Misato and Kumi

Misato and Kumi were sent on a mission by their instructor to disrupt the activities of the elite team from Zodiac Academy. They would have to do so without directly engaging their targets. The two had difficulties working together at the best of times and the arguments had already begun. Misato styled herself as a strategist, and her tanuki companion as her second-in-command, who took down her opponents according to the wisdom laid down by great military minds and thinkers before her. Truthfully, Misato was actually passionate and emotional. Kumi was brash and wanted to complete the task by relying on instinct and improvisation.

 

'Watch a master at work.' Misato grinned to herself 'All the pieces shall fall into place!'

 

Kumi huffed 'No plan survives contact with the enemy.'

 

'Failing to plan means planning to fail!' Misato stuck her tongue out at Kumi.

 

Kumi flicked Misato's forehead 'You're just going to mess up like you always do, nerd.'

 

'I'm not a nerd!' Misato's face turned red 'I'm smart, and cute and funny! Instructah said so!'

 

'Teacher's pet.'

 

Misato made an incomprehensible series of grumbles and puffed up her cheeks. 'I'll prove to you I'm amazing! Just come with me and watch!'

 

Misato made a mad dash towards civilisation.

 

'Whatever' Kumi shrugged her shoulders and followed.

 

The pair found four of their targets out in the open. Curiously their rivals made no attempt to conceal their presence.

 

Their first objective would be Aimu and Syuri. From a vantage point they watched as Aimu bought up sweets and Syuri acted as an attentive babysitter.

 

Misato furrowed her brow and devised a plan. She turned to her tanuki-friend. It was trained to sneak around and steal items of interest. After countless hours spent trying to steal Kumi's fox-udon it was an expert thief. Misato held the tanuki's cheeks in her hand 'Follow your training' Misato locked her eyes to the tanuki's until she was certain it understood and sent it on it's way. The tanuki gripped onto a cape tied around its neck and gently glided down like a superhero. It landed behind a post near Aimu and Syuri and it darted for them.

 

To Kumi's surprise no one took notice of a racoon dog with a green cape running around a commercial district.

 

The tanuki stalked Aimu until she left the store and through slight-of-hand it swiped candy from Aimu's bags and placed it in Syuri's pockets. It used leaves to replace the weight of the missing sweets until the bags were filled with nothing but leaves and Syuri's pockets were padded. Aimu got peckish during her walk and reached down into the bag to discover the nasty surprise.

 

'What are these?' Aimu brandished the green leaves. 'Where's my sweets?'

 

'Huh? That's weird they were right in the bag.' Syuri spluttered 'We both saw it.'

 

Aimu noticed Syuri's bulged pockets and gave an accusatory glare 'What's in your pockets?'

 

'What do you mean?' Syuri reached down to find her pockets and handbag stuffed with candy. 'How did these get here?'

 

'So this is what it's like to be betrayed by someone you trust?' Aimu's eyes welled up. 'Using your magical girl tricks to steal from a fallen angel, huh?'

 

'I don't know how these got here, I swear!' Syuri pleaded.

 

Kumi and Misato watched from afar as Aimu and Syuri's argument escalated into a fight. As the shinobi barrier was raised Misato declared victory.

 

'See? I told you my brilliant plan would work.' Misato boasted to herself. Kumi showed no interest.

 

Kumi and Misato left their vantage point to reclaim Misato's pet tanuki and headed to find their next targets. They found Leo and Ginrei in a crowded city square. It looked as though the two were enjoying a stroll together. They gave off such an overwhelming aura of status and privilege that the crowd of people parted around them as they walked. Leo wore a dress with thin, lengthy bottom that drifted on the breeze.

 

Misato had her next plan. Her eyes lit up and she dashed away from Kumi 'All I need is an opening!'

 

Misato did her best to conceal her presence amongst the crowd and she waited for a gap between the commuters to send forth a gust of wind that raised Leo's dress and held it high enough for everyone to get a good look underneath. Leo shrieked and even more people turned their attention to her. As her dress collapsed back down there was the sound of several smartphone cameras shooting just to late to catch a glimpse.

 

'I'm mortified!' Leo squeaked.

 

Leo turned to Ginrei for assistance but Ginrei had fainted and fallen to her knees. Leo didn't know whether to flee and spare herself further embarrassment or help Ginrei.

 

Misato giggled to herself. She had rendered Zodiac's leader dazed and confused. Surely now Kumi would have to acknowledge her greatness. Misato tip-toed away into an alley until she was clear from the crowded street. No one would be able to see or hear her. Even Kumi had been left behind. 'Alright Kumi, just one more shinobi to go and then you have to admit you've been bested.' Misato chuckled to herself.

 

Misato felt a sharp prick against the back of her neck. She tried to reach back to inspect it but her arm refused to move. Misato tried her other arm and it too refused her commands. Misato's body was frozen like a statue from the neck down. Misato's tanuki pet desperately tried to help her budge but to no avail.

 

'Just one more shinobi huh?' A red, hooded figure came out from the shadows. It was Kurohoro, the remaining Zodiac member. Kurohoro fancied herself a strategist as well and an expert with concealed weapons and poisons. 'I was the one who told my friends not to conceal their presence. I knew you would come by sooner or later and now I've got you in my grasp, dirty little rat.'

 

'I'll break free!' Misato grimaced 'Then you'll pay!'

 

Kurohoro giggled.

 

'I don't think so.' Kurohoro grinned 'That poison was specifically formulated to not allow you to move until I'm done with you. All you can do is talk.'

 

'And scream!' Misato yelped 'Kumi! Help me!'

 

Kurohoro darted her eyes 'What are you doing?'

 

'Calling for help!' Misato screamed 'Kumi! You jerk! Help me!'

 

Kurohoro took a defensive pose.

 

The sound of footsteps approached and Kumi raced in. Misato watched as a shinobi barrier was raised and for a few brief moments she was alone. Misato anxiously waited until Kumi and Kurohoro returned.

 

As the barrier fell Kumi stood victorious over a fully-stripped and dazed Kurohoro.

 

'Anything a tanuki can do, a fox can do better!' Kumi chuckled.

 

'Kumi!' Misato wept with joy.

 

'Quiet, nerd.' Kumi growled 'It's bad enough you gave away my ambush.'

 

Kumi searched through Kurohoro's scattered belongings and found what she believed to be the antidote. Kumi pricked a coated needle against Misato. 'I think this is the right one.'

 

'Don't just inject me with random poison!' Misato cried.

 

'Well?' Kumi asked impatiently 'Did it work?'

 

Misato felt her fingers and toes move again. 'I think so?'

 

'Good.'

 

Kumi raised her hand and Misato winced. Misato always expected Kumi to treat her harshly and she closed her eyes in preparation for a smack to the back of the head or a flick to the forehead. Instead an arm draped around Misato and brought her head into Kumi's ample chest.

 

'Well you might be a geek and I still don't like you but you did good.' Kumi muttered.

 

'I'm not a geek.' Misato mumbled 'I'm smart, talented and cute.'

 

'Yeah, whatever.' Kumi sighed.

 

'So we kind of let one of them see us.' Misato pondered 'Does that mean we failed?'

 

'I won't tell instructah if you won't.'

 

'We can't lie!' Misato spluttered 'Instructah is too clever for that.'

 

'Well, whatever then, we'll let Instructah figure out if we learned anything.'

 

Misato wasn't satisfied with that response either but she had no choice. At the very least they weren't fighting and that was enough. Kumi was even generous enough to act as a crutch while Misato regained her footing. Misato enjoyed this different side of Kumi. It was gentle and sisterly. When they returned home they were told that their antics were simply a diversion so the rest of their team could fulfil their own missions. Yuuyaki and their instuctor were proud of their ability to actually fight the enemy instead of each other.