"Bishounen is the correct term, yes," the professor said. He thought for a moment. "I suppose the best way to show you would be a demonstration." He paused. "Tony! Come out here for a second!"

Tony emerged from the workshop again, walking over to them. "What's up?" He blinked at the professor. "I thought I was banned to the workshop for scaring the newbs?"

"You've been volunteered as my guinea pig," the professor replied. Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out a black and silver ball. "Just a demonstration."

Tony made a face and crossed his arms over his chest. "Make it snappy, I've got to get the workshop cleaned up before Bruce gets back with his plants."

"Plants, what plants?" the professor asked. Then he held up a hand. "Never mind, I don't want to know." With that, he recalled Tony into the bishiball and then let him out again, turning back to the girls. "See, it's a very similar concept to what you're already familiar with. Thanks, Tony, that's it," he added to the bishounen.

Tony grumped and went back to the workshop.

"Okay, and I assume we have to catch them. Great. Of course I skipped out on softball when I was younger." Rei huffed.

"I did too, don't worry," Faye said to her friend.

"Your aim will improve with time," the professor reassured. "Everyone's does. Now, once I give your your starter kits, there are a few bits of important information you really do need to know."

"Oh man. There's giant man-eating monsters out there aren't there?" Rei groaned. "Or the rest of the world has been infected with Twilight, one of the two."

"No on the former, technically," the professor said. He paused for a split second. "Unfortunately, I'd be lying if I said the latter was false as well."

"Damn. I knew it had to be one of the two." Rei sighed. "Well, I guess we can deal with that. Presuming this isn't an elaborate hoax or a delusion, of course."

"Although that wasn't the information I have to let you in on," the professor said. He waved them over. "But first, your belts and bishiballs."

"Anything special we have to do?" Rei looked at the two belts and sets of balls that he pulled out of a cabinet. "How do they get... linked to us, I guess is the best way to phrase that."

"Blood," the professor replied as he separated out two sets of gear. "That way, you'll always know which ones are yours, no matter what happens. It also links you much closer to your bishies than you would be otherwise."

"Blood?" Faye squeaked. Oh that didn't sound good at all.

"Are we talking a pinprick or a blood bank donation?" Rei eyed him a bit warily. A pinprick wouldn't be so bad, but more than that might make her a bit queasy.

"Just a prick," the professor assured. "Not much. Just remember that it has to happen every time you need more bishiballs."

Rei made a face but held out her hand, looking off to the side. "Alright, we can start with me. Might as well get this done and over with."

The professor nodded and started the process for her. A few minutes later, he handed her the completed belt.

"And this is yours," he said. He looked at Faye, who reluctantly offered her hand as well.

Rei examined the belt before she clipped it on, settling it there. Okay, that hadn't been so bad.

"So what else do we need to know? I assume there's a monetary system here, or a trading system."

"I'll get there," the professor said as he finished with Faye's belt and gear. Faye put the belt on and blinked at the feeling of something right settling into place. "You're jumping ahead of things." He gestured for the girls to sit down again.

Rei huffed but took a seat again, adjusting easily to having to belt on. It did feel right somehow, and she barely noticed it as soon as she settled down.

"Now, most of what you'll need to know about this world you'll pick up quickly enough on your own," the professor said. "There are some things I have to tell you, though. The first is that if you don't catch your first bishounen within two weeks, or if you release them all, you'll be sent back home permanently. So long as you have at least one, you'll be anchored here."

"Yeah, that's a good tidbit to know." Rei frowned a bit. Two weeks? Well hopefully she'd catch someone in that time. "So we've got two weeks. Is there battling here as well? Since you mentioned similarities to Pokémon."

"Battling is allowed, yes," the professor said, nodding. "Although there are certain restrictions. Weapons are magically blunted, for example, and fatal attacks won't work. Of course, there are extenuating circumstances, occasionally, but for the most part battles are non-lethal. Most trainers use battling as their main source of disposable income, and there are gyms and such for the same purpose."

"Good to know," Faye said.

"What about for people who don't like battling? Are there other forms of income?" Rei blinked. She wasn't sure about battling yet, she'd have to wait and see how it went.

"There are more conventional means, of course," the professor replied, nodding. "Quite a few trainers find towns to settle in and pick up regular jobs. Many will even just do odd jobs while they travel. It seems to be a matter of personal preference. On to the next piece of information, though. There is a distance limit to how far from you your bishies can be. Three miles is the maximum. Try not to let them get that far away, and if they do, don't let them stay that far for more than two days, because it will drive them insane and eventually kill them." He looked at the girls. "This is very important. Three miles, and only two days."