Yusuke sat on a log, some distance away from the Tweedles who he could still hear arguing in the distance. Surely some ways away from that crazy Dodo Karasu and obviously far behind Hiei Rabbit. He sighed and rested his face in his hands, which he propped up on elbows against his knees.
He suddenly felt a presence and shot an upward glance. " Youko! It’s you!"
" It is?!" Cheshire Youko asked, pointing to himself. " Where?!"
Yusuke slapped a hand over his face. " Look, I want to go home!"
" That’s nice."
" Help me, Baka!"
" Well," Cheshire Youko thought on the matter and cnapped his fingers. " Very well. Take this path and follow it until the woods clear. You’ll find the place called home."
" Really?" Yusuke asked, standing up. The Cheshire Youko nodded honestly and then faded away. Yusuke glanced at the path and began to laugh triumphantly.
" Aha! Finally! Now, away from this nonsense!"
He did as he was told, following the path and became excited when the trees became fewer. He skidded to a stop when he reached the end of the woods and heard happy music. A few yards away was a picket fence surrounding a large house made of pretzel sticks. Yusuke stepped closer, unsure of what to make of this. But, the happy sounds were coming from the back yard.
" What have I got to lose?" He shrugged, stepping in the yard and into the back. There, he saw a lavish banquet table filled with tea pots and bowls of snacks and empty tea cups. On the far end, he saw three figures. On was dressed in a blue dress-suit and surely female. She looked like she was asleep. On the opposing side of her was another figure dressed in a yellow dress suit. She had large brown rabbit-like ears coming from her blue hair. And in the center of the two was another familiar figure, dressed in a green and brown suit and a large top hat that was obviously too big at the top.
Yusuke stepped forward, attracting the attention from the one in yellow and the one in green. The one in blue was still in her own little world.
" Look!" The one in yellow smiled.
" Oh, we have more guests!" The one in green smiled.
" Do I even want to know?" Yusuke muttered, helping himself into a seat. " Kuwabara, why are you wearing that strange hat?"
" I’m the Mad Hatter, Boy!" The Kuwabara figure smiled, holding a cup of tea in one hand {pinky extended} and the saucer in his other hand. " Welcome to my tea party. This is the March Hare!" He motioned towards the Botan-Looking figure with the brown rabbit ears.
Yusuke glanced at the one in blue, " And that?"
Mad Hatter Kuwabara nodded and flipped the chair out from under the blue-suited figure. She gasped and let out an "oof" when she hit the ground. She shot in an upright position and began to recite, " The North wind doth blow! And we shall have snow! And what will the robin do then? Poor thing." She cocked her head to one side. " He’ll sit in a barn and keep himself warm! And hide his head under his wing! Poor thing."
Yusuke arched a brow at her. " Yukina? You okay?"
She glanced at him lazily and smiled, " I’m the Doormouse, Kind Sir."
" Come, and join us for tea!" March Hare Botan smiled, shoving a cup into Yusuke’s hands. " Wish me a very merry unbirthday!"
" Uhm...happy...unbirthday?" Yusuke said carefully. This is such nonsense!
" What shall we do now while we wait for more tea?" March Hare Botan smiled, turning to Mad Hatter Kuwabara. He smiled in return, " How about a Caucus Race?"
" No!" Yusuke shot to his feet. He then realized all three pairs of eyes were on him. " Er...uhm....no. I....got a better party game."
" Oh, how lovely," Doormouse Yukina smiled, drifting back to sleep, her big light purple mouse ears twitching in delight. She gave her little pink mouse tail a tap on the ground before finally nodding off again."
" Do tell," Mad Hatter Kuwabara smiled, quite interested.
" Yes, I do so love games!" March Hare Botan smiled, folding her hands impatiently.
" Let’s play...uhm....Yes and No!" Yusuke scratched his chin. If he could get the right people into a topic, perhaps these foolish shadows of his friends could be of help yet.
" Oh, I love that game!" Doormouse Yukina announced, dozing off once again.
" Terrific! Stranger," March Hare Botan smiled, pointing at Yusuke, " you go first."
" Okay....I got it picked."
" Is it an animal?" Mad Hatter Kuwabara asked.
" No, it’s a man!" March Hare Botan smiled.
" I’m not really sure now adays," Yusuke admitted. " I guess he’s a little bit of both."
" Hmmmm, does he dress nice?" March Hare Botan asked.
" Yes."
" Is he generous?" From Mad Hatter Kuwabara added.
" Not all that often if at all."
" Is he radiant?" From Doormouse Yukina.
" Eh....uhm....." Yusuke stammered, feeling the sweat begin to bead on his face. " Well, uhm....that....is a matter of opinion, Doormouse."
" It’s Walt Disney!" Mad Hatter Kuwabara announced, stepping onto the tableand raising a hand.
" No, it’s Jet Li!" March Hare Botan argued, imitation the move.
" It’s the White Rabbit!" From Doormouse Yukina.
" Uhm...well...yes!" Yusuke smiled. " How did you know, Doormouse?"
" I didn’t." She admitted lazilly.
" Eh?"
" Look." She pointed to the gate. " It’s the White Rabbit."
Yusuke turned and went wide-eyed to see Hiei Rabbit skipped down the path and through the gate. He tried to reach for the little pink monster, but the little rabbit yokai was engulfed in whatever he was doing.
" Why don’t you look where you’re going, Bunny-Boy?!" Mad Hatter Kuwabara smiled. Hiei Rabbit peered up and glanced at the trio. " I am, Baka! It’s not my choice to come here, but I have to."
He tossed three envelopes onto the table. March Hare Botan smiled as she read hers, " Oh! I’ve been invited to play Croquet with the Queen!"
" Yes, me too," Doormouse Yukina chimed in, almost dozing halfway through the sentence.
" Well?" March Hare Botan smiled, turning her eyes on the Hatter Kuwabara, " What did you get from Her Royal Highness, Hatter?"
The look of distress hit his face as he frowned.
" ....Jury Duty."
" Mr. Rabbit," Yusuke stepped cautiously closer to the pink Hiei with the bunny ears of snow white, " I..."
Hiei Rabbit peered at him with bright crimson eyes and handed him a sealed envelope with the pretty heart sticker on the opening {the way all the envelopes were sealed}.
" What’s this?" Yusuke asked.
" An eviction notice." Hiei Rabbit smiled.
" Kudaran, I don’t...."
With that, Hiei Rabbit removed a trumpet, which Yusuke never noticed was dangling from his shoulder and blew it loudly in his face. Yusuke fell bakcwards trying to see straight and stop the ringing in his ears.
" Don’t argue with me, dammit! I’m just doing my job!"
" Ah....heh...eeeeh." Yusuke tried to get his brain working again. But, the job was done for the White Rabbit and he bowed to the thrio. " Do enjoy the game of croquet. And Hatter, don’t try to evade this jury duty notice."
" I...won’t, Sir." From Mad Hatter Kuwabara.
" Remember," Hiei Rabbit pulled his band off his head, revleaing his Jagan, " we’ll be keeping an eye on you."
With that, the Rabbit zipped off, seeming like he vanished into thin air.
" He must be really late to speed off like that," Doormouse Yukina smiled.
" I so love croquet!" March Hare Botan cheered.
" I.....hate....jury duty," Mad Hatter Kuwabara muttered, using crocodile sobs. Yusuke rubbed his head.
" Could someone tell me..."
" You still here?" March Hare Botan asked, glaring at him as though surprised.
" Eh?"
" You’ve been evicted," Doormouse Yukina smiled with pure innocence.
" But, how could I be evicted?" Yusuke argued. " I don’t even live here!"
" That’s right!" March Hare Botan nodded, " You don’t live here...you just got evicted."
" Ooooooh! Kudaran!" Yusuke yelled, turning and storming from the yard. The March Hare and Doormouse peered back at the Hatter, who still frowned at his jury duty slip. Suddenly, Doormouse Yukina shot awake and leapt onto the table, imitating the two before her, " I got it! The man we’re guessing for is Jackie Chan!"
" Oh that is such a good guess!" March Hare Botan smiled.
" Was I right?"
" I dunno. Our player got evicted."
" Jury Duty.....I hate Jury Duty!"
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