Heroes

Chapter Twenty-One

“Guys!” Yuzu called. “Breakfast is ready!”

“Okay!” I called to her, finishing pulling up my hair into a ponytail. Removing my hands from my  air, I examined my work.

My snow-white ponytail hung mostly strait, with a few curls here and there, all the way down to a bit past my shoulder blades. 

I smiled. I did a pretty good job.

I walked downstaris to the dining room, where Yuzu was setting the table. I was about to offer to help, when I heard the newscaster on the telivision:

“…Yesterday,” the news lady said, her face void of emotion, “around ten-thirty last night, five cars collided at an intersection in Karakura Town Third District…miraculously, no one was killed.”

“Wow…” I said dazedly. “It only happened last night, and it’s already on the news.” I turned away from the TV. Looking at the table, I noticed an important missing element. 

“Hey,” Ichigo said. “Where’s Karin?”

Bull’s-eye. That’s what was missing. 

Yuzu frowned a bit. “She didn’t want to eat…she’s not feeling well. I’m worried.”

“Karin’s sick!? That’s strange….”

Ichigo’s thought was interrupted by a pounding of feet.

Isshin stumbled in. “Ichigo!” he cried. “Bad news!! Chad’s not in his room!!”

“What?!” I gasped. “How is he not in there?!”

“I dunno!!” Isshin yelped. “I just went in there to check up on him, and all I found was an empty bed!!”

“Crap!” Ichigo said. “Wat the hell’s wrong with him?! He’s gonna kill himself, acting like this!!”

I walked up behind Ichigo, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Chill, Kurosaki,” I said. “Maybe he’s at school. Don’t worry, we’ll find him eventually. There’s only so many places he can hide.”

He glared at me for a moment, but when I gave him a remember-who-you’re-glaring-at-look, he calmed a bit, taking a deep breath. “Okay, I guess you’re right. But if he’s not at school I’m heading strait to his apartment.”

I rolled my eyes. “I know, I’m coming, too.”

Tara and Babs came tumbling down the stairs. I chuckled to myslef; they’d never really been morning people.

Tara stretched her arms out. “Mornin’,” she yawned. (A/N: I yawned when typing the word “yawned.” Go figure.)

“Morning,” we chorused. 

She went to Ichigo and kissed his cheek. His face went insanely red in an instant, but she just smiled sweetly.

I silently gagged; a bit too sweet for my particular tastes.

Once everything was settled, we all sat and quietly ate our breakfasts. On the surface, it looked like a typical morning, but I could feel a thick, tense air practically seeping from us:

Kurosaki was worried about Chad,

Yuzu was worried about Karin,

Tara was worried about Kurosaki,

Babs was worried about breakfast.

“It’s so delicious!” Babs cried softly.

I frowned a bit; she could really be a completely dense moron.

I finished my breakfast quickly. Standing up, I took my dishes to the sink. “I’m gonna go ahead to school,” I called, grabbing my bag.

“A-are you sure?” Babs asked worriedly. I could tell she didn’t want to be left alone in such a strained enviornment.

I smiled. “It’s fine; I have something I need to do before class, anyway.” (Translation: I need to get out of here; it’s too tense.)

Before anyone could protest, I was out the door and ready to start the day. 

Walking down the street, I noticed a group of guys standing in a circle around someone. I went closer to investigate, only to find them picking on some little boy.

“HEY!” I roared. “Pick on someone your own size, jerk-offs!”

They all turned to me, and a few of their eyes widened. One whispered to another, until the message ahd gotten to all four morons. 

The kid ran away hastily, probably heading for home. Smart move by him, dumb move by me. But hey, at least the kid was safe.

The four guys--by their stereotypical saggy pants, bandannas under hats and white wife-beaters, they just looked like top-class, helpful citizens--started to walk towards me, suggestive smirks on their dirty faces.

I backed up slowly. “N-now guys,” I said nervously. “I didn’t mean me. It’s just not fair to pick on someone who can’t even fight back!”

They continued to slowly pursue me. Eventually they ended up backing me up into an alley. 

How reminiscent, I thought. It seems I have a strange attraction with bums and alleys.

Previously experiencing attack, though, I was more prepared this time; I wasn’t going to freeze up.

I was cornered; all four blocked any escape route. Trapped, I was forced to go on the defensive.

“Look, guys,” I said. “What do you want? My money? ‘Cuz I don’t have any, sorry.”

One of them, a tall guy with brown shaggy hair, snorted. “It’s not your money we want, girl. Whaddya think we want with a girl in a short skirt and with a huge rack about to pop out of her top?”

Crap, I thought. I gotta deal with some more rapists? 

I went into attack mode.

One of the guys came luncing at me, but I was fully prepared. I grabbed his arm and placed my knee between his legs, lifting him into the air. He hit the ground with a loud thud, and didn’t get back up.

Another guy came, a bit of sweat on his forehead. He swung a punch, but I caught it in my hand. I punched him in the face, hearing the crack of his nose, and pushed him from the gut with my foot. 

He dropped like a fly. 

I sighed, wiping my hands on my skirt. “I really hate having to do that, but oh, well.” I looked up to the two remaining guys. 

The first, his blonde hair covering one of his eyes, looked horrified. His eye (the one I could see) widened and he recoiled from me a bit. 

His buddy, a green-haired guy with a mowhawk, had a similar expression as his partner in crime. I could see beads of sweat on his face, and there was a bulge in his pants.

Really?!?!?

_______________________

Done~~~~

Hee hee...a shorter chapter, just like I promised! So what's gonna happen? Who's gonna be introduced? Will Bubbles EVER find her missing hairbow?!?!?!

Tune in next time on, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS!!! Ah, I mean, HEROES!!!

-Maycee~chan