'Grandmother how are you?' asked Mai-chan worriedly. The grandmother had been going steadily slower in the last 2 hours but had still insisted on getting her nails painted radical silver and black zebra stripes with rhinestones, eating two sets of takoyaki, playing Dance Dance Revolution (higheset level), one challenge to the Sushiya's great ramen challenge (finish the bowl in 10 minutes and you don't have to pay!) and knocking out some guy who tried to take a ladies purse...

'I'm fine Mai-chan don't worry about me! I'm just getting a little old now that's all!' said the old grandmother.

'You sure? I'm all yours for today so don't hesitate to ask or give a shout if you need to have a rest grandmother.' smiled Mai as she looked at her nails.

The grandmother had insisted on her doing her nails too and she payed for them. The grandmother had dictated exactly what they were supposed to draaw on Mai's nails and they were now a see-through pink with delicately painted sakura flowers, silver glittery spirals through a nail here and rhinestones over there, the effect was an really beautiful and expensive set of nails...

'Mai?'

'Mmm?'

'Can you take me to one last place today?'

'Of course! I said that I'm yours for the day already didn't I?'

'Really? You sure? OK... STOP HERE!' the grandmother suddenly bellowed from her back.

'EH?' as Mai emergency braked her feet.

'EH?' as Mai was dressed in a expensive patterned kimono in the shop she had stopped in front.

'EH?' as Mai was looking before her, the scene of an all-out traditional kimono dressed festival.

'Grandmother what is going on? And how are you renting this? Why are we here?'

'It's obviously a festival. I'm not renting this kimono, I bought it for you. And we are here because I told you to be here. Really Mai-chan, you should close your mouth! It is most unbecoming!' said the grandmother airily.

Mai shut her mouth and continued to stare. Mai had stopped coming to festivals after her parents had died, Mai didn't hadn't even bought a kimono since then. What was the point? Everybody went there with there family and kimono's cost alot so Mai had not really seen a proper festival since she was small...

'Whats the matter Mai-chan? Aren't you going to help me have some fun?' asked the grandmother cheekily from Mai's back.

'Well, put me down! It look really undignified for me to have to be carried in a festival - yes, stick your arm out for me to lean on, that's a good girl Mai-chan.'

'Grandmother? Why are we here?' asked Mai.

'Well, I haven't been to a festival in years and I thought that I would really like to watch the fireworks this year. Did you know Mai-chan? A long time ago, whenever there was something to celebrate, everybody used to come to my place and they would laugh and dance all night long! But now, I'm old and alone, I have no family and nobody comes to visit me at night when it is the most darkest and loneliest...' said the old lady sadly.

She's just like me... thought Mai as she felt struck with a sudden pity for the old lady. She is sweet really, a bit hyper and crazy but a really sweet old grandmother...

'Well that's OK cuz today you have the Taniyama Taxi service and the say it's time to HAVE SOME FUN!'

'Grandmother your eating too much! What if you get heartburn?!' cired Mai worriedly as the lady stuffed down her fourth Okonomiyaki with the elegance of a pig trying to dance ballet on a slippery floor. (I like that... huh huh pigs...)

'Oooooh! Fishies!' squealed the old lady exitedly. 'Mai-chan! I wanna play! How do you play?'

Mai slowly and carefully steered the old lady through the crowds as she explained.

'You get given a hoop with paper in it and you are supposed to try and scoop out the fishes. If you manage to scoop them out you get t-'

'Jeez Takigawa! Can't you even get a fish out? That's so lame!'

Mai walked closer to the stand to find Takigawa with Masako and John. Takigawa currently concentrating very hard with a new hoop in hand as he tried again... A not too small pile of used hoops were lying beside him.

'What are you guys doing here?' asked Mai as she stepped forward to get everybodies attention.

'Hi Mai. Can't talk. Need concentration. Sor- Whoa Mai...' said Takigawa as he sat up to stare at Mai, ruined hoop un-noticed in his hand. John was staring too.

Masako was looking at the shadows and Mai followed her gaze and was startled to find Naru staring at her. Mai returned the stare and was amused to find that Naru had refused to wear any traditional mens kimono and was wearing his usual black jacket, black shirt, black pants.

The moment was shattered as Takigawa asked if he could borrow money from Mai so that he can get another hoop. John had quickly kicked Takigawa but - too late, Naru looked away.

'Eh- um here Bou-san, b-but I think you should admit d-defeat!' smiled Mai, her heart was thumping and her voice was trembling. What is wrong with me? Stupid Naru! Why did he have to stare at me like that?...

What is Mai doing here? And where did she get the money to get that kimono? OK... Wait... Calm down... Does that mean that Mai has a 'caretaker' now? Oh no... Mai needs money and might not know about this sort of thing... OMG... Mai... No wait, calm... Think calm... Sweat does no good for your complexion Oliver... I knew I shouldn't have threatened to dock her pay... Naru's mind was currently a flurry of random thoughts that he usually doesn't have and this sensation was a whole new experience for him. His chest felt tight and the pounding of his heart hammered against his chest. Everytime he looked at Mai, a whole new series of pounding began.

Mai completely oblivious to the avalanche of thoughts going in Naru's head, had taken over Takigawa as she tried to get a fish out. Her sleeves were tied behind her back as she carefully maneuvered the hoop to trap a fish.

'Oh my god! Grandmother look! I got a fish! I got a fish!' shouted Mai exitedly. There was a small splash and a shriek as the fish fell back into the pool.

'Ha ha Mai! You should see the expression on your face! Priceless!' laughed Takigawa. 'And who's this 'grandmother'?'

'Yeah! And where did you get that kimono? It must of cost heaps! It's so beautiful and it suits you Mai.' smiled John.

'Eh? Really? Grandmother got it for me, I've been spending all day with her! She's right he- Eh? Grandmother? Where have you gone?!' Mai was in immediate panic mode. All her alarms ringing as she looked around for the grandmother.

'Oi! Mai! Who is this grandmother? Oi! Maaai!' yelled Takigawa as Mai ran off.

'Grandmother wait! Where are you going? Wait! You shouldn't be walking around do much! Your foot! Grandmother!' cried Mai as she ran against the currents of the crowd.

'Mai! Wait! Who are you yelling for?' slow in reaction, Takigawa's group started to run after Mai.