Digiwildfire: No worries, I don't like Jack/Ashley either.

Fallonmarie3: Heh, yeah, good old Will.

Nasyki Ikysan: I guess so. I tried to put Mr. Shakespeare's words into modern context; the only line I took directly was "Quarrel, sir? Why no, sir!" And yes, I am an avid Shakespeare fan (I just got finished with a production of 'As You Like It') so check out the new summary.

Bewarethedarkness: Congratulations on guessing the pairing. You win a cookie. Thanks for the PS! This idea's been in my head a long while.

Linac428: Thanks!

STORYTELLERSTORYTELLER

"But, storyteller," piped up one boy, "who were you?"

The storyteller chuckled. "You might never know that until the end of the story, little Paolo. Patience. Now, the lady from the Calienta Circus, she had a suitor, named Prince Chase."

The children gasped. A little Asian girl in a pink leotard yelled, "Not Chase!"

"Little Rin, he has done us no harm in the story yet," laughed the cool eyed man.

She blushed. Her older sister came over and sat next to her. "Please, story-teller, she can be dramatic at times."

The storyteller smiled. "She is yet young, Kagami. Let her be dramatic." He ruffled Rin's hair. "Now, we were talking about Prince Chase. He was a visiting prince who got stuck in the storm with them. He was staying with the Calientas, but he was neutral, much like Mr. Guan. He did love a Calienta girl, though. The very Calienta our sad Monatio had yet to discover…"

Flashback

"But Wuya has sworn an oath just like I have, and he's under the same penalty. I don't think it will be hard for men as old as we are to keep the peace," continued Mr. Dashi. He was drinking green tea in his tent with Prince Chase. Though he had long since left his native China to join the Calienta Circus, he still enjoyed green tea, meditation, and the occasional won-ton feast. He and Prince Chase had been conversing for a while.

"It's too bad you've been enemies for so long," said Chase after taking a sip of his tea. "However, I should like to know what you think of my request."

Mr. Dashi sighed. "I'm sorry, Chase, but Kimiko is still so young. She's not even 17 yet. Let's wait a couple more years, and then we'll see how we feel. Plus, the circus still needs her. She's our star trapeze and tightrope artist!"

"Girls younger then her have been married, with their guardian's permission, of course. Mr. Dashi, you are Kimiko's guardian."

"Ah," said Dashi, a look of sadness on his face. "Girls who marry young grow up too fast. But, you have my permission to try and charm her, try and make her fall in love with you. If she decides to marry you when she comes of age, then I'll give my blessing." He and Chase sat in silence for a moment. Dashi's face lit up abruptly, and he said, "We're having a bit of a party tonight in the big top to celebrate the day the Calienta Circus was founded. Why not join us? It'll be amazing."

"I'd be delighted," said Chase, and he raised his mug to honor the Calienta Circus.

"Marvelous," said Dashi, smiling. "It's a masquerade, so come prepared." Mr. Dashi went outside when Chase had left. He saw one of their tumblers, Keiko, and handed her the guest list. "Find these people," he said, "and tell them to come to the big top for a party tonight and that it's a masquerade." He disappeared into his cart again.

Keiko took one look at the list and groaned. "I can't read this! It looks like chicken scratches!" She put her head in her hands and set off to find someone who could read it.

Elsewhere, Jack and Gemini were having troubles.

"Put out the fire by starting another!" said Gemini. "You'll never get Mimiene, and you know it. Go get a new girl!"

"A bandage is excellent for that," Jack told his twin.

"For what?"

"When you skin your knee."

Gemini gave him a confused look. "Jack, are you crazy?"

"I'm tied up tighter then a crazy man in a straightjacket!" moaned Jack. Looking up, he said, "Wow, I sounded like that big Calienta guy for a second. Whatsisname…Clay!"

"No," said the girl walking up. "Keiko. Listen, can you guys read this?" She thrust a piece of paper at them.

Jack took it. "Sure. Let's see, it says, Clay Bailey, Raimundo Pedrosa, Omi, Kimiko Tohomiko, Prince Chase Young, Le Mimiene, Mr. M. Guan, and Jie Fung. Where are these people supposed to come?"

"Up," replied Keiko cleverly.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Up where?"

"To the Calienta big top for a masquerade party. If you're not in the Monatio Circus, you can come along, too." She smiled at them, and then walked off, reciting the names of the people she was supposed to invite.

"Every beautiful girl in the Calienta Circus will be there along with your beloved Mimiene," said Gemini when she'd left. "I'll show you some really pretty girls if we go tonight."

"My eyes would never lie to me like that!" exclaimed Jack. "A woman prettier then Mimiene? The sun itself has never seen prettier. I'll go with you, but only to see Mimiene."

"You're obsessed," marveled Gemini.

End Flashback

"But, storyteller," said Kagami. "Jack cannot love Mimiene. She'll never love anyone! And Jack seems so sad and helpless..."

"Patience, Kagami," said the storyteller, grinning. "I am not yet through."

Flashback

Back at the Calienta Circus…

Dashi tapped his foot at Rai. "Raimundo, where is Kimiko?"

"I called her, Mr. Dashi," said Rai. "I don't know where she is. KIMIKO!" he yelled again.

"I'm coming!" yelled an annoyed voice. Kimiko came into the smaller tent. She saw Dashi and bowed. "Mr. Dashi, I didn't know it was you that wanted me."

Dashi smiled and sat down. The other two followed suit. "Kimiko, you are 17," he started.

"Yes…" she answered.

"Dear Kimiko, how do you feel about getting married?"

Raimundo fell back in his chair. "Married!" he demanded.

Kimiko's face grew pale. "I don't want to."

"No!" yelled Rai. "She can't!"

"You have to start thinking about it, child," said Dashi, a sad smile on his face. "Prince Chase would like to marry you."

Rai whistled. "A prince. And a pretty good looking one at that."

"No finer," said Mr. Dashi, the smile growing. "What do you say? He'll be at the party tonight. Study him. Look into his eyes, for there in lays the true man. If you have him, you'll lose nothing."

"Yeah," said Rai. "You'll only gain. Girl, he's hot. And rich. And a prince. Can't get much better then that!"

Dashi gave him a 'shut up' look. "Just because you came out of the closet doesn't men we want to hear about it!" He then turned to Kimiko. "Can you accept his love?"

She grimaced. "I'll try. But not any more then you allow."

Dashi gave her a paternal smile. At that moment, Keiko walked into the tent. She looked haggled. "Sir, the guests are here, dinner is served, people are calling for you, people have asked for Kimiko, and people are cursing Rai."

"Why are they cursing me!" asked Rai, offended.

Keiko shrugged, and then turned back to Dashi. "Everything's out of control. I must go and serve the guests. Please, follow straight after me." She ducked back out of the tent.

He gave Kimiko a kiss on the head. "Come soon, okay?"

She nodded, and he donned his gold mask and left. She turned to Rai. "You heard the man," she sighed.

"Chica," said Rai, brandishing a hairbrush and placing his hands on his hips, "you ain't going out like that."

Kimiko smiled. "I love you, Rai." With that, she sat down and allowed her hair to be fixed.

End Flashback

"Storyteller, what happens next?" asked a little Spanish boy.

"Yes," said Faust. "I'm as curious as my brother."

The storyteller smiled. "Limon, Faust, look at the sky. Can you see the stars dotting it?" The boys nodded. "Then it is time I took my leave. You have another performance tomorrow, and you must be ready." He picked up his cane, which he used to support the bad leg he'd gotten in a fight long ago, and prepared to leave. "Little ones, I shall be back tomorrow. Care for yourselves, as I shall be watching over you." With that, he walked out.

Once he was outside, another graying man (though his hair was still firey) walked up to him. "He seems so sad and helpless?" The man grimaced. "I'm neither small nor helpless."

"Patience, Jack," said the storyteller, grinning. "I'm not done yet."