Chapter 17 Outside
Hey…Kiki? I was a hero….wasn’t I? I protected you and Mocha, didn’t I? I…I can protect all of you…can’t I?
Jenny…I paid you back. Please, take my power to the future. You can do that…can’t you?
SQUELCH! SPLAT! SHING!
Jenny’s glasses flew off and she clutched her shoulder, blood pouring down her arm. The monster was frozen in place in front of her.
“That’s!” Chero cried.
“Kiki’s power….What the hell is this?!” Jenny cried.
“But…Kiki did not even do anything…” Chero said.
“It’s like the powers activated when it sensed Jenny was in danger…If we assume that it had been on Jenny for a long time…maybe it was Kiki…when we…”
Chero nodded to herself. That had to be it. Back in the past…Kiki did something before sending the group back to the present…
“Kiki fought to her final breath…for the sake of our future selves…”
“Take cover!” Kiki called, running over to take Jenny’s place as the magic started to fade.
“…! JENNY!” Chero cried, running over and pulling her away.
Kiki pulled out her watch and clicked the button, “Work! Please work!”
The watch glowed and the monster froze once more.
Chero looked Jenny over, “Are you ok?! It bit your shoulder…Your glasses flew off. Can you see anything?”
Chero touched Jenny’s shoulder causing Jenny to cry out in pain.
“OW!”
“Oh, good. The bone is still intact. It might be fractured…but as long as the muscle and bone is still there you will heal. If it was gone…well that would have been the end of you. You’re pretty lucky, ne?” Chero smiled gently.
“…Stop scaring me…saying stuff like that…” Jenny puffed out her cheeks.
“Jenny…you lost this time…and so did Kiki and myself…” Chero said.
“Chero, take Jenny back to the second floor! You can lecture her later!” Kiki tsked.
“I have to be saved…again?! In the past and in the present…I’m always…” Jenny gritted her teeth.
“Wait! I’m going to fight too! Sorry, Jenny, but you’ll have to stay here!” Chero insisted.
“I’m not going to kill it!” Kiki shouted, “I am stalling time so you can get Jenny out! If we all try to run there is a higher chance at loosing Jenny because she is injured!”
“B-but…Kiki…you can’t fight alone…”Chero started to say.
“In that case, I will fight with you!”
CUE HIME TO THE RESCUE…AGAIN. Hime ran over and sliced the monster with her
sword. She landed next to Kiki.
“Miss me?” Hime grinned at Kiki.
“Hime?!” Chero questioned.
“Dino was getting worried, so I came to check on you three. But of course…I am not up to full strength due to so many battles…But I am here to help,” Hime explained.
“Thank you, Hime. Now. You two leave now!” Kiki demanded.
Jenny winced in pain. Chero supported her and nodded at Kiki.
“Jenny is already at her limit…I have to take care of her and get this shoulder patched up. After I clean it up I can try healing it with magic…But…she is also
mentally at her limit as well. I have to take her back quickly…” Chero thought.
“W-wait…Kiki…” Jenny tried to get out.
“I’m sorry! I have to take Jenny back, but I’ll be back!” Chero said, dragging Jenny away.
“I hope we can take this thing down…I am starting to reach my limit and I can tell you are too…” Kiki said to Hime after Jenny and Chero left.
“It will be difficult…However, defeat means death. If we cannot hold it down, we will be annihilated.”
“I guess you better get your ninja tricks ready…” Kiki teased.
Hime readied her sword and attacked as Kiki held the monster frozen in time.
Eventually Kiki had to move time again and Hime was getting a little worn out. She fell to her knees and panted, catching her breath.
“Hey, are you alright?” Kiki asked.
“Yeah. I just need to catch my breath…” Hime said with a strained smile.
Kiki nodded, summoning a weapon from back in time, “We really need to work
together…Just to hold the monster back long enough to run.”
“You’re right. Let’s go!”
The pair fought the monster for a while longer. Kiki used her pocket watch to freeze time around the monster again.
“Hurry! We need to go!” Kiki called to Hime.
“Right! Oh wait! Jenny’s glasses!” Hime cried, looking around.
“We don’t have time! Leave them!”
“Sorry Jenny…” Hime sighed, running away with Kiki.
