Ask the Great Aya anything

[Cha]

You’re welcome you filthy mammals.

 

[Aya♥]

25 minutes ago, Majesty Yuka said:

You’re welcome you filthy mammals.

 

Thank you mommy yuka

[Cha]

The sun was now rising and Sougo was sitting on the passenger seat of a limo that was now in Edo. Shige was still driving it and Soyo was next to him. He went to open the screen divider to check up on prisoners Bansai and Hata in the backseat.

Spoiler

“You know it actually wasn’t that bad with the mask on.” Bansai said calmly. Sougo’s eyes widened. 

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” He screamed and woke up from his disturbing nightmare. He actually was in a limo on its way to the castle. Shige was wasn’t there this time, he somehow had escape while he dozed off. Instead Soyo was now driving the car. 

“Pretty good for a beginner huh, Sougo-san?!” She then crashed the limo through the gates and into the side of castle, setting off all their air bags. Soyo in a daze, climbed out of the car but shook her head to clear it. “Alright, let’s get this thing started!” A short old man ran up to her. 

“H-Hime-sama! Are you hurt?!” Maizou asked her.

“Absolutely not! I am feeling wonderful, Maizou-san!” Soyo skipped into the castle as Sougo, Hata and Bansai spilled out of it in a heap. A side of the castle then crumbled from the collision. Maizou just sweatdropped.

Inside the castle’s temple some pretty cool dudes in white coats were getting things together, Soyo merrily skipped to them.

“Hi guys! Getting everything prepared for the best day of my young life?” She excitedly exclaimed. Maizou slid in the room and facepalmed at the decorations.

“H-Hime-sama! Half of the castle just collapsed from your ride-!” Maizou was then shot by a party paint ball gun and fell to the floor. Some guards dragged his unconscious body away. 

“Shot grampy.” Isaburo said and put his toy gun back in his jacket.  “All prepared to arrest that disgusting black coat loving scum for marrying a minor, Hime-sama.” Isaburo said and him and Nobume bowed to their princess. 

Soyo then looked over to the ordained minister at the altar. He was in handcuffs and surrounded by other Mimawarigumi. 

“I reckon this don’t make sense seein’ how I’m a criminal but I’m happy to be apart of my little cousin’s life.” Holy Priest Nobu said and was jabbed by the billyclubs of two of the white coats.

Isaburo and Nobume were putting up some some Wice Cube themed party decorations with the aid of Jugem and Fluffy as the wedding planners. 

“The first chance I get after the ceremony is over, I’m dashing to the main plot, Isaburo. I heard they got a mad sexy slime lady.” Nobume said as she was putting up a banner.

“Dont you start with me young lady. First duck women and now a goo woman hundreds of years older than you. Look at you, you’re becoming this sweaty author.”  Isaburo said putting the other side of the banner up. The teenager crossed her eliteo arms in frustration.

Meanwhile, Sougo pushed Bansai and Hata into the castle’s holding cell room. He tossed them to the ground, Hata’s body made a squeaky sound on impact. Sougo slammed close the cell door and Hata shook the bars furiously.

“I demand my rights as the Dark Overlord of all Cuteness!! Hehe.” He giggled and the coconut head police officer just walked away. The purple prince then went over to Bansai and sat down next to him on the floor. “Some crazy Halloween this was, right?”

“I guess so little dude..” Bansai looked at the ground. Hata face looked concerned at him and then guitarist’s stomach then started to growl. In an instant Hata pulled out his emergency Bansai sack lunch from his pocket and handed it to the man. 

“You still got that?” Bansai said a bit surprised and took a bite into his PB&J sandwich. 

“Of course! I am your biggest fan after all. Even if I am your husband.” Hata beamed. At these words Bansai just stared at the floor again as he was chewing. The worried prince glanced at him again.  

“Bansai, I’ve been thinking... Maybe this marriage between us isn’t gonna work after all.” Hata spoke out, Bansai looked up astonished. “I mean, I’m just a fresh man in college! I still want make more unordinary pets and meet even more unordinary people. I have my whole life to worry about getting married!  I’m really sorry for tricking you into all of this mess.” 

“It’s okay little dude, no hard feelings.  I figured someone would eventually try to kidnap me anyway with my legendary godlike rockstar status.” Bansai smiled and extended his fist for a bump. Hata smiled back and returned it.

“Now to just figure out how to change Soyo’s mind as well.” Hata pondered.

“Do you think the little dudette will budge?” Bansai asked him. 

“Sure! Knowing my best friend as much as I do I’m sure she’ll back down once she realizes I’m no longer a threat!” Hata said reassured of himself. 

Then a white coat opened the door and had Bansai escorted out. Hata gave him a thumbs up as he left. Bansai entered the full decked out giant chapel room of the castle, everyone turned around to face him. 

“U-uhhh. The little dude says he’s dropping the marriage!!” Bansai shouted out across the room. At hearing this, Soyo ran into the room.

“HATA IS? AHAAAA! FINALLY! PREPARE FOR THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE, KAWAKAMI BANSAI~~!” Bansai made a big gulp and whimpered.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Earth, Shige had escaped in order to contact and locate his best friend. He was in a desert of some sorts and panted out, having ran across the world.

“Barky, I barely escaped alive of there. I’m glad you got my message. How did the situation at the chapel go?” Shige asked.

“Uhhh you don’t want to know.” Barkas replied. Meanwhile at the chapel, Pops and Jii were now crying in each other’s arms as were their armies for no reason.

”But I’m sorry to say old friend that this will be a long, and perilous journey in order to get back home and save your little brother.” Shige said.

Barkas looked over his shoulder at a sign that said ‘Edo Castle only 10 minutes away by walk.’ Barkas face palmed. Then suddenly a wicked cool cardboard limo whipped up right next to them. The driver and passenger windows slid down revealing the two people.

“Come on in boys, we have a boss to save.” Hasegawa said. 

“And a wedding to crash.” Kyuubei added.

Barkas and ShigeShige slid inside and Madao hit the MAXIMUM BOXADRIVE on the vehicle to speed off.
————————————————-

Old Man, when we get there you will see that there’s nothing to worry about.” Gintoki said. Ozu was zooming Enshou’s Sexy Black Automobile of Italian Limo Power back to Tokyo. 

“Hey isn’t Edo just what Tokyo was called before it was called that.” Umibozu was slapped by the author. 

“Can it Yorozuya. I can just SENSE someone is messing up my penthouse again.” Ozu was cutting people off in traffic and nearly crashing into them, just to reach home.

“Hey what’s this bottle of Old Wpice doing here.” Gendo shrugged and then applied some to his underarms and self.

Ozu finally reached the city, only causing five cars to smash into each other. Thankfully they all gave thumbs up in the wreckage (or did they?). Ozu parked the car by the street and zoomed to Lilymu Towers.

“Good thing we all had spare costumes in the back. I can’t stand to still be matching with you old deadbeats.” Gintoki said as he stepped out of the car and put his vampire costume he’d wore all decade.

Ozu was frozen still, the other dads got out of the vehicle to see that the street was flooded with the apartment’s residents, a super duper irritated Front Desk Lady, some tired pirates, Genos and the dads families who were the only ones who hadn’t left the party by now. Kamui was flying through the air on broken parts of the building still trying to clobber a dodging Saitama as the entire building was on fire. 

“BALLLLDDDYYYY!!! THIS IS YOOOOUR KID’S FAULTTT!!!” Ozu begun strangling him, surprisingly managing to choke the yato. He was gasping for air. Gendo tried defusing the situation as Gintoki walked over to Shinpachi who looked deaden and exhausted with the other parts of the straight men trio. 

“This is the absolute worst damn party I ever attended...” Shinpachi had his knees to his face as he sat on the curb.

“Where are we gonna live now?!” Kiyoko said disheartened as she had her arms around Guano and Yes Man. Gintoki’s face lightened up at hearing this.

“Well, I know of one room that is always open for you, my Pr-“ Ozu’s dragon mask was flung at Gintoki’s head and he fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Lily and Mitsuki were sobbing but Raj was fuming and ripped off his blonde weave to the pavement. 

“RAJ’S SPECIAL SEXY BEDROOM OF WEB SHOWS AND NAUGHTYNESS!!” In a force of rage, he kicked down Genos and the cyborg went owie. Gendo walked up by Gintoki and their families and just sighed. 

“I give up. The old man will probably kill Baldy by sunrise.” Gendo went to embrace Yui and children. “Hope you guys are ok, come on let’s blow this joint before the old man finds something to fault with me too.” As they walked away it suddenly hit Gintoki. 

“W-WAIT.. WHERE’S KAGURA?!” He exclaimed to Shinpachi but before the teen could answer, 
a terrorist ship was now hovering in the air above them. 

“Here I am!!” Kagura said from an open window. She jumped out of it and used her umbrella as a parachute and landed in front of them. The Renho baby triplets were at the wheel of the ship and tried parallel parking but smashed the cars around it. 

“Awww who’s mommy’s brave wittle captains?” Fumiko smiled and scooped them up in her flippers to smooch them. Steve, Joe, Josh stumbled out of the boat, followed by Takazura and the other main terrorists. 

“Maaan, of course I miss the most savage house party of the year. Someone even got to light it up at the end.” Joe said and his brother and cousin facepalmed. Katsura came rushing up to Gintoki and his kids, Shinsuke close behind. 

“Gintoki! Did you get the message from Sakamoto-dono about something with Skele?” Katsura held up his phone.

“Zura, I don’t check my phone when I’m getting smashed all night.” Gintoki replied.

The detectives noticed the side of the limo the dads stumbled out of had the license plate SXYGOD and wondered. They walked up to the dads and others and pointed to it.

“Yeah I think they went climbing up a mountain or something. They stickied up the car too.” Gintoki put a boogey hand on the top of his kids heads. 

“Probably should head out to check up on what the fuss is all about. Sounded pretty urgent. You doofuses need a ride there?” Shinsuke asked. 

“No way shorty! I promised I would attend Soyo-chan’s wedding! Come on Patusan, you can be the bag boy for all the clothes I’m about to drop Gin-chan’s savings on, uh-huh!” Kagura grabbed his hand and sped off as he oied.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY SAVINGS YOU LITTLE UH-HUHING BRAT?!” Gintoki yelled out but she was already gone. Gintoki begun heading into the terrorist ship with the others. Matako, Eren and Takechi were still standing outside of the doors waiting for the last person to come back aboard as the amber hues of the sun was starting to rise behind the couple.

Sooyoung telepathed something in her head to Elizabeth.

-I know, Sooyoung. One of these days I will settle down with you but right now my home is here with these guys.- Elizabeth signed. She then telepathed something else to him and he somberly nodded.

“Come on Lizzy, we don’t have all day.” Matako slumped her back against the ship’s wall. 

The prince broke his embrace with his princess and pecked her noodle arm before departing. He waddled back on board with tears in his costume’s eyes as a ship came by from Justawayonia to pick her up.

“Don’t worry Tuesday Elizabeth! There are plenty of princesses in other castles!” Eren tried to cheer his fellow royal duck up but Elizabeth just shook his head.

“And Matako-chans on the ship-“ Takechi was blown to pieces by her quick hand.

Meanwhile Ozu still had an iron grip on the bald man’s throat. All of a sudden, a hero emerged from the crowd with a hose from his fire truck.

“Don’t worry Ozu-dono, I‘m on it. Looks like Snake has finally beat the odds at his poor paying job at the WcDonalds with the cockroaches under pillow at night.” He said.

Snake heard the cheers and smiles of everyone praising him. Tears formed his eyes. He finally felt loved for once in his life.

“Hey do you know where Billy went?” Josh asked Steve as the three kept staring at the roaring flames of the crumbling building. He shook his head. 

“Probably returned to where ever he was before leaving the book. We’re best on our own with someone like that anyway.” Steve commented. 
—————————-

“You gotta be fucking kidding me..” Billy was tapping his foot at the long line of demons, ghouls and dead TBC characters the author wasn’t allowed to mention to not ruin the seriousness of their deaths ahead of him in Hell. He had enough and pushed everyone aside to get to the front. The demon at the booth stopped him, irritating the man even more.

“Ticket please sir.” He said. 

“TICKET?! Do you know what this says dipshit?” He pointed to his dirty jean jacket.. 

“Sir I don’t see anything.” The demon replied. Billy looked down at his plaid shirt and grabbed it in disbelief.

“MY NAMETAG?!! I LOST MY NAMETAG?! POR QUOI?!” He freaked out and patted himself all over for it. As he turned around the demon pointed to his back, his shirt was on backwards. Billy simply grabbed it and pretended this incident never happened. “Now then horns for brains. Read the name.”

“Oh I know you well, your Underworld Lord, but  I’m afraid you don’t have access to this area of Hell anymore.” The demon simply said and then called out for the next number. Billy then ragefully stuck his palm out to the booth and burned it down to a crisp. The demon previously inside of it ran away in a hurry. Billy  broke down the door of his former mancave. 

“I put your ass in charge for only a few MONTHS and I have the hell guards out there barely recognizing me?!” Billy pointed at the individual, the man simply looked up with the same dead expression as always.

“YEAH YEAH YOU SIT THERE AND FUCKING TOUCH MY DECK OF GO CARDS WITH YOUR GREASY TRAITOR HANDS!” Billy kicked down the table, Ungyo still sat there in chair with the same look and his cards in his hands. Gedomaru reset the table back up and placed her Evil Boy Cookies on the top of it. 

“Billy-sama, Happy Our Holiday. But you’re back early, you said you’d return in 400,000 years.” She said with a blank expression. 

“GEDO!! How could you my head demon have stood there and let this bozo take over the most prized mancave in the universe?” Billy blamed the little girl.

“He let mommy have a new head.” Gedomaru went over to the cow skull of Yoshi’s head and took it down. She cradled it like a baby in her arms. 

“Whatever you dorks. I just came here to kick your asses for ruining that Wack Black movie for me.” Billy crashed on a comfy leather recliner in front of the flat screens and crossed his arms while humphing. Gedomaru walked over to him and started to massage his shoulders with literal flaming up hands. 

“Come on Billster-sama, tell ol’ Gedomaru and Ungyo-sama what’s really troubling you.” She said.

“....” Ungyo stated. 

“W-WHY YOU-“ Billy became absolutely unglued at this. He scrambled over the sofa to attack him but Gedomaru held him back with help of some spirit guards.

“Boss, if you don’t tell me what’s wrong I’ll break your neck.” She said calmly. Billy stopped resisting and the ghosts let go of him. He turned back into his chair and slumped down. 

“I.... need change for a dollar.” He got up and went to the ATM of Hell located inside the mancave. He sat down with a root beer from the vending machine. Gedomaru used her supernatural powers to make him slap his own face. “Okay okay. I’m fucking missing the outside world, man. The Pay-Per Views, the Casinos, the shitty smokers air, shittt pretty much everything. Minus their coffee, eyuck. I know we have a Vegas here too but it just ain’t the same.” He put his head down and shook it. 

“Damn, that sounds like a wicked good time you had there, boss.. without us. So tough luck, we don’t really care.” She said. Billy’s face darkened but before he could reply, he heard a familiar saxophone playing from above.

“Who’s playing this prep shit? Where’s my Highway to Hell?” Billy asked. Suddenly a heavenly staircase appeared before him and stepped out two familiar faces. 

“Hello Billy-dono.” 

“OH NO, FISHY GOT NEW CHAPTER ART FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE AUTHOR YEARS!” Billy hid behind his expensive recliner and pointed in horror. Jazzy rolled his eyes.

“Big bro, you stepped out on that fancy dinner you were forcing us to have! We had to pay tab, the prices were unheavenly!” Suave exclaimed as Hell’s live studio laughed. 

“Billy, we have a grave task on our hands. Something terrible has happened outside of the comic book.” Jazzy stated to Billy. He got up from the ground and faced his brothers.

“Yeah yeah, I broke the biggest rule out there. Leaving the comic book. Kind of was against my will you know?” He said. But Jazzy shook his fish tank head.

“Not that. Little brother, we became the first sentient characters to be apart of the comic book. Do you remember that? Steve-dono and Joe-dono’s parents sent us here to scout out for Stephen Harvestein.” Jazzy said.

“Talk of that guy is everywhere now huh?” Billy used Suave’s saxophone tip to open up his root beer bottle and guzzled some down. “Ol’ Utsy just couldn’t let him drown this time, he couldn’t bare without him in this ‘verse I guess.” Jazzy nodded at his words and then continued,

“You know back in that early first universe were barely intelligent of what we were. Suave-dono and I were from that Kappa Mikey DVD, father from a mythological book and you from that one movie dvd. ...Our big brother RALRO from a history book...“
 

“Yeah yeah, I don’t know your point in all of this old man, but no need to get existential on me. I know what I really am.” Billy covered Gedo and Ungyo’s ears totally not in embarrassment or anything. “Some poser. Buncha liars we are, saying we’re some all powerful cosmic family that existed for million of years and rule the heavens and shit when we’ve only lived as long as this damn book.”

“My point is little brother, that we must come together protect the book once more. We have reason to believe Hitsugi is using someone outside of the comic book as his puppet to get purple Altana.” Jazzy stated.

“That damn kid.. Alright let’s go. Ung, you know the drill. Look after the place, lock it up again at me and I’ll have your head-y.” Billy pointed at the man.

The three brothers then used the heavenly staircase to head to Earth. “You know, I’m surprised your fish head is actually bothering to do something for once after twenty-two resets.” Billy said with a stupid smug and put his hands in his dirty jean pockets. 

“Don’t make me bring father down here.” Jazzy narrowed his eyes.

“Hey let’s stop by Lilymu Towers first, that foxy Front Desk Lady could probably for sure use some company after it burnt down.” Suave said and played some more tunes. His older fish brother’s face went dark.
———————————-
It was a few hours later at the skeleton village, Skele and the gang except Tatsumaki who left back to City Z, decided to rest up a bit in one of the huts in sleeping bags. Oboro, Poe and Tatsuma were sleeping in their individual ones on opposite ends of each other. Skele and Mutsu’s were next each other. Somehow Mutsu in sleep had moved her sleeping bag closer to his and had pressed her head up against his chest. They slowly awoke and looked at each other. Mutsu scrambled away and sat up in embarrassment.

“H-h-Hey it’s okay. Things like this happen.” Skele sat up and tried to reassure her. “Remember when it happened in Okiwana?” Skele closed his fleshly mouth. “I-I shouldn’t have said that..”

Mutsu made a little smile and chuckled lightly. The rest of the gang woke up and headed out of the hut. 

“Poe, I had a disturbing dream, as if everything we know and loved in our apartment, your nest, my entire discography of Lennon-dono (eat that author) and the priceless memorabilia from previous universes had been suddenly destroyed. Ah well, probably just nightmare.” Oboro shrugged.”

It was the early morning of November now, the sun was shining on the crisp early fall as the Globberian people were catching up with each other and trying to go on their daily routines. 

“Do you think that AHAHAHA slime lady that old guy mentioned is still coming here?” Tatsuma stretched his arms over his head while Oboro gave a little squee of delight. Chief Femurson walked up to them and greeted them. 

“I sure hope so, I wonder what’s taking her so long.” She said. “Tell me if you see anything Skele, I am gonna attend more to the people.” She walked away and the gang waved her off. 

The five of them then walked over to the courtyard of the village and to a stone table with some seats.  Skele pulled out his phone out of his pocket as it started to vibrate. He smiled and pointed the message on it to Tatsuma. 

“Hey, it’s Gintoki and the guys! They’re gonna be here soon.” Skele said. 

“Well they’re sure gonna be in for the surprise of a lifetime.” Oboro commented.

It was soon after that they saw three struggling and sweaty men reach the submit. The purple shorter one had been piggybacking the permheaded taller one much to his discontent. 

“Only slept two hours, me hikey big mountain. Me tired.” Gintoki was thrown off Shinsuke’s shoulders. Tatsuma and Skele walked up to their pals with energetic smiles. 

“So what’s the big emergency Tatsuma that you had our subplots merged?” Katsura asked. 

“And who’s this redheaded lookin’ clown with the elf ears?” Shinsuke massaged his aching neck. Skele chuckled.

“It’s Skele!” Tatsuma exclaimed. Skele nodded but the other Jouis looked like they weren’t buying it in the slightest. 

“Yeah right Tatsuma and I’m the mayor of clown frog town.” Gintoki scoffed. 

“Hey Gintoki!” Skele spoke out with his usual voice. The three of them froze.

“S-SKELEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?!?!” The three fell down in overdramatic shock and then stood up, all pitching and poking his fleshy face. 

“H-How the hell did this happen..?” Shinsuke poked his finger at his pointy ear. 

“Shinsuke, I’ll explain everything once we make sure this village is alright for us to leave.” Skele looked at his content people. Of course they were still disoriented but they beamed with self confidence, he smiled. Mutsu and Oboro stood up by the Jouis. The latter person causing Gintoki and the terrorist couple’s faces to darken.

“You’re gonna tell me this is another elf man and not who I think it is, right.” Gintoki said and Oboro rolled his eye.

“Anyway, if the Captain was as concerned with this Globberian lady as much as he was, I wouldn’t be so eager to leave this village.” Oboro looked out in the distance of the other mountains.

“Ayy if I know my little sorella as much as I do. You can’t pry her away from these paisanos!”

The rest of them turned to face Skele, who had spoken out like this with an unfamiliar voice. He held his mouth in disbelief. 

“I.. didn’t say that...” But then Skele’s eyes widened. “Guys, I think the liquid inside of me wants to speak to you directly.” Suddenly the morph between Skele and the liquid was split, Skele returned back to his skeleton self. The gang turned their attention to the green glob on the ground. 

Gintoki then fainted to the ground and Katsura tried to snap him out of it.

“Glob globby glob goo.” He said.

“Wait a minute, I just remembered.” Oboro whipped out his phone and fired up his translator app. It managed to translate the liquid’s speech as he was saying it.

“Aye, what it do, paisanos! The name is Valentino.” He did more gooey finger guns at them from above.

“So you’re the liquid that’s apart of me!” Skele smiled with more curiosity than fear like the others. His liquid nodded.

“Not a bad lookin’ liquid at that, huh?”  Valentino looking at his gooey self in a hand held mirror. “Though the both of us make a rather handsome Globberian don’t chu think? Ahah.” 

“So Mr. Valentino what’s this you said about knowing the ruler of your people?” Tatsuma chimed in.

“Ooh my little godsista, Yuka! She really hit it with the big gig tracking your solid self here, boney kid! After you smucks visited our planet, she spent months observin’ the solids ‘n all that foresight pizzazz you know?” Valentino then slithered his way onto Skele’s boney shoulder. “Man I tell you what Skele, it feels good to be apart of a body again after hundreds of years. I know what chu thinkin’ though, can I live with another guy inside of me?” 

“I know I can”. Shinsuke was then headthumped by Gintoki.

 “But don’t worry my skully friend, you do what you want to. I just like go along for the ride! To answer your question though red shades, me and Yuka though, we go way back. Her folks passed away when she was real little ‘n my folks were close to the royal family, so I always made sure to look after her.” Valentino said.

He started to backflash in his mind of the events on Globbus two hundred something years right after the events of skeletons leaving the planet. 

“Fratello, how many times are you gonna change solids in a year?” Little Yuka asked the man. “You know they live as long as the humanoids do. Wait, solids don’t even live here anymore! How were you able to attain one?!”

“Ehh? Ol’ Rickbones you hearin’ this? Course you is! You know this guy use to be a mob boss? He ain’t goin’ no where unless he’s arrested!“ Valentino then whispered to her. “But he actually ain’t really no big deal in the crime world, you know. Real small fish.” Valentino was then slapped by himself. 

“You made a criminal your solid..” Yuka’s expression went dark.

“Ahah! That’s my little sorella’s silver tongue I’m use to!“ He smiled but she then sighed out. 

“Fratello, t-this was Sophia’s favorite jazz song. I can’t do this, I can’t listen to the classics. And how can even rule a nation of liquids all by myself with only half of myself? I miss her..” Yuka picked up the framed photo of Sophia on her desk and then felt on the damaged side of her face. “I miss the other solids.. I miss when I didn’t have to erase the liquids memories of them but it was too painful..” Valentino then walked over to her chair and got down to her level. He lifted her chin up and smiled warmly at her.

“Now you know I never stood between you when you made that decision, Sorella. But Sophia wouldn’t want yous to act this way. She would want you to embrace life! What do you say?” He asked. She smiled and somberly nodded her head. They huddled in for a hug. “Now then, I know just the thing to cheer you up!” 

Valentino took her by the hand and led her to a mirror with a chair. He had helped her pick out a new outfit and applied some of his fancy greasy moose to her hair.

“Ol’ Rickbones is a barba too! Ain’t that somethin’? He did my hairdo! Too bad he gone nothin’ about his.” Valentino said and was slapped by himself again.

“Fratello, you both have the same hair..” Yuka stated in a deadpan voice. The little girl then looked at the mirror, her gooey jaw dropped. 

“Look at chu lil’ Yuk! Now the dames ain’t goin’ to be able to take their hands offa cha!” Both Valentino and Rickbones gave a thumbs up. She snapped around flustered, 

“W-who says I like dames, Fratello?!” Her godbrother just made a hearty laugh in reply. 

The scene cut back to the village, a tearing up Valentino morphed his gooey flipper into tissue and blew into it. Unaware to the gang, an individual arrived to the village snapping the attention of all the Globberians there and they stopped doing whatever they were busy with.

“Valentino, what are you doing outside your body.” Yuka said.

“Ay, Skels. Can I talk to my family for a second?”

“Oh s-sure.” In a flash, Valentino twisted around his body and they morphed together again. 

Gintoki proceeded to pass out again.

“Ayy, what’s up mi poca sorella?! I gotta morph with tha hot shot you were stalkin’! Pretty classy deal amirite?” Valentino held his arms open wide but Yuka just stood there and crossed her arms, leaving him hanging. She looked all around her at her finally united people, they gathered around her in awe. She felt an emotional lump in her throat. She then caught sight of the humans there and scowled. 

“Alright, let’s get you guys out of these nightmare living conditions and back home to Globbus.” She ordered. The Globberians looked confused at her. Chief Femurson stepped out of the crowd.

“Miss, we’re happy here. This has been our home for decades. My liquid half Ichiro agrees, we are all happy here together.” She said. Yuka looked directly at the woman.

“Maybe for the solid part of you is content here, Chief Femurson. There is no way you could be happy here on this planet.” Yuka now kept her stare on Katsura. Shinsuke protectively stood in front of his husband. “Amanto hating murderous race. Disgusting pigs these mammals are. They endlessly mock you solids, slaughtered you like animals, pillaged your homes, raped your people, OUR people.” She turned to Skele as he had control of the body again. “How could you decide to continue living here?” Skele looked around at everyone and then back at Yuka, he made a little smile.

“Your Majesty, this is the only home I’ve ever known. These people here especially are my family, human or not.” Gintoki and the others smiled behind him. He put his arm around his girlfriend, she blushed a little. “I live by my own bushido. I’m a hero who extends a hand to anyone, regardless of their species.” 

Valentino was impressed and nodded within Skele. Yuka looked around at her people in a rare sense of confusion and betrayal fell upon her. However she didn’t feel hostile but moreso somber.

“I could force you all to come with me. I could use you to declare war on the humans..” She furrowed her brows.

“But that ain’t like you at all, my little Sorella. Your big Fratello knows you. You have too much love in your gooey heart.” Valentino spoke out again. He put a hand on her head but she took it off. She then started to walk away from the humanoids and her concerned people, down the mountain again.

“You don’t know me at all, Valentino.” She quietly said. 
—————————
Back on Burei many years ago, the king was walking through his castle with some of his royal comrades. His six year old son then ran up to them and kicked him in the shins. 

“Father, I DEMAND you copulate this very instant in order to provide Your Princely Precious Overlord with the little brother slave he deserves!” Enshou’s little kid voice demanded. His father immediately picked him up over his shoulder, much to redhead prince’s detesting and punching. 

“So sorry about this gentlemen..” The king was having to change his grip on Enshou because he kept squirming and trying to kick him. 

“It’s no problem, Eibun! We can reschedule. I know what it’s like, I have a son about his age too.” The King of Oukoku kindly smiled down at the fuming child.

“Your son shall be my NEXT slave old man!” The Burei King started to carry Enshou down the hall. Enshou was over his shoulder still threatening.” AND YOUR OLDEST DRAGONIA WILL BE THE SLAVE OF ALL SLAVES! RAAAHHHH!” 

The king brought Enshou to his bedroom as he was screaming his lungs out the entire time. 
The man sat his son down in a chair and stood over him. 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!—HHCHCHCHHHH.” Enshou finally stopped and coughed up a storm from nearly losing his voice. 

“Why couldn’t this be your mother’s weekend..” He sighed and put a hand to his tired down and baggy face.

“HAH! That wench can’t hold the Messiah of Murderous Massacre down! Your divorce settlement proves both her and your weaknesses!” Enshou exclaimed crossing his little arms. “NOW FORM COPULATION WITH SOME MISTRESS FOR BROTHERHOOD INSLAVEMENT!” His father went into the closet and pulled out something. He put the instrument on Enshou’s lap. “Huh?” 

Enshou examined the trombone and then chucked it across the room. His father patiently picked it up and reset it on his boy’s lap. 

“This instrument is a trombone. I want you to learn how to play it, Enshou. You need to learn discipline. And I know you know what that means because you know a lot of words for your age.”

“The Almighty Allah does agree that he does have an exceeding vocabulary for his twisted miniscle corporeal existence. Go on and continue your prayers towards his uniquely megalomaniac greatness.” Enshou replied, but his father shook his head. He got down on both knees and held Enshou’s little hands, Enshou looked surprised. 

“Son. Me and your mother want you to succeed in life. I know you will in due time in the future. But for now, focus your angsty energy on something productive. The most important thing a royal member can do is discipline himself for him an his people. And I know with enough discipline and dedication to the people of Burei, you will do many great things for our planet, Enshou my little Gunsmoke Prince”. The king rubbed his hand on the little boy’s head playfully and then stood up. He looked at Enshou one more time before leaving the room. 

Enshou looked down at the instrument, not really feeling like throwing it this time. He inhaled all the breath in his little body and then blew into the trombone, making a funny sound. 

Some years after this event, adult Enshou and some of his men had left Burei temporarily on some royal military business. Unbeknownst to him what the absolute horrifying massacre would see when he got back home. As they reached the planet’s orbit and landed in the atmosphere, it came all too clear to the man now. 

“Y-Y-Your Royal Highness..” One of them said. 

Collapsed skyscrapers and mangled up barely alive or dead bodies laid splattered across all of the land. Enshou just stood there with a darken empty body and soul. He dropped to his knees in speechlessness. Another subordinate came up to him. 

“Y-Your Majesty, we just got a report. It was the Tendoshu. They came in and collapsed Burei’s Altana core. Only a few thousand of five million Bureians have survived..” 

Enshou then spoke up very calmly and quietly while blankily staring at the cracked up ground.

“Find as many survivors more as you can. Have them immediately brought to our ships for care and departure from this planet.” He got up and walked away from his extremely concerned men. He arrived to a place he knew well. 

He looked around the ruins of his castle home, his expressions and emotions were completely nonexistent at this point. As he looked around the debris, he stepped in some framed object with his boot. He picked up the shattered photo.

Enshou held his head up into the amber colored skies and shouted louder than he use to as kid. 

Cut to some years after his people started to dwell on ships and he had co-created the Altana Liberation Army. He was casually strolling through a flea market with his fellow admiral on some trading goods planet. In one of the stands he saw something dangling and shimmering. Enshou broke free of Barkas and went over by it. He picked up the necklace and clicked on it’s top to open it. His eyes widened as he saw the contents inside. An object of beauty and fantasy all wrapped into one in this jewelry’s photo.

“Sir, that’ll be 2.50.” The annoyed woman at the counter told him. Enshou reached in his pocket for some dough. 

“BAM! That’s a moon quarter.” He slammed down a Whuck E. Cheese coin on the counter. 

“Sir, this isn’t real money..” She narrowed her eyes. Enshou just shifted his eyes around and saw Barkas again, he sped off without paying. “HEY!”

“S-Shijaku! I ever tell you the story of how I got this locket?” He pulled it out of the contents of his cape. “You see, this was my wife back when Burei was still thriving.”

“Woah, really?” Barkas asked. Enshou just smirked and put his arm over his shoulder. The two walked away together before Enshou could be arrested by sercuity for stealing. 

“Lady TBC...” Enshou mumbled as he woke up from his dream, the Captain had been laying there on the book’s bind fully awake the entire time with the green crystals still next to him. He was waiting for something to happen as Dylan was on the plane ride. “Captain.” Enshou stumbled up, the Captain casually looked up at him. “I have to find her. I realize now how important she is to me.” Sweetcheeks shook his head.

“Sir, please don’t go and do something wreckless. Look how she’s treated the both of us so far.” Sweetcheeks tried to reason with the man but Enshou had jumped to the edge of the cliff. He had his back facing the old man.

“Captain... you would never understand what that woman has done for me. Seeing her face in my locket all these years, she symbolized hope for me, fantasy or not. She gave me the motivation to keep holding on, keep moving on all these years. I’ve lost so many people.. millions of people..  It’s funny, I finally have Burei back.. and yet I need her to fill that empty dark void I still have in me for some reason.

“Enshou.. I know what it feels like to be hopelessly in love with a woman.. my wife. But what your chasing is a fantasy, a hope. Not a person. Yuka is not that woman you imagine. She would never love you back in the way you would want, she is even more empty than you.” 

Surprised Enshou turned around at this.

“Wait.. You had a wife and you didn’t even tell your prince, your BEST friend-lord?! What else were you hiding from me, huh?! Next you’re gonna tell me you had kids too!” Enshou exclaimed. The Captain just looked around sheepishly. The prince’s expression darkened. 

“Enshou, wait!” He called out. 

“Goodbye, Sweetcheeks, or whatever your real name anyway.”

Enshou kept walking away, Stephen sighed out. 

Suddenly heavy tremors started around him, the ground was shaking and everything in the comic book’s universe tilted on the right side. He clung on the binder to not plummet to his death. 

“W-What the hell is going on?!” Stephen managed to snap his attention to the outside world. The book was flying down in the open blue sky, the airplane was high up above. 

“Dylan could see opening the window was a bad idea!!” Dylan shouted from way up above. In an instant, he took out an emergency parachute and skydived out of the window. “DYLAN COULD TELL THIS WAS A EVEN WORSE IDEA!!” 

Stephen clung on for his life for what felt like an eternity. Thoughts were running through his head on how his life and his own comic book wound up like this. 

‘Maria...Timothy, Justin, Susie.. what would you do in my situation?’ He somberly thought to himself. At that very moment, he lost his grip and slipped off the binder down into the woods.

TBC

[Aya♥]

"Luckily, Dylan was able to grab the comic book in the nick of time."  Dylan held the comic book up as he was parachuting down.

Dylan was slowly drifting down, a small island sat beneath him.  "Perhaps, Dylan was going to land on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas.  Or, just maybe, Dylan was going to land in tropical paradise.  Who really knows?"  Dylan shifted his body to land on a long stretched of beach, planting his feet down for a perfect landing as the plane he was riding crashed and exploded in the ocean several miles out.  Dylan looked at the comic book and saw all the panels were shifted to the right.  "Number 10, Weird Shift.  The comic book Dylan currently possessed was oddly tilted.  Dylan decided to shake the book and see if it shifted it back to its normal position."  Dylan shook the book, and surprisingly the panels shifted to their original positions, and everyone in the book fell back in place after the shift.  Dylan scratched his chin as he sat down on the beach, still completely mesmerized by the book and its mystical powers.  He opened the book and peered through the bindings, seeing a red-haired man rubbing his eyes as he was sliding down the mountain.  Inside the book, Enshou caught himself as he was sliding down the mountain.  He turned his head towards the binding and didn't see Sweetcheeks anymore.  He was concerned, but the feeling slowly faded as he remembered what his Captain told him.

"Whatever, I don't even want to think about him anymore."  Enshou began to walk into the drive-in theater he parked his limo in and saw nothing.  He put his head down and sighed.  "Stupid dream, stupid flashback.  I, the Dark Lord of the Universe reduced to tears and a humanizing backstory."  He stared at the blank movie screen as snow was beginning to lightly fall in the cold, November morning.  His gaze shifted to bunny hopping across the vacant parking lot.  "So carefree, reminds me of Kouan and our fight months ago."  Enshou reflected on his introduction chapter and how he too felt so carefree and comical.  As he was lost in thought, he heard the crunching of leaves behind him.  He turned around and saw Yuka walking up from the village's outer limits.  "Lady TBC..."  Enshou clutched his locket, but Yuka didn't pay him any mind.  Enshou began to stand up, but felt his feet get stuck to the ground.  He looked and saw green goop weighing him down.

"Don't even bother.  The tilt in the universe and that conversation I had with my fratello has left me in a sour mood, and I don't want you to further ruin it."  She released the Prince and kept walking.  On the other side of the parking lot, Yuka got into an old fashioned looking car and revved up the engine.

"Where are you going Lady TBC?  Won't you just please take me with you?"  Enshou pleaded.  Yuka shook her head,

"I need a place to think, and there's only one mammal pig I'm willing to vent my frustrations to."  she peeled out of the parking lot, a cloud of dust covering Enshou as she sped away.  Enshou sighed and brought out his phone to call a Wber driver to pick him up.  The scene shifted to the crispy, unpleasant sight of Lilymu Towers.  Ozu and his family sat on the curb outside of their building, all of them with their hands on their face.  Many of the paparazzi were shoo'd away by Umibozu, who finally recovered from being choked out.  Snake walked up to Ozu and took his fireman's helmet off.

"Well, it appears we got all the blaze settled, but the building's structure is completely unstable...from my professional opinion, this building has to be demolished."  Ozu head fell between his knees as he began to tear up.

"All of my hard work...gone down in flames because of a stupid Halloween party."  Ozu said with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

"Well, you should know by now Ozu that we shouldn't throw parties in there."  Guano said, Ozu didn't even have the energy to get mad at his son talking back at him.  Raj, Lily, and Mitsuki sat next to the Front Desk Lady on a bench just outside the apartments.

"Where are we going to live?  I-I'm sure Ozu will get us a new place to live!"  Mitsuki said.  Raj shook his head,

"MY WHOLE LIFE WAS IN THAT APARTMENT!  MY YOUTUBE SET UP, MY PEWDIEPIE DARTBOARD, MY LOVELY LADY PILLOWS!  DON'T YOU GET IT BLUE HAIRED ONE?"  Raj yelled, but quickly sobbed into his blonde weave.  Lily rolled her eyes as she turned to the Front Desk Lady.

"Well, I guess you're out of a job FDL!"  she said to the now unemployed desk lady.  Front Desk Lady sighed, but before she could speak, the ground next to her began to rumble and crack open as 3 figures emerged from it.

"What's this?"

  Suave's teeth shined as he twirled his sax in front of the Front Desk Lady.  She rolled her eyes and stormed away.  Jazzy shook his head as Billy put his arm around Suave's shoulder.

"You'll get her next time man."  Billy said solemnly.  Guano shot up and ran to the giant fish,

"Jazzy!  You're back!"  Guano hugged him as Jazzy returned the hug.  Umibozu and Ozu walked up to the God and greeted him.

"What brings you down here Jazzy?  Was Lilymu burning down such a troubling cause to...well have all 3 of you down here?"  Umibozu asked.  Jazzy shook his head.

"Something is happening outside the bounds of this book.  I'm sure you must have felt a slight shift in the pages."  Ozu nodded.  "Ozu-dono, do you know of a man who resembles a captain?  We are in dire need of his assistance."  Jazzy asked.  Ozu once again nodded,

"He drove us out to the bars and theater last night...though he went and disappeared up a mountain and we decided to steal his limo."  Kiyoko's face went dark, as Jazzy just nodded.  Billy laughed in the background, but stopped laughing after his cocked his head back and looked directly above him.

"Yo uh...is that that hot headed brat's ship?  Why the hell do I always end up here dude."  Billy shook his head, hoping Kamui wouldn't sniff him out.  He turned his head and saw Steve, Joe, and Josh standing across the street with their detective gear on.  "Oh great, and I'm stuck with these three morons again."  Jazzy slapped Billy in the back of the head the caused him to reach for Jazzy, but the fish caught his arm and twisted it causing Billy to shriek.

"It's inevitable that we end up back with those three Billy.  They'll help us fix this situation."  Billy rubbed his arm and stared at Jazzy.  "We'll head up to the mountain.  Billy, get those three and let's go."  Jazzy was interrupted by his younger brother Suave however,

"I'll stay back here Jazzster.  Some people are hurt from this and I gotta attend to those wounds ya dig?"  Jazzy nodded,

"Very noble of you Suave.  I expect you to meet us on the mountain when you've finished however."  Suave waved off to Jazzy as the fish walked over with Billy to confront Joe, Steve, and Josh.  As the 5 began to walk opposite of LilyMu, a car pulled up and a red haired man stepped out, throwing a wad of cash at the driver.

"And I EXPECT TO BE TREATED LIKE THE ROYALTY I AM NEXT TIME!"  Enshou slammed the door and turned to see his limo, in shambles and busted.  Jazzy turned to Enshou as he was treating to some of the residents of the door and played a long drawn out note.  Enshou's expression changed from anger to a look of sorrow.  He was reminded quickly of that dream, the dream of his past.

"And what's troubling you, Prince?"  Suave smoothly waltzed over to Enshou,

An entire backing band appeared behind Suave as he gingerly made his way to Enshou, who was starting to look uncomfortable.  Suave threw his head back and lifted his sax in the air, note visibly flying out of the end of the instrument,

The onlookers were stunned and applauded the God, as the notes landed on the injured, making their burns and cuts fade.  Enshou narrowed his eyes,

"Am I supposed to be impressed or what?"  Enshou asked.  Suave spun the sax around his body from the strap, it landed on his back as he extended his hand to grab Enshou's, "Hey what is-HEY!  LET GO OF ME!"  Suave pulled Enshou with him as the to twirled around in the empty street.  The sax swung back around to Suave's mouth, as he began to play it without his hands.  The buttons being pressed down with forces unseen.  Enshou still wasn't impressed.  "You actually expect to impress ME?"  Suave smiled as the two twirled each other, dancing to the hard bop Suave was producing from his instrument.  He removed his mouth from the reed,

"I'm not trying to impress you, I'm just showing you what you need to do Prince!"  Enshou got curious at what the God meant, but his thought was broken as Suave passed him to the Front Desk Lady who caught him by the waist,

"NOW HOLD ON A MIN- WOAH!"  FDL lifted Enshou up by his stomach and the two twirled, before Enshou was let down.  The two twisted and shuffled their feet,

The Front Desk Lady began to sing to Suave's saxophone as Enshou dipped her in his arms and pulling her close to his chest,

"How the hell are you making me dance?  I didn't AGREE TO A MUSICAL NUMBER!"  Enshou yelled as FDL spun Enshou in a fast spiral, making him completely disorientated.

"Now come on Prince!  You've gotta feel the rhythm in your soul!  YOU GOTTA LET THOSE EMOTIONS OUT, YEAH!"  Suave yelled as he snapped his fingers, and out of thin air a trombone fell from the sky and landed in Enshou's hands as his eyes finally corrected themselves.

"You better have quite the good excuse for this."  Enshou said.  Suave chuckled,

"You know, us Gods can peer into dreams Prince.  I just so happened to stumble across yours."  Suave pointed at the trombone and it stuck to Enshou's face.  He struggled, but soon found himself blowing into it.  He lifted the instrument from his mouth as the music all around him stopped.  Everyone involved there stopped and stared at Enshou as a circle formed around him.

"I told you, I'm not going to be apart of your stupid musical number..."  Enshou said.  Suave broke from the crowd and approached Enshou.  The God flung his sax to his back and tipped his shades down to meet Enshou eye to eye.

"Prince, you've got to believe me when I tell you this.  When the time comes, I assure you, that trombone will save hundreds of people from tragedy.  You hold it in your heart."  Suave pointed at the locket in his breast pocket.  Enshou turned his back to the God and put his head down.

"I hold it in my heart eh?"  Enshou put the trombone to his lips and began to belt out a wicked trombone solo.

Suave, his backup band, and FDL all began to join in with Enshou as the crowd erupted in cheers as everyone was healing from their injuries.  The instruments roaring out in celebration and jubilation as everyone was smiling and laughing.  Enshou removed the trombone from his mouth and cracked a small smile of his own, more of his mascara running down his face.

"All these simpletons, making me cry."  the screen was split between Enshou and Yuka who both said the same thing, but in different locations.  The scene shifted to Yuka sitting at a stool in a small restaurant.  The host turned around at this statement.  He handed her the pumpkin espresso with a small shot of whisky sitting at the bottom that she had ordered.

"I don't normally serve alcohol this early in the morning, but what the hell, business is slow today."  Pakuyasa turned to the framed photo of him and his comrades and wiped it down with a cloth.  Yuka stared at the glass, her liquid hand resting on her head.  She look up at the man, looking proudly at his photograph.

"I'm not comfortable around you filthy humans...but you're an exception.  Many of us are mistreated by humans, killed and thrown in the trash like all other Amanto.  But you, you showed our culture a deal of respect that day."  Pakuyasa turned around, and finally pieced it together,

"Ahh!  You're a Globberian!  Gosh, it's been nearly a year hasn't it?  March I believe!"  Pakuyasa chuckled.  "Your food was great maam!  I'd love to go back someday, but you know, I'm anchored here for now.  Gotta pay these debts off somehow!  All worth it though."  Pakuyasa gave Yuka a smile.  She looked down at her drink and took a small sip of it, just enough for the whiskey to touch her lips.  She sat it down and looked at the glass, whipped cream on her mouth.

"That damned Valentino...why's he always gotta screw things up.  I don't want to have to things to harm my people...but they're just making it difficult."  Yuka said.  Pakuyasa had his back turned, cleaning some of his dishes while Yuka continued to monologue to herself.  She took another drink,  "They say they're happy there...but I know what's best for my people.  I'll...I'll use force if I have to."  Yuka's gazed shifted to the window of the shop, snow flakes dancing as they made their way to the ground.

"Winter's finally comin huh?"  Pakuyasa remarked, also looking out the window.  Yuka took another drink,

"I cannot allow my people to live among you scum sucking humans.  You've already done so much to hurt my people, that I cannot bring myself to even allow such a thing."  Yuka narrowed her eyes at Pakuyasa who had his back turned to her again, scrubbing his dishes.

"I think you're missing something with your people maam."  Pakuyasa spoke up, but was met with a pound at his bar.  He continued scrubbing his dishes as Yuka calmed herself down,

"Don't speak ill of my connection to the rest of the Globberians.  I know what's best for them.  I don't need some meat sack telling me what I'm missing."  Pakuyasa shrugged at the comments, but continued to listen.

"Whatever it takes to get them home.  Thank you for the drink human."  Yuka tossed Pakuyasa some change and walked out the door.  Pakuyasa watched her walked out and smiled.  Yuka sat at a bench just outside the shop as the snow lightly fell.  She pulled out her phone and began to make a call,

"Ayo Skele?  I gotta take this!"  Valentino split off of Skele and squirmed outside the hut. 

Skele, Mutsu, Tatsuma, Oboro, and Poe were sitting in the hut together while Gintoki and the Kiheitai were making acquaintances with the villagers, Gintoki seeing some for the first time in years since the second war.  Valentino pulled out a goo phone and answered it.  "Ey Sorella!  So, yous finally comin 'round to acceptin-uh huh.  Well wait, hol on put the breaks on will ya!  What do you mean we's gonna- huh!  Come on sorella, you can't-" but as he was speaking, he looked up and saw Shinsuke tripping.  He couldn't move in time and was abruptly cut off the phone as Shinsuke landed on him.  Yuka looked at her phone from the bench and began to scream for Valentino to answer, fearing the worst.

"SHINNY BABY WHAT DID YOU DOOOOOOO!"  Katsura yanked his husband off the ground and saw Valentino holding his head.  Shinsuke's ass was covered in green electronic bits.

"Ah way ta go wise guy, you broke my phone!"  Valentino scrapped the phone bits off Shinsuke's ass, which caused him to blush.  Katsura took great exception to this and lifted the goop off the ground.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"  Katsura yelled,  "WHY I OUGHTA!"  Shinsuke held his husband back as the glob brushed himself off.

"You gotta problem with me touchin your husband's ass?  He ain't even my type anyways."  Shinsuke threw his husband aside and lifted the glob up himself.

"IT'S BECAUSE I'M SHORT ISN'T IT?"  Shinsuke began to feel subconscious and sat Valentino down.  Valentino shook his body and squirmed back into the hut and fused by with Skele.  Gintoki's eyes darkened after witnessing his friends acting foolish.  Elizabeth and Matako chuckled to themselves in the background.  Oboro and Poe walked out of the tent much to the chagrin of the three Joui's.

"So, you idiots sat on Valentino-dono?  I'm not surprised really.  Me and Poe have great respect for the Globberians unlike you two."  Oboro said, pointing at the husbands.  Shinsuke rolled his eye.

"Don't you have anything better to do Jizzhead?"  Gintoki asked him.  Oboro gave him a dead serious look,

"Yes I do..."  Oboro held up his phone and showed a picture of his badly burned Lennon-dono statue he had commissioned in Universe 7.  "You could have at least told me my entire apartment was destroyed Shiroyasha...how insensitive.  Poe lost his nest and everything.  How can you stand there and not feel remorse."  The three looked at Poe as he pulled a cigarette out from behind his wing and Oboro produced a lighter for him,

Shinsuke, Katsura, and Gintoki's eyes all darkened as Poe took a big buff and flicked the lit cigarette at Katsura, which caught his kimono on fire.  Katsura began to scream as Shinsuke chased him,

"QUICK HONEY, TAKE YOUR KIMONO OFF!"  Shinsuke tackled his husband to the ground and ripped his clothes off and and threw it in the leaves, but the leaves caught flame too and reached Shinsuke's kimono.  Shinsuke quickly de-robed and stomped on both of their clothes, finally stopping the blaze.  Shinsuke looked down at his husband, who was covered in leaves and patches of dirt with his bare abs exposed.  Gintoki, smartly, grabbed Shinsuke and pulled him away from Zura before the village was subject to something horrendous.

"You two are not having sex in front of all these people, not in this arc."  Gintoki said.  Tatsuma soon exited the hut and laughed his head off.

"Kintoki!  Don't worry, I'll take Oboro and his bird back home.  Just don't start anymore fights or what have you!  I've ordered Mutsu to stay with Skele, so it's just me and Oboro hangin out!"  Tatsuma said.  Oboro blushed but quickly hid his face.  The three walked towards Tatsuma's ship as Skele and Mutsu also exited the hut.

"Why are you two half naked?"  Skele asked.  Zura and Shinsuke just turned around and walked the opposite direction, causing Skele and Mutsu to giggle.  But, their giggle was interrupted by a flock of birds flying and causing a commotion from deep in the forest.  The silence after the birds was broken when Takechi's phone began to go off.  He lifted it up and saw it was a Wacetime from Bansai.

"Bansai-dono, where are you?"  Takechi asked.  The video popped up and showed Bansai in front of a giant poster of Eazy-E.  He stood there in a kind of profile shot for some odd reason,

"I'm afraid I'm getting married again Takechi.  My powerful aura cannot be contained.  Tell the rest of the band...this might be it."  Bansai threw his phone to the side, but never turning off the Facetime.  Takechi decided it was a good idea not to turn it off either.  Bansai quickly turned to face the Princess, who was beginning to walk down the aisle.

"Now, I done told you, you can't have yer phone out while yer gettin married."  Nobu said, narrowing his eyes at Bansai.

Nobume and Isaburo rolled their eyes at the old school Eastern rap blaring in the chapel.

"We decorated this to be West Coast themed, and they still have the nerve to play East Coast."  Isaburo said, looking at Sougo who was the lone black coat sitting opposite of them.  Nobume pointed her sword at Bansai's neck, continuing to threaten the terrorist.  Bansai was not phased, having to deal with this for two days straight.  Soyo gingerly made her way down the aisle, being walked down Maizo, still half dead from the paintball shot earlier.

"If you as so much get your cherry boy lips near the Princess, I'll decapitate you without hesitation."  Nobume said.  Bansai let out a sweat drop, praying something would stop this.  Just as Soyo stepped up to face Bansai, the chapel doors exploded as a cardboard limousine smashed through, running over several pews.  Kagura let out a yell and Hata cheered as he saw his brother step out of the back seat.

"Mid-western rap, I love it!"  Kyuubey said as she slammed the cardboard door.

"WAIT JUST A MINUTTTTEEEEEEEE!"  Barkas yelled.  The camera zoomed in,

 

"WHY AM I SO TINY??"  the author turned his head and did not look Barkas in the eyes.

"Don't worry Barkas, you merely got hit in the desert by a Woopa.  You shrunk like Super Bario!"  Shige said.  Hasegawa face palmed and Barkas's eyes darkened.  Kyuubey reached into her pocket and produced a red mushroom.

"AND YOU JUST CARRY MUSHROOMS AROUND?"  Barkas yelled.  Kyuubey nodded,

"You never know when you might just shrink."  Kyuubey shoved the mushroom down his throat and he grew back to his normal size.  Barkas just put his head down on the cardboard and fell as it collapsed under his weight.  Soyo threw her bouquet down in anger,

"Onii-san!  You crashed my wedding!"  she stormed over to Shige and started to punch him in the stomach.

"It was for your own good Soyo-chan!  We can't have you marrying a terrorist, plus you're much too young.  You need to mature, enjoy life!"  Shige patted her head and walked up to Bansai.  "Bansai-san, you have my deepest apologies.  Please, you are free to go."  everyone in the chapel gasped.

"BUT, HE'S MY HUSBAND TOO!"  Hata yelled.  Barkas ran up to his brother, but tripped and shrunk again.  Hasegawa walked up behind them and put his hands on Hata's shoulder,

"It's time you let him go Hata, we have more important business anyway.  I have to help you with your biology essay."  Hasegawa said, pulling out a cardboard laptop.  Hata clapped in excitement as Sougo sighed next to him.  Bansai walked up to Kyuubei who greeted her friend with a non-contact handshake.

"Kyuubei-chan, I think I need to go solo."  Kyuubei was shocked, as was Takechi who could hear that from his phone.  He, Matoko, and Elizabeth all looked shocked at his phone.

"Doesn't that bozo know his PHONE IS STILL ON?!" Elizabeth aggressively signed.  Matoko's eyes started to swell up, but before she could start crying, another swarm of birds flew from the forest.

"What is going on out there?"  Gintoki pondered.  The camera zoomed through the forest and trees, eventually landing on Stephen, who was breaking his leg back into place and screaming at the top of his lungs.  He managed to crawl to the nearest tree and rest upon it.  Snow was piling up next to him as he pulled out gloves and a scarf from his coat pockets.  He pulled out his pocket watch and checked on the time, but as he looked up from the watch his eyes met another pair,

"That damned kid really titled the comic book.  Well, I'm glad you at least kept those safe, Captain."  Hitsugi gestured his one arm to Stephen's coat pocket, which was still glowing green.  Stephen noticed that Hitsugi's left arm hadn't grown back.  "It is what it looks like Captain, my healing abilities are taking a toll.  I'm starting to run out..."  Hitsugi helped the Captain up and gave him a piggyback.

"Hitsugi, I don't know what Yuka has planned, but it isn't going to be good."  Stephen winced as his leg still pained him.  Hitsugi looked back at the Captain and stopped dead in his tracks,

"I can feel them Captain, those who own the comic book are near.  I can feel it in my blood."  Stephen's eyes widened as he knew that he was going to face Steve and Joe face to face for the first time, the last remnants of his previous life.  His face darkened,

"Take me to them Hitsugi...I have to face my past...so I can scrub the pain of the present."  Stephen's mind flashed to what Enshou told him earlier, feeling a small pang in his heart.

TBC

Edited October 29, 2019 by Moxley♥

[Cha]

 

“Hello I’m your host, Roberta with Sky 9 News filling in for Robert as always after he turned out to be some kind of weird giant worm creature!  Breaking news as Kawakami Bansai, lead singer and guitarist of worldwide famous, Exploding Feminism has just announced his departure from the group! Today we are doing a fully detailed documentary complete with several interviews from the band and their associates themselves in various locations from our camera men. Let’s rush into the explosion now with camera one!”

“I told Poochie I wasn’t gonna take any interviews until Bansai agrees to remarry me...” He whined.

“But didn’t you break off the marriage, Prince?” A camera man said off screen.  The prince stopped for a moment and started to sob again he gestered for his sercuity guards to usher them out of there.

The camera switched to another location. A woman was continously furiously playing two of the highest sounding keys with her two fingers.

“Of COURSE Senpai has to ruin every thing we’ve strived for over a year! Does ANYONE remember how he was like before the band? He wasn’t some egotistical pothead acting clown..” Her fingers begun to quake as she still held down onto the keys. She then slammed down her fists onto the entire thing, causing a loud and ugly sound. “I-I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING BUT THIS STUPID BAND! BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?! BANSAI LEAVING WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO US! THAT LOW DOWN PIECE OF S-“

The director gestured a finger to his neck for the boom mic operator to cut off his device to prevent censor issues. But the staff could hear a loud thumping coming from next door. The director ushered them to find out what was going on.

“The censors will be destroyed..” The director had them quickly all leave the room, skipping this said interview. They went into another room on the ship as the camera switched to the Edo Castle with the princess. 

“Well technically Bansai~~~ and I weren’t married yet but if Hata can get to be called his ex then I can threaten as many producers of your series to have that be my label as I want!” 

“Bansai-dono has always had an independent spirit ever since I met him all those years ago. A noble but at times obviously conceitable gentleman. At least with the band over with, it will allow me and Matako-chan to pursue a rela-“ Takechi dropped off his bed as he was met with swarms of bullet rounds coming from someone off screen at his bedroom door.

The camera switched to a police man inside his station.

“WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THIS TITLE?!” Yamazaki yelled out and then he started pushing the cameras away. “INTERVIEW IS OVER!!” 

It then panned to some random maid working at a local bar not that far away in the city.

“Me? Bansai’s Rival-in-Love?” Tama said confused on what it even meant. “I don’t remember talking to Bansai-sama except that one instance in 3-Z banter some time ago where he wore a mask that looked like my face. I must admit, I do go ‘beep boo boop sometimes!” She smiled and put a hand to her face to chuckle. 

The camera then turned back to the ship.

-I burned all that traitor’s stuff in our room. Or should I say my room.-

The scene cut to the recording studio booth Otae Records© , a label run by Yagyuu Kyuubei. 

“I will not speak for Bansai-dono’s inexcusable actions on half of my and my band right now. You will have to contact my lawyers.”

The screen zoomed out to reveal Jugem (the og!) on a typewriter with an oversized pair of secretary glasses on. Roberta then had the screen again back in the news studio. 

“And now a word from the man everyone is talking about, himself!” Roberta was now sitting in a chair, on the opposite end of Bansai. She straightened up her papers and sat cross legged. Now Bansai, what brought you to the decision to leave the band?”

“That would be Sexiest Bachelor 9 months in a row.. Anyway, I just thought it was the right time to go, you know. I had the feeling for several months that they were holding me back, ruining the flow of my melody. So I finally just went with it, man.”

“Amazing. How do you think your parents will react to this decision?” Roberta said with the upmost journalism intrigue.

“Oh I’m sure they’re proud of me.” Bansai replied.

“Haha, now with all the important topics out of the way. What are your plans to do next, Bansai?” Roberta asked, the singer smirked a little. 

As Bansai begun easing his way into the conversation topic, a remote was flung at the screen of a tv at home watching the event by an angry monkey. 

The rest of EF and their manager were sitting around the living room of Kyuubei’s home. Kyuubei’s dad had given them some healthy snacks.

“He made us look like fools.. After everything we went through. After all we accomplished together after starting from the very bottom..” Matako started to flashback, along with her fellow bandmates. 

Fuck you, Senpai..” Matako clenched her fists but soon enough dropped her face into her hands in sorrow. 

-THAT’S IT! I’M BURNING MY DRUM SET!- Elizabeth knocked over his carrots and ranch dressing and he shot up hysterical from the couch. But he was met by a hard slap across his costume cheek by their manager and fell to the floor.

“Dragonia if you go hysterical on me now I’ll have someone replace you in a heart beat.” Kyuubei pointed at him as he quickly nodded frighten. “I feared this. I knew it was coming, I have been observing Bansai-dono’s behavior for months.”

“What do you propose we do now, Kyuubei-dono?” Takechi said as he pet Jugem in his lap. 

“Throw Bansai to the side just as he did with us.” Kyuubei pointed to the door of the living room as it was swung open and a famous singer emerged out of it, a bright light protruding behind the person.“Coincidentally she’s also under our record label, although ever starting the band, Bansai didn’t seem to do much producing anymore with her before he gave up the rights to yours truly. His loss and our gain.”’ Kyuubei said and the other band members looked in pure awe.

 

“Hey guys! Wow, my first TBC appearance! sensei foreskin!” Otsuu beamed and then threw up a peace sign next to her eye.

——————-

Guano was sleeping on the floor of a temporary residence all cozy up when someone flipped all the lights on, scaring the midget silly.

“AFTER HALLOWEEN PARTY TIME!” Brozu exclaimed and suddenly a whole crowd of people appeared and danced in the old man’s apartment somewhere in Tokyo. Sleepily annoyed Guano got up, dragging his pillow across the floor as he did so. He went to go use the bathroom but saw Raj, Lily, Mitsuki and Front Desk Lady all jammed like sardines in there from when they threw them in there to save space. Raj scrambled up from his rubber ducky empty bathtub and shouted out,

“I DEMAND MY LAWY-“ Guano slammed the door and decided to head to the kitchen for a snack. There he ran in with a mutual enemy.

“Yeah we’re gonna have to find a better living condition than this, old man.” Guano looked around at the moldy and rusted environment of the room. 

“And where the hell is Oboro and that money making pet bird of his. I’M BLAMING BALDY FOR ANY MISFORTUNE I’LL EVER HAVE IN THE FUTURE! Yes I said future, so I can’t blame him for mistakes like you.” Ozu pointed to his diseased purple child. 

“Come on man, the author actually puts effort into caring about us in years and this is how you start our subplot?” Guano wrapped himself in his blanky and warmed his costume hands up. Kiyoko then came in and yawned while opening the fridge. 

“Can you believe we’re actually getting a solo subplot in insert current-year?” She asked and pulled out Yes Man whose mouth she used as a root beer bottle opener. That’s what you think SquarePants but it’s not over yet! The author changed it to more hip, young and totally not shoved aside for screen time in the past several arcs. 

“I’m gonna kill you author.” Kamui smiled at me. 

“HA! Were here boys and glitches. THE BEST TACO PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE, YAR HARR WEIXCO!!”

“Chief, why did we flee all the way from Asia to North America.” No Man said as the truck driver guy dumped a can of lard on his plate onto his empty tacos. It splattered all over his (sticky) face. He daringly took a bit of it on his finger and into his mouth. “Huh, not bad.” Kamui, Abuto and Monika were sitting at the tables, he momentarily joined them.

“Because No Dick, I wanted some down time away with me crew!” Kamui exclaimed and took a swish of some Wexican red slurp.

“And that old man’s attorneys and the authorities were coming at us for arson. Plus the arson from Wix Flags.” Abuto was met with a beefy burrito to slapped across his ossan face. “Something tells me you learned that meaty smack from a Samurai.” Kamui grabbed his ossan scruff of his cape at this and spoke out with a grin,

“One more word out of my first mate and he gets his sexy redesign look thrown out of the photoshopped photo!” 

“Oh come on Chief it can’t possibly-“ The ossan started.

“Yare yare... my poor 150,000 dollar plastic surgery.” Abuto shook his “natural state” head.

“HA!”

“You know I like this subplot!” Monika exclaimed. “The authors work so hard on chapters these days that it’s kind of nice for us to lighten up their load sometimes! I feel like I’m in 1.0 or something!” 

“You are so adorable.” Abuto beamed about his girlfriend but he waited for some commentary back. “Huh, must be the other author. Finally.” He put his arm around her knowing the author in question could do nothing but read this when Monday came for him. 4th and Ham-san came up to the table and were able to set down their trays.

“Hey did the cook give you guys burritos of literally just a block of greas-“ 

“YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US!” No Man yelled and Kamui gave him a loud high five. 4th gave the, a dirty look and continued with his husband to the tables with the lower subordinates. 

Unknownst to the pirate gang, a police car was coming up. But not to arrest them, it was to parade around some royals for a school field trip. It had taken three days by eliteo plane, eliteo boat and eliteo car to get to Mexico. Sadaharu and Hata’s dog Poochie rode on top of the car as the Isaburo and Sougo looked behind them at their “carry-ons”. 

“Little kids love me.” Hasegawa smiled. 

“Disgusting, west coast rap.” Sougo shook his coconut head.

“Consider it a payback for the wedding.” Isaburo said with his hands at the wheel. Not even some old jams playing could cheer up Izzy Cube from being forced to ride with a black coat.

 “I can’t believe I was forced to go on yet another roadtrip. First Joe-danna’s dream, then that stupid baby shower’s, the ride back to Edo for the wedding and now this.” Sougo said looking out the window, looking more bored than emo for once.

“Wait, what do you mean by Joe’s dream?” Hasegawa wondered but Sougo ignored him and continued.

“And now with a smelly white coat. Where’s that annoying blue haired freak of yours anyway?” Sougo stared outside the dry terrains of the countryside, interally counting all the cactuses as they went by. Isaburo rolled his eliteo eyes but before he could speak up, the backseat did again. 

“Nobume-chan texted me she would have loved to travel on this road to nowhereeee but she was super duper sick!” Soyo exclaimed of her sadist sister trio buddy. 

Meanwhile Nobume was in her bedroom she opened up the window and begun climbing out of it and down a rope. She evilly snickered as she ran away, her plan to escape to the main subplot to get some gooey and detective action was in motion. Isaburo felt his eliteo dad senses tingling of a disturbance but shrugged it off and continued to drive.

“Yeah real sick in the head! You three all have terrible taste in TBC men! Detective cherry boys and tree heads, uh-huh!” Kagura took a bite of a fried chicken wing as Soyo and Hata both narrowed their eyes at the second one mentioned. 

“As if that Billy guy is any better, Kagura-chan.” Soyo crossed her arms annoyed. Hata nodded and did the same.

“You two are ganging up on me when you’ve been totally third-wheeling me the entire last couple of arcs. You hate what I say because it’s the truth.“ Kagura took a bite of a chicken leg.

“That’s not true Kagura-chan, I love you! You’re both my best friends!” Soyo smiled and reassured her. 

“I meant the truth about that green haired doofus.” Kagura said. Soyo shook her head and took a wing out of the bin. Kagura handed her the ketchup.

 “Straight A+ on my history report on Wexico culture here I come! Right Hasegawa?” Hata stuck another rainbow sticker below his sunglasses. Hasegawa just chuckled a little in return. 

“WEXICAN FOOD!!” Kagura shouted out as she saw a taco truck parked in the middle of the desert. She unbuckled her seat belt, forced the door open of the speeding car and tumbled out of it.

“KAGURRAAA-CHAAAAN!” Soyo yelled out. She then tumbled out of the car as well. Hasegawa looked on frantically in the backseat.

“SOYO-CHAAAAN!” Hata followed Soyo and did the same thing out of the car.

“NOOOOO! WHAT DID THEY DO? AND WHY DID KAGURA-CHAN NEED TO GET TACOS? SHE ALREADY HAD WFC!” Hasegawa shouted out, assuming all three kids were dead.  

Isaburo and Sougo just shrugged and turned the car around. Them and the dogs got out/off of the car and walked to the food truck. Unknowst to themon the opposite side where Kamui and his gang were. Kagura, Soyo and Hata in that order were already lined up, with scratches and bruises on them. Madao shook his head and got in line. When he reached the front, some kind of weird black slimey thing from the tinted out window handed his order to him. It dinged the bell and went back inside. 

“D-Did you guys see a slimey tentacle or whatever thing deliver your food?” Hasegawa said as he sat down with the others at the picnic table while the dogs were on the floor with their meals. 

“I love pets with slimey arms, that’s why I picked Poochie! He was from some deserted planet and was the last of his kind. How sad.” Hata took a bite of his veggie burrito. In the background Poochie tried to swallow Sadaharu whole but the giant white dog swiped him with his paw.

“Uhh.. I think I know why he’s the last of his kind, Prince.” Hasegawa silently commented. 

“Great choice of a pitstop, Kagura!” Soyo smiled as she took a bite of her monsterous double wrapped chicken burrito. Kagura grinned back with a mouthful of rolled tacos. Sougo then reached for the jalapeño table fries and incidentally put his hand on top of Hata’s. 

“O-oh sorry.” Sougo retracted his hand. Hata just shrugged and took a bunch for his plate. Sougo sighed out. He rested his chin on his hand and looked down for a while and took a single fry out of the bowl. 

“Oi Coconut Head, what’s been eating you all this time on this trip?” Kagura asked the man.

“I just wanted to talk to him- oops.” Sougo accidentally said.

Kagura put two and two together and then bursted out hysterically,

“AAAAAAAAAHHHAAAHAHA! Do you want to shove your bazooka inside his princely bubblegum? BUBBLEGUM BAZOOKA BAZOOKA BUBBLEGUM!” 

Sougo threw his tamale at her face. Everyone stared at her as the soggy corn item slipped down her chin and landed in her lap. 

“WHYY I OUGHTTA!” Kagura rolled up her sleeve to reveal a Popeye like muscle with a bunny symbol on it from all the eggs on rice she had been eating the past years. She punched Sougo right in the stomach, sending him to slam into the truck. The impact of his body left a big dent in it, causing the Amanto inside to momentarily get angry. 

“Foodfight!” Soyo shouted out. She and Hata playfully threw fries at each other as the dogs were doing tug-a-war some abnormally large spicy chicken bone. Sougo and Kagura were fighting each other in a cartoonish smoke cloud. 

 Isaburo just sat there completely still with a bored expresson and just casually texting Nobume-san on what she was missing. Madao looked concerned next to his fellow ossan.

“Hey, they’re getting pretty violent in there. That black coat looks like he lost a few teeth!” Madao pointed to the cloud of smoke but Isaburo ignored him still. The cloud was moving closer towards then now, Hasegawa in a hurry tried getting up from the table but his legs were stuck in some weird lard puddle from beneath the table. The cloud hit the table globbling up everything but surprisingly not touching Isaburo. He looked unphased and was still texting. “AAAH HELP ME!” Madao cried out.

“What the hell is goin’ on the other side of this truck?” No Man wondered. 

“Sounds like a bunch of hearty FUN! people. We should join them!” Kamui exclaimed.

“Eh, we really should be heading back. As much as I like to madly chill with my girlfriend.” Abuto once again winked to the person reading this.

“HEADING BACK? HA! In your dreams Ossan. We’re staying here for as long as it takes for us to be banned from this country from something I personally caused!” Kamui jammed his fork into something that looked like a fried foot and ate it all in one bite.

“Fine you little redhead brat, come to me in two days when our bills for our little Rampaging Rabbits merchants business rockets sky high.” Abuto took another bite of his disgusting soggy fish head tacos. Kamui just simply grinned bigger and pulled out a boombox.

“Ossan, I think this song personally fits the vibe you’re crusty ass is giving me right now.” He hit play.

“Chief, the Big Man does have a point. We’ve been in major debt ever since we had to do the recent taxes of your slurps.” 

“And I think this one fits you better, Short Balls!” Kamui clicked on another button on the music device. 

“Come on, dog.” No Man shook his head in disapproval. Abuto and No Man then collapsed off theor chairs from chronic food poisoning. Still smiling Kamui turned to his glitch of many talents. 

“Oh those boys never learn, do they Chief?” She smiled back.

“HA, you make me laugh you bow wearing computer virus. Anyway, I’m just glad I finally killed that stupid eggyhead. Good riddance to a useless and weak character such as that!” He nodded to his own words. Meanwhile two dudes were having a major roadtrip of their own. The cyborg was driving the sleeping bald man.

“Sensei, what are we doing in the Americas?” Genos asked his master who snapped awake.

“We’re on the run from the authorites for arson and that old man. Even though it was totally Kamui’s fault for this whole damn mess he caused. Plus this place has a particular killer taco truck somewhere I’ve heard!” Saitama looked all over the dry land for it while Genos pulled out a piece of jewelry around neck.

“Heart shaped locket of Sensei, this is the best day of my life.” He said, Saitama looked a bit disturbed but was used to his antics by now. 

———————-
These three days later, Yuka was now on Skolex, it was a planet in same solar system as Globbus. She was waiting outside a pair of large doors to speak in front of a crowd of individuals. Her mind begun to drift during the long wait, she put her hand over her gooey heart, inside her jacket a pocket book near to her heart.

Little Yuka and Sophia were running down the dusty streets of the Globbus village, in and out of morphing with each other, giggling all the way. The villagers there either didn’t notice them or peered at them with confusion. The two girls were living in a time where the solids and liquids were mostly at odds at each other for a struggle of power. This village in particular was very segregated, but this didn’t matter to the orphaned girls. They passed by several solids, waving to them as they went through.

“Those children have no idea of what their elders are going through..” An older woman skeleton shook her head as she sweeped her hut. 

The two finally reached the outskirts of the village and kept running as they reached their favorite spot in the whole wide world, a long stretched path of yellow flowers.

They finally fell down and panted. They unmerged with each other and laid at each other’s side. Sophia pulled out a pocket book she used to write in for basically everything, especially poetry. She held up a yellow flower for Yuka to see. 

“See Yuka? These are wildflowers but most people call them weeds. But to me they’re much more than that, they’re absolutely beautiful and bright.” Sophia twirled the one between her boney fingers. “They’re like a lot of people here, looked down upon and unnoticed, even called ugly. And whenever someone tries to pull them out to get rid of them, they just grow stronger twisted back in places where people don’t want them to go. You and me, no matter how much they try to uproot us, we stay together.” Sophia then pit the flower on top of Yuka’s goo and giggled.

“Glob glob!” Yuka exclaimed cheerfully. 

Yuka in present day made a little warm smile recalling one of the most precious moments of her long life, her hand was still clutched on the pocket book. Her smile faded though, remembering the short time later that haunting evening when the fatal accident occured.

“What’s wrong sorellas?!”

“FRATELLO, SOPHIA CAN’T BREATH INSIDE OF ME!!”

Current Yuka’s chest begun to clench at this echo of words but shook her head. She has heard her name being called out to come inside the doors. She walked inside the enormous chambers, a society of hooded Amanto surrounding her. 

“Majesty Yuka, why do you insult us, the Society of the Skolex, likened brethren to your species like this with your deformed shapeshifting abilities?” One of the hooded Skolex started out very bluntly. Under any other circumstances she would have come unleashed but this was a desperate time and measures.

“It is due to something that happened a long time ago. It hinders my abilities to shapeshift or turn back into goo for that long without crushing what’s left of the solid left inside of me.” She explained to the man. 

“Proceed with your statements.” A woman said.

“A simple but similar thing regarding the situations of both our planets keeps on happening. Your people have always suffered from a famine.” Yuka paced around with her hands behind her back, trying to intrigue them enough to her selling point. “My people have always suffered from poverty which turns into famine in time as well. A whole planet of life sustaining humans and their riches, it would benefit both the Skolex and the Globberians don’t you think?” 

“You know your Majesty that we have attempted an infiltration of Earth before and backfired on us tremendously.” Another said to her.

“Yes I know. But right now Earth is at a critical low defense. This would be an excellent time for you to send in operatives again.” Yuka told the council. 

“What would you want in return, Globberian? It has been many years since we’ve last seen you here on Skolex.” The man in the middle said.

“Safety for my people residing on Earth as your own people invade.” Yuka requested. 

“What makes you think they wouldn’t be apart of our purge, Globberian?” Another one told her. Yuka didn’t back down even for a moment, she quickly replied.

“Because I’ve heard on the street that the Skolex to say very plainly, are in currently in league with particular group of clients who are to be thanked for Edo’s poor current state. And if said clients get said Altana, I’m sure they will grant us great profit to both our species. And with my foresight, I am the only one able to know where the crystals exactly are.”

There was a brief talk amongst them all until one of them spoke up again.

“Return to Earth, we’ll let to know when we make our first move. There will be an agent down there to meet you.” They said.

As Yuka ascended down the steps, she kept hearing Sophia’s words at the back of her head. At the bottom stair, she made sure no one was looking before she pulled out a journal staring at the wilted yellow flower from within. The book was open to a page Sophia wrote about love, the things she understood about it, the things she didn’t and what she hoped in the future for her people to be able to grasp it. Yuka took a deep sigh before she put the book back in her jacket pocket and called for a taxi. Her mind started to flashback again, this time about seventy years ago. 

————-

She was on the same staircase this time with Valentino. Instead of the planet’s council, this building during that time had been some kind of journalist newspaper company. Another woman was hastily rushing down it towards them. She purposefully almost knocked Yuka down. Yuka pushed her off as the woman and Valentino laughed.

“Damn journalists, what do they know, huh baby girl? I fail at one big scoop and now those morons got on my case. Extra, read all about it, this woman here is PISSED!” She pointed to herself overdramatically.

“I told you not to call me baby girl.” Yuka simply straighten her tie, the same stone face she usually had.

“Which eye told you to tell me not to say that? Cuz I’m looking at both of them and they say, newsflash!” The woman exclaimed and put her hand on the gooey side of Yuka’s face with a cheeky grin.  “Hey, I never said your face was a bad thing. I like it, gives off a Bride of Frankenstein’s Monster look.” She joked and Yuka slapped the woman’s hand off her face as Valentino chuckled. 

“I don’t see what’s funny about you insulting my face.” Yuka gave her a sour look and narrowed her eyes further. “But then again you always find ways to insult me one way or the other.”

“Aww come on, you know she’s just pullin’ ya gooey leg, sorella.” Valentino chimed in.

“Yeah I’m really sorry, I was kidding you know Yukes. I’ve always thought it was kind of cute. Man, I can definitely tell you need a break from Globbus. Your sense of humor is almost as worst as your godbrother’s.” She joked. 

“Ayy, what’s that suppose to mean, youse Lauren Bacall wannabe?” Valentino crossed his arms. Yuka actually managed to chuckle a little. She then stared at the building before looking back at her friend. 

“Forget those paper jockeys for now, how about we get a drink back on Globbus?” Yuka suggested and the woman nodded. 

“Ayy! Great! Drinks are on me!” Valentino clapped his hands together. 

“Yeah, because you won’t have to worry about paying for yours because you can barely drink.” Yuka lit up a cigar and then put her hands in her suit pockets. Valentino narrowed his eyes.

“Actually I was thinking of somewhere local. I decided to apply for a new job just in case this one went sour. I mean, it’s not something I’d normally pick but hey, it pays!” Their friend shrugged. 

“Aight, aight. But YOUS payin’ Roberta.” Valentino said and then raised his arm up to call cab. 

Roberta had directed the driver to some kind of fancy restaurant and bar, it was reaching the twilight hour of Skolex. They departed from Roberta momentarily as she was preparing for her job there as a singer. Meanwhile Yuka and Valentino looked around at the bustling joint and took some seats up at the bar near the stage. 

“Yous ever heard Roberta sing, sorella?” Valentino said and downed some Italian sparkling cider. Yuka scoffed. 

“You’re not gonna even put on an act for everyone here by ordering some alcohol?” Yuka said to her godsibling. 

“Ay, as far as those pasainos know this is the most luxurious sparklin’ champagne their lil’  wild eyes laid upon.” Valentino scoffed and flicked the glass and as it made a dinging noise. “Ain’t that right Rickbones? This guy, 120 years old and somehow still kickin’. Thanks for the body again, old man!” Valentino proceeded to get slapped in the face by himself.

“But anyway, no I didn’t even know she could sing. Then again, we’ve only known her for not even a year yet.” Yuka took another sip of her brandy. Valentino smirked and teasingly pulled her cheek.

The curtain opened and Roberta appeared in in a more sultry attire that caught the eyes of Yuka through the view of her glass cup she was drinking. She put it down for a moment and slightly tilted her head.

“A-author, can we get this in color instead of black and white?” Yuka asked.

“And you didn’t want her to call you baby girl. You’re practically drooling over her mammal shapeshift!” Valentino was then painfully slugged in the arm by his godsister’s gooey fist. 

Yuka rested her head in her hand as she kept watching Roberta, a smile on the majesty’s face all the while. Valentino eventually was just looking at his wrist’s clock. Roberta finally finished her songs, everyone around her standing up and clapping. Yuka still sat there in the same position and Valentino hastily got up.

“Oop, suspenders with a five o’clock just arrived. As my fellow romance languages say, asta la vista baby!” He sped off in a dash to the front door as Roberta walked over to the bar and wiped herself off with a towel. 

“Great performance out there.” Yuka stood up and shook her hand very professionally and platonically. 

“I’ll say, it even got you to smile for once!” Roberta exclaimed. Some men around the bar were smirking at Roberta and offered her some drinks as they circled around the two. 

“Maybe we should move this back to my place.” Yuka suggested and Robera nodded. 

They headed back to the castle on Globbus as Yuka poured her and Roberta some brandy in a square glass cups. Yuka leaned in her recliner, swirling around her drink in her hand. A rare moment of peace she had, let alone with anyone else around her.

“Nice study you have in this office.” Roberta looked around at vintage wooden room, several library cases of dusty old century books that ranged of topics from philosophy to astronomy to automotive engineering. The ticking sound of the clock on top of the faded with time golden trimmed mantle stuck out, as did the crackling flames of the fireplace itself. “I assume you don’t take most people here, your Majesty. It’s awfully lovely.” 

“Thank you. And yes, you’re one of the few.” Yuka took a sip of her brandy and then placed the hand with the cup down on the tiny tables next to each of their chairs. “So do you think you’re gonna go professional as a singer?” Yuka joked, Roberta just smiled.

Suddenly a man walked in the office room.

“The dude had a dame.”  Valentino said with a depressed look and slammed the door behind them, causing Yuka to tense up and accidentally spill some of the drink in her hand. He took Yuka’s drink from out of her hand and took a couple of swigs of it before hacking out. “Way too strong, sorella.” Her eyes narrowed.

“Better luck next time eh moose hair?” Roberta chuckled.

“Hopefully, if my foresight doesn’t betray me this time.” He slumped in a couch chair and flicked on the TV to boxing. 

“Yeah, you know Valentino my foresight says get out of this room before I shapeshift into a grizzly bear to claw your eyes out.” Yuka stated.

“But you act grizzly all the time, sorella!” Yuka proceeded to chuck a pillow at his face. “Aah, I get the message. Family violence, mio dio.” He turned off the tv, walked to the door and closed it behind him. 

“Who’s this?” Roberta picked up a framed photo of a skeleton on the table with a wildflower on her head.

“My solid, Sophia. It’s nothing. Well no, that’s a lie. She’s everything, to uh, me.” Yuka fiddled her left hand with the arm of the chair.

“Seemed like a nice kid.” Roberta smiled and put it down. 

“I’m surprised you didn’t insult her.” Yuka raised her regular eyebrow.

“I don’t make habits of insulting someone that important to my friends, baby girl.” Roberta said looking at Yuka surprisingly serious. Yuka just turned her head and coughed. 

When it was getting pretty late, Yuka walked her out of the castle and called one of the globs to shapeshift into a cab for her to the airport. But before that, Yuka noticed it was starting to snow a bit.

“Oh uhh, it is getting pretty cold. Here.” Yuka took off her suit’s jacket and put it over Roberta’s bare arms. “You can totally, like borrow it, if you like.” 

“Aww man, only borrow it? You that pressed over your whole look?” Roberta asked and Yuka rolled her eyes. Roberta waved her off as she walked down the steps and to the car. Valentino had snuck up behind his sorella and nudged her arm. 

“Her eyes were up there.” He was eating some gross microwaved italian pocket.

“Ayy ragazzo caldo-less clowns don’t get to add their two cents, capeesh?” Yuka mocked him and annoyingly walked away back inside, having the glob guards slam the doors behind her. Valentino just made a hearty laugh.

Fastforward to some weeks later, it had been a while since Yuka had the free time to catch up with Roberta but her thoughts raced of her. Roberta had contacted Yuka in hopes to meet together again, Yuka agreed and they met back up at the castle.

“Nice record. Do you like big band too, Yukes? The perfect thing to play during gigs.” Roberta was wearing a sweater vest with an ascot and pencil skirt with stockings underneath. Yuka caught herself staring at her knees but shook out of it before the woman caught her.

“Big band, jazz and a little bit of swing. As long as I don’t have to hear mammals sing to it.” Yuka said seriously, Roberta just laughed. 

“So I came here to tell you that I was reinstated for my newspaper!” She said, the majesty made a smile and congratulated her. “But what I’m really here for is that I’ve been hearing some word going around about a subject I think you would be very interested in.” Yuka nodded.

“Go on.” She said.

“Some locals in the Bungan system claimed to have seen some ships with this logo on it.” Roberta took out a pen and scribbled a symbol on her hand. It was the same skull symbol pin on the majesty’s jacket.

“N-no way..” Yuka was completely taken back. She would need to sit down if she wasn’t already.

“And I thought, who better to share this than my favorite baby girl.” Roberta smiled but Yuka shook her head and stood up. She looked out the window.

“I can’t, Roberta. I very much appreciate however you got this tidbit of information. But I can’t the solids have made up their mind.” Yuka felt on the rectangular journal stowed away inside her jacket. 

“People can always change their minds. That was like, what? Nearly a hundred years ago? Yuka.” Roberta stood up behind her. “Pardon another journalist pun but news flash, there’s whole new generations of solids out there. Don’t you think they deserve a real home if they’ve been in ships this long?” 

Yuka thought long and hard about these words. 

“Their families probably made up their minds for them already. No, I can’t rip them away.” Yuka then pouted a little bit. “After me selfishly removing the memories of the solids from the liquids. How could I face them? How could I face..Sophia? How could I-“

Before Yuka could finish her rambling, Roberta turned her around to her, pulled her in and planted a kiss on her lips that lasted several seconds. Yuka was stunned and stood there with her hands up. Roberta mouth finally departed from her own.

“..Like I said Yukes, you really need to work on that sense of humor.” Roberta laid her head on her shoulder and her arms around her waist. Yuka finally snapped out of it and put her arms around her.

The two spent the next couple of months preparing for a trip deep outside of their home of shapeshifters solar system and into the humaniod Bungan’s. Yuka would be using one of her explorer ships for the mission. Valentino stood outside the ship, his hands on his sister’s shoulders.

“Are you ready for your trip, Sorella? Hey be careful out dere. This ain’t no dilly dally day trip you know.” He said protective of her.

“We’ll be fine, fratello. I don’t need to worry much since dame is gonna drive me crazy enough. Just take care of Rickbones, alright?” She smiled and playfully punched him in the shoulder. He smiled back and nodded. He watched her as she was led up the ship by several liquid guards, he sighed out.

“I really hope so..” Valentino quietly said to himself as him and Rickbones waved goodbye.

The women traveled for weeks to reach the Bungan galaxy of hopes of anything on their sensors worth looking for. That’s when it hit them one day out there. Yuka’s pupils shrunk as she saw multiple ships with the same logo as on her jacket pin.

“T-the solids..” She stuttered. 

“Go ahead. Let’s send them a hailing message.” Roberta smiled. Yuka was such in a lost of words and pure happy emotions for the first time in ages, she hadn’t felt some other half to complete her since.. Sophia. Yuka couldn’t help it, she put her hands on Roberta’s face and leaned her in for a kiss, all done by Yuka herself this time. Yuka’s lips departed from Roberta’s and she looked at the journalist with tears ruining down both sides of her face. 

“I-I can’t thank anyone as much as I can thank you..” Yuka hugged her.

“And I can’t thank you enough, baby girl.” Roberta smiled.

Then Yuka felt a metallic object pressed up against her back and heard a clicking noise.

“W-what..” She slowly said as the music on their vinyl record on the bridge room changed to from swinging jazz to one of Roberta’s favorites.

They broke free of the hug, Roberta held the gun of her shapeshifted hand at Yuka as she had her hands in the air.

“You used me..?” Yuka slowly said. Roberta made a little smile.

“Sorry Yukes. It may come as a surprise for an outsider species. You may not understand it either. I work for a special council of sorts for the Skolex, we do a lot of undercover work to obtain one goal, survival. We have to consume a lot of energy and these solids of yours provide with a rich amount of unusual neural energy from being a symbiotic species and being able to handle two brains inside themselves at once.” Yuka’s face darkened but she spoke up.

“That’s where you were wrong, Roberta. I do understand it. Hell, I don’t even completely condemn the act of pillaging humanoids to protect your own people’s future. But my people suffer from something similar too, poverty, loss, loss of their wills, lost of purpose. I do whatever it takes to make sure they’d survive. But if you go ahead and even touch a ribcage of my solids there, I will make sure you regret it all the way to Hell.” Yuka morphed her own arm into a gun.

“Go ahead, shoot me Yuka. I got what I needed. I can just simply send a homing beacon to the other Skolex’s ships here. You are out of options and you are out of tricks up your sleeve.” Roberta said.

“You made one miscalculation though, Roberta.” She quickly hit the skull pin her jacket. “Big fratellos always like to stick their noses in their little sorella’s personal lives.” Roberta turned back into her normal giant worm state and lashed out at her, but it missed as Yuka’s body was becoming thin air. As Valentino was beaming Yuka’s molecules aboard one of the other Globbus ships, Roberta turned back into a humanoid and spoke again.

“For whatever its worth Yuka, I did really like you, probably even loved you. I meant it those nights together too. I know you don’t believe me though. I truly hope if situations were different, we could have stayed together.”

When Yuka arrived on hers, the two ships begun firing on each other rapidly back and forth. The siblings smaller ship was getting a hard beating on bigger one. Sparks flied from their monitors, nearly knocking them both out. That’s when Valentino was suddenly demorphed with his solid. Him and Yuka looked confused.

“Rickbones..?” Valentino said slowly and slithered to the skeleton.

“This old ass former mobster ain’t goin’ out like a coward. I’ll see chu kids on the other side. Hopefully us solids and you liquids will be able to morph again somedays.” Rickbones strapped himself some explosive device from the weapons room and took Yuka’s pen. He was beamed over to Roberta’s ship.

“Rickbones PLEASE DON’T!” Valentino pleaded with the old skeleton. Yuka looked horrified, the last of her solid people gone now.

Instantly Roberta’s vessel exploded, sending back the siblings ship back a few thousand miles. They regained their composure moments later and zoomed out of the system. The two kept a look at each other for what seemed to be like an eternity of of seconds, in a long silence, only the hum of the ship breaking it. Valentino had an eerie feeling all those months ago and he just couldn’t have shaken it off. Blame his overprotectiveness of his little sister all these years he thought to himself or maybe not, in this case. He had a feeling she had the same feeling about Roberta’s trip beinf too good to be true, like Yuka purposefully let Valentino follow them out there. Or maybe some kind of unconscious sibling connection. From a back mirror, Yuka watched the very distant ships of their long lost people and after shock explosion of her former girlfriend’s ship.

Several decades later and years after the fall of the Edo’s borders to Amanto, a woman was applying for a journalist job. The sign said Sky News 9 and was looking for a male news anchor particularly.

“Oh well, when in Rome.” Roberta shapeshifted herself and walked into the interview. She shook hands with the judges there. “Hello, the names Robert. Some call me Bobby.”

 

Present day Yuka had reached her destination from the cab, it was some old restaurant and bar she had visited a lifetime ago.

It was a pretty worn down place not exactly the hustling bustling place she once knew but it was friendly. She walked in and sat down there with a drink. Sophia’s journal entry was racing through her head as she looked down in the endless abyss caramel hue of her drink. 

Love? What is love to me? I think maybe it’s me being able to skip through in the villages every day with my best friend always in sight. Or maybe it’s like the feeling I get from hearing the happy loud laugh of my and Yuka’s fratello. Or possibly when I share with them something personal I wrote with them. Although I do not know yet of the other kind of love adult solids and liquids talk about, maybe one day I will understand what the big fuss is all about. I wonder if romantic love is as beautiful and soft as a melody. 

Some new lady was singing there at the club as there had been different countless people on that stage before. Yuka looked disinterested and paid the tab of her unfinished drink, leaving not even halfway in the performance.
————————
The detectives and gods were walking in the woods of Edo. In hopes to find the Captain. It had been three days with no luck surprisingly. They’ve covered hundreds of miles of terrain. 

“You would think the most powerful beings in the universe together would be able to locate one man easily!” Josh looked at a tree that had a carved picture of Ginpachi with the words RIP on it, possibly done by someone there previously in another arc. He shook his head and continued walking. Steve spoke out with more irritation than usual. 

“Well maybe we would have located Stephen sooner if SOME PEOPLE DIDN’T HOLD US UP!” 

“Dude, I never realized how wickedly chill you were. If we worked together we totally would have been able to overthrow Utsuro.” Joe laughed with the arm around the immortal.

“Totally dude. Like, imagine it. Evil Joe and my bad boy self. We would have skyrocketed the polls from these other losers.” Billy was jamming his head to the beat coming from no where. “Shove those Good Boy cookies up your ass old man!”

Jazzy and Steve’s faces darkened even further from their younger brothers. Josh just strolled around with the same friendly smile, intaking the views of the cartoon world around him. Even though he has gone to other planets in the book before, couldn’t believe the range of distance of terrain. He inhaled the fresh crisp air of the nature and extended his palm to see it was starting to lightly snow again. 

“Ridiculous.” Steve was referring to the drunkards behind them. He then drew up coats from his notebook. He handed one to Jazzy and helped his little cousin put on the other.

“Maybe we should just abandon them, Steve-dono...” Jazzy said in a monotone.

“Oh come on, we’re no better in our sober state helping you two then we are right now.” Joe sai as he took his mechanic arm off of Billy. “We’ve been walking for days. Our clues aren’t leading us anywhere, this Stephen guy is practically cloaked or something.” Billy was still jamming out even though the song ended but he spoke up, 

“Hey fishhead, couldn’t you just peer up from heaven to find the old geezer down here? You put us through enough torture.” But Jazzy shook his head.

“Suave has the keys to the pearly gates right now, so there’s nothing I can then except on foot.” Jazzy replied and Billy just scoffed. 

“How about we skadoo out of the book and see what’s going on with all this book shifting?” Joe suggested to his sibling and he nodded in agreement. Jazzy and Billy looked at each other. The fish sweatdropped as Billy rolled his eyes.

“Unfortunately.. your book is in the control of someone else right now.. you see-“ Jazzy was interrupted by Billy.

“You bozos forgot to take the book to a secure place and now it’s halfway across the globe with that stupid kid with the stupid voice.” Billy crossed his arms as he kicked a rock on the forest trail. Steve and Josh looked shocked thet they forgot such a careless thing.

“Us bozos?” Joe scoffed. “You were there too, man. We’re all in this boat together now.” 

“Can’t we skadoo out and talk to Dylan?” Steve asked the fish. 

“I’d advise against it, Steve-dono. Way too dangerous after the shift.” Jazzy suggested.

Josh was still memorized by the landscape turning into an early winter. He still had his hand out to catch snowflakes and looked at their designs, each and every one of them unique, just like the real world. His face lit up with wonder.

“Josh, you’ll catch a cold.” Steve drew him a scarf and put it around his neck. Josh turned to him and smiled, Steve smiled back and chuckled. “Sorry, I guess I am getting a bit too tense right now.” 

“Think nothing of it, cousin. You know Steve, everyone, maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way.” Josh had everyone’s attention on him now. “If we just had a different view then maybe this would go quicker.” A few moments later they heard the sound of a truck coming up behind them at a reasonable speed. They turned around and cleared the path. The truck stopped near them and the driver glanced at them through their tinted window, upon seeing one of them it changed its physical figure. A man energetically jumped out of car and showed them his badge.

“Bobby of Sky News 9, at your service!” He beamed. 

“Did somebody need a ride somewhere?!” He exclaimed. Steve and the others looked surprised except Billy who crossed his arms.

“Could you take us around the woods, mister? We’re trying to find a friend of ours.” Josh innocently said. Bobby’s face lit up at this.

“You three must be those super famous detectives Edo and the rest of the galaxy has heard about!” He exclaimed.

“Yeah and us two are gods, what’s the big deal, lady.” Billy said but Bobby did not make eye contact with him. 

“Sure I can take you there! My news team was traveling to get the scoop out here.” Bobby ushered the gang to come inside his truck. They entered it willingly except Billy who just stood there. 

“Come on Billy! We got a free ride.” Josh said. Billy rolled his eyes and sighed out annoyed before finally giving up and going inside. They sat down and buckled up across from two camera men who waved to them. Bobby got in the front seat when Billy slided into the passenger one. Puzzled Josh looked at Joe for an answer but he just shrugged.

“Hey toots.” Billy smiled syly at the man. Bobby just scowled and looked the other way. He stepped on the pedal and away they went.

“Supposedly the tremors experienced earlier in the city originated from somewhere far east of the woods.” Bobby smiled and looked at the rear mirror at the detectives and fish behind him. “Now then, what should I call this little venture once we get up there with the cameras? News flash! Bobby gets to the source of the earthquakes with world famous detectives and living gods!” He joked. Steve and Josh smiled. 

Meanwhile Billy was trying to get Jazzy’s attention in the reflection. Billy mouthed the words “popularity poll’  and subtly shrugged his shoulder at Bobby. Jazzy just shrugged. Billy made a quiet irritated noise and then mouthed another word.

“R-Roberta?!” Jazzy said out loud. At this the car was met with a screeching hault midway on a hill. Bobby turned to Billy and transformed back into his preferred humanoid state. The detectives look on in pure shock. 

“Of course you just had to guess right away who I was, Bills.” Irritated Roberta crossed her arms. 

“It’s not really hard to guess when you literally have that picture up there in the corner of your window, girly.” Billy pointed to the photo in question. “Talk about clinging to a lost hope. How many decades has it been? Man, you two are always getting in some fuckin’ annoying quarrel in every ‘verse it feels like.” At these words Roberta floored the car faster up the hill and was twisting around corners at rapid speeds. 

“Who is this lady?!” Steve called out as he clung onto the walls behind him. 

“Forget that, we have to get out of here. This woman is much more dangerous than she appears!” Jazzy clapped his hands and they teleported out of the van before it could toss them overboard. They landed in some different part of the woods. Roberta haulted the car again, looked straight ahead  and pointed to the camera men behind her. They tumbled out of the car and morphed back into their natural state of giant black worms and begun their search for Steve and the rest. Roberta rubbed her eyes underneath her tinted glasses and put an arm out the window. She then caught a glimpse of the picture Billy had mentioned earlier and exhaled. 

———-————-

“Dylan had been on his own for the last three days as the funny ugly men had stopped talking to him through the binder.” But he could see Hitsugi and Stephen resting down for the afternoon by some snowy tree, their injuries were taking more of a toll on them than they thought.

 Dylan rubbed his face. He hadn’t ate or drank anything in that time. And he wouldn’t dare touch his new coconut buddies whose faces the result of Dylan’s hallucinations. He picked up three tiny white sea shells he had found earlier on the island and placed them in front of Steve, Josh and Billy.

“Sorry Josh old friend, but you don’t get marshmallow. The total drama tribe had spoken.” He said getting two shows mixed up.

 Dylan looked around before moving the shell from Billy to Josh.

“But due to the shows producer, Dylan had chosen the real finalist. And it wasn’t because he didn’t like said pathetic plaid wearing man. Sorry but the total drama tribe has spoken. Pack your things, you are going home.”

Dylan laid his back down on the warm sand and then sighed. “Dylan wish he could go home..” 

He kicked the heel of his foot in the sand and felt something sharp.

“Number five, sharp pain.”

Dylan sat up and picked the item out of the ground. He dusted it off and examined the glowing purple crystal, he looked at it with awe. Then suddenly the water surrounding the island faded from a bright blue to a dark purple hue. Unknown to Dylan, the entire island was the source of the purple crystals. There were many more deep within the hidden island, some extending extreme heights. The only people washing ashore there previously had been an expecting couple from a shipwreck. Dylan looked now as the island was completely engulfed in the dazzling color. He looked back at his coconut friends.

“Number... one. Weird purple tropics.” 

TBC
 

[Aya♥]

"Hmm?  Man my phone is absolutely blowing up!  But I can't check it right now, they're about to hit the big finale!"  Lt. Simon was sitting in a balcony sit at a large theatre.  The vibrations from his phone were from a number of different people: Mutsu, Guano, and from some unknown number.

"Why isn't that bastard answering my texts?  I swear I'll ring both of their necks out when I get the chance."  Mutsu was standing in Skele's living room.  They, along with the rest of the Joui's/Terrorists had left the Skeleton Village the night previous, sure that Yuka wasn't coming back anytime soon.  At least, to their knowledge.

"I'm sure Tatsuma is just uhhh busy?"  Skele said.  Valentino shrugged from within Skele as he was pondering about his Godsister.  Mutsu glared at her phone before giving a sigh and sitting on the couch next to Skele.  Guano, on the other hand, was standing on the street outside of their temporary house.  It was chilly, and snow blanketed the winter ground.  He was staring at his phone, waiting for his older co-star to respond,

"How hard is it to get in touch with those two idiots?  I swear, these lead roles go right to their heads."  Guano was furiously texting Oboro and Poe as well, but neither of them were responding.  Guano spotted Mitsuki who was walking with two men in black coats.  "Gonard!  It's been so long buddy!"  Guano and Gonard gave each other a hug and Yamazaki gave the director a handshake.

"I figured if we were going to get some help with the housing situation, that we call in some other close friends!"  Mitsuki explained.

"Yeah, the blue haired lady explained the whole situation to us!  You know, we're just so busy with Bansai and everything that we couldn't be apart of your sub-plot!"  Gonard said.  Guano and Yamazaki's face got dark.

"Yeah...I'm just glad to get out of his hair.  I hope he just, you know, leaves me alone while he's starting his solo career."  Yamazaki said.

"Well, I'm glad you're coming around to help some old friends Gonard."  Guano said.  Gonard shook his head,

"Anytime Guano!  The Shinsengumi is always there to protect!"  Gonard saluted.  Guano scratched his chin,

"So, what exactly are you two going to do for us?"  Guano asked.  Yamazaki smirked,

"Well, we know where those Yato and other Arsonists are.  Captain Sougo tipped us off in Wexico."  Yamazaki explained.

"Wexico?!  I mean, it's just arson...I guess I understand you'd want to hide from Ozu's wrath."  Mitsuki said.

"We're sending our whole police force down there to get them!  So, no issues whatsoever will arise from that!"  Gonard said, smiling.  The others sighed as the scene shifted back to Mikey, who was chowing down on some popcorn next to his fellow crewmates.

"OO!  This is it boys!  The final number!"  Mikey threw his snacks up as the ensemble began to start up the piece.

The whole audience erupted in applause and cheers as the actors gave a curtain call and bowed out.  Mikey got out of his seat and met up with them backstage with his VIP pass he has for all musicals.

"So, what'd you think Lieutenant?  Am I a magnificent singer or what?  AHAHAHAHA!"  Sakamoto laughed.  Mikey laughed with him, but questioned,

"How did you 5 become stage actors for a major musical like the Book of Worman in the span of three days?"  Oboro chuckled and put his hand on the shoulder of his predecessor.

"I have connections Mikey-dono.  Since production of LilyMu has halted, I figured I'd dip my toes in musical theatre.  Plus, you know, we have royalty and a God to back us up in our lead role for our theatre troupe."  Oboro gestured to Enshou and Suave who were fiddling with their respective musical instruments.

"What a night, our 2nd show.  Thank you for introducing me into theatre, Suave-sama.  It's rare that I admire someone as much as I do myself, but you sure take a close second."  Enshou said, patting his co-star on the back.  Suave played a small solo from his sax and laughed with his new-found friend.  Poe and Oboro sat down and began to have their make-up removed.

"It's always been somewhat of a dream of mine, you know Poe.  In no other universe did Sensei allow me to perform any sort of play.  Well, I had heard he did a small play with his other students as Shoyou, but never for me."  Poe plucked the eyelash extensions from Oboro's face, while Oboro plucked his extension feathers.  Tatsuma reached into his bag and saw the constant stream of death threats he was getting from Mutsu and laughed.  Mikey put his hand on his head as he remembered his phone blowing up as well.  He scrolled past the usual messages of Mutsu threatening violence and Guano crying until he reached the unknown text,

"Simon-dono, we must meet up, and quickly."

----------------------------------------------------

"That was was dedicated...to myself, Kawakami Stardust.  I want to thank you all for attending my first show."  Bansai sat the mic down on the stand and bowed as the roaring audience members in a sell out arena cheered and chanted "KA-WA-KA-MI!".  Bansai blew a kiss to the audience and all the girls squealed trying to catch it.  He sat down in his private dressing room and stared at the mirror,

"You've done it Stardust.  You've proved all the critics wrong.  We're going to be the biggest thing to ever grace entertainment and beyond."  as he was monologuing, a knock came at his door.  Bansai got up and opened the door and met face to face with his old manager, Kyuubei.  "Kyuu-Kyuu..."  she gestured,

"May I come in Bansai?"  Kyuubei asked.  Bansai pondered, but allowed his friend in.  The two sat down opposite of each other in luxury chairs,

"What brings you here Kyuubei, you're not my manager anymore.  Don't you have a meeting with that band or something? "  Bansai asked, as he began to wipe his face with a rag.  Kyuubei sighed as Jugem was crawling on her shoulder.

"Can't a friend come speak without bringing up business?"  Kyuubei asked.  Bansai removed the towel from his face and gave Kyuubei a look of regret.

"I'm sorry for being rude to you Kyuu-kyuu...what is it you wanted to talk about?"  he asked, trying to sound more friendly.  Kyuubei looked down at the carpet instead of at her friend,

"We've replaced you Bansai."  she said bluntly.  Bansai stared blankly at his friend,

"So, it was about business.  I should have known.  I can't even trust someone who I've been paired up with in duo scenes before.  Get out of my dressing room Kyuubei."  Bansai began to wipe his face again.  Kyuubei's face changed to a look of regret, and hurt.  She stood up, as Jugem left behind a small envelope for Bansai.  Kyuubei stood up and walked out of the room without saying another word to her friend.  Bansai tossed the towel in the back of the room, and noticed the small envelope.  He was puzzled, but picked it up anyway.  The front of the letter read, "Dear Bansai".  He stared at the letter and rested his head back on the chair he was sitting on.  He threw the letter in his bag without opening it up and headed out of the room towards his hotel.  His new manager, Snake was sitting in the limo waiting for Bansai,

"Alright Mr. Stardust, are you ready to head to your hotel?"  Snake asked.  Bansai rested his hand on his chin as he stared out the window.

"Sure...sorry, I just got a lot on my mind tonight David."  Bansai stared at the letter in the bag as the limo drove off.

--------------------------------------------------------

"Ano...Gin-san, Takasugi-san, are you feeling alright?"  Shinpachi was standing in the living room, cleaning up some trash while Gintoki and Shinsuke were slumped on the couch.  The two were staring blankly at the wall across from them.  Gintoki looked over at Shinsuke, who's eyes look like they'd sunk into his head.

"Shinny...I don't know if we can make it this year..."  Gintoki coughed up what appeared to be blood.  Shinpachi quickly stopped sweeping,

"GIN-SAN!"  Shinpachi ran over to Gintoki and knelt down next to him,

"Shinpachi-kun...take care of Kagura-chan for me..."  Gintoki closed his eyes as the red substance came from his mouth.  Shinpachi quickly grabbed a rag and cleaned up the "blood" but as the rag got close to Shinpachi's face, he could smell the distinct sweet scent of red beans.

"OIIIII WHY ARE YOU GUYS ACTING LIKE THIS?!  WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING IN THE PAST 2 HOURS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE TAKASUGI-SAN!"  Shinpachi yelled as he threw his cleaning equipment down.  Shinsuke turned his head to face Shinpachi,

"Listen brat...this is banter territory.  You wouldn't understand."  Shinsuke coughed up what looked like cooking oil.

"OI, WHAT A MINUTE, WHAT DID YOU JUST SPIT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?"  Shinpachi attempted to clean the oil, but the cloth got too sticky.

"My body is starting to deteriorate without Honey here to cleanse me..."  Shinsuke attempted to get off the couch bet fell to the floor.

"CLEANSE?!"  Shinpachi couldn't believe the words that came out of that man's mouth,

"DONDAKE!"  Shinpachi yelled.  Gintoki got out of his paralysis state and managed to sit up.

"It's been nearly half a week Shinpachi-kun...you could at least cut us some slack."  Gintoki said.

"What if Yuka-san returns?!  You guys are in no condition to fight!"  Shinpachi said.  Shinsuke managed to roll over to face Shinpachi,

"We might not...but Honey is."  Shinsuke held up his phone showing Katsura wearing some scantly clad clothing to try and tempt his husband into failing the NNN.  Shinpachi grabbed the terrorist's phone and threw it against the wall.

"HE'S IN CONDITION FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!"  Shinpachi yelled, quickly cleaning up the phone bits on the ground.  "You two never acted like this previously!  The last two Novembers you've never acted so deathly!"  Shinpachi said.  Gintoki struggled to lift his weight off the couch and walk over to Shinpachi.

"If when the time comes Shinpachi...take my sword into battle."  Gintoki then collapsed at Shinpachi's feet as he face palmed.

--------------------------------------------------------

"Next stop, Tokyo Station.  Next stop, Tokyo Station." the train intercom rang out as Yuka sat alone in the back of coach.  She was still thinking about what the Skolex told her about meeting one of their messengers.  What it meant for her people and the other beings that lived with them.  The rest of Earth and how by doing this, she'll make this planet home to just only her Globs and the Skolexian's.  Two neighboring planets potentially becoming more than just allies, but one in the same.  The weight was overbearing, but she understood that as a leader.  She straightened her self up, adjusted her suit and tie, and began to depart from the train.  As she was power walking through the busy station, her mind was drifting back yet again to a time long before any of these humans.

"Sorella?  Yo!  Are you even listenin to me?"

A younger Yuka turned to face her Godbrother.  The two were standing outside the capital building of Globbus.

"You do know how busy I am, right Valentino?  A leader's job is never done."  Yuka took a drag from her cigarette and let out a puff of smoke.  Valentino reached into his pocket and pulled out a carton, pulled out a cig for Yuka to light.  He took a puff of his cigarette and let out a sigh.

"You know how much I care for yous, right?"  Valentino asked.  Yuka smiled and put her cigarette out on the ground,

"Of course I know how much you care for me.  As if you don't make it evident every time we see each other.  So, what did you want again fratello?" she asked.  Valentino shifted his eyes down to his Godsister and gave her a hug.  She was confused but accepted the hug.

"I heard yous and Roberta are going steady."  he said, softly.  Yuka nodded in his chest,

"You could call it something like that...I suppose.  We haven't seen each other for a few days.  So I guess it isn't too steady, just more than friends."  Yuka said, removing herself from her Godbrother's embrace.

"It breaks ya brotha's haht to see his little sista grow up.  I just hope you undastand what you're getting yourself into."  Valentino pressed his cigarette against one of the large pillars and puffed his last drag of the cigarette.  Yuka rubbed the back of her neck, feeling a bit embarrassed.  "I love ya Yuka.  We may not be blood, but you are family.  Family is everything.  Just remember that when yous feeling down, or lost.  Family is everything."  Valentino walked over and rubbed his hand on her head before walking down the steps of the building.  He gave her a wave without turning as she watched him walk away.  Yuka fixed her hair as the words of her Godbrother lingered in her mind then, and even now to present day.  She hailed a taxi in front of the station and hopped in the backseat.

'I hope you can understand why I must do this Valentino...it's for your's and everybody else's sake.'  Yuka thought to herself as she told the taxi driver the location where she was going to meet up with the correspondent.  As the taxi was heading off, the scene shifted to her correspondent, driving a news van through dense woods.  Roberta was checking each bush with her camera crew in toe, making sure to get the action on camera.

"If I can just find these God's and capture them for all of Skolex, I'll be the hero!  The hero for my people."  Roberta slithered around on the ground, trying to not make as much noise as possible.  But, it was fruitless to search the woods for people with such power.  Jazzy and Billy focused their energy in camouflaging themselves and the other 3 as they scowered the woods for Stephen and Hitsugi.

"Oh man, I'm getting fucking blown up over here bro.  I can't keep using powers like you do."  Billy said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.  While they were searching, the two missing men were in a small clearing, several miles out from where they fell.  Sweetcheeks was sitting against a tree, his leg wrapped in a tourniquet.

 

"Hitsugi, are you doing alright?"  Stephen asked Hitsugi, who was drinking some water from a fresh stream just up ahead.  The large man came over to pick Stephen up from his sitting position so they could continue their trek.

"Now that the snow has died down, we can continue searching for civilization."  Hitsugi said, ignoring the question.

"Why did you use some of your blood to heal my leg?  Your arm hasn't grown back yet."  Stephen said.  Hitsugi couldn't avoid the questions anymore, he turned his head to face Stephen,

"It's not going to grow back, Captain.  What little healing my blood has left, I have to give it to someone who needs it.  I've learned a lot since you've last seen me Captain.  I don't want to be viewed as evil, menacing, or a villain.  Some people may say my actions are not righteous, but to me, they are for the better of everyone around me.  If helping your leg heal faster screws me and my plan up in the long run, then at least I can die saying I helped somebody."  Stephen rested his head against Hitsugi's shoulder as his mind drifted,

'Why am I thinking about him again...'  Stephen said in his mind,

"I haven't even known you for but an hour or so, and you've got me dressed up like this...God why did Utsuro send me here..."  Stephen asked Enshou.  The two were waiting to talk to Saigou, the Fearsone Mademoiselle,  Eventually, the two were brought in to speak with Mama,

"Ah, I was expecting you here Emiko!"  Saigou put his arms around Enshou and gave him a noogie.  "Who's your little friend?"  Saigou asked.

"Ah, that's Sweetcheeks, I just met her in the streets.  She's pretty cool Mama."  Enshou said.  Saigou gave Stephen a big slug as a show of appreciation.  Stephen chuckled and rubbed the punched arm.  "So, I've got a show here tonight right?  I figured I'd make it a duo bit tonight with Sweetcheeks here."  Enshou said.  Saigou pondered about it, but shook his head approvingly.  Saigou let out a loud, roaring laughter as he hugged the two,

"I gotta keep one of my most requested girls happy, y'know?  They get excited when they know you're in town Emiko!"  Enshou nodded,

"I have quite the knack for performing, I love it so much so it's no problem when I'm able to fit it in the schedule."  Enshou remarked.  "In here, I'm not viewed as the Gunsmoke Prince, I'm not viewed as some villain.  If my performance can make someone happy, then my day is made.  I'm sure you'd say the same thing, right Captain?"  Stephen's mind came back to the present as he heard Hitsugi saying "Captain" as he was regaining consciousness.

"Sorry Hitsugi...I've just barely had any food for the past few days.  Just some berries and water."  Stephen said, exhausted.

"Don't worry Captain, we'll get help soon-" as soon as Hitsugi finished his sentence, he was blinded by a camera flash, and saw several cameramen surround him and the Captain.  A van quickly sped into view and came to a screeching halt.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Shinsuke janai, Katsura da.  Look, my husband is not home right now.  WELL WHY DID YOU CALL MY PHONE AND ASK FOR HIM?!  LISTEN HERE LEADER'S BROTHER-" but Kamui quickly hung up the transmission.  Katsura clutched his fist and turned to Elizabeth who was just kind of milling about.  "November is THE WORST MONTH OF THE YEAR ELIZABETH!"  Katsura yelled.

"You know, you don't have to always think about sex Katsura"  Elizabeth signed.  Katsura broke the sign in half and threw the word "sex" away.  Elizabeth scratched his head and turned to Makoto and Takechi who were sitting down at one of the many couches in the ship's living room area.  Otsuu and Kyuubei were discussing tours and other band related things in the opposite corner of the room.

"Why is she even on my ship to begin with?  I thought I told you guys that she's the exact same character as me and we can't be in the same scene."  Katsura said to Elizabeth.

"She's had a long day, as have you Katsura.  Let's just cook dinner together, like old times yeah?"  Katsura started to tear up as he hugged Elizabeth.  The scene shifted to Kamui who threw his phone half way across Wexico.

"DAMN IT!  WHERE ARE SAMURAI GINTOKI AND SHINDIOT WHEN YOU NEED THEM!"  Kamui yelled.  He lifted his sister from off the ground.  Kamui had enough with the boring ossans and hopped over the foodtruck to see all the commotion.  "AND YOU!  HA!  IDIOT SISTER!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN WEXICO!"  Kamui yelled, violently shaking her.  Kagura slugged Kamui and sent him flying through the taco truck, causing an explosion of beef and nacho cheese.

"I'm just trying to have a good time with my FRIENDS AND NOT BE ON THE LAMB FOR GRAND ARSON!"  Kagura yelled, shaking her Popeye arm at her brother.  The beef landed on Abuto, while the scolding cheese landed on No Man making his entire (sticky) body sticky.  Monika sat there, not getting her nicely crafted yato outfit dirty in anyway.  The author smiled at Monika, though he wasn't sure if she could see that or not.  He was happy to be able to write about her without Abuto interfering this time, the meat covered bunny man.  Anyway, Kamui managed to toss tortilla shells at Kagura, managing to throw so many that it wrapped her up like a burrito.

"HA!  I GOT YA SIS!"  but Kamui was swiftly met by Soyo and Hata tossing the Kagura burrito at Kamui, sending him flying through several other food trucks, and eventually slamming into the hood of the car that was passing by.  The bald passenger quickly woke up and looked at the wreckage at the front of the car.

"Sensei, I believe we just ran over a bunny."  Genos said, trying to diagnose the situation.  Opposite of the crashed car was Isaburo walking to his car about to drive back to Edo.

"Hmm, I really hope Nobume got my emails.  No one is guarding Nobunobu-dono, and she's supposed to be on duty while I'm gone.  Though, I just can't leave the princess here by herself with these maniacs."  Isaburo pondered about his decisions while leaning against a super eliteo mobile.  He glanced over and saw Kamui pick up the Kagura burrito and start slamming it into Genos's car.  He looked up and saw several black helicopters flying in.  "Hmm, well this is my cue."  Isaburo hopped in the Eliteo Mobile and started speeding off.

"OI WHAT THE?!  THAT WHITE COAT JUST DITCHED US!"  Hasegawa yelled, but was patted on the back by Sougo.

"Don't worry about it Hasegawa-danna.  I brought some back up to help situate the whole problem, and lock up several criminals as well."  he pointed to the lead helicopter,

"WAIT, SAITOU-SAN!"  Sougo yelled, but it was too late, the helicopter quickly descended and crashed down on top of Genos, Saitama, Kamui, and Kagura Burrito.  The other Shinsengumi members followed suit, crashing the helicopters down like lemmings.  None of them blew up thankfully, or at least they would have if Sougo's bazooka hit them.  Saitou stepped out of the wreckage and placed handcuffs on Genos, Saitama, and Kamui.

"YOU THINK SOME MEASLY HANDCUFFS WILL STOP M-" but Kamui was quickly cut off by Saitou sticking a red slurpee in his face.  Kamui sucked it down through the straw, giving a warm and happy smile.  A terrifyingly rare sight that made the rest of Kamui's crew hand themselves over to the Shinsengumi.  Sougo gave lower ranked captain a thumbs up and met back up with Soyo, Hata, and Kagura Burrito.

"So my brother is going to get the chair right?"  Kagura asked, now devoid of all tortillas from her body.  Sougo shook his head,

"No, he and his crew are going to build a new LilyMu Towers.  We're making huge bank off this y'know."  Sougo said, trying to sound cool, but was once again ignored by Hata.  Saitou looked at his phone as he Wacetimed Ozu.

"Good job!  Finally, some criminals being brought to justice!"  the camera switched to Ozu's perspective as he sat in a rundown shed.

He clicked off the Wacetime and sighed as he put his face in his hands.  His only alone time now that his entire apartment complex was miss-placed was this small shed.  It wasn't much, but he would use it as a work space, or just a place to get away.  The only other person who visited was Yes Man, when he need to bring Ozu something or run a small errand.  Yes Man sat on a small crate that was situated against the thin walls of the shed, just in case Ozu needed anything.

"Yes Man."  Ozu said,

"YES OZU?"  Ozu was silent, and Yes Man knew to calm himself down and take his seat back on the crate.

"I haven't had to face this much adversity ever since I left Kiyoko all those years ago...I've been so carefree and laid back these past few years that I had the thought I was invincible.  Or, better yet, I was invisible.  I just do my job as producer, I provide for my family, and sometimes I might get out and have time with my friends.  The one time I try and get everyone together again, it ruins not only my life, not even my family's life, but the lives of everybody that rented from my apartment building.  My staff, my crew, my stars and their families, all out of homes.  I've lost my biggest star, Oboro hasn't shown his face here in a week.  No replies to my texts, nothing.  I feel I am responsible for all this."  Ozu said, his face still buried in his hands.  Ozu however, did not know Kiyoko was at the door of the shed, since Yes Man knew to stay silent.  She put her hand on the door and opened it slowly.  Ozu lifted his face up to meet hers, which had tears running down it.  In a rare sight of vulnerability, she bent down and gave Ozu a hug while he was sitting in his chair.  He wiped her tears away,

"It isn't your fault Ozu, you're doing everything you can to help all these people.  It may not be a whole lot, but renting out this much space just to house these people from the cold...to provide them clean water and food every day.  You aren't invisible, you're a hero.  You're my hero Ozu."  Ozu let a tear slide down his face as he embraced Kiyoko.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Yuka tipped her cab driver as she walked out on the drive-in's parking lot.  She looked down at her watch, which had a small GPS coordinate on it.

'So, they're already near my people...hm.'  Yuka thought to herself.  She saw that the location was deep within the woods.  She morphed into a snake to slither quickly along the ground to reach her correspondent quicker, and to not be spotted by her people in the nearby village.  She couldn't risk something like that, not now.  She had to shapeshift back out of her liquid form, as it was beginning to hurt.  She was clear from the sight of the village, so it was ok to start running in her regular form.  But, something in her foresight started to get her attention.  She hid behind a tree and sunk to the snow below.

'This isn't good, something isn't right...'  Yuka thought to herself.  She was clutching at her breast pocket, and peak around the tree.  She saw a small spotlight and several people holding cameras surrounding Hitsugi and Stephen.  She covered her mouth and hid back behind the tree as to not alert anyone.  He stretched her ear to listen in on what they were saying, making sure to keep it hidden in the snow.  It was muffled, but she could make out enough to gather information.

"I don't know....are, we're....get through the woods...."  Yuka strained to hear anything more, she did however recognize it was Hitsugi speaking.  Her attention was broken when she noticed the sky beginning to turn a weak, purplish hue as the sun was setting.  She quickly snapped back focus, but heard a voice she couldn't quite recognize at first,

"I need....crystals...meeting up...a plan to..."  she could guess it was the correspondent.  It seemed they had Hitsugi and Stephen covered, so she didn't want to intervene.  As she retracted her ear however, she heard several pair of footsteps running through the woods.  She tried to blend into the tree and snow and hide herself as one ran past her.  She knew she had to get up and do something to help the Skolexian.  She left her hiding spot and ran behind the person who went past her and formed a sword with a globside to stick it at his throat.  Josh froze and put his hands up as Yuka held him hostage.  Jazzy, Billy, Steve, Josh, Hitsugi, and Stephen all turned their attention to her.

"Yuka...what are you doing here?"  Hitsugi asked, now even more confused with the inclusion of everyone.  Billy rolled his eyes as Jazzy put his hands together.  But, the scene was interrupted by Roberta, who honked her horn from within her news van.  She turned back and looked Yuka directly in the eyes.  Yuka's whole body ran cold as she dropped her arms from Josh, who quickly scrambled away and held up his notebook.

"R...Roberta?  You're my correspondent from Skolex?  I...thought I would never see you again...not after what you did to the solids and me."  Yuka was at a loss for words until Roberta walked up and lifted Yuka's chin up,

"I'm glad I was able to hear your voice once again Yuka, so beautiful...and soft like a melody."  Roberta let go of Yuka's face and turned back to Hitsugi and Stephen, who's pockets glowed.  Stephen looked around and saw Steve and Joe, his face growing pale.

"You two...look just like your parents."  Stephen said, smiling as the fighting began to break out.

TBC 

[Cha]

The sky was turning an even more darker purple as the palm trees of the tropics were nearly being torn out of the ground. Dylan in a panic, grabbed his coconut friends and started to run. But he “””accidentally””” dropped the Billy one.

“Oops.”

He fled farther into the island to find some kind of isolation and protection somehow. He came across a dark cave and laid on the cold floor fetal position in a ball with the coconuts on his lap. 

“Dylan wants to go home.. Dylan wants to go home..”

Suddenly some voices spoke out.

“Don’t worry Dylan, we love you!” The audience said.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!” Dylan jumped up and ran away deeper in the cave, leaving them and the coconuts behind but he kept clutching onto the comic book.

Meanwhile inside of the book, the citizens of everywhere on any planet were speechless on the streets of their cities looking up above them at the purple skies of the late afternoon. In Tokyo, the Rampaging Rabbits, Saitama and Genos stopped their construction on Lilymu Towers and looked up above them. In Edo, Katsura and the terrorists all got up on the main deck and Shinpachi stopped sweeping momentarily as the windows of their apartment suddenly went dark. Gintoki and Shinsuke sat up from their areas in the living room and stood behind the teen.

“G-Gin-san..” He pointed outside.

As Edo citizens were paralyzed with fear or scrambling about, the news broke out on one of the mega sized televisions. 

“Breaking news from Sky News 9! Edo is covered in some weird purple sky! Numerous reports are coming across multiple planets of the same occurrence! More with Roberta who is stationed inside the woods with better views!” The anchorman heard some chatter coming from behind the scenes. “Eh? What do you mean she went off somewhere this morning with the truck?” 

The program was still on the air unknown to the news cast itself when suddenly a large black object hit the TV with a large smack of its tail. Causing shards of glass to shatter on the streets. They looked up and saw black squiggly lines plunging to the earth. They started to scream in horror and run around as the squiggly lines got closer to the ground. Gintoki and the other two ran outside the Snack Bar onto the snowing streets. Matsudaira with his cigarette could be seen standing outside the Shinsengumi HQ.

“Alright boys, I didn’t spend the last few days trapped on a sensei head planet to not prepare for an amanto invasion! Let’s roll out!”, He proclaimed and his men there gave a loud hurrah. In the Mimawarigumi and other police stations they did a similar thing.

Nobume and Sougo had been given the special task to guard the Edo and Oukoku royals (and Kagura!) inside the guarded castle, the latter who were stuck on this planet for now. Shige was talking to his little sister with Kagura, their handcuffed cousin, Barkas and Jii. Hata was in the corner of the room with Sougo.

“I’m so terrified.” Hata put his hand to the freezing window. It left a fogged mark from his purple hand. “Who knew Amantos could be so violent to each other? Let alone cute worm ones?” Sougo briefly looked up from slouching up against the wall. 

“Hata...” He slowly said. Hata turned to the man.

“Yeah Mr. Police Man?” Hata tilted his head.

“If none of us make it out from this. I have to tell you something...” Sougo looked on the floor.

“Sure! Go ahead!” Hata chimed. Sougo slowly walked over, hands in his pockets and still looking at the floor. Sougo then unexpectedly grabbed a hold of the purple prince’s shoulders and kissed him on the mouth. 

“Phew! I just had the most terrifying dream about out-of-character people that the Banter Police wouldn’t be happy of the author about!” Hata smiled as he dozed off in a big cozy blanket with most of others.

“I hate feeling so helpless. I’ve been on the battlefield before and now I’m forced to stay behind?” Barkas shook his head as he was giving a long handshake to the cowpoke.

“This isn’t our war to fight this time, Barkas.” Jii took a puff of his cigarette. Nobume sighed out clutching onto Jugem and Fluffy tighter, hoping Isaburo and their team would be okay without her.

“I reckon it be like this sometimes. Wearin’ cuffs, in a giant blankey with a buncha royals, laying up against a dog’s butt, givin’ a mighty fine handshake to a man I barely know.” Nobunobu said.

“Barky, can I have a special cool handshake too..?” Shige asked but they were too immensely into it.

The five royals, two police officers and one old man (and Kagura!) continued to watch the devistating destruction from outside. Sougo sighed as he was still unable to talk Hata still. Feeling defeated hewent to get under the covers with the others but they all gave him a look so he continued sitting up.
——————

“Mother of Sensei..” Oboro’s attention moreso was drawn to the purple skies. “Oh no.. with this much purple altana hanging around in clouds it could cause a universe unbalance the likes that no one has ever seen before..” Poe hid in his neck frightened. Suave then took off his sunglasses dramatically and spoke out,

“This is bad, I can’t sense my brothers anymore. I can’t even feel my godly powers.”

“Don’t worry B.G.C.C., Best God Chum Chode, I still have my godly powers in control.” Enshou whipped out his pink lightsabers. Suave then put his hand on Enshou’s shoulder.

“I’d advise against doing anything too risky, Enshou! The Skolexians are a lot more dangerous than they look.” He said. Mikey then came bursting through the theater doors and his jaw dropped.

“T-The worms.. they’re back..” Mikey had a flashback to last year after that fight got settled, he could have sworn he saw these creatures in the sky. He remembered the text message he recieved momentarily ago. “Guy who weirdly looks like me!” He stood in front of Suave. “I think Jazzy and your other brother are somewhere in the woods. We should reach them to find out what to do!” 

“TALLYHO!” Enshou bolted into the streets without them. He instantly got swallowed up by a passing Skolexian. The other five stood there, dumbfounded. 

“And I thought the author had a hard time writing me seriously.” Oboro said.

There were several trembles coming from inside the Skolexian’s stomach until the entire worm imploded, black goo splattering everywhere.

“I got out but pretending the black goo was from Shijaku’s cock.” He licked the front of his fangs with his gooey tongue.

The other four braceD themselves as more worms came charging at them. Tatsuma begun quickly texting someone in City Z.

“I just got a text from Sakamoto.” Mutsu held up a text to Skeletino that said ‘PLS HELP MUTSU-SAN!! AHAHAH!’. 

“Well, what do you say Valentino? You up to going back to Edo?” Skele said to himself. 

“Aight sure Skels.” He got up from their apartment couch, stretching his and Skele’s body. “It was nice to get some refreshments here in tha meantime. But I really am gonna strongly suggest about addin’ some Mediterranean flavor to this pad.” 

“Haha alright, bud. It’s your place too now.” Skele smiled. Mutsu smiled too, as weird as it was she knew her boyfriend felt more complete now with his new physical form. 

“I’m thinkin’ Skelliator, if this works out for us where we can stay here without my lil’ sorella breathin’ down our morphed neck, I’d like to learn some of those stylin’ hero tricks of yours! Sounds like a great ride!” Valentino put his hands in their pockets. 

“Really?” Skele was pleasantly surprised. “The first chance then I get I’ll ask if the Heroes Association will allow it!” 

Mutsu then peered outside the windows, the sky had been covered in a purple hue. She made a little gasp.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I think you should both look outside.” They joined her and peered at it. Skele and Valentino then held their head in pain. “What’s wrong?!” She asked.

“We need to get to the Skeleton Village, possibly round up some of the soldiers to Edo’s woods. Our foresight is giving us a bad feeling of something there.” Skele explained. Mutsu understood and nodded. 
————-
Back at the woods, Yuka and Roberta stood across from the gods, detectives, Stephen and Hitsugi. Waiting for the other to make the first move. The Skolex hadn’t yet arrived to their area.

“You’re really fucking things up for yourself this time, Roberta!” Billy called out but she ignored him. 

“Yuka, I don’t want to unreset the universe anymore. Why are you continuing to fight? Is money for your people worth the destruction of an entire planet?” Hitsugi asked her. Yuka stared at him before Initiating the first fighting move of the group.

She lunged her gooey arm at him but he moved back with energy he surprisingly still had left. Billy and detectives stepped their way in front of Yuka while Roberta and Jazzy were square face to face.

“I wouldn’t get too cocky if I was you fish boy.” Roberta smirked and then pointed up.

The others looked up in the purple hues of the snowing sky as it started trembling. 

“Mother of all skadoos..” Joe whispered out as he saw several monsterous creatures appear. 

The worms were hurling towards the ground, Joe and Steve ran to cover behind pine trees but forgot one crucial person. 

“JOSHHH!” They yelled out and started to run after him. 

Josh was traumatized and couldn’t move as the worms finally crash landed in the woods, knocking over some gigantic pine trees in the process. Steve had grabbed their cousin’s arm  and tugged him away before he was nearly crushed to death by one of the falling wooden logs. Steve and Josh panted to catch their breaths for a second. Joe climbed over the broken tree and landed on his cyborg fist.

“Are you two okay?” Joe asked them, they nodded in return.

But it was short lived as suddenly behind them  a Skolexian bursted through the tree and made a deafening blast of a roar. The three of them started to run like hell as the creature was tagging up closely behind them. They were trying to come up with a solution. 

“We should use our handy dandy notebooks!” Josh exclaimed, the other two agreed. Steve took out his classic paper one, Joe started to think of something in his robotic arm and Josh used his tablet. “Uhh w-why aren’t they working?!”

Joe tried pushing every button on his arm and eventually slapped it in frustration. Steve and Josh couldn’t get their drawings to come to life either. 

Meanwhile Roberta was now square up against Jazzy as Billy was squared up against Yuka. The struggling Hitsugi and Stephen were in a battle of their own with a worm. 

“Why are you doing this, Roberta-dono? After everything Billy has given you?” Jazzy said as he blocked a couple of her attempts to bite him with her worm jaw with his strong as titanium arms. She turned back into a humanoid temporally. 

“You and your brother wouldn’t understand.” She shook her head. “It’s not of our choice to fight.” 

“What do you mean?” Jazzy said but she took another wormy swing at him. “I’ll have you know Roberta-dono, I am skilled in many forums of martial arts including those of the spiritual kind.” Jazzy was attempting to use his god powers to strike up bright energy but for some reason it wouldn’t work. The fish’s eyes shrunk. “Huh..? This has never happened before..” 

“Enough of this shit. I don’t really feel like getting down and dirty, especially with you goohead. Let’s just end this stupid ass thing.” Billy snapped his fingers in hopes of sending the amanto back where they came from but was shocked to see his powers didn’t work just like his big brother and the detectives. “What in Hell..”

“The purple Altana from the sky..” Stephen had managed to use a large snow covered branch to fend himself off the giant alien. Hitsugi was cutting up the worm with the blades on his one hand he still had. The Captain watched from the distance as the gods and detectives were all perplexed and staring at their hands. Stephen gasped. “It’s limiting their powers!” 

Yuka lunged her arm at Billy but even without his powers he managed to grab it in mid-air and flung her down. 

“Odd, you look like a humanoid and yet my foresight tells me you’re nothing like one at the same time.” She got up on her feet and threw lunging kicks at his face.

“Man, Fishy, can we switch partners? You’re use to being around boring stotics like yourself!” Billy exclaimed and Jazzy shook his head. 

Yuka turned into a giant bear and raced up to him. He tried to outrun her but she jumped on top of him and started to claw his face. Billy kicked her in the stomach flying her back. 

“Heh, least I still got the ol’ god muscles” He kissed his stained plaided cloth covered guns.

Yuka slammed into a pine tree, the solid inside of her was starting to hurt more now. But she shook it off and transformed into a tree herself. Billy came running around trying to figure out which one was her. 

“Alright green face, now you’re just making this a comedy fight aren’t you?” He leaned his hand against one and the branches suddenly grabbed back. 

He tried breaking free of Yuka’s grip but she unleashed the roots in the ground of her tree body and tried to timber down on top of him. “All this landing on top of me, are you sure you’re a lesbian?” Billy rolled out in the knick of time. She turned back into goo before she fell on the ground but the extreme rapidly size change of the morph once again hurt the solid inside of her. She turned back into a humanoid and clung onto her aching ribcage, Billy stood next to her.

“Such disgusting comments from a poorly dressed man stuck in the 80’s.” The Majesty was scrambed to her feet, whiping green liquid off her mouth. 

“Aww we can’t all be stuck in the 30’s, miss. Maybe I can make you black, white and red though. Oh god which writer rights this stuff.” Billy shook his head at me and started to punch at her face as she equally blocked the blows. She then smirked behind her, Billy raised an eyebrow. 

“Maybe I can make you surrounded in black.” She said. She stepped out of the way as a worm rammed into him. She took out a cigar and lit it. She made a cold puff in the air and put her hands in her pockets. “30’s in, 80’s out forever, capeesh?”

Jazzy was still fighting Roberta on the opposite side of the open woods ground. He used some karate moves he had developed from training for thousands of years in a remote mountain ..and also from some movie he saw while in his fish tank at Ozu’s. 

“You like fish so much? I’ve covered plenty of great seafood eaterys in my stories!” Roberta morphed into some tarter sauce.

“NOT THE FACE!” Jazzy yelled and covered his head. 

“Why are they joking around at a time like this?!” Steve exclaimed as him, Joe and Josh had climbed up a tree high enough to escape the Skolexian chasing them. But it was trying to snap at them. They could see all the others there in the woods fighting against these creatures. Steve had the aching feeling many more would be arriving.

“Cousins?” Josh pointed to three more joining the other at the base of the tree. They begun wacking it with the sides of their bodies as the trio hung on.

“Wait. I have an idea! Just follow me. Do exactly what I do. Especially you Joshy, okay?”  Joe said while looking at the both of them in their eyes.

“O-okay Joe.” Josh nodded. 

Joe grabbed the sturdy branch above them and begun swinging around on it with his arms. With a lost of what to do, the other two followed. Soon enough they gained enough momentum and flew off of the tree. They hit one worm in the head as they landed on it with their feet and slid down its back. 

“Yabba dabba doooo!” Joe yelled out as Steve facepalmed. At the tail they gained enough speed again. 

Joe grabbed the other two in mid-air and activated his cyborg arm to blast them away, it flew off from the pack of worms. There they saw Stephen and Hitsugi still doing battle of their own. Joe saw Yuka just standing there with a cigar. He looked at his family, they nodded and he sped off as Steve and Josh went to help the other two. 

Joe went to sneak attack her, he lifted his fist back to make the first move but she quickly turned around and blew him away with her gooey fist. He flung into a tree, breaking around into it on impact and coughed up some blood. She took out a cigar before letting out a puff and putting her hands in her pockets.

”You wanna try that again, slick?”

“So far for first impressions.” Joe jumped out of the wreckage and went again for another blow to her which she dodged. 

“Why do you humans keep fighting back? Why won’t you accept your fate?” Yuka turned her arm into a sword and tried to slash at him. However he dodged it and roundhouse kicked her in the stomach, she coughed up green liquid. 

“I hate to break it to you Yuka but us humans aren’t the spineless little chimps you’ve come to believe.” As she tried to support her aching bones in her spine and ribs, he punched her in the jaw and sent her flying back into a tree. Roberta noticed this as she was still fighting with Jazzy but regained her focus.

“Maybe you’re not as spineless as I thought..” Yuka slowly said but winced in pain as she wiped the goo from her mouth. “But you definitely are more of a pest than I thought.” 

She mustered up enough strength to get out of the tree. Her bones were making unpleasant sounds but she ignored them and turned her hands into firing machine guns. Joe was dodging most, some swiping at the sides of his face and clothing leaving painful marks. Two managed to swipe him in the shoulder and he winced in more pain. He used his cyborg arm’s jet to fly around, he went to kick her in the face but she dropped her gun and grabbed him by the leg. She swung him and he soared across the sky, landing in a pine tree. He shook the needles off of him as the cawing crows flew away inside. He started flying towards her and avoiding bullets again. Eventually she ran out of loads and looked down at her guns leaving her briefly distracted. Joe used this window of opportunity to get behind her and punch her in the neck, leaving a visible gooey mark. She fell to the floor but quickly stood up and grabbed his non-cyborg wrist with the damaged arm before he was able to strike again. Yuka started to twist it back with the strength of ten men. Joe was agonizing in pain. 

“Pitiful species. Though I must say you do put up a hell of a fight, Joe. Your style may be chaotic and frantic but it also gives off a charismatic fragance for some reason.” Yuka said this all in a calm voice as Joe was grinding and grunting his teeth out in pure pain. As this was happening, a Skolexian came zooming around the corner with a man riding on top of it and it trampled Yuka before she could react 

“BANG BANG I AM THE WARRIOR!” Billy had control of the creature, he lifted his fist up in the air like he was in the final scene of his Wreakfast Club DVD movie. Joe had broke free at the last moment and Billy gave him a lift up onto it. 

“YUKES!” Roberta broke free of her fight with Jazzy and ran up to her.

She was still alive but unable to move, her limbs were broken in all different ways. Roberta picked her unconscious body up and started to carry her to somewhere safer. Jazzy shook his head. The god looked at them knowing they would all deal with those two later as they had more pressing matters to attend to here. 

“R-Roberta?” Yuka spoke out in quiet tone. She could see she was being carried on a stretcher from Roberta’s shapeshifted hands to somewhere deeper into the snowing woods.

“Yukes I know what you’re gonna yell in my morphed ear. But we don’t have time for that. You’re really hurt.” Roberta’s breath was getting heavy. She couldn’t morph that well in this altitude, her stretched became unstable so she carried Yuka on her back. 

“Let me down..” Yuka said slowly.

“Yuka it’s pouring out sno-“ Roberta was getting irritated. 

“I SAID LET ME DOWN!” Yuka yelled out, surprising out Roberta as the blonde woman usually kept her cool. She took Yuka off her back slowly and used her own sweater so Yuka wouldn’t touch the snow. “I... don’t know who you are but Roberta died seventy years ago. 

“For god’s sake, can we just talk about it when we get-“ Roberta was cut off again.

“I’m not leaving here until you explain yourself, alien.” Yuka furrowed her eyebrows. Roberta just sighed out.

————

Darkness. That is the first thing I remember seeing after a sort of long nap if you could call it that. I thought I was laying in bed, if I could flip on the light switch and I would see the reassuring warm hues of my room enough to calm my racing heart. But it wasn’t like that, nothing like that at all. No light switches, no space where I laid stuck inside a enclosed forgotten box. My immediate first response was to stop my skin from crawling. I wasn’t use to feeling to limited, so out of control. I couldn’t barely breathe. Bugs were crawling all over me inside that box, as if they were previously consuming me. I remember morphing into something bigger and punched through the box. I wound up sunken in what must have been literally tons of dirt above me. Once again my nerves unrattling me, I tunneled through and eventually reached the surface.. of my resting place.

I couldn’t believe it, there’s no way. I excused it off as some stupid harmless prank. Or someone wanted to take revenge on me, I had plenty of enemies at this point. It was late that night on Skolex, I shook my head continuously at the grave’s scription. Could I really have been dead for 20 years? Impossible. No.. I remember shaking my head all the while as I left that gravesite and looked around the city I grew up in.

As I look back now 50 years later at his in present day, having relived this event millions of times in my head, the tiny details are what are important to me. Not a single item was adorned for me on my grave. Nothing of our customs. My grave was completely bare compared to all the others.. except a single yellow flower. It must have been recently put there, I remember it looking fresh. I clutched it in my hand as I cautiously made my way around the gigantic bustling city and its skyscrapers of that late night. Much had changed, much had shifted in technology since I last remembered. I was horrified, shaking, at a lost of words. Here in a sea of other Skolexians in their own worlds, schedules, families. Was this the afterlife? Was I dreaming? Another plain of existence? I.. needed answers, I needed comfort.. I needed... her.

I remember sneaking on board a star ship because I was too weak too make my way around as a worm. I stayed in the cargo bay because of course I had no money, no home, I wasn’t even sure if the Council of Skolexians was still around. My species is quite long lived so the excuse of someone dying and coming back to life would be made a mockery of. Fucking figures. The Council was more a slave industry than anything. I always admired my people’s knack for preservation I never really got concerned about the morals involved with it. We eat lifeforms. It’s just apart of who we are. So who cares? But what of us who wanted to live normal careers and lives on Skolex and not leave the planet? No one lives a normal life as a Skolexian.

Anyway. After a few weeks, I stumbled to the planet, Globbus. It was a small community of people. Poor looking, chintzy villages here and there scattered through the rather large planet. I knew this place well, I use to visit here to see her. Huh, I was coming back here for reasons I wasn’t even sure of myself. I was no longer bonded by the Council, free to choose where I went as I please. I needed some answers, forgiveness maybe even. Who the hell else gets a second chance at life anyway? My heart was pounding as I arrived there. My tattered and faded black customary Skolexian burial attire robes from the coffin. The liquids guarding the capital building in which she resided in all these years. When I arrived they were frightened of me and were pointing their weapons at me. That’s when I saw another liquid glob, I had a feeling on who it was.

“I-impossible.. Roberta.. you died two decades ago..” He was absolutely horrified, I could hear it in his voice. 

“Valentino, I need to talk to Yuka. I need to talk to you too. I.. don’t know how but I came back to life.” I spoke this in a softer voice than I usually made. 

“N-no..” His last words before he shakingly slithered backwards into the building. 

Looking back, I tried so fucking hard to keep my emotions intact, here was this lively and seemingly kind man to most people. And I had the heartbreaking embarrassment of having to watch that fucking pizza tosser from the window talk to his little sister with exaggerated expressions. What the hell could someone dead for so many years possibly cause a threat to? He was probably lying to her. God, why did I ever befriend that doofus man in the first place? 

“Yuka!” I called out, the guards were already picking me up at this point and ushering me away from the building. 

I got her attention though. I held up the wildflower still in my palm. She came out of the doors, what a lovely sight,  the girl I use to flirt with, ordained in a suit. At times in the past I would have made a teasing joke about it or something else about her. Valentino and I always knew how to push her buttons so that she’d ease up and enjoy herself once in a while. I even called her a lover for a short span of time. They were only two people I felt genuinely happy with as a dirty Skolex. Yuka supported a similar concerned look as her godbrother probably did before, but a bit more toned down. She always kept her composure even when facing the most difficult obstacles.

“T-That can’t be you Roberta.. I watched you die that day.” She looked directly at me as the guards remained between us.

“I know it’s confusing but look.” I pointed to the wilting flower in my hand. Then her pupils visually shrunk. “I-It’s the wildflower from my grave! I know you put it there, Yukes!” 

“Sick impersonating monster..” She shook her head, more fear in her eyes and quickly walked back into the building. 

I walked in the rain through the pitch dark villages until finding a lonely and desolate bus stop to sink down into. 

“For whatever its worth Yuka, I did really like you, probably even loved you. I meant it those nights together too. I know you don’t believe me though. I truly hope if situations were different, we could have stayed together.”

My last words to her of my previous life. I didn’t “probably” love Majesty Yuka, I did love her, period. She was the only ray of sunshine I had in my controlled life. Her and her brother, only genuine friends, kind hearted people in the universe. I wanted to stay with her back then but I had to think of my people. The job I was handed out to do. Now this was the “different situation” and chose to reject me. And I have a feeling that if she was sure who I said I was, she’d still reject me.

That’s when reality set in more. 

I felt a deep pain in my stomach and chest.. How am I alive? Why am I alive? How could have it been truly twenty years since I died? My thoughts were wild. My eyes were fully open. I felt hysterical. I would spend the next ten years away from her and outside the shapeshifter’s black hole solar system. I had to find the answers to my questions, I wondered from place to planet to solar system with no results. One day coming across the Milky Way and planet called Earth inside of it. There was a job listing for a news anchor in a city called Edo. Maybe something to finally numb the haunting lingering of my existential crisis, my passion in journalism I’d abandoned so many years ago. I was on my way to audition for the job disguised as a man when I literally bumped into probably the most interesting individual I’d ever come across, and that’s quite a statement from an asshole like me. The strawhat man looked at me with smiling eyes that acted like they had recognized me the moment we came into contact, weird. 

“Oh I’m so sorry!” He exclaimed as his bags of groceries accidentally fell to the ground when we came in contact.

“It’s okay, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going I guess.” I helped him with his bags.

“Thank you so much. Say, a dressed up gentleman like yourself wouldn’t happen to be off for that popular Sky News 9 audition would you? There has been countless people heading in that direction today for it.” I was surprised he caught that.

“Why yes.” I made a little smile and turned around to leave but the guy spoke out again behind me. 

“If you get job maybe you and your crew could stop by at the school I’m starting soon! I’m sure it might lighten up these troubling times for samurai.” He smiled. I looked behind my shoulder and nodded. When I turned my head back, I felt like he was watching me but when I turned around he was as quickly gone as he had arrived. I scratched my head.

Somehow twenty more years past after that. I took on the appearance of a larger and balder man to get off the allusion to the media around me I was aging. Things I do for apeish humanoids, eh? Eh well, I didn’t mind as long as I was able to keep doing my career. That all changed with that stupid popularity poll though. My obsession with seeming important led to my demise, I once again was killed. The next moment I woke up in a sorching hot environment, I opened my eyes slowly.

“Well look who came crawling back.” 

“W-What the hell..” I said. It was some kind of cheap looking mancave. The type of ones I’d have to make news stories about middle aged men living in their mother’s basements. 

“The wormy mom is back. Oh it’s been thirty years Gedomaru missed you so much and so has your grandson, Skully.” The little girl spoke in some monotone. She then got up and hugged me around waist with a weird bleeding cow skull in her arms. 

“Geds, stop making everyone play house, jesus.” The plaid shirt man said, I saw his dorky little nametag read Billy.

“Why doesn’t she remember her daughter, stupid big brother?” The little girl named Gedomaru asked the man there.

“Come on, you know the rules of the afterlife, of course she doesn’t remember this place.” Billy drew another card from the batch.

“H-hell..?” I then scoffed. “Yeah alright, let’s go with that. So where’s that stupid Mikey Simon? One moment I’m throwing him against a wall and the next minute I’m here.” 

“That man is next in line for Hell for hurting my wormy mom, you’ll be sure of that. Please sit down wormy mom and I’ll braid your hair like old times.” Gedomaru snapped her fingers and a chair appeared next to her, she patted it.

“Come on toots. Don’t tell tell me you don’t remember all the times I kicked your ass in this game?” Billy, the man with the ranchid hair said.

“....” The bearded man added and Billy’s annoyed expression went from 0 to 100 real fast.

“IT WAS A JOKE YOU FUCKING IDIOT, I KNOW SHE DOESN’T REMEMBER!” Billy yelled.

“....” He also said.

“Well those fucking terrorists and pirates were an exception. But ever since verse one I’ve locked up on the rules of who remembers what.” Billy drew another card. The beared man then looked Billy straight in the eyes.

“....” 

“THAT’S FUCKING IT!” Billy then kicked down the man’s chair but unbelievably it floated up on its own to sit back up.

I was tired, confused so I releuntantly sat down and joined the group of oddballs. We sat there for hours at that table. Billy chugged his coffee mug down and slammed it on the table.

“Aaah. So that’s pretty much it. In ‘verse one after your original death you somehow landed in the mancave. About one in a megatrillion chance I’d say. The only other person who ever achieved that is ol’ Headster.” Billy put his hand on the bearded man’s shoulder. “And after you beat me in a game in that universe, I was forced to bring you back to life in the real world. SomeHOW after endless resets, your twenty-second self managed to beat me once again. Probably cheated like the first time.” Billy scoffed. Sounds like me.

“Yeah like it’s real hard to beat you, old man.” Gedomaru drew another card. Billy then wildly zipped the kids mouth closed.

“This is just impossible..” I put my hands on my face and shook my head, then my eyes darkened. “Wait.. are you telling me my decades of strive to learn about my origins of coming back to life are just from a stupid Go Fish game?” Billy nodded, I then smirked. “Damn, ol’ Bobby is better at cards than he thought.” 

Some days passed, I guess I got the knack of it again because this former anchorman was on fire. We also you know, passed the time away. 

“Thanks for the skully crown, wormy mommy.” Gedomaru told me and I nodded and took another huff.

 “People always think you burn down here for all eternity but in reality, everyone just kinds of vibes you know?” The devil was getting stoned off his ass. “Rarely a chance I get to roast a fucker, unless he was really some unlikable nasty guy or got on my bad side.”

“I’ve gotten on your badside and yet you fail to roast this.” I put my hand up to give Geds a loud high five after she said this. “Also I wanna roast this Mikey Simon alive now.” Gedomaru took a FLAMING HOT wheeto from the snack bowl. I knew I liked this kid.

“What’s wrong with you Headster?” Billy said.

”Well I’ll be damned!” Billy exclaimed as I whistled.

“NEWSFLASH! A full house!” I spreaded out my fishy cards, Billy and the girl groaned as I laughed and took all the Whuck E. Cheese coins. “I believe we have a deal.”

“Oh no, I’m not releasing you from hell again, missy. Do you know how much shit I’d get from my brothers if I bring back the slimey worm who nearly ruined the entirety Edo?” Billy then smirked. “Alright fine. But minimal chaos, don’t want them sinking me any lower in the afterlife than I already am.” 

“Buuut one final request Bills. If I have full house in the next round, you have to keep my memories intact this time. And we’re talking about memories from the first time I was here fifty years ago too.”

“Damn television personas always have a swell head. Fine. Seeing how impossible that would be.”  He replied.

We played another game, Billy still kept his stupid little smug. 

“There’s no way you’ll match my next blow, Miss TV. No way in hell-“ His eyes widened as I dropped my cards on the table. 

“BAM! That’s what we in the showbiz call a ROYAL FLUSH! Now back to you Bills!” I did finger guns. Billy slammed his fist on the table, rubbed down his face and then snapped his fingers. I begun to fade out. 

“Bye. I’ll miss you mommy wormy.” Gedomaru waved at me. 

Before I knew it, I woke up in the ruins of the Sky News 9 station I had previously destroyed. I was in my worm form but quickly transformed back into Roberta. There was tape covering the scene, no doubt from the Shinsengumi. I tried to escape but they noticed me. Surprisingly they bought I was a victim, they had been searching for survivors there. I told them I was a camera woman and that could get to the hospital myself and insisted on it. As I left the crime scene I made, my body was taking a toll on me. I guess Billy’s old trick didn’t leave me in perfect conditions. I felt like a walking zombie, literally. As I stumbled out onto the snow covered Edo streets of late December, I leaned against a wall. I was mostly ignored by civilians, maybe one or two people looked concerned as they passed by, a man and his friend slyly asking if I wanted to warm up at their place. Decades later and mammals never fail to disgust me, I punched them into the sky using my wormy arm, despite the fact some people might have saw this, woops. As I begun fading out from the coldness, I then felt a warm blanket pulled over me. I heard the voice of a man. 

“Oh dear, you look in terrible shape. Let me help you.” I opened my eyes to see the individual.

I didn’t really care at this point, I remembered seeing this face sometime long ago so I nodded. He put his arm over my shoulder, every once in a while looking down to make sure I didn’t pass out. We made our ways into the distant woods of the countryside until arriving at a cabin. The inside was warm, inviting. He helped me to the living room couch and got me settled in there with a warm cloth on my head and hot tea. With my eyes closed, I could hear the footsteps of another person coming from the hallway.

“Aw man, those two are getting married again?” He tossed down what sounded like a paper of sorts, maybe a postcard “Sensei, please don’t tell me I have to wait around in a tent like unive-“ The man sounded like he had something stuffed down inside his throat.

“Cookies for you, my dear.” The man said and placed them next to my kettle of tea. I sluggishly sat up when I was feeling a bit better and took a bite of one as I cautiously looked at the long haired man and his confused weird looking student with a bird on his shoulder.

“Sensei, that doesn’t look like a man.” He whispered, his dumbass probably thinking he was quiet enough so I couldn’t hear him. The teacher shoved aNother cookie down his throat.

“And you don’t look like Edo’s next top model. Sheesh. This clown.” I sat up all the way and stretched myself. The long haired man sat on the chair across from my sofa. 

“You’ll have to excuse Oboro here, he fell out of his nest while he was still an egg and damaged his head.” The teacher smiled.

I spent the next two days there recovering from my pain. I could tell the entire time they were holding back something. The teacher called Shouyou put another tray of cookies on the table for us. As my head was clearing more I started to faintly remember some things Billy told me during my first visit in Hell.

“So if you don’t me asking Roberta, what brought a lovely young individual in a situation like that?” Shouyou sat across from me and the one eyed circus.

“Hey author, if you’re gonna have her continuously insult all of us in first person can you tell her to ease up on it a bit.” The jizzheaded mammal took a bite of his trillionth cookie that morning. “Yeah real classy, Roberta.” 

I rubbed the back of my head at the teacher’s question, I could tell he was testing me but my memories of what Billy said were still a bit foggy. Could it been what he told me about Shouyou?

“Got in a real bad slump with my boss you know? But I plan on reapplying for anchorwoman of Sky News 9 soon.” I tried to casually say, wondering if he would catch my bluff like we were playing a game of Go ourselves.

“Well I hope you get the job! I’d love to have you interview me and my students! It was so fun during those popularity polls, don’t you think so?” He exclaimed and took a drink of his coffee. My pupils shrunk, my memories of the devil’s words at that moment also coming back. 

“Do you know who I am..?” I slowly said.

“Hmm?” Shouyou hummed. Damn the man really was messing with me now. Bills was right about him constantly doing that.

“Well. It’s okay, Billy told me all about the universes thing. Immortal with a real blabber mouth you know? And even worse with his cards.” I said and Shouyou chuckled. Oboro put down his milky and stared at us, as if we had broken some kind of unspoken boundaries.

“She remembers the afterlife?” Oboro asked plainly.

“Apparently she does! I actually didn’t expect it either!” Shouyou looked more amused than anything, as if he heard some funny joke he wasn’t letting anyone in on. I rested my head on my hand. 

“It’s crazy. I have nothing to my name again. It’s like I’m restarting over for the first time in thirty years. But I don’t really want to do anything but leave a mundane life this time. After reflecting on the polls, I’m always getting myself in trouble that somehow bites my ass back you know?” I scoffed. “Maybe I should just become a freakin’ vegetarian.”

“You know, not everyone gets the chance to start over, Roberta. You are very blessed to have it happen and even more than once at that. It can be a beautiful thing if you choose to do what’s right.” Now he was preaching about me, not even less than ten minutes ago he was messing with what I knew. 

“No offense, Shouyou. But Billy told me a little about you too. You’ve come back to life probably more times then I would be able to count. And something tells this reporter you’re still not satisfied.” I then stood up, I think catching his student off guard again. I remember looking down at that long haired ape with a real judging look. “Why would you reset a universe twenty-two times, Altana mammal?” 

“Sensei..” Oboro seemed scared of me a bit. 

What took me by surprise was Shouyou’s composure during all of this. Here I was, my ass in its still recovering state accusing the most powerful man in the universe and yet his warm expression was more like we were discussing what to choose for lunch. He paused before he spoke up. 

“I won’t deny anything that man has told you about me, Roberta.” He said the “that” with the most smallest hint of irritation, almost barely audible to the untrained ear. Did I hit him in a uncomfortable spot? Probably barely. “I will admit you and I are more the same than you might think. Traveling through different lives, trying to make a sense of them. Still longing for the answers for your questions. Why am I here? Why do I keep living?” 

If only I had that foresight thing Yukes said she posesses, I could see what Shouyou was looking at the table at. 

He then smiled and looked up at me. It felt so sudden that it made me jump a little bit, I still don’t know why to this day.

“I may be still trying to find my way, ‘my happy ending’ as I’m sure you are too, miss. Why don’t we support each other to finally find happiness?”

“S-Sensei..” This emo looking Oboro fellow was acting as if this was unheard of his teacher to say.

“No thank you. I’ve just had enough of excitement for one lifetime. I’m about tired of these games now, Shouyou. I am in control of my life and I won’t let you try to twist me for your own benefit.” I went to leave to the door but turned around to see his reaction just out of natural curiosity. He looked me like a parent almost, firm but also a bit sombersome.

“You may say you have it in control but hate and resentment will be your permanent downfall if you let it consume you, Roberta.” Shouyou said seriously. I put on my boots and exited the cabin. But my curiosity got me again or rather wanting to know what they would say behind my back. I morphed into a fly and watched them from the window.

“Oboro. Please watch over her, even if I’m gone some day.” Shouyou was still staring at the closed door.

“Sensei..? You’re not mad..? That worm woman totally humiliated you back there. Plus she knows way too much. Do you think we should reset the universe again?” 

“No Obo, she challenged me. Something rarely any people have the guts to do.” I could hear him say inside the cabin. Why did I have the eerie feeling he knew I was listening in? Well, I heard him continue. “She is quite special and you know how much special people mean to me. Accident or not, Billy wouldn’t have just resurrected her in this universe on a whim, he must have found some new potential in her. But there are many other people who could take advantage of what she is and the extreme knowledge she has.” Great, here I had Skolex, a god and now the ruler of the universe at my throat and now I have more goons to worry about?

“Okay Sensei.” I heard Oboro simply reply. I had enough, I morphed back into myself and decided to walk through feet of bone chilling snow back to the city. 

The following is some event is something I would hear Billy tell me somehow through a dream months later. 

“Psst hey Utsuro! You ask for a cabin house call?” Billy said through the books of Shouyou’s regular library dream. He slouched at the table with the bible book of Relevation and put his feet up. “Crazy shit huh? Ooooh, old Billy here gonna cause a devastating armageddeon that will wipe out the face of the Earth. Sounds moreoso like someone else we might know.” 

“What is your purpose of bringing her back to life?” Shouyou sat across from him, not even glancing at his book.

“Who, old man?” Billy licked his thumb on the edge of the paper as he turned it.

“You very well know otherwise you wouldn’t have reached me in my dream!” Shouyou beamed.

“There isn’t no purpose. The lady just beat me little ol’ me at a card game.” Billy was now just flipping pages randomly.

“Really?” Shouyou said with the upmost smiling sarcasm. 

“I know, surprising for someone like me to lose at something, isn’t it green crystal dust? If I recall she was one of the casualties of famous ‘verse one Joe.” The god set down his book and looked around the library. “After so many card games with the same three bozos I’d do whatever it takes to get them out of my hair, that’s the only reason I revived the toots.

“Yeah I’m sure. Well, I hope drop by again every once in a while! This library could always use more company.” He smiled.

Unlikely old man.” Billy said before phasing out.

Don’t know how the hell I managed but I eventually did snag the role of anchorwoman at Sky News 9. Yukes always told me I had a nag for pushing my foot into the door when no one wanted it there in the first place. It was nearly Feburary now and I was getting ready for another daily report. That’s when I heard the mummuring of two individuals behind me.

“Hitsugi-dono, do you think we’re watching her a bit too closely than Sensei asked.” I could hear Oboro’s voice.

“Maybe a bit, boss.” The other one said.

Oi, could you idiots not know I could obviously see and hear you? I ushered the makeup artist to go and swiveled my chair around, somehow catching them off guard,

“What the hell are you doing?” Veins were visible on my forehead I’m sure of that.

“Oboro said we should stalk-“ Hitsugi started.

“Me? Hey after scaring the author and everyone including me and Poe nearly half to death from that little banter comment you made the other day, you should be glad you’re even in this backflash.” Oboro shook his Phoney Baloney Mustache Emporium face. 

“I was just trying to ease the conversation, Oboro. The authors thought I should lighten up a little sometimes.” I can’t believe they were doing this when we were about to go live in a few seconds.

“This is worse than the time at Naraku Band Camp when yo-“ 

“GET OUT!” I pointed to the door and they scrambled away. 

The next I would see one of them was early March. It was Hitsugi and apparently he was alone. He came cautiously about to me as he broke the news about Shouyou/Utsuro’s death.

“Well it looks like he finally found his happiness. Wish it was the same for everyone else.” I straightened up my papers. “So where’s Oboro? Did he get his head trapped in some sand?”

“No, he and I parted not on the best of terms.” He then surprisingly started to walk way, I didn’t even have to call security this time. But then he turned his head to me. “Roberta. I’m going on a trip with a certain man in mind. I don’t know if I’ll come back. Please take care of yourself for Shouyou’s sake.” I just chuckled.

“Alright Big Man.” I grinned.

Apparently he wasn’t wrong when he said he was going on a trip. It was to Koukan, I only found out about this after the events happened on that planet. I was on a deep space mission with the Sky News in order to get the scoop. But before we even realized our ship had been intercepted and we were boarded. It was all a blur, these men in possibly earth governmental assassin outfits I recognized a little, killing my crew. But it wasn’t just them.. other Syloxians working with these Naraku? The next time I came into consciousness would really be a wake up call. 

I looked through the blue liquid tank and saw hooded strathat individuals I recognized from my past life.

“T-The Council of the Skolexians?” I mustered up to ask.

“No, your government fell decades ago, young one.” One of them said and then I could clearly see them better as they lifted up their hats more.

My mouth dropped. The Tendoshu. This must have been their base they fled to after leaving Koukan and disappearing off the radars. 

“What do you want with me..?” I asked. I had a feeling this is who Utsuro had been talking about when he mentioned enemies. My head was racing until another spoke out.

“We’ve had hidden men study you on Earth and here. A single Skolexian living on that planet for decades. An empty grave on this planet. Your body coming back to life in your grave and in the rubble of Earth. Meeting up with Altana individuals and staying at their home. You are of Altana.” I was beyond shocked at their level of spying on me all these years, but I furiously shook my head.

“I know it may seem that way but honestly I’m not-“ Suddenly the liquid was drained from the tank, the glass windows opened up unexpectedly and I fell onto the floor covered in the weaking substance. I coughed out for air.

“Earth’s Altana terminal station. The untouched source of Altana to which the strongest immortal Utsuro was born from. That has been our planned target for years with that man once he joined the Tendoshu. Coincidentally can sense that the comic book is currently not in the place it should be. You will go to Earth and await for instructions for a full planet invasion with the rest of your kind, Altana breather.” 

They let me go but I knew I couldn’t run. I couldn’t escape them. How? How long were they really spying on me? How long had our government been under the rule of these sick green colored amanto? All I wanted to was to live a quiet life as a journalist but now I had no choice but to follow out their instructions back to Earth. But before that, I knew there was one place I had to go to on 
Skolex. I went back to my grave. The tombstone was cracked in half after so many decades, the writing on it barely visible and it was covered in dirt and dust. As I examined it closer, I noticed I stepped on something. I picked it up and twisting it between my fingers. That little hope I had to come here was a reality. 

—-
After everything Roberta told Yuka, Roberta took out the yellow wildflower she had saved from visiting her grave two months ago. 

“Yukes...” Roberta collapsed in her arms and hugged her around her weak waist. She buried her face in Yuka’s shoulder, a warm sensation they both forgot about in countless decades. Yuka was taken back, her arms just laid at her side. “Those universe guys. Look those gods, those Altana freaks. They really fucked up my life pretty badly, huh? Bringing life back to a corpse like a light switch on and off? Yuka, please tell me you finally believe who I say I am now with all this physical proof. Please believe I changed..” 

“R-Roberta..” Yuka stared in the distance of the blinding white snowing mountains mixed with the cloudly purple skies as the flakes fell all around and over the two women’s huddled bodies. Yuka felt her eyes uncontrollably streaming down tears, very unusual for her. “I..don’t know what to say.. like at all.. This is a lot to take in..” 

“I know..” Roberta let go of her and tried to regained her composure, wiping away her tears. “But we have a common enemy right now to worry about, do we not?”

Yuka nodded her head and wiped away her own tears. “Damn the human mammals, damn those Tendoshu mammals even more.” She felt more pain at her sides and collasped but Roberta caught her. 

“You’re still very injured from the fight. Your goo is causing flunctations from your degrading solid core. You need to rest. That cabin I mentioned, I believe its somewhere close here. If I can take you to it.” Roberta managed to carry the weak woman on her shoulder as they begun to slowly trunge through feet of snow. The sounds of the fight below them.

They reached Shouyou’s cabin and entered inside the house untouched for nearly a year now. Roberta placed Yuka on the couch and used the same blanket Shouyou had wrapped Roberta in the past. Roberta smiled a little as stroked the blonde hairs that came out of Yuka’s previously slicked back head.

“I’m sorry.” Yuka called out but just looked down. The tone of her voice was one of someone trying to reassure the other person of everything that had happened. Roberta swallowed a huge emotional lump as her eyes watered.

Roberta sat on the other side of the couch as Yuka drifted off in sleep. The darkness of the room felt soothing to Roberta, it looked like it was starting to snow harder outside.
————
Back at the woods, Josh and Steve back to back with Hitsugi and Stephen as they kept slashing back the Skolex. They were using thick branches that fell off the trees as their notebooks still won’t working. Stephen’s leg was finally regaining its strength from some of Hitsugi’s blood. He was able to stand up all the way now and gave a hefty punch to one of them in the face. Steve looked impressed and made a little smile, which Stephen returned.

“I have so many questions Mr. Harvestein!” Steve kicked at another worm. “Like what was it like working with my parents, how long did you have the comic book before it came alive? What was it like becoming the first person from the outside world inside of it?!” 

“Please, Mr. Harvestein? That’s something Enshou would call me if he had the chance.” Stephen chuckled, Steve was confused but kept on eagerly grinning. “Call me Stephen! And I’ll have all the time in the world to answer your questions, little Stevey. If we make it out of here in one piece.” Stephen borrowed some of Hitsugi’s poisonus Naraku needles and flung them at a beast. Steve and Josh grabbed some of their own and followed.

“Mr. Ha- Stephen, I’ve been barely coming to this book for three months but I just want to say you’re a hero to me!” Josh exclaimed. Stephen caught a quick glimpse of the young man and smiled.

“Why I would recognize that smile from anywhere, you wouldn’t happen to be related to Steve’s mother Annabelle would you?” Stephen and Hitsugi roundhouse kicked another one in the stomach. 

“Yeah! That’s my mother’s big sister actually.” Josh beamed. He regained his composure and barely dodged another Skolexian snapping at him.

“Aah that family, a bunch of poker addicts and gamblers.” Stephen was casually holding back the mouth of one with his bare hands, Hitsugi made a look of disturbance. 

Speaking of addicts, Billy and Joe were still riding their worm. Ramming the other ones in their path.

“Hey dude have you lost No Nut yet?” Joe asked the god.

“I won’t answer anything, you’ll have to contact my Head-y Attorney.” Billy crossed his arms.

Jazzy shook his head at them and heard a noise. He turned around and squinted his eyes at the distance of a crowd of pointy earred Amantos. Some of the Skolex worms turned towards them as they got closer and looked puzzled. A few of them morphed into humanoids to converse with them. 

“The Globberians?! What are you doing here? We’re not suppose to fight with you, we’re suppose to be allies!” One called out.

“Why are you all invading our planet?” Skele put his hands on his fleshly hips. 

“Your leader Majesty Yuka teamed up with Roberta, the Tendoshu chose them to work with each other! Come on, you didn’t know this?” Another Skolex exclaimed in disbelief.

“T-Tendoshu..?” Mutsu turned her head to Skele by her side. 

Hitsugi could see some commotion going on in the distance with the Globberians and Skolex. He pointed to the Captain who in turn pointed to Steve and Josh. 

“Listen you globs. We’re getting our share end of this deal with the Tendoshu with or without you.” Another one said and his fellow Skolex cheered him on. Skele and his kind looked taken back.

“We’ve had enough of their controlling torture. This planet’s humans will be enough neural energy to last for decades.” Another one chimed in and the Skolex started to cheer even louder. They begun to slowly walk to the Globberians to corner them.

Steve, Josh, Stephen and Hitsugi were scrapping by at this point, their energies were running low and weren’t sure how long they could continue this without the detectives powers. Stephen was starting to fade in and out and didn’t notice a worm was sneaking up behind him. Josh took noticed and pointed to it.

“STEPHEN!” He yelled out. But it was too late for the Captain to move. So out of instinct, Josh leaped and intercepted the monster as it grabbed josh up by his left leg and started to play with him like a chew toy. 

“JOOOOSH!” Steve and Stephen loudly yelled out. 

Joe could hear this from the distance he was at. He pushed Billy off and grabbed a hold of the reigns to high tail to there. He rammed the other worm and it released his cousin out of its jaw. Steve caught him but gasped out loudly at all the blood coming from his body. Joe held his mouth in shock as Stephen and Hitsugi did the same.

“M-MY LEG, IT’S GONE!!” Josh screamed as blood was gushing out of the tiny nub left at his hip. 

“Please! We can work this out! We can find you another source of energy, we can free you of the Tendoshu like we did on Koukan! You don’t have to resort to killing off the humans here!” Skele pleaded with the angry crowd, they had backed up him and the crowd of Globberian soldiers to a pine tree. 

“Hey, I heard Globberians are quite rich of neural energy with those two morphed minds of theirs.” One of the Skolex licked their lips and the others followed.

Suddenly another foresight image came into Skele’s mind. A picture of sleeping Yuka in a cabin of sorts with someone who he couldn’t make out. 

“Sorella!” Valentino instantly demorphed with the man and quickly slithered off.

“VALENTINO! WAIT!” Skele yelled out.

“Sorry Skels but I have a feeling if I don’t do something over there things are gonna get much worse over here! I believe in you guys!” He yelled out and disappeared in the thick fog of the snow. 
———-
Roberta had fallen asleep on the other end of the couch, it was nearly dark when she heard a voice calling from outside. She got up from the couch and cautiously made her way to the front door. She opened it up and saw a green glob of goo.

“R-Roberta..” Valentino said. Roberta’s expression changed to one of bitter hate.

“Get lost Valentino, she doesn’t want to see you. Sound familiar?” She put her hand on the door and started to close it but Valentino transformed into a door stopper.

“I don’t know if that was truly you back then more than I do right now. But I have to see Yuka, what did you do to her?” Valentinoi was getting a lot more serious in his tone now. 

“I SAID SHE DOESN’T WANT TO SEE YOU!” 

Roberta then reverted back to her natural state and lunged at Valentino who turned back into goo and dodged out of the way into the snow. Roberta turned around and went to charge on him again. He turned into a brick wall but Roberta’s impact had broke it easily. He transformed back to goo and his body was scattered about but he quickly formed himself together and coughed some green liquid up. The woman then transformed into a sword and stabbed Valentino through his goo but he morphed into an open hole in a wall and flung her out. 

“If you hurt Yuka in anyway I swear!” Valentino exclaimed, he turned into a sword of his own. 

“I DIDN’T HURT HER!” Roberta said as the two clashed as katanas. “All you could ever think about is overprotecting her! You didn’t trust me when we went on that mission in space together and you didn’t trust me when I said I came back to change for good!” 

“You were gonna destroy the solids! And then yous magically come back to life decades later? What the hell do you want me to say Roberta?!!” Valentino exclaimed. He took another swipe and managed to cut off the blade of herself. She brought herself back together and morphed back into a worm, coughing up some dark liquid. She screeched a horrendous sound causing Yuka to snap awake from inside the cabin.

“R-Roberta..?” Yuka softly said, she sat up from the couch and started to stand up despite the pains and unstableness of her body. 

“YOU DON’T KNOW ME AT ALL VALENTINO! AND YOU DON’T KNOW MY INTENTIONS, YOU NEVER HAVE AND YOU NEVER WILL!” Roberta charged at him now with full force as a memory popped into her head of over seventy years ago.

Roberta was sitting on the steps of the Skolexian Council building. She was rubbing her head, regretting to go inside for another day at the office for a plan to infiltrate another planet.

“I’ll never get to live life as a true journalist if I’m called at the whim of my species slithering asses.” She tossed down the papers and watched the wind dance them farther and farther. She looked down for a few moments only to see someone’s European leathered shoes. 

“Ayee, yous drop your papers toots?” 

“Oh, thanks.” Roberta then proceeded to crumble them all up and toss her over her shoulder, causing Valentino to laugh a bit.

“Say, bad day at the office?” He sat down next to her and imitated the same depressive slumping expression she was doing. She looked over at him and chuckled and sat up. 

“Say you’re that royal from Globbus, Valentino! I always keep up on other planets news. What are you doing here?” Roberta asked him he just put his hands up expressively.

“Me royal? Naah, that’s more my little godsista’s speed. I’m just here cus she was tired of my unemployed rear end ‘n forced me to look for a job here after I rejected so many on our planet.” He put his arms behind his head.

“I have more of a feeling they rejected you, hot shot.” She joked and he teasingly put his hand on her shoulder. 

“You know I like you or maybe with my sorella’s stotic personality anythin’ is a fresh breath of air.” He chuckled again as Roberta smiled. They both got up from the steps and were walking up. “Yous somehow already knew my name, now how about yours, bud?”

“Roberta. Sure, I don’t have many buddies anyways, worms you know. Cold blooded.” She shrugged it off but Valentino could tell underneath she was feeling hurt.

“Well I don’t mind a wormy friend, I’ve always had an interest on otha world’s cultures! Maybe after we spend a depressive day at this office, we can get a drink, on me!” Valentino smiled. Roberta felt genuinely touched. 

“You think they’d hire someone like you with that much moose in your do, slick?” She playfully elbowed him and they continued into the building. 

Roberta in present day knocked him over as he held back her jaw with his gooey self. 

“Don’t ruin yaself Roberta! You want to prove ya changed, then stop this violence!” He pleaded out but she wouldn’t listen.

“R-Roberta?” Yuka rubbed her sleepy eyes as she was standing in the doorway. She clung on its side to avoid falling. Yuka’s vision got clearer, she shook her head to make sure of what she was seeing. “VALENTINO?”

Roberta continued to press her weight at the glob, he was unable to morph with all this strain on his body. 

“VALENTINO!” Yuka yelled out. She started to run to them despite her injuries and begun morphing as something to stop Roberta. That’s when suddenly, she heard loud cracks in her body, her eyes flicked all the way open.

She reverted back to being a glob as Sophia’s broken into several pieces skeleton laid next to her. She was falling in and out of consciousness from the aching strain of shards inside of her but dragged her gooey through the snow and howling wind. Valentino could no longer hold his body against the strain. Roberta sunk her teeth into him and teared him part from part. Before Valentino could muster up any energy to bring himself together she morphed into a flame thrower and torced his body into black ashes. Roberta turned back into a humanoid and displayed a darkened face. She begun walking away from the crime scene down the mountain, her expression changing from darken to extreme regret. The words of Utsuro were loudly ringing in the back of her mind.

“Hate and resentment will be your permanent downfall if you let it consume you.”

“What.. have I done..” She flipped open to a book she had took from the cabin while Yuka was asleep. It was some ancient latin, something Billy once told her in the past Utsuro used to reset the universe. She quickly fled to the green altans containing terminal station to destroy it. Not with the Tendoshu’s goal in mind, but to somehow reverse the effects of her entire life and of what she had just committed, to turn back the universe. 

Yuka regained consciousness after several minutes. It was howling even louder now and it was pitch black outside now except for the moon illuminating on the mountain. She continued to drag herself through the terribly cold snows and saw what appeared to be a pile of ashes. “V...Valen..” She slithered right next up to it. “Valen.. Valen.. VALENTINO!!!!”

TBC

 

[Aya♥]

"Bansai, the show starts in 5 minutes and you haven't even done your makeup."  Bansai looked up at his manager but tilted his head back down.  It was still on his mind, that envelope that Kyuubei handed him just prior to him coming to the big show in Tokyo.  His biggest gig since becoming solo.  It was eating him up, even though he never opened it.  Just what he had said to her in the dressing room, his manners, and her body language.  It was all eating him up.

"David, I don't think I'm going to be able to attend the show tonight.  Haven't you seen the news reports of the Amanto Invasion?  It's not safe here, even with all the security."  Bansai said, showing Snake a photo from his phone of the giant worm creatures causing havoc in the city.  Snake shook his head,

"Don't worry about that, we have the highest of security here.  You, nor none of your audience will be hurt."  Snake reassured him, putting a corner of his codec screen on Bansai's shoulder.  Bansai stood up and turned his back to his manager.

"It's not my safety I'm worried about David.  It's bigger than that."  Bansai walked up the stairs that led to the left side of the large stage in the Tokyo Dome.  He turned back to face Snake,  "This may as well be my last performance."  Bansai turned back and walked on the stage as the whole crowd erupted in cheers and applause.  The Dome's roof was damaged from the Skolexian attack, but was heavily guarded by several persons in white coats.  From the right side of the stage, a car squealed and parked just out of site of the audience.  Isaburo stepped out, texting, and gave Bansai a thumbs up.  Bansai nodded and walked up to the microphone.  As he was about to introduce himself to the audience, half of a giant worm creature landed behind him from the damaged roof, splattering blood all over him.  Bansai turned around, shocked and saw a man with red hair emerge from the worm's body.

 

"Oh, sorry about ruining your set loser."  Enshou brushed himself off and flung guts off his laser beams.  The other half of the worm followed a few seconds later, this time with a sax covered in guts.  "Hey Sex God, I got some cuts on me."  Enshou snapped his fingers and Suave managed to play a single note with the little power he had left after the purple crystals halted his full potential.

"I can't heal you fully man, so don't get too hurt!"  Suave said, panting exhaustively.  Bansai narrowed his eyes at the two,

"You two interrupted my biggest show of all time."  Bansai pinched the bridge of his brow.  Enshou's ears perked up at this,

"So, you're playing a show?  Biggest of all time?  Maybe, broadcasted world wide?"  Enshou asked.  Bansai nodded.  Enshou smiled,

"Maybe they'll hear this.  Mind if I play with you?  I've got some music I need some people to hear."  Bansai shrugged as Enshou took his robe off and picked up his trumpet from a cartoon pocket.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Sorella, ay, Sorella!"

"Fratello..." Yuka's eyes were red, she was curled next to her Godbrother's ashes.  The snow was beginning to cover her, not caring much anymore about what nature would do to her already fragile state.  Her emotions completely overflowing, her mind drawing blanks.  She was whimpering, a sad state for a leader to be in.  Through the noise of the snow, the battle raging in the forest, and the voice of her Godbrother in her head; she did not see the foresight of something swooping in and picking her up from the snow.  She did not have the energy to struggle, or do anything in the state she was in.  Whatever picked her up, however, landed at the door of the cabin.  She was still looking at the white snow blanketing the ground as the door opened, and she was picked up again.  It placed her on a small bed next to the unlit fireplace.  She heard a match strike as dead wood began to crackle.  She moved her eyes to face the creature as it sat at the bedside table,

She stared back at this bird, familiar looking.  She realized soon that it was the same bird that sat upon that man's shoulders in the village.  She was confused as to why it saved her, but she soon remembered the story Roberta told her,

"You...must be Poe."  she managed to say.  Poe hopped around the small table before flying over to the other side of the cabin.

"Not many people come here anymore."  Yuka faced where Poe flew to and saw Oboro standing at the fire place.  He was looking at the dusty pictures lining the mantle.  He picked up a photo of him and Utsuro after a sparing session, long ago in his youth.  He sat it back down and turned to face Yuka.  "I saw what happened to Bonestein's liquid half...I'm sorry this had to happen to you."  Yuka eyed her solid half, still laying in mangled pieces near the living room couch.

"Poe and I, we didn't just come here by chance.  We figured something terrible was happening here, near this cabin.  I also see that Roberta-dono has plans to reset this universe."  Oboro walked over to the bookshelf, to the right of the fireplace.  The crackle of the fire, and several loud crashing sounds were the only things breaking the silence of the cabin.  Poe flew to the bookshelf and cocked his head at the missing book.  "She can try to say those phrases...but I'm afraid there's no way she'll be able to reset the universe."  Yuka managed to speak up,

"Is that...really a bad thing to do?  Wouldn't that mean I get to see my Fratello again?...Sophia?"  Yuka coughed as she was struggling to speak.  Oboro turned to face here and walked up to her.

"I understand that you've just gone through trauma.  You've lost someone close to you...and one who appears to have been apart of you.  I understand that you want them back.  I understand your pain."  Yuka mustered enough energy to slap Oboro in the face.  She quickly retracted her goo as it was extremely painful for her to move any more than she was already.  Oboro place his hand to his cheek,

"You'll never understand what I've been through mammal..."  Oboro shook his head.

"I've lost people in my life more times than I can even count.  I'm sure Roberta-dono told you about Sensei.  How he is...was an all powerful being.  Living for hundreds of years.  He's reset this universe dozens of times, yet after each reset I got used to losing people I grew up with.  People who fought with me and Sensei.  Then...I had to kill the 2nd most constant in my life.  I killed the man I gave my life to.  The man who let me be apart of his journey every universe after the next.  I didn't just give him my life...he provided me one.  I know why you think I don't understand what you've gone through, because I haven't.  But just as much as any creature, mammals can love to."  Oboro took a seat at the dinning room table he had sat at many times before.  Poe sat on top of the table, hopping around the cold wood.  Yuka coughed more, but couldn't think of words to say back to Oboro.  "I will collect Valentino-dono's ashes so that he does not get lost in this storm.  Please rest here."  Oboro stood up and walked out the door.  He walked to where Valentino's ashes were piled up.  "Sensei...I'm sorry but I cannot fulfill your wish.  I failed to protect Roberta-dono from herself.  However, I believe I can fulfill a similar task."  Oboro collected Valentino in a small, empty cookie jar and headed back to the cabin.

------------------------------------------------------------

"Dylan, was terrified.  Perhaps he was going mad.  Hearing strange voices calling out to him, and the sea growing such a menacing color."

  The audience laughed at Dylan, but he was struggling to understand what was happening around him.  He was staring at the comic book as it sat upon a small rock.  The madness was beginning to get to him.  "Maybe, he could just toss this book in the ocean and be done with it."  Dylan lamented.  The audience responded with a chorus of boo's.  "Maybe Dylan shouldn't have listened to the crazy man in the book.  These crystals are doing unspeakable things to him.  Going mad and perhaps will do something he'd regret."  Dylan said.  He peered into the book to see what was happening.  He noticed a large green hue coming from one of the panels.  The camera zoomed down to show the Skolexians raiding the Altana station, destroying everyone and everything in their path to get to the Altana.  Roberta led the charge, her face full of determination, anger, and sorrow.  It was a tiring mixture, but she wasn't going to be stopped.

"St-stop!  AHHHHG!"  the guards were shooting at the Skolexians, but their gunfire merely ricocheted off the giant beasts.  Almost as suddenly as they infiltrated the terminal, they were at its core.  They were ready to erupt Earth and suck its energy source.  The worms all formed a semi-circle around Roberta, she stared at the core.  Her mind was at break-neck speed, but she knew she needed as much raw Altana as she could.  She morphed back into her human form, but heard a small round of clapping coming from the top of the stairs that led down to the core.  She narrowed her eyes,

"Tendoushu..."

"Nice work Skolexians!  I applaud your destruction and chaos.  You've done much more to help us than that hapless hack who went into business for himself.  You especially Roberta!  You disposed of Yuka quite nicely.  She was merely a pawn in our game to control her people more easily.  She was always a weak leader...always denying our help.  Can't say I'll miss her."  one of the men stepped forward from the group.  Roberta watched as the man came up to her and offered a handshake.  She looked down at the hand,  "Are you ready to collect this Altana?  Earth's perhaps has the most pure in the entire galaxy...the same Altana that bore Utsuro."  Roberta thought back to her stay at his cabin, how much she knows.  "So what do you say?  Let's get this started."  Roberta nodded and extended her hand.  However, instead of a handshake, she ripped the man's arm completely off and used the arm as a bat.  She cracked the Tendoushu's head so hard that it split nearly in half.

"I don't bow to anybody.  I have to do this on my own.  My fellow Skolexians, if you're too afraid to join me then be my guest.  But if you're tired of being held down by this counsell, then rise up and help me change the world."  Robert raised the dismembered arm in the air and tossed it into the Altana core.  The other Tendoushu members stayed put.  One simply sighed,

"I guess we'll just have to cancel your mission and collect this Altana for ourselves, like we were going to do anyway.  I commend your efforts to thwart us anyway."  the Tendoushu began to de-robe and readied their blades.  Many of the Skolexians were confused, conflicted, and just stood around while Roberta began to charge headfirst at the Tendoshu.  She was shocked as all the Tendoushu ran past her and sliced through half her small army right then and there.  Electrical explosions and black blood spewed all around the terminal's core.  Roberta quickly turned around but was grabbed at the top of the stair case by two Tendoushu members.  She struggled, kicking and attempting to shape shift back into a human, but their grip was too powerful.  As she was struggling, she noticed that only their arms were grabbing onto her.  She turned to see their bodies tumble down the stairs.

"Who's here?"  she looked at the other end of the terminal and saw a man dragging himself towards her.

"It took me way too long to get here, you're way too fast Roberta.  Though with one arm, I still have some tricks left up my sleeve."  Hitsugi flung the blood off his arm blade and stood up to face her.

"Shouldn't you be with the binding?  I still need that purple Altana to reset the universe.  And I see you took your stash back from that Captain."  Hitsugi's pockets were lined with lumps, glowing a faint green.

"I'm getting rid of these Roberta...and you're the only thing standing in my way.  I'm already exhausted from hustling to get down here, and of course all the Skolexians you left to fight us...sometimes I underestimate my ability.  Now...will you let me pass?"  Roberta shook her head.

"I'm going to take those crystals from you even if I have to kill you."  she said, narrowing her eyes.

"And what of your people below you, surely getting slaughtered by those Tendoushu.  I'm certain that's just a messenger group sent by the top members.  Now please, let me dispose of these in their proper resting place."  Roberta morphed into her worm form and completely blocked the path downstairs.

"So, it's come to this Roberta.  You're making the same mistake I once did.  You're trusting nobody."  Hitsugi was cut off,

"I cannot trust, not anymore.  Not after what I did to Valentino."  Hitsugi was shocked,

"You...killed her Godbrother?"  Hitsugi gave her a look of surprise.

"I just want all this to start over...I won't make the same mistakes I've done in the past.  This is my 3rd chance at life...I have to make things right Hitsugi."

Hitsugi closed his eyes and got on his knees.  He placed his head down, bowing in her direction,

"I beg of you...not to make the same mistakes I've done in this life.  You've already done irreversible actions, but I can't sit and watch you do more harm.  What you may think is right, isn't right for everybody around you."  Roberta shape-shifted back into her human form.  She began to walk up to him, as he still laid his head down on the floor.  She stood over him, peering down at him.  She thought about what he told her, about having done irreversible actions already in this third life.

"I don't need you to beg at my feet Hitsugi.  Stand up, and fight me like a warrior."  Hitsugi, still kneeling down answered,

"Very well Roberta.  If I cannot convince you here, then there's only one person who can.  I will not be able to strike you down, not in the shape I'm in.  However," Hitsugi pressed against the ground and slowly raised to his feet, standing mere inches from Roberta,  "If you want to fight me, then I accept.  I will not hold back."  Roberta nodded and stepped away. 

Hitsugi held his hand in a stopping motion and took his vest off.  He tossed the crystals to the side of the room, and reached into his pocket.  He pulled out a small picture and gave it a smile.  He stuffed it back into his pants and signaled for Roberta to make the first move.  Roberta transformed into her worm form and charged at Hitsugi, who held his arm blade up to hold off her tackle.  His feet skid across the ground, digging into the metal floor below as she pushed him further and further through the empty terminal.  Eventually he hit a snag in the ground and flipped over, maintaining his balance.  She charged again, but this time Hitsugi dug his blade into the ground and vaulted over her.  Roberta smashed into the wall, ending up into the streets of Tokyo.  Several people scattered as members of the Hero Association were escorting people to safety, including Skele who didn't get a good glimpse of the explosion from his distance.  He was more concerned with helping the citizens.  Roberta quickly retaliated and flung her body at Hitsugi, knocking him into one of the train cars.  In his quick thinking, he rushed for the engineer's room.  Roberta shifted back to her human self to get on the train, just to morph back into her worm body the slither through and destroy the inside of the train car.  Hitsugi grabbed the lever to start the train, and it quickly snapped to life.  It was an express track, catching Roberta off guard as half the train car sped at nearly 200 MPH.  Hitsugi held onto the driver seat as the train car sped through the tunnel.  Roberta flipped and tumbled out of the destroyed half of the car, sustaining several scraps and cuts.  But her mind was already past the point of pain, she morphed into her worm body and squirmed through the tunnels.  As she was nearing the destroyed half, the train car beeped,

"Arriving in EDO.  Arriving in EDO"  the train's PA system boomed as Roberta used her teeth the cling onto the train car and eventually flipping her human self back onto the intact half.  He walked through the train as the windows blinked with the passing lights in the tunnel.  She was silent, using her senses to gauge where Hitsugi was at.  She headed for the engineer room slowly, but as she reached it and saw he was missing, the train slowed down and stopped at the Edo terminal.  It was completely empty, evacuated by the Shinsengumi earlier in the night.  She saw that the train would loop back to Tokyo in 5 minutes.  She began to head back and check the rest of the passenger cars that weren't left back in Tokyo.  She check the overhead compartments, under the seats, but he was nowhere to be found.  She didn't have the energy to say anything, nor did she want to give away here location so easily.  As she neared the torn up back half of the train, she peered out into the tunnel, but stepped back as Hitsugi fell from the roof of the train, slicing off some of her curly hair.  Roberta smirked as she ripped a pole out from inside to train to block the slashes and hacks from Hitsugi's blade.  Hitsugi stabbed straight through the pole, piercing Roberta's shoulder.  She quickly morphed into her worm form and busted the train from the inside, causing glass and metal shrapnel to fly at Hitsugi.  He managed to dodge and block all of it, but a metal plate had sliced his left leg open.  Roberta shot her tongue out and wrapped it around Hitsugi, but as she did the train blared out,

"Departing for TOKYO.  Departing for TOKYO."  the doors slid shut and the train belted down the tunnel.  It caught Roberta off guard, as Hitsugi stabbed into her upper jaw with his blade, causing her to drop him and morph back into her human form.  Hitsugi began to slice in her direction, but she was swift on her feet.  She ducked and dived over every swing.  One went array and Hitsugi's arm was stuck in the wall of the train car.  Roberta grabbed his arm and began kneeing him in the gut, and hit a swift kick to his arm.  Hitsugi winced as his arm made a loud cracking sound as he ripped it from the train.  The two stared off as the lights in the car flickered.  It was brief, but it felt beautiful.  The white noise of the train riding across the tracks contrasting with the loud scrapping and sparks just a few train cars down.  Hitsugi made the first move, stomping through the train's floor with his right leg, causing the train to bump and send Roberta hitting the ceiling.  Hitsugi pounced on her and began slicing.  She put her hands up, getting them sliced up.  She thrusted him off of her and scrambled to the engineer room as the train began to slow down,

"Arriving in TOKYO.  Arriving in TOKYO."  the train skid to a halt as Roberta ran for the staircase where Hitsugi tossed his vest.  She was faster than he was, using her worm form.  The Hero Association began to make their way through the terminal after evacuating all the citizens.  Hitsugi hobbled out of the train car with his bad leg as Skele approached him.

"Aren't you Hitsugi?  What happened to you?"  Skele asked.  Hitsugi leaned again a pillar in the terminal and faced Skele.

"Don't let her reset the universe Skele.  Don't let my final wish fall on deaf ears."  Hitsugi began to hobble quicker to where he encountered her from the start.  Skele stood there confused at what he meant by "final wish", he wasn't sure what to make of it.  Roberta slithered to the vest and morphed back into her human form.  But, as she lifted the vest, she realized she had been duped.  She emptied the contents in the vest, and it showed it was just green glowsticks.  "The Captain let me borrow those...heh, said he used them all the time with that creep Enshou."  Roberta dropped the vest and shook her head.

"It doesn't matter that you don't have those crystals.  Me and my Skolexians are about to harvest the Earth's core Altana.  I'll reset the universe within the hour."  Roberta revealed the book she took from Utsuro's cabin.  "I've studied the phrases he's used.  I'll make everything right again Hitsugi.  And, I'm sorry you can't understand why I must do this."  Hitsugi lunged himself at Roberta while she was talking.  She managed to dodge him and shove him into the wall of the terminal station.  "You think you can pull a fast one on me Hitsugi?  I've been around as long as you to not fall for something as simple as that."  Hitsugi smiled under Roberta's hand,

"I wasn't aiming for you, Roberta."  Roberta looked as Hitsugi had stabbed Utsuro's book.  Roberta let him go and stepped back.

"I told you Hitsugi, I have that phrase memorized."  Hitsugi threw the book from his arm and shook his head,

"It wasn't about you memorizing the book Roberta.  I just...can't look at something he once owned.  It reminds me of why I'm still here.  The last link to my past."  Hitsugi said, retracting his sword.  Roberta looked down and pointed at Hitsugi's pocket,

"And what about that picture?  You claim to want to rid that book, rid your past.  Yet, you looked at that picture before we tussled."  Hitsugi sighed as he felt for the picture in his pants.

"I...can't throw away that part of my past Roberta.  It's the reason I decided against my original idea.  It's not right for me to run away from the problems I've caused, the people I've hurt.  We're more similar than perhaps you may think.  We're always clinging to something."  Roberta turned from Hitsugi and began to head to the core of the terminal again, where the fighting was still raging on.  Hitsugi grabbed her shoulder, but it was a fatal flaw.  A trap Roberta knew Hitsugi would fall for in a vulnerable state.  She punched her fist directly through his chest just as Skele came down the terminal and met eyes with Roberta.

"He was in my way.  News flash, I'm resetting the universe,"  she looked down at Hitsugi, "send your regards to Valentino in the afterlife.  We'll meet again shortly."  Skele's eyes widened,

"What happened to Valentino?  HEY!  WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"  Skele demanded.  He began to sprint but Hitsugi managed to put his hand up.  Skele slowed down as Hitsugi was slumping over on Roberta's arm.  She ripped her fist out of his chest and headed down the stairs.  Hitsugi's wound poured blood to the floor as Skele picked him up.  "Don't worry, I'll get you help right away!"  Skele said, but Hitsugi smiled.

"Please...take the photo from my left pocket.  I want to see it one more time...."  Skele obliged, reaching into the man's pocket and pulling out the picture.  Hitsugi took the photo from Skele and stared at it, memories flooding back:

"You like it?  I think this whole set up is pretty neat.  Got the whole crew to myself!  Never before have I had something like this man.  We really worked ourselves up to the top."  Kaname laid back on a bench in a small park in Edo.  It was fairly empty, just a mere week before the Naraku invaded.  Hitsugi was leaning against the bench, facing out to the bustling street.  "What gives Big Man?  We got our whole army ready!  This is OUR MOMENT!"  Kaname said, popping up out of his seat.

"What about him?"  Hitsugi pointed to a small Amanto with a camera.  Kaname chuckled and patted the guy on the head.

"He's just a little photographer.  Figured I'd catch our great moments before the invasion, y'know?"  Hitsugi slighty smirked at Kaname's energy.  He'd never been around someone with so much vigor and pep.  It was a stark contrast to the stoic Utsuro, or the goofy Oboro.  It was someone that complimented his own stoic nature.  He needed that, not just someone like Kaname, but Kaname himself.  "Oh, I know!  Let's break in that ol camera, what'ya say?"  Kaname opened up his arms in excitement and extended them towards Hitsugi.  Hitsugi didn't want to show it, so he covered his mouth with his hand as he accepted the embrace.  The camera snapped as the little Amanto gave a thumbs up,

 Hitsugi let his mouth go, producing a genuine smile for the first time in years as he hugged Kaname, a man he's been searching for.  Hitsugi was staring at the same picture he took that day, laying in Skele's arms as the hero lifted him up to get him out of the terminal while the other heroes were just coming in.  Hitsugi was feeling numb, a feeling he's never really felt before.  Cold, yet he wouldn't let go of the photograph.  Hitsugi let out that same, genuine smile he had that day at the park.  He whispered, barely.  He couldn't tell if Skele heard him, but it was no matter to him.

"I freed myself Kaname... I did what I felt was right for the first time in my life.  The pain I've endured for hundreds of years...the hatred and sorrow.  The regret in my heart can cease...there is no more pain.  I am free...."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen and Steve were sitting on the cliff that overlooked the Globberian Village.  It was in near ruin as the battle had spilled there between the Skolexians and themselves.  Joe had rushed Josh to the hospital while the Gods were still fighting with the Globberians.

"Are you sure you're willing to go out there alone?"  Steve asked Stephen.  Stephen sighed,

"I'm the only one who can.  I'm apart of those purple Altana crystals out there.  You and Joe only have passed on DNA of it.  You two aren't powerful enough in this condition."  Stephen said, taking Steve's handy dandy Notebook.

"Will you come back...Stephen?"  Steve asked.  Stephen nodded,

"We have to get to know each other after all!  Your parents gave you my name!  Of course I gotta come back.  I just need to get the book in a safe space, where I know it won't get harmed.  Hitsugi is doing his part, as the Earth's core hasn't erupted yet.  Glad he changed his mind when we needed him to most.  But, you guys aren't the only reason I have to come back."  Stephen's thoughts still flickered to that dastardly redhead once again, just couldn't escape his mind.  Steve patted Stephen on the back.

"I'll see ya Cap'n!  Please be safe."  Steve said, giving the Captain a hug.

"Likewise kid."  Stephen got up and took a deep breath,

"Blue Skadoo'd, we can too!"  Stephen jumped through the bindings and tumbled out in the cave right next to Dylan who screamed at the top of his lungs.  The audience clapped as Stephen landed.

"DYLAN WAS COMPLETELY IN SHOCK AT WHAT HE WAS SEEING.  AN OLD MAN HAD JUMPED OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM."  Dylan yelled, but the Captain reassured him.

"It's ok boy, I'm not here to hurt you.  I can actually help you.  I know my way around the sea, so don't worry."  Stephen grabbed the comic book, as Dylan stared stunned.  "Hmm?"  Stephen peered at the comic book and saw a small panel that caught his eyes.  The Captain peered at it just enough to catch what was happening, and more importantly could hear what was happening.  At the same time, Yuka was resting in bed while Oboro had the radio softly playing in the cabin.  Poe was spoon feeding Yuka tomato soup, which was just kind of seeping out of her liquid state and into the bed.  But she could faintly hear the radio,

"Could you please turn that up, mammal."  Yuka asked, softly.  Oboro turned the radio up, and could hear a broadcaster talking about a huge finale,

"That's right folks!  The grand finale of Bansai Kawakami's first major show is coming up!  And, it appears he's taking to the piano!  Let's have a listen!"  the broadcaster turned off and the mic cut to the stage.

"Alright, for my last number, I'm turning it over to our random and special guest tonight: Enshou, the Supreme Overlord of Burei!"  Yuka sigh with agony while Stephen listened in carefully.

"This one...is dedicated to two people I care very much about.  I've taken some time to find myself these past few days.  Staring in Broadway Musicals, doing impromptu musical numbers in the streets, to even burning down an entire Wkea.  This one is called, Thoughts of Love.  To those two listening, you know who you are.  I'm sorry for what I've said to you both, I hope someday you'll forgive me.  I just want it to be like old times...we all wish it were.  But, we can't have that.  We need to look towards the future, one with more Enshou.  And one with more peace.  A war is raging just outside of this stadium, and I want to remind everyone how music can make a change.  Hit it Bansai."  Enshou pushed the microphone stand aside and took a deep breath,

Suave was backing up the rest of the instruments as Enshou poured his heart out for the world to hear, and even beyond.  No words needed to be sung, but Stephen understood.  Yuka hid under the pillow she was resting on, but couldn't deny the feeling portrayed by the estranged man.  Stephen felt a tear form in his eye as he pressed the comic book against his chest.  Dylan was confused and sunk further into the cave to get away from this crazy old guy crying and hugging a comic book.  He placed the comic opposite of the green Altana he had stored in his coat.  He walked out of the cave to the raging storm happening around him.  He took in the beauty of the purple sky and sea and smiled.

"Thank you Hitsugi.  I'm grateful you entrusted me with these crystals."  Stephen stepped up to the sea and reached into his pocket.  He fished out the last of Kaname's Altana Crystals and tossed the small sack into the ocean.  Stephen booked it back to the cave as the green and purple crystals began to react with each other, causing a blinding light to shoot from the ocean and douse the sky in a muddy gray color.  The result of the two colors mixing.  Dylan was entranced by the light, but Stephen pulled him deeper in the cave.  Everyone in the comic noticed the sky was dimming, turning into a wintery gray, instead of the intense purple.  The Gods fighting along with the Globberians felt their powers mounting, but a few people did not notice.  Roberta got back to the core and finished off the last of the Tendoushu's messengers.  Her whole crew had perished however.  The core terminal was like the scene of a massacre, something she did not want to think about.  But, before she could continue with unleashing the Altana into the sky, a lone hero stepped down from the floor above.

"You must stop...what did you do to Valentino."  Roberta turned to face Skele.  She gave him a somber expression,

"I cannot express my regret for killing...who I presume was your liquid, through words.  I can only change the past through actions."  Skele clinched his fist and looked up at Roberta.

"Not if I have anything to say about it."  Skele rushed towards Roberta as she was about to unleash the terminal controlling the Altana.

TBC

Edited November 12, 2019 by Moxley♥

[Cha]

Skele and Roberta stared at each other in a dead eye lock for a few moments. But every second of them felt dreadfully long. Suddenly, Roberta broke out first, she changed back into her worm form and charged Skele. He clung against the walls and narrow steps tightly as she charged against him, moving in the nick of time and avoiding the steep fall into a sudden death by the Altana core several feet below them. He had to think fast, any move from this woman could be his last. 

“I don’t know what you feel like you’ll gain from stopping me, solid.” She spoke out while as a worm, her voice having a screeching sound to it that rattled Skele’s bones. 

“I’m not gonna let you destroy Earth and the universe that I have spent my entire life protecting, Roberta!” 

Skele was on the opposite end of the terminal from her but drew out his sword for her to strike again. She tried coming at him again with bites, he dodged some and managed to slash the top of her face up a bit. She hit him really hard the next time but he slipped out of the way and she slammed into the metal wall, causing it to dent out. But this was only a distraction to the skeleton’s attention as she went next time to headbutt the stairs out of the wall. Skele jumped into the circular dent in the wall as he stared at the falling stairs finally reaching the green glowing core and disintegrate on impact. 

But his fixation in a millisecond snapped to Roberta slapping her tail at him as he held it back with his all the might of his sword. They broke this stance only for a second before Roberta picked up Skele quicker before he could slash it at her. She coiled her tail around him like a cobra and stared him in the face. Roberta made a loud screeching as she unlatched her jaw revealing rows of dark sharp pointy teeth covered in drool. She slowly descended Skele inside but he managed to wiggle his upward sword from his restrained arms. 

His right arm loosened from her slimey grasp and right before he entered inside, he stuck the sword into her gums, causing a barrier in her mouth. Roberta winced in pain as she could not physically move it out with her slimey tongue. Skele took this distracted opportunity to ease his slender body through her grip. He landed and stumbled for a moment as he almost fell over the tight steps. He wiped the sweat from his skully head. 

“Man, whoever built this terminal definitely didn’t make it for comfort!” He exclaimed. 

He saw in that moment as Roberta finally managed to pry his sword from her jaw, the stabbed hole in the guns bleeding out her mouth with black liquid.  She flung the sword down into the Altana abyss as Skele gasped as he watched it disintegrate. Roberta just smirked. 

Meanwhile on the other side of Edo in its castle, a redhead bursted through the doors of the royals. They all turned around. 

“Hey who let that platonically handsome man through these doors?!” Nobunobu pointed his hand that wasn’t still shaking Barkas’s at Enshou but the man ignored everyone. 

“W-what the hell?!” Barkas said as Enshou grabbed his free hand and snatched him away. Everyone mostly just shrugging and returning to the events going on outside the window. 

“Big brother!” Hata called out. 

Enshou was still holding Barkas’s hand as they were running through the streets. Enshou saw a worm coming at them and broke free of Shijaku, using his laser swords to hack it up.

“What did you want, Enshou? I was in the middle of very important royal transition.” Barkas said from down below but Enshou just gave him a look. “Oops.” Barkas got out his own sword and helped the prince out.

“Shijaku, I managed to get in contact with all of our Liberation Army allies and told them about the situation on Earth- HIYYAH!” Enshou spun in in the air with the ends of his sabers touching and to slash down another like General Wrievous. 

“Really?!” Barkas’s face changed to an excited expression, he grinned as he jumped up in the air and stabbed the worm in the heart.

“Buuuuut all of them declined. Said the ‘Tendoshu was destroyed at Koukan’. THE IGNORANT FOOLS!” Enshou hacked off the Skolexian’s head, this time stealing some moves from Darth Waul. But Stupid Idiot Barkas didn’t pay any attention to his wicked cool possible sexy boyfriend’s moves. I was forced to write that last sentence by two pink sabers at my back.

“Oh great.. we’re all alone then as the universe gets destroyed.” Barkas said in a monotone.

“Except one ally agreed on the offer!” Enshou pointed to the snowy distance with his sabers to some odd looking red tanks. 

“That.. that looks like my brother’s..” Barkas was dumbfounded and his eye rapidly twitched at the stupidness  as the tanks came closer.

The Justaway Tanks begun launching missiles at the worms, destroying them on impact. Another worm was coming towards a distracted Barkas staring at the needing to be censored tanks.

“GET DOWN!” Enshou pushed him out of the way. they fell on the side of the street on top of each other.

“It’s funny Shijaku how we’re once again about to end up having sex.”

“GET OFF!!!” Barkas yelled and kicked the redhead away. Enshou passed out upon impact with the ground for no reason and laid there in his imaginary dream world.

“Don’t worry my Dark Overlord of Wickness! You’ll manage to win Shijaku’s heart and crotch one of these days!” Lady TBC reassured her king.

“The heart of my crotch pulses for you, brother!” Big Oaf Doofus chimed in.

Meanwhile back at the castle, everyone was watching the dazzling displays of the shots coming from the Justaway jet armstrongs. A frowning Hata was sitting with his pudgy knees drawn up to his chest as Sougo watched from a distance. 

“Big brother..” He kept saying. Sougo rubbed the back of his head and finally walked over to the bubblegum prince. Hata looked up, his eyes running with rainbow colored mascara. 

“Hey I just wanted to tell you..uhh.” Sougo looked around and finally sighed out. “That it’s gonna be okay.” Hata gasped.

“Thank you that’s so sweet!” He pulled down the cop in for a soft bear hug Sougo couldn’t escape from.

Sadaharu was anxiously moving in his sleep, causing the distracted lot leaning up against him to sway around. 

“Arf!” He shot up from the floor and broke away from everyone. Kagura turned her attention to her dog as he begun bolting out of the castle. 

“Sadaharu!! Where are you going?” Kagura called out she started running after him.

“Kagura-chan!” Soyo exclaimed worried as she watched her best friend leave. 

“This is not good.” Shinsuke was pacing around outside of the Snack Shop with Shinpachi and as Gintoki was using the payphone for a very important call. “All the roads are block from this point, I can’t reach Honey or the rest of my crew.”

“Yeah can I get a beefy queefy burrit-“ Shinsuke and Shinpachi smashed the booth’s glass in synchronization with their feet. 

Sadaharu came running up to them with Kagura on his back and two other people.

“NOT MORE BRAIDED HAIR PEOPLE!” Shinsuke hid behind Shinpachi as he smiled at the two individuals he saw.

“Ane-san! Mone-san!” Shinpachi exclaimed.

“Actually I’m Ane, my sister is Mone.” She said while petting her own small white dog Komako.

“We’re gonna control the Altana mahthingy mabob from overflowing! Gin-san get your smelly motorcycle and follow us!” Kagura exclaimed. 

Gintoki sluggishly obeyed and pulled it out of his apartment above. He revved it up and all of them bolted through rural areas to downtown Edo. 

“We’re getting close up there! Prepare for all the Skolexians everyone!” Mone told the trio on the motorcycle behind. 

“Aw man why am I on the back of Gintoki. Shinsuke whined. “I don’t want him to feel my crotch up against him.” Dead eyes Gintoki then purposefully leaned his bike to the side to shake him off, as Shinsuke was loudly yelling. 

“OI KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO!!” Shinpachi barked and the motorcycle went back to normal. “Hey isn’t this just a rip-off of the Silver Soul arc anyway? I mean the Altana core of Earth breaching, inugami, Tendoshu and the Altana Liberation?” Shinpachi asked. 

“The whomstveberation.” Gintoki said and clicked the speaker on his bike to play Lowrider as Shinpachi’s face darkened once again.

In the heart of Edo, the Kaientai and Kiheitai/Jouishishi along with the Justaways fought side by side against the Skolexians. Having both ships come in contact sometime earlier that day after witnessing the city wide destruction. Luckily for the terrorists, the cops and heroes were too busy fleeing out citizens out of Edo and other areas to take notice of them.

“Ahahaha! Look at all these worms, our men and Justaways go! Eh, Mutsu? Lt? Mr. Takasugi?” Tatsuma was shooting rounds at one with all three of the others covering each other’s backs.

“Mr. Takasugi jana- Wait no. That’s actually correct.” Katsura smiled and crossed his arms. As one came screeching up in his face, he grabbed it by its sides. “Aww who’s a cute wittle wormy permy larmy?” Katsura’s head was then engulfed in the creature as he screamed out for help. 

“Don’t worry Captain Takasugi I got ya!” Mikey tried heaving the terrorist out of its jaw with no luck.

“Captain Takasugi jana- no wait. That’s correct too.” Katsura said as his head was visibly bleeding inside of it. 

“DON’T WORRY WE GOT YA SUGI BOY! HAHAHA!” Tatsuma grabbed hold of Mikey and pulled backward as well.

“Sugi Boy JANAI Katsura da! No wait, Takasugi da! Katsura. No. Takasugi! No. Katsura!” The worm even was looking at them in confusion and scratched his head with his tail. 

“I really wonder which idiot will die first...” Mutsu said in a monotone. 

As they were fighting, they saw Sadaharu with the priestess sisters, Yorozuya and Shinsuke running past the mix crowds of Amanto. 

“HOOOONNEY!” Shinsuke saw his husband’s head stuck inside a worm and dove off the speeding motorcycle painfully landing on his bottom. 

“Haha midget!” Kagura exclaimed out.

“We’ll catch you all later!” Ane told them.

Shinsuke pushed Tatsuma and Mikey out of the way and tried pulling Katsura out himself. Mutsu shook her head as she walked over and opened the jaw with ease. She pulled out Zura drenched in black spit.

“M-my hero..” Katsura sniffled and jumped into Shinsuke’s arms. The yato sighed out annoyed. The rest of the terrorist mains were fighting close by.

-My warrior princess, reunited with me once again..- Elizabeth had tears in his eyes as he fought side by side with Sooyoung. -If we survive this, I-I want to marry you.- Elizabeth’s covered his mouth. 

“Oooh can’t back now!” Matako and Takechi called out from where her and not him were fighting. 

-W-Wait no. That would ruin the status quo of our group!- Elizabeth shook his sign and then proceeded to hit a worm with it. 

-NOOOOOOO NOT THE WOOGLE DOC- Elizabeth sign screamed. Sooyoung just looked at him blank face as always and he sweatdropped in embarrassment of this outburst. -I mean.. i-if you wanted to.- 

As the bandmates were fighting, three more worms race up to them catching them off guard. They dropped to the floor prepared for the worst when suddenly they saw nearly visible string wrap around the worms heads and with a loud strung, they sliced off, spewing black goo everywhere. When the bodies fell over they saw a single man standing there. 

“Room for some stupid dude who did their friends more dirty than these slimey pesks?”

Matako, Elizabeth and Takechi looked at each other for one serious moment before they all grabbed Bansai’s wrist and flung him in a big puddle of black goo. He was annoyed for one second before laughing it off with them. He scrambled to his feet and joined his reunited friends in battle. 

“Hey stupid, you were just in time!  Guess what? Lizzy’s getting married this round!” Matako exclaimed.

-NO I’M NOT!- Elizabeth snapped.

“Congrats dude!” Bansai grabbed him in an unbreakable arm hug. “I guess that means I get our room and get to burn all YOUR irreplaceable and valuable stuff this time.” He made a dark smile, Elizabeth just sweatdropped.

Tatsuma wiped the black goo from his shades as he heard the loud engines of ships behind him. Shinsuke looked up himself, his eye’s pupil shrink.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!” Shinsuke screamed and opened in a worm’s mouth just to climb into it for safety and closed it behind him.

“Well if isn’t a familiar face!” Tatsuma smiled as he turned around to see a man in a duck wave from his duck ship window as it landed.

“Hey Earth alleys! I came back! HHHHH, CHAIN CHOMPS?!” Eren pointed excitedly to the Skolexians and immediate dashed off his aircraft. He met Katsura face to face for one single silent serious moment.

“SUPER KATSUO AND MONDAY ELUIGI BROTHERS!” They slapped on their overall outfits and phoney baloney mustaches begun physically slashing through the beasts with their unleashed gamer powers.
 
“I’M GONNA SAY ALL THE BIRD SLURS! WAH HOO!” Eren stepped on a barking Skolex Chomp’s head and it disintegrated into a floating golden coin. Mutsu’s eye was now twitching from a distance.

As Yorozuya and the priestesses kept running on, a sea of poisonus needles suddenly stopped them in their path. Two of the needles landing on the dogs, causing them to fling backwards to the ground in pain.

“SADAHARU!” Kagura yelled out.

“KOMAKO!” The sisters shouted as well.

A large number of Naraku men stepped forward, tipping their hats before attacking the gang before they could take care of the pets. 

“I didn’t know the Naraku even had any members alive left!” Shinpachi exclaimed as he was blocking blows with one and their martial arts. “Or at least more than a few that went off after Koukan!”

“These aren’t real Naraku..” Mone said as her and her sister trapped some in spell barrier of sorts. 

“Skolexians..” Gintoki kicked two out of the way as they were in pre-merging back as themselves. 

“You mammals really don’t know how long those Tendoshu slave drivers have been controlling us and controlling you, do you? Half of your Naraku has been us for ages.” One said and a few flung some poisonous needles towards Gintoki. He dodged most of them with his wooden sword, the other two being bounced off of Kagura’s open umbrella.  

“Oi, worms aren’t good unless to pee on.” With a look of determination and disgust, she closed it and used it as a continous firing gun. Sadaharu managed to struggle up to his feet despite the poison inside of him now. Gintoki got on top of him and they charged to one of them.

”Let’s save the day, buddy.”

The worm swallowed the two whole and burped a seconds later. It used a napkin to wipe off its face and slithered way like nothing happened. The other four stood there with darkened faces.

“WHAT!?!” Shinpachi yelled out. “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SERIOUSNESS!? DID THEY DIE?! GIN-SAAAAAANNNN!!”

“Aren’t you getting tired of these games, solid?” Roberta had enough of dodging and exchanging blows with the man. She reverted back to her humanoid form. Her and Skele were still on opposite ends of the staircase. 

“I’m getting tired your games, Roberta! Destroying innocent lives just for one mission you have in mind?

“Oh such a nice guy. Do people ever call you that, Skele? I feel like they do. Nice guys bore me.” Roberta decided to bolt down the remaining steps further, she jumped past the do not enter barrier as Skele ran down the opposite end. 

“You’ll get yourself killed in the process if you do this!” Skele exclaimed, Roberta shook her head and stared into the bright core.

“I would have been wiped of my memories if I successfully undid these universes anyways.” She felt a square object inside her shirt. “Plus I would have sacrificed myself if it meant finally undoing the damage I did to her.” Roberta pulled out the photo she had on the window of her news truck earlier of her and Yuka’s first date after a singing gig. “According to Billy, I didn’t even know Yuka in the first universe. So it would be a perfect chance to make sure I don’t hurt her or Valentino..” Skele was right behind her now, he cautiously held up his hands. 
 
“If you care for them both-“

“ENOUGH of your good guy babble. I’m unresetting this world.” Roberta readied herself and then slowly started to remember the lines to the Latin. But Skele kicked her down in a flash. She returned some swings but was no match for Skele’s in her humanoid state. She tried to turn back into a worm but he had her arms twisted behind her back. She begun chanting more Latin. 

“Stop please!” Skele covered her mouth but she kept saying it. “Think about all the Globberians, Skolexians and countless others lives you would erase! Do you think Yuka would want that?! How about Valentino?! Huh?!” 

“You don’t have much of a spine for being a solid do you? If you’re so concerned about everyone’s safety why don’t you throw me over and kill me?” Roberta then broke free of his grasp and pushed him closed to the edge of the ramps with her worm form. 

“I’m trying to explain it so you don’t regret it in your grave, Roberta! But if you keep reciting those words I will have no choice but to kill you, if it means saving everyone else.” Skele skidded his boney feet across the mental floors as he tried resisting the pressure. 

He pulled some stars from his belt’s pocket and slashed at her tail, causing her to wince in pain. She punched him away with her tail and he fell over the railing into the core. Roberta slithered over to see his demise but was met with a hefty kick to her wormy face. 

Meanwhile, Stephen was inside deeper of the cave with Dylan. Stephen gave the boy his jacket as he was sound asleep while Stephen was intensely watching the scene taking place. 

“It wouldn’t do her good anyway. The Koukan crystals contaminated the purple ocean out here. Earth’s Altana is the only pure enough green crystal to reset the universe if it comes in contact with the outside world’s.”  He shook his head but then moments later felt some distant rumbling from outside the cave. He ran outside leaving Dylan sleeping. “W-what the..Oh no.”

“That grinning idiotic mammal didn’t think I knew he was hoarding purple Altana crystals in his cabin. Huh, wonder how he got them. Guess that’s another story for another arc.” Roberta joked as she reverted back to being a humanoid with her injured right leg and pulled it out from the same place over her heart that she kept the picture. Skele’s eye sockets went wider. “Leave it to a bird brain like his assistant to make sure it didn’t get into wrong hands.”  She turned back to Skele. “Kill me if you must, bag of bones. Because once I finish these last words and throw these crystals into this terminal, the eternal struggle finally over with.” 

Skele knocked her to the ground surprising the woman and grabbed the crystal from her hand and he stepped on it, shattering into hundreds of pieces. Roberta casually sat up and dusted herself off,

“Hilarious. But I have plenty more.” She took some out and Skele tried attacking her again but she pushed him off of her. 

She blocked more of his attacks, all while supporting an annoyed look. She reverted back into a worm and grabbed him. She slithered over to the railing and tried shaking him off but he kept clinging on. He managed to get on top of her tail without falling, he climbed up her body and stabbed her in chest with his stars. She roared in pain but couldn’t reach Skele with the angle he was at. Roberta slammed against the terminal but he dodged it and went straight to the front of her face and used one of his gas bombs causing it to temporarily blind her senses. She reverted back to a human with black blood pouring on different angles of her body and her injured leg. She covered her eyes from the toxic smoke as threw the purple altana in the distance, thinking it went over the railing but instead Skele caught it. 

“Helps when you don’t have the traditional eyes or nose!” Skele exclaimed. 

She ignored the watering pain of her eyes and tried to look for him in the blinding smoke. He sneaked up behind her and slashed her, but she turned around and punched him square in the jaw but fought her back. The woman finally had enough again, in an instant she grabbed his arm, morphed into a cannon and shot him out of it. He flew through the sky and tried grabbing the railing but with no luck. He skidded down the terminal as it got more and more narrower. 

“Universum figere, ut nubem iniquitates tuas et dolore!” She chanted. 

He threw out the final star in his belt using it as anchor. Worm Roberta was now slamming into the walls purposefully to get him to sink lower. 

“Universum figere, ut nubem iniquitates tuas et dolore!”

Skele held onto the little star but one more jolt of banging caused the purple altana stored in his pocket to fall out.

“UNIVERSUM FIGERE, UT NUBEM INIQUITATEE TUAS DEL DOLORE!” She had a crazed and snapped look in her eyes now.

“NOOO!” Skele yelled as he visibly watched it go further and further until it made a little splash in the enormous pit the colors mixed as it made sizzling sounds. 

All of a sudden, violent spews of the mixture blew upward in the station, but some blurred item hit Skele before he was impacted. This explosion causing everyone fighting on the streets and in the solar system to temporarily look up at the marvelous but frightening sight from Earth’s core. The skies resumed their previous purple and green hues. The storm picked up again as Stephen looked at it with horror.

“NO!” He yelled. He then skadoo’ed back into the book and into the streets. He ran past the terrorists, Justaways, Renho, Skolexians, Yorozuya, and others until reaching the terminal . Steve was also within running distance of there. 

“STEPHEN!” He shouted but they kept running up the starcase that led to the fuming chambers down below. Roberta had survived the blast due to her thick worm skin but Skele was no where to be found. The blast from the terminal was still going but it wasn’t as strong, so Roberta slithered where the railing once was. 

“It’s happening.. the unsetting of the universes..” She sighed out in disbelief. “It seems I have even outmastered you, Utsuro, man born of both Altanas.”

An unknown man appeared behind her unknowningly now, slowly walking in to avoid the toxic blasts. With the strength of two people, he kicked Roberta  outside of the terminal room with a unheavenly blast, it sent her outside of the structure. She turned back into a humanoid and stared at the person who bested her so quickly.

“S-Skele..?” She squinted her eyes.

“Zelus.” He replied back and stopped her with his sword before she got up. 

“We have to get up to there!” Steve exclaimed as Stephen and him were climbing up the stairs. But it overflowed with the gleaming liquids and they ran back to the base for safety. Oboro and Poe appeared next to them tipping his strawhat. 

“It’s too late you two, this is biggest amount of raw supernatural energy I have ever seen.” Oboro looked up. “Roberta has done it, she has caused such a damage that every space time continuum ever concieved might collasp.”

“You mean it won’t just change the universe, it will destroy any universe?!” Steve exclaimed to his elders.

“Yes, but there’s no definite absolute telling what this can do at this point, Steven-dono. That’s the most frightening part.” Oboro’s face was darkened with the upmost seriousness. 

Zelus lashed out at Roberta and held up his unique glowing sword with a skeleton symbol on the handle. Roberta stood up in battle stance but even more confused now. 

“What kind of Globberian are you?” She asked the man. 

“A unique liquid and solid morph of superior minds and forces.” He slashed her neck with his sword, she yelled out in pain. He was easily able to kill her but something held him back. “We don’t have time to kill her now, Yuka. We have to focus on the universe at hand!” The man said to himself.

“Yuka..?” Roberta said.

But Zelus’s face went dark and he begun wailing on Roberta’s face with his fists, she could do little since her arms were pinned back. 

“YOU DON’T DESERVE TO HAVE LIFE! NOT AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO VALENTINO! HOW FUCKING STUPID IT WAS FOR ME TO ACTUALLY GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AFTER FINALLY GETTING OVER WHAT YOU DID TO ME! I FUCKING TRUSTED YOU.” Zelus kicked her some more, Roberta allowing it. “I LET YOU INTO MY LIFE. I EVEN LOVE YOU.” Roberta’s face was bloody and bruised now, her heart was damaged even more emotionally. Yuka looked as streamed down Roberta’s face, Yuka unable to not tear up herself turned her back to not show emotion. Finally Skele snapped her out of it and pulled their body off the woman. Roberta softly spoke out with pain in her tone.

“After this universe is gone away with, you won’t have the burden of the lost of your brother, Yukes. Luckily for you, you won’t even know me.” Zelus still had his back turned to her. 

“Do you know why I came back to help these mammals, Roberta? Do know despite my physical and emotional pain, I am risking my life just to put a stop to a timeline where I could possibly have my family back?” He said, Roberta just continued staring at the snow. “I’m not running away from my problems. I’m facing them head first because I know now these Earthlings would actually do the same for me and my kind.” Zelus watched on the streets as Katsura helped out a smaller Globberian who was having a hard time defending himself against a Skolexian. The Skolexians were growing tired, their minds distracted by the terminal as well. “I don’t know if it’s Skele telling me this, my conscious or whatever is left inside of me of Sophia and Valentino. But think about yourself, your people and face this problem at hand. Do you want to run away from your problems again?”

Roberta manage to sit up for the first time and had her knees to her aching chest.

The sky was rapidly changing hues now, from purple to green and back. Joe could see it from the hospital window as Josh was sound asleep. Joe sighed. The fighing between the others and the Skolexians finally ceased as the worms told them they have given up. They reverted back to their humanoid forums and stood there by the humans and other amantos as the universe was in its mid-stages of undoing itself. One worm continued to slither up to the terminal though. It transformed back to a human, causing the two individuals inside to spill out. Gintoki got back on his dog as nodded to the Skolexian as he nodded back. 

“ARRFFF!” He kicked in into high gear as the priestesses and yorozuya watched from a distance where the rest of the crowd was gathered. 

“GIN-SAN!”

“GIN-CHAN!” 

He ran up the crumbling station, literally coming apart from the impact of the crystals. Sadaharu galloped through small patches where the liquid wasn’t touching the ground until finally reaching the core itself. Gintoki hesistantly looked at it but Sadaharu jumped down into it.

“SADAHARUUU!” Gintoki yelled. The dog disappeared into the molted core. However, he popped up momentarily and barked like a happy pup. He begun clenching his entire body.

“Oh of all times to drop a load..” Gintoki rubbed his face but he watched as the dog was harvesting the energy inside of the terminal which was his born given job. 

The pup was struggling but determined. Gintoki decided to meet up with his children, as it wasn’t safe for him there alone. He passed by Steve, Stephen and Oboro as he dashed away. The dog was helping reverse the effects of the sky somewhat but he needed to generate much more power. Roberta looked at this and furrowed her eyebrows and begun chanting the same phrase over and over again.

“UNIVERSUM FIGERE, UT NUBEM INIQUITA-!” She looked down and felt the glowing sword in her chest. 

“You will never change will you, Roberta?” Zelus extracted the glowing sword now drenched in black blood from her body and she laid limp. He examined the body and stood over it to avoid any complications. His expression was sorrowsome.

“How do we generate more power for Sadaharu, Miss Mone Boss Lady and Miss Ane Boss Lady?!” Kagura asked the sisters from where they stood. 

“Our powers are not enough to contain both Altanas. We’re gonna need the support of everyone here.” Mone said.

“If they release positive energy, it should be able to guide Sadaharu on his journey!” Ane stood in front of the crowd and they gave positive loud responses in return. 

They begun giving the dog words of encouragement, yelling it loud enough to hope he could hear it. Sadaharu was struggling and panted but was holding on. After some time, half of the Earth was returning back to clear blue skies, but the other half was still holding on. Steve, Stephen and Oboro ran into the crowd and started shouting as well. 

“You can do it Sadaharu!” They all shouted. 

Oboro was continuously shouting not hearing the others when suddenly it went completely quiet. He stopped and looked at Poe. His beak dropped as well.

The entire crowd was frozen in time. He looked up at the terminal that was still blasting up. Stephen scrambled through the crowd as the two anxiously ran around the city and saw all the same thing. 

“Oboro.” Stephen pointed to the sky. The purple and green part was violently blinking now, after several finally stopped, Oboro and Stephen were absolutely shocked at what they saw. 

“Oi what is this?” Kid Gintoki was tapping at the sky, he shrugged and continued on his way to class. The sky shifted again to random points in universe one’s history. 

“A gateway to the past while this universe is still somewhat here?” Stephen couldn’t even process what was going on now.

“I always knew Sensei was aware of time even in the past. I wonder if this is how he did it..” Oboro said with his jaw still open. Billy, Jazzy and Suave ran up to them as they previously had been in the midst of the fight in the Globberian village. Suave’s glasses fell off his face as his mouth was wide open. 

“The old man is gonna kill all three of us..” Even Billy was in silent shock. 

They didn’t even notice that someone else still unpaused had ran past them.

“ROBERTA!” Stephen yelled out. 

“How careless it was for Yuka to pick up Skele’s sword in the core, it was endlesly glowing with Altana. It has given me just enough juice and universal awareness to finally change history.” She used her newfound energy to morph into a worm and flew herself up to the portal. Stephen, Oboro and Poe looked at the gods.

“You three definitely have more power than we do in our current state. Go after Roberta-dono, we’ll try to patch things up here.” Jazzy said and Stephen, Oboro and Poe nodded and ran off.

“YEAH and with what kind of powers, fishy?” Billy sarcastically asked.  

“Man, I wish I had green altana to help save the day.” Suave played a somber note on his instrument.

“TELL ROBERTA I’M MAKING A NEW METHOD OF TORTURE INSIDE HELL JUST FOR HER!” Billy yelled out in the distance.

“How do we even get up there?” Oboro asked the old man. 

“Just hold on tight you two! Blue skadoo’ed we can too!” The Captain grabbed onto Oboro and Poe and away they flew inside the portal. Roberta looked in the portal below her.

It was a purgatory of sorts, she didn’t know what lay in the distance of that white door but she had no time to think as Oboro and Stephen had just entered themselves. She ran through the chaotic loud noises of several points of history both in her universe and countless others. 

“ROBERTA! DON’T GO IN THERE!” Stephen shouted but she ignored him. She exited through a portal and landed inside someone’s apartment.

She got up from the ground and looked around. The phone was ringing through out the room

"OOOOIIIII SOMEBODY PICK UP THE PHONE!" A voice bellowed from the bathroom. 

 "Whatever, I'll get it." A permheaded man stood up sluggishly and slothed his way over to the phone. Roberta scrambled up and hid behind the door. Unluckily for her Kagura saw her and opened it up. 

“Oi Gin-chan. I found another stalker, should I put her in the drawer with the other one?” The girl opened it up and Sacchan was smiling and blushing. Suddenly Stephen and Oboro came through the portal, and landed in a heap. Gintoki stood there with the phone resting on his shoulder now. Kagura and Shinpachi joined him.

“Hello?! Hello?! Is this Yorozuya?!” Ozu called from the other line but Gintoki hung up. 

“Oboro..” Gintoki drew his wooden sword.

”Shiroyasha, why it it the only time you actually call me by my name it’s when the universe collapsing.” Oboro shook his head but rushed towards the woman. 

“ROBERTA!” He shouted. She slammed open the front door and ran out into the streets, Stephen and Oboro running after her. Yorozuya stood at the front door scratching their heads.  “She completely destroyed it! The domino effect of the first original event of the comic book! I can’t believe it!” Oboro exclaimed and him and Poe put their hands to their heads.

“First original event?” Stephen raised an eyebrow at the man and his bird. Oboro started to explain himself.

“You see Captain, up until that point, the comic book had been completely acting like its canon self for the most part anyway. But for some reason it sparked originality with that call to my boss Ozu-dono. That event is the spiral for the entire collection of unique characters merged together in one comic book that you see here today.” 

“..I’ll make sure to write that one down in my notes..” Stephen scratched his head. Poe then pecked on them to get their attentions.

“Caww!” He said.

“There she goes!” Oboro and Poe pointed to Roberta entering another portal. 

They sped towards it just before it collasped. Roberta was running through several different timeframes and universes, entering and exiting out of portals with the three Altana beings following her. They landed inside of Ozu’s penthouse which was stormed with many individuals for some reason or the other. Roberta stormed off to Guano’s room undetected by the large crowd as Stephen and Oboro kept pursuing.

"I'm sure these two anime stars have all the answers stored for you. You just gotta give them a chance to answer them! Like the answer to where Ozizzle, Guano, Kiyoko and Yes Man are. Which they're getting supplies at the party store while waiting for these two to clean up Shinpachi's diarrhea on these walls!" Mikey said.

"You just answered the questions for yourself even though you asked us to..." Gintoki silent said and slapped his face so hard that he bled a bit. "YEAH! YEP! YEP! YEP! YOU GUYS FIGURED IT OUT! NOW OUT WITH ALL OF YOU SO WE CAN FINISH THE CLEANING FOR THE PARTY!"

”This is weird. What’s with these photoshops? Why are they so simple? Wait, most of these are just Woogle reaction images!” Oboro asked Poe but he shrugged.

”And why does everything feel spontaneous? Like it wasn’t really written with much of a plot in mind.” Stephen added.

“Wait a party? I wanna go to it!" Gonard said and every one else agreed.

"Yeah and we're not leaving until we get it. Just to make sure you actually are having a party." Hiijikata said. 

"WELL WE HAVE TO CLEAN FIRST REMEMBER!" Gintoki screeched.

Stephen and Oboro shook their heads to snap out of it and went into Guano’s room. They looked all over for Roberta but couldn’t find her.

”Huh, so this is what a director does with his spare time.” Oboro picked up a complex Wego Bionicle figure he had built. Suddenly a portal emerged from it, causing Oboro to drop it. Roberta swung down from the ceiling and kicked them to the floor before jumping inside of it. Poe slapped them to their feet.

“WHO ARE YOU THREE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?!” Guano ran into the room in a frenzy. But the two and their bird flew inside the portal, closing before Guano could catch them.

The next portal entered inside a 7-11 as three amanto were stuck in one of the freezers. 

“And I said, Kooler Kave, dog? More like Kooler KHUMP!”

“HA!”

“Yare yare.”

Stephen and Oboro ran through the aisles chasing Roberta as other people got out of their ways. She saw another portal enter through the slushee machine and dove into it, the trip close at hand. The portal reopened to another timestamp, Oboro and Stephen spilled out of it and stared at the events taking place in front of the restaurant of the jouis. Roberta speed off inside. 

“Universe 21? Wow, it’s not just time travel. These portals must be taking us to different universes now!” Oboro loudly whispered to the Captain.

“Moe’s!” Gintoki, Shinsuke, Zura and Skele proclaimed.

“Chipotle!” Tatsuma suggested.

“Moe’s!” They argued back.

“WE’RE GOING TO CHIPOTLE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!” Tatsuma pulled out his gun and aimed it at his friends. Oboro, Poe and Stephen quickly rushed inside and locked the doors behind them.

“Well that was traumatic to relive again.” Stephen said breathed out.

“Tell me about it.” Oboro added. 

They turned their attention to Roberta who was looking at them too now. She stood there frozen looking around for another opening. Oboro and Stephen made a dash at her and she jumped over customer’s food covered tables to get to the other side of the room. When the three cornered her in front of the buffet, she noticed a portal starting to open up  in the e coli covered chicken. She smirked and then kicked them away in their faces before climbing over the glass divider and pushing away the employees. She dove into it as Stephen and Oboro scrambled to their feet and jumped over the buffet as well. Stephen and Poe jumped in with ease however Oboro bumped his head into the metal divider trays before he could enter. 

“Ow.” He said and rubbed his achy jizz head.

Poe facepalmed as Stephen shook his head from the other side of the portal and grabbed the jizz man’s hand inside. The four landed on the terrorist ship in a dark bedroom. 

“AAHHH!” Katsura yelled and covered him and his husband up with their blanket. 

“And this is even more traumatic than the last event..” Oboro and Poe turned their heads away from the unholy sight.

Roberta ran outside the room and down the hallways while passing by Takechi.

“Excuse me miss, do you have permission to be on this shi-“ She turned her arms into wormy tentacles and tossed him out the window into the bay. Oboro and Stephen came into the scene just as she left and looked out the window, the bay was covered in chocolate milk. Takechi happy scooped some into his feminist hands and into his feminist mouth.

“Universe 13, the universe where everyone became diabetic.” Oboro shook his head and they continued on their search.

“You got to be pulling my leg now, Oboro.” Stephen put a hand to his forehead.

Roberta bolted it to the next room which was EF’s recording studio. 

“Senpai, what DID you exactly have to do in order to get our first gig?” Matako asked him, Bansai just looked in the nonexistent distance and put his hand on the window’s blinds, if there was any which there wasn’t. Matako’s eyes narrowed. Roberta ran inside, knocking all of their expensive stuff over.

-Alert, unknown woman with tinted glasses!- Elizabeth exclaimed. 

“Hey who the hell are you-“ Bansai then threw down his guitar as it was starting to have a glowing portal. “AAAH! THAT COSTED MORE THAN I PAY MY BANDMATES!” 

Roberta pushed him aside and jumped into it. Stephen and Oboro opened the door and followed inside the portal before it closed. The band stood there dumbfounded.

“I told you two I posess the magic of music.” Bansai proceeded to get hit by Elizabeth and Matako’s instruments. 

As Oboro, Poe and Stephen landed they couldn’t see Roberta in sight this time. 

“Hm, where did that slippery worm go this time?” Stephen wondered but the two others shrugged.

Unknownst to them, she was hiding in an alley at a lost of what to do next. She didn’t exactly have a plan, she just wanted to see if the universe would unset itself with her presense, however it was still staying thanks to frozen Sadaharu and the gods efforts. This Edo seemed to be in a panic to find someone, the cops were flooded in the area. Stephen and Oboro could make faint of a bald man with glasses talking to no one next to him. Stephen put his hand out to possibly make contact with him but Oboro put his hand on his shoulder. 

“That’s not the man you know, Captain.” Oboro said and they witnessed the man still talking to himself and got up closer to hear it without making theirselves known. Stephen was even more confused. 

“Who is he talking to then?” Stephen peered at the bald man.

“Probably just some ghost.” Oboro tipped his straw hat and they continued to try to find Roberta. 

Roberta decided to take the chance and walk away from the police, she doubt they knew of her yet. That’s when she saw a crowd surrounding a woman talking to disgruntled individual. 

“Sky News 9! Sir, is something wrong sir?” She asked.

Roberta gasped, it was herself. She remembered what Billy told her, how she was resurrected in this first universe for winning a cardgame. She transformed into an unsuspecting man to not draw any attention as she got closer to the crowd. 

“Leave me ALONE! I’m trying to escape someone!” The chaotic looking man wanted to escape but the crowd was surrounding him. Roberta kept her press to talk to him.

“Hey slow it down there big guy, we can help you! What’s the mat-“ 

The present day Roberta gasped as she saw as the crazed citizen rip his hand out of the other Roberta’s body, she fell to the ground as people gasped. He kept running away. Present day Roberta turned back to her normal self and covered her mouth in horror. The reality of her mortality was setting in, she looked down at her body. Although the altana had healed the outward injuries she started to feel the side effects of being impaled by the toxic crystals. She slowly walked backwards, still in shock. She ran away for a while but eventually stopped to catch her breath. That’s when she heard his voice coming from outside near a Pizzeria. 

“Yo sorella!”

“Pizza Castle! I’m tellin’ you lil’ sis! This place has the best deep dish of the country!” 

Roberta’s entire body went cold, she slowly turned around as she saw Yuka and liquid Valentino enter inside the pizzeria. Whatever plan she has previously she completely haulted and purused them inside. She sat in a table in the distance where they were, making sure they couldn’t see her. Behind her menu, she could see Valentino struggling to eat his favorite Whicago styled meatlovers in his gooey state. The meat and cheese just kept sliding off of him, making a mess. From this Yuka made a little smirk the way she would do when she would break her stotic nature once in a while. Roberta made a silent chuckle. She however started coughing up black blood a bit from the stabs of Altanas flowing inside of her. ‘This is what I want to see, even if I die at this point.’ She thought to herself. ‘I’m glad I got the chance to know them even if they won’t remember me.’ 

“Aye sorella check this out!” Valentino stuck two breadsticks entirely down his gooey body but they were rejected back up instantly, launching in the sky. He spun around and caught them with his gooey flippers. “Tada!” Happy memories of over the years were flooding through Roberta’s head at this point. 

She looked down at the table, still making a little grin and tear drops fell onto the table. She didn’t even notice the physical pain now piercing blade in her chest. Her jaw dropped and she turned her head to face them. 
 

“You were so close to resetting the universe,  Roberta. We thought if we sent our best Tendoshu out there it would rile you up enough to finish your task to blow yourself up and leave us in a more controllable universe. But even you seemed to have a weakness huh?” The Tendoshu leader said, he swiped off Roberta’s idle body from the sword and she fell to the floor in a dark bloody mess. The guests and staff there gasped in horror and started to become frantic. 

“H-how..” Roberta whispered out. She made a little gasp from what Billy told her once. “U-utsuro’s immortal blood in exchange for his membership..”

A waitress tried using the corded phone there to call the authorities but another Tendoshu member sliced it off its rack with a mere flick of the weapon in his hand. The woman then fell behind the cash register in terror.

“What the hell is happenin’ over there?!” Valentino got up and quickly slithered to them all despite Yuka’s protest.

“Valentino, don’t involve yourself in these Earthlings problem.” Yuka stood up to try to change her godbrother’s mind.

“There’s a bleedin’ woman right here, Yukes! Of course I’m gonna involve myself in it!” Valentino exclaimed and slithered up to the Tendoshu. 

“V...Valentino.. P...Please don’t..” Roberta silently said as she was fading in and out. 

“This doesn’t concern you this time, Globberian.” Another Tendoshu member spoke up, Yuka looked up surprised.

“Tendoshu. What are you doing here on Earth?” She folded her arms and demanded an answer. All the guests there at this point were hiding or dashed out of there. Oboro and Stephen saw the commotion coming from the outside and decided to investigate inside the restaurant. They stopped dead in their tracks once they saw them all. 

“Majesty Yuka. You were always a useless and uncooperative pawn. Your nonexistence in this new universe will provide us with a even larger market for more Altana.” Another member said. Two of them opened their robes and drew out their swords. Valentino slithered in front of his sister in an instant. 

“NOOO!” Roberta gained a rush of energy and  intercepted the fast Amanto before they managed to hurt the siblings. She was once again impaled this time by two more swords. She paused for a moment before she collasped into Yuka and Valentino’s arms.

“Who are you..?” Yuka looked at the woman.

“Just some old worm next door.” Roberta smiled again. “..who loves you with all her heart.” Yuka raised an eyebrow, Roberta then looked at Valentino. “No.. she loves the both of you with all her heart..her only real friends she ever had..” She looked up at the slow spinning ceiling fan as her head was spinning rapidly itself. “Oboro.. Captain.. don’t keep my stupid little fantasy world from destroying the real Yuka, my people and everyone else. Just say the latin words precisely backwards.. Find more purple altana.. I’m pretty sure it will fix all the mess I caused.” The two men both somberly nodded. “I’m finally not running away from my problems, huh Yukes?” She looked the siblings in their faces now. She placed her hand on their faces.

“S-sorella..?” Valentino turned his head to her in confusion, Yuka had supported the same look.

 Roberta kept warmly staring at the two until a metallic fist out of no where penetrate her skull, shatterng into bloody black pieces on impact everywhere. Yuka and Valentino scrambled back, Stephen and Oboro’s jaws hanging low at the individual with the cybornetic implants who did this.

 

 

“You were right you alien strawhat freaks. That woman did come back to life despite me killing her on the street earlier. That bastard Shouyou and his time shifting powers, where ever he is right now now. This woman must have been some big fish of his.” Joe said and cracked his bloody cyborg knuckles.

TBC
 

[Aya♥]

Edited November 19, 2019 by Moxley♥

[Aya♥]

"How hard is it to get service around here?"  Joe sat down at the table Yuka and Valentino were at.  Their wine spilled across the white table clothes.  The two Globberians stared in horror at the sight of Roberta laying limp on the ground at the feet of Joe.  The Tendoushu withdrew their weapons and stepped away from the group.  Joe looked back at the Tendoushu as they whipped their cloaks and turned about face.

"We can't be bothered to deal with this being.  He's out of our control and much more powerful than us.  Plus they're here."  one of the Tendoushu pointed at Oboro, Poe, and Stephen.  Oboro gave the Tendoushu the classic banter face as they passed by.  Poe caw'd at them as they passed.  Joe tapped his fingers on the table.

"You, jizz head in the back."  Joe pointed at Oboro.  Oboro stepped forward as Joe continued to stay seated.

"Joe-dono.  You are sinister, causing the reset of the first TBC universe."  Joe narrowed his gaze,

"I have no idea what you're even talking about.  All that I know is that you're in the way of me getting to that damn man who ripped Her away from me."  Joe shifted his eyes to the red wine, dripping to the floor of the restaurant.  Oboro stared at Joe as silence filled the joint.

"Captain-dono."  Oboro did not break his gaze from Joe as he spoke to Stephen,  "I'm sure you are powerful enough to hold Joe-dono down while I go somewhere.  I need purple Altana."  Oboro began to walk out of the restaurant, but Joe grabbed his arm.

"Where the hell do you think you're goin?"  Joe tugged hard at the jizz head's arm, causing a small amount of pain.  Oboro yanked his hand away from Joe while Poe grabbed a tuff of Oboro's curly hair.

"You're going to have to deal with someone in your past Joe-dono, regardless if you've met him or not.  Poe, to the cabin."  Poe lifted Oboro up and flew out the door with him in his beak.  Stephen's face darkened as he realized just how powerful Poe could be.  Stephen turned his attention to Joe who turn his attention back to the wine dripping from the table.  Yuka and Valentino were the only other two in the building as Stephen stepped forward to face Joe.

"Joe, you can choose to believe me or not, but I know you...personally from the outside world."  Stephen took his captain's hat off and put it to his side.  "I'm good friends with Wilford."  Joe's eyes shot up from the wine and met the Captain's gaze.  "I knew your parents, very well.  Our families were so close Joe."  Joe got out of his seat and stood across from Stephen.  "Let's just put this little thing aside so we can get back home."  Stephen said.  Joe walked up to him and with the blink of an eye, lunged at Stephen.  Stephen caught the punch from his metallic arm.  Joe opened the palm of his hand within Stephen's grasp the create a sword, but Stephen channeled his powers into his own hand and sent Joe flying across the room, crashing into a table with spaghetti plated.

"Whata waste of good noodles!"  Valentino said, receiving a slap from Yuka in return.  Joe looked up in surprise,

"Gosh!  It's about time I got someone as strong as me!  If I can't get Utsuro, then you'll have to do Old Man!"  Joe shot up and began to rush towards Stephen before the scene shifted to Poe flapping his wings while Oboro flipped through a small pocketbook he had.

"Poe, I know he's going to be there.  However, it's the only place I can find purple Altana in this universe.  I'm terrified to face him again...not after that dream I had.  Do you think he knows about that dream Poe?  I'm sure he does, he is Sensei after all."  Poe slowed down as the two spotted Utsuro's cabin, indeed emitting smoke from the chimney stack.  Oboro planted his feet in the snow as Poe started panting on his shoulders.  Oboro let out a sigh as he put his pocketbook back in his breast pocket.  He trudged through the thick snow and faced the door of the cabin.  He gave the wood three knocks as his heart was racing.  The door opened and Oboro made eye contact with his Sensei...for the first time in what felt like a lifetime.

"I figured you would be knocking at my door Oboro."  Utsuro gave Oboro and smile, allowing the two inside his cabin.  Oboro hesitated at first, but stepped inside.  It was warm in the cabin, the firewood crackling just like it was hours ago in the present universe.  "Not but 5 minutes ago, you two just vanished from your chairs!  I was quite shocked at first, but I figured something happened with time and space and all that."  Utsuro put on his "Kiss the Chef" oven mitts and opened the oven door.  "This batch came out really well I think!"

  "Why don't you try one Oboro?"  Oboro looked at the cookies, hot steam coming from the freshly baked snacks.  He shook his head as he sat down.  Poe flew from Oboro's shoulder and landed on the table in front of Utsuro.  Utsuro turned and smiled at the bird as he sat the cookie tray down next to him.  "I'm dead, isn't that right Oboro?"  Oboro put his head down, staring at his lap.  Utsuro took the mitts off and sat opposite of him at the table.  "It's ok Oboro, I understand if you don't want to talk to me.  It must be difficult for you, from whichever universe you hail from.  I'm guessing someone caused a little ruckus and spilled the cookie batter!  No problem really, I know pretty much exactly what's going on Oboro so you don't have to explain anything.  I'll gather up the crystals and let you be on your way."  Utsuro reached into his pocket and pulled out a small sack that was glowing purple.  "I hope you remember what I told you in that dream."

Oboro covered his face with his hands after that last line.  "In death, I may not be there physically Oboro.  But, rest assured that my essence lives on somewhere in this plain of existence.  I just hope that you are happy.  I'm glad to see that you continue to live on without me."  Utsuro slid the bag across the table, hitting Oboro's arms while his face rested in his palms.  "You can fix this mess you're in without me Oboro."  Oboro removed his face from his hands,

"You were the only person I could come to with purple Altana, Sensei.  I...I've become stronger than maybe I realize.  I've accepted myself for who I am and began to embrace the people around me.  I have friends now...a life outside of your own."  Oboro grabbed the pouch and put it next to his pocketbook.  Utsuro smiled at Oboro as he stood up.

"My, you have grown haven't you Oboro.  I can't say for sure how many times I've reset the universe up until your point in time, but with those crystals, I sense you are willing to prevent a reset.  It shows me how happy you are there, and that's all I can ask for.  You still make me proud."  Utsuro stood up and faced away from Oboro as him and Poe began to head out of the doorway.  Oboro was fighting back tears, but he couldn't cry, not now.  He had to help save the universe he called his permanent home.  Utsuro smiled to himself as his cabin door closed, the crackle of his fireplace the only noise he heard.  "Keep living Oboro, for both of us."  The scene shifted back to Joe, who was shooting knives from his arm at Stephen, who ducked and dodged, grabbing a hold of his hat so it didn't fall off.

"Phew!  You're wild aren't you Joe!  Shame this'll be the last time I see this version of you!  Though, I much prefer the one that doesn't try and murder me."  Stephen caught one of the blades flying at him and chucked it back at Joe.  The blade got lodged into his metal arm, causing it to spark.  Joe rushed at the Captain, morphing his hand into a blade.  He began slashing at Stephen, but he was stopped at his legs.  He looked down and saw green strands weighing him down.

"Fratello, I told you not to interfere!"  Yuka yelled.  Stephen took the opportunity to grab Joe's metal arm and rip it from his flesh.  He tossed it aside while Valentino let go of Joe.  Joe staggered in front of Stephen when they heard Poe and Oboro crashing into the window outside.  Oboro took the pouch from his pocket and flashed it to Stephen.  But, while the Captain was distracted, Joe gave him a huge uppercut from his normal hand, causing a tooth to fly from his mouth.  Joe took down the Captain and started to throw haymakers on him.  Oboro quickly rushed inside the diner, and held Joe back, tossing him into a booth.  Yuka stood up from the back of the diner and walked over to the dis-figured Roberta.  She bent down and stared at the woman, who's head was nearly completely destroyed.

"Why is this happening..." she said to herself softly.

 Yuka let tears come from her eyes.  Valentino was shocked, he's never seen his Godsister openly weep like this.  "It feels like...this is all my fault."  her head fell to Roberta's cold chest.

Joe adjusted himself in the booth he landed in while the only sounds filling the building were the open sobs of Yuka.  Oboro walked over to her,

"Yuka-dono, it is not your fault.  Roberta-dono was clouded by guilt.  We all are at some point...but her grief made her succumb to fate.  I'm positive the Yuka in the present will understand she was never at fault for this.  The best I can do now, is help reverse the effects of Roberta's actions.  Go, take your Godbrother and be happy here.  He won't be much of a problem for long anyway."  Oboro shifted his gaze to Joe, who was still groggy from the toss.

"Yo, Captain over there."  Stephen climbed to his feet, placing the teeth he lost in his coat pocket.  "What does he mean by that?  I'm not a problem for long?"  Joe asked, leaning in the booth.

"You're a changed man where we live Joe.  You accepted Her death, the death of your parents. You even-" but as Stephen was talking, the door to the pizza joint opened up and a hefty, elderly gentleman stood in the doorway.

 "Joe, I've been lookin up and down f-" Brimley met eyes with the Captain.  Stephen, a man he knew years ago in his past.  "So..this is where you ran off to all those years ago?  Hmph, could have at least told me.  Someone you'd considered a brother.  I can't stay here Joe, I'll be on my way when you're finished."  Wilford shut the door and headed up the street.  Stephen stared at the door, and putting his head down.  Joe rested in the booth he was sitting at,

 "You weren't lying when you said you knew me...I'm just confused man.  Where did you even come from?  Why are you guys even here?  That thing I killed brought you all here?  God."  Joe put his head down on the table.  Oboro was silently reciting the Latin from his pocketbook while the crystals in his bag began to glow.  Stephen let out a sigh and walked over to Roberta's corpse.  He bent down next to Yuka and put his hand on her shoulders.

"Everything will be alright in the end Ms. Yuka.  I'll make good on that promise when I get home."  Stephen picked up Roberta's body and placed her next to Oboro.  He stuck his hand through the closed up sword wound and materialized green crystals from the sword she was stabbed with, dust particles still resting inside the stab.  Stephen grabbed the small crystals he created and placed them in the small pouch alongside the purple Altana.  Yuka looked up, tears still running down her face, Joe looking at Stephen somberly, and Valentino turning his back to the three.  "We'll see you on the other side."  Stephen said, picking Roberta up as a small portal began to form in front of Oboro.  He stopped his phrases,

"This is our only moment to get back to present time Stephen-dono, we have to go now."  Oboro said, as he and Poe grabbed the small pouch.  Stephen nodded, still thinking of the last thing Wilford ever said.  The last thing he'd ever hear his long time friend from the real world say.  'Someone you'd consider a brother'.  Stephen smiled through his busted up mouth and jumped through the portal with Roberta's body on his shoulder.  Oboro and Poe bowed to the three in front of them and jumped into the portal as it closed up behind them.  The landed in a crowd of people as time had began to resume. They were cheering on Sadaharu and the Gods as they were using all their might to hold back the power of the Altana.

"Jesus, it's about fuckin time you 3 showed back up!  Did you get that worm or..."  Billy was in his titan form, sending energy to Sadaharu when he noticed the body that Stephen was carrying.  Oboro brought himself to his feet and continued the ritual.  He stopped for a second cause he saw one of his co-workers,

"Raj-dono, give me one of your megaphones."  Oboro said.

"YOU JUST ASSUME I HAVE A MEGA-PHONE BECAUSE I'M LOUD?  Of course I do, here you go."  Raj handed Oboro a megaphone, as he continued the ritual.  The sky was beginning to shift in favor of the blue, warm hue everyone was used to.  The cheers and roars from all of Edo and Tokyo cheering on Sadaharu, Ane, and Mone as they were further harvesting the Altana back to its stable state.  The cracks in the Earth beginning to shift back into place.  Dylan stared from the outside world as the sky around him began to calm, the ocean was fading in color.  He smiled, walking out of the cave and feeling the warmth of the Sun.  All the people surrounding the core began to hug and cheer, even some of the Skolexians began to shift to human forms and cheer on the three and Oboro as the universe was shifting back into place.  Ane and Mone released their cast as the Altana had finally became stable enough, and Sadaharu had enough strength to hold it together.

"Alright everyone!  Great job!"  Ane and Mone both said as all the characters cheered, hugged each other, and celebrated.  Oboro was still completing his chanting while Tatsuma patted him on the back from behind.

"AHAHAHAHA!  NICE WORK OBORO!  You really helped save our butts back there!"  Oboro smiled through his chants.  He finally finished the enchantment and closed his book.  He looked to his right and saw Stephen carrying Roberta through the crowd of people.  He saw Skele/Yuka following him close behind.  He sighed to himself as he followed the three of them.  The scene shifted to Yorozuya who were standing by Ane and Mone, watching Sadaharu.

"So, how long is he going to be in there for?"  Shinpachi asked.

"He should be stable enough to stay in there while construction is being done.  We'll keep him company just in case."  Mone said.  Gintoki stepped away from the kids as he met eyes with Katsura a few feet away.

"Oi Zura, have you seen Shinsuke?"  Gintoki asked.  Katsura looked away from and turned his back, "O-oi..."  Gintoki looked in horror as Shinsuke dragged himself from the back alley Katsura happened to be standing in front of.

"Gintoki..."

"I...lost."  Gintoki dropped to his knees,

"SHINSUKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"  Gintoki yelled as his voice cracked with despair.  Shinpachi looked down at Gintoki and back up at the white stains on Shinsuke's face,

"OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WHAT WERE YOU TWO DOING DURING THIS WHOLE THING!  WHY ARE YOU CRYING GIN-SAN?!"  Shinpachi yelled.  Shinsuke leaned against the wall of the alley and coughed up white blood.  "THAT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT WHITE BLOOD!"

"It was one of those worms...they attacked me."  Shinsuke said, adjusting his belt.

"YOU DON'T EVEN WEAR A BELT!  AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY WORM?!"  Shinpachi yelled.

"Shinsuke..."  Gintoki caught his friend as he fell to his knee.  Shinsuke looked up at Gintoki, the sun shining down for the first time in a few days.

"You two are absolutely ridiculous."  Shinpachi said, storming off.  The scene followed him until it stopped on Enshou, who was still knocked out from earlier.

"Mmm, come on bro...not here..."  he mumbled to himself.  No one was around him at all.  The scene caught up to Sweetcheeks as him, Yuka, Skele, Oboro, and Poe all made it back to Utsuro's cabin where Valentino's ashes sat.  The all entered the cabin, as Yuka removed herself from Skele.  She sat on the couch in her glob form, next to Sophia.

"How did she die."  Yuka asked, not looking at her former lover's body.

"It was Joe, well not the Joe that lives here but one from another universe.  She...she died in your arms Yuka.  You and Valentino were at the place we battled that Joe."  Stephen said.  Yuka's gaze clouded as she continued to stare at her solid.  Oboro walked up to the small coffee table in front of Yuka and sat a small cookie jar in front of her.

"Yuka-dono, I placed Valentino-dono inside this jar.  You may do with it as you wish."  Yuka looked up at the cookie jar with a small turtle on it.

"Oh Valentino..." she grabbed the jar and held it close to her.  Her glob form pretty much absorbing the jar.  Skele looked down tentatively.  Oboro snapped his fingers, doing so caused Poe to bring out the small pouch.  It was glowing a small grayish color.

"Bonestein, I'm sure you don't remember, but back in Okinawa when Sensei resurrected you; he used this.  He completely reshaped your skull that he ground into ashes.  Poe placed you back together and brought you back to life."  Skele nodded as he remembered the moment he came back to the land of the living.  Yuka put the jar back on the table,  "What I'm trying to say Yuka, is that we can either bring Valentino-dono back to life...or we could fix your solid half.  It is impossible to bring Roberta back to life, that is up to Billy-dono from now on.  I see her stay in Hell to be a permanent one.  But these two, these two can be saved."  Poe sat the pouch down next to the cookie jar while Yuka squirmed on the couch.

"Life is never easy, is it Oboro.  We just fought to stop a universe where I could have all three of them again, yet you prompt me with this.  Making me choose between the two beings closest to me.  Two of a handful that truly understood me on a personal level."  Yuka lamented on that last statement.  Stephen stepped forward,

"I can always help, you know I do have the purple Altana running through my body.  Shouldn't that be enough to save them both?"  Stephen asked.  Oboro scratched his chin as he looked at the pouch on the table.  However, Yuka used her liquid tentacles to grab the pouch herself.

"Stephen, you needn't worry about me.  Sophia...Sophia has been long dead.  If you couldn't tell by my disfigured appearance when I was in my solid form.  But...I just don't know how I feel about abusing powers like this.  Roberta, she did the same.  Look where that got her.  She became a shell of herself, misguided by her fate and her stubbornness."  Yuka said, solemnly.  Skele approached her at least and sat on the couch next to her,

"Yuka, I understand why you're hesitant in bringing him back, but I want to at least say my peace before you make any decision.  I've gotten to know Valentino very well over the past week or so.  He's...one of the most caring beings I've ever met.  He'd always talk about you, you know that?  He was worried sick you might do something you'd regret, or that you'd get hurt.  And by the look of it, he died because of that worry.  I had no time to stop him, he threw himself in harms way just to protect not only you, but to protect us.  He's a hero Yukes.  Just as much as Stephen, as Oboro, as....Hitsugi, and even as you.  We all saved the universe from collapsing.  It may sound selfish of me, and that's completely against everything I was brought up on; but I really miss him.  He...he is just like how our species are.  We're co-existing, not co-dependent.  You...may not realize it but you really brought together something I was missing to this planet.  I'm sorry if I may sound rude, but I figured I would just share with you how much your Godbrother meant to me.  Please, do what makes you feel most at ease."  Skele gave her a smile, but as he was about to give up, he felt Yuka yank him towards her.  She didn't morph with him, but she simply gave him a hug, a tight hug that she didn't want to let go.

"All I wanted to do was make my people happy...never did I think we would be able to, as you said, co-exist with the mammals living around us.  I was scared we were going to get pushed away, like we always have.  Regulated to nothing but pawns...but here on Earth, people view us as equals.  To be called a hero...I don't deserve such a moniker.  But, he does."  Yuka let go of Skele and she grabbed the small pouch.  "I'm ready Oboro.  I want to bring Valentino back to life."  Oboro nodded as he pulled out a small book from Utsuro's bookshelf.  Stephen smiled as he began to walk out the door,

"Skele, do you know where Hitsugi is?"  Stephen asked.  Skele looked somber,

"He's in the hospital...but his injuries are fatal.  He fell into a coma when he arrived."  Oboro's eyes went dark as he held the book.  Stephen looked down at the ground and nodded his head.

"Then, there is no need for me to see him.  I shall pay visit to others in his place."  Stephen said, closing the cabin door behind him.  He made his way through the snow, a few mile walk was nothing, but he was still hurting from his fight with Joe.  He was adjusting his jawline and rubbing his cheeks most of the way towards his destination.  He saw the fence, and large gate drawing nearer to him as he was trudging along through the snow.  He picked a few flowers that hung from trees along the way.  He opened the cemetery gate and headed towards the middle part of it.  He looked down to see "Hitsugi Family" written on the headstone.  He placed a single flower in the vase, remembering that day he ran into Hitsugi here.  He continued to the back of the cemetery, reading each headstone to find the name he was looking for.  Eventually, he came across the one he came to find,

  Stephen sighed as he laid the rest of the floors down at the foot of the tombstone.  "I'm sorry for leaving you guys Wilford...I wish everything could have been different.  I...I was just afraid to face you again while you were still here.  God, I have so many regrets in my life....I should have been there for a friend.  I try, try as I must to put flowers on your grave.  Yet, I can never get your forgiveness, nor do I deserve it.  I have to leave, and return this book home."  Stephen went down to one knee and wiped the tears from his eyes.  But, he heard a familiar voice from behind him,

"So, you really are leaving Sweetcheeks."

  Stephen turned around and saw Enshou staring down at him.  "You still have that minichip I put inside you, so I knew you were out here.  Alone, I assumed.  No one comes to a cemetery with friends...well unless you're into that stuff."  Stephen stood up and faced Enshou.  Before Enshou could speak, Stephen embraced the redhead.  Enshou put his hands up in shock.  "What is this about..."  Enshou asked.

"You should know, you didn't come all this way out here for nothing, Sir."  Stephen said, looking up to smile at Enshou.  "I won't be gone forever Sir.  I just have to get the comic book and that kid back to safety."  Enshou put his hands down, still not accepting the embrace.  "And yes...I did hear your song Enshou.  It was beautiful."  Enshou's heart jump, just now realizing he could feel the heartbeat of his Captain's against his.  Enshou finally gave in and embraced Stephen.

"You know how much it pains me to say this Captain, but...I've really missed you.  Please be safe out there."  the two stood in each other's embrace for awhile until Sweetcheeks spoke up after giving Enshou a small kiss on the cheek.

"I promise, I'll be back for you Sir."  Enshou nodded as Stephen broke off from him.  Stephen looked up and gave a thumbs up, "Blue skadoo'd, we can too!"  Stephen jumped out of the comic book and landed in front of Dylan.

"Alright wise guy, Dylan had had it up to here with all this smadoo nonsense.  It makes number 1 on his top 11 weirdest and most annoying things list."  Dylan said, tearing at his beard.  Stephen sighed,

"It's alright kid, I'll get ya home."  Stephen said, patting Dylan on the back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The scene shifted to the Keiheiti/Joushishi ship sitting opposite of the Harusame ship as the Yato continued to rebuild LilyMu Towers.  Katsura was whistling in a bubble bath, washing off after the attack from the Skolexian earlier.  Shinsuke was laying on the couch, while Gintoki snickered counting the money he won from winning the NNN bet.  The shot shifted deeper into the ship, landing on Bansai and Elizabeth's bedroom.  Bansai was leaning up against his bed, Elizabeth not present in the room.

  He peered down next to him, that note he only just read after his big Tokyo Wome performance.  That note that Kyuubei had left for him in his dressing room.  "We're not just colleagues, band members, nor friends.  The 5 of us, we are family."  that was all the note said with a picture of the band, Kyuubei, Katsura, and Shinsuke all posing together.  Bansai smiled as he picked the note up one more time just to read those two sentences.  As he sat the note down and picked his guitar up, the scene shifted through the citizens of Edo.  Joe hugging Josh in his hospital bed, while Steve and Hijikata entered with flowers.  The royal family were gathered with white coats and black coats (and Barkas!) celebrating, perhaps he was celebrating because Enshou had left him alone.  Soyo hugged her brother and he in turn gave Nobunobu a hug.  Nobume crossed her arms, pouting as Isaburo patted her head.  Sougo smiled at Hata, as he gave his brother a hug at the legs.  Ozu put his arm around Kiyoko as they marveled at the sparkingly, new building being built for them.  Kamui spit red slurpee down on Saitama's head while they worked.  The couples in the Harusame were taking a break, eating lunch together and enjoying the sun.  No Man was alone.  The scene shifted back to the cabin, where Oboro finished saying the small chant.  He opened the cookie jar that contained Valentino and dumped the dust from the crystals on top of his ashes.  He shut the lid, as it began to rubble a little, and then a small "poof" came from within it.  Yuka's eyes began to swell as the jar settled,

"Hey, waz the big idea?  It's all dark alluda sudden!"  she began to sniffle as the lid burst open and a green liquid squirmed out of the jar,

"F...Fratello..."

"Yukes!"  the two Godsiblings embraced each other as the fire crackled once more, the two letting the love for each speak through actions, and less than words.  Family coming together once more.  "I...I was dead and gone Yukes, I tried to protect ya from her!"  Yuka looked at her Godbrother, then to where Roberta's body laid.  Valentino looked past her to where she was and slowly nodded.

"This ma...Oboro brought you back to life.  I'm truly indebted to you."  Yuka said.  Oboro simply shook his head,

"No, this was something I had to do.  Selfish reason for you, may just be an even more selfish reason for myself.  Come on Poe, let's head on home."  Oboro said, as Poe landed on his shoulder.  The two left Yuka, Valentino, and Skele alone in the cabin.  Skele sat back down on the couch and hugged Valentino.  But as Valentino settled back into the world of the living, he was gathering his surroundings.  He noticed the bones of Yuka's solid laying on the floor.  He looked back at Yuka,

"So...you's chose to bring me back to life and not Sophia huh.  I oughta scold you, but I undastand Yukes.  Skele, what's gonna happen to Roberta back theaha?"  Skele looked at Roberta and gave his response,

"We could send her back home with her people, but we're not sure they're willing to accept her."  Skele said.  Yuka looked back at Roberta, but put her liquid head down,

"If they won't bury here...then we will."  Yuka said.  Valentino nodded in agreement.

"Well Yukes, it's up to you...I know how much pain she caused ya."  Yuka hugged her Godbrother again,

"She's taught me a lot about myself Valentino...she was closer to me than anyone even you.  It's only right that she gets a proper grave, one that gets tended to...one that gets remembered."  Yuka said, through tears as Skele got up to leave the two siblings alone as they embraced within the living once more.

TBC

[Aya♥]

[Cha]

[Aya♥]

3 minutes ago, Majesty Yuka said:

[Aya♥]

[Cha]

[Cha]

[Cha]

There was currently a mass gathering around the mountains outskirting Edo where citizens and others were lined up around it or at the base. They were eagerly awaiting to enter a certain village.

“After three weeks of hard labor by everyone-“ Shigeshige looked at the mass crowd of humans, Hero Associationers, Globberians, Skolexians, Justaways, Oukoku, Renho, Bureians and others. “I, Shogun of Edo on November 25th, am happy to announce the grand reopening of Edo’s neighboring town, the Globberian Village!”

Shige looked at Soyo pounting so he let her cut the ribbon on the town and the Globberians fled inside first. 

“AAHH, look Skels!” Valentino excitedly pointed to the large town hall. “Das where ALL da legal magic happens!” Valentino split from their body and grabbed Eren’s hand who was near by. 

“Haha I don’t know who you are but I’m already married you weird green goomba!” Eren smiled as the glob took him inside the building.

“ERREEY!” Fumiko called out holding their baby triplets. The Hyakka cheered but Sonic shook his head. Gintoki casually slid up. 

“You know now that that chump in the duck suit is a no show-“ Gintoki proceeded to have ninja blades thrown at his body, Tsukki and Fumiko’s hitting him each in his two silver souls. 

“Hoh.. I think I just lost the contest.” Gintoki squeaked and then blacked out on the ground. 

“GIN-SAAAAAN!” Sacchan tackeled his unconscious body but she was momentarily was carried away by Sonic. 

Zenzou stared down at the perm head’s body before tearing up and getting ‘nam flashbacks. Sacchan looked up from this on Sonic’s shoulder as he was dragging her away and her face went dark. Shinpachi walked up to the scene and his face darkened as well. He looked up at the village and his expression went even more sinister.

“WHAT THE, THIS ISN’T A VILLAGE, THIS IS MAFIA WROOKYLN!” Shinpachi yelled. 

“Ahahahahaha! Sweet digs around here, huh?” Tatsuma told them as him, Skele, Mutsu, Lt Simon, Oboro and the Takasugis looked all around them. 

Shinsuke crouched down at Gintoki and his pupil shrunk. Shinsuke made gasping noises and held up Gintoki’s idle head.

“Ginny...” Shinsuke looked down at his fallen brother in arms. “S-Speak to me man....p-please..”

“Oi..” Gintoki was coughing up blood that was mixed in red beans.

“THAT’S JUST HIS STUPID ‘GINTOKI SPECIAL’ DESSERT OF HIS, AUTHOR!” Shinpachi yelled.

“G-Ginny..” Shinsuke had tears forming in his good eye.

“Shinny.. Don’t forget who I was. Before I die.. tell my employees...about their paychecks.. I.O.U....” Gintoki made a dying sound.

“GINNNNNNNNYYYYYY!” Shinsuke’s tears streamed down his face.

“WHY ARE YOU TWO ACTING LIKE THIS CONTEST IS LIFE OR DEATH? IS THAT THE ONLY THING IT TAKES YOU TO BE BUDDY BUDDY? AND YOU’RE CHEAP EVEN ON YOUR DEATH BED GIN-SAN!” Shinpachi barked

“Oi, serves the old bastard right.” Kagura walked up eating some Globberian festive green kabob sticks with Soyo, Hata, Sougo and Nobume. They all walked away a moment later pretending they were cooler than the rest of everyone. Then an old man walked close to them all with his androids by his side.

“Isn’t this village a beaut, kids?” Genghai put his hands on his hips and smiled. Tama happily nodded but Kintoki just arrogantly looked around. 

“Huh? Genghai-san, Tama-san, Kintoki-san? What brings you three here?” Shinpachi asked him. 

“Just marveling new life and new relations with species at work!” Genghai then pulled out a jar of blue glowing light. 

“What is that funny short guy?” Mikey scratched his lieutenant head. 

“Photonic energy my even funnier friend! Practically had this stuff laying everywhere around in my shop.” Genghai explained. “I just use it to fix simple electronical problems in my inventions but those Skolexians can’t get enough of it to consume! Easy to reproduce and easy to circulate. Their days of sucking humans brains out just might be over with.” 

“And we just might be rich if we sell them for a price. I can finally get that ab buffer I’ve wanted to long.” Kintoki was then slapped by Tama. 

Inside the town hall square, Eren powered up a super star and had enough energy fo dash away from the Italian Globberian. Valentino snapped his gooey fingers in defeat. He then slithered around the building, intaking the sights of the massive white structure. He found himself in front of his sister’s office and saw Chief Femurson standing by it.

“Hey Fems, Ichiro.” Valentino nodded at the liquid inside of her. “Is sorella around?” He asked. Femurson sighed and nodded. Valentino understood what the woman meant, it had been three weeks since whirlwind. Yuka was attending the required events and caring her people in every way, but hadn’t spend any free time outside of her office. 

“I’ll knock for you.” Chief Femurson told him.

“What is it Chiefs Femurson and Ichiro?” Yuka’s voice said from within.

“Your godbrother wants to see you, your Majesty.” She replied.

“Alright..” Yuka said. Valentino nodded at Femurson before entering inside. 

Valentino hadn’t had the chance to look at her new office much yet. It was dark inside from the almost completely closed blinds but he could see all the enormous amount of library from Globbus. They were neatly tucked away on the shelves behind her desk, which had a cup of freshly poured cup of brandy on top and an old timey telephone. He slithered up to the desk and took a seat across from it. Yuka swiveled around the chair to face him still in her liquid form. They smiled at each other despite their lacks of faces, or perhaps the siblings could tell each other was even without them. 

“Hey slick.” She joked, they both chuckled.

“I knew ya had a room fit for a vintage loving egghead such as yaself, sorella!” Valentino leaned back in his chair, Yuka just shrugged the joke off for once, being in a content state of mind. “Now do I have to drag ya by your gooey head to come out and have some fun wit ya godbrotha ‘n everyone else?” Yuka shook her head.

“I’m not going to the party fratello, I’m gonna go visit them on Globbus.” Yuka jumped down her chair and put on her gooey coat.

“So.. ya have decided against morphin back with Sophia. Well, I could tell. It was your hard decision to make and I told mahself I’d stick by with whatevea you would choose to do.” Valentino said and Yuka sighed.

“Fratello, when Sophia and I were permanently morphed together, it was against both our wills. How could I selfishly and disgustingly use her body just so I could keep my humanoid form?” Yuka said and then added. “Besides, her bones were too broken up. It’s time she finally got the proper burial she always deserved..”

Valentino understood and let her slither by her before he gave her a big sibling hug. Yuka looked somber in his arms. 

“But it’s not just that fratello..” She quietely said. 

“Hmm?” He asked.

“If there’s anything recent events has taught me, what Sophia has taught me.. is that I need to think for myself for once. I need to stop clinging onto others solely for happiness. I grieve unhealthily when problems arise and it destroys me as a person. I need to find the Yuka who’s at peace with herself, no matter how long that takes.” 

“Wow Yukes, that’s really deep, I’m beyond proud of ya to want to improve yaself. Just don’t get too lost in ya soul searchin’, aight? I expect yous to be back by seven sharp for dinna. Skels and I are makin’ ravoli.” Valentino said and Yuka chuckled a little. They split apart from each other and she headed for the door. “Do ya want me to go with yous, sorella?”

“Next time, alright?” She smiled and slithered outside. “Femurson, Ichiro, I’m leaving for the rest of the afternoon to Globbus. Look after things while I’m away, alright?”

“Sure thing your Majesty.” She replied. 

Valentino stood outside the door frame and leaned up against it. He held up the pocketbook of Sophia’s writing and poems that Yuka accidentally left behind on her desk. He read some of it, took it all in for a few moments until looking up and smiling.

“Make sure to come back, both of my little sorellas.” He said.
————————-
“I told you it wasn’t that bad.” 

“You know what, you were right! Somehow.” 

Barkas stretched his arms over his head and got his naked self out of the bed. Suddenly a chain saw could be heard and the door was cut down by an individual wearing a hockey mask.

“Brother how could you do this to us?!” Big Oaf Doofus cried behind the mask.

“HUH, Lady TBC was suppose to be watching the door!” Enshou woke up from his nappy time. 

He was sitting next to Barkas on one side and Eren and his family on the other. Hata and the terrorists were on the other seats in Oukoku’s chapel, they all gave him a disgusted look. They then turned their attention back to the event soon happening. 

“A wedding for the third time in a row in an arc? Isn’t that a bit cliche of the author?” Hata asked of me. He then hugged his ex-husband’s arm next to him as Bansai didn’t really care. 

“It might be Hata, but the person getting married this time will be quite the event to seen rolled out.” Barkas amusingly put his hands behind his head and leaned down into the chair. He briefly looked over at Enshou next to him, who had his tongue out and his smiling fangs showing. Barkas immediately sat back up and turned away.

“Wow, Otsuu-chan sure is doing great in sales with her new manager.” Takechi was scrolling through his phone. 

“That’s David for you, won’t rest until he gets his singers to the top.” Bansai slightly smiled as Hata was still snuggling into his arm. He nodded to Kyuubei across the chairs who nodded smiled and back. Enshou could now be seen on the phone.

“I agreed in this relationship that those are your children, Sweetcheeks and not mine. So whatever you choose to do with them is your thing and I don’t want a part of it.” Enshou’s eyes then went wide, perhaps ‘nam flashbacks of sounding like his own now dead military stepdad. He hung up the phone. “I promised I wouldn’t become my parents..” Big Oaf and Lady TBC inserted Chains of a Warrior in his head and he hummed to it.

“Problem with the family?” Eren smiled sitting next to him. Enshou’s eyes narrowed.

“Be quiet you white devil.” Enshou folded his arms and then peered down at gooing Palutena on her father’s lap. “You too, little braided hair white devil.”

“Ga!” She smiled.

Meanwhile in the back of the dressing room, the groom in question was being prepared for his big day.

“I DON’T WANNA BE THE KING, OLD MAN.” Elizabeth was being forced to wear the traditional royal outfit as servants were measuring the garbs on his body. He scrunched his worriesome scruffy face, hating to be exposed without his costume and pry upon like this. 

“I don’t really care what you want, Dragonia. After your baka of a younger brother got divorced, the goons in our government begun breathing down my neck for some other royal buffon to get married. And that buffon happens to be you, unfortunately for me.” Jii took a puff of his cigarette.

“Why not Barky?” Elizabeth asked. Him and the old man paused for a moment. They then broke out in hysterical laughter.

“Haha..” Jii wiped a tear from his eye beneath his glasses. “Seriously though you little shit, you’re getting married.”

“Well.. at least it’ll be to the woman I love.” Elizabeth pulled out a heart shaped locket of Sooyoung out of his jacket. 

“Yeah, about that. We had to improve relations with the planet since you fucked them up so badly with your little terrorist organization.” Jii kicked Dragonia out of the room with his foot. He fell to the floor then he looked up at the altar at the partner whom he was gonna wed to. 
 

“ELIZABETHHHHH!” Katsura called out from where he stood at the altar as the best man. 

“Who was that Toshi? I thought I was gonna be marrying Fake Otae-san!” Kondo whispered to his best man. Hijikata just facepalmed.
————

“Wow! What a cool leg, Josh!” The girl who Josh had been speaking to a few weeks ago exclaimed. He smiled as his classmates in Vegas were all standing around him as he showed off his new cyborg limb by rolling up his jeans leg a bit.
 

Josh had been in the hospital for most of that time, but he was happy to be back on his college campus. Dylan walked up and took out a sharpie. He signed his name with a little heart at the end.

“DYLAN! THIS ISN’T A CAST, IT’S MY LEG!” Josh pleaded out. Dylan then turned to the camera.

“...Dylan knew at that moment he had messed up.” He said. He sheepishly took his assigned seat next to Josh as the school bell rung. 

“Settle down everyone!” The professor walked in the room and everyone scrambled to their chairs. He started writing on the chalkboard. 

“How did you even get your leg chopped off, Josh?” A male classmate whispered behind him. 

“He got it from a weird cursed book, Dylan will explain it all later.” Dylan whispered back at the man and turned his head back to face the board. Josh’s eye twiched. 

Meanwhile Steve and Joe were taking care of matters in their detective agency building after being mostly gone from it since Hangover. They were flooded with jobs, bills and foreclosure notices. They had been working for nonstop for the past three weeks to even try to catch up with not much prevail. 

“Guess those little funds Joshy gave us to get our heads out of the water didn’t go too far.” Joe was on the phone with an angry customer. 

“We need to take a comic book cleanse..” Steve pushed up the glasses on his nose as he was scribbling on endless amounts of sticky notes. 

“Steve, Joe, you have a customer here.” Their rarely paid secretary paged them through a speaker. 

“Well he’s gonna have to wait, Dolores. We’re already plenty busy here.” Steve was in the zone writing on the walls with his notes now. 

“He says its urgent.” She told them.

“Fine, send him in.” Joe put his hand over the phone of his call. 

“Blue Prints Detective Agency, I have a ‘case’ for you.” The man joked as he opened the door.

“Stephen!” The brothers happily looked up at the old man and got up from what they were doing.

“I heard you two kids were having some money troubles.” Stephen put his sailor hat on the coat rack and walked up to them. 

“Awwh Steph, we don’t need hand outs.” Joe said. “Unless you really want to..

“Actually I had something else in mind!” Stephen pulled out a paper from jacket about some kind of contest (no not that one). Joe held it up for him and his brother and scratched his chin with his cyborg arm. 

“Looks like some recreational fun Captain, but we can’t just leave work again. We’re swamped.” Steve shrugged his hands up. 

“Gotta agree this time with the Steveinator. Aah but it looks so cool..” Joe looked longingly at all the events listed on it but shook his head.

“No problem, you don’t have to. Me and Enshou already planned on entering it and winning.” Stephen said, the brothers made exasperated sighs and returned back to work. “What?”

“Well Cap’n,  we’re still not sure why you hang around someone like that guy.” Joe was dialing up the customer again.

“Oh sure Enshou can be a handful with his egotistical personality, his psychotic tendencies, pathological lying, not to mention he can be slow on the draw sometimes in bed-“ Stephen put the side of hand to his mouth on that last one. “But he’s really not that bad once you get to know him.” 

“No, he’s worse.” Steve was scribbling on the walls again. 

“You know, I knew your parents long enough to tell when their kids with the same personalities are being full of it.” Stephen scoffed as he put his hands on his hips. 

“Mmm sure.” The siblings said as they were engrossed with their jobs. 

Stephen shook his head, put his hat back on and left them to their work. He closed the door behind him and then made a big smirk. 

“They really are like their parents.” 
—————————

Some hours later Oboro had invited the students over to Sensei’s cabin for some reason or the other. 

“Wow, from a grand reopening of a town to Lizzy’s wedding to this! I’d call this quite the busy day, wouldn’t you Shinny?” Zura held his husband’s hand to keep warm.

“Man why did we get stuck following that Jizz Head.” Shinsuke said while trail walking through the freezing snow. 

Him, his husband, and Gintoki were in the back while Oboro, Mutsu, Tatsuma,  Skele/Valentino and even surprisingly Nobume were in front laughing and having a fun conversation. The husbands and the permhead looked dumbfounded. 

“Boys, I think we’ve been finally outnumbered.” Gintoki told them. 

They reached the cabin, Oboro opened the door for the lot of them, blushing as Tatsuma entered inside. Nobume was the last one of the front group to enter. 

“GAYYYYY!!” Nobume pulled his hat over his head and ran inside. Oboro just shook it off. He went inside with Poe, not realizing the door slammed in the faces of Gintoki, Shinsuke and Zura. They stood there in disbelief.

“This must be another universe..” Shinsuke slowly said. 

“Nope! It’s still the 22nd!” Oboro said as he opened up a window near by for some fresh air. 

Warm conversations and bright lights filled the air of the previously empty and cold cabin. They were sitting at the table or on the floor cozied up with pillows and blankets next to the roaring fire. 

“Remember the last time we were here, Honey?” Shinsuke and Zura were together in a blankie on the couch with some NWHS hot cocoa and cookies. Zura nodded his head.

“You nearly took my head off for giving you CPR.” Katsura pouted as he looked down and stirred his steaming mug. Shinsuke leaned over and gave him a reassuring kiss on his cheek. Katsura made a little smile and kissed him back.

“Man am I happy the author settled on using Hold On by Lennon-dono for the ost of this subplot.” Oboro said while sitting in a chair in the living room. 

“Caw..” Poe then whispered in his ear.

“Phew whatta place to return to! Lemme tell yous somethin’ da last time I was here dames, I was either dyin’ or wakin’ up from a ‘terrible long sleep’.” Valentino was leaning up against the table as Mutsu and Nobume were standing there. Mutu made a little smile, maybe moreso for her boyfriend inside of the body while Nobume gave him a dead eye stare. “Yeesh, dis crowd ethuasism is almost as dry as sorella’s!”

Tatsuma leaned up against Oboro’s rocking chair catching the white haired man off guard. The tradesman smiled looking at all his friends happy and together after such a long month. Oboro and him were there in silence for a few minutes enjoying the atmosphere.

“You really did a lot for them, Obo.” Tatsuma spoke out in a calm tone for once. He looked Skele/Valentino who were still in the corner talking with the girls. Oboro blushed and grinned again. 

“No, they did it all on their own. I just used the tools he left over for me at this place.” Oboro said.

Before he knew it, Tatsuma leaned over and gave him a hug. He sat there shocked but embraced it and put his arms around him before they parted a few moments later. Tatsuma messily rubbed his jizz hair and went over to talk to Gintoki on the couch. Poe flew over back to his chair with a marshmallow in his beak and just gave him a smug look.

“I-I don’t know what that look means, Poe..” Oboro turned his head bashful. 

Gintoki was playing connect four with Tatsuma as his phone started to ring from Shinpachi’s line and he picked it up. 

“Hey Mr. Yorozuya your house blew up!” Hata exclaimed from the other line.

“Danna, I’d consider moving if I was you. The wreckage is pretty bad from the impact of the war. Plus you have some pretty old and scary coackroaches here.” Sougo had the phone now.

“I’LL SHOW YOU WHO’S  SCARY OLD COCKROACH YOU LITTLE COCONUT HEADED TWERP.” Catherine said as the sound of a firefighting truck could be heard now. 

“GINTOKI, YOU BETTER HAVE THIS ALL FIXED BEFORE YOU EVEN DARE TO COME BACK!” Otose grabbed the phone from Sougo’s hand.

“And bring some pickled seaweed, uh-huh!” Kagura exclaimed as she was standing next to Otose.

“Ooh! And the latest EP from Exploding Feminism for their reunion tour!” Soyo beamed as Hata agreed.

“OI, GET OFF MY PHONE EVERYONE!!” Shinpachi could be heard yelling in the background and snatched it away. “Gin-san..?” 

Gintoki proceeded to faint onto the floor clutching the phone in his hand still.

“NOT AGAIN!” Shinny got up from the couch and held up the fallen soldiers head as Shinsuke looked up at the ceiling. “GINNNNNNNY!!” 

“Hmmm. Gintoki’s phone is making a dial tone and yet I hear vibration.” Katsura said and then deeply blushed. “Wait, I’m not carrying that today.” He pulled out his phone from his pocket to see Eren was calling him. He pressed the speaker button on.

“KATSURA! FLIP ON YOUR TV ONTO CHANNEL 6! GAME SHOW CONTEST! MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE! WE NEED TO SIGN UP NOW!” Eren was exclaiming this in a hurry. Oboro dusted off the remote and turned on the living room television. 

“Isss dat who I think it is on da otha line?” Valentino had split from Skele and dashed into the room but Eren quickly hung up. The TV flashed a festive ad for a special event coming to Edo.

“Grand prize of a m-million smackeroonies..?” Gintoki awoke and sat up. 

“This Sunday Sunday Sunday...?” Shinsuke was very curious too now.

Gintoki’s eyes then physically changed to dollar signs and his mind drifted into a blissful wonderland.

But it was momentarily broken by a midget.

“What’s with the daydream? Who says you’ll win diabetic breath lookin’ ass?” Shinsuke crossed his arms. “I just might enter it with my own crew.”

“Are you freaking kidding me? What could you possibly need a million dollars for? You’re already ridiculously rich from that stupid band you steal money from.” Gintoki said.

“I happen to need money for all sorts of things Gintoki.” Shinsuke turned his head the other way.

“Yeah for like what? That disgusting milk drink of yours or steroids to grow taller?” Gintoki asked and Shinsuke furrowed his eyebrows. The two started to loudly argue as Tatsuma and Katsura found some CheeseHead rerun to watch on the TV.

Meanwhile, Skele and Mutsu were sitting alone on the porch as the others inside were setting up plans for the game show. The couple sat there in silence, some inches away from each other. They looked at the snow covered mountains and the delicate snowflakes swaying to the ground. 

“C-crazy couple of weeks huh?” Skele asked her, she was flustered and nodded. She was trying to warm her hands up in her lap. 

“I’m so happy everything worked out after everything that happened with you and your kind and your solid.” Mutsu looked up and smiled. 

The wind was starting to pick up more, creating a hollowing sound and it got slightly colder. Skele inched a bit closer to her, Mutsu picking it up and doing the same. They once again stared at the snowy caps until Skele held her hand with his boney one. She turned his head to him and then he kissed her on the mouth for the first time by himself. Their lips parted, both stunned. They nervously chuckled a little bit and held hands again. 

“I-I think Oboro wanted to do some group picture soon!” Skele exclaimed. Mutsu looked up at him.

“Well, he can wait a few more minutes.” Mutsu clasped her arms around Skele’s and leaned against it. Skele blushed and smiled.

Once the group was together, they all huddled in around outside the cabin. 

“Say pasta molto di formaggio!” Valentino adjusted the camera with his gooey arms and quickly morphed back with Skele to get in the shot.

“Poe... this is the best day of my life.” Oboro said and the photo was snapped of all of them. 

————

Roberta was sitting on the side of the highway to hell picking up trash with grappling tool with a full trash bag slinged on her shoulder. She spontaneously put it down and walked into traffic, she was about to get hit when a strong hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back onto the side road. She turned around, surprised that someone caught her and saw who it was.

“Wormy mommy, why are you trying to kill yourself? You know you’ll just respawn.” Gedomaru said and held up her favorite cowskull, Roberta just smirked a little.

“Eh, I know that. Was just kind of bored.” Roberta then sat down on the hot pebble covered ground and tossed off her construction helmet. Gedomaru sat down next to her. Roberta gestured for her to sit in her lap.

“Woah, how did you get that cool face scar?” Gedomaru was impressed, a rare thing for her. 

“Hah, for a second there Geddy you sounded the adults on Skolex, they always said I had a dirty orphan face.” Robert jokingly rubbed her head. “Well, Bills says it’s from all the coming back to life I was doing. Souls aren’t meant to be ripped out of the body more than once. Says my ass was lucky, one more time and my soul probably would’ve-“ Roberta made an exploding noise with her mouth and Gedomaru tilted her head. “You know, makes me wonder if that happened to that original universe resetter and why I never never saw him down here.” Roberta petted the Yoshi skull in the kid’s lap. 

“And yet you still decided to get hit by a car knowing all of this?” The girl asked.

“Thought I’d test out old Bill geezer’s theory.” Roberta chuckled a little as did Gedomaru. 

The two stared at the speeding spirit vehicles traveling for some reason to some location. The sky was becoming a more darker orange haze than it already was that entire day in the underworld. Roberta let out a little sigh, Gedo turned her head up at her.

“Is something the matter Wormy Mommy?” She asked.

“You wouldn’t understand, kid.” Roberta replied.

“I’m three hundred million years old, try me.” Gedomaru smiled.

“You ever reflect back on your life and realized how shit it really was? How controlled it was? But it’s funny, I feel like my own stubborness and blindness was my entire life was worse than anything those freaks in the strawhats couldn’ve schemed up. Truly was my own worst enemy, huh?” Roberta continued to stare at the road ahead. She felt on a place on her construction vest where a photo once was kept inside of.

“But I’ve seen you say you regret doing things before when you’ve come back down here, Mommy. And yet you come back to life, mess it up again and come back down here again.” Gedomaru bluntly told her but Roberta couldn’t do anything but chuckle a little.

“Guess that’s the fault of being an adult. Never grow up, alright kid?” Roberta smiled, she kissed the top of Gedo’s head and rested her chin there.

“That would take another billion years anyway.” Gedomaru started braiding the skull’s blonde hair. Roberta heard the sound of rustling pebbles and looked up. 

“Hey big guy, I see behind that burnt tree, come over here!” She urged him.

Ungyou took a seat next to the two girls. 

“Ungyou-sama’s been really missing you. He wouldn’t shut up about it!” Gedomaru tied the skull’s braids back with ribbons.

“Can’t believe you of all people would go soft on me at a time like this, Headster.” Roberta smirked, Ungyou just kept looking ahead, the tear still visible on his cheek.

They then heard another man walking up, he put his hands on his hips.

“I come in from a long day of tutorin’ shitheads only to see my poker table completely abandoned for the first time in centuries.” Billy then noticed Roberta, she just blinked boredly. “HEY! You two aren’t suppose to be interacting with the slime, she still has like a trillion years of serving time to finish.”

“Shut up I like her better than you you 8 billion year old boomer.” Gedomaru buried her head in Roberta. Billy scrunched his face in annoyance. 

“There’s no way your ass traveled all the way to the other side of hell just to get pissed at these kids, Bills.” Roberta said to him.

“Who says I need a reason to boss my subordinates around?” Billy asked the woman, he took a seat next to Ungyou and looked at his face, stunned. “Is that a.. tear? Anyway, I had some news your curly haired ass might perk up about. Turns out that jizz head Oboro went behind our backs and did some resurrecting on his own, perhaps a gooey friend of yours?” At this Roberta’s pupil’s shrunk, she took Gedomaru off her lap. Roberta held her head to the ground while covering her mouth.

“Valentino.. Oh.. I-I can’t believe it.. That’s the best news I’ve ever heard..” Roberta wiped away the stream of tears pouring from her face. Gedomaru and Ungyou rubbed her back.

“Yeah I can’t believe I even let you know after the mess you caused this time.” Billy weighed his hands and arms behind his body and Gedomaru scowled at him. Billy then sighed. “Buuut, I would be pulling your wormy leg if I told you that was the only reason I came here.” Roberta looked up wiping away more tears. “Let me ask you, Robes. What did you plan to do once you entered that little universe portal?” 

“I don’t know... Undo the universe to save him.. Why are you testing me, you already knew that, Bills.” She said.

“Come on. You cause the greatest dimensional  rift in the history of time, at least play the villainous part. You’re hated by everyone in the universe, even more than Utsuro in some ways!” Billy replied back. Roberta stared at the ground with a sombersome face.

“...I’ve always been hated for stupid shit I pull..I know that..” She said. “But hated for good reason..”

“And yet what’s this I hear about you sacrificing your life to save some guy you killed before and his sister? And then giving instructions to your enemies to fix the universe to save your people and everyone else? Not the villianious conclusion I expected of this at all. You fuck things up to badly that you fuck up being bad too.” Roberta looked at him with a confused but teary little smile. 

“At least she didn’t eat her own brother.” Gedomaru crossed her arms at Billy, he just gave her a classic Billy look back. 

“What are you trying to say Bills..” Roberta said.

“Look, I’m not saying much at all, Robes.” Billy then got up from the floor and dusted his flannel shirt and faded jeans off. “I’m just relaying a message from the bozos up there in the pearly gates. They don’t want to see a good heart and potential go to waste. Says they already gave one good for nothin’ freeloader who was stuck in Hell another chance, why not another freeloader?” Roberta looked surprised and then smiled.

“What about Hitsugi..? I would think more than anyone he deserves a second chance.” Roberta tried to reason. “O-Or what about Yuka’s solid, Sophia..”

“That Big Man is reunited with his family up there, he’s good. I don’t know about the second one, my brothers aren’t ones to negotiate souls, that’s their turf up there.” Billy commented. “But, they are looking for some some dumb and disgusting worms to mold into their terrible fishy image.”

’I’ll make sure I tell them I said thank you.” She replied and got up along with the other two. 

“Don’t act like I’m not still pissed at you you shithead caterpillar. My bros might give you a chance at parole work in the land of the living ONE day but the den is still off limits to your cheating kind. I’m talking about NO more games to get out of Hell either. No cheating, no short cuts, no scheming bullshittery. You want to earn everyone’s trust again? You do the dirty work like the dirt worm you are.” Billy started walking away, totally not gesturing with his head for the three of them to follow back to their clubhouse. Roberta tossed off her construction vest and started walking.

“Me? Cheating at Go? Awh come on Bills!” Roberta put her hands up and a bunch of cards accidentally fell out, she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. 
———————————
“That was fun! So when do you think our Overlord Prince of Wonderfulness is coming back to play more games, husband?” Lady TBC asked. 

“Soon I hope, Lady TBC! Brother is never late to after arc celebrations!” Big Oaf Doofus gleamed as he held his wife’s hands eagerly. “Maybe if we hold our breath he’ll show up sooner!”

“Haha yeah! Like the time we were all stuck in the jungle and he let us die but he brought us back with the kiss of life! What a hero!” Lady TBC exclaimed.

“I loved that part! Especially the kiss!” Big Oaf Doofus excitedly said. 

As they were talking, an individual had appeared in the window overlooking the kingdom. 

“Jebediah-dono.” 

They both turned around in an instant. 

“Husband.. who is thi-“ Big Oaf Doofus snapped his fingers and she disappeared back into nothingness. He snapped his fingers again and changed his outfit.

“Mr. Jazzy, what do I bestow in the honor of your arrival? Come! Sit, please.” The redheaded man said with a British accent and then snapped his fingers.

The table of the living room had a cloth levitated over it along with silverware and plates. Jazzy cautiously walked inside the window and sat across from him. 

“So this is where you’re living in this universe, Jebediah-dono.. escaping from one dream world to the other as always.” Jazzy folded the napkin on his lap ever so elegantly. 

“I thought I learned a trick or two from you gentlemen by coming into fascinating places such as this.” Jebediah opened up the tin lid of the entry plate and appeared a steaming fish head. Jazzy jolted his head back. “Woops! Apologies! You know dreams, always reading your mind. So tell me, what’s on yours, Mr. Jazzy? To interupt a man privately celebrating with his wife, that’s some rude manners coming from a fellow polite individual such as yourself.”

“It took me ages to find out your new location, Jebediah-dono since you change it so frequently.”  Jazzy then crossed his arms but didn’t put them on the table because that would be bad manners. “Someone was dreaming back when Edo was being restored to its normal self, I sensed you were the one inside of it.” 

“Eccentric odd fellow, this braided hair chap is, isn’t he? No wonder he couldn’t save his own planet from its demise, his head was stuck in the clouds, or fantasy castles might I say.” Jebediah chuckled and pointed his finger at their empty wine cups. They had wine poured in them by theirselves. “This Skolexian though.. what was her name... Aah! Miss Roberta. What a big deal she was. My! Almost unraveled all the universes themselves!”

“That isn’t a thing to be proud of, Jebediah.” Jazzy took a light sip of his wine. 

“Well Utsuro would have been proud. Well almost as proud as he was of me, his crown jewel on top of his golden crown of decieving. She was so close though.” At this Jazzy narrowed his eyes.

“Utsuro would have been upset, just as much as he was when you forced him to reset the second universe.” Jazzy said, Jebediah looked up from his glass of wine and set it down on a coaster, dabbing his mouth with his napkin. 

“I accomplished in that universe what those strawhats could ever dream of, including their member Utsuro. Too bad they wouldn’t remember the name of Tendoshu Leader, Lord Jebediah. So I’m stuck as a Big Oaf Doofus.” He placed the napkin inside the top of his shirt and used his fork and knife to cut through the fishhead. Jazzy gagged a little bit but continued his scolding. 

“You are an evil tyrant who betrayed his country when it was attacked by the Tendoshu and decided to join forces with them to slaughter the people he once protected along with many more worlds.” Jazzy gave him a look of disgust. 

“Aah, t’was ancient centuries ago.” Jebediah took a small bite of the fish, savoring every chew for flavor and for spite of his guest. “And yet you bring it up like it was yesterday’s discussion at the Gentlemen’s club.” 

“Centuries ago to a man who has avoided all forms of punishment and resets.” Jazzy replied. At this Jebediah’s eyes narrowed and he put down his carving fork and knife.

“Tell me Mr. Jazzy, what happens when a universe is reset, where does the soul of that universe go?” Jebediah put his elbows on the table and locked his hands, resting his head on them.

”It’s erased and recycled into the new universe with their new selves.” Jazzy replied. 

“And IF said person never existed in other universes? Would he have a new and recycled soul? Hmm?” Jebediah said with a twinge of sarcasm. 

“No, he wouldn’t ever existed. You know we’ve had this discussion before Jebediah-dono and you know my stance.” Jazzy narrowed his own eyes. 

“Oh it’s bad enough the poor chap has to be reset like some damn cold machine, but then he wouldn’t have ever existed..” Jebediah looked him straight into the eyes now. “You could have easily put a stop to him resetting universes and yet you chose to stand by idle as he did so and wiped out trillions of lives. Why did you choose that, mmm?”

“This is all coming from a man who wiped out countless lives himself.” Jazzy replied. “You shouldn’t even exist.”

At this, Jebediah shot up from the table, knocking over his wine class and it clanked against his china plate. “You won’t answer my question because you are inferior..” He threw down his napkin on the table. “You are purple altana creatures who cannot even stand up to a man who was born with both crystals like Utsuro. WHO ARE YOU TO SAY WHO EXISTS AND WHO DOESN’T YOU SPINELESS WEAKLINGS?! WHO IS BILLY TO TRY TO ERASE ME AND MY RIGHT TO LIVE?!” Jebediah exhaled after some moments and straightened up his ascot. He sat back down. “...Sorry lost my temper there. Aah, I hate becoming ruffled up, its unbecoming to a Lord like me. That drasted Ungyo chap.. I trusted he would understand being given a second chance to live as well! I guess not. Your brother William always showed him favorites allowing him to remain there despite resets.”

“I’ll soon be leaving, if you want to repeat the same conversations.” Jazzy simply replied.

“You don’t need to side step the reason you came here, Mr. Jazzy. If you wanted to know where the Tendoshu currently are, I could take a good guess.” Jebediah said.

“No, I don’t need any advice from you. I wanted to say we’re watching you, you haven’t caused any trouble in these other universes but with recent events you could pose as a threat. You never once repented for your acts of bloodshed, you’re unlike any other evil person I’ve met.” Jazzy folded his napkin on the table and stood up to go.

“Mmm, me leave and miss out at tea time with the wife? I don’t think so. I’m not a violent man Mr. Jazzy, unless I am provoked. And I really do not want to be forced to reach that point.” Jebediah was having the table clean itself from the wine spill. “Besides, she’s making lovely tuna finger sandwiches soon! You’ll have to try one sometime. Oop, my apologies! I must’ve forgotten you were a cod.” He made a little smile.

“I’m a Jade Tiger Fish.” Jazzy exited the living room before he was excused from the table for the first time of his life. 

The lord poured himself a new glass and took another sip when suddenly he heard more footsteps. He snapped his fingers, causing the fancy dining table and his clothes and accent to return to normal. He stood there and greeted his “brother”.

“Big Oaf Doofus! What a terrible mess of a wedding that was. Stupid mean bullying Dragonia didn’t even take the time to hear my taunts and insults to him as he fled out of his stupid wedding chapel.” Enshou fell on the couch, sprawled about and put feet up on the arm. He tried taking his boots off with his other foot but had trouble. BOD got down and helped him out.

“I’m sorry to hear that brother, I’m sure him and all other white devils will fall to your glorious leathered black sexy boot self soon enough.” Big Doofus stood up again.

“Where is my Lady TBC, brother? I was gonna take the rest of my rage out on her beautiful sadly not gooey skin.” Enshou looked upside down at the man.

“Uhh not sure! She must have vanished again after we played Dark Overlord Enshou steals Princess Lady TBC from her idiot husband for the 506th time this month!” BOD happily exclaimed.

“WHAT?! That’s the fourth time this week!” Enshou turned right side up on the couch and frustratedly snapped his fingers. She appeared again, confused and dazed. “Big Ham Fatty, it’s almost if some goon is in control of my glorious fantasy world!”

“Never, brother! No one could match your intellect!” Big Oaf strolled by the mantle, he wiped a finger across the dash and looked at the dust on his finger. “Hey, so.. you wouldn’t be happen to see that saxophone god friend of yours soon again would you?” Enshou’s eyes narrowed.

“Why would you of all people in the world be concerned with something like that?” Enshou stared at the man.

“Because.. he could bask in your glory?” BOD said.

“Why didn’t I think of that? Oh wait I did!” Enshou put his hand on his shoulder. “Come now brother, we must prepare to see him again.

“Yes brother!” Big Oaf Doofus plastered a big happy smile across his face and followed Enshou into the other room.

Meanwhile as Roberta was heading back to the mancave, Gedomaru holding her right hand, Ungyou holding her left with the tear still on his face and Billy stroking his hands through his messy hair in front of the line, Roberta’s mind was drifting in and out of thoughts of the distant past and her time on Earth. She briefly let go of Ungyou’s hand and pretended to pull out something from her shirt. She twirled the imaginary item in between her fingers.

TBC

[Aya♥]

[Aya♥]