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Merry Christmas Minna-san, I hope you enjoy it. Comments are welcomed.
Bear Bunnies
By Douglas Helm and "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl.
Those characters that are original and the story "Bear Bunnies" are
copyrighted (c) 2000 by Douglas Helm and Will Wolfshohl.
This story and our other Sailor Moon stories reside at
http://rivendell.fortunecity.com/traveller/861/
Send comments to: Douglas Helm (
dhelm@log.on.ca) or
"Tuxedo" Will (
wwolfshohl@logicon.com)
Chapter 4 "Propellers Spinning"
The sun worked its way towards the cliffs on its slow journey to
its watery bed. Its orangish light painted the storm clouds that were
moving in with a palette of fiery colors.
Hino Rei's view of this spectacle was blocked at the moment by a
concerned looking face. "Are you okay?" a girl's voice asked. It sounded
soft and shy.
Moaning a little, Rei sat up before reaching for her lip. She
winced as her fingers brushed against it. The brown fur on her paw came
away with a small amount of blood on it. With the girl's help, Rei got
up off the ground. "Maybe I should go get a teacher."
"No!" Rei snapped and shook free of the girl's hold. "I'm fine."
She turned to get a good look at the girl. She was a rabbit with
snow-white fur, shoulder length blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. Rei
felt a smile work its way across her face as she noticed a blue ribbon
tied around the base of each ear. The girl couldn't be any older than
her host body -- twelve years old. <I shouldn't have snapped at the kid.
She didn't do anything wrong.> She blushed slightly and looked away.
"You're in my class, aren't you?" Rei asked.
"Y-Yes," she stuttered out, "You're K-Kit... right?"
"Yep," Rei replied while rubbing her cheek, "I wish I wasn't at
the moment." The girl giggled and covered her mouth. "You're... uh..."
She blushed again. "Cindy... W-Why were you fighting with those
boys?" <Poor Kit...> She reached for his hand and then pulled back.
"You saw me?"
Cindy nodded. "I was really scared."
Rei suddenly felt very self-conscious. "I... I really should get
going. Usa... I mean Baloo'll be worried about me." Turning, she started
walking, though her side hurt a little.
<He's so brave.> "Can I walk with you?" the girl asked while
walking beside Kit. "I live down this way."
"Sure."
The pair walked in silence for some moments before the rabbit
inquired, "Kit, I thought the Jungle Aces were your friends." Although,
she had never cared for the others in the group.
Rei didn't really wish to discuss it. Her pride was giving her
enough grief. She could see, however, that Cindy was genuinely
concerned. <She deserves some kind of explanation I suppose.> Sighing a
little, she explained, "We got into talking about heroes. I told them
about some Sailor Warriors and they didn't believe it. Said I was making
it all up."
"Sailor Warriors?" Cindy frowned slightly. "I never heard of
them. Is it a new radio show?" The cub shook his head. Curiously, she
wondered, "Why didn't they believe you, Kit?"
"Because the heroes aren't heroes but heroines." Seeing a blank
look, she elaborated, "The Sailor Warriors are all female."
"Really? You mean like those stories you hear about Amazons 'n'
stuff?"
The cub slapped a paw over her eyes and regretted it. "No!"
Cindy winced. Groaning a little, Rei decided, "I mean, it doesn't
matter. The creeps thought that girls couldn't do brave things." She'd
like to see how brave any of Ernie's heroes would be against one of the
enemies she had fought. "Um... Thanks Cindy. I really should go. Papa
Bear has a cargo run today."
"'Kay," Cindy agreed and watched as Kit started to run off, "I
hope you'll be okay!" Her heart started to flutter a bit. Not only was
he super cute, but he also believed girls could be heroes too.
Rei was hoping she'd be okay too. She had rarely ever lost a
fight to anyone that wasn't magically enhanced. Even as a child, she
held her own very well against boys her age.
Baloo was preparing a large sandwich when he heard the office
door open. "Li'l Britches, that you?" There was no answer. Puzzled, he
quickly finished preparing his snack and came out into the office.
"Kit!" he exclaimed, "What on earth happened to you?"
"Got into a fight. What does it look like?!" Kit snapped.
Baloo put his sandwich on the desk and went over to the youth.
"Were you goin' up against them street pirates ag'in? Didn't I learn ya
nothin'?"
"It was that whining fungus, Ernie." The big bear blinked. "He
wouldn't admit that girls could be just as good superheroes as boys."
Baloo raised an eyebrow. "Little snot didn't believe me when I told him
about the Sailor Warriors."
"Those Navy boys..."
"They're woman warriors," Kit interrupted.
"Girls? Like Amazons?" Baloo asked. He was startled when Kit
threw up his paws and screamed. "S'ppose not." Sighing a little, he
remarked, "Let me get ya some ice for that eye. Did he give ya that fat
lip too?"
The bear cub winced and nodded. "Forgot about that, Baloo."
"I'll get the ice pack. You rustle us up some food. We gotta
pull chocks soon as Becky gets back."
"Where is MS. Cunningham anyway?"
"She went ta pick up Molly from school." The gray bear set about
making an ice pack. "I'd let ya stay home, kid, but I think I'll need
ya." Kit mumbled something as he chewed thoughtfully on an apple. "What
was that?"
Swallowing, the cub commented, "If Ms. Cunningham sees me,
she'll start asking a ton o' questions." <Usagi will never let me hear
the end of it.>
"Got that right. We'll grab whatever you need and then stash
yourself on the plane. I'll be out as soon as the Boss Lady shows up."
He handed the ice pack to Kit and sighed. "Ya know, I don't like you
fighting, Li'l Britches. Ol' Baloo knows nothin' good comes of
fighting." He sighed as the cub scowled. "Listen, you can tell me about
these heroes or whatever they are after we takeoff, okay?"
"Yeah, sure thing, Papa Bear," Kit agreed, not sounding happy in
the least.
"What's that noise?" Usagi wondered.
"What noise?" Ami questioned. "I didn't hear anything, Usagi."
The bearess shrugged. "While this is a fascinating world, Usagi-honey,
we must discover a method to leave." The pair was sitting in the small
kitchen of the Higher for Hire office.
"But if we can't even transform..."
"That is another reason for us to leave," Ami interrupted, "I do
not know how long we can continue to maintain this deception. Today was
quite difficult for me."
"I'm sorry, Wild... I mean Ami-honey." Usagi groaned a little
then changed the subject. "Chibi-Usa thinks Mamoru's here."
"We haven't found or heard from him. Are you sure?"
The bear shook her head and said, "I don't know. What about it?"
The lion tapped her lip for a moment before saying thoughtfully,
"He was sitting right beside both of you. If we are here, then it's
logical he could be." Usagi looked depressed. "On the other hand, all of
us quickly formed together. Therefore, it's unlikely that he crossed
into this world."
"So he's maybe at home?"
"Yes, and having Makoto and Minako helping him search for you."
Usagi smiled with a little relief. "How do we get out of here?"
The lion ran a paw through her mane. "I don't know." To stop her
friend from becoming depressed again, Ami asked, "Usagi, did you know
that Rei was in a fight today?"
The bearess pouted slightly. "Yeah, Baloo told me but he said to
leave Kit alone. I just wanted to see how he was doing."
There was a long silence. "I..." The lion paused and cocked her
head. "I do hear something. It sounds like banging." Getting up, they
both moved into the office proper and found little Chibi-Usa... Molly
Cunningham perched on the desk wielding a rubberstamp.
"Molly Elizabeth Cunningham?!" Usagi cried, "What are you
doing?!?" The mother rushed forward and scooped up her daughter.
Glancing down, she saw her desk, and the large stack of papers that had
sat on it, covered in stamp marks. "What exactly did you do?" she asked
the golden cub.
By way of answer, Chibi-Usa swung the stamp and planted its mark
neatly on her mother's forehead. As the bearess dropped her daughter and
stumbled back, Ami could see the word "void" neatly printed across her
friend's forehead.
"Are you all right, Usagi?"
"Yes," Usagi answered. She glared down at the child who was
giggling and backing up. "Come here, you!" She tried to snatch the cub
but the little girl darted out of the way.
"Can't catch me!" the golden cub sang and danced away.
"Come back here!"
Ami covered her eyes and sighed. <Some things just don't
change.> She couldn't really blame Usagi though; she had had a hard day.
Stepping over to the armchair, she decided to watch the fun. <There
might not be television here but this is just as good.> Ami felt a bit
of guilt for thinking this but her friends' quarrels were sometimes
rather funny. <Both of us have had a hard day.>
She found acting dumb difficult; it just wasn't in her nature.
Usagi, on the other hand, had to put up with the few customers that had
dropped by and pretend to know what they were talking about. Her
princess simply was not suited for running a business.
A cry of triumph distracted her thoughts. "Rebecca" was standing
by the desk with a squirming "Molly" tucked firmly under her arm. "What
are you going to do, Ms. Cunningham?"
"Go home before that storm breaks and washes us away, Wildcat.
Besides, MOLLY needs a bath before going to bed."
"Bed!" the little girl wailed. It was bad enough to be put into
a sickeningly sweet school uniform. It had been even worse to be put
into a childish set of pink overalls and a blue T-shirt. Nevertheless,
she planned on going to bed at her normal time and not one second
before!
The little girl stopped her playing when she noticed that Usagi
was still in the bathroom. The cub hadn't minded her mother watching
her; in a way, it had been reassuring. Now though, she was used to the
porcelain tub and saw Usagi's presence as yet another sign she was being
treated like a little kid.
Chibi-Usa scowled at her mother who sat on a stool reading a
fashion magazine. "You don't have to be in here when I take a bath!" The
indignation in her voice was readily apparent.
"You are six, Molly-honey," Usagi stated simply.
"I'm nine, Usagi," Chibi-Usa countered in a huff, "I can bathe
myself."
Her mother lowered the magazine and said softly, "You are small,
in a strange tub, and I don't want you getting hurt. Now we take baths
together in the furo at home, don't we?"
"Yeah," Chibi-Usa admitted sulkily, "But this ain't a furo."
The bearess sighed a little and then smiled. "Okay, I'll make
you a deal. I'll go out and leave the door open. When you're ready to
get out, call me."
"Deal!" Chibi-Usa declared and smiled. <Anything to get rid of
her.> "Thanks!" she called out as her mother left the room. She settled
into the water and sighed with contentment. <Usagi's right I guess...>
It wasn't as if Chibi-Usa didn't like her mother worrying about her.
<But I'm not a little kid! Mamo-chan never treats me like this.> That's
why she got along with him so well.
Closing her eyes, she thought about her day at school. It had
been interesting but she sure didn't want to repeat it. <I'll just tell
Usagi that I'm sick or something.> Sitting up, the cub grinned evilly.
"Yeah!" Now all she had to do was think of a way to make herself look
sick. <I wish I had Luna-P here.> Molly might be six but she was crafty.
<Just like me!> Settling back, she closed her eyes again and started
humming. <Yep, tomorrow's gonna be really different.>
"Waz up, short-stuff?" the orangutan asked. The brown cub
blinked and looked towards the gray bear. "Man, you look like yous got
worked over." Kit just scowled and walked over to the bar. "Somethin'
botherin' him, fuzzy?"
"Naw, Louie, don't take it personally. I think his pride's hurt
more than his body." Baloo grinned. "I'm hungry."
"Thought I could hear somethin' growling." Louie grinned at his
old friend before making his way behind the bar. "The usual?"
"Sure thing," Baloo answered, "And I can pay too."
"You're kiddin' me..." The gray bear reached into his pocket and
pulled out a stack of bills. "Crazy! You knock over a bank or somethin',
cuz?"
"Naw, ol' Beckers gave it to me, Louie." The orangutan blinked.
"I did that too."
Louie started to laugh then. "You finally drove her out of her
mind."
"You could say that," Kit offered with a knowing grin. Baloo
scratched his head and looked at the cub. "I'm hungry too, Papa Bear.
Let's eat!"
"Best idea I heard all day, Li'l Britches."
The mood for the next little while was considerably lighter.
When Kit excused himself to use, as Baloo called it, "The little pilot's
room," Baloo leaned close and smiled.
"The itchy bug's got 'im."
"Kit?!" Louie's disbelief was clear in his voice. When Baloo
nodded, the orangutan asked, "So who's the lucky little lady, Baloo?"
The big bear shrugged. "Don't know 'cuz haven't met her. Kit
won't even tell me 'bout her." He grinned toothily at his friend then.
"I think he got beat up 'cuz he was stickin' up for her."
"Sound likes Kit."
"Here he comes. Don't say nothing, Louie, or he'll be downright
sore at his ol' Papa Bear."
"Don't sweat it, cuz."
Chiba Mamoru sat in meditative silence in his captain's chair.
The pirate raid the previous day had gone smoothly. For a first time
flyer, he had done pretty good. <It must have been Karnage's body
remembering.> Some of it had seemed more instinct than anything else.
"Cap'n."
He turned and opened his eyes. <How does Karnage put up with
that whiny voice?>
Maddog and Dumptruck were coming onto the bridge. "Cap'n, the
plane's coming."
"That bothersome bear, yes/no?"
"Yeah," Maddog whined.
"So, my snippety crew, he shall pay for being late to his own
funeral." Mamoru hopped up. "To your planes, men! Make sure to leave
that piteous bear for my magnificent self." <Maybe this way I can keep
him alive.> He hoped he'd be even luckier and Baloo would capture him.
<But I can't go too easy on him.> Or Mamoru would find himself dead.
"Come on, Kit. I need ta set a course." Baloo looked anxiously
at his young navigator.
Rei glanced at the maps that were in her lap. <How do you read
these baka things?> The navigational charts were more complicated than
the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway System. The cub was coming to the
disheartening conclusion that she would have to confess everything when
bullets tore into the plane. "What was that?!"
"Pirates!" Baloo cried and shoved the yoke forward, "Of all the
rotten... YIPES!" Rei felt her stomach crawl up into her mouth as the
pilot pulled hard back on the controls. "Crazy pilot!"
"Rebecca did this!"
"Huh?!"
"She said there'd be a pirate attack." The cub managed to scowl
despite the fear that was coursing through her.
"Becky?" Baloo sounded dubious, "What'd she do? Call 'em?"
Rei opened her mouth to answer then clamped it shut. <I thought
this body was supposed to like this stuff.> She gripped her seat arms in
fear as the Seaduck went into a spinning dive. The Air Pirates followed
firing as they dove. Bullets ripped through the hull.
"Boy, they sure want this stuff bad, don't they?"
"What are you doing, Baloo?" Rei questioned as they started to
land.
"Britches, a bunch o' lightbulbs ain't worth gettin' shot over."
Rei was a little relieved. He had a point.
"Ms. Cunningham's not gonna like this."
"Well, she can eat her contract if she complains. They're
shooting at MY baby!"
<Not to mention us,> Rei added silently but didn't bother
commenting.
Mamoru watched as Dumptruck and Maddog forced their way into the
yellow seaplane that was floating atop the swells. After a moment, "Don
Karnage" sauntered through the open door and looked around.
"Hey Karny! Why were you shootin' at MY plane?" the large gray
bear demanded. Dumptruck had him and Kit backed up against a bulkhead
using his sword while Maddog rummaged around in the boxes of cargo.
<Damn it, Baloo's not one of them. I thought for sure...> "So,
Baloo, you are like the fly in my ointment, yes/no? So now, I will be
stealing your treasure for I am the feared pirate Don Karnage!"
"Cap'n..."
"Maddog, can you not see I am introducing my beautiful type
self?" Mamoru chided his first mate.
"But, Cap'n, there ain't nothin' here... but lightbulbs."
"So, you doer of good type deeds, where have you hidden the
plunder you are carrying?"
"He said he doesn't have any, you idiot!" Kit finally snapped.
"Ah, it is that traitorous pippidy-squeak kid. You have shrunk
since our last encounter, yes/no?" <I hope it's one of the girls.> He
was becoming desperate.
Kit Cloudkicker, who had been standing with his paws behind his
back, burst forward. Dumptruck was taken completely off-balance so,
Baloo took advantage of it. With a mighty shove, he pushed the lumbering
pirate towards the hatch.
"Why you..." Maddog began while rushing the gray bear.
Mamoru wasn't sure what happened next. The brown bear cub jumped
up in front of him at that instance and hit him squarely between the
eyes with a familiar piece of white paper.
"I am not short!" Kit shouted, "Evil spirit! BEGONE!"
<Rei?!> Mamoru concluded with surprise. Clutching the ofuda, he
looked around and found that he was alone. "I am feeling generous this
time, little one. But the next time we meet, I, Don Karnage, shall show
you the interesting things I can do with a rose." Mamoru was a little
annoyed when Baloo moved forward and shoved him out of the hatch like he
had done with his two crewmen. <Kami-sama, this is just great,> he
thought in disgust as the hatch was closed.
That evening, rain pounded against the Cunningham apartment
window. Usagi, wearing a nightgown and bathrobe, looked out of the
window at the dark city. The wind howled outside as the storm washed
over Cape Suzette. <I hope Baloo and Rei are all right.>
She was blinded suddenly by a blue-white streak of lightning.
Blinking to get the spots out of her eyes, she cringed slightly at the
peal of thunder that sounded overhead. Another rumbling sound of thunder
occurred and again, she cringed but a slow look of puzzlement crossed
her face.
<I don't feel as scared.> She was still a little scared but not
as petrified as she typically would be. Her thoughts got sidetracked
once again as streaks of lightning lit the blackened night sky.
"MOMMY!!!!" came the yell from Chibi-Usa. The golden cub came
racing out of her room and down the hall. Usagi turned and taking a few
quick strides scooped her daughter up. Chibi-Usa snuggled close against
her and started to cry.
"Mommy's right here, Molly-honey," she said soothingly. Walking
over to the rocking chair, she sat down and started to rock gently.
"It's loud, Mommy," the cub sniffled and hugged her tightly.
"I know, sweetheart, but it'll be over soon." She chuckled
softly to herself. <Chibi-Usa said that she was a big girl now and could
look after herself.> It looked like her daughter had been wrong. She did
need her as a mom.
Baloo shut the engines of the Seaduck off and sighed. Lightning
flashed overhead and rain pounded against the windows. Sitting in the
darkness of the cockpit, he regarded his young navigator who was sound
asleep in the seat beside him. <That kid's been acting funny lately.> It
worried the old pilot a bit to see Kit scared of his aerial acrobatics.
It was something very unnatural. Some of it had to do with a girl; he
knew it in his bones. However, he was unsure about the rest. Shrugging
again, the old gray bear gave a massive yawn before reaching over and
shaking the youth gently.
"Kit, come, Kit-boy... time ta get up and go to bed."
"Are we there yet?" the sleepy voice of Kit asked.
"Sure am, home sweet home. Come on, I'll fix us a shake then we
can hit the hay." The brown bear cub pushed himself up, rubbed at his
eyes, and yawned.
"Okay, Papa Bear." The cub got up then half-walked
half-staggered over to Baloo before leaning against the pilot. The big
bear was a little surprised when soft snoring floated up to his ears.
"Poor kid's all tuckered out."
Streamers of morning sunlight washed into the little girl's
room. In the bed, a golden cub lay. Next to her lay her rag doll. The
cub was awake and thinking of the battle that was to come.
Chibi-Usa moaned slightly as her mother came into the room.
"Molly-honey... it's time to get up. You have to go to school"
"I don't wanna go to school, Mommy. I feel sick."
Usagi's face suddenly appeared concerned. "Do you feel hot?"
The golden cub nodded. "Yeah 'n' my tummy hurts." She watched as
the bearess drew back the covers and asked her to point to where it
hurt. Sighing a little, the child pointed.
"So your tummy hurts?"
"Yeah," Chibi-Usa confirmed. Pulling up the covers, she added,
"I feel hot too. I think I should stay home, Usagi."
"You stay right there, honey. I'll be right back." With that,
Usagi tucked the covers around Chibi-Usa.
<This is working better than I thought!> she gloated silently.
Yes, she wouldn't have to hang around with those babies or play their
sissy "Danger Woman" game today. Her smug expression instantly vanished
when Usagi came back into the room. Her stomach knotted up when she saw
the old mercury thermometer in her mother's hand. "What's that for?"
"I have to take your temperature, Molly," Usagi explained, "It's
a little old fashioned but I think I can handle it."
"You can't use that!" Chibi-Usa protested.
"Sorry, pumpkin, either it's this or the rectal one."
Chibi-Usa winced. "You can't... you don't have to take my
temperature, Usagi," she argued, "I mean, would I lie to you?"
"I have to check. A high temperature can be quite serious," her
mother explained. "Open up your mouth." Chibi-Usa clamped it shut and
shook her head. "Please?" The child shook her head again. "Okay, I'll go
get the other one."
"NO!"
"If you have a temperature, Molly, I have to know how high it
is. I might have to take you to a doctor," Usagi stated with some
exasperation.
"Okay... so maybe I fibbed... a little." Her mother crossed her
arms and narrowed her eyes to glare at her. "But I still don't have to
go to school."
"Molly, you have to go to school."
"Usagi, MY name is CHIBI-USA! You idiot!"
"Young lady, get dressed this minute. You ARE going to school!"
"NO! I am NOT going to school!" Chibi-Usa countered. Grabbing
her pillow, she pulled it over her face and shouted, "You aren't my mom,
just my airheaded cousin!"
It was silent for a long moment then the covers were yanked back
and the pillow pulled from her grasp. She found herself looking into the
face of a very angry mother bear.
"Get up and dressed... Now."
"I'm not gonna get dressed."
"Fine."
Chibi-Usa watched as her mother straightened and walked over to
the closet. She felt her stomach sinking as Usagi pulled out that
sickeningly sweet school uniform. <What's she gonna do?>
"You ARE going to school, Molly Elizabeth Cunningham. You aren't
sick so there's no good reason to keep you home." The little girl could
have thought of a few reasons but kept those to herself.
"Hey!" she squawked as Usagi scooped her up, "What's the big
idea, Dumpling Head?"
"We are going to get dressed."
"No, I'm not."
"YES, you are," Usagi stated coldly and started removing the
cub's pajamas.
Usagi took a final mouthful of cereal into her mouth before
washing it down with the last of her tea. Glancing over at her sulking
daughter, she saw that the child hadn't touched her breakfast.
"Molly..."
"Molly..." Chibi-Usa sneered out. "Jeez, you can't even get my
name straight. I wish Mamoru had come here with me and you didn't. It
would've been way more fun."
"What?" Usagi asked, a hurt tone coming into her voice. <Why is
she being so difficult?>
"You heard me."
"No Molly..."
"CHIBI-USA!"
"Chibi-Usa-honey," Usagi started again, "Eat up. We have to go
soon."
"You gonna feed me too?" Usagi simply sighed. "I don't want
this."
"You need a good breakfast for school. I'm not surprised you're
still sulking." She was startled when the child gave the bowl of cereal
a shove, which sent it sliding across the table and onto the floor.
Baloo sat lounging in a red easy chair, his hat over his eyes.
He could hear the sounds of the docks about him. Normally this would
lull him into relaxation but not today -- his "baby" had been hurt the
night before. Kit had got up early and already headed off to school,
mostly because he wanted to avoid Rebecca.
As if that was a cue, Rebecca Cunningham walked into the office.
Baloo pushed his pilot's hat up and blinked. Sitting up, he ran his eyes
up and down the person before him. "Oh baby! Hubba hubba," he declared.
"You like it, Baloo?" Rebecca asked him. She was dressed in a
blue skirt and cream colored blouse. A butterfly pin was tucked into her
hair.
<That's more leg than I's seen in a long time... At least from
Rebecca.> He ran his eyes over the womanly form before him and whistled.
Rebecca blushed prettily and curtsied. She then sat down at her desk.
"Hiya, Boss Lady," Baloo said trying to calm down, "You look
tired. Have a good night?"
"Molly was scared by the storm... Then she didn't want to go to
school." Rebecca stopped and turned around to regard him. "How did last
night go?"
"Standard, pirate attack."
"Hah!" His boss looked smug. "I told ya there could be one,
Baloo."
"Maybe Kit was right," Baloo remarked while rubbing his chin.
Getting up, he walked over to the desk and declared, "We have a
problem." When the bearess looked at him with concern, he said,
"Lightning hit the Number Two Engine last night. Scared poor ol' Wildcat
to death, not ta mention Kit." Baloo chuckled. "Pert' near jumped two
feet myself. Anywho, me 'n' Wildcat gotta to take it apart. It's a two
man job."
"So no deliveries today?"
"Well, I can do them in-town ones I s'ppose, if there's any, but
no flyin' for at least today. Depends on what the damage is like."
Rebecca sighed, and put her face in her paws. "The customers
aren't gonna like it."
He didn't like the sound of that. "Becky, I hope you're not
thinking we can fly on only one engine."
"No, no... Okay, Baloo, go to it. We need that plane back up
fast or this business will be sunk."
"Right 'o, Beckers."
"I'll call our clients." She didn't sound very thrilled at the
prospect. "I sure hope they'll understand."
Rei yawned a little, propped her head up by one paw, and
regarded one of the Jungle Aces with boredom. "So you're coming to the
meeting after school, right Kit?"
"I might... if I don't have anything better to do." <What a
bunch of braggarts!> Rei glanced around the cafeteria of the elementary
school. "Excuse me," she said and getting up, got her tray and moved
over to where a certain girl rabbit was sitting. "Hi Cindy."
"H-hi Kit," Cindy stuttered out.
"Okay if I sit here?"
Cindy nodded nervously. "Did you have a good flight?"
"Oh, that silly Don Karnage showed up but Papa Bear threw him
out of the plane." She gave the girl a broad smile. The rabbit was
staring at her with something akin to awe. "We make it all the home to
Cape Suzette and lightning hits an engine while we're sleeping. Baloo
nearly had a heart attack." Rei couldn't help but feel a little
disappointed. She had been looking forward to flying with Baloo again.
<Those aerobatics were petty neat too.> After thinking about it, she
realized that part of her fear had actually been adrenaline.
"It was very loud, wasn't it Kit?" Cindy commented. <Does he
like me?> "Why aren't you with the Jungle Aces?"
"You're much better company, Cindy," Rei answered. <And I'm not
making that up either.>
Carefully, she brought the sandwich to her mouth and took a
large bite of it. <Wildcat certainly has a big appetite,> she thought,
<Certainly more than mine.> Putting it back down out of the way, Ami
turned her attention back to the damaged engine. The sky overhead was
clear crystal blue. The sun shone down with warmth while a southwesterly
breeze brought the tang of the ocean to her nostrils. Rubbing at a
grease spot above one eyebrow, she gave the bolt before her another tug.
It didn't move. Looking around, she found a mallet.
<Perfect!> Ami thought, <Just what I need.> Picking up the
mallet, the lion took careful aim and swung. Much to her surprise, the
hammer missed. The momentum whirled her around. She teetered on the edge
of the dock before a large paw reached out and pulled her back to a more
stable stance.
"Careful, Wildcat ol' buddy, or you'll be taking a bath."
"Like, thanks man," the lion said to the gray bear beside her.
"Like this screw is being like a mule. It's saying, `No! No! I don't
wanna turn!�" Baloo chuckled, grabbed the wrench, and turned the bolt.
"Thanks man," Ami said. <What a strange expression.> Well, she
had work to do. She took another bite of her sandwich. <I'll fix this
one and then, I'll start working on an improved engine design.> That
would be a very satisfying challenge for her.
"Yes, yes, I know," Usagi stated into the telephone. She was
seated at Rebecca's desk in the Higher for Hire office. While one hand
held the phone, the other hand plugged her free ear so she wasn't
distracted by the noise coming from outside. "Sir, I know how much those
cute little..."
"I think I should find another company!" the angry man yelled,
"I should have known better than deal with a woman." With that, he
slammed the receiver down.
Usagi hung the phone up, crossed her arms on her desk, and
rested her forehead on them. <I hate this. Chibi-Usa's right. I make a
terrible Rebecca. Why couldn't I have been Molly?> She sighed and rested
in that position for a few more moments before pushing herself up.
Dialing the next number, she waited.
"Hello?"
"Yes, this is Rebecca Cunningham calling from Higher for Hire.
I'm calling in regard to your shipment of glass windmills."
"Yes?"
Usagi took a deep breath and exhaled in a rush,
"I'mreallyreallysorrybutwecan'tdeliverthewindmillsuntiltomorrowbecauseour-
planegothitbylightninglastnight."
There was a deathly pause on the other end before the man
requested, "Could you repeat that, Ms. Cunningham, and more slowly
please?" When Usagi had done so, he replied, "I see. Well, thank you for
calling."
"You mean we can deliver them tomorrow?" Usagi asked.
"Of course, why?"
"Uh... nothing, sir. Thank you for understanding." After saying
good-bye, she hung up the phone and smiled for the first time that day.
<Okay, so there was one person who wasn't rude to me.> But she really
couldn't go on like this. <I don't want to wreck this place. It's too
important.>
End of Chapter 4
Coming next in Chapter 5 "Friends and Family"
Ja ne,
"Tuxedo" Will
http://members.fortunecity.com/tuxwill (My Stories)
http://rivendell.fortunecity.com/traveller/861/ (Fanart for my stories)
http://members.xoom.com/questails/gateway.htm (The Archives [closed])
Keeper of "Tuxedo" Will's SM Fanfics/Scripts Archives
Author of "Tales of Younger Jupiter", "Chibi-Usa Times Two",
"Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts I & II", "Tales of Younger Venus",
"A Gem", "Tales of Younger Earth", "The World Turned Upside Down",
"You Don't Remember How I Feel", "Just Wishful Thinking", and "Bear Bunnies"
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