Story: Bubble Headed: Forget about it

One of my Urusei Yatsura restarts. I hope you enjoy it.



There he was, minding his own business. On the way to school, on his own for once. He'd even decided against girl chasing this morning, if for no other reason than to disturb people's expectations. Not bothering anyone else, simply getting on with walking along this mostly empty street. Being nice. Being normal. Idly wondering what that noise was, especially since it was getting closer... closer... closer...

A question which then became "what hit me on the head just now?"

Ataru looked around and saw a trail of smoke leading down towards him, and into an empty yard where Ten and that dumb cat were sitting around, leaning on pipes and blowing massive bubbles that formed into a kotetsu.

Quick rub of the eyes just to make sure. Not a dream. Okay. This merits investigation.

"That's pretty interesting," he said, leaning over for a better look. Ten made the mistake of trying to hold something behind his back, which only served to draw further attention upon himself. "What are you hiding there?"

The little alien pest squirmed in place a little in that way people do when caught out, but still want to hold on desperately to that last vestige of hope that they can get away with it. Again, it only serves to make them seem guilty. Ataru didn't even need to say anything else. He simply stared in silence. Waiting for him to fill it in with something. Eventually Ten took a deep breath - prompting Ataru to duck - and started to explain.

"It's called 'Something Special Bubble Gum,'" Ten said, holding up the packet of gum by way of demonstration. "The idea is, you chew on the gum and blow a bubble while thinking 'Gee I wish I had whatever'. When the bubble's big enough, the whatever will pop out of it."

"I see, I see!" Ataru said, nodding his head in understanding. "And I take it you thought 'Gee, I wish I had a rocket to fire directly into Ataru's head', or something. Right?"

The little shit didn't even grimace in guilt. If anything he probably did think something like that. How annoying!

"You're not getting any," Ten said.

"Oh? In which case, I guess I'd better remember to tell Lum you tried to kill me with a rocket. She wouldn't like that, would she?"

Well, Ataru had been intending to just shake the kid down and run off with the whole lot for a bit of constructive perversion, but now he saw a little chance for some fun. He rested his wrist against his forehead, and feigned a pained expression. "Oh, Lum! I do hate to have to tell you this, but I'm dying! You see, this rocket your little cousin so carelessly fired into the air has struck me dead! Woe is me, for I am undone! My kingdom for a rocket repellant! My life given to such careless misdeeds! My -"

"Alright, alright! I'll give you some gum already!" Ten suddenly shouted. "Just... don't use it for anything perverted, or <b>I'll</b> tell on <b>you</b>!"

"Wouldn't dream of it," Ataru said, taking a stick and popping it in his mouth. Let's see. Not perverted, eh? Well. That was easy enough. Would it even work? Only one way to find out... The gum was suitably chewed by now. Right. Time to blow a bubble, though it wouldn't have to be particularly large. The size of his fist would be enough... Certainly not one as big as the cat blew earlier to get that kotetsu!

Ten looked at the forming bubble with a great deal of curiousity. No doubt wondering exactly what it was Ataru was blowing into existance. That sounded wrong, but oh but he'd find out soon enough. The bubble burst and Ataru caught a small bag. Heavier than he expected. Ataru tentatively opened it up, and saw the little white grains lying within. Would this even work? He hoped it did! If not, he'd simply rely upon his initial plan. Plenty more gum to play with. Plenty more chances...

"What is that stuff?" Ten asked, peering at the bag over Ataru's shoulder.

"If you must know! This is amnesia dust!" Ataru exclaimed, running the substance through his fingers

"Amnesia wha-?" Ten asked, just as Ataru flicked some of it right into his face. Ten's eyes went glassy and he floated down towards the ground. Ataru wasted little time and scooped up all the gum while Ten rubbed at his eyes as though he'd just woken up. "What do you want?" he scowled up at Ataru.

"Nothing," Ataru said, chuckling slightly. "Nothing at all! You have fun playing with the cat!"

He waited until he was around the nearest corner, then stared at his prize taking great care to read the instructions - which had helpfully been printed in numerous languages, including Japanese. It was just as Ten said. False constructs of any sort could be made - even people or machines - but would only last so long as they didn't undergo a rapid alteration in temperature. At which point they would burst like a bubble. That could be troublesome. Either Ten or Lum could easily dispell whatever he made.

His instincts told him that the best course would be to make some girls and have a little fun. Which would lead to a lot of fun. Which would lead to the most fun. But! But if he rushed into something like this... Such behaviour would be noticed quickly. What's more, he could only make so many things... Ataru counted his remaining sticks of gum - nine left. In which case, best not to be wasteful, eh?