To all of my reviewers, thank you much! And now on to episode 65...

Episode 65: Sinister Sedusa

They had just finished an afternoon of patrol when Blade and the Powerpuff Girls Z met up outside of Kintoki Shop for some rest and treats. As they were about to enter the shop, a man in a designer suit stepped out and instantly began admiring the girls, much to Blade’s discomfort.

“You must be the Powerpuff Girls Z! Please allow me to introduce myself; I am the recruiter of talent for Shiri No Janko-san’s fashion shows. We are about to have a display of Shiri-sensei’s latest designs and would be most honored if all of you were to take part” explained the gentleman as he shook hands with all of the girls.

Buttercup stood her ground, obviously displeased with the concept of parading in front of a large group of people wearing designer ladies’ clothing, while the rest of the girls began to eagerly accept the offer.

“If you all want to take part than go ahead, but leave me out of it” Buttercup said with disgust.

“But Shiri No Janko-san wants all of the Powerpuff Girls to take part in this year’s exhibit” protested the man as he gazed over at Blade.

“I’ll attend, but only if Blade-kun is there for security purposes” said Blossom and the others quickly agreed to this term.

“But of course, I was just about to ask him” said the recruiter in return.

“I was going to watch over you girls whether they liked it or not” replied Blade with his arms crossed and a determined look on his face.

“Then are we all agreed?” inquired the recruiter sending Buttercup a questioning glance.

“Fine, I’ll never hear the end of this” grumbled Buttercup as she went inside the Kintoki Shop followed by the others.

“You won’t regret it” the man called as he turned and walked away.

Inside and at the counter, Sakurako sent a surprised questioning look in the direction of her recent arrivals.

“I can’t believe I let you all talk me into taking part in some stupid fashion show” grumbled Buttercup as she sat down at a table and crossed her arms in disgust.

“Try to think of it as an enriching opportunity to get in touch with your inner feminine side” noted Bubbles with a smile, only to be glowered at by Buttercup.

“Well, you’ve till this weekend to prepare so until then, let’s make the best of this and enjoy ourselves” added Blade as he carried a tray of sweets to the table for the girls to enjoy.

Bullet, who had kept quiet throughout the discussion, now asked, “What all is involved in modeling for a fashion show?”

“Mostly you just put your assigned outfit on and walk down a runway, or catwalk as they sometimes call it, and once you reach the end you have about five seconds to strike a pose that shows off the clothes in their best lighting and then return back down the runway” explained Bubbles who enjoyed reading fashion magazines.

“Then why would we need security?” inquired Bullet further.

“Last time Shiri No Janko-san held a fashion show, Mojo Jojo showed up and tried to steal all the clothes in hopes that it would make him famous and thus show him to be a cultured person” answered Blossom.

“That would take a miracle” commented Buttercup making Bubbles and Blossom chuckle.

“Who’s Mojo Jojo?” asked Bell.

“A monkey that was struck with the dark energy of Him and hates humans” answered Bubbles.

“I heard your conversation outside the store, is it true that you agreed to attend the fashion show?” inquire Sakurako timidly as she approached their table.

“Hai, they even suckered me into joining” grumbled Buttercup.

“I had wanted to join but I have no one to watch the shop” noted Sakurako quietly.

“You mean Souichiro-san can’t help?” inquired Bubbles in sympathy.

“It takes a lot of work to prepare the treats that my customers enjoy and I don’t have the time to show Souichiro-san” replied Sakurako quickly turning away to wipe away a tear of disappointment.

“From what I’ve heard, this year’s show is primarily devoted to teenagers than to adults. You might not be missing all that much” Blade offered to bolster Sakurako’s feelings.

“Perhaps you’re right, but still it would have been nice to share in the activities” Sakurako replied with a weak smile and the others nodded their heads in understanding.

Blade soon paid their bill and the group quietly left Kintoki Shop to head off for the lab to end their day. As they were exiting the shop, the group ran into Souichiro who was excitedly heading for Kintoki Shop.

“Hey Souichiro-san, you’re in an awful hurry” commented Bubbles to Souichiro.

“Hai, I just heard that Shiri No Janko-san is going to have a fashion show this weekend and wanted to invite Sakurako-chan to attend with me” replied Souichiro as he gasped for breath.

“She already knows about it. Sakurako-chan had wanted to attend but has no one to watch her shop nor does she have the time to teach someone. She’s very disappointed” Blade told Souichiro who suddenly looked crest-fallen.

“Then maybe I can surprise her with one of the new outfits that Shiri-san is introducing” Souichiro said after a couple of minutes of quiet thought.

“I think Sakurako-chan would be very happy to receive one from you” Blossom replied and Souichiro smiled.

“And you can count on us to keep it a secret from Sakurako-chan for you” added Bubbles happily.

That weekend

The girls arrived at the backdoor to the show hall and knocked. Greeted by the same recruiter, they were happily admitted inside along with Blade. They were quickly shown to their changing area and their assigned wardrobes provided to them with instructions to rapidly change their clothes, while Blade waited outside their dressing room door.

Within minutes the recruiter returned with Shiri No Janko-san in tow as they excitedly jabbered together about this year’s show. Shiri-san reached for the doorknob to the girls’ dressing room to enter when she gave pause to look in Blade’s direction as he ominously growled at her, his buster sword now unsheathed and in hand.

“Uh, girls, oh girls, would be so kind as to tell your bodyguard to relax?” pleaded the recruiter as he anxiously knocked on the door.

Bell stuck her head out the door and said, “Blade, I need some help, my zipper seems to be stuck.”

She was wearing a pearl white, floor-length dress with ruffled short sleeves, a front that dipped just shy of the chest line and the back dropped down just above the shoulder blades. A black lace hair band held her long flowing hair back and she wore black flats with matching gauntlets on her hands.

“Ah, my how her dress does shine in the light!” replied Shiri No Janko-san as she looked Bell over as Blade fixed her zipper.

“I don’t care how much they threaten me; I am not wearing this dress in front of a bunch of people!” Buttercup shouted from deeper within the dressing room.

“Oh, come on, it’s only for two minutes and then you return back here for the next display” Bubbles rebuked her companion.

“Hai, well they can just do the prom dress display without me” Buttercup growled in return much to Shiri-san’s displeasure.

“You have to understand, she just doesn’t like to wear girly clothing” Blossom said as she and Bullet approached the others.

“You wear that to the prom and I’m sure to be spending the night fighting off the other boys” noted Blade to Blossom, much to her delight.

She was wearing a vibrant red, floor-length dress that bared her shoulders and well displayed her developing chest, but in a tasteful manner, and was held up with thin flesh colored straps that tied up behind the neck. The back of the dress dropped in a V-shape down to her waist line and with one slit in the skirt part, which showed off one bare leg to the upper thigh. Matched with high heels, elbow length gloves, and hair bow, it was truly a showy outfit.

“When the boys see me dancing with you while wearing your sword, they’re bound to realize it’s purely look but don’t touch” replied Blossom as she took up a showy stance to well display herself to him.

“Blade, your mouth is open” commented Bell with a light chuckle.

“I have really outdone myself with this year’s prom dresses” Shiri-san noted with much enthusiasm.

Bubbles had finally succeeded in dragging Buttercup out of hiding. She was wearing a dress similar to Bell’s, but in a glass blue, and Buttercup was wearing a dress similar to Blossom’s but in an emerald green and had shoulder straps.

“Bullet, where’s your dress?” inquired Blade as he hoisted the smaller girl up onto his shoulders.

“They don’t make prom dresses for kids my age, in fact, none of the outfits are in my size” replied Bullet with a bit of disappointment.

“Gomenasai, but I hadn’t prepared anything for elementary students this year” Shiri-san apologized.

“Well, you can either hang out with me, if you like, or you can help the girls get ready for each display” offered Blade with a smile and Bullet happily agreed to tag along with him.

“Quickly now everyone, the show begins in two minutes, so take your places” encouraged Shiri-san’s recruiter as he held the door open for the girls to line up in front of the curtain to the catwalk.

“I feel ridiculous” whined Buttercup.

“Just remember, when you reach the end of the catwalk, strike a pose that challenges someone to make a comment about that dress. You’ll wow them with both intimidation and…intimidation” Blade said as he exited through the curtain to take his place amongst the security line, and to avoid getting yelled at by Buttercup, making sure to unsheathe his sword to add emphasis to his already formidable appearance so that onlookers wouldn’t get any ideas.

Watching intently, the audience suddenly quieted down at the sight of Blade and paying particularly close attention to his drawn sword as the lights flickered off of it. Three young men who were already trying to climb up onto the stage rapidly changed their minds and jumped back down as Blade strode forward, pausing to send them a glare. Upon reaching the end of the stage, Blade leapt into the air and landed back down on his feet with his massive weapon held before him, turning around just in time to catch little Bullet who had been tagging along behind him, and kissed the small girl on the cheek much to the delight of the onlookers.

Suddenly, the show hall was filled with music and as the girls were released to make their presentations, an announcer said over the intercom, “This year’s line is especially devoted to the life styles of the teenager. Presenting right now is the new line of dresses for the prom each making a statement from ‘I am sexy but intelligent’ to ‘You may look but not touch.’ Also, for the first time ever, this year’s four models are none other than the legendary Powerpuff Girls Z, their other 2 team members standing in the security line.

Blossom is wearing the most seductive of the dresses featuring a nice slit in the dress to display plenty of leg almost to the hip, a very low neck line, and very low cut V in the back, this one is sure to catch every boy’s attentions.

Now displaying is Buttercup, wearing a similar dress but with added shoulder straps for attaching a warm shawl, for those cool nights, a more modest neck line that falls just shy of the chest, and a slightly more modest V in the back.

Next up is Bell, displaying this year’s most modest selection. Notice the nice ruffled short sleeves, the front that falls just below the neckline, and the full back, truly the modest dress.

Last in the line of this year’s prom dresses, Bubbles is wearing a somewhat more daring display, still with ruffled sleeves, this one features a back that falls to below the shoulder blades as well as showing off a bit more of the upper chest.”

Blade, who was standing in the security line with his back to the catwalk, found a way for both him and Bullet to enjoy the show, watching the girls’ reflections in his massive sword’s blade. While watching as Bell was making her way down the catwalk, Blade noticed some strange movements in the background and turned around in an attempt to spot what it was. Seeing nothing he turned back to the audience and noticed Souichiro approaching their position.

“Blade, have you seen any of the outfits the girls are wearing?” Souichiro inquired excitedly.

“Yeah, I might buy that red one for my girlfriend” Blade replied with a smile.

“I liked the white one, though, I think it would look better in blue; do you think Sakurako-chan would look nice in it?” Souichiro asked.

“Either that or the blue one” commented Bullet from beside Blade.

“I agree, though, I’d keep watching the show and the other displays for further ideas first if I were you” suggested Blade as he held up his sword to watch as Blossom paraded out onto the catwalk wearing the sports attire, a pink tank top, red shorts, and pink sneakers.

Soon the other girls were making their presentations; Bell wore a white gymnast’s suit, Buttercup was wearing a green jogger’s uniform, and Bubbles was wearing a white shirt sleeve T-shirt with light blue shorts and matching sneakers.

“Our next display is the swimming attire” said an announcer over the intercom.

“I just hope there isn’t a night wear display” mumbled Blade as he watched a young woman clad in a blue confectioner’s uniform quickly turn away from the group and pull a pink lipstick from her pocket before she took off running from the crowd.

“Bullet, stay here, I’m going to check on something” Blade instructed his younger companion.

“What’s wrong, Blade?” she inquired of him.

“I’m not sure, but, I think I saw someone behaving suspiciously. It’s probably nothing, but I need to make sure” he replied with a gentle squeeze of Bullet’s shoulder to reassure her.

Elsewhere,

Sakurako had been having a slow day because of the fashion show and so closed her shop for the day to go watch. Upon arrival, when they were showing the swimming attires, Sakurako noticed Souichiro and the way he kept lavishing Bell with his undivided attention.

Feeling angry and hurt by this display of Souichiro’s, she absent-mindedly reached into her pocket and pulled out a small tube of lipstick as she took off running away from the show. Ducking into the ladies’ room, she stood before the mirror and stared at herself in wonderment as to where she had failed in keeping Souichiro’s faithfulness to her. Jealousy and rage filled her as she applied the lipstick and, unbeknownst to her, a dark shadow shot forth towards her from under the stalls, enveloping her as she transformed into Sinister Sedusa!

“I’ll teach that little bitch to steal Souichiro from me” Sedusa growled as she punched her fist into the mirror and left out the restroom door.

Meanwhile,

Blade searched the show hall for the mysterious girl, when he gave pause to mumble to himself, “I could’ve sworn I saw Sakurako in the audience.”

Just as he was about to continue his search, a scream rang out from the girls’ changing area! Turning around, he ran back to the catwalk when he noticed a woman wearing a black skirt, a tight red shirt, black boots, and blood red hosiery that ended in black fish-netting, standing atop the changing area with an unconscious Bell held in her grasp.

“Blade, you need to stop her before Sedusa kills Bell!” shouted Blossom as she and the other girls, in the nightwear displays, came running up to him.

“Get back inside and put your uniforms on, this is going to require all the help you can provide” Blade ordered the girls as he turned his attention to the woman atop the show hall, his concern for his sister overpowering his urge to stare at Blossom in such seductive lingerie.

Leaping into the air, Blade and Bullet chased after Sedusa as she drug Bell along with her. Seeing the door to the show hall’s storage room, Sedusa ducked in and instantly took to hiding in the very back of the storeroom.

Blade and Bullet, now joined by the other girls, cautiously entered the storage room. Pointing to each of the girls and then in a particular direction, the group spread out in an attempt to find Sedusa before she could carry out her death threat upon Bell.

Sedusa heard the slow footsteps of her pursuers and began to think quickly of a way to dispose of her target when she noticed a rope dangling from the ceiling and that was attached to a pulley. Dragging Bell over to the rope, she used it to bind the girl’s wrists together and quickly hoisted her upwards to the ceiling.

Noticing the sudden movement, the group looked up towards the ceiling when the lights of the previously dark room lit up, temporarily blinding them, and when their eyes began to adjust, saw their friend now dangling from her wrists and Sedusa behind her with a broadsword in hand.

“If any of you should so much as take another step closer I’ll cleave this girl in half!” threatened Sedusa as she made ready to strike.

“Why are you doing this? Bell has done nothing to you” demanded Buttercup in frustration.

“WRONG, this little bitch tried to steal Souichiro from me, now she is to pay for her treachery with her life!” thundered Sedusa as she pulled her weapon back to strike the girl.

Sedusa swung her weapon, but had not stopped to pay attention to the black clad boy below as he drew forth and pointed his sword to Bell’s rope as he called out, “Piercing Light!” A shot of energy flew from the tip of Blade’s sword and sliced the rope just before Sedusa could finish swinging her sword! Bell dropped, Bubbles waved her giant bubble wand through the air as she called out, “Bubble Boing,” creating a giant air-bag bubble for her to land softly upon, as Blade dropped his sword and leapt forward to catch the girl as she slid off, clutching her close to him.

Up above, the momentum of Sedusa’s swing, and the lack of something to strike, knocked the woman off balance as she plummeted to the floor below! Souichiro, who had been trying to find Sedusa, entered the room just as the woman fell to the ground and ran forward to try and assist her.

The shadow creature, which had possessed Sakurako, helped to soften the fall and Sedusa rose from the ground, glowering in Bubbles’ and Blade’s directions, not seeing Souichiro approaching her.

“You dare to defend her, then you are my enemy too!” screamed Sinister Sedusa in anger.

“No, please, stop this foolishness” begged Souichiro as he grabbed hold of Sedusa’s arms.

“You, it’s your betrayal that’s led to this!” Sedusa shouted as she struggled against Souichiro’s grasp.

“What are you talking about, when have I betrayed you?” asked Souichiro in surprise.

“I saw the way you were staring at that little whore when she was on stage! Your own eyes told me of your desire for her as opposed to me” Sedusa growled as she made a lunge against Souichiro’s grasp.

“No, you’re wrong; I have never had feelings for Bell. It was her outfit that I was wanting…for you” Souichiro confessed causing Sedusa to pause in her struggle.

“For me, you wanted the clothes she was wearing…for me?” inquired Sedusa softly.

“Of course, I love Sakurako and Sakurako only” replied Souichiro as he hugged Sedusa closely.

“You will of course explain this to me later on, right, Blossom?” asked Blade as he stared at the two across from him in confusion and Blossom merely nodded her head in confirmation.

“Blade, there’s a shadow creature holding onto her and it seems to be fighting to keep its grip on her” Bullet noted to him.

Gently placing Bell upon the floor with Blossom’s help, Blade retrieved his sword. Bubbles walked over and assisted Blossom in laying Bell’s head upon her lap to provide a soft pillow for the unconscious girl while watching Blade as he began to twirl his sword in his hand.

“Blade, wait, there’s no need to attack her” pleaded Souichiro defensively.

“I’m sorry, but there’s a shadow creature holding onto her and if I don’t get rid of it, it’s bound to start up even more trouble” Blade replied through clenched teeth as he slowly approached Sedusa and Souichiro backed away to a safe distance.

“Blazing Tanto,” called out Bullet as she threw her weapon forward to slice through the connection between Sedusa and the shadow monster.

As the two dropped to the floor in pain, Blade charged forward and brought his sword down upon the shadow creature, which screamed out in even greater pain till Thunder Boomer and Mega Butch ran forward and absorbed the injured shadow. Turning to glower at Blade for striking the fallen creature, the boys soon turned back and ran away from the group.

Later, at the National Research and Science Lab,

The Professor scanned Sakurako with the Z Particle Laser while most of the others watched, Souichiro waiting for permission to take his beloved’s hand into his own.

After a while the professor cut the laser’s beam and checked the instrument’s readings before nodding a go ahead to Souichiro.

“These shadows, while being a real pain to contend with, do have one positive attribute to them, they remove the dark energies of Him when they leave their hosts” commented the Professor as he hung the laser up on its hook.

“That’s a small comfort when you consider that this last creature almost succeeded in killing Bell” murmured Bubbles in response.

“Speaking of whom, I’m going to see if Blade needs any assistance with caring for her” Blossom said, excusing herself from the others’ presence.

Walking down the hall to the medical ward, Blossom paused at the door and knocked. Blade answered the door and allowed her entrance into the room where Bell, now awake, sat up in bed with Bullet beside her talking away of how she had managed to aid Blade in rescuing her.

“I owe you a debt of gratitude” Blade told the small girl as he and Blossom approached Bell’s bedside.

“No, you don’t, you saved my life when we first met, remember? I just repaid your kindness by helping to save your sister” Bullet replied before letting out a mighty yawn.

Reaching over to the two girls on the bed, Blade turned off the overhead light, and then settled the two girls down for a much needed nap. Walking over to a chair, Blade sat down to relax his own tense muscles. Blossom walked over to him and as she stared at the two girls sleeping, paid little attention to Blade’s pulling her down onto his lap. Together, they watched over their sleeping siblings till they themselves fell asleep.

The next day, Sakurako was back at work and none the wiser as to what had transpired the previous day; her entire memory wiped clean from the shadow creature’s being forcefully separated from her. Souichiro, with much assistance from Blade, purchased the dress Bell had worn in the fashion show, but in azure, and presented the gift, which was well received, to Sakurako.

I can only imagine the reviews for this episode *sweat drops* But still, please, REVIEW!

Next time...
Bullet: achoo!
Blade: Allergies?
TCW: Or something worse? Only time, or the next episode, will tell! Stay tuned for episode 66!