Shadows, darkness and an aura of negativity. The now NegaTime duo bowed as Lady Crimson angrily paced the room, her walk becoming heavier and faster with each passing second.
"You two are absolutely pathetic" she said slowly
Sawahiko and Miss. Iiena looked at each other before bowing their heads.
"Sawahiko..." her stern voice perked his ears up causing him to stand at attention
"Yes? Lady Crimson?" He tried to stand straight but his heart secretly pounded fast nervously
"I assume you won't fail me?" Lady Crimson side-eyeing Miss. Iiena in the process
"No. I will not fail you and will get the Nacharms" his voice full of confidence
"Pfft." Miss. Iiena whispered to herself
"Do you have something to say?" Lady Crimson asked sternly
Bowing her head, Miss Iiena sighed "no."
"Good..." she said turning her attention to Sawahiko
With a bright red light, she aimed it towards Sawahiko who collapsed upon contact. His dark eyes immediately turning red before changing back to its original color.
"Go. Don't return without them." Creating a portal, Sawahiko disappeared in the blink of an eye.
*＊✿❀ ❀✿＊*
In the busy town of Shinhigahara, a blue haired female and small dark haired male walked side by side.
"Ugh do we have to go out? I was planning on playing video games with my friends today" the boy complained
"Naki Suzuno. You need shoes and playing video games all day is not good for you" Shirana said strictly
"Ugh. You sound like mom" he pouted
"Apologies but someone has to keep you in check"
"But what about Akina?! She's just as wild"
"Yeah, outside. At least she's not locking herself in a dark room injuring her eyes with video games"
"Aw man..." he grouchily walked ahead as Shirana slowly followed behind him
As they continued to walk, a loud voice yelled out their names. Heading towards them, the usual gang appeared with a grinning Akina who grabbed her brother into a headlock.
"Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" He groaned as he tried to escape her tight grip "let go ya big oaf!"
"'Sup! What ya doing?" Akina asked
"Buying him shoes because grandma told me to" Shirana replied as she forcefully released Naki
"Ah..."
"She forced me to come..." he groaned "I didn't even wanna be here!"
"Naki. I don't want to hear your complaints. If you want to complain, you can go to Yamakawa and complain to mom and dad." Shirana's voice was stern, just like her expression
"You're so mean!" He yelled
"Touché"
"I don't like you" with that, Naki bolted forward without looking back
"He's going to fall if he runs like that..." Sakura whispered watching him
"Yes he is..." Shirana sighed, completely giving up
Just as she said that, they all heard a thump and a small whimper. Immediately turning, they saw Naki who had tripped on his shoelaces now on the ground staring at his injured knees. But before they could get to him, a creepy figure emerged from the shadows.
"Found one..."
Gasping, they all saw Sawahiko who seemed a little different to before.
"Oh no..." Asahi said with her mouth wide open
Hurrying to rush to Naki, they were stopped by a dark power energy that aimed straight for him.
"Tomerunda!" Sawahiko yelled out
"No!" Akina shouted
"Girls! Transform! ~purin" Spring jumped out of Sakura's bag
"PreCure! Refresh!" They shouted out in unison as they placed their nacharms into their PreCase
"The Beautiful Warmth of Winter, Cure Crystal!"
"The Endless Smile of Summer, Cure Lumina!"
"The Cool Sound of Autumn, Cure Aria!"
"The Intelligent Life of Spring, Cure Cerise!"
"Greet Chances with a Smile, Hi! Chance PreCure!"
Instantly, the four girls were in battle positions ready to attack. Aria and Crystal glared at Sawahiko angrily, furious at him for turning their brother into a monster.
"You are not getting away with this!" Aria yelled out as she attempted to punch Sawahiko who moved out of the way
"You've got to try harder than that then" he said smugly
"You hurt our little brother..." furious, her voice rose "I'm going to make you regret ever turning him into a monster" Crystal's eyes were narrowed with both anger and worry
"We'll try to purify him!" Cerise shouted "let's go Lumina!"
"Okay!" Lumina replied as they both jumped up in the air as a pink and yellow swirl.
Joining hands, Cerise and Lumina kicked the monster into a building, causing it to tumble and fall.
"Our mom was turned into a monster and now it's our brother..." Aria growled "You're really trying to get our whole family involved"
"Our brother may be a pain but I'm not letting anybody hurt him or do anything wrong to him" Crystal's calm yet loud voice echoed the entire surrounding area
As she said that, a pang hit Sawahiko's chest. Groaning in pain, he clutched his chest before taking deep breaths. What was happening? Hearing those words, a sense of guilt and shame came over him but he was quick to dismiss it.
While the two fought the monster, the other two sisters walked closer and closer to Sawahiko. Meanwhile, Cerise and Lumina continued to fight with determination to save Naki.
"Cherry Explosion!" Cerise cried out, sending a blast of cherry blossom petals in its direction
"Light Flare!" A radiant light beamed onto the monster, blinding it temporarily
"Now's our chance!" Cerise said
"Celestial... Fantasy!" The two cried together
With a loud bang and a bright illuminous light, the monster disappeared. After a few seconds, Naki was back lying on the floor, unconscious. Checking on him, the two joined back with Aria and Crystal who were in the midst of fighting against Sawahiko.
"Oh you're getting it" Lumina grinned
"No..." Sawahiko grabbed his hair, pulling it back in rage and screamed at the top of his lungs "I won't lose! I will never lose!"
With eyes red and a dark scary energy coming out of him, the girls stepped back as they watched Sawahiko change into something different.
"What's happening?" Cerise asked
"He's turning himself into a Tomerunda ~purin" Spring cried out with worry
"He can do that?!" Aria yelped
"Apparently" Lumina shrugged
"Be on guard!" Crystal went into a battle stance
"Right!" They all shouted
Sawahiko's eyes were red, his hair now flying around him and he was now twice his regular height.
"Be careful! ~fure" Flake cried out
Charging towards him, the four girls attacked from all sides but to no avail. With the flick of his wrist, Sawahiko pushed them away and laughed.
"Weak..." he muttered "I'll get the Nacharms this time! I'll get them!" his voice was different, less humane and more monster-like "the other one isn't here"
"The other one...?" Lumina narrowed her eyes in confusion
In the corner, Naki slowly opened his eyes. His small eyes wide with shock as he saw the girls being thrown into the wall. Unconsciously, his eyes followed Aria who collapsed to the grown. Without thinking, he rushed towards her.
"Are you okay?" He asked desperately, something about her reminded him of Akina
"Ah!" Aria looked at him "I'm fine! Get to a safe place!"
"But you're injured..."
Crystal turned around and saw Sawahiko coming towards them "Naki! Move!"
Turning around, he stood completely still, unable to move. Aria grabbed Naki, protecting him with her whole body. Crystal raced towards them, wanting to protect her two little siblings. As Sawahiko was about to attack them, Crystal put her hand out and tapped his forehead. Immediately, Crystal was whisked away to a beautiful and peaceful kingdom.
"Huh?"
A crowd of boys were racing around, playing with a small ball. Moving out of the way, Crystal saw the ball hit a little girls feet.
"Hey! Can you pass it to us?" the boys shouted to her
"Okay!" her small voice said cheerfully, picking the ball up. Before she could kick it, she was stopped by a boy who was older than her.
"Here, I'll do it" he smiled at her
"Okay!"
Kicking the ball, the boys all went away and Crystal watched the boy and girl.
"Now, Kokoro, I thought I told you to stay inside? You're too sick to be out here."
"I'm sorry..." a small pout appearing on her face "but it's boring inside..."
"I know..." he bent down so his eyes could meet hers "I just don't want you to get more sick than you already are, don't worry, I'll do all the hard stuff."
"You're more like a dad than a brother, Ryousuke..." she grinned "but if you say so!"
Crystal smiled gently as she watched the two siblings walk away, hand in hand. Being the oldest sibling is hard, especially if you're expected to take care of the young weak ones. Crystal thought of Aria who tries so hard to be active and Naki who always wants to play video games inside. they were so drastically different but she couldn't not take care of them. Now, she had to take care of Flake who was practically another little sibling in the house as well. Realising that Sawahiko was Ryousuke, she contemplated why he turned out this way.
A flash of light and Crystal found herself back in reality, still standing in between Sawahiko and her siblings.
"Crystal!" Cerise shouted "are you alright?"
"Yeah..."
Just then, Sawahiko started shouting in pain, growling at ever second.
"Agh!" he screamed before he crouched down "Kokoro..." he whispered, his voice breaking
Seeing his pain, Crystal stepped forward and held out her hand. Through pain, he looked at her hand.
"What?" he growled
"Stop regretting..."
"Regretting?! What are you talking about?!"
"Her name is Kokoro... right?"
For a split second, Sawahiko's eyes turned back to its usual color "was..." he muttered
"Ah..." Crystal looked down, feeling upset but she took a deep breath before stepping forward once again with her hand still out "Kokoro wouldn't want to see you like this..."
"What kind of nonsense are you spewing out?!"
"You're not Sawahiko. You're Ryousuke. Kokoro's older brother. You said it yourself, you would do all the hard stuff to protect her" she paused "she said you were more like her dad than her brother"
"Ryousuke...? ~foru" Forte watched in confusion
"There are many other ways of dealing with regret and turning yourself into a monster to get nacharms that don't belong to you, is not one of them." her stern voice rang out in his head "you have to do it the right way, if you don't regret it now, you will regret it later."
"But she's not coming back!" Sawahiko screamed
"But you can!"
Sawahiko stopped, his eyes yearning for help "I... can?"
"Live for her. Live for yourself."
A white light blinded them as a crest appeared, glowing midair.
"It's...!" Spring gasped "the Crest of Justice... ~purin"
Nodding, Crystal grabbed it. The crest immediately attaching itself to her.
"Let me help you" she held out her hand once again "Ryousuke."
Hesitantly, he took her hand. A rush of coldness covered him but it suddenly disappeared as if a warm blanket was embracing him.
"Snow Blanket..."
*＊✿❀ ❀✿＊*
The girls all sat together and looked at Naki nervously, wondering if he knew anything.
"What?"
"N-nothing!" Sakura shook her hands around wildly
"Okay...?" he looked at Shirana who was talking to a now purified, Ryousuke "Who's she talking to?"
"Uh... a new friend?" Akina scratched her head
"Yep! A new friend!" Asahi nodded
"Weirdoes..."
"Hey? You wanna go on ahead to the store? We'll follow ya" Akina pushed him away
"Alright alright"
As he walked away, Shirana and Ryousuke came over.
"Where's he going?" Shirana asked
"To the store" Sakura replied
"Right..."
"Ryousuke! ~purin" Spring jumped out and landed in Ryousuke's arms
"Princess Spring! It's lovely to see you... again?"
"Flake wants to hug him too! ~fure" Flake landed in his arms as well and smiled "do you have chocolate?"
"Eh?" the girls all laughed
"That's a little random?" Asahi grinned
"Not really" Ryousuke smiled and felt inside his pocket before taking out a small piece of chocolate "your favorite" he winked
"Hooray! Ryousuke always has chocolate! ~fure"
All laughing, they all walked towards the store.
"It's Tanabata soon!" Sakura shouted out "let's get some kimono's!"
"Huh?" Ryousuke raised an eyebrow
"It's a festival! ~paku" Sparkle popped her head out of Rana's bag
"Ah... right"
"Sounds good!" Asahi clapped
"Sure, we're here anyways" Shirana shrugged
"Ugh..." Akina complained "but I don't want to...!"