|
|
*****
I live for the carnival
I die for the carnival
I pray for the carnival
Come and take me away
Take me away
*****
"Come on!" Minako called up the stairs. "We're going to be late."
It had been two weeks since Minako had found the starving street girl. She was getting healthier and slowly gaining weight. The only thing she had been missing was a name.
The two of them discussed it for a good hour. More accurately, Minako suggested names and the girl kept shaking her head. When she had run out of ideas, the girl spoke up.
"Call me Naigo," she had said. She turned to look out the window. "My name is Naigo."
Minako had given her a strange look, but from then on, the redheaded girl was called Naigo.
"Hayaku!" Minako shouted. "You don't want to be late for your first day."
"I don't want to go," Naigo said from behind her. Minako spun around.
"Don't scare me like that, Naigo-chan," she admonished. "And we don't have time to argue. Iku zo!" She dragged Naigo to school.
******
The emergency room at Juuban General Hospital was busy as usual. Nurses and doctors bustled up and down the hallways, Everyone was so preoccupied that no one noticed a young woman with short puple hair walking among them.
She glanced into every room and behind each curtain that she passed. She shook her head in disappointment and moved on. The medieval medicine they used sickened her. Occasionally she was able to use her own limited knowledge to help the patients. But usually she had to leave them to the regular doctors' ministrations.
She ducked into an abandoned nurses'station. She sat down at a computer and starte typing. Soon she had a search running of all unidentified patients. After a few minutes, she got up and went back into the hall.
She scouted the halls for another minute, then casually walked into an empty room. She cocked her head slightly to the side. "This is Theta," she said to thin air. "Juuban General Hospital clear. Returning to base." She glanced around again, then vanished.
******
"Mako-chan!" Usagi whined. "I forgot my lunch again. Can't I have one of your yummy rice balls?"
"You really need to remember your own food, Usagi-chan," Ami admonished. She turned a page in her Chemistry textbook.
Makoto just sighed and gave Usagi part of her lunch. She knew better than to lecture the blonde about anything.
"Ohayo, minna!" Minako dropped to the ground beside Ami. Naigo hesitated, but knelt on the grass behind her rescuer.
Makoto smiled at the girl. "Who's your new friend, Minako-chan?"
"Oh, this is Naigo. She's staying with us for a while." Minako pulled her own lunch out of her satchel.
"Ooh!" Usagi squealed, noticing Naigo for the first time. "Hi! Watashi wa Usagi desu! Did you bring anything to eat with you?"
Ami, Minako and Makoto all sweatdropped.
******
"My brothers!" Violent J addressed the three demons in rom of him. "The Dark Carnival has told me its wishes!"
Shaggy 2 Dope and Jamie Madrox turned to their leader and listned intently. Monoxide Child crossed his arms and looked away. "This oughta be rich," he muttered.
J glared at Monoxide Child before continuing. "The Dark Carnival has decded to take over this world! And we must help. The Carnival needs energy, and the best place to get energy is from these pathetic little humans."
"Why the humans' energy, Violent J-sama?" Shaggy asked. "The Carnival has plenty of energy at it's disposal."
"The humans are special," he intoned. "With their power, the Carnival will be unstoppable!
"But the Nebula Soldiers are still at large. Avoid engaging them until we can determine their strength. Only one of you can go on energy-gathering missions at a time. Take one of the Joker's Cards with you for protection."
"Violent J-sama." Monoxide stepped forward. "I will gather much energy for the Dark Carnival."
"Very well," J replied. "Bring back the human energy to fortify the Carnival." He disappeared.
******