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Although Makoto knew that Ite was teasing, she felt the need to address it. "You know, I wonder if Serenity censored it when she sent us here so that there would be no continued heartbreak in case one of us didn't make it..." Sje trailed off.

When Ite opened the door, she smiled. "I'd be happy to." She obliged. Thoughts were wondering around her head about moving in with Ite. "Well, my apartment is just one bedroom. And its small. I was only in yours briefly and it didn't look very big, either. I... can actually afford a larger place. I think that Nariko should be included in the decision process, though. I know she is already overwhelmed with you having a girlfriend all of a sudden. I wouldn't want her to feel left out or as if she doesn't have the ability to make a decision that includes her."

"It's an interesting theory." Makoto mused as she turned to the left, headed directly towards her favorite store. "The others don't seem to remember much of anything about their loves in the past, either. I guess we'll never know, though will we?" Makoto enjoyed the walk, which was accompanied with a slight breeze. Part of her pondered Ite's theory. The other part knew that no matter what happened, she would always be there to protect Usagi. It was all of their sworn duty.

They passed a rental building that had a bunch of signs in the window. Makoto hadn't really noticed it before, but she stopped to glance for a moment. It appeared there were several places nearby that were available. Some even in her current apartment building. "Looks like we'll have plenty of options" she said with a smile, taking a few photos of fliers and saving them in her phone.

She put it back in her pocket and started walking again. Only in Japan could you be an orphaned teen and get an apartment on your own...

The store wasn't much farther down the street, and Makoto gestured to the door. "This is where I go to Donny shopping." She said with yet another smile.

As they talked about food, she smiled, but found herself feeling a little sad at the same time. She wanted to ask him what kinda of things his mom used to make that he had liked, but was unsure as to whether it would bring about bad feelings or not. So she chose to leave the question... For now...

"My favorite thing?" she pondered. "Well my favorite dish is cherry pie." she giggled. "But I love all kinds of foods. As long as they don't have potatoes in them. I don't really like potatoes. Cooking is my passion, though. I can make anything. And I always go for quality ingredients. Good food is not only a way to the soul, but a meal can make or break your day."

Makoto made a disgusted face. "Eww! No! I wouldn't wish potatoes on my worst enemy! " she chuckled.

She picked up a few more things for their yakisoba, and a few things to make a dessert and lunches for the upcoming school week. Not too much. Although it wasn't a long walk, food could get heavy quick. She signaled to Ite that she was ready to checkout and took their food loot to the register. The clerk scanned the items and she paid with her card.

"What are you whipping up today, Makoto?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing too spectacular, Hiro-san. Just some yakisoba and some dessert."

"Aaaah. I see. Cooking for your boyfriend?" he poked.

"I sure am!" She exclaimed.

"Lucky guy, you are! Makoto always gets the best ingredients for her food. I wish my girlfriend would cook for me like that. She's rather spend all my yen at a restaurant somewhere." he sighed. "Enjoy! And stay out of trouble." he teased.

Makoto bid the store clerk farewell as she picked up the shopping bags and walked out of the store. As she stepped out the door, there was a sudden sense of fear in the air. She could feel the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Nobody was in sight, although this wasn't a very quiet street. The sky had an ashy red tinge to it.

"Youma!" she snapped, dropping the bags and transforming.

There was a scream in the distance and Jupiter immediately started running for it. Sure enough, as soon as she rounded the corner, she saw it. In all its brown, dirty, ground growing glory. "What the ******** are you supposed to be? A russet? God damn Americans and their Idaho potatoes!" she murmured under her breath. It had a man pinned down to the ground, staking him there with its roots. That ashy red aura Jupiter had noticed surrounded them as the creature sucked the life out of him.

"Jupiter Coconut Cyclone!" she called out, aiming her attack at the roots and severing them. "I'm going to turn you into tater tots!" she shouted as the creature angrily turned its attention to her.

"How dare you interrupt my meal!" it snapped. The man was too weak to get out of the way. But it was no matter. The creatures roots were now shooting out at Jupiter...

Jupiter dodged the attack as she heard Ite calling her name. The potato heard, too and turned its attention to the direction of Ite's voice. "Spudnick doesn't have time for you." it snarled. "Spudnick needs to eat an easy meal!"

Jupiter found herself on the ground. But how? She looked down at her leg. There was a dirty, grimy potato root wrapped around her ankle. She found herself being thrown into a light pole several yards away. She found herself stuck to it with the root. Now out of Spudnick's way, it was headed right in Ite's direction.

"ITE RUUUNNNNNNNN!" she screamed. She had to get herself loose, but the vine was wrapped around her body several times. She wriggled her body. The root was stronger than a traditional potato root. Had this one been fed Miracle Grow? After a few seconds though, she managed to break the top of the root off and worked towards getting the rest of them off. Seconds felt like minutes, as she knew she was in a race for time...

"Foooooood!" She heard Spudnick squee as it caught up to Ite.