In the town of Equinox, the Nekos are fighting a huge Demi-Dog right in the same city sqaure.
But after a long, complex, and messy fight, the Demi-Dog finally falls to the ground.
Mayor Tokyo: Oh thank you all once again! We are so lucky to have heroes like you.
I don't know if or how I can ever repay you!
Masaru: (jumps down off the fallen beast to the really dusty ground.) I do.
*sighs as he lands to the ground* How about 7 million Ken?
Kenshin: (steps up in agreement.) Ooh, yeah!
Makoto: (embarrassed by the two's rudeness.) You guys!
Masaru:(In defense) What's the big deal?! I mean we save his town from Yokai everyday! The least he can do is raise our paychecks to 7 million Ken[1] instead of 700.
I mean he did say so himself that he wishes to "repay" us.
Mayor Tokyo: (in regret) I did say that didn't I...? Hm, well as much as I would like to pay you, *gulps* 7 million Ken...
I just can't.
Kenshin: (crosses her arms in disbelief of the Mayor.) Oh really? And why not?
Masuru: Yeah! I mean you're literally just sitting in money. I've seen your chair.
It's made of money.
Mayor Tokyo: (sweating profusely aware of the listening crowd.) Oh, well um, I can't give you the money because...
( then from among the crowd we hear the call of a little girl.)
Little Girl 1: (running out of the crowd to the Nekos.) Nekos! Nekos! I finished it! I finished It! (stops over at Makoto who kneels before her.)
Makoto: Oh really? That's great! I'm so happy you finished it! Ahehe...
What did you finish?
Little Girl 1: (cheerfully) Your team name! I finally figured out what you all should call yourselves!
Makoto: Oh right! Well let's see it then.
( the little girl holds up a horizontal poster with the name "Super Kitties" written and colored on it.)
Makoto: (reading flatly) "The Super Kitties" Oh, well, it certainly, um...fits us?
Little Girl: (cheerfully innocent) Do you like it?
Makoto: (politely) Oh, yes, I do. It's really...cute.
Masaru: (chimes in from behind) Are you kidding me! That's the lamest name I've ever heard! It's even worse then the Kenshin-ites!
Kenshin: Which means it's worse then the Masaru-ites as well.
Dejiko: (sitting on a heap of rubish and stone writing in her diary. She also makes a comment without looking up.) It's a little too simple...
Chi-chi: (standing beside Jiji) Yeah and "Kitties" just makes us sound like little kids.
Jiji: (shrugs shoulders) It just sounds childish...no offense.
Kenshin: (looks over to Kakashi who is leaning against a tree reading his little orange book.) What do you think Kakashi?
(everyone looks over to him.)
Kakashi: (looks up from his book slowly.) *sigh* Honestly, I'm just not a fan of literal naming.
(everyone but Makoto murmur's in agreement.)
Makoto: (loking back to the team, clinching her teeth at them slightly)
*whispering* You guys_
Little Girl 1: (her eyes begin to swell up with tears) So,...*sniffing* You guys don't like it?
Makoto: (she gets on both her knees and speaks in a comforting tone) No, no, we do. What they mean to say is_
(then Masaru jumps beside Makoto kneeling to the little girl with his hand on Makoto's shoulder.)
Masaru: (he speaks boldly but with a smile and regular tone.) You're name sucks and is so corny whatsoever.
Little Girl: (voice breaking) What? (tears fall from her eyes.)
Masaru: No, no, don't cry. It's okay.
Don't worry, for your proud and confident leader Masaru has come up with a solution.
Since I am the leader. I really should be the one to come up with a name for my team. Not some little girl.
So, here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna go home and come up with the best name that anyone could ever make up!
(puts his hand beside his mouth as whispering to the little girl.) And don't worry, I'll make sure it's way better than "The Super Kitties." Ahe.
So you don't anything to worry about. So you can just go home and throw that trash away and let the real genius handle this okay?
Little Girl: (her eyes are now filled to the brim with tears and she takes off through the crowd crying her little heart out.)
(the crowd looks on to her in compassion and sadness for the girl.)
(Makoto just sits there wide-eyed and speechless.)
Masaru: ... They ask you a question expecting an honest answer but when you give it to them they get all emotional about it...
(Makoto sighs)
(the crowd then slowly begins to disperse all upset with the Nekos for their inconsideration.)
Crowd Member 1: Let's go.
Crowd Member: 2: Some heroes.
Crowd Member 3: We ought to name you all "The 7 Jerks"
Makoto: (trying to appease the crowd.) I'm so sorry everyone. Please.
Mayor Tokyo: (goes up to Makoto and taps her on the shoulder.)
And that is why I'm not paying 7 million Ken. (walks away)
Makoto: I'm so sorry Mr. Mayor...*sigh* ( the whole crowd has now left the scene. Makoto then turns to the rest of the team.) Really you guys? Was that really necessary?
Kenshin: ( in defense) Don't get mad at me. She only started crying after Masaru called it "trash."
Chi-chi: Speaking of which, did anyone see where Masaru went?
(everyone begins looking around them for Masaru.)
Dejiko: (in a and gentle but monotonous tone.) He left already.
(everyone looks to her.) He said something about "making history with the greatest team name he could think up." Then he ran off, stumbled over a rock, got back up, and continued running back to Insightful Haven."
(everyone is silent)
Kenshin: (sarcastic) Okay...
At Insightful Haven...
It is now nightfall and the Nekos, are sitting amongst each other in the dimly lit living room area.
Jiji:(His stomach roars) *holding his tummy* Man, I'm really hungry.
Chi-chi: (sitting beside Jiji on the floor.) Me too.
When will Masaru be back with the pizza?
Makoto: Have patience you two. He'll be back any soon.
Kenshin: (sitting beside Makoto on the sofa with her arm resting on the sofa arm.) Or, being the annoying brat he is, he'll probably forget it's his night to bring back dinner for everyone and come back empty handed.
Makoto: (optimistic) I'm sure he won't forget Kenshin. He'll be back with the pizza. Just have a little faith in him.
Kenshin: I'll bet you 10 Ken he won't bring back pizza, and another 10 Ken he won't bring back anything.
Makoto: ...Bet accepted. Trust me. He'll bring back dinner.
(then the sound of the front door opening is heard.)
Makoto: See! There he is now.
Masaru: (hops into the living room area, holding something behind his back.) What's up Fat Cats!?
Chichi: (happily claps her hands together.) Masaru!!!
Jiji: Did you bring the pizza?!
Masaru: Nope!
Jiji: Aww.
(Kenshin holds out her hand to Makoto for her 10 Ken.)
Makoto: ...(puts the 10 Ken bill in Kenshin's hand.)
*optimistic* It's alright. I'm sure he brought back something.
Masaru: I got something even better!
Makoto: See?
Chi-Chi: Ooh is it fish burgers?!
Masaru: What? No. What is it with you two and food?
Kenshin: (holds out her hand to Makoto for her other 10 Ken.) Andd, I told ya.
Makoto: (pulls out another 10 Ken and gives it Kenshin.) *sigh*
Masaru: I'm talking about the new team name! I finally finished it, and I have it right here! Wanna see?
Kakashi: (standing next to a lamp with his orange book and hand) Sure Masaru. But it's 9:00pm. Have you been working on our team name all day?
Masaru: No. Of course not. I finished a long while ago. Before you guys could even make it back here.
Kenshin: Really huh? So what were you doing then? Huh?
Masaru: Uh, I was celebrating, what else? I went to the bar, just had some teenage guy fun, that's all.
Makoto:Wait. You're only 16 Masaru. How did you get into the bar?
Masaru: *smirks mischievously* I have my ways. *Spins his shuriken on his finger.)
Makoto: *speechless* ...
Kenshin: Well anyway, while you were out breaking the law, we were here waiting all evening for you to bring back dinner for everyone!
Masaru: (annoyingly innocently) Wait, today was my night to pay for dinner? Huh, I forgot.
Oh well! So who wants to see our new team name!!??
(there is a mix of silence and quiet mumbling)
Masaru: Shut up! Here it is! (he holds up a white writing board with the words, "The 7-Ken." on it.)
Makoto: (leaning close to read it) *reading* The 7-Ken."
Kenshin: Seriously?
Masaru: Yup! Isn't is awesome?! It's way cooler then "The Super Kitties" that's for sure.
Makoto: It's great and all, but I don't really get it. Why are we called "The 7-Ken"?
(some of the others murmur in agreement.)
Masaru: *sigh* (whispers under his breath) Morons.
Okay! We're called "The 7-Ken" first because there are 7 of us right?
Jiji: (Counts on his fingers.) Let's see, there's Chi-chi, and Kenshin, and *voice fades*
Yup! There's 7 of us!
Masaru: (side eyes Jjij) Okay.
And "Ken" represents the amount of money we should be receiving from Tokyo. Specifically 7 million Ken, or "7-Ken."
Chi-chi: Ooh, I get it now.
Dejiko: (clapping her hands) It's genius.
(all but Kenshin clap and applaud.)
Masaru: (loving the praise, he bows to there applause.) Thank you. thank you.
So from this day forward, we will be known as "The 7-Ken"
(everyone cheers and applauds more.
Kenshin just stares at Masaru unentertained.)
Masaru: Haha! *winks to Kenshin*
Later that night, in the girls bedroom, Kenshin is sitting at the desk brushing her short curly black, white, and red a hair through.
Kenshin: It's unfair. I mean "The 7-Ken"? Really?
It's just as literal and corny as "The Super Kitties." Besides, why does he get to pick the name?
Makoto: (In her pajamas sitting on the bottom bunk while Chi-Chi is asleep up top.)
Come on. Don't be like that Kenshin. I mean he is the leader after all.
Kenshin: Still, It isn't fair.
Makoto: Just let him have this Kenshin. You'll get your turn to be boss someday, I'm sure. Instead, you should be glad that this whole "name thing" is over. It was actually kind of an embarressment to me. ( she lies back on her pillow.)
Kenshin: (still upset) *sigh* Fine.
[1] "Ken" is the word for money in this story.