Off to Disneyland!
The Grand Search
Author's Note: Now, it's time to see what happened with Chiyo, Osaka, and the ever adventurous Kaida!
"Isn't this nice?" Chiyo smiled as she led Kaida through the crowd, followed by Osaka. "I wonder where we should go first…"
"What about thataway?" Osaka pointed to the left, towards the jungle zone.
"Ooh, looks fun!" Chiyo commented then looked down at the girl. "Would you like to go there?"
Kaida just nodded.
So they entered, the trio awed at the leafy vegetation and little shops that blended in with the theme.
It was that when they walked by one of the stores, Kaida spotted a stuffed tiger in the front. The only tiger on the display, it stood out from its other stuffed animal companions.
"Tiger!" she gasped.
She tried to pull away from Chiyo so she could reach it but no avail; the adult simply walked on, dragging her away from it.
"Oh, the jungle cruise," Chiyo looked up at a sign. "Let's give it a try."
So they got on and enjoyed the sights of the wild 'animals'. Kaida did not pay attention, though, she was too focused on that tiger plush. I have to get it.
After the boat ride, they returned to the statue area so they could view the big castle.
"Ah, my legs are tired," Osaka sighed, sitting down on a nearby bench while Chiyo dug around in her purse.
"Oh, how careless of me!" Chiyo giggled. "I didn't even think to have an extra map for myself - Osaka, can you watch Kaida while I go get another one?"
"No problem," Osaka raised a hand as Kaida was seated beside her. "I'll be watching her like a crow."
"Okay…" Chiyo sighed then pointed the child. "Now, be good to Osaka and no running off, okay?"
Kaida simply nodded.
"Good, I'll be back soon!" Chiyo said as she disappeared into the crowd.
"Ah…those are some interesting clouds…" Osaka looked up at the blue sky. "One of 'em sure looks funny…"
Kaida watched her for a moment then climbed down, looking around. Now where could I find that tiger?
She then ran away.
--
"I'm back! I got the - AH!"
Chiyo had returned and it was to her horror that Kaida had gone while Osaka had spaced out.
"Osaka! Where's Kaida?" Chiyo cried out, rushing over to her friend.
"Kaida?" Osaka looked down. "Not to worry, she's right here-"
She then saw the empty seat and jumped up. "OHMYGAWD! She's been abducted!"
"Don't say such things!" Chiyo wailed, attempting to keep her cool. "I'm sure we can find her, she can't be too far off, let's hurry!"
"Ah…" Osaka sighed. "But my legs still are tired…"
"Let's go!" Chiyo replied sharply and so both women were off.
Oh dear…Kagura and Sakaki will never forgive me if I lose Kaida…Chiyo thought worriedly.
--
Kaida was now in some sort of a fantasy town area, looking around uncertainly. This doesn't look like the jungle…
She then spotted the carousel and blushed at the horses. Horses!
She then passed the barricade and climbed onto it, towards one. She reached up to touch it when the stage gave a sudden lurch forward, causing her to fall over. The merry-go-ground was spinning!
She tried to grab the horse for support but it didn't work out as it was moving up and down so she could only stumble about. After the ride had come to a stop, she stepped off dizzily. I didn't like that…
--
Chiyo and Osaka were now in the town; scanning the area frantically on the younger woman's part. Osaka only looked up at the buildings around them then noticed a figure stepping out on the balcony.
"Hey Chiyo!" she raised her finger.
"Huh?"
"Maybe that evil queen took her!" Osaka confirmed.
"Oh Osaka…" Chiyo sighed. "The queen isn't real…"
"That's what they want you to think…" Osaka replied shiftily.
--
Kaida soon came upon the teacups and watched them twirl around, admiring their bright colors. Pretty…
Then a group which Kaida recognized as Koyomiko and her parents. She pondered if she could help with her search, so she ran over to her.
The mothers did not notice but Koyomiko did, she watched as Kaida met with her.
"Hi, want to go?" Kaida asked quietly.
"I can't leave my Mama and Kaa-san!" Koyomiko replied.
"…Ok," Kaida shrugged then she left to continue her quest for the tiger.
--
"Wow, I didn't know they were British too," Osaka commented upon seeing the teacups.
"Osaka, this isn't the time!" Chiyo sighed in exasperation. "We have to keep looking!
--
Kaida had now climbed onto an animal-shaped topiary and looked around like a sailor scouting the sea with her hand raised over her eyes. Still no sign of that tiger…
--
"I saw her!" Osaka exclaimed.
"What?" Chiyo gasped.
"It was a blue hat! I'm sure of it!" Osaka added. "I saw her go that way!"
"Then let's hurry!" Chiyo said, taking the lead in the direction which Osaka had pointed out.
--
Kaida was now near the snow-capped mountain, still looking. Aw…where could it be?
She then spotted a familiar face slipping through the crowd, easily recognizable due to her height…
"Taira-ma!" Kaida called out, running after her. "Mom!"
Maybe they can help with the tiger!
--
Chiyo and Osaka now came upon the futuristic zone, searching for a sign of the wandering girl.
"You sure she went this way?" Chiyo asked.
"I'm sure of it," Osaka nodded then pointed to the car area. "I think she might've gone over there."
"You think so?" Chiyo tilted her head uncertainly.
"Ah…maybe not…but it can't hurt to look, huh?" Osaka smiled. "Hey, we could even drive around - we'll find her faster that way!"
"Um…I sure hope so…" Chiyo mumbled as she followed Osaka to the track.
--
"Taira-ma?" Kaida whispered, glancing around. "Mom?"
She couldn't see them anymore now so she sighed and looked up at the sleek buildings overhead. It was getting hotter so she thought she would sit in the shade for a bit before continuing her search. I'll find that tiger…
--
"You said we'd find her here!" Chiyo wailed as Osaka drove along the road in their blue car.
"This is pretty fun," Osaka giggled then suddenly came to an abrupt stop. "Oof - ow - my tummy…"
"You have to watch the rails," Chiyo pointed out then looked around. "Oh, I really hope we don't end up running into -"
She came up short when she saw the other car coming up beside them. It was Kagura and Sakaki!
"Oh my god!" Chiyo yelled, shaking her friend's arm. "Push the gas! Push it!!"
"I can't," Osaka murmured. "It's broken…"
"Gyah!" Chiyo turned away, covering her face as they passed by.
She eventually peeked out through her fingers, seeing that they hadn't noticed her at all and sighed in relief. Oh whew…
She dared not to think of what sort of mess they might have been in if they'd been seen…
--
Kaida blinked awake, yawning and stretching her arms as she sat up. She must've dozed off.
She stood up, staring up at the sky. Thankfully, it didn't look as she'd slept too long, the sun was still high up in the sky.
I should get going, she thought as she left into the crowd once again.
--
"Whew," Chiyo exhaled as they left the zone, having found no sign of the girl anywhere. "We managed to get away and look around…but we still haven't found Kaida…"
"Ah!" Osaka gasped. "I have an idea! Follow me!"
"Eh?"
But her friend was already off so she could do nothing but follow her. I hope it's a good one…
--
After a long walk, Kaida had ended up in some frontier village. She looked up curiously at the houses. Why does this place keep changing? Am I in Wonderland?
She then spotted her parents not too far off.
"Taira-ma!" she shouted. "Mom!"
She then felt her tummy rumble; she was hungry. Well, her moms could fix that…then they could help look for the tiger after too!
So she started towards them but was cut off by a group of adults walking across her path. When she finally pushed herself way through the legs, she found them gone.
"Mom? Taira-ma?"
And her tummy continued to growl.
--
"Oh dear…" Chiyo sighed, looking up at the noonday sun. "Kaida must be hungry right now…if only we could find her…"
"Not a problem," Osaka smiled. "I have just the solution!"
They stopped in front of a shop.
"What are we going to find in there?" Chiyo asked.
"You'll see…"
--
"What's the matter little girl? You lost?"
Kaida stared at the woman towering over her, she was dressed in old Native American garb dating from those days in the wilderness.
"What's your name?" asked the woman, now crouching down.
Kaida said nothing, she couldn't understand a word she was saying. Then her stomach grumbled again.
"Ah, hungry?" the woman stood. "No problem, I'll get you something."
She then walked towards a food cart, Kaida cautiously following her.
"Give me a chocolate popsicle," the lady ordered.
She got it and handed it over to Kaida who accepted it immediately, taking a bite.
"So where are your parents?" the woman asked.
"…" Kaida paused, glancing up then she walked away.
--
"This is absolutely ridiculous!" Chiyo moaned.
"Hey, it's bound to work!" Osaka said. "These silly hats will be bound to attract Kaida back to us!"
Indeed, Osaka now wore a floppy lime-green top hat while Chiyo wore a pair of black mouse ears.
"I'm not sure if that'll really work…" Chiyo sighed.
"Don't doubt me!" Osaka huffed, crossing her arms. "It'll work!"
"Okay…" Chiyo slumped her shoulders. What else did they have to lose? Anything to find that girl…
--
Kaida froze, her ice cream popsicle melting over her hand. She had just seen a large tiger pass into the crowd. A real tiger.
She dropped her treat and dashed after him. "Tiger! Tiger!"
She bumped into many people on her way, ignoring their shouts as she pressed on. She had to catch that tiger!
--
"Excuse me?" Chiyo asked a passing stranger. "Have you seen a little girl with a strange blue hat around?"
The man shook his head 'no' so she waved him off and joined Osaka. "We really have to find her!"
She was not going to think negatively at a moment like this, not now, not ever. Thinking such thoughts would only dampen their hopes in finding Kaida…
"I saw a tiger."
"What?"
"I said - I saw a tiger," Osaka said.
"I know," Chiyo sighed. "But what do you mean a tiger? There's no tigers here."
"Then what's that orange thing?" Osaka pointed.
"Huh?" Chiyo turned and saw the tiger. And close behind him was…
"KAIDA!" she screamed, breaking into a run.
"Ah!" Osaka followed after her. "I knew the hats would work!"
--
Kaida kept following the tiger until she eventually lost sight of him. When she did, she stopped, looking around. What now?
Then she recognized the place she was in now. The jungle!
That meant…Kaida turned and sure enough, there was that tiger still sitting on that table.
"Tiger!" she exclaimed gleefully, running over to it.
As she took the striped cat into her arms, she heard a voice calling her name and she turned to see Chiyo running towards her.
She smiled, raising her tiger. "Tiger."
"Oh Kaida! Kaida!!" Chiyo wailed, pulling the girl into a tight hug as Osaka stood nearby. "You mustn't run off like that ever again! You had us really worried!"
"…" Kaida blinked then poked her with the plush. "Tiger."
"Hmm?" Chiyo looked at it then frowned. "After what you put us through? I don't think-"
"Aw, give her a break," Osaka sighed. "She just really wanted that tiger I guess."
"…" Chiyo then faced Kaida whom was watching expectantly. "Aw…Well, I guess it's all right…"
So then she brought Kaida her tiger. If I didn't, the girl would probably run off again for it anyway, the determined trooper.
"Well, we should get back," Chiyo said, leading Kaida through the crowd. "They'll be expecting us soon."
--
They soon returned to the statue place where others were indeed waiting for them.
"Hi everybody!" Chiyo greeted, hiding the fact she'd lost Kaida and been driven near to her breaking point all day. "Did you have fun?"
"Sure did!" Tomo grinned, patting Koyomiko's head.
"Yup, fun!" Koyomiko smiled.
"And…" Chiyo looked to Sakaki and Kagura. "Oh my god! What happened to you?"
Sakaki and Kagura were still completely wet from their last ride.
"Ah…we just checked out this cool water slide ride back there…" Kagura pointed her thumb back.
Sakaki said nothing, reaching out for Kaida whom she picked up and hugged.
"Taira-ma, you're wet!" Kaida said, clutching her tiger. Sakaki just chuckled.
"We should get some dinner, before fireworks start," Chiyo said, looking up at the sky.
"…Can we do something first?" Sakaki asked. "There's one more ride left…"
The whole group headed towards the carousel where they enjoyed the ride altogether.
"Go ride 'em, Kaida!" Kagura laughed as she and Sakaki supported Kaida on one of its horses.
"Yeah, beat those horses!" Tomo said further ahead, doing the same with Koyomiko while Yomi took pictures. Chiyo and Osaka simply watched from the nonmoving carriage.
--
After they had their dinner and it had gotten dark, they returned to the castle area to watch the fireworks show.
Tomo hoisted Koyomiko up onto her shoulder while Sakaki picked up Kaida.
"Oh, look!" Kagura pointed as one rocket shot up into the sky and exploded into a brilliant red flower. Immediately more followed and soon the sky was covered in a shower of amazing colorful displays.
"It's even more amazing up close…" Kagura sighed, kissing Sakaki as she hugged her and Kaida close.
"It really is," Tomo wrapped an arm around Yomi's waist.
"Pretty…" Osaka sighed.
Chiyo smiled. "I'm glad we all could be here together this night…"
It was definitely a night to remember for this reunion of long-time friends.