[Gamer shop where Ichiro works] An hour ago... "Kimihiko. Everyone... GO! Get out of here!" "Theodore, you're not..." "He said go Rikaru. We go." "Unara, follow them, but don't engage till I call." ******* [Unknown location, heading towards Miro's shop] Now... Rikaru glanced over her shoulder. "Dang! She's still tailing!" Kimihiko pulled Rikaru by the hand, urging her to run faster. "Once we get to Miro's shop, we'll be safe. I'm sure Miro's on top of the situation." Rikaru glared at Kimihiko. "This is Miro we're talking about. He's probably slacking off somewhere, guzzling down sodas and eating burgers." Kimihiko yanked Rikaru off balance slightly, and Rikaru stumbled. "Watch it. That's my Miro-kun you're badmouthing. Only I get to do that." Rikaru couldn't keep the grin off her face despite the situation. ******* [Outside Miro's shop] Rikaru glared at the sign hanging on the door. "Closed? Where can Miro be?" ******* ONE OF THOSE SHOPS An Improfanfic Production Started by Farsan de Arnibia Written by: Smlee Branch B - Chapter 7: Buy High, Sell Low ******* [Inside Miro's shop] Less than an hour earlier... /Master...There's a sudden surge in the population's desire to purchase./ "Huh?" A sleepy Miro mumbled. Since the man who had bought the Buddha earlier, the shop had been deserted. Miro was finding it hard to keep awake. /It seems.../ Pochi continued, unaffected by Miro's lack of attention. /They all want to purchase firearms./ Miro waved a dismissive hand. "So what's new? People want guns all the time." Miro rested his head down on the counter. /Your firearms seem a bit more primitive than I had thought they'd be./ Pochi began after a few seconds. /You don't even have DNA recognition protocols installed on your 'guns'. If you had, then that incident when you were eight would not have taken place./ Miro growled. "I thought I told you to warn me when you're pulling up my memories." /Oh. Sorry. I just want to learn more about the man I now call master. The best way to do that is by sharing your experiences. If you'd like, you may share some of mine./ Miro raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How does that work?" /How does what work?/ "The memory sharing thing!" Miro exclaimed. /What a silly question. I told you of the bond./ "Oh. Right." An awkward silence followed. /Did you really have a crush on Suzahara Yamato?/ Miro snapped up, and stormed to the door. "That's it! I'm out of here! You're worse than my mother!" /Wait!/ The door slammed shut behind Miro. ******* [Outside Miro's shop] Now... Rikaru pounded her fists on the door. No answer. Down the street, plainly visible (since she wasn't hiding or anything) stood Unara. Kimihiko's eyes were narrowed, her attention focused on the shop. Suddenly, Kimihiko's eyes lit up. "He must have already gone into battle to protect the world from the forces of evil! Ah! Miro-kun!" Kimihiko continued to ramble, but Rikaru droned it out. Rikaru darted a glance about the area. There were two options that she could think of. Either they could attack Unara head on and hope for the best, or they could duck into that store across the street. Which, now that she thought about it, hadn't been there last time she'd been here. Perfect. "Change of plans!" She exclaimed, grabbing Kimihiko and yanking her into the store called 'The Mysticism and Power of Ancient China'. ******* [Wreckage of the gamer shop] Half an hour ago... Theodore quickly flipped through the pages in the book. Here's what he needed! "Can't have that, can we?" Korin taunted, as he slapped the book from Theodore's hand once more. By Theodore's count, this was the 17th time. "Grah!" Theodore yelled out in frustration before lunging for Korin again. Again he was blocked. "Tsk tsk. I thought you wanted to fight me?" Korin mocked, as he slapped Theodore into a wall. "What I want now," Theodore started, as he picked himself up from the rubble of the wall, "Is a new plan." "Hah! What kind of a plan can you come up with! Dad's always been the thinker in the family, and he's the one who gave me this Cys! There's no way you can outthink him." Korin raised his fist for another strike. Theodore scooped up two big handfuls of stone from the crushed wall. "That's where you're wrong." In one smooth movement, Theodore crushed the stone in his hands to a powder, and flung it into Korin's face. "Grah!" Korin grahed and rubbed at his eyes reflexively. The big hand smacked him in the face and sent him reeling backwards into darkness. ******* [Wreckage of the gamer shop] Now... "I'm gonna kill that SOB!" Korin sputtered as he dragged himself to his feet. "I'm gonna kill them all!" As Korin stumbled out the partially collapsed building, he pulled out his radio. "Unara! Shoot those mother f***ers! Kill them!" "*kssssh*rry. They've go*ksssh* to *ksssh* Pon's shop." Unara's garbled response came over the radio. Korin smashed his fist into the last remaining wall of the building, knocking it down. "Damn them! How'd they know about Wu Pon?" He screamed into the radio. "Seems the*ksssh* to another shop acr*kssshhh* street. *ksssh* got lucky." Unara sounded a bit frustrated herself. Korin took a moment, and a deep breath, and calmed down. "Alright. We'll meet back at base. See ya there sweetie!" Korin would swear at a later date that he could hear her eyes rolling. ******* [Random location] Fifteen minutes ago... Miro wandered down the road. On one hand, he had the option of going home, to his mother. On the other, he had the option of going back to Pochi. Neither seemed very appealing, currently. So deep was he in thought, that he failed to notice the lack of any people on the sidewalks or cars in the street. Or the fact that absolutely nothing was open for business at this time. What did get his attention though was the faint tug of Pochi trying to pull him back to the shop. "Shut up, Pochi." He mumbled. /master.../ Pochi's faint cry came through. Miro blinked. "There must be a range to this thing. I'm fairly sure it was louder last time." Miro's stomach rumbled. He realized he hadn't eaten anything all day. "Well..." Miro sighed, "I guess I should head back to the shop. Free food is always a good thing...considering the emptiness of my wallet." /whew.../ "Shut up, Pochi." He mumbled. ******* [Inside 'The Mysticism and Power of Ancient China'] Now... "WOW!" Rikaru exclaimed, her glance darting around to all the antiquated weaponry. Wu Pon glanced up from the catalogue he was browsing through to take in the new customers. They were both girls, so it was time for him to hit the charm. "Ladies! Wat can I do for ya? Interested in an autentic samurai sword? Too wild for ye? How about some of the finest silks imported from China?" Rikaru turned her full attention to the man. "We need guns. Lots of guns." Wu Pon nearly did a double take. "W...w...wat makes you tink I've got guns? I'm clearly only in the market for Chinese..." Rikaru cut him off. "Look we don't have time for this. As we speak, a madman, who also happens to be my friend's father but I won't go into detail on that right now, is poised to take over the world. I know this shop wasn't here before, and what's more, I think this particular shop is much like Miro's shop. Just make the guns, and hand em over." Wu Pon pondered a moment and let the information sink in. Miro was the shopkeeper next door...and they knew of the existence of the Shops? "Stupid newbie..." He muttered under his breath. "Awright missus, I got wat you want if you got wat I want." Wu Pon stated. "Money, right? Got plenty of that here!" Rikaru pulled out Theodore's cash card. "...Come to tink of it, no. I want someting else. Someting of more value." Wu Pon began thoughtfully. Rikaru's mind flashed through possibilities. "God no!" Wu Pon eyed Rikaru. "No no no. Noting like that. I want you to retrieve someting for me." Rikaru's eyes lit up. "Ah! An old fashioned fetch quest! Oh, wait. I bet that girl with the bow's still after us." Wu Pon raised an eyebrow. "Bow?" Rikaru nodded. "Said it was a Cys." Wu Pon grinned. "Some of my finest work, tat one." Rikaru's face darkened, but before she could begin to yell, Kimihiko popped up in between them. She had a wide grin upon her face, and she was clutching something tightly. "Can I have it? Please? Please?" She begged, showing off the cute little plushie she'd found. Rikaru twitched. ******* [Middle of nowhere] Ten minutes ago... Ichiro glanced downward at the slip of paper in his hands. Then darted a glance at his surroundings. "I'm lost!" He wailed. ******* [Outside Miro's shop] Now... "Miro!" Miro paused at the door to his shop. "Miro! It's me! Ichiro!" Ichiro called as he ran up. "Oh, hey. Shouldn't you be at work?" Miro quizzed. "Huh? Work now?" Ichiro asked, confused. "Never mind. Where are Rikaru and Kimihiko?" "Haven't seen them for a while. Why?" Miro unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Ichiro followed. Ichiro darted a glance around. Not much here, he took note. "They said they were coming here to stock up on weaponry." Miro sighed. Typical Rikaru. "Yeah, well it's not like she's going to get any. Pochi doesn't have enough power to generate much of anything yet." /Master...might I remind you that I'm supposed to be a secret?/ Miro sighed. "Where could they be? Maybe they got caught! Miro! We have to save them!" Ichiro looked and sounded worried. Miro was confused. "From what?" Ichiro gasped. "From what? From Theodore's father!" "What's he got to do with anything?" Miro asked, feeling a slight dread creeping into his stomach. "Didn't you feel the shockwave when he blew up Fuji?" Ichiro queried. Miro felt oddly sick. "Pochi?" /I absorbed the shock. I'm supposed to protect you, and that means I couldn't let you find out about the situation. From what I understand, Humans on this world are quite impulsive. You would have just gone out and endangered yourself. Although, in retrospect, you left anyways./ "Pochi. You're really going to have to work with me if you want our partnership to continue." Miro stated angrily. /Our partnership has to continue, or we both die./ Miro rubbed his temples. "Oh. Right." Ichiro poked Miro. "Uh...now's not exactly the best time to begin talking to yourself..." There was a buzz at the door. /Customer!/ Pochi communicated happily. "Now's not exactly the best..." Miro started. /CUSTOMER./ Pochi boomed. "Alright, alright." Miro consented, and pushed the button under the counter. The door swung open. A voice floated over. "Ara...Master Pon?" Pochi growled, and Miro nearly began to laugh. Pochi was certainly living up to his name. Miro turned to Ichiro. "Wait here. This won't take long, and then we'll go look for them." Ichiro nodded. Miro moved to the entrance. "Ara...The shop seems different from the last time I was here..." Miro identified the voice as belonging to..."Suzahara? Suzahara Yamato?" The tall brunette fixated her clear green eyes on Miro. "Do I know you? You must be new here." Miro nearly tipped over. It took him a moment to get his mouth moving in the proper manner for speech. "It's me! Miro! From high school! Remember?" Suzahara pondered a moment. "Hmmm...nope." Miro's mouth stopped working properly once more. "Where is Master Pon? The nice man from the University sent me to pick up the special order." Suzahara started walking towards the back of the store. Ichiro blinked. "Suzahara? Long time no see." "Ah! Ichiro! Do you work here?" Suzahara exclaimed happily. "No, just visiting. What are you doing here?" Ichiro quizzed. "Looking for Master Pon. Do you know where he might be?" Suzahara bent down to inspect under the counter. "Pon?" Miro asked, after recovering a third time (when Suzahara recognized Ichiro but not him...). "He's...not in right now. But if you tell me what you need, I might be able to get it for you." /Excelent. Spoken like a true shopkeeper./ "Shut up, Pochi." Miro muttered. "Ara?" "Nothing. Can you tell me?" Miro pressed. "Um...well, it's long...and made of metal...and inscribed with runes of a lost civilization...and well...ah! I have a picture!" Suzahara whipped out a photograph. When Suzahara had said it was long, she hadn't been joking. The particular spear pictured in the photo was at least a good 25 feet long. It was obviously not designed with functionality in mind. /Pochi?/ Miro tested the link. /That particular item is in the possession of Wu Pon. Would you like for me to...acquire it?/ /A moment./ Miro responded. "Mind if I ask one question?" Miro asked. Suzahara blinked. "Ara...you just did..." "I meant another question." Miro stated. "Ah." Miro held up the photo. "What are you using this for anyways?" Suzahara's eyes lit up. "Ara! I have no idea!" Miro's eye twitched. Was she always this difficult back at school? "Can you guess?" Suzahara looked pensive for a moment, then nodded. "I think he might want to use it to further his goals in the subjugation of Mankind!" Miro blinked. "Isn't that...y'know...a bad thing?" "I suppose it is..." Suzahara pensively stated. "So why work for him?" Miro pressed. "Because I'll get an 'F' if I don't." Suzahara flatly stated. "Ah." ******* [Assembly hall, Tokyo U] Ten minutes ago... "Hail Professor!" The student body yelled out in unison. "The governments are caving in one by one! Soon, we will have control. Soon, we will have power! Soon we will...What was that?" Professor O'Donnell pointed at one of the students in the audience who he'd seen move her mouth. "What did you say?" Suzahara stood up. "I said 'Ara' Professor!" "What did I say about talking during an assembly? You get an 'F'!" the professor raved, "Unless..." ******* [Inside Miro's shop] Now... Ichiro was the first to speak after the awkward silence that followed. "Couldn't you like...report him for shoddy practices? I'm sure it won't be too hard to get him fired now that he's made a bid for global domination..." Suzahara gripped Ichiro's hands and stared deep into his eyes. Her own eyes shimmered with tears. "Really?" Ichiro nodded. "He won't be able to give you an 'F' if he's fired. I guarantee it." Suzahara's face lit up. "Thank you Ichiro. I'll never forget your kindness." Miro coughed. Suzahara turned to him. "Oh, I'm sorry...ara...who are you?" Miro's face hit the floor. "Ah! Are you ok?" Suzahara asked concernedly. "Mrf mrffr" Miro mumbled. "Looks like I won't be needing this anymore." Suzahara dropped the photo on top of Miro. "Ichiro, we really need to get caught up sometime." Ichiro nodded. "Count on it." Suzahara dashed out the door with a hasty, "See you later!" When she'd gone, Ichiro prodded Miro. "Are you ever going to get up off that floor?" "Mrrff mrf mrfff." Miro responded. /This is not proper conduct for a shopkeeper, Miro. You didn't even close the deal with your girlfriend./ Miro raised his head slightly from the floor. "Shut up, Pochi." He yelled before planting his face in the ground once again. ******* [Somewhere inside the Tokyo U compound] Ten Minutes Ago... Theodore had no trouble...'bypassing' security on his way into the underground complex. He hung from the rafters, watching his father begin another rant/impassioned speech to the unwitting audience of Tokyo U students. He watched as he threatened the student with failure. So that's how he was keeping them in line. Following the dismissal of the students to their posts, Theodore made his way to the control room. Again, he came up against little to no resistance, and it worried him. "If this were an RPG, I'd swear I was walking into a trap." He muttered. "And so you are." Unara's voice floated in from behind as the energy bolt struck him in the back. Theodore fell to one knee. Spots formed before his eyes. "I really don't like you." Korin flatly stated as he brought the Cys fist down on Theodore's head. ******* [Control room, Tokyo U] Now... Theodore opened one eye and winced. His head throbbed, and his back wasn't much better. He tentatively moved his arm, only to find himself shackled. "Ah. You're awake." The Professor said happily. "Dad." Theodore growled. "Nice trick there with the Oni. Where'd you pick it up?" Professor continued, unhindered. "Why, Dad, why'd you do it?" "Why not? The governments of the world are corrupt. Your mother is dead. I was bored. I think I've got plenty of motivation there." Theodore sighed. "Korin!" Professor snapped. Korin stepped from the shadows. "Yes father?" "Start the countdown. We're going to start things a little early." The Professor relaxed into the command chair. "But...why?" Korin sputtered. "I'm bored." Professor O'Donnell said dismissively. Korin shrugged. "Ok then." "Wait!" Theodore yelled. "Um...don't you need that spear you sent that student for?" Professor waved his hand, signaling Korin to proceed anyways. Korin exited the room. "I admit. It would have been nice to have a weapon for my giant mecha, but I don't exactly need it..." Korin rushed back inside. "Father! Something terrible has happened!" Professor grumbled. "This better not be about my take-out not arriving on time..." "Worse." Korin stated. "You've been fired." The Professor paled. Theodore began to laugh. "Controlling your students by threatening them with failures may have worked temporarily, but now you don't have that advantage. Do you even have anyone left to work for you?" Korin glared at Theodore. "Aside from you, brother." "Lucky for me then, that I rigged the doomsday device for one button operation for just such a situation. Or don't you know I'm always one step ahead?" Professor let out his best mad scientist laugh. "Uwah!" Theodore cried out. The Professor lowered his finger down to press the button...that suddenly vaporized in a burst of light. Korin realized what happened immediately. "Unara!" Theodore looked to the catwalk. Sure enough, Unara stood there, Cys bow in hand, her next shot aimed straight for Korin. "Now that the Professor's been fired, I'm free to tell you that I hate you. I hate you so much, Korin. I never want to see you ever again." With that, she fired, damaging Korin's Cys. Her next shot took out one of the shackles holding Theodore in place. Theodore freed himself quickly. "I surrender!" The Professor yelled out, holding his hands high in the air. ******* [Inside Miro's shop] Later... "I'm glad that all turned out well." Ichiro stated before sipping on his tea. Miro darted a glance at Ichiro. "What do you mean, 'well'? The shop you work at was destroyed! Rikaru and Kimihiko are missing!" "I think he just meant that nobody got hurt." Theodore replied. Miro pointed at the large lump that had formed on Theodore's head. "Then what's that?" "Oh. Right." Theodore rubbed the bump lightly and winced. "Ara..." Suzahara began, before taking a break to sip from her cup, "At least you're ok Theodore. I still can't believe I got to meet up with my old high school friends." "Well, I guess that is a good thing." Miro grumbled. Suzahara studied Miro's face a moment, causing him to blush. "Ara, ara...who are you again?" ******* Author Notes: So here it is. My first Shops part. Too bad none of my original ideas would work after part 6. Oh well. Things turned out rather well. The entire Professor bidding to take over the world ended up on an anti-climactic note. Yea! Things I did in the chapter: Miro's relationship with Pochi is a bit strained at the moment...After all, would YOU like it if someone was digging around inside YOUR head? Rikaru and Kimihiko were sent somewhere on a fetch quest. Where exactly did they go? Do they know that it's no longer necessary? Am I so lazy I couldn't write this stuff out myself? Theodore put in a pathetic showing, even when he was an Oni. Korin has an anger management problem. Their father is insane. Unara was being forced into a relationship with Korin. Unara _HATES_ Korin for it. I should have had her shoot him in the crotch or something. Miro's high school love interest has now been introduced to the story. Is he over her? Somehow, I don't think so. What does that mean for the non-existent relationship with Kimihiko? I dunno... Suzahara seems to have a problem remembering who exactly Miro is. That doesn't help at all... Etcetera, etcetera. Thanks to Anna and Segev for pre-reading, Cham for being such a great admin. (He even offered to pre-read, but got busy with other stuff when I sent it to him. It got bounced back for some odd reason though, so I guess everything turned out ok. ^_^) Here's hoping I did a good enough job here that people will SIGN UP AND WRITE FOR SHOPS B BRANCH. It's not such a bad little variation on the story. Maybe if there were more girls, it would help... *cough* January 22, 2003 (Boy, the dates between impro parts seem to get shorter each time...) *******