Piccadilly

Now knowing where they needed to go and what they needed to do, Toushiro and Mika left the toy store and headed for Piccadilly. Piccadilly was like a large shopping center, only outside. Shops were lined up all along the streets. There were a lot of people around so Toushiro had to be careful so as not to lose Mika in the crowd. Eventually it got to the point were the white haired boy finally just picked the cub up and carried her in his arms. Since he hadn't been here before, it was up to Mika to lead him in the right direction as she had been here a few times before. They made their way to the center of the street where a small grassy rest area was. The child prodigy put the cub down and sat on a bench to rest.

Toushiro: "There are so many people here! It's going to be hard not to get lost or turned around in this crowd."

Mika: "I'm sorry Toushiro. I've been here a few times before but not when it's this busy."

Toushiro: "It's not your fault, Mika."

Just then, they were approached by a strange man.

Strange Man: "Hey! How much for that cub there, boy?"

Toushiro: "Excuse me?"

Strange Man: "I said, how much do you want for that cub? I could use something like that in my circus!"

The man started to reach for Mika. That is, until Toushiro stepped in. Ignoring the fact that this man was twice his size, Toushiro grabbed the man's shirt collar and did his best to threaten him.

Toushiro: "Back off, buddy! She's my friend and she's not for sale!"

The young captain's best to threaten this guy wasn't enough. The man calmly grabbed Toushiro's wrists and began to squeeze them, making the boy cry out in pain.

Strange Man: "You should pick your fights more carefully, boy!"

Toushiro struggled to get free but the man's grip was too tight. He couldn't use his Kido spells or strength to free himself, not with all these people around. The best he could do was to hope that someone would see what was going on and hope that they'll come to his aid. Fortunately, help did come... From none other than Jess Light.

Jess Light: "Hey pal! Why don't you pick on someone your own size!"

Strange Man: "And who are-"

Before he could even finish, Jess punched him across the face with all her might. Without any hesitation, the man released Toushiro and fled. While he rubbed his sore wrists, Toushiro picked himself up and looked up at Jess.

Toushiro: "Thanks."

Jess Light: "No problem."

Mika: "What are you doing here, Jess?"

Jess Light: "I was worried about you two so I can looking for you. I ran into another one of Pilaf's henchmen. He's a small fox named Shu."

Mika: "He shouldn't be hard to spot."

Jess Light: "So what brings you two to Piccadilly? I thought you were trying to get out of the city?"

Mika: "We are! But in order to do that, we need to contact the Animal Chain. They'll tell us where we need to go."

Jess Light: "Any way I can help?"

Toushiro: "We need to get to the clock tower. Can you point us in the right direction?"

Jess Light: "Hmm... I'll guide you two in parts. First... Head on over to Gefather Square by following that bus. I'll meet you two over there with more information!"

Toushiro: "We can handle that!"

Jess left for Gefather Square since she could work her way through the crowd easily. But now Toushiro and Mika were left with a problem. Even though the cub's speed had improved, thanks to Toushiro, there was still no way that she could keep up with a moving vehicle.

Mika: "I can hardly keep up with you, Toushiro. How am I going to keep up with a bus?"

Toushiro: "I've got an idea."

The child prodigy kneeled down and held out his arms with his back facing Mika.

Toushiro: "Climb on my back. It'll be easier for me to carry you this way and I know that I can keep up with a bus."

With a smile, Mika climbed on Toushiro's back.

Toushiro: "Ow! Claws!"

Mika: "Oops! Sorry."

Once Mika was on, Toushiro ran as fast as he could to stay behind the bus as it left this part of Piccadilly. They followed it until they found themselves in Gefather Square. In the center was a water fountain and a high pillar. Right away the two noticed that there weren't as many people here as there were in the other area. So it didn't take them long to find Jess again.

Jess Light: "Good to see you made it. Now head up those stairs and make your way to the next plaza. Be in mind that that's where I last saw Shu."

Toushiro: "Ok, we'll meet you there."

Jess Light once again went off to the next area ahead of Toushiro and Mika. As they were told to do, they headed for the stairs going up to a building that was there mostly for show. When they got to the stairs, Mika wanted down.

Mika: "Put me down, Toushiro. I want to walk a little."

Toushiro: "You sure?"

Mika nodded her head. Respecting her request, the young captain kneeled down and let the cub climb off. Since he had no trouble moving around, Toushiro stayed behind her as Mika climbed the steps with some ease. The building was no more then a decoration for the street that was a short cut. Down another flight of stairs and up yet another. As they walked through the ally-way, Toushiro was thinking about the situation. Mika wasn't very strong and she was only just learning how to fight. He knew how to fight without a Zanpakuto, but it has been years since he had to fight without using Hyorinmaru. If they weren't careful, they could find themselves in a dangerous spot. As long as they stuck together, he thought, they stood a chance. Thinking about the whole situation they were in made Toushiro admire Mika's courage. She knew her limitations and how risky their little mission was, but she wasn't showing any real fear and kept pushing herself on. The cub was brave and resilient, he had to give her that. Finally, they both reached the next plaza that Jess was talking about and there they saw a small fox running around, looking a bit lost.

Mika: "Do you think that's Shu?"

Toushiro: "It has to be."

Jess Light: "You would be correct."

Mika: "Hey Jess. Is there any way to get rid of him like we did the last one?"

Jess Light: "Well do you see what I see? Over there next to Shu."

She pointed to the spot where Shu was running around cluelessly. On the ground was a manhole cover.

Mika: "A manhole cover?"

Jess Light: "Just waiting for someone to drop in and say hello."

Toushiro: "Nice... Where do we go after this?"

Jess Light: "You follow that street over there and head up the back ally. It's a shortcut to the clock tower and should take you strait there. You'll get there in a few minutes if you take that path unlike the main road that would take a hour."

Mika: "We don't have that kind of time so we'd better take the shortcut."

Toushiro: "My thoughts exactly, Mika. Thanks for all the help, Jess, we can take it from here."

Mika: "Yeah thanks!"

Jess Light: "Ok. Good luck and be careful."

Knowing that they were going to be ok, Jess left Mika and Toushiro.

Mika: "So what's the plan?"

Toushiro: "You distract Shu while I remover the cover. I'll whistle once I have it off and you just lead him over the manhole."

Mika: "Ok! This will be fun!"

So they went off to get into position. By this time, Shu was talking to Pilaf.

Shu: "I-I don't see her anywhere sire."

Pilaf: "Well keep looking you fool! And if you see a boy with white hair with her, get him too!"

Pilaf hung up just like that. Toushiro was already at the manhole cover and was ready to lift it off. All he was waiting for was Mika.

Mika: "Hey you! Give me back my mom and friends!"

Shu: "Ha! You won't get away from me!"

Shu started after Mika who was able to keep well away from him. With the fox distracted, Toushiro started to lift up the lid to the manhole.

Mika: "You can't catch me! You can't catch me!"

Just then, the Saboron cub heard Toushiro whistle. The trap was set, now all she needed to do was get Shu to follow her over the hole. No trouble there.

Shu: "Slow down you mangy feline!"

A quick turn around and Mika ran past the hole with Shu right behind her, completely clueless.

Shu: "You're as good as..."

When he noticed he was over the manhole, it was way too late.

Shu: "Sunk!"

Shu then fell into the hole, screaming. While they laughed, Toushiro returned the lid back to the hole.

Toushiro: "I think Shu's feeling a bit down today!"

After they got themselves under control from all the laughing, they headed for the next plaza. There they easily found the shortcut Jess told them about and headed for the clock tower.