"What's the worst that could happen? Let's do it."

(chapter originally by doragom333 on writing.com)

Before Chie said those words, she honestly could think of several ways on how the situation could get worse than it already has. With all that had gone wrong today, it was all but guaranteed that something else would happen if they continued on this path. It was a trap as obvious as those she had seen in her favorite Kung-Fu movies time and time again. The odds stacked against the hero, at the mercy of the villain and their superior forces in an area of their choosing, knowing that they may not make it out alive. And yet... the hero would always walk into them, because whether it was to save a friend, protect their village, or just because of their code of honor, not doing so was simply unthinkable. And looking into Yukiko's eyes, Chie could see them burning with determination. It was clear that Yukiko wasn't going to give up until she had given it all she got. This was now one of those situations.

Chie wanted to tell her it was alright and that they should just head home but... damnit, Yukiko was right! She really didn't want to give up, and really only was thinking of it because of the whole clothing issue. It totally wasn't fair what happened to them, and she was furious that she was bested by a bunch of mangy felines! And hell, if Yukiko could continue to be out here like that, then what kind of friend was she if she left her hanging?

And so Chie said, "What's the worst that could happen? Let's do it," and the pair eagerly made their way down to the riverbed.

However, just as Chie was suspecting, luck wasn't really on their side. Even though Yukiko was sure that there'd be more fish due to the rain, they weren't having any luck. Something kept knocking their bait off the hook, either it was due to increased currents in the storm, or perhaps the fish were getting better at stealing Yukiko's bait. Either way, they were down to their last one soon enough.

"T-This is it, Ch-Chie," Yukiko said, her teeth chattering as she put on the last of her bait. "The last one."

"Don't worry. You've got this, Yukiko, just give it everything you got!" Chie encouraged her. She hoped she wasn't accidentally putting to much strain on her.

"Of course," Yukiko said, taking a deep breath, reaching her cast back, and then waving her rod back and forth like a baton, while hopping from foot to foot.

"What the-!? What are you doing?" Chie gasped, ducking as the hook flew to Yukiko's wild swings.

"Oh, this?" Yukiko asked, while continuing her weird dance. "I saw something like this on TV once. To make the fish get caught more easily, the fisherman would wave the rod a certain way before casting."

"Where did you hear that!? Some kind of anime?" Chie yelled.

"Yes," said Yukiko matter-of-factly. "But all fiction is rooted in truth right? Can't hurt to try at least, don't you think?"

"It does if you fall in or poke an eye out!" Chie shouted. Damn it, I need to stop this now before she slips or something!

But Chie was too late. As she stepped forward, Yukiko's new gimmick caused something to happen all right, something bad. As a result of her uncontrolled flailing-