Nuriko began his walk back to the palace. His whole day had been wasted, well, maybe not the whole day. The sun was a little more than halfway over his head, making it about 2:00 PM. Nuriko grinned in spite of himself. He had to admit, it was pretty funny to see everyone so confused. Nonetheless, there was still one person whom he hadn't had a chance to confuse. The one person he wanted to see more than anyone. The one always busy serving Konan-koku in his regal duties. The admirable, the charming, the royal –
Voice: Hello Nuriko.
Nuriko: (throw off balance by surprise) Ack! Hotohori!
Hotohori: (walking by) How are you doing on this fine day?
Nuriko: Fine.
Hotohori: You don't look it. You seem fatigued.
Nuriko: I've had an adventurous day.
Hotohori: What did you do?
Nuriko: Are you sure you want to know? I mean, most people have been thinking I'm crazy. I'm ready to go back home.
Hotohori: I'm entirely positive I'd like to know what's bothering you.
Nuriko: You see, I…er…(scratches his head) I have this duck, and I need to get rid of it, so would you like to buy a duck, Hotohori?
Hotohori: (pauses)
Nuriko: (speaking quickly) You don't even have to buy it, I'll give it to you just as long as I end this damned game!
Hotohori: What did you say?
Nuriko: A duck. You know, "Quack, quack" thing? Yeah, would you like to buy, er…take one?
Hotohori: A duck.
Nuriko: Yes.
Hotohori: Why?
Nuriko: BECAUSE IT'S DRIVING ME INSANE! I need to get rid of it!!!!
Hotohori: I'll take it off you hands for you I guess.
Poor Nuriko. By this time, he really made himself believe he had been carrying a duck around Konan in his pocket all day long. Since the game didn't work, he would have been haunted forever by a little yellow quacker.
Nuriko: Take it! It's yours! You're now a proud owner of a duck, Your Majesty! (laughs deliriously)
Hotohori: Thanks…I think. (waves at the frantic guy) Feel better, Nuriko!
Nuriko: (Dances away) It's over! It's over! No more ducks for me! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa! (does cartwheel) Yippeee! Hooray! Beat that, Miaka! I got rid of the darned duck! Curse them all! I never want to hear the word duck for the rest of my –
Voice: Nuriko!
Nuriko: (stops abruptly and swivels around to see who's calling his name)
Chiriko: You said you'd give the duck to me! (the child's eyes begin to water) And you gave it away to Hotohori!
Nuriko: (frantically grabs random pieces of paper out of nowhere and draws on them) Here, look, It's a duck! And it's all yours!
Chiriko: Really? Gosh, you're great Nuri-chan! (Huggles the paper duck)
Nuriko: Hai! Take the duck!! Want two ducks? Here, take 'em all! (scribbles out more pictures) Ducks for everybody!!! (throws paper everywhere) But NO MORE FOR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
~OWARI~
S: Yeah, that's about what I feel like. This story's over. Review for the last time, will you? To show my effort wasn't in vain?
Nuriko: What effort? You had me stuck in this nightmare for years!!!
S: No, it wasn't years – only about one.