Carnival

Toushiro and Mika walked carefully through the night. The only light they had was Toushiro using a kido spell to light the way. But at a small cost.

Toushiro: "Pretty soon we're going to have to stop and rest for the night if we don't find some other light source soon. This spell drains a lot of spiritual pressure."

Mika: "Again I'm sorry, Toushiro. If only I had learned how to see in the dark like mom sooner."

Toushiro: "Don't worry about it. Right now, concentrate on looking out for light."

Mika: "Ok."

Mika focused on locating another light source as she walked along side Toushiro. After what seemed like forever, the two were about to call it a night when they saw a mass of lights in the distance.

Mika: "What do you think it is?"

Toushiro: "Don't know. But it is bright and we might find someone there who can tell us where we need to go."

Mika: "Yeah! Race you there!"

Toushiro: "Mika!"

Before Toushiro could stop her, Mika ran off towards the mass of lights.

Toushiro: "Mika! Wait up!"

The young captain hurried to catch up with the cub. Very soon they found out what it was that was making all of the lights. There were stands, tents, rides and much more. A massive sign loomed over the entrance, it read 'Carnival'.

Mika: "Let's look around!"

Toushiro: "You sure that's a good idea?"

Mika: "Come on Toushiro! It'll be fun!"

Toushiro: "Mika... Have you forgotten that we're trying to find a way to Pilaf Manor so that we can rescue the others and your mom?"

Mika: "I haven't forgotten! But I want to look around! Maybe we can find someone here who can help us!"

Toushiro: "You sure about that? This place looks empty at the moment."

Mika: "Oh come on! Stop being so stubborn!"

With a sigh, Toushiro reluctantly followed Mika in. The place was indeed empty and with good reason, it was 11 o'clock at night. However, as they moved further on they came across a platform with a turtle on it.

Mika: "Hi turtle! Who might you be?"

And the turtle answered in a very slow response.

Shelly: "My name is Shelly. Isn't that funny? Shelly hmhm because of my shell... I kill me."

Toushiro: "Yeah I kinda thought that'd be the connection. Hey Shelly, what is this place?"

Shelly: "Why this is the carnival of course. We travel around the world, bringing fun and excitement wherever we go."

After listening to Shelly for some time, Toushiro accidentally started to act like him.

Toushiro: "I'm sure you do..."

Fortunately, he caught himself.

Toushiro: "Shelly! Now you've got me doing it!"

Mika couldn't help but laugh at the young captain's silly and somewhat embarrassing moment.

Toushiro: "Is there anything you can tell us about the carnival, in just a few short words!"

Shelly: "Well... You need tickets for some of the attractions. Like the roller coster, the shooting gallery and the fortune telling machine. You could probably find some tickets just laying around if you look for them."

Mika: "Ok, Shelly. We'll see you later!"

And so Mika and Toushiro went off to look around the carnival. But after only taking a few steps, Mika broke out laughing.

Mika: "I can't believe you did that!"

Toushiro's face grew red when he realized what it was that Mika was laughing about.

Toushiro: "Well you try and talk normally after listening to that for a while!"

Mika: "I just did! Hahaha!"

Just as Mika was finished laughing, she saw a ticket to the fortune telling machine right in front of her.

Mika: "Hey, a ticket to that fortune telling machine."

Toushiro: "Fortune telling machine?"

Mika: "A machine that 'supposedly' can tell you your fortune and it'll come true. My dad actually told me that they worked so it's nothing but a bunch of b.s as my mom says."

Toushiro: "What do you mean by that? Why don't you believe your dad?"

Mika: "I'm just going to say it... He's an ass."

Toushiro was completely thrown for a loop when he heard Mika say that.

Toushiro: "Mika!"

Mika: "Well he is. He's constantly harassing my mom and he never really pays any attention to me, his own daughter. Not to mention he goes around gloating at how great he is when he's worst then Hercule."

Toushiro: "Ouch... Probably why I've never seen him."

Mika: "And you don't."

Toushiro: "Well I'm curious now. I'd like to see just how much b.s that thing is."

Mika: "Prepare to be greatly amused!"

Mika went over to the fortune telling machine and inserted the ticket into the slot. The machine turned on and the two listened as the mechanical fortune teller inside read their 'fortune'.

Fortune Telling Machine: "In a galaxy, far, far away... Underneath your bed you will find... A small island in the south pacific."

Toushiro: "... ... ... That made absolutely no sense!"

Mika: "See. Nothing but b.s."

Fortune Telling Machine: "The spirits have contacted me to say... You will live to be... A mound of old chicken nuggets."

Toushiro: "... ... People actually believe in this shit!"

Mika: "I don't know and I don't want to know!"

Fortune Telling Machine: "In a galaxy, far, far away... In a past life you were... A golden statue of a bull moose."

Toushiro: "I can't listen to this anymore! Hahaha!"

Mika: "Let's get out of here before we start believing in what it's saying!"

Toushiro: "Please!"

Laughing hard, they both left the fortune telling machine before it could say anything else. They were laughing so hard they both had to stop and sit down to catch their breaths.

Toushiro: "I haven't laughed this hard since Vegeta told off Rosa Unridge, hahahahaha!"

Just then, Mika played a card that was usually reserved for her mother.

Mika: "In a past life, la la la... In a past life you were a toaster!"

Mika's shouting at the fortune telling machine drove Toushiro to a new level of laughter.

Toushiro: "Mika stop, you're killing me hahahaha!"

Toushiro fell over while holding his sides. Mika rolled over on her back while kicking the air. After some time, they both finally calmed down and went on their way. As they were walking along, they were surprised to find Shelly by the shooting gallery.

Shelly: "Hey kids, I just remembered. There's a strange looking woman around here. She's tall, skinny and ugly."

Mika: "Tall, skinny and ugly?"

Toushiro: "Uh oh... That sounds like Mai. Thanks, Shelly, we'll keep an eye out for her."

Now knowing that Mai was around, Toushiro and Mika were on guard. As they traveled further down the carnival, they'd stop every now and then to look around. They were having... Fun. But they both kept in mind at what they were supposed to be doing. After a while of looking around, relaxing and having some fun, the young captain and the cub were walking past the roller coaster when Toushiro spotted something snooping around it. He grabbed Mika and hid behind the fence! The cub was shocked at the boy's actions.

Mika: "Toushiro, what are-"

The child prodigy clamped his hand on Mika's mouth.

Toushiro: "Shhh! ... ... Mai."

Suddenly Mika knew. Slowly, she peeked over the fence and saw Mai standing near the roller coaster.

Mai: "Where are they?"

Mika: "What are we going to do?"

Toushiro: "Follow me and stay quiet."

The cub nodded and carefully followed the child prodigy as he carefully walked down the path while staying out of sight. They were both very eager to get behind the corner of the fence where a temporary wall was standing. Both Soul Reaper and Saboron let out a great sigh of relief when they saw that Mai had not seen them. However they didn't want to stay and give her that chance, so they bolted and hurried to reach the end of the carnival. They reached the exit in no time.

Mika: "Let's get as far away from Mai as we can."

But something caught Toushiro's eye. A dunk tank.

Toushiro: "Hold on."

Mika: "What are you doing, Toushiro?"

Toushiro: "A dunk tank. I wonder if Mai knows how to swim?"

The young captain looked at Mika with a grin and she knew what was on his mind... And she grinned as well.

Toushiro: "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Mika: "Uh huh! What do you want me to do?"

Toushiro: "Go in there and wait. I'll go back and get Mai's attention. When I do, I'll lure her over here and hind behind the wall. Then you get her attention and trick her into coming inside the tank. Then we'll have a little fun."

Mika: "Sweet... Just be careful."

The cub ran to the dunk tank and entered it while Toushiro jogged back to where he last saw Mai. Sure enough, there she was and talking to Pilaf.

Mai: "Are you sure they were heading this way sir?"

Pilaf: "Of course I am! You'd better not mess up this time or else!"

Pilaf just hanged up.

Toushiro: "Long time no see!"

Mai: "You! I'll get you this time!"

And once again the chase was on. Even though he had farther to ran, Toushiro was able to stay ahead of Mai the whole way. As he reached the duck tank, Toushiro hid behind the wall and Mika took over.

Mika: "Over here!"

Mai: "You can't hide from me in there runt!"

Just as Mai was running up the plank, Mika dashed out the smaller side door. When Mai entered the tank, she couldn't find the cub anywhere.

Mai: "Hey! Where'd she go?"

Just then the main door closed.

Mai: "Uh oh."

And then the second door closed.

Mai: "I don't like the looks of this."

Just then, Mai spotted someone outside the cage.

Mai: "Who's that?... The cub?"

Mika ran over to the toy gun that Toushiro was standing next to. Mai looked down and started to shake upon realizing where she was.

Mai: "Man do I hate these two!"

Mika: "I took care of Mai the last time so you take care of her, Toushiro!"

Toushiro: "With pleasure, but first a little game called 'Tell me what I want to know and MAYBE I won't dunk you'."

Mika started laughing as Mai began to whine.

Toushiro: "First question... Where is your boss?"

Mai: "I'm not telling you."

Toushiro took aim at the target and took a shot. A bullseye. Two more and Mai was dunked.

Toushiro: "You got two more. Second question... Where are our friends being held?"

Mai: "Kid I'm not telling you a thing!"

Once again, Toushiro took aim and hit the target with perfect accuracy.

Toushiro: "And now my final question... What's our names?"

Mai: "Mika and... ... ... ... Chad?"

Toushiro: "Ohhhh... Not even close!"

And with that Toushiro took aim one last time.

Mika: "Dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk-"

Toushiro: "I'll tell you once more... My name is Toushiro Hitsugaya."

Just like that, Toushiro pulled the trigger, hit the target and sent Mai for a swim.

Mika: "Dunked!"

Mai: "I never should have left prison."

Toushiro: "Do I really look like my name is Chad?"

Mika: "No way."

Toushiro: "Come on lets get moving!"

Satisfied that Mai was going to be busy for awhile, Toushiro and Mika headed for the exit of the carnival.