None of these characters belong to me.

Karl, Climber, Castle and Jack all belong to Unknown-Person from . Go check out his stuff!

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A few days after Karl had entered the shop, Wantanuki head a loud crash outside. He blinked. He was just finishing up dinner preparations and he hoped Karl wasn't trying to escape again. He sighed and turned off the stove. Opening the window he stuck his head out and looked around. There wasn't anyone in sight in the yard.

"Must have been hearing things again," he muttered. He was just about to shut the window when a tall, thin figure jumped through.

"Wah!" Wantanuki yelled as he tumbled out of the way. A person dressed in a mountain climber outfit scrambled through the window, a pickax clutched in one hand. "Who…who are you?" Wantanuki asked.

The person looked at him from under his helmet, but he had not chance to reply because Karl crashed through the window at that moment. "Why are you running away Cloth Guy?" he taunted. "I just wanted to talk to you."

He yelled, stumbling back. "I told you, Mister Jack says for you to come back with

us."

"And as I told you, I can't right now. It really is dull repeating this conversation for you. If only you had a brain." Karl laughed, running his thumb across his black blade.

The tall new comer wasn't easily swayed. Gripping his pickax, he stood his ground.

"You'd lying to me," he exclaimed. "You're always lying to me."

Yuko's voice drifted to them lazily from the doorway. "Actually he's telling the truth. For once. Karl is bound to stay here until he pays his debt. But it is nice to meet you Climber."

He spun to look at her. "How…how did you know my name?" he stammered

"Let's just say I did Castle a favor a while back. He's told me quite a bit about you."

"Ferris wheel," Climber said with awe.

"But the fact that you were able to come here means…" She took a long drag of her opium pipe before letting the smoke slither out of her mouth. "That you have a wish."

***

Climber kneeled at the table as Yuko ate. "I still don't understand, what did you mean by…. a wish."

"This shop exists for the sole purpose of granting wishes," Yuko explained. "I can make anything you ask for come to pass, with the proper payment of course. So tell me Climber, what is your wish?"

Uneven eyes turned downward, staring at his gloved hands. "I…"

"It's to be with that human isn't it?"

Climber jumped and turned to look at Karl who had appeared at his shoulder.

Scrambling away he scowled. "S-stay away," he stammered.

Karl laughed. "Aw, I'm sorry, did I scare you? But I'm right, aren't I?"

He averted his eyes, a defeated grimace on his pale face.

"So just who is it that he's talking about?" Yuko asked.

Righting himself, Climber kept his distance from Karl. "Clarice. She… she's my friend. My only friend. I wanted her to stay with me in the park but… she said she had a life outside the park so she couldn't. Do you think you could make it so we could be together?"

Yuko frowned. "Hm… The thing your asking for clearly means a lot to you, so that

means you must give up something of equal value."

"Like what?" Climber asked.

"You would have to sacrifice the memories Clarice has of you."

He froze, eyes wide with terror. "What… W-what do you mean?"

"If I do this, she won't remember any of your previous relationship. All of it will be gone forever. Are you willing to still do it?"

Wantanuki watched Climber from the doorway. It reminded him of the scene he had witnessed in the rain, with Sayoran and Sakura. He had to give up his relationship. Sakura would never remember who he was or how things were before. Wantanuki also remembered how Sayoran accepted the terms without hesitation. Would Climber do the same?

He looked up, a pained expression on his muddy face. "I'm sorry but… I… I don't think I can do that."

Yuko looked at him, her face unreadable. "I see." She took a sip of her sake. "Well, even though you don't want me to grant you wish, I will tell you something." Grinning at him from over the rim of her sake glass, she spoke in slow, deliberate tones. "There will come a time in your future when you will be able to be with her. Though there will be a good deal of hardships before that can happen, it will come in

time."

Climber lit up. "R-really?" His face filled with pure joy. "Thank you so much."

Karl let out a harsh laugh, cutting Climber's joyful thoughts short. "I hope you don't take any offense to this Witch Lady, but I think that's absolutely ridiculous." His cold eyes cut into Climber. "Everyone knows it's impossible for people like us to ever be with humans."

The happiness vanished from him and Climber looked away with a pouting scowl. Wantanuki had a feeling this wasn't the first time Karl had said this to him. Yuko continued eating, her eyes closed. "Just because your relationship with a human ended in pain and suffering doesn't mean his will as well."

A small gasp of surprise came from Climber and he gave Karl a confused stare. "Relationship? Then that means…" Deadly anger and fear filled the Karl's face and he knocked the table over, his turning his crow into a sword. He held the weapon just a breath from Yuko's neck.

"How do you know about that?" he snarled.

No trace of fear crossed Yuko's beautiful face. "As I said earlier, Castle and I have had several exchanges in the past. You didn't really think I wouldn't know about your past, did you? I know lots about you. More than you would probably like me to express in mixed company."

Karl faltered and as if remembering his constricting contract, backed away. "You win this time, Witch Lady." He rubbed the bracelet on his wrist with a cruel grin. "But just give me some time. I'll find a way to get around you spell."

"I looked forward to watching you try," Yuko said with an amused smile. "But do you think you could clean up your mess first?" Karl looked at the overturned table and array of broken dishes and food. "You seem to just be making more work for yourself."

He gave her a disgusted grin. "You..."

"Don't look at me like that," she said with a laugh. "It's your own fault after all."

Climber frowned. "So…Does that mean after a few weeks, Karl can leave?"

"That's right," Yuko said. "After that he's all yours. You're welcomed to stay here until then if you like."

Wantanuki blanched. "What? You mean more people to keep track of?"

Sitting as tall and straight as he could, Climber wore an expression of innocent determination. "I'll be real useful, I promise."

Karl snorted and Climber glowered at him. Wantanuki sighed. "I appreciate the offer but I have a feeling this is just going to cause more work for me."

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Yay for Climber! More to come people, sorry about the long wait in updating. Thanks to everyone who commented, it's really kept this fic alive.