Time In the Funhouse

            "Su? Where'd you get all of that?" Shinobu asked as Su came into Hinata House with arms full of souvenirs, and then shutting the door behind her. "I know you've got 'connections' in Kyoto, but this is ridiculous." She sighed. "Your closet is still full from last year."

            Everyone sat down to eat for the evening.

"This is good, Keitaro," complemented Kitsune. "Now where's the sake?"

"Kitsune, you need to get off that alcohol addiction of yours."

"Now Naru, you know as well as I do that a stunt like that is not possible. I should just live life to the fullest and not worry about a little drinking problem."

"The sake is burning a hole through your bank account…"

Motoko did not speak throughout the dinner. No one was particularly surprised at this, as she usually stays out of the conversations, anyway.

"Does anyone want to go downtown tomorrow night?" Sarah asked vaguely.

"For what?" Keitaro questioned.

"There's supposedly going to be a fair down there. They gots lots to do and stuff, plus food."

"Did someone say food?" Su said, her head popping up from her meal.

Keitaro opened his wallet and peered inside, then shut it with a sigh. "I'd take you, Sarah, but it seems Kyoto burned a hole through my wallet as sake does with Kitsune's bank account. I'm broke."

"I'll take you," Haruka suggested. Everyone peered up from his or her food. "Hey, I think we should all go. I think some of us need a little extra vacation time after Kyoto."

"You mean it, Aunt Haruka?"

"Sure." Haruka winced at Motoko, who, although unwilling to admit it, gave a slight smile before returning to her plate.

*   *   *

Keitaro walked up to the carnival with Su hanging onto his back, with the others following behind.

"Wow, this sure is big for a carnival," Naru murmured to herself. "Everyone within fifteen miles is here."

"Oooo, chocolate covered bananas!" Su said as she jumped off of Keitaro's shoulders and ran to the nearest food stand.

"Su, wait up!" Shinobu called off, running after Su, with Sarah following close behind.

"Well, there they go," Haruka said to the others, discarding her cigarette.

"Well, they've got everything here, so…" Kitsune started. "…They gotta have something to do. Later," she said, walking off.

"So where to first?" asked Naru.

"I've always been a fan of houses of mirrors," Haruka suggested. "Let's go, Naru," she said, pulling Naru in through the entrance of the funhouse.

"Well, I guess its just you and me, Motoko," Keitaro observed.

"Just don't try anything, Urashima."

"Why such a rush?" Naru asked, following Haruka through the house.

"I just wanted to give Keitaro and Motoko some time alone. It'll do them good, seeing how they fight all the time."

"Motoko will kill him."

Motoko and Keitaro walked through the funhouse silently, the maniacal laughter of the place ringing through their ears. Keitaro broke the silence as he chuckled at a mirror next to Motoko.

"What are you laughing at?" she questioned. Motoko peered to her right and saw herself dressed in her kendo garb like usual, yet unusually shorter. She tapped on the handle of her blade and Keitaro quickly hushed himself.

The pair walked a little further throughout the funhouse, remaining silent enough to hear the tap of their footsteps on the metal floor.

"Motoko?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever really, seriously considering…ya know, trying to act like a woman?"

"What?"

"Because I've been thinking. If you could just concentrate and forget your kendo studies for a few moments, you really can become a half-decent girl."

"How dare you disrespect my duties!" Motoko said, withdrawing her blade halfway.

"I'm sorry, Motoko! I didn't mean to! It was just an honest question!" Keitaro explained, shielding himself.

Motoko, remembering what Haruka had said in Kyoto, sheathed her blade again. "Apology accepted."

"Huh?"

"Just consider yourself lucky, Urashima. This may be the last time you get to make a remark like that and get away without feeling my blade. Now let's hurry, the exit's close.

The two Hinata residents emerged from the funhouse, with everyone waiting for them. Su was balancing five chocolate covered bananas in her hands. Naru looked surprised to see Keitaro come out in one piece.

"Have fun, you two?" she asked when they came into view.

"Yeah, sure," Keitaro answered with a nervous smile. "Let's move on."

Author's Note: Um, as you can see, my chapters usually aren't very long. I'm kinda working on that aspect of my writing. I hope ya'll like chapter 2 ^_^