Catching Up, Road Runner-Style (Kokoro-chan)

"C'mon, bring it!" yelled a petite 15 year old asian girl geared up in all black, jeans, tank top and jacket and wielding a wooden stake in her hand. Showing Kokoro the Danger Room could have been a bit of the mistake. While it was supposed to be used for training purposes, Koko had other things in mind. All the nonsense and fantasy that had been floating around in her head now had the power to become a holographic simulation thanks to this special room, and you can believe that she took full advantage of it. Whenever she was even remotely bored, she always checked out the danger room and when it wasn't in use, the fun began.

On today's agenda, the young Japanese teen would be starring in her new feature simulation: Koko, The Vampire Slayer. Her target? None other than a simulated version of Edward Cullen from Twilight. Surprisingly, Kokoro didn't follow the trend and didn't know what was so fascinated about that series. Aside from how cute Taylor Lautner was, but that was another subject. Not tom mention, the whole sparkling in the sunlight rather than dying from it. It ruined vampires for the new generation, but Kokoro was old enough to remember how bad ass they used to be. She would relive those days by driving a wooden stake through pour Edward's Heart. And she stabbed it again. And again. Again, again, again and again. "Screw you, Bella. " she said doing a round house kick to the vampire's face and sending his corpse flying back onto the cold dirt of the simulated grave yard where the scene was taking place.

Now that that was over, Kokoro ordered the danger room to end the simulation and she sighed watching the scene dissolve away and curled her fist as the bloody stake in her hand went along with it. She had her danger room fun, now it was on to the next thing on her agenda: pestering Shin. She bolted from the Danger Room and ran around the mansion like a chicken with it's head cut off searching for her beloved cousin until she eventually tracked him down in the living room. With a book. Not just any book. A MATH book. God, she needed to start carrying holy water on her again like she did after watching both Vampire Hunter D films.

"SHIN-SAN!" she rushed over and nimbly leaped from behind the couch and onto the cushion next to her cousin latched onto his arm as she wobbled to and fro with a wide grin on her face. "It's a lovely day outside. We should go do something. Shopping, ice cream, shopping..." she suggested casually. "If you're studying math, you can do so by figuring out how much 3 new outfits would be from Urban Outfitters, shoes and all with sales tax included. Yes, just a lovely study session that would be, who's up for it? ME!"

>>"Kind of busy, Koko-chan... these college text books don't lecture themselves."

"Aren't there any telepaths around here who could download that information into your mind or something?" Kokoro asked cocking her head a bit to the right. She tapped her finger on her chin when Shin mentioned Koga. It had been awhile since she'd hung out with him...and then there was the drastic change in his appearance she'd. The poor boy kept himself all mummified up like he was some kind of hideous monster, and he wasn't. She'd pay him a visit later maybe, but for now...."I just came from the danger room and I would like to go shopping...pleeeaaassseeee?" she looked back at him with a pleading look. Oh yes, the look had reared it's adorable head again as her eyes grew wider and gleamed more in the light, it was her infamous way of breaking down Shin and any other adults to give in to her demands. "I love you." she added for an extra kick. And she did, he was her favorite cousin after all and so selfless to have taken her under his wing over here in America. "If not to shop, can we at least go out somewhere? I feel detached....you haven't been the same really since you came back from Romainia, and you never told me what happened over there or why you and Kasumi broke up. The latter is probably none of my business, but I still worry about you. You're all I have over here in the Western Hemisphere. I know you're supposed to take care of me, but it works both ways, cuz."

Bingo! The wibbling at it's hit and misses, but today seemed to be on Kokoro's side. She had to restrain herself from squealing, but she let the giddiness out by giving herself a little 'yay me' round of applause. She unlatched herself from his arm and jumped back up onto her feet putting her hands behind her back and swaying a bit. She was too happy to stay still, but she wouldn't unload all her excitement in the form of flips, which could result in some damage to the room. She didn't want that and she knew Shin didn't either.

"Yes sir. Do what you've gotta do, I'll be right here!" she gave him quick salute. "And don't forget your wallet." she mentally chuckled to herself. Yes, she wanted to family time, but she was determined to add something new to her closet when they would return from their little trip. She'd been long over do for a new pair of shoes. It had been two weeks since her last purchase.

>>“Don’t shop me out of house and home now, you hear?” “Now that I’m going to NYU, I won’t have as much cash to toss around.”

Boo. This was only adding more proof to Kokoro's theory of school sucking the good out of life. Now because Shin wants to go to college, they'd have to cut back on the buying. That'll be hard since she's had an impulse buying condition since the 8th grade. Maybe it was time for her to find her own job.

>>“You ready?”

"I've decided..." Kokoro began as Shin returned. She started curling her fists as her eyes widened again with enthusiasm. Yes, this had to be the most genius idea she's had this week. "I'm going to be a supermodel!" she declared pumping the fist into the air. "Yes, that's right! I'll start modeling, which will lead into acting, which will lead into a record deal! I shall become an idol! I will become wealthy off of my beauty and you'll never have to go work at that book store again! Muahahahahaahhahaha!" her hands rested on her hips as she looked to the ceiling laughing maniacally. Maybe she was a bit too ambitious, but rest assure is Koko-chan wanted something bad enough, she was determined to succeed. Sometime her stubbornness did come in handy.

>>“ … But, I like working in the book store…” “Would you really take away something I liked?”

Kokoro nearly fell over on her face after his confession. Her laughter had ceased and now she looked over to Shin with a horrified look on her face. "You...you like selling books?" The idea was absurd to her. Of course, the only books she ever touched willingly were mangas, fashion and anime magazines. Even for her own classes, she avoided them if she could. It was easier to watch a video on you tube or surf google.

>>“Also, have you even taken a drama class?” “It might be a good idea~ I hear the college has drama classes.”

"Um....no." She replied. "I want to start modeling first. Which shouldn't be too hard considering New York is one of the fashion capitals of the world. I just need to find an agency who'll take me in. Which shouldn't be too hard because I'm one of the cutest girls in the world." she shrugged."Would you happen to know anyone who could get me started?"

>>"Something wrong with that?"

"Well...." she started but trailed off into silence. She didn't really want to offend him, or anyone that worked there because a lot of the employees were nice and good people. They might have found it appealing, but Kokoro could never see herself selling books. Ever, she'd shave her head bald first and that would never happen because she loved her hair like a mother loved her child.

>>"The Full Circle is a great place. Most of my friends work there."

"Ya." was her simple and sharp response. She'd have to take his word for it. She hadn't been to Full Circle yet in the months she's lived at the mansion and she never planned to. She would continue avoiding it like the plague, just like she always did the library and the dentist.

>>"The only person I know who is into fashion is Kealey, but she's only starting out."

"Better than nobody. Give me the hook up, cuz. You'll be glad you did when I'm counting my stacks."

...yeah, no more BET for her.

>> "Anyways, are we going to catch the bus, or do I need to fly us there with my mind?"

"It doesn't matter to me. I wouldn't mind the bus as long as we don't get stuck sitting next to a hobo. They smell." sometimes she was so simple, but even then she spoke the honest truth. "The giant shard would be faster though. Hm..." she held her chin pondering on the decision to be made.

>>"Heh? I was... kidding... for the most part. I can fly around on shard platforms, but... uh..."

The younger Shinbo's eye arched in suspicion at him. Yes, she was aware that he could fly around on giant shards, but the sad part was he had yet to take her for a ride on one. Her decision was coming to a close. Yes, she would choose Shin as their mode of transportation. It was a nice spring day outside, it would be good to take a flight around the city.

>>"Let's get to the bus stop!"

Or not. Guess they would be taking the bus, which she didn't understand why. They'd have to stand there and wait then have to go through all the stops and sit by weird people. Well, like she could call anyone else weird. After all she made invisible jello come out her mind so yeah, that would be the bot calling the kettle black for sure. She walked behind her older cousin with a bit of a skip in her step humming the opening theme to Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure.

"So..." she interrupted her little tune to start off a little conversation. A conversation that had been long over due. She'd been patient (for once) and given him his space. He seemed to be getting back on track, now the details could be spilled. "What happened in Romania? And to you and Kasumi?"