought maybe you meant..." "Why would you care about the people you kill? I mean, they're dead for crying out loud! They feel pain for a minute, and then they die! How can they ever feel your sadness if they're dead?! You can't feel anything when you're dead!" "But I..." "Really, Kenji. Do you actually care?" "Umm..." Kenji glanced to the side for a moment in thought, "Well, no. I don't care about them especially, but..." "There's my guy!" Ayame said, interrupting smiled. They walked down the pathway towards the Hanada Springs. The sun was up at high noon, and high clouds drifted slowly in the air. "You know, there are things about you I don't understand." "Like what?" "You've only known me for a night. What makes you love me?" "You seem special to me, somehow." "So, am I really so different from every other man?" "Well," Ayame walked in front of Kenji, stopping him in his path. "you care about me alot, as well as my little sister. And you seem to do your duty even though you still want to be with me, and it seems like you're able to make adjustments in your schedule for this. Hmm... this may seem very impressive to you, but it's not to me, and actually, I guess you really do have to try harder. But I feel sorry for you, Kenji, so I guess that's the real reason I love you. It's really kind of sad." They reached the eastern edge of the Hanada Springs, where they found Nanako and Taichi holding back a figure in white and blue. Botan was backed away against a rock in the middle of one of the lakes, frightened and slightly dazed. "Let go, you little brats!" yelled the figure. He threw back the Yosei Kokoro members and they hit the ground. "Who are you?!" demanded Kenji. He ran up to the man to see his face, but realized he knew him. "Takeshi? What are you doing here?" "What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" asked Takeshi. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" "But what are you doing here?" "No, I asked first, Takeshi." "But I was here first." "But I was ordered to go here first." "Yes, but how come?" "I was sent here to kill Botan," replied Kenji. Takeshi chuckled a little and crossed his arms. "Sorry, Kenji, but I came here to replace you. Don't you know? Kasumi only ordered you to go back so she could fire you easily. I'm on top of this now." "What?" Kenji stepped back. Kasumi fired him? Was she so sure that he couldn't accomplish something like this? Takeshi could see the fear and surprise in Kenji. "If you must know... I overheard her talking with Hiroshi. She says she sent you to kill Botan so you can just stay with her," he pointed at Ayame. "She felt it was time you left. She said you were 'getting tired in your duties.'" Takeshi turned to Botan. "Now if you don't mind, I have a job to do." "No!" cried out Ayame and grabbed Takeshi's arm where Nanako had been. "Ayame?" wondered Botan. -- "Are you quite ready to go now?" asked Shigeru. Satoshi nodded. "Let's go." They stepped back into the road that led to Kasumi's castle. Shigeru stepped onto the bridge, yet he suddenly felt an absence next to him and Ibui flattened its ears, looking back. "Satoshi, are you with me?" he asked and looked behind. Satoshi had that concentrated look on his face and his ears were perked up. He was listening to something. "What is it? Do you hear somebody?" asked Shigeru and he walked back to Satoshi. "I hear some screaming. I think it's Nanako and Taichi, and... and some other people. I can't tell," Satoshi turned completely around, and took a step forward, "but something's going on. I can hear water splashing..." "So Nanako and Taichi are having a water party. That's so much like them," commented Shigeru and shrugged. "Pi," said Pikachu. "Pikapi!" "Nn?" said Satoshi. "What?" Satoshi listened to its ramblings closely. He twitched his ears a little. "What is it?" repeated Shigeru. "Is little Timmy stuck down in the well even though it's probably over ten million miles away from here in America?" "No, Pikachu hears water and a strong wind blowing south. I think we should go," said Satoshi, and started running back towards the Hanada Springs. "What?!" cried out Shigeru. "Right now?" He watched Satoshi disappear into the forest. Shigeru threw his arms in surrender, sighed, and ran after him. -- Satoshi burst into the clearing at the lake, with Shigeru following after. "What's going on here?!" They had gotten just in time to find Botan slip down against the rock she was leaning on, and into the water, leaving a trail of blood behind. Everybody turned around for a moment, looking at the two. "Who are you two?" asked Kenji. "Well, I'm going to just have to kill everybody now. Aquaintances aren't allowed, as some of you know," said Takeshi. "I'd feel sorry for all of you, but under the order of Kasumi..." "Kasumi?" repeated Satoshi and Shigeru. "...I just can't do that." Takeshi lifted up his leg, and brought it down hard, making a loud rumble and an earthquake started underneath everybody. Taichi flew up before he could fall over, and lunged at Takeshi. "So you're an earth nymph?" he asked. "Wrong, boy," retorted Takeshi and grinned, showing a fang. "I'm a sprite." "Either way, you won't survive me! Don't you know? Both plants and the soil can be easily shredded by the harsh wind!" shouted Taichi and darted at Takeshi. He lifted up his arm and swung his hand at Taichi, knocking him away effortlessly. The young boy fell to the ground and his ibui rushed over to him, licking his face for comfort. "Harsh wind, my ass. Anyway, I'm not that kind of earth, boy," snorted Takeshi. Satoshi didn't wait for everybody else to get up. He jumped up and decided to try and fight Takeshi next. "Let's see you eat electricity!" shouted Satoshi. He ran at Takeshi, throwing sparks at him, yet every little drop was just absorbed into Takeshi's hand. "Sorry, but nice try, squirt," he said and smiled, showing his fangs again. "You're a nymph aren't you?" "Y-yes..." said Satoshi and his eyes started to fill with hints of fear. "So I don't have to do much to beat you up!" said Takeshi and lunged his leg at Satoshi. The young nymph was thrown back after a distinct cracking sound as Takeshi's foot hit his stomach, and he hit a rock. Satoshi slid down a little, and stopped at the edge, unconscious. Shigeru felt he needed to rush to his side, but decided it was more important he defeat Takeshi first. He sank into the ground, and made his way under Takeshi's feet. I don't know who you are, said Shigeru from underneath Takeshi, But from what I've seen, I don't think you're on my list! Shigeru charged up from underground, and Takeshi fell to the grass hard. "You're not that tough," hissed Shigeru. But wasn't earth supposed to be weak against itself? How could such a simple move make the man fall over like that? "You aren't earth at all, are you?" said Nanako as she stood up. "You're some kind of a new species." "That's right. You better figure out what it is real soon, though," he said and came towards her. Everybody could feel the tension in the air and they thought hard as to just what Takeshi was. Strong against wind and electricity but weak against earth... but nobody knew about what else he was... except Kenji. "Metal!" shouted Kenji. "Takeshi has the element of metal!" "What?" wondered Nanako. "Shut up!" shouted Takeshi. "Metal?" repeated Nanako. "Yeah!" said Kenji. "Shut up!" shouted Takeshi. "Metal?" repeated Nanako. "Yeah!" said Kenji. "Shut up!" shouted Takeshi. "Metal?" repeated Nanako. "Yeah!" said Kenji. "Shut up!" shouted Takeshi. She looked up and narrowed her eyes at Takeshi as if she had realized something. She raised her hand and a blaze of fire shot out at him. He became engulfed in the huge burst of fire, setting his whole body on flames. He yelled and shouted, flailing his arms around like a madman, and he backed up finally, towards the lake and fell in backwards. The fire gradually burned out as the water seeped around the body, leaving but an ugly heap of burnt cloth and flesh. For a moment, everybody kept quiet, until Ayame spoke up. "Okay, people, let's get these two dead bodies out of here! The stench is starting to ruin my hair!" she started to fluff her hair and wavered to Botan and Takeshi with impatience. * "Excuse me, Onee-san?" said Shigeru. Nanami looked down at him, slightly teary-eyed. "Yes?" "Can I please see Satoshi for a while?" "Of course," she replied. Shigeru walked inside the door of the health clinic. She knew the two were in love, and it hurt her sometimes that Satoshi went to her as well. But she sighed and walked away to her next patient at the door to the left. "Alright, now, sir. This should only take a moment. And it won't hurt at all," she said through the doorway and pulled out a shot needle. There were some screams coming from inside, as she walked in, squirting out some of the liquid. Shigeru sat down in a chair next to Satoshi's bed. He looked at Satoshi take his breaths, watching his chest and stomach go up down slowly. His mouth was gawked open a little. His pikachu was laid on his chest, only half awake. He wished this could have been a monster battle rather than man. Then it would be much easier. But it must have been Kasumi's fault, right? She was the one who started the crime wave, didn't she? And it wasn't like the Roketto Dan's poaching. The door opened and a tall woman walked in. She was wearing a simple yellow dress, but it was still so elegant. Her hair was dark green, held up in a tight bun. Shigeru recognized her. It was unmistakable. "Aren't you the monarch of electric nymphs?" asked Shigeru. He felt so dirty compared to her. She nodded and smiled a little, but when she looked at Satoshi, she immediately frowned. "Kapika," squealed Pikachu and it jumped into her lap when she sat down on the other side of the bed. "Hello there," she said to it and stroked its back a little. Why was the monarch of electric nymphs sitting down in a room with this unconscious boy? But she'd have to know him. Pikachu seemed so friendly with her. "Umm... why are you exactly here?" asked Shigeru. She looked at Shigeru for a moment, then Satoshi. "Because I heard that my dear son was injured in a fight. I immediately came here to see him." "You're son?" repeated Shigeru, stunned. "Yes. This is my son, Satoshi," she said and placed her hand on his forehead. "He'll be alright though... I'm sure. He always got into trouble like this when he was a little boy. He'd always try stunts and get hurt." "I had no idea that he was the prince of electric nymphs," said Shigeru. Satoshi always dressed in such rugged clothes, how could it be that he just decided to live like a simple boy? "Actually, I was just kidding," she said and laughed. She started to pull of her wig, revealing light brown hair that drifted down along her back. "Oh," exclaimed Shigeru, and his eyes lit up. "You're Hanako, that actress!" She nodded and gave a wide smile. "Yes, I just came back from a play and I was the queen's impersonater. Oh, and I'd like you to meet my partner. You know, my bariyaado." She gestured to a shadow that Shigeru hadn't noticed before, standing at the door. A bariyaado scampered in, smiling and sat down next to Hanako. "Bari, bari," it said. "Actually, if you must know, Satoshi was actually raised by some wild bariyaado, and this one is sort of like its father. I just adopted the boy later, and treated him as if he were my son." Shigeru blinked once and stared at Satoshi. He was in love with a boy who had been raised by a pack of wild bariyaado? Oh, this was embarrassing.... "Excuse me?" said Hanako with a confused, but stern look, "how do you know my son?" Shigeru bolted his head up. "I.. well, I'm... you see I'm sort of his.. um.. mate," he managed to say. "I see. So you're a friend of his?" "Well, more like.. um... I don't know how to put this..." he said and looked down at Satoshi. "You're... you're his partner in something?" she asked. "No. I'm actually.. well, I'm his lover," he said finally. Hanako stared at Shigeru and Satoshi for a moment, her face giving a disturbed expression. "Oh, how... interesting," she said and gave a cheesy smile. "My he has a lovely choice in..." she tilted her head to the side and noticed his short ears, "...earth nymphs." "Actually, I'm a sprite," he murmured and looked to the side a little. "I see..." "This worries you," said Shigeru, as if it were a query. Hanako sighed. "A little." "Is it because I'm a guy?" he asked. She could see his fang clearly when he talked now. "No. It's more of the fact that you're an earth-element sprite," she said and her ears flattened back a little. "Crossbreeds?" said Shigeru in hopes of pinpointing her distress. "Yes..." "Then you don't have to worry if I'm a guy," he said and smiled. He stood up and ran his fingers along Satoshi's face. "My name is Okido Shigeru. I have to go now," he said as he headed towards the door, "And let me say your son is very..." he searched for the right word. "... very beautiful. Your son is very handsome and beautiful." Hanako stopped him before he left. "By the way, I was just joking about the wild bariyaado." Shigeru chuckled a little and nodded. He opened the door and left, leaving Hanako in the room with Satoshi. She looked at the door, where Shigeru had been standing. This certain "Okido Shigeru" was a sprite... yet, he still seemed quite gentle with Satoshi. Hanako smiled. "Yes," she said and looked back at Satoshi, "you do have a lovely choice in earth sprites." * The moon began to rise behind the castle. Kasumi sank down in her throne in depression. "Takeshi... you fool," she mumbled. "How could you? I thought you would last much longer." "And his name is said to mean 'unbreakable,'" said a female voice, very similar to Kasumi's. Kasumi looked up and sat straight in her throne as she saw... herself? It looked as if a duplicate of herself appeared in front of her. But something was different about her. She had thicker eyebrows and her eyes... her eyes were red. Yet she had a togechiiku just like Kasumi. "Imite," said Kasumi. "Get out of that silly disguise immediately." "I'm not Imite," "Excuse me?" asked Kasumi. "I'm you," she said. "Imite..." "Can't you reckognize yourself?" "Imite....." "My hurt is your hurt." "Imite!" exclaimed Kasumi and she stood up in rage. "I told you to get out of that silly disguise!" "Yes, ma'am," said Imite. She threw a puff of smoke in front of her and quickly changed back into her usual outfit. She didn't wear the draping clothes that all the others did. Her belly was open and her arms were bare. She had a belt, which held an apricorn. "Come back, Metamon," ordered Imite. The togechiiku made a quick formation into its pink little slimy form and was drained into the apricorn ball. "That Takeshi," said Imite "Sometimes you can't rely on him. But don't worry," she bowed in front of Kasumi, "I can handle your tasks without trouble." "Good," said Kasumi. "Because the last thing I need is trouble with these two certain individuals." Kasumi held out her bare hand and showed Imite a picture of Satoshi and Shigeru. "Kill them right away!" ordered Kasumi. "It will be done, ma'am," said Imite and bowed once again. She made a quick flip in the air, and threw another puff of smoke, disappearing. But her voice could still be heard, echoing out through the room. But first, I want to play with them a little.