Catch-22: The Story Goes Like This…
By: M14Mouse
Summary: The gang tells Ren and the others how they took down the palace…much to amusement of Yu.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
"You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job." -Laurence J. Peter
"Bang! Crash! Then we landed in a huge bush outside of the embassy," Morgana shouted over the phone.
"I nearly wet my pants but it was so much fun!" Teddie shouted eagerly.
"That does sound exciting, but it will probably help if you start from the beginning of the story," Ren said amusedly.
Everyone was huddled around the phone to listen to Sensei and his friends talk about their adventures. Everyone was eating snacks that Lila left for them. It was rather nice of her.
"Oh, right…We did that whole shimmery and glittery…" Teddie started.
"We don't have glitter!" Morgana added angrily.
"It looks like glitter to me!"
"Boys…" Lila said in the background.
"Yes, Lila," The pair mumbled.
Man, Lila really does know how to work magic.
"Good. Now start from the beginning because I want to hear it too," Lila said.
"Okay…we did that shimmery thing and poof. We landed in a dark and scary market…." Teddie said dramatically.
"Teddie, it wasn't dark. It was bright and the mood was joyful. It reminded me of those medieval fairs with knights and stuff. There were stalls. They were selling things…awful things. They shouted on what these are perfect for new slaves. This product will keep them in line. It made me want to stab things and burn them down. The people…well, shadows were everywhere. They were buying things. It was awful. The energy was festive, but it was creepy. It was like you knew something was off," Yukiko's voice said.
"Yukiko is right. It was so bright and cheerful but so fake. It reminded me of that whole art thing we did."
"Oh! We forgot about the calling card?! Oh! That was awesome too. Sensei was like ah ha! Naoto was huh. Yukiko was like, "Just burn them!" Teddie said excitedly.
"How do you get a story out without him changing it?" Morgana asked.
"We let him ramble a bit then we tell the story," Yukiko answered.
"Oh, that makes sense. Go on. We can wait."
"You two are so mean," Teddie said.
He could see Teddie pouting inside of his head.
"Brother…it would be a good idea to get on with the story especially if we want to get good parts. Unless there aren't any good points, then, make it up," Lila said.
"Of course, there are good points! Really good ones! Like Yukiko setting that auctioneer guy and his guards on fire!"
"They made me angry." Yukiko said.
"And Naoto negotiated the freedom of the shadow slaves," Morgana added.
"We shouldn't forget your part. You swoop in and grab the treasure right under their noses. You made excellent use of those garlands," Yukiko said as she clapped her hands.
"Ahh…thanks."
Makoto tapped him on his shoulder as Teddie rambled on about Morgana sliding down on the garland.
"Should we tell them to start from the beginning?" Makoto whispered.
"Do you think that we can get them too?" Ann pointed out.
"Probably not."
"Ooooo ... .what did the auctioneer guy do to piss you off, Yukiko?" Futaba shouted from across the table.
"He was auctioning off this little girl shadow. She looked about five or so. He said that she was ready to train in any situation in a creepy tone. So, I got a little angry and burned the guards up," Yukiko explained.
"Wow…you're a badass," Futaba said in awe.
"Scary lady, man," Ryuji added.
"You have such passion, Ms. Yukiko," Yusuke said in awe.
Yukiko giggled.
"Why thank you."
"So, how did you free the people?" Makoto asked.
"Ooo…you have to tell your part of the story, Naoto!" Teddie shouted.
He heard a muffled no in the background.
"Come on…it is one of the good parts," Yukiko pleaded.
Another mumbled sound then a sigh could be over the phone.
"It wasn't that big of a deal, Yukiko," Naoto's voice mumbled.
"IT was the best part! Bullets were flying everywhere! It makes me glad that we don't use real bullets," Morgana added.
"Man, I forgot about the fake verse real thing that you guys have going on," Ryuji said.
"It was only a warning shot," Naoto said.
"Three warning shots?" Morgana pointed out.
"I wanted to make sure that he heard me."
"Oh, he heard you alright," Yukiko said with a chuckle.
"And he nearly wet his shadow pants," Morgana added.
"I'm merely copying what you do…hold them up as you said?" Naoto said.
"Well…we kind of do it like that. Ren does most of the talking."
"Naoto did most of the talking and it was great. She said in her serious voice that he will end the auction and come in at once."
"Annnnndddd…of course, he didn't listen and then she shot him again," Teddie added.
"I didn't shoot him again." Naoto said.
"Yes, you did. That was your second warning shot," Yukiko pointed out.
"Merely to keep his attention until Yu could take away his guards and the slaves."
"So, did Naoto fire the shots first or did Yukiko burn them up first?" Ann asked.
"Naoto shot them first. When they didn't listen well when she started talking, I burned them up a little bit. They started to listen for a little bit. Then Naoto got annoyed enough to fire the third warning shot then I burned him up a lot. Then Naoto was able to talk the auctioneer into releasing the people. Yu took them to safety," Yukiko said.
"I don't think that we call it a warning shot if the bullet hits his kneecap," Morgana said.
Ryuji choked on his sandwich when Morgana said that. Ann hit his back to prevent him from choking.
"Well…I…was merely…"
"Yukiko was angry. Naoto was really angry. Boom! Then I froze the stupid head," Teddie said excitedly.
"At least, that part of the story is true," Morgana mumbled.
"Okay…let's go back to the beginning," Makoto said in frustration. She was rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"No…No! This is exciting. So, Teddie froze his stupid head. What happened next?" Futaba said as she was eating some popcorn.
"Then Sensei rose from the shadows like a vampire without the cape," Teddie said.
"Sensei is a ninja and not a vampire," Lila added.
"You're right, Li. Sensei rose like a ninja from the shadows!"
He heard Makoto sighing over his shoulder and Naoto sighing over the phone.
"And he said that he wanted to talk to the boss," Teddie said.
"In his business voice. Don't forget that, Teddie," Yukkio added.
"Yes, he is copying his scary boss lady. Anyway, he said in his business voice that he wanted to talk to the boss."
"Oh…Oh! Like earlier! Naoto and Yu made him come out. It was an entire production with actors and undercover cops. It was like a tv show without the lawyers."
"I'm confused," Ann said.
"Naoto and Yu made Yuto Beppu think that he had a chance. They put on a whole production of possible people that he could sell. Of course, he jumped at the chance since he could make a profit and save face with his contacts." Yukiko explained.
"I'm impressed that they could do everything in two days. They even got one of the actors to slip Yuto Beppu a calling card." Morgana added.
"Those are fun," Yukiko said.
"I know, right?! I wonder if we could use those in the tv world," Teddie added.
"But, Teddie…we don't have palaces in the tv world."
"So…I will make one! It will be awesome! It is going to have candy. Do you think Nana-chan will like it?"
"That isn't how palaces work, Teddie," Morgana said with a sigh.
"You're getting off topic, brother. Sensei, ninja, explain," Lila said.
"They were getting off topic before the story began," Makoto mumbled.
Ann and Futaba looked like they were about to laugh.
"Yes, Sensei rose out of the shadows like a ninja and said that he wanted to speak to the boss," Teddie said dramatically.
"And Bob popped out from under his hat," Yukiko said with a giggle.
"I must check this Bob out. See if he is good enough for our family," Lila said with a mumble.
"You will like him, Li." Teddie said.
"We will see."
"Back to the story…." Makoto said with a huff.
"Yes, Sensei started talking and the auction guy kind of listened, but he didn't. Then I froze him again," Teddie said.
"Sensei told him that he had his boss's greatest desire. He pulled out this golden figurine from the case he was carrying," Morgana explained.
"What was the deal with the figurine?" Ann asked.
"From the information we gathered and Yuto's ravings, it was a family matter that we believe escalated. His family has been trying to get a hold of it for generations. The other family refused to sell and that has driven him mad," Naoto said.
"Well…the minute the figurine appeared, the boss showed up that second and shouted that Sensei had a fake. Sensei said that it isn't a fake and he is happy to examine it. Of course, that was the trick. He had to get his treasure to check it. That is when I spring into action. I jumped from the roof top and slid down the garland. Of course, I grabbed the treasure. I tossed it to Naoto and I turned into the van. We got out of there fairly quickly." Morgana said.
"Then we landed in the big bush!" Teddie said.
"Wow…Disappointed," Futaba said.
"HEY!" Teddie and Morgana said at once.
"Everyone, dinner is ready to be served," Theo said.
"Oh, goody!" Yukiko said.
"Yes, Theo's food is the best food," Teddie said.
Naoto sighed.
"I guess that ends the phone call."
"A moment. I like to talk to my students for a second," Sensei said.
"Of course," Naoto said.
He heard various good-byes and see you soons before he heard the shutting of the door.
"That was an interesting story to listen to. The parts that I got to hear anyway," Sensei said with a chuckle.
"Where were you, Sensei?" Ann asked.
"I had to relay some information to Mitsuru-san and plan my next course of action," He said.
"Information that you discovered when you stayed behind," Morgana said.
"Correct."
"Well…what is it?" Ryuji said.
"Yuto gave me the name of one of his contracts."
"Who?"
"Masayoshi Shido."
End of The Story Goes Like This...
Next Chapter: The Return Home
A/N: Read and Review if you wish