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Invoking Rapture in Hell	By : DeusExProcella Category: +M through R > PowerPuff Girls Views: 3698 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Powerpuff Girls or Samurai Jack. I make no profit off of these writings. I do however own this storyline.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
The Utonium Triplets In:

Invoking Rapture in Hell

By Deus Ex Procella

Author's Note: This story is part of a trade. I'm pulling out all the stops to make it everything she's ever wanted and everything she could possibly ask for. I'm going to warn you ahead of time...Act 2 onward, read at your own risk. Dialogue in italics is being spoken in Japanese. Bold dialogue is a memory.

This takes place in a universe where there are no superhuman abilities. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are the triplet daughters of Professor Utonium and Ms. Keane. Mojo Jojo is a man named Joseph Johenson who is married to Ms. Bellum and has three children, Brick, Boomer, and Butch. Mako Uka is a human incarnation of Aku who mentored Professor Utonium when he was in college.

Act I: Slaying Paradiso

The cold midnight air swept through rural Japan, twisting leaves free from their roost and scattering the ashes from a lit cigarette through the air. An older man, a fiery haired college professor, stared blankly over the horizon, taking another distant drag of smoke. Strange, how he'd always found profound pleasure in things deemed unhealthy or destructive by his peers. Even now, after nearly thirty years sucking down cancer, he found the taste almost wonderful. Akin to biting into a greasy Western hamburger with more fat than an aspiring sumo wrestler, every drag of smoke seemed to settle his rushing heart.

"All is not well tonight..." He whispered, shuddering as another cool breeze blew by. Things had felt wrong for...many months now. Something had changed, somewhere; he could feel that something had gone wrong. His first thought had been perhaps the dinner his protégé prepared the night before his departure had not set well with him. The feeling had continued into the night, and the night after. A month later, he could no longer hope that it had merely been undercooked pork.

After another month of uneasiness resting in his chest, Mako Uka had been forced to retire from his prestigious teaching career. Suffice to say, few shed a tear at his departure into solitude. In fact, the vast majority had been overjoyed to see him go, not the least of which were his long line of potential successors. Still, the decision was one well made. Not soon after, the growing trepidation grew worse still. These days, Uka couldn't even step through his front door until long after the sun had gone down. Even the moon shining down on him tonight made him uneasy. Somewhere, something had changed him.

"What?" Uka murmured, climbing from his rocking chair to take a quick glance around the corner of the house. There it was again...a dainty giggle riding on the night air. Furrowing his brow with frustration, he followed the sound to the other side of the house.

The sweeping countryside was a sight to behold, even locked in nocturnal embrace. Trees stretched out across the grassy yard, suddenly dropping off the steep hill upon which his solitary home sat. From his vantage point, overlooking the edge, Uka could observe how the sky went on forever, reaching outward into infinity. He took a deep drag from his cigarette and peered through his own smoky breath. The view was peaceful and serene, it truly made one appreciate how vast the world was. Uka had always hated the view.

"Who's there?" he barked, whipping around to glare through the surrounding forest. This time, he could clearly hear footsteps. Growling under his breath, taking only a moment to stomp out one cigarette to light up another, Uka prowled around the perimeter of his home. He came around the corner just in time to see the screen door click shut. Fearless, Uka strolled with a measure gait across his yard, taking slow, menacing steps as he advanced on his own home. He paused, taking another drag of smoke, before stepping inside, closing the door behind him.

The humble home was in order, as he expected. His rather expensive television was off, as he had left it. Sitting room to the right was in order, kitchen to the left was in order. Even his top of the line stereo system was gentle humming an odd assortment of trance and rave, secret addictions of the professor. Footsteps upstairs ruined the otherwise perfect serenity. Uka snorted and made his way up the stairs, one at a time.

At the top, he found the first sign of intrusion. His bedroom door, always tightly shut, stood open at the slightest of cracks. Uka approached his room, slowly opening the door and stepping into the doorway. Everything in its place, even the single window had remained tightly shut. An orange flicker lit up the darkness, quickly blocked by an exhaled cloud of smoke.

"Show yourself," He spoke, calmly, but with an undeniable authority. The room stayed silent as the stereo downstairs clicked to a new track. Then, tiny footsteps made their way across the floor. A small child, no older than Jimmy-san's children, stood before him, his eyes downcast. Uka took another puff of smoke and took a step toward the boy.

"Who are you and why are you here?" The boy bit his lip and looked up. For the first time, Mako Uka was taken aback, nearly retreating a step. The child had no eyes, only empty sockets leaking tears of blood. Suddenly, a grin split his face and glistening darkness lit up in the ghoul's empty eyes. He heard it again, that dainty, airy giggle.

Uka took a step back, gritting his teeth. The little boy took a step closer, lifting a ghastly hand, fingers torn apart by wretched razor blade claws. He began to laugh, a high pitched giggle that fell flat on the dead air hanging in the bed room. The boy opened his mouth and Uka tripped, falling to the floor. The thing, not a boy, lifted its other hand to reveal a twisted claw. Slowly, it turned its eyes on Uka, who felt something deep inside twist. Something long forgotten...tried to be known.

Smoke filled the air; Uka gasped for breath as flames jumped up from the wooden floor. His cigarette, in his panic, it had fallen to the floor. With impossible speed, the fire whipped up and began to engulf the tiny, secluded house. Uka looked back through the fire, spotting the eyeless boy with the goblin's grin. Another dainty giggle floated through the air, but this one spoke to Mako Uka in a chilling, childish tone.

"Watashi wa kare o gozen," The fire erupted, a panel fell from the ceiling, colliding with Uka's head. The hallway span and faded to black for just a moment, long enough for the fire to spread downstairs. Uka rubbed his head, groaning as blood ran through his fingers. He managed to get to his knees to take a good look through the flames. Unfortunately, no matter where he looked, he could only see fire and darkness. It was spreading at an impossible rate. Worse, the boy from before was nowhere to be seen. Uka groaned as another ceiling tile collided with his shoulder, nearly knocking him to the ground.

"He's gone...I need to escape," Uka dropped to his hands and knees, making his way through the fire, doing his best to feel his way down the stairs. He froze when a loud crack rang out beneath him. Before he could react, the stairs gave way and collapsed, dropping him into even deeper darkness. Uka wiped the blood away from his face, gasping for air. A piece of wood was wedged against his back, digging into his spine. With all of his might, he rolled over, moaning in pain. Blood streamed down his back as more fire rained down from above.

"The door...where?" Fumbling through the darkness, Uka reached out, trying to find the door. Something collapsed outside, if he wasn't quick, he'd be trapped in the hall closet. He fell forward when something behind him collapsed, a nail grazing his arm. Another inch and it would have...Uka reached out and banged his fist on the wall. As luck would have it, a hollow sound greeted his ears, he only needed to get the door open. His body screaming in protest, he got to his feet, trying the doorknob. He pulled his hand away, palm burnt badly. As he'd feared...the door was blocked. Nearly defeated, Uka banged his fist weakly against the door.

"I cannot die here. I will not die here..." Uka coughed and banged his fist against the door again. It refused to budge, and the flames were getting higher. Grunting, he took a step back and slammed his shoulder against the door. It nudged, but wouldn't give. Grinding his teeth, he gave a fierce growl and slammed his shoulder into the door again. He continued to throw himself against the door, inching it open bit by bit with each strike. Finally, there was a crack just big enough...a loud smash rang out and the entire house trembled. The house was coming down...he didn't have much time.

"Move, Uka, move!" He grunted, forcing his way through the crack. A blast of searing smoke hit his face, flames struck his battered frame. By sheer force of will, he managed to collapse on the floor, freed from his deadly prison. Uka gasped and made his way for the door. He could see it, towering like a black guardian...too far away. With a grunt, he climbed to his feet and grabbed the nearest object—his computer tower—and threw it against the window. With one final burst of energy, Uka flung himself outside, rolling down the hill away from the smoldering ruins of his once solitary home. Uka gasped for air, coughing and hacking. He doubled over, throwing up on the fresh cut green grass. With trembling hands, he reached into his pocket, finishing out his last cigarette. Hands still shaking, he lit it and took a long, deep drag.

"Ugh...alive..." he whispered. With some effort, he managed to roll over and sit back in the grass, watching his own home burn through blood streaked eyes as he held his last cigarette in bruised, blood streaked fingers, smoking it with bloodied lips.

"Who was that child? Perhaps, he is the cause of this feeling?" Uka mused, staring at the flames. They crackled and sent embers into the cool night breeze. The smoke blocked out the moon, at the very least removing the wretched celestial from Uka's vision.

"Perhaps I should find someone to help me...but who can I trust?"

XxXxX

Uka grumbled as the plane hit another pocket of turbulence. It had never been a completely comfortable flight, traveling to America, but he had never felt so much turbulence before. He growled, glaring across the way at the open window, or rather, the window that a teenager kept flipping open and closed. Sunlight was bad enough but strobe sunlight...Uka groaned and rubbed his still sore head. Three nights, he hadn't slept in three nights. From the hospital, to the airport, and now on the plane heading for the United States of America, Uka remained far too conscious for his own health. He pinched the bridge of his nose and swallowed. Worse than his insomnia was the unstable nausea. One moment he was fine, but at the slightest upset, he found himself dry heaving in the rest room.

"Can you help me?" he murmured, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Uka-san?" Uka looked up at the cheerful flight attendant. Frowning, he shook his head and waved her on. The silly girl must have thought he was speaking to her, he mused. Following the destruction of his home, and the subsequent loss of unspeakable yen invested in his various technologies—Uka had always had a strange obsession with technology, perhaps because of his tenure as James Utonium's mentor—the retired professor had wasted no time in arranging a flight and escaping his now oddly distant home country. Was it odd that his first thought had been to find his long graduated student? Perhaps, but...in truth, Uka had few close connections, and of those, the only one he truly trusted was young James Utonium.

"Jimmy-san, you were always different," he whispered. James had been his star-pupil, true, but he had been more than that. The two had been...friends. Yes, they had definitely been friends. The awkward little science bug and the obstinate history professor. They had been quite the pair during James' tenure at Uka's university. Uka had introduced James to his first date, James had convinced Uka to go to his first open mic night at a campus club. And...perhaps most sentimental of all, Uka had given James his first pipe.

At the time, it had seemed a rather...stupid gesture. After all, Jimmy-san was not prone to smoking. But that pipe, it had a lot of history. It had been Uka's most valued possession, no one else was more deserving of such a gift. Given comments he'd overheard while visiting James, it was apparent that his pupil had, in fact, taken up the habit.

As the flight dragged on, hitting another pocket of turbulence, Uka's quivering stomach was soothed by a thought he hadn't considered before. It had been several months since his trip to America, how could he have forgotten her? One of James' lovely daughters, the auburn-haired little girl with pretty pink eyes. Uka chuckled and pinched the bridge of his nose again, driving off an oncoming headache.

How was Sakura-chan faring? A child that bright, that enthusiastic about learning, certainly had a world of opportunities awaiting her. He felt a pang of guilt at nearly forgetting her, hadn't she sent him a letter to tell him she had finished Moby Dick? It had been a quite lengthy letter actually, discussing what she had taken from the book. Uka chuckled, startling the couple across the aisle. He had been...quite proud of her. It was odd, feeling such affection, but it would have been a lie to say the two hadn't bonded in a manner frighteningly similar to the way he and her father had. Two intellectuals—or at least as intellectual as a child could be—discussing classical literature and foreign languages...that first dinner had been more enjoyable than any he could remember before it.

"Fascinating child..." The little girl who had stumbled over a simple greeting that first night had later mailed him a letter composed entirely in Japanese. She wasn't just fascinated with learning, she was...quite good at it, he thought with another chuckle.

"You don't smile a lot...I wish you would," While he was staying in America, Jimmy-san had called on him to babysit Sakura-chan, who had come down with the flu. It had been an enlightening experience, to be honest. She had said those exact words to him that day. And...lo and behold, he hadn't the ability to stop himself from smiling, then, when she had said those words, and now, as he recalled them. And when he left a week later...

"I'll miss you...do you promise you'll come back again?" He had, and now he was upholding that promise. Uka sighed and smiled, nodding a silent assurance to himself. Yes, this had been the best course of action. Jimmy-san could help him with his personal issues, the intruder, the fire, the strange feeling of growing detachment, and Sakura-chan, Blossom, she could help him to...smile again.

XxXxX

Uka collapsed in a seat near baggage claim, holding his throbbing head and praying to the gods that his bag would show up shortly. The doctor had prescribed him something, he couldn't remember what, for the pain and, like a fool, he had insisted he wouldn't need it for the flight. Now, he regretted that very, very bad decision. Like a jackhammer, his brain beat against his own skull with increasing fury. His eyes trembled with each pulse, threatening to splash out of his skull. Uka dug his fingers into his dirty red hair. He could handle pain, he could handle pain very well. But he couldn't handle looking weak or pitiful in public.

"Hey, man, you alright?" Uka growled and slowly looked up, through sparkling lights, at the American in question. He couldn't see straight, the room was spinning and everything seemed to be swimming. Still, he squared his shoulders and sat up straight, looking the man in what he presumed to be his eyes.

"I am fine, thank you," The man offered him an expression to suggest that he wasn't entirely convinced, but took his leave. Uka waited until the blob was gone, then doubled over, holding his head once again. The jackhammer had become an earthquake, beating his brain into mush. With the last vestiges of willpower, Uka looked up in time to see his bag sliding onto the carousel. A sudden superhuman strength filled him, allowing Uka to shoot through the crowd, still maintaining a poised dignity, snatch his bag, and make a b-line for the seats once again. Along the way he fumbled through his suitcase—he hadn't brought near enough; he hadn't had near enough to bring—finally snatching his pills.

The world spinning, he jerked the bottle open and downed a single yellow pill. Like a dial, the lights suddenly turned down and the world stopped shaking around him. Uka sighed and squared his shoulders again, both his dignity and his strength restored.

"One crisis solved..." It was unfortunate that it was but one in a slew of problems to be dealt with. His living arrangement...he had the money to get by for a while, but when could he return home? Flying on auto-pilot, weaving between teary reunions and tearier farewells, he started to wonder just where he could call home now. The feeling of distance, of intense detachment had faded the moment he stepped off the plane. Was this, perhaps, some kind of premonition? Was he meant to be here, in Townsville?

"Taxi," He called drolly, waving down a speeding yellow car. The driver slammed on his breaks, staring him down before nodding, allowing Uka to enter the car.

"Where to, bud?" Uka frowned and threw his bag next to him. Leaning forward, he laced his fingers and rested his chin on his clasped hands.

"The Hilton," The driver rolled his eyes, but peeled out for the hotel. Uka closed his eyes, getting lost in the car's momentum. In fact...in reference to his feelings of trepidation and insecurity, they seemed to be dampening with every second he spent in this city. Was it the thrill of being away from home? Perhaps the excitement of staying in a hotel...no, Mako Uka had long since outgrown such childish fancies. No, that only dragged up memories of business and obligation. His true excitement, if that was what he felt, was knowing what lay in wait. Knowing that...somewhere in the city, Jimmy-san was hard at work, making his way in the real world. Uka smiled and lowered his head. Somewhere, his Sakura-chan was exercising that powerful little mind of hers.

"So, how long you stayin in Townsville, bud?" Uka opened his eyes, glancing at the driver. He was a short, fat man with greasy hair and sweaty, disheveled clothing. He didn't look too pleasant, but his voice didn't sound too aggressive. Uka closed his eyes again.

"I have not decided. I am here to see a friend," The man grunted in response, resuming his silent, aggressive drive. Uka was quite content to block out the gentleman. Everything from his appearance to his body odor reeked. Thankfully, the trip didn't last too much longer, and soon Uka was walking into the Hilton, breathing fresh air. He made sure to hide the pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket. Townsville was notoriously...family-minded when it came to smoking. He had to wonder how Jimmy-san got away with it on a regular basis.

"Thank you, enjoy your stay, sir!" Uka forced a smile and spun on his heel to get to his room. Now that he was freed from all manner of metal confinement, he had an insatiable urge to find Jimmy-san. An urge to discover who had invaded his home...an urge to discover why he was suddenly brimming with energy he hadn't felt even five minutes ago. What was it about Townsville that made him feel so...alive?

XxXxX

"Hello! Professor James Utonium, how may I help you?"

"Jimmy-san...I hope I am not disturbing you,"

"U-Uka-san? Is that you? Oh wow! Of course not, sir! What can I help you with? I mean...did you need something?"

"I have found myself once again on your side of the world...I am at the Hilton in Townsville,"

"What! S-Seriously? Wow, what's the occasion?"

"My house was burned to the ground; I was nearly murdered by some strange creature,"

"..."

"Jimmy-san?"

"Oh, sorry...you're...being serious? Someone tried to kill you? Who would be that stupid?"

"Your flattery is appreciated, if ill-placed, Jimmy-san,"

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir, I just can't imagine anyone would try to do that to you! Are you alright?"

"I'm as well as can be expected...however, I have next to nothing, and have arrived here in hopes that, perhaps, you would be able to assist me,"

"Of course, you can stay with us. We can get the guest room ready, I know Cassandra won't mind and I'm sure, oh wow! Blossom will be so excited to see you! You know she's doing great in her classes!"

"Th...That's wonderful to hear, Jimmy-san...but you do not need to make special arrangements for me. I just ask for your assistance,"

"Yes...of course...why don't you swing by tonight then? Or maybe...are you free now?"

"I have no obligations,"

"Then come on by Townsville Community College, I'll see if I can help you with your problem?"

"That sounds...good, yes. I will meet you within the hour,"

"Alright, take care, sir, I'll see you soon,"

"Yes,"

XxXxX

"Uka-san! Welcome!" Uka bowed, greeting his best friend and pupil with a rare smile. The two were alone in James' modest-sized classroom. Uka took a deep breath, relishing in the scent of being in an educational facility again. Much to his chagrin, he found it as sickening as he had expected. Uka cleared his throat, pacing around the length of the room. White walls, long tables designed for experiments set up in symmetrical order around the room. Uka sighed and turned to James, crossing his arms.

"It is good to see you, Professor Utonium," James chuckled and offered the older educator a seat, but Uka politely declined. He turned to look out the window. His classroom had never had windows. It was...odd.

"You wanted to talk about something?" Never one for small talk, Uka nodded, strolling to the front of the classroom. He snatched one of James' markers and proceeded to draw a shoddy rendering of the mysterious, eyeless child who had invaded his home. As he drew, he explained the details of the encounter, starting with the sickening sense of impending change, to the ghastly, giggling voice floating on the midnight breeze. James stood back, stroking his chin and watching each pen stroke with intense concentration. When Uka at last stepped back and capped the marker, James got a good look at the full image.

"It was this child who assaulted me, resulting in my house fire...have you seen anything such as this in any mythology?" James paced in front of the board. The boy was small, eyeless, with a big, mocking goblin grin. One hand was torn open by razor blades, while the other had been torn off completely, replaced by a screwed on claw of some sort.

"Like a scorpion," James' muttered, leaning in to get a better look at the drawing. Uka nodded, folding his arms behind his back and turning away from the accursed drawing.

"Hai...he said something very peculiar just before disappearing. When I asked his name," he explained. James nodded, only mumbling a quick "What was it?" Uka closed his eyes, "Watashi wa kare o gozen," he stated. James stood up right and turned to face his teacher with a raised eyebrow.

"I am..."

"I am him," Uka finished, turning to face James. The pupil furrowed his brow and scratched the back of his head.

"But who?" Uka shook his head and approached the board, uncapping the marker.

"Perhaps, Jimmy-san, he did not mean 'I am him'," Uka wrote that interpretation on the board. He paused, then made a slight change, "Perhaps, what the child meant was this," James nodded, reading the very subtle change out loud.

"I am Him," Uka nodded and capped the marker again. James licked his lips and dug around on his bookshelf. It was no secret that, after a near death experience as a child, James Utonium had a fascination for more...fantastic history. Mythology, fairy tales, and legends were a passion of the young man. Uka could only hope he would have something about the odd little monster.

"I may have something...no, not here...hm..." James laughed and turned to face Uka with an apologetic expression, "It's going to take some time...I'll keep looking tonight but...would you like to have dinner with us? Cassandra is cooking tonight and it should be, well, and I know the girls would like to see you, I think..." Uka stared unblinking at the mocking drawing of the teasing little boy. He needed to take his mind off his assailant...surely seeing Sakura-chan again would be enough to make him,

"Smile..." he murmured. Uka chuckled and shook his head, offering James one of his rare, genuine smiles.

"I think that would be most wonderful," James beamed and snatched a book from the shelf, he clapped Uka on the shoulder as the two left his classroom, the door practically slamming in their wake.

XxXxX

"-and don't you worry! I'll have the answer by morning. I'm home!" James called as the two stepped into the Utonium Chateau. There was a chorus of girlish screams of excitement and six footfalls thundering into the hallway. Buttercup arrived first, jumping into James' waiting arms.

"Daddy! You're ho...home?" She blinked, staring up at Uka's only mildly amused red eyes. Buttercup blinked and looked at James, then back at Uka. By that time, the other two arrived on the scene, freezing with a shared gasp of amazement. Uka looked up, smiling when his eyes met Sakura-chan's. Blossom's face turned bright red and the smile on her face seemed to be growing dangerously large.

"Uka-san! You came back!" Ignoring her own father, Blossom shamelessly grabbed Uka in a fierce hug, catching him off guard. With a friendly laugh, Uka knelt down to return the heartfelt embrace his own awkward one.

"Yes...Sak, Blossom, I did say I would return, did I not?" Blossom giggled and danced childishly in place, hugging him tighter. Uka swallowed, his face starting to heat up. He quickly stood upright, coincidentally bringing Blossom up with him as Cassandra walked out into the hallway. The parents laughed while Blossom bashfully hopped down, digging her toes into the floor.

"I'm sorry, it's just really exciting to see you!" Uka adjusted his collar and nodded, coughing sheepishly.

"Yes...it is quite exciting for me as well to return to this part of the world so soon," Cassandra smiled brightly, taking Uka's coat as he stepped into the living room. Blossom, still euphoric, stayed close to him, eyes sparkling.

"What brings you back to America, Mr. Uka?" Uka lowered his head with a subtle sigh and smiled. Clearing his throat, he glanced at James, who whispered in Cassandra's ear as the two kissed. She nodded and beamed at Uka. "Well, we'll have plenty of time to discuss that later! Supper is ready, we were just waiting for you, James. I can set an extra place, if you'd like, Mr. Uka?" Uka nodded graciously, catching sight of Blossom's stare of adulation. He chuckled and shook his head, heading into the kitchen as soon as everyone else was seated. Like before, he ended up next to Blossom—though that could have been manipulation on her part, given Bubbles' less than pleased expression.

"So why are you here?" Buttercup asked bluntly as the food went around the table. Uka kept his eyes forward, ignoring the accusatory glare both of the other children were giving him, perhaps due to Blossom's obsession, or possibly his own stoic disposition. Uka sighed and closed his eyes, taking a long sip of wine the moment it was poured.

"Uka-san is a guest! You should be nice to him, Buttercup!" Blossom hissed to his left. Uka raised his eyebrows and glanced down at her. Blossom broke off her glare with Buttercup to beam cheerfully at Uka, "How have you been? Is your class going well? Did you get my letter?" Uka smiled, wincing only momentarily as the room shifted, light sparkling in front of his eyes. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he got his head back under control and smiled again.

"I have been...quite well. My class, I couldn't say, I retired just before the school year began. And yes, I received your letter. You have certainly improved your Japanese substantially," Blossom gasped, staring horror-stricken at her idol.

"You quit teaching? Why?" Uka chuckled as Cassandra shot Blossom a warning glare.

"Blossom, no yelling at the table," Blossom blushed and lowered her head.

"I'm sorry, but why did you quit?"

"I merely felt that my services were no longer necessary," He started to mention the headaches, the night terrors, the empty pit in his chest, but that was more information than a gaggle of first-graders needed to know. Bubbles smiled brightly from across the table.

"But that means you have time for all kinds of fun stuff! What do you like doing Mr. Uka?" Though he wasn't as fond of the other two sisters, Uka was grateful for a near change in topic.

"Music editing...I have a fascination with this new...trance music that has become all the rage these days. Perhaps not as prolific or enlightening as my previous career, I do find it very...what's the word...soothing," Blossom sighed in disappointment, though she perked up a bit, looking up at him hopefully.

"So you're...writing your own music?" Realizing he hadn't eaten anything yet, Uka took his first bite. Jimmy-san hadn't lied, Cassandra was a much better cook.

"Yes, that is correct," Blossom began to glow again, the adoration and idolizing glow returning to her face.

"Wow! That's so interesting! Have you finished any? Are you making a CD? Do you need help? I'm learning how to play guitar!" Again, she got a warning glance from her mother.

"Inside voice, Blossom," Blossom blushed, but kept her hopeful gaze fixed on Uka, who could only grin in return.

"I...have completed a few tracks, but perhaps we could...collaborate some day," Uka shook his head, unable to understand how such a simple gesture could inspire such excitement in the little girl. For the rest of dinner, it was like she was floating on air. Even as the six settled into the den to watch the girls' favorite television show, Blossom couldn't stop grinning every time she looked at Uka. To be honest, he was quite glad to be in her good graces again. The stricken look on her face when she heard he had retired...it had been almost painful to behold. Before long, the girls were fast asleep, whisked away by their parents to turn in for the night. Uka sighed, popping one of his pills to settle his throbbing head.

"So James says your home was...burnt down?" Uka looked up, nodding to Cassandra, who took a seat at the other end of the couch. She bit her lip, folding her hands between her knees.

"I'm very sorry to hear that..." Uka glanced up, hearing the unspoken 'but'.

"You are wondering why I chose this place to return to," Cassandra glanced at him but nodded silently. Uka nodded as well, keeping his eyes on the floor.

"I am not sure myself...it seemed the correct course of action,"

"...You know...she...really did miss you," Uka looked up, noticing a ghost of a smile on Cassandra's lips.

"Blossom?" He asked. She nodded.

"She really connected with you those two weeks you were here. I've never seen her so enamored," Uka swallowed and let his head drop back into place.

"I am...quite taken with her as well. She is an exceptional child..." Cassandra laughed softly, wiping her eyes.

"I noticed...James always said you were...such a hard case. But with her, you're not..."

"It is a very...new experience for me as well," Uka shook his head, climbing to his feet. He offered Cassandra an apologetic bow and made his way to the door, "I'm sorry to have imposed...good night,"

"Huh? Oh good night, Mr. Uka..." Cassandra watched him leave from the door, at least until he made it to the sidewalk. Uka paused, noticing that she quickly shut and locked the door. The blinds were pulled, the house looked...secured. He frowned and started on his way back to town. He was no stranger to traveling by foot, but his recent injuries did present something of a new challenge to overcome.

The city of Townsville...it was a relatively safe community. James had certainly been confident about raising three little girls. Uka had heard no bad things of the town, no more than in any other city of large size. Yet that night, things felt different. There seemed to be shades lurking in the shadows. As he passed into the city proper, he could hear car alarms going off in the distance. Not one to stick his neck out, Uka only flinched when he heard a window break. He lowered his head and pressed onward, into the city.

"This feeling...this city..." Uka came to a halt as a trashcan lid rolled in front of him. He heard rough laughter and peered into the alley. Five boys, of various shape and size, were making their way out. Narrowing his eyes, Uka hurried on his way. Any other day, he wouldn't have worried...he was older, but he wasn't helpless. Tonight, though, everything felt just a little more...discerning. He could still hear them approaching and picked up the pace.

Uka grit his teeth, knowing, after a few blocks, that they were following him. There had been nary a taxi in sight, and the hotel was a short ways away. Clenching his fists, he stayed on course, hoping they were too cowardly to close in on him. Quite the opposite, he could hear them gaining on him. Uka pinched the bridge of his nose, another migraine settling into place. That moment's hesitation was just enough for a lanky arm to reach out and snatch his shoulder.

"Hey, hey, hey! Where you goin' so fast, pops?" The boy in the middle taunted, shoving Uka back. His back hit the side of a building, a jewelry store if memory served. Uka peered through bleary, light strewn eyes at the boys. They had to be in high school, at the oldest. Two were tall, one dwarfed them, and the other two were shorter. On a good day? Nothing to worry about...but as his migraine worsened and their voices got more distant, he couldn't help feeling that now familiar sensation of drifting. A sense of detachment in his chest.

"...boys...don't look too good..."

"Hehehe...boss..."

"...gonna get hurt...yeah?"

"...money..." Uka shook his head, trying to pick them out of the swirling light now engulfing his vision. He could only see vague shapes, but they seemed miles away. His head was throbbing, the earthquake had returned. He stumbled, catching himself on the side of the building. He heard the boys laugh and something...something about it triggered a sensation within him. He no longer felt like he was falling. No...no he felt like he was...rising. The same clammy hand grabbed his shoulder. Uka's eyes snapped open.

XxXxX

Uka's eyes snapped open. He sat up gasping, searching frantically for his pills. In his haste, he managed to throw the offending alarm clock across the room. With shaking hands, he sucked down one of the strange pills the doctor had prescribed. His headaches subsided, but the fatigue hit him all at once. Collapsing into the plush mattress, he groaned and tried to recall the night before.

"What was that?" Uka sat up and held his head, trying to recall just what had really happened. Oddly enough, all he could remember was a vague, terrible dream. Bodies thrown across the street, sewer drains running red with blood. As he recalled the dream, he rubbed his fists. His muscles were tense, probably from the rough night. Those boys...they were part of the dream, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have made it home...not in his condition.

Uka shook his head and swung his legs over the bedside. The phone was blinking. He had a message. Moving slow, stretching, and yawning, he hit the button and stared out the window. The city seemed less cheerful somehow. Oddly enough, he felt better than he had in months, maybe even years.

"3:47 a.m. Uka-san! This is James, I'm sorry to call you so late, but I think I found something. Come by in the morning!" Uka nodded, turning to get dressed. The machine beeped and a second message began to play.

"6:15 a.m. Uka-san...are you there? It's Cassandra...listen...have you spoken to James? He's locked in his lab...oh it's probably nothing...sorry to bother you," Uka blinked in confusion, slipping on his shoes as he finished buttoning his shirt. The machine beeped a third time, and the message began with a loud crash.

"7:10 a.m. Hello? Mr. Uka? Are you th...ah!...Hello? Hello? Nothing...stay away if you know what's good for you! Now...come here girls...Daddy has a surprise for you..." The line went dead. Uka stared at the machine in shock. The clock was blinking 7:12 a.m. Uka spun and tore through the door, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

The alarm wasn't what woke him up. It was the telephone.

XxXxX

"Jimmy-san! Cassandra-san!" Uka pounded on the front door of the eerily still house. Was he too late? Had nothing even happened? He shook his head, pacing the front porch, running his hands through his greasy red hair. No, he knew this was for real. He could feel it burning in his chest. Something horrible had happened. Was it related to that monster? No! He didn't have time to ponder that, he needed to get inside! Looking around for any kind of makeshift battering ram, Uka growled in frustration. Cassandra had locked the house up tight, there was no way in...legally at least.

Lowering his head and saying a silent prayer, Uka grabbed the nearest thing he could find, a potted plant, and hurled it at the window. The glass shattered on contact, and the retired professor climbed inside, unsure of what to expect. For all his mental preparation, he wasn't ready for the immediate sight of blood. His heart raced, his blood heated up, and his hands trembled.

There, lying at the door...was Buttercup. The poor little girl...she was almost unrecognizable. Were it not for her thick black hair, Uka wouldn't have even been able to peg her as a human at all. Her head had been smashed, possibly with a hammer. Not just once, but repeatedly. Gray matter, blood, skull tissue, the carpet was smothered in mess. He gently rolled her over, nearly vomiting at the sight. How could this have happened? She was...she was Jimmy's favorite...he couldn't have done this to her...

"Jimmy-san! Cassandra-san! Bubbles-chan! Blossom-chan!" Uka hurried through the house, dodging overturned furniture and broken glass with eerie ease. He froze at the stairs, seeing a trail of splattered blood going all the way up to the second floor...leading straight to the girls' room. He turned, spotting the door to James' lab. It had been smashed off the hinges, and was lying in pieces on the floor. Steeling himself for the unthinkable, Uka grabbed one of James' prized golf clubs and made his way up the stairs.

"Come here...don't hide from me! Come out here and die like a bitch! Come out here and die like your mother!" Uka stopped in the doorway, staring in wide-eyed disbelief. The door was in splinters, the bed had broken in half, with what looked like a tiny body lying in the wreckage. Uka swallowed staring at the sticky trail of blood he had followed up the stairs. Who knew just when little Bubbles had finally died.

Turning, just slightly, he was met with the grisly fate of the girls' mother. Cassandra Utonium was barely more than a splattered bag of meat and blood, torn to bits and lying at the foot of the bed, elbows, knees, shoulders and face smashed to nonexistence. And there, beating apart what little remained of the closet door, was the man who was once Mako Uka's best friend, his star pupil...his sole confidant. Smeared with the blood of his precious family, James Utonium was barely a man anymore. His face bright red, veins popping in his forehead, his eyes bulging and twitching, there was nothing left of the man Make once knew.

"Shouldn't have come here...now you gotta die with the dirty bitches! Shouldn't have come here! Dirty, fucking, bastard!" Uka gasped and dove away from the sudden swing. James kept going, smashing the wall. Uka got to his feet while James tore the hammer from the wall, his eyes on the verge of bursting. Uka took a step back, stumbling over a doll. James shook his head, advancing with monstrous speed.

"Get out of my way! I gotta teach her a lesson!" This time, Uka didn't duck away. With a practiced gait and a powerful swing, he brought the driver around and caught James in the side of the head. The professor crumpled to the ground, his inexplicable rage ended as blood streamed down the side of his head. Uka could barely breathe as he stumbled blankly to the closet door, smashing the handle and pulling open what little remained of it. A tiny voice screamed and scurried back into the shadows. He dropped to his knees, his head swimming, a migraine piercing through his thoughts, Uka swallowed, trying to find his voice in his cotton dry throat.

"Sakura-chan...are you alright?" The two sat in silence...waiting, unsure of where to go from here. Slowly, Blossom, sole survivor of the Utonium family, crawled out of the shadows. She favored her right side, there was an evident bruise forming on her face. She bit her lip and struggled to hold in any more tears. Uka scooted closer, pulling her into his arms and hugging her as tight as he dared, trying with all his might to block out the world around them.

Then...safe in his arms, little Blossom finally cried. Harder, and harder...until soon, Mako Uka felt tears began to stream down his cheeks. He had fled to America because he no longer had a place to call home. And now, this little girl who had adored him so much...had no where to call home and no one to depend on. Uka buried his face in her hair and hugged her tighter.

Fate...was a cruel, sadistic bastard.

End of Act I
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Invoking Rapture in Hell