Chapter 8: Double Trouble

When I got back into the house, I realized something very important.

"Oh no! I'm late for school!" I shouted, jumping up the stairs and running to my room.

I got ready as fast as I could and ran all the way to school. I didn't stop until I got to the classroom.

"Sorry I'm late! I had to take care of something!" I apologized to Mrs. Sakura.

"It's alright, Hana. Go and take your seat. Just don't make it a habit."

I walked to my seat quickly, trying not to be the center of attention any longer than I had to be. I heard some people snickering and whispering to each other. I sighed. This is going to be a long day.

By the end of the day, I was utterly exhausted. Why did Kogai have to attack at 3:15 in the morning? Doesn't he know I have a life outside of fighting him and his comrades? As I was walking away from school, somebody tapped on my shoulder.

"Can you lend me some money? I'm starving," a voice said pitifully.

I turned around to see a homeless guy wearing rags around his waist.

"Wow! You're hot! Never mind money! How about I take you instead?" the creep exclaimed when he saw my face, drooling and blushing.

I punched him in the face so hard he fell down. Then, I walked away as quickly as possible. I'm not in the mood to deal with weirdos like him. I hope I don't see him again.

The next day, I ran into the creep again. His nose looked broken. Serves him right!

"Hey! What was that for yesterday?! That hurt!" he complained.

I ignored him and continued on my way. He ran up to me and started walking backward in front of me so he could talk and look at me at the same time.

"Why do you keep ignoring me? I'm not going anywhere until you give me something. Maybe a kiss? Something else would do as well," he said, blushing and drooling.

I punched him in the face, again.

"Happy? I gave you something. Now leave me alone before I call the cops," I shouted angrily.

"Fine. Fine. I'll leave you alone. Sheesh!" he said as he left.

After school, I ran into him again.

"How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?!" I screamed.

"I wouldn't take that tone with me again, Hana!"

A chill went down my spine. Not this again!

"You really know how to pull a punch. I'll admit that much. Punches won't work on my friend though. Too bad," he said, advancing.

Suddenly, a giant brown blob appeared behind him. Once it showed up, my nose started burning because it stunk so badly. I quickly covered my nose, but that didn't help very much.

"He he he! This little girl gave you a hard time, Kuzu? That's hilarious!" the stinky blob laughed.

"Shut up, Gesui, ya big oaf!" Kuzu shouted at the laughing blob.

While they were arguing, I reached into the Pocket. I grabbed two random seeds and threw them up. I had no idea which warrior would be best to beat these two clowns. It turns out that I had summoned Yuri and Mari.

"Do you need me to take care of them?" Yuri asked politely.

"What do you think?" Mari said sarcastically.

I sighed and nodded. Yuri nodded back. Mari just looked away, looking irritated.

"Look what we have here, Gesui! These ladies think they can beat us!" Kuzu exclaimed once he saw the girls.

"He he he! Silly girls! You can't beat us!" Gesui said, laughing.

"Tch. Think what you'd like, but I'm not going to go easy on you," Mari replied, irritated.

Yuri replied by throwing a drop of water at Kuzu. It pierced his stomach, making it bleed.

"Hey! How dare you attack first!" he shouted angrily.

Mari created her flaming bow and arrow and shot Gesui. The blob caught on fire, but he didn't seem to notice. Yuri threw a water lance at Kuzu, but he pulled Gesui in front of him. The lance put out the fire.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Mari shouted at Yuri.

"I'm sorry. I did not expect him to use his comrade as a shield," Yuri apologized.

"Whatever! You just put out my fire! Stay out of my way!"

I had a bad feeling about this. I didn't really think about the girls not getting along. I guess it made sense though. Not everyone gets along with everyone else. I think I'm going to stay out of this little catfight.

I thought the fight between the good guys and bad guys was going to start up and end without a hitch. However, both Yuri and Mari attacked at the same time. This caused both of their powers to cancel each other.

"What do ya think you're doing, bubblehead?!" Mari shouted at Yuri angrily.

"What about you, hothead?!" Yuri shouted back.

I had never seen Yuri angry before. I wish it stayed that way. This squabble wasn't getting us anywhere.

"He he he! Lookie! Lookie! Girls are fighting each other!" Gesui burbled.

"This might work to our advantage," Kuzu agreed.

This was bad. I needed to stop the girls from fighting somehow, before things turned for the worse.

"H-hey! C-can you stop fighting each other?" I asked meekly.

"NO! NOT UNTIL SHE GOES AWAY!" they shouted at me.

What am I going to do? Kuzu and Gesui answered for me. They attacked the girls together. Kuzu punched Yuri and Gesui engulfed Mari in his body. Gross! Mari tried to get out of him, but Gesui wouldn't let her go. With each struggle, she sunk deeper into him.

"Help!" she cried pitifully.

"I'm a little busy here!" Yuri exclaimed as she fended off an attack by Kuzu.

"Well, hurry up!"

"Easier said than done!"

I had to act. If I didn't, Mari would suffocate in sludge. Did I mention that was gross? I ran over to Mari and grabbed her hand. I tried to pull her out, but she was really stuck.

"He he he! You want a hug too? Yay! I get to kill two girls!" Gesui burbled excitedly.

He reached for me with his stinky arms. I ducked out of the way, but let go of Mari's arm in the process.

"Hel-," Mari started to shout, but her mouth was soon covered by Gesui's body.

There was nothing I could do to help her. Unless… It's worth a shot. I reached into the Pocket and pulled out another seed. I threw it up, vaguely aware that it was Suno's. Please let this work. Suno appeared and stared at me with dead eyes.

"Can you help Mari?" I asked desperately, pointing at the girl drowning in sludge.

She nodded and walked over to Gesui.

"He he he! Another one! Yay!"

Suno's response was to open machine-gun fire on him.

"What are you doing?! You're going to kill Mari too!" I shouted at the ice girl.

Suno turned and looked at me.

"The heat from her body will melt the bullets before they reach her. I am simply blowing the sludge off her. Do not panic," she said, emotionless.

"O-oh. Um… good luck," I replied dumbly.

She nodded and turned back to face Gesui. He was almost off of Mari now, thanks to the barrage of machine gunfire. Finally, he was blown off and sent flying a little ways. Mari collapsed on the ground.

"Mari!" I shouted as I ran to her.

I picked up her body and willed her to breathe. After a moment, she did after vomiting sludge. I was too relieved to care. She was alive.

"Are you ok? Can you stand?"

Mari blushed before responding, "Yeah. I'm fine. Gosh! Do you think I would go down that easily?! I'm not some weak damsel in distress, ya know!"

I sighed a sigh of relief. She was fine.

"Let me at that ******* (illegitimate child)! I'll show him to mess with me!"

Mari got up, ready to fight. She had an angry spark in her eye. I backed away quickly, not wanting to be in the way of her attack. She recreated her flaming bow and arrow. However, instead of an arrow, she had a long flaming spear. Without wasting any time, she shot the spear at Gesui, who was on the ground, dazed. As soon as the spear hit him, he burst into flames.

"Hot! Hot!" Gesui shouted as he ran back and forth.

I looked back to see Yuri taking care of Kuzu with ease. After he was knocked into the flaming Gesui, Kuzu screamed, "WE'LL BE BACK! WE WON'T FORGET THIS!"

The flaming duo ran, hopefully never to return.

"Make up," Suno said to the other girls after the battle.

Nobody said anything for a long time.

"Fine! I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" Mari shouted, breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry too. It was unlike me to get so angry," Yuri apologized.

Once that was settled, all three girls became seeds once again.

I really hope I don't have to go through that again.

. . .

"Sire! Those buffoons failed as well! Who do you want me to send?!" Kagaku shouted into the void.

"Rrgh! Why are all my minions so incompetent?! Send him in! I don't have much choice, do I?" the light growled angrily.

"O-of course, sire! I'll send him in right away!"