First off, I would just like to say that the poem I am about to post has to do with the question I asked in Chapter 16 of Kikyoku, but since Suzaku only shows up here, I'm posting it here. ^^ This is from Kota-chan.
Believe it or not; and ode to Rei... and SUZAKU?!-
Believe it or not, she's not as insane as everyone claims
Believe it or not, she's a kind, caring person
Believe it or not, she has feelings too
Believe it or not, she wants to be cared for too
Believe it or not... She's cried before
Believe it or not, she's felt immense guilt before
Believe it or not, she's dear to me
Believe it or not, we spend more time together then people think
Believe it or not, I've held her in my arms
Believe it or not, I've kissed her, many times
Believe it or not, I enjoyed it
Believe it or not, I want her for myself
Believe it or not, I've told her my dreams
Believe it or not... I love her.
I can only hope she loves me too.
^^ That's too cute, and Kelsey liked it too. Not saying that Rei and Suzaku are an item, which is why I'm asking YOU people for your opinions! And thanks to Melissa-chan for the Jin plushie! I'd put it with my Akumu plushie, but my Akumu plushie is missing his head. *coughs*
Anyway, last chapter, Hiei actually agreed to train Kaeru! The little Koorime demonstrated a surprising aptitude for fencing, and now it's time for a little relaxation.
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"…An amusement park?" Kaeru blinked up at Kurama, keeping her wrists perfectly still so as not to jar the sparrows perched on them. She had been out feeding her little friends when the Youko and Chitsuko had finally found her. "What's that?"
"It's a place with rides, food, and prizes," Chitsuko explained. "Kurama won fifteen tickets at school and we're inviting you."
The Koorime mulled it over, then smiled. "It sounds like fun. Who else is going?"
"Kia, Kelsey, Jin, Suzuki, Rei, Yusuke and Keiko, Kuwabara and Shizuru, Yukina, Hiei, Rinku, Chuu, Shishiwakamaru, Suzaku, and you. We can pay for ourselves and Touya and Mizu couldn't make it." Chitsuko smiled back. "Kia and Kelsey insisted on paying for themselves as well, and we still have to convince Kuronue. We figured he might listen to you."
"Hmm…" Kaeru watched as the last of the birdseed was eaten, and then gently shook her hands to dislodge the birds. "I'll feed you tomorrow!" She called in parting as they took flight, cheeping farewells. After they had vanished from sight, she turned back to the foxes. "I'll talk to him about it, but I don't know if it will help."
Kurama chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure it will…"
Sure enough, the chimera reluctantly went along. "Baka Koorime," he could be heard grumbling as they stood in front of the balloon-decorated entrance.
"Oh, stop being a grouch!" Rei punched his shoulder. "We have Hiei for that."
The Jaganshi scowled darkly at the priestess, who smiled back at him and waggled her fingers.
"They have security," Kia noticed, looking at the young blonde woman in the dark blue police uniform. She was checking people as they entered the fair grounds. "Shishi, Hiei, maybe you two should do something about your swords."
"And Kuronue's wings," Kelsey added. The chimera shot her a glare and she stared right back. "Oh, don't give me that look, Batty! They'll never let you in otherwise."
Kurama shrugged out of his black peacoat and handed it to Kuronue, who slowly put it on. "This is NOT comfortable…"
"It's more comfortable than having the media after you and being tested by scientists if they see your wings," Chitsuko informed him sweetly.
"So, maybe you should…huh?" Kia looked around. "Where did Hiei go?"
"There!" Rinku cried, pointing. The fire youkai was staring coldly at the woman, who was gesturing at his sheathed sword and talking rapidly, sounding quite upset.
"Sir, you CAN'T bring weapons into the grounds, it's not allowed!" She touched the hilt and Hiei's crimson eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I would suggest you don't try that again, unless you don't value your pitiful ningen life," he said quietly.
"HIEI," Chitsuko called warningly. "Do you want me to tell You-know-who about You-know-what?"
The blonde woman became nervous. "S-sir, if you'll just leave it here at the entrance, I promise nothing will happen to it. It will still be here upon your return."
Hiei opened his mouth to object, but Kurama coughed into his hand, jerking his head towards Yukina. The Jaganshi, looking very sour, slowly unbuckled his sheath and laid it on the ground. "…It had better be," he tossed over his shoulder as he sauntered into the park.
"Thank Inari for leverage," Kia said, smiling as she walked after him with Kelsey, Jin, and Shishiwakamaru, who also left his sword at the entrance.
"Just be lucky you dealt with him on a good day!" Rei said cheerfully to the poor woman as she skipped ahead. "He can be very scary if he's in a bad mood."
"B-b-bad mood??" The female squeaked, shuddering.
"Don't mind her," Suzuki assured her. "She's just trying to scare you."
Suzaku shook his head. "I think she's telling the truth." The two exchanged small grins, before they followed the priestess, along with the two Ice Maidens, Chitsuko and Kurama, Chuu, and Rinku. The Kuwabara siblings and Keiko and Yusuke were supposed to meet them inside.
Chitsuko didn't get that far. "You, young lady!" A black-haired man with a thick handlebar mustache approached her, dressed in a black tuxedo, cape, and bowtie.
Surprised, the hanyou pointed to herself. "Me?"
"Yes, you!" He beamed at her. "I am the great Vamoso, a wonderful magician! And you would make a perfect assistant!" He tugged on the ends of his mustache, curling them up. "How about it?"
"Umm…" Chitsuko looked flustered. "I…"
"Go for it," Kelsey urged. "It would be fun and we'll all be sure to watch it."
"The show starts at two o'clock anyway, so we'll just be borrowing her for forty-five minutes and then we'll give her right back after the show." Vamoso smiled winningly. "How about it?"
"Well…" The girl sighed, then smiled. "Oh, why not. I'll see you guys soon!"
"Have fun!" Kaeru called, waving as Chitsuko left with Vamoso. She wasn't quite sure what a magic show actually was, but she'd find out eventually.
"Shall we split up?" Suzuki asked, as Keiko, Yusuke, Shizuru, and Kuwabara approached. "And meet up at the magic show?" Everyone agreed, and they went their separate ways. Kia, Kelsey, Shishiwakamaru, and Jin went to play the games, while Chuu, Rei, Rinku, Kurama, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Suzuki made a beeline for the roller coaster. After much persuading, Hiei finally went along with them. Shizuru, Keiko, and the two Koorime decided to go on one of the water rides and Kuronue and Suzaku were giving each other challenging stares as they raced for the bumper cars.
Kaeru, new to amusement parks, emerged from the ride, absolutely drenched in water. She kept giggling as she wrung out her dripping ponytail. Keiko, Shizuru, and Yukina were laughing as well, just as wet as their friend.
"Well…" Shizuru looked around. "Should we try out the Haunted House next?"
"Oh, let's!" Keiko cried eagerly. "Maybe it'll be scarier this year!"
"…Scary?" Yukina asked hesitantly. "Umm…"
"It's all right," Shizuru told her, laying a comforting hand on the Koorime's shoulder. "These haunted houses are usually overrated and they're so ridiculous, it's funny."
"So…should we try it?" Kaeru glanced at her companions.
"Sure!" Keiko grabbed the Ice Maiden's hand, practically dragging her towards the ride. Shizuru and Yukina followed, the latter clinging nervously to Shizuru's hand. They climbed into the car decorated as a coffin, and as it started, descending into utter darkness, Yukina gave a frightened squeak.
"See, this isn't so bad," Shizuru said comfortingly. And then skeletal hands gripped the side of the car. Poor Yukina whimpered and scooted away from it, but then the hands let go and slipped down, out of sight.
"It's just a ride…" Kaeru kept repeating to herself. "Just a ride…" And then she started to feel uneasy. Turning in her seat, she glanced behind her…and met a pair of very chilling glowing red eyes that she knew all too well.
"Kaeru-chan!" Keiko grabbed the Koorime's shoulders as Kaeru let out a piercing scream. "What's the matter??"
"Z-Z-Zenkai!!" The little Ice Maiden was shaking too badly to speak straight. "I saw him!"
"Aww, Kaeru…" Shizuru placed her arm around the distraught girl. "Zenkai's not in the Haunted House…it was probably just something else."
Kaeru was too busy trying to slow her heart down to reply, but those eyes…she forced a smile and nodded, just wishing this ride would end.
******
Kelsey let out a loud whistle as Chitsuko took a bow, her red-sequined gown glittering vibrantly.
"She's really good," Kia remarked. "If I had been shut in a box and threatened with death by several sharp swords, I would've bailed."
Jin tugged on her ponytail. "Which is WHY you're not th' assistant, lass." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"He should've picked me." Rei folded her arms across her chest, pushing out her lower lip in a pout. "I would've stuck HIM in the box."
Suzaku rolled his eyes. "And you would have impaled him, too."
"Not on PURPOSE," she insisted.
"Hey…" Rinku blinked. "Where are Kaeru and Yukina?"
"They wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel once before the show started," Keiko explained. "They said they'd be back in time."
"Has anyone seen them?" Suzuki asked. "I don't remember spotting them in here."
That caught Kuronue's attention. "Kaeru's not here?"
"Yukina's not here?" Kuwabara and Hiei said at the same time. The latter gritted his teeth and rose. The former was less quiet.
"YUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINAAAAAA-SAAAAAAAAN!" And he was off and running.
"…Let's follow him before we get left behind," Shishiwakamaru suggested.
"At the rate THEY'RE going, it might be too late." Chuu sighed, rising as well.
Once they were back outside, blinking in the bright sunlight, Chitsuko (still in the outfit) gasped and pointed. "Look!"
A murmuring crowd gathered at the base of the Ferris Wheel, pointing up just as Chitsuko had done. The others looked up, and then Suzaku yelped.
Kaeru and Yukina were perched at the top of the wheel, looking down, and flinching each time the wind rocked the car they were in.
"Why isn't it moving?" Yusuke frowned. "You don't think…"
"It's BROKEN?" Suzaku shrieked. "GET HER DOWN!!"
"Calm down…" Kurama said gently. "If we all panic, we'll never get them down."
"I'll fly up there!" Kuronue suggested, about to toss off his heavy coat.
Shizuru shook her head at him. "With so many people here? You'll need a distraction. Like…something that would attract the attention of everyone else…"
Rinku gulped, looking at something to his left. "Like a tiger?"
"That would work." The elder Kuwabara turned…and then blinked. "A tiger?"
There, stalking slowly toward a little girl holding tightly to the string of a red balloon, was a brilliant black-striped white tiger.
"HEY!" Kia yelled at the top of her lungs. "WATCH OUT FOR THE TIGER!"
At the sound of her voice, everyone in the crowd swiveled to stare at the huge feline. The tiger swiveled to stare at Kia, decided this was a better target, and headed for her. Everyone else screamed and scattered.
"Kia!" Jin tried to drag her back, but the Mirror Holder stood firm. "What are you doing, get back!!"
"I'll be fine," she told him. "Tell Kuronue to get the girls down while I stop the big kitty." As Jin reluctantly moved aside to tell the chimera this, Kia faced the tiger, brown eyes narrowed slightly. A twitch of her finger and the tiger stopped in its tracks, growling in confusion. It tried taking another step…and couldn't.
"What did she do?" Kuwabara blinked slowly.
Kelsey answered him. "She used her wind ability to bind the tiger where it stood. There's so much pressure on it that it can't move at all."
Meanwhile, Kuronue took off his coat and flapped his wings strongly, soaring up to the top of the wheel. First, he took Yukina, flying down to hand her to Kuwabara. Then he returned for Kaeru. She held on to his neck as he picked her up, carrying her bridal-style. Once they'd landed, Kia grinned and this time lifted the tiger into the air, walking off with the cat floating over her head.
"I'll be back!" She called. "I'm just sticking him in his cage!"
With all the excitement, it took awhile to calm the frazzled Koorime down, but once they had relaxed, another problem surfaced. Suzaku and Kuronue were arguing over the chimera's rescue of Yukina and Kaeru.
"I could've done it!"
"Sure…" Kuronue grinned infuriatingly. "If you had WINGS, you mean?"
"WITHOUT wings, you idiot!"
"Just because you're jealous that I saved--"
"I am NOT jealous! You just think you're some kind of big hero for getting them down!"
"All right, BIRD. You and me, right here and right now!"
"I have a BETTER idea," Shizuru interrupted, before things could get ugly. "You two settle this by a game of Dance Dance Revolution." She firmly pushed the two of them inside the nearby arcade, indicating the two dance stations. "And look…they have rails, so you bakas don't injure yourselves."
Kuronue started to demur. "I don't know…"
"Are you AFRAID?" Suzaku sneered.
That got him. "Not of YOU! Bring it on!"
Kaeru blinked, watching the two youkai hop onto the platforms as Kurama slipped in some money. "…What are they doing?"
Chitsuko shook her head slowly, amused. "They're trying to settle their male pride." She grinned. "C'mon, Kae-chan…there's another station in here. Want to learn how to play?"
"All right," the Ice Maiden agreed gamely, taking the other's hand. Kurama and, surprisingly, Hiei followed them. The others stayed to watch the epic battle between chimera and Saint Beast.
As the first few notes of "Butterfly" started, Kuronue leapt into action, with Suzaku right behind. They hit the left step, the forward step, and then speeded up.
"…I can't see their feet," Kelsey remarked, squinting to see if that would make it any better. It didn't. "I had no idea either of them could dance!"
Shishiwakamaru shrugged. "Motivation is a wonderful thing."
"What are those idiots doing?" Kia had returned, and now she looked at the two dancing fools with a surprised expression her face.
"It's a Kaeru thing," Yusuke explained. "I don't think they even know that she's not here to watch them."
"This should be good." The brunette grinned wickedly.
"If you think THAT'S good," Rei commented. "Then check out Three-Eyes and Icy."
"Who?" Suzuki asked blankly.
"Hiei and Kaeru," Rinku clarified. "Let's go see."
To the group's surprise, Kaeru and Hiei were up on the other DDR game, matching each other beat-for-beat. Neither one of them seemed to be out of breath and they were actually holding a conversation.
"You dance too," Hiei remarked.
Kaeru smiled cheerfully. "I used to dance with Byakko all the time when I was little."
"That fat cat knows how to DANCE?"
"Well…he wasn't THAT fat back then…" The Koorime kept her eyes fastened on the screen and the arrows appearing there as she kept time with her feet. "He preferred to keep it a secret, though…didn't think it was fitting for a dangerous Saint Beast."
"Hn."
After a while, they grew tired and hopped off the platforms to let the others give it a try. Kurama and Chitsuko were great dancers as well. Kia flatly refused, but Shizuru went against Chuu and won. Rei and Suzuki both scored well when they went up, and then everyone wanted to try. Jin finally persuaded Kia to go up there with him and she was immediately hooked.
At six o'clock that evening, everyone was drooping with fatigue. Kaeru kept rubbing her feet, wincing. Chuu hoisted the Koorime onto his shoulders when he noticed her hopping painfully.
"Let's head back," Keiko said, yawning. The others nodded in agreement.
"What about Suzaku and Kuronue?" Kelsey wondered. "They're STILL going strong."
"Let 'em go," Kuwabara advised. "They'll give up sooner or later."
"Give up yet?" Kuronue panted.
"You wish!" Suzaku shot at him. "I'm winning!"
"No, you're not!"
Hiei sighed. "I'm going."
"Right behind you!" Rei seconded, and then they were gone, leaving the two stubborn males still playing.
Kaeru learned later that they had kept going until Midnight, when security guards had made them leave the park as it closed.
*OOC*
Oh, god…my fingers. The last time I decide to write 9 pages, I'm not doing it all at once! Anyway…please review! NEXT chapter!
* It's Zoo time! Kelsey and Kia do some Orson reminiscing.
* Kaeru ends up stuck in the polar bear enclosure! And you thought the Mirror Holders had bad luck…o.o
* Rei takes the cake…by liberating every single animal in the zoo. Uh-oh…
Believe it or not; and ode to Rei... and SUZAKU?!-
Believe it or not, she's not as insane as everyone claims
Believe it or not, she's a kind, caring person
Believe it or not, she has feelings too
Believe it or not, she wants to be cared for too
Believe it or not... She's cried before
Believe it or not, she's felt immense guilt before
Believe it or not, she's dear to me
Believe it or not, we spend more time together then people think
Believe it or not, I've held her in my arms
Believe it or not, I've kissed her, many times
Believe it or not, I enjoyed it
Believe it or not, I want her for myself
Believe it or not, I've told her my dreams
Believe it or not... I love her.
I can only hope she loves me too.
^^ That's too cute, and Kelsey liked it too. Not saying that Rei and Suzaku are an item, which is why I'm asking YOU people for your opinions! And thanks to Melissa-chan for the Jin plushie! I'd put it with my Akumu plushie, but my Akumu plushie is missing his head. *coughs*
Anyway, last chapter, Hiei actually agreed to train Kaeru! The little Koorime demonstrated a surprising aptitude for fencing, and now it's time for a little relaxation.
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"…An amusement park?" Kaeru blinked up at Kurama, keeping her wrists perfectly still so as not to jar the sparrows perched on them. She had been out feeding her little friends when the Youko and Chitsuko had finally found her. "What's that?"
"It's a place with rides, food, and prizes," Chitsuko explained. "Kurama won fifteen tickets at school and we're inviting you."
The Koorime mulled it over, then smiled. "It sounds like fun. Who else is going?"
"Kia, Kelsey, Jin, Suzuki, Rei, Yusuke and Keiko, Kuwabara and Shizuru, Yukina, Hiei, Rinku, Chuu, Shishiwakamaru, Suzaku, and you. We can pay for ourselves and Touya and Mizu couldn't make it." Chitsuko smiled back. "Kia and Kelsey insisted on paying for themselves as well, and we still have to convince Kuronue. We figured he might listen to you."
"Hmm…" Kaeru watched as the last of the birdseed was eaten, and then gently shook her hands to dislodge the birds. "I'll feed you tomorrow!" She called in parting as they took flight, cheeping farewells. After they had vanished from sight, she turned back to the foxes. "I'll talk to him about it, but I don't know if it will help."
Kurama chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure it will…"
Sure enough, the chimera reluctantly went along. "Baka Koorime," he could be heard grumbling as they stood in front of the balloon-decorated entrance.
"Oh, stop being a grouch!" Rei punched his shoulder. "We have Hiei for that."
The Jaganshi scowled darkly at the priestess, who smiled back at him and waggled her fingers.
"They have security," Kia noticed, looking at the young blonde woman in the dark blue police uniform. She was checking people as they entered the fair grounds. "Shishi, Hiei, maybe you two should do something about your swords."
"And Kuronue's wings," Kelsey added. The chimera shot her a glare and she stared right back. "Oh, don't give me that look, Batty! They'll never let you in otherwise."
Kurama shrugged out of his black peacoat and handed it to Kuronue, who slowly put it on. "This is NOT comfortable…"
"It's more comfortable than having the media after you and being tested by scientists if they see your wings," Chitsuko informed him sweetly.
"So, maybe you should…huh?" Kia looked around. "Where did Hiei go?"
"There!" Rinku cried, pointing. The fire youkai was staring coldly at the woman, who was gesturing at his sheathed sword and talking rapidly, sounding quite upset.
"Sir, you CAN'T bring weapons into the grounds, it's not allowed!" She touched the hilt and Hiei's crimson eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I would suggest you don't try that again, unless you don't value your pitiful ningen life," he said quietly.
"HIEI," Chitsuko called warningly. "Do you want me to tell You-know-who about You-know-what?"
The blonde woman became nervous. "S-sir, if you'll just leave it here at the entrance, I promise nothing will happen to it. It will still be here upon your return."
Hiei opened his mouth to object, but Kurama coughed into his hand, jerking his head towards Yukina. The Jaganshi, looking very sour, slowly unbuckled his sheath and laid it on the ground. "…It had better be," he tossed over his shoulder as he sauntered into the park.
"Thank Inari for leverage," Kia said, smiling as she walked after him with Kelsey, Jin, and Shishiwakamaru, who also left his sword at the entrance.
"Just be lucky you dealt with him on a good day!" Rei said cheerfully to the poor woman as she skipped ahead. "He can be very scary if he's in a bad mood."
"B-b-bad mood??" The female squeaked, shuddering.
"Don't mind her," Suzuki assured her. "She's just trying to scare you."
Suzaku shook his head. "I think she's telling the truth." The two exchanged small grins, before they followed the priestess, along with the two Ice Maidens, Chitsuko and Kurama, Chuu, and Rinku. The Kuwabara siblings and Keiko and Yusuke were supposed to meet them inside.
Chitsuko didn't get that far. "You, young lady!" A black-haired man with a thick handlebar mustache approached her, dressed in a black tuxedo, cape, and bowtie.
Surprised, the hanyou pointed to herself. "Me?"
"Yes, you!" He beamed at her. "I am the great Vamoso, a wonderful magician! And you would make a perfect assistant!" He tugged on the ends of his mustache, curling them up. "How about it?"
"Umm…" Chitsuko looked flustered. "I…"
"Go for it," Kelsey urged. "It would be fun and we'll all be sure to watch it."
"The show starts at two o'clock anyway, so we'll just be borrowing her for forty-five minutes and then we'll give her right back after the show." Vamoso smiled winningly. "How about it?"
"Well…" The girl sighed, then smiled. "Oh, why not. I'll see you guys soon!"
"Have fun!" Kaeru called, waving as Chitsuko left with Vamoso. She wasn't quite sure what a magic show actually was, but she'd find out eventually.
"Shall we split up?" Suzuki asked, as Keiko, Yusuke, Shizuru, and Kuwabara approached. "And meet up at the magic show?" Everyone agreed, and they went their separate ways. Kia, Kelsey, Shishiwakamaru, and Jin went to play the games, while Chuu, Rei, Rinku, Kurama, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Suzuki made a beeline for the roller coaster. After much persuading, Hiei finally went along with them. Shizuru, Keiko, and the two Koorime decided to go on one of the water rides and Kuronue and Suzaku were giving each other challenging stares as they raced for the bumper cars.
Kaeru, new to amusement parks, emerged from the ride, absolutely drenched in water. She kept giggling as she wrung out her dripping ponytail. Keiko, Shizuru, and Yukina were laughing as well, just as wet as their friend.
"Well…" Shizuru looked around. "Should we try out the Haunted House next?"
"Oh, let's!" Keiko cried eagerly. "Maybe it'll be scarier this year!"
"…Scary?" Yukina asked hesitantly. "Umm…"
"It's all right," Shizuru told her, laying a comforting hand on the Koorime's shoulder. "These haunted houses are usually overrated and they're so ridiculous, it's funny."
"So…should we try it?" Kaeru glanced at her companions.
"Sure!" Keiko grabbed the Ice Maiden's hand, practically dragging her towards the ride. Shizuru and Yukina followed, the latter clinging nervously to Shizuru's hand. They climbed into the car decorated as a coffin, and as it started, descending into utter darkness, Yukina gave a frightened squeak.
"See, this isn't so bad," Shizuru said comfortingly. And then skeletal hands gripped the side of the car. Poor Yukina whimpered and scooted away from it, but then the hands let go and slipped down, out of sight.
"It's just a ride…" Kaeru kept repeating to herself. "Just a ride…" And then she started to feel uneasy. Turning in her seat, she glanced behind her…and met a pair of very chilling glowing red eyes that she knew all too well.
"Kaeru-chan!" Keiko grabbed the Koorime's shoulders as Kaeru let out a piercing scream. "What's the matter??"
"Z-Z-Zenkai!!" The little Ice Maiden was shaking too badly to speak straight. "I saw him!"
"Aww, Kaeru…" Shizuru placed her arm around the distraught girl. "Zenkai's not in the Haunted House…it was probably just something else."
Kaeru was too busy trying to slow her heart down to reply, but those eyes…she forced a smile and nodded, just wishing this ride would end.
******
Kelsey let out a loud whistle as Chitsuko took a bow, her red-sequined gown glittering vibrantly.
"She's really good," Kia remarked. "If I had been shut in a box and threatened with death by several sharp swords, I would've bailed."
Jin tugged on her ponytail. "Which is WHY you're not th' assistant, lass." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"He should've picked me." Rei folded her arms across her chest, pushing out her lower lip in a pout. "I would've stuck HIM in the box."
Suzaku rolled his eyes. "And you would have impaled him, too."
"Not on PURPOSE," she insisted.
"Hey…" Rinku blinked. "Where are Kaeru and Yukina?"
"They wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel once before the show started," Keiko explained. "They said they'd be back in time."
"Has anyone seen them?" Suzuki asked. "I don't remember spotting them in here."
That caught Kuronue's attention. "Kaeru's not here?"
"Yukina's not here?" Kuwabara and Hiei said at the same time. The latter gritted his teeth and rose. The former was less quiet.
"YUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINAAAAAA-SAAAAAAAAN!" And he was off and running.
"…Let's follow him before we get left behind," Shishiwakamaru suggested.
"At the rate THEY'RE going, it might be too late." Chuu sighed, rising as well.
Once they were back outside, blinking in the bright sunlight, Chitsuko (still in the outfit) gasped and pointed. "Look!"
A murmuring crowd gathered at the base of the Ferris Wheel, pointing up just as Chitsuko had done. The others looked up, and then Suzaku yelped.
Kaeru and Yukina were perched at the top of the wheel, looking down, and flinching each time the wind rocked the car they were in.
"Why isn't it moving?" Yusuke frowned. "You don't think…"
"It's BROKEN?" Suzaku shrieked. "GET HER DOWN!!"
"Calm down…" Kurama said gently. "If we all panic, we'll never get them down."
"I'll fly up there!" Kuronue suggested, about to toss off his heavy coat.
Shizuru shook her head at him. "With so many people here? You'll need a distraction. Like…something that would attract the attention of everyone else…"
Rinku gulped, looking at something to his left. "Like a tiger?"
"That would work." The elder Kuwabara turned…and then blinked. "A tiger?"
There, stalking slowly toward a little girl holding tightly to the string of a red balloon, was a brilliant black-striped white tiger.
"HEY!" Kia yelled at the top of her lungs. "WATCH OUT FOR THE TIGER!"
At the sound of her voice, everyone in the crowd swiveled to stare at the huge feline. The tiger swiveled to stare at Kia, decided this was a better target, and headed for her. Everyone else screamed and scattered.
"Kia!" Jin tried to drag her back, but the Mirror Holder stood firm. "What are you doing, get back!!"
"I'll be fine," she told him. "Tell Kuronue to get the girls down while I stop the big kitty." As Jin reluctantly moved aside to tell the chimera this, Kia faced the tiger, brown eyes narrowed slightly. A twitch of her finger and the tiger stopped in its tracks, growling in confusion. It tried taking another step…and couldn't.
"What did she do?" Kuwabara blinked slowly.
Kelsey answered him. "She used her wind ability to bind the tiger where it stood. There's so much pressure on it that it can't move at all."
Meanwhile, Kuronue took off his coat and flapped his wings strongly, soaring up to the top of the wheel. First, he took Yukina, flying down to hand her to Kuwabara. Then he returned for Kaeru. She held on to his neck as he picked her up, carrying her bridal-style. Once they'd landed, Kia grinned and this time lifted the tiger into the air, walking off with the cat floating over her head.
"I'll be back!" She called. "I'm just sticking him in his cage!"
With all the excitement, it took awhile to calm the frazzled Koorime down, but once they had relaxed, another problem surfaced. Suzaku and Kuronue were arguing over the chimera's rescue of Yukina and Kaeru.
"I could've done it!"
"Sure…" Kuronue grinned infuriatingly. "If you had WINGS, you mean?"
"WITHOUT wings, you idiot!"
"Just because you're jealous that I saved--"
"I am NOT jealous! You just think you're some kind of big hero for getting them down!"
"All right, BIRD. You and me, right here and right now!"
"I have a BETTER idea," Shizuru interrupted, before things could get ugly. "You two settle this by a game of Dance Dance Revolution." She firmly pushed the two of them inside the nearby arcade, indicating the two dance stations. "And look…they have rails, so you bakas don't injure yourselves."
Kuronue started to demur. "I don't know…"
"Are you AFRAID?" Suzaku sneered.
That got him. "Not of YOU! Bring it on!"
Kaeru blinked, watching the two youkai hop onto the platforms as Kurama slipped in some money. "…What are they doing?"
Chitsuko shook her head slowly, amused. "They're trying to settle their male pride." She grinned. "C'mon, Kae-chan…there's another station in here. Want to learn how to play?"
"All right," the Ice Maiden agreed gamely, taking the other's hand. Kurama and, surprisingly, Hiei followed them. The others stayed to watch the epic battle between chimera and Saint Beast.
As the first few notes of "Butterfly" started, Kuronue leapt into action, with Suzaku right behind. They hit the left step, the forward step, and then speeded up.
"…I can't see their feet," Kelsey remarked, squinting to see if that would make it any better. It didn't. "I had no idea either of them could dance!"
Shishiwakamaru shrugged. "Motivation is a wonderful thing."
"What are those idiots doing?" Kia had returned, and now she looked at the two dancing fools with a surprised expression her face.
"It's a Kaeru thing," Yusuke explained. "I don't think they even know that she's not here to watch them."
"This should be good." The brunette grinned wickedly.
"If you think THAT'S good," Rei commented. "Then check out Three-Eyes and Icy."
"Who?" Suzuki asked blankly.
"Hiei and Kaeru," Rinku clarified. "Let's go see."
To the group's surprise, Kaeru and Hiei were up on the other DDR game, matching each other beat-for-beat. Neither one of them seemed to be out of breath and they were actually holding a conversation.
"You dance too," Hiei remarked.
Kaeru smiled cheerfully. "I used to dance with Byakko all the time when I was little."
"That fat cat knows how to DANCE?"
"Well…he wasn't THAT fat back then…" The Koorime kept her eyes fastened on the screen and the arrows appearing there as she kept time with her feet. "He preferred to keep it a secret, though…didn't think it was fitting for a dangerous Saint Beast."
"Hn."
After a while, they grew tired and hopped off the platforms to let the others give it a try. Kurama and Chitsuko were great dancers as well. Kia flatly refused, but Shizuru went against Chuu and won. Rei and Suzuki both scored well when they went up, and then everyone wanted to try. Jin finally persuaded Kia to go up there with him and she was immediately hooked.
At six o'clock that evening, everyone was drooping with fatigue. Kaeru kept rubbing her feet, wincing. Chuu hoisted the Koorime onto his shoulders when he noticed her hopping painfully.
"Let's head back," Keiko said, yawning. The others nodded in agreement.
"What about Suzaku and Kuronue?" Kelsey wondered. "They're STILL going strong."
"Let 'em go," Kuwabara advised. "They'll give up sooner or later."
"Give up yet?" Kuronue panted.
"You wish!" Suzaku shot at him. "I'm winning!"
"No, you're not!"
Hiei sighed. "I'm going."
"Right behind you!" Rei seconded, and then they were gone, leaving the two stubborn males still playing.
Kaeru learned later that they had kept going until Midnight, when security guards had made them leave the park as it closed.
*OOC*
Oh, god…my fingers. The last time I decide to write 9 pages, I'm not doing it all at once! Anyway…please review! NEXT chapter!
* It's Zoo time! Kelsey and Kia do some Orson reminiscing.
* Kaeru ends up stuck in the polar bear enclosure! And you thought the Mirror Holders had bad luck…o.o
* Rei takes the cake…by liberating every single animal in the zoo. Uh-oh…
