Washing the elephants (or rather, elephant) was a pretty big job.

The circus' one elephant, Bongo, was being ushered out from his cage by Myrtle, the circus' bearded lady. She and the elephant didn't look that much different, but if you or I were to say anything like that to her face, well, I don't think I'd like to imagine it but it wouldn't be pleasant. Bongo, meanwhile, was lazily swaying his trunk around, as if bored.

Myrtle chained the elephant to a wooden post. "Samurai Boy, you're just in time! Cassandra! What're you doing out here?"

Cass coughed. "Um. Nothing, really. Just wanted to visit, that's all."

Yoji looked at her, questioning himself on whether she suddenly changed her mind about finding Owen or Mr. Wallace, or if she was lying to Myrtle on purpose.

Myrtle raised an eyebrow. "Alright, then. Why isn't Max-Ernest with you, though?"

"I didn't tell him I was going." Cass said, matter-of-factly.

Myrtle paused to think about this. "Huh," she said, after a few seconds. "Well, you mind helping to wash old Bongo over here? He needs to cool down or else he'll catch his death."

Cass nodded, and went over to a nearby bucket that had been filled with water.

Yoji looked at Myrtle, who shrugged.

Cass threw the contents of the bucket over Bongo's back, who looked over to see what hit him. He then continued to sway his trunk around, and yawned once.

Yoji casually strolled over to a faucet where more buckets awaited him, but he spotted something long and green by Bongo's cage. He looked at it and smiled, a plan forming in his head.

Cass looked to see if there was a faucet around where she could refill her bucket, and there was one by Bongo's cage. She went over to it and

was splashed right in the face by a burst of water.

When the water stopped, Cass could see that Yoji was holding a green hose hooked to a large tank, grinning. "You need to cool off, yo!" he joked, lowering the pressure of the hose.

Glowering, she refilled her bucket, not taking her eyes off him. "What if I opened my mouth, you lunkhead?! I could've gotten air in my lungs. I could've drowned!"

He sauntered over to Bongo, clearly proud of himself. "Well, good you didn't, then." He heightened the pressure and began rinsing the elephant, who shook his head.

Cass turned off the faucet.

Yoji was whistling to himself, hoping that Cass wouldn't take his joke too seriously. He kind of liked her. She was smart and brave and all the other stuff a hero should be, and he respected that. Sure, she could be bossy and mean, but that was part and parcel of having to play leader. She was a natural at it. Being a leader, he meant. Not at being bos-

Water was splashed onto him, and he heard a giggle. "Cass!" he yelled, "I'm gonna get you-!"

He turned the hose on full blast, dousing his target with water. He was having fun. Until somebody tapped him on the back.

It was Cass.

His eyes widening, he lowered the pressure to reveal a soggy, sour-faced Mr. Wallace.