////CLOSED THREAD/////Opening Day

Delighted in the Puppeteers reaction to the aroma and sight of the sugar coated fruit. Dark eyes flickered over the figure of the man when he scoffed about money. Having been given a rather large bank account by the old woman back in New Orleans. The elderly lady evidently had way too much money and no one to share it with and pretty much looked at Bruxa as some long lost granddaughter. So she was about to offer to pay since he had been so generous to feed her so freely when he suddenly snatched a couple of the candy coated apples from the counter.

Eyes widened and the smile grew at the mischeviousness of her escort. She never would have guessed he would have stooped to thievery. The top hat wearing, walking cane bearing man costumed in his elegant suit did not personify one who would pilfer. She turned and accompanied the shoplifter as he strode away with his prize.

That girlish laughter erupted from that moue shaped mouth. Glancing back over her shoulder to the proprietor of the fruit stand who still kept himself busy in the back of his establishment. "It seems you are a master thief" She teased as she tucked her arm into the crook of his own as they made their way down the midway of the amusement park.

"The future..." he paused, just enough to muse over the thought of the future. Then, as if the wind had stolen his thoughts once more, he shrugged and jolted forward. Knowing all too well the consequence. His right hand lifted, and clasped her's. Pulling his companion's knuckles chest height, he leaned in and softly planted a gentle kiss. Like a chemical reaction, instant and full force. It was like something on her hand had bitten him. Knees bent, body jerked back, and he stumbled a step away. Flesh drained of pigment. Shoulders rising and falling as if stamina was dwindling. Left arm falling back behind him, he felt for something to brace himself with. Finding a tree trunk, he leaned against it. His breathing slow, yet hard.

Gaze tilting down away, shame crossed him. His smile was gone, cheery features dulled. If one was superstitious, they could say the demon of his fears loomed over him. "Forgive me..." Forcing a smile, his gaze returned, though still held a shame. "I probably should not have pushed my luck." A meek look, weak as a baby lamb. When his gaze met her's, the lids parted and he smiled like a sick child who was far to happy to complain. "At least fate has brought me someone to share with." Words that danced in the air, a full fledged compliment to the kind heart of his female companion. The tree his back laid against felt amazingly comfortable at the moment. His shoulders going limp and his body slouching.

"The Dark Path is not a place to be. Oni and youkai rule that land." His head lifted up and he stared at the sky above for a moment. "Besides, I can't protect you if I'm not there." He returned to looking at her with closed eyes and a very cheery grin. "If anythings happened to you, who would I sit and share fun times with?" his childish expression became foolishly trusting. Though it was more a question if he trusted her or something else. The way he leaned on the tree, and his weakened moment made him seem empty, as though missing a vital part of his being. Yet still fully aware and guarded for it.

Those hazel brown hues only stared into the depth of his face, watching as thought worked its magic. The beating of her heart started rapidly his close encounter catching her off guard as he had stolen her hands. Those hazel brown hues only stared in amazement as he came so close only to cast on her this sudden burst. It all happened so quickly she barely had time to react, she could only watch as he was thrust back from her. Like instinct she moved, the body dropped alongside his, hands on the ground as the head tilted like some broken doll.

’’Aiza-San…’’ She took his jacket from her shoulders and laid it over his chest. As he spoke her head only shook as a quick smile found its way on her lips, lifting her head she’d meet his gaze only to see his smile. ’’Perhaps you shouldn’t have…But I thank you for it, no reason for forgiveness when one has done no wrong.’’ She’d lean forward on her knees as she pulled the jacket up over his shoulders keeping it on him.

His next string of dancing words only made her smile, with a soft deep crimson touching her cheeks causing her to shy from his eyes and look down at her hands. ’’Then you must be careful Aiza-San, for who will protect me when darkness has fallen and you are here pushing your luck.’’ She’d smile widely as the head lifted, hazel brown hues lighting up as they stared back to his adorable expression. Only a soft laugh would come from her, as she squirmed in spot pulling off the top layer of her shirt and wrapping it around her hand.

Carefully she leaned towards him, making sure the jacket stayed between them as she leaned over him and gently patted his cheek with her hand wrapped in cloth.’’Fate perhaps if you are lucky enough, would bring you a second Touring child to test the times with. I’m sure you wouldn’t be alone for long in any case…’’ She’d smirk and remove her hand just as quickly as it was raised unfolding the shirt she tossed it beside her in the grass.

“I am a master of many things, including you,” he teased, a chuckle chasing the words after they left his lips. At a slow saunter, the Puppeteer guided them away from the candied apple stand, the fruit hidden from view of the proprietor by their bodies. After rounding a bend in the fairway, the Puppeteer passed one of the two goodies to his Doll. “Here, a sweet treat for my sweet little Doll,” he offered.

Once she had relieved him of one of the candied apples, he lifted the other to inspect the gooey, glimmering globe. Holding the stick between his lithe fingers, he twisted it around. Every detail of the fruit itself seemed lost beneath the layer of sweet coating. “Do you just… bite it?” asked the Puppeteer, his brown eyes darting to his Doll as he sought her advice. He felt silly, holding the treat and doubting how to devour it properly. Surely, biting into it would get one’s face sticky from the sugary gunk, and the Puppeteer detested getting dirty or sticky. It took so much work just to keep his clothes immaculate. The Puppeteer hoped his Doll, with her child-like appearance, was better versed in such a thing as candied fruit than he himself was. It would take quite some time for him to be brought up to speed on everything since his imprisonment two centuries ago. While the Puppeteer loathed being ignorant, he liked the cute guide that had hooked her arm through his.

A brow perked as he included her into the array of things he claimed mastery over. Simply letting that girlish giggle harmonize with his chuckle as they sashayed onward. Slender fingers delicately plucking the offered candied fruit from his grasp. "Lick the sweetness before delving into the meat of the apple, let the two mingle together in your mouth so you savor the explosion of flavor they will produce..." She advised confidently in that singsong southern drawl, even though she had never partaken of the treat before. Bruxa had seen others eat the sticky coated fruit over the years though.

Keeping the stick that plugged the apple pinched between her fingers. She really had no appitite for such things. Eyes slid sideways in their sockets, watching the Puppeteer as he peered curiously at the fleshy rounded pome fruit, oozing with the gooey thick substance. The smile only grew, brightening the pixie like features of her face. Perhaps after his first treat he might wish a second...and so she held on to the one he had handed to her. What an odd couple they must have seemed to others...the fine looking coifed gentleman in his tophat and cane escorting the pale lass that looked to be dressed in a more dark gothic fashion. "Go ahead...try it.." She insisted as she stopped suddenly and turned towards him, facing him now. Anticipating the first bite ...like Eve coaxing Adam...though which one embodied the serpent was yet to be seen.

“Explosion of flavor?” he repeated, eyebrows arching into the shadows cast by the brim of his top hat. It was a phrase he had never heard before, an odd pairing of the words ‘explosion’ and ‘flavor’ that did not make sense to the Puppeteer as he glanced from the advisee to the treat he held in his hand. For several seconds, the Puppeteer waited for her to lick and bite her candy apple as she had instructed him to do, but she never did. The man’s tongue slithered out and the tip traced the ring of his lips before extending forward to touch the sticky, sweet surface of the treat. His eyes widened at the ‘explosion of flavor’ and he pulled back with a soft chuckle, admitting, “You were right.”

After the lick, the Puppeteer bit into the flesh of the fruit. A crunch filled the momentary silence as he chewed the crisp apple, teeth tearing and grinding it into a pulp before he swallowed. “It is good,” he answered, “But I think it’d give me a toothache to eat too many of these things.” The Puppeteer took another bite as he gave her waist a gentle squeeze so that his new Doll pressed against his side as they walked between the booths of venders and games. The Puppeteer was never bothered by the stares of others, he lived his life as he pleased and often cared little of what others thought. In fact, sometimes he liked the attention. He was the only man dressed in a suit at the carnival it seemed, everyone else seemed to wear the modern garb that seemed far too casual for his tastes.

Of course she was right. She had no need to steer this man in the wrong direction. Nor even decieve him....yet. Watching every nuance of his face as it contorted with the burst of flavor he was savoring with the lick and bite into the sweetened fruit. The tightening of his arm around that narrow waist only enticed a squeal of a giggle as they began their trek through the carnival grounds once more.

"Well, we wouldn't you ailed with a aching sweet tooth.." She mused as she spied a tot of a girl off to the side, begging what could only be her mother for a treat. Once again she paused and bent at the waist, holding the candied apple out to the lass. It was obvious by the rags of clothing they both wore ..they were as poor as her own mother and herself had once been. Besides..it might keep her from being taunted by some greasy no gooder who would offer her candy in exchange for some deviant act. A side glance to the older woman holding the childs hand. "I would hate for this to go to waste.." She said in that heavy southern accent as she pushed the stick that punctured the glistening fruit into the toddlers hand.

Regaining her upright posture as she noted the drizzle of red gooey sweetness that coated one finger. Pushing that digit to the lower lip of the Puppeteer in a teasing fashion as she turned her attention back to him. Smearing it across that lower tier if he didn't stop her. "So over indulging is not something you often do I presume?" Bruxa quizzed her escort with a mock of a smile.

Perking a brow, he looked back at her. His left hand traced along its hip. "I may not look it now, but I carry the pride of a samurai on my shoulders." Pride did not leave him. Though was held back by the lacking weapon at his side. Once more removing the jacket and swinging it so it rested on her shoulders once more. The gap between them once more shrank. Making sure his companion was covered and warm. "Pride that will surely cause my death." His hands adjusting the jacket over her to perfection.

He then scooted to support his sitting form. Staring at the sky again. Contemplating what to say next. "Have you ever found your star?" He decided to try and change the subject. Looking around the sky. Upon spotting an odd formation of seven stars, he pointed up with his right hand. Making sure the jacket was between them, he pulled her to him close. "Those seven, are the dragon of earth." His left arm wrapped around her side, using the jacket as a shield. "It holds no real truth, but the legend helps some children sleep at night." This subject didn't bring any cheery expression, but did seem to energize him. With a slight grunt, and a push, he pulled them both to a standing.

His gaze turned back to her. A gentle smile, and foolish chuckle accompanying his stare. "Hold on to this for now... It's in good hands." His hands readjusted the jacket on her shoulders, and then he stepped back away. "Now, shall we continue our exploration? Or would you like me to accompany you back to the dorms?" Bowing at his waist. "What do you wish, Hunni-san?" The way he said her name, drawn out as though to pronounce her name correctly.

When his new Doll gave away her treat to the impoverished child, a small smile tugged at the corners of the Puppeteers lips. Even though he was a creature of greed that did as he pleased, often at the expense of others, he was not necessarily an evil entity and sometimes hints of his humanity showed. “You shame me,” he commented, a faint smile on his face as he finished his apple. “I suppose if you can show such generosity, I could show a little to those so deprived as well,” he whispered in her ear as his arm slipped from around her. Dipping into a pants pocket, he retrieved a gold coin stamped with Caesar’s visage, and then pressed it into the mother’s hand. His fingers slid from her grasp, leaving the gleaming coin behind. “I’m sure this is worth something,” he breathed in a soft voice to the woman as his Doll finished relinquishing her treat.

As he returned his arm to its new home around Bruxa’s waist, he was surprised to feel a gooey touch upon his lips. Quirking an eyebrow, the Puppeteer felt her wipe the mess across his bottom lip. His tongue slithered out and swiped across the glop, leaving a trail of saliva behind instead. “Well, I wouldn’t say that,” he chuckled, giving a shake of his head. “For me there isn’t really such a thing as over indulging, my Doll.” If her finger lingered near his lips long enough, his tongue darted out a second time to lick off any sticky residue on it. With a gentle tug using his arm looping her waist, he tried to lead her away from the mother and toddler so they might not see what things the odd couple might do together.

Hunni only sat there, astonished at heart at his actions. She knew men to be proud creatures, but this was quite a bit more than she had witnessed before. Her face flushed with a soft pink hue as the jacket moved back around her shoulders, her face would shy away from him as they came closer together. ” Pride will only drag you down if you aren’t careful Aizawa’’ She stayed still, enjoying the moment where silence wasn’t grief.

Her eyes flashed when he mentioned stars, tilting her head up towards the sky looking at the bright shining dots in the black sky. Letting out a soft sigh, her eyes widened as she felt his arm around her, her face would blush again this time a darker hue of red. Gently she leaned against him as they stared up at the stars. ” I never found my star…Then again, I’m not sure if I do have a star…” She’d let off a soft sigh as she relaxed against him for a moment, before he started to move, pushing them both up on their feet. ”Maybe one of these days, you could tell me the legend of the dragon in the stars.”

His smile made her eyes lit up as she watched him readjust the jacket on her shoulders, her hands crawled out from the midst of it and gripped the open flaps of it. ”I will make sure to take care of it Aizawa-Kun.” She stood there for a moment watching him, thinking of things that she could do or use to make the interactions between them easier. ”Let’s go back to the Carnival for a bit, I wouldn’t mind having some cotton candy before bed.” Letting off a little giggle she started to walk ahead of him, turning back she held her hand out to him knowing he couldn’t take it. ” The blue cotton candy is my favorite, let’s go see if we can find a vendor Aizawa-Kun.” She’d drag his name out in a soft lullaby.

"Are all the women from your land as teasing, or have you grown fond of me?" He chuckled and followed after her. Head shaking, sending his lightning locks into a dance. The bandanna around his forehead that dammed the hair back fell over his eyes, and dangled around his face to the back of his neck. Stuck on the bridge of his nose. "Ahh!" He gasped, grasping the sleeve of his jacket and keeping hold to follow. "I seem to have been blinded..." A nervous chuckle escaping him. As though ashamed of how timid he seemed.

As he followed behind her, the mention of cotton candy had caught his attention, he he hopped to pace. His body leaned on the jacket on her back, as though trying to make them move in haste. "Anything sweet is great to me." He snickered, a foolish grin once more taking its place. "Hunni-chan... I want sweets." His left hand shot up as though a child raising their hand for class. Still blinded by the bandanna. Though he made no attempt at fixing this, just continued to interact. Leaning his chin on her shoulder, he whispered into her ear. "My treat.. Hunni-chan." His words drawn out.

Her face would flush with that deep red tint once more as her eyes moved to before them, looking at the bright shining lights of the carnival. His sudden out burst made her laugh, turning to look back at him as he leaned on her back. A large smile grew across her face as she hurried back up the hill and into the soft colored lights of the carnival. She could see that his bandanna fell over his eyes, but she moved up the hill and tilted her face so she was careful not to make skin contact with him and send him into a frenzy.

”Aizawa-San… Are all men from your land as adorable and innocent as you?” She’d let a gentle laugh escape off her lips as she stopped when they came into the large group of the carnival. Ducking beneath his chin she turned into his body, then lifted her hands up to his bandanna lifting it up above his eyes so it held back his sparkling blonde hair. With a gentle smile on her face, her eyes washed over his face and she’d blush only slightly. ”Aizawa-San…Your treat? My…I owe you then Aizawa…I will repay you.” With a smile on her face, she removed her hands from his bandanna then turned to look at the bright lights of the carnival once again.

”Comon Aizawa! Sweet treats await!” She yelled over the crowd to him as she dissappeared into the crowd of people. A child-like giggle would escape her voice as she started to skip into the group of people that moved with their sweet candy apple treats, she skipped slowly though giving him time to catch her if he so pleased.

It really wasn't that she was being all that nice to the toddler but rather she just didn't want the treat. Nor did she wish to affront the deed of the fine pilfering of her escort by simply tossing the candied apple on the ground. And so the seemingly act of kindness was played out. The response to her gesture from the Puppeteer made a lone brow perk, arching highly above the soot colored orb. The golden coin catching her eye before her gaze darted from the push of the metal object into the womans hand to her companion as he wrapped his arm back around her wasp like waist.

"So you could have paid all along..." Bruxa mused as a wry smile formed on those plump lips. Holding that index finger to his lips just a moment longer. Letting that digit tarry against his mouth as he licked the tip clean. "It seems my dear Puppeteer you are some sort of thrill seeker" That rich southern accent with the girlish giggle entwined into her voice continued. "To steal when you have no need and the chance of me draining your rich life source with the offering you bestowed."

Walking beside him, keeping pace with his stride as they resumed their obscure journey to nowhere. "One might even surmise that you have a softness to your heart to so freely give of yourself and such grand possessions like gold coins rather than spend them on frivolous candied fruit." Ebon hues danced over his face as she let that smile fade slightly, resuming back to the facade of innocence. "Or perhaps you expect somehow to be repaid for such feats?"

He gave a shrug as she mused upon his deeds, two acts that didn’t add up in the equation of morality. “I could have, I suppose. But those apples were hardly a fair trade for that coin, and who’s to say the vender would have even accepted it as legal tender? I am sure he would not have had enough to pay the change, where as if I give the coin away to her, there is no change to collect,” he answered as he guided the girl through the carnival. Step by step, they increased the distance between themselves and their good deeds.

“Don’t look into it too much, my Doll. I simply do as I please when I please,” he stated, glancing down to her as she walked beside him. With one last bite, the Puppeteer finished his candied apple. For a moment, he examined the skewered core before tossing it to the ground—after all, in his age or at least most of the ones he’d lived through, the idea of a trash receptacle was unheard of when in the outdoors—everywhere was the trashcan.

“Well, you’ve shown me one thing, what else does this mockery of Carnival have to offer?” As he asked his question, the Puppeteers gaze flitted from her to the many booths that offered a myriad of games, each with different prizes. Some looked familiar while others seemed strange to the elder entity. The Puppeteer stopped in front of one of the larger stalls, an eyebrow lofted in curiosity as he read the sign overhead: “Skeeball”. The strobing, lumescent lights caught his attention almost as much as the dull thuds and hum of the hard balls thumping the ramp and rolling up towards the concentric rings with their holes, each labeled with a multiple of ten. Every so often, a buzzer accompanied by flashing lights went off as one of the players sunk a ball in the center-most hole. “What is this… marvelous game?” asked the Puppeteer as he began studying the players before the owner caught sight of him.

When she turned and rushed off, he gave chase. Ducking below arms, hopping over small children. "Oi, oi. No fair. You got a head start." Crying after the cheerful companion. When she came into view, he ducked to the left and began to flank around her. People surrounding them allowed quick and easy cover if need be to hold the hidden state. His steps were slow and avoided every obstacle. The space between them fairly small, made it simply too tempting. He continued to move through the crowd before steeping beside her. With almost no hint of foolishness, he assumed his actions like he had been there the entire time. "Though, what is sweeter than spending an evening with a pretty girl?"

He simply wove his arm into her's. His foolish expression held an odd sense of pride. His free hand digging into his pocket to retrieve the money for the sweets. "If there is a sweet better than such, someone must have stolen from the gods." He joked, as though teasing her. His gaze drifted around before landing to her once more. "Hunni-chan... Shaman practice magic, are there any bad shaman?" He asked, perking a brow. A change of subject, but far more informational then legendary. It was like everything had a legend it reminded him of. All but the shaman. So he stayed focused on that.

The crowd was still so busy. It felt good not to be noticed by many. Gazing around once more, his foolish grin altered into a fairly proud one. Stopping them in place with a sudden halt. Once more a change of subject was instant and brief. "Besides, if men from Japan were all like me, I'd have to fight for your attention." He teased once more. This time his free hand lifted and hovered over her cheek. A single static shock jumping between them. Like a gust of wind, it came and went. And yet, his hand stayed still. Shaking softly. Like a nervous thought stuck in his mind.

Listening intently as he explained the decision he had taken between the pilfering of apples and the donation of a poor young mother with the coin and its odd archaic marking. Giving a simple nod and alluring smile as she still thought of it all as some warped RobinHoodistic thing. "I've actually shown you nothing that you didn't see yourself first..." She informed him as they paused in front of the gaming booth. "I've merely explained whether it was a good thing or not and how to operate or eat what you discovered."

Eyes shifted to the event and its players as the small wooden balls were rolled up the slight incline to bounce suddenly and alit to one of the many circles with their numbered scores."Skeetball..." She said matter of factly as if he should have already known...had not this game been around even before her time? Ebon hues slid back to her companion, gazing at him curiously, wondering just how old this man really was.

"You collect tickets from the scores you attain so that you may trade them in for some grand prize..." Seeing how the Puppeteer watched with the fascination of a child...It seemed he truely had not seen such an article of entertainment before. Dark orbs slid to the owner of the gaming stable as he focused in on her escort. That sweet facade of an innocent smile twitched onto her mouth.

"Would you like to give it a go...perhaps win me something to remember this night by?" She spoke in that singsong southern accent even as she reached into the bodice that housed her young chest. Fingers sliding into the valley between the twin mounds of flesh to produce a coin...this one more modern and known in this part of the world..compared to the one the Puppeteer had sported earlier. "My treat..." She offered...not that it was her money ...she simply spent it freely with the blessings of the old woman back in New Orleans.

She had lost him, for the moment. Swerving between the groups and gatherings of other people, the sounds of the carnival tickling her ears with remembrance of yesteryears. The body spun, like a top, turning to look behind her, searching for that blonde haired trix. His voice surprised her, sending a gentle shock throughout her body before twisting to see the other beside her. His words played against her ears, causing her face to flush a deep red color once again. ”The only thing sweeter than that…Hmm…A mug of hot chocolate, watching the rising sun with someone special.”

With that said, she leaned towards him as he wove his arm into her own, careful not to get too close to him. His teasing only made her smile, genuinely towards him as he quickly moved onto another subject. Her head tilted only slightly at this question before the switch was brief, and moved onto the next. Her smile changed into a slight smirk before his form moved from hers, with but a moment to adjust herself, standing straight once again as her mind drifted off about the Shaman practice. The taste of the electric shock brought her back to staring into the bright colored hues of Aizawa.

The prickle of the static shock caused her body to shudder with goose bumps covering almost every inch of her skin. With a deep breath her eyes closed, waiting for a moment before opening back up to look at Aizawa.”Just like in anything, and everything, there are always bad to weigh the good.” With another smiling crossing her lips, lifting her hand up, she pulled the sleeve of the warm all season jacket over her hand, then reached out and gripped onto Aizawa’s hand. She wasn’t sure if this was alright or not, but through the cloth she gripped his hand and pulled him along as she moved through the crowd.

Stopping before a brightly colored stand, where lights and paint formed the word ‘Sweets’. Letting go of his hand, she crossed her arms under her chest before turning to face the electric started man with a gentle smile on her face. ]”Sweets for my sweet?” A soft giggle escaped from her smiling lips.

"Your sweet?" With a surprised blink, Kouichi glanced around. Spinning her to face the stand of sweets. His left arm wrapping about her form gently, and he pulled out money to pay. Once the money was out of his hand, he whispered. "What magic did you use to capture me so?" He asked, awaiting their sweets. Looking around once more, he smiled. Still he continued to hold her by the waist, his chest pressed to the back of the jacket. Still so careful so not to make any contact past the jacket. With a soft smile, he looked back to the sky.

"How have you adjusted to coming here?" He questioned, his questioned becoming much more personal. She had him under some spell. She had to have cast one. None of their contact had truly ruined the night, and in fact they continued to find ways to stay close. When the thought them finding ways to stay close filled his head. He began to blush, and it only darkened instantly. The thought simply did not go away. It opened the door to more questions. Why did they continue to push being close? Turning his head to look at her, he stupidly asked aloud. "Hunni-chan, why do you insist on being close to me? It's not exactly easy."

Perhaps it wasn't the best question, but it seemed best to ask. "Not that it bothers me. I enjoy your company, and you a very pretty." He forced his smile to stay, but it remained no more than a smirk. Though jumping back to a good mood, a snicker left his lips. Turning his attention back to the vendor, he reached out and took the blue cotton candy for her. Holding it for her, he then held out his left hand and took his own blue cotton candy. "Your sweets."

When his Doll yet again took on the role of teacher, explaining to him the oddity that was before him, the Puppeteer listened in silence. As per usual, when something peaked his curiosity, an eyebrow lofted into the shadows cast by the brim of his top hat—it was a wonder that it didn’t get stuck in that position with how often it crept upward. Sadly, while her explanation detailed the results, she didn’t quite explain what the immediate goal in the game was. By watching others though, he was able to figure out how one obtained the ‘score’ she mentioned.

The Puppeteer’s eyes remained locked upon the skeetball machine until his doll offered for him to play a round with her paying and he turned to her. While it challenged his masculinity and dominance to let his Doll ‘treat’ him, he understood that if he truly wanted to experience the game the proper way, without risk of bringing down any reprisals by the faire authorities, he would need to use the local currency, which he stilled lacked.

“Alright, that sounds fair, my Doll. I will do my best to win you a grand prize,” he chuckled, the mirthful sound trickling from his lips as he nodded to her. The man’s grin widened when he noticed the location of his Doll’s purse nestled within her bodice. With a wave of his hand, the Puppeteer indicated that his Doll should go pay the man running the stand so that he might play his game. It was difficult for the ancient demon to determine upon what his gaze should affix—the backside of his doll as she went to pay or the marvelous machine in front of him. Unable to decide, his eyes darted from one to the other and back again time and time again until she had returned to him.

With but a gentle smile on her face, her head would give a shake as her hands reached out and took the cotton candy that was presented. Still, she felt bad for not at least paying for her own sweets. ”Yes, sweet, because you have shown me more kindness than I have seen here all year.” Her eyes grew wide as she lifted a hand, to pull at the cotton candy cloud, pulling it apart, shoving a small piece into her mouth as he asked questions, making the candy become a sort of distraction for the moment.

”There is no spell Aiza-San, I am sorry that you think there is a spell, only but my kindness is here for you.” With a laugh escaping her, her fingers pressed into the candy once again, covering her fingers in this sugary delight. Pressing that onto her tongue, her eyes went large as she looked at Aizawa after his comment on their contact. With a soft blush covering her cheeks, her head shook as an understatement for what he had just said. That deep blush covered the caramel colored skin as her head tilted only slightly.


”A challenge always has the best prize.” That was all she would say on that subject. Yes it was difficult to be close to the man, with his handicap, and then there was the shocking sensation. Strange as it had been, she had enjoyed the electric shock coursing through her veins as only his eyes were holding her to the ground. Still, as she ate the cotton candy, her blue cotton candy covered finger moved out to him and beckoned towards him to follow her. With that she turned on the spot, waving through a few people before she turned to look back at him. ”I know a short-cut back to the school, if you’d like to go back.”

The offer accepted with that quaint chuckle. The wide grin enticed that lopsided smile of her own to appear once more. Noting how his gaze wandered to her bosom as she produced the solitary coin from the corsetted top. It was something she had grown used to, what with the type of people she had chosen to feed from at a young age. The leering old men who preferred young tender lasses. Ready to grope with greasy fingers before finding themselves manipulated by the ploy of innocence. Surely surprised to find out they were not the actual real predator at all in the situation they had become ensnared within.

The flat piece of metal pinched between thumb and finger as she turned with the wave of his hand. Dismissed to pay the purveyor while he intently scrutinized the game of others. The vendor of the booth studied her as she approached with that sultry gait. Accepting the coin as his eyes darted over her small form with one of those devious glints. Playful banter enticed two games for the price of one before turning back to the Puppeteer only to find his own eyes drawing up and down her body before glancing back to the game.

Holding up the two tokens victoriously. "Enjoying the view? Or are you ready to win me that prize?" She mused in a teasing tone as she held out the symbolic keys to begin playing skeetball. Nodding to the slot at the foot of the machine. Indicating exactly where the resemblance of a coin should go in order to start the entertaining event.

Plucking at the candy cloud as if it trimming a wild tree, he followed behind her. He chuckled, eyes locked so not to lose sight of her. "I don't feel bad about no spells being used. In fact it's quite pleasing to hear." Seeing the blush once more take her, he nodded. Leaning in close, his face a mere inch away from her cheek. From his lips, a gentle electric shock sparked between them, and he returned back to his original straightened stance. His own cheeks still flooded with a crimson dye.

"Short-cut?" Perking a brow, he continued to follow. His right hand held the candy like it was gonna fly away. His left rested where his weapon would rest. As he began to nibble onto the fluffy cloud of sugar. His head tilting and turning, neck twisting and whipping. Stealing glimpses of everything around them. Avoiding eye contact this time. "Why not go the long way then?" Taking another nibble of the sugar puff, a chuckle left his lips. "Do you wish to get rid of me so bad?" Teasing how tight of companionship they already seemed to have formed. With a shrug, he looked down at the ground, his facial expression completely shifted to a lonesome frown crossing his lips. Like a child told to play alone.

He still walked along side her, nipping the at the candy with an addicted way. A gentle cheerful hum escaping his throat as they walked. The crease in his back from his spine shook side to side. An over-sized kid. Eccentric, or deeply disturbed. He perked up once more and blinked. A chuckle, and a nod, finishing the transfer. His smile returning, not a single sign of depression existing within his presence.

When his Doll approached him, the soft rustling of grass beneath her booted feet replacing the regular rhythm of her heels, the Puppeteer smiled to her. “Very much so,” he sighed as he reached a hand out and gently pluck the two tokens from her grasp. Nimble fingertips traced over her knuckles before relieving her of the metal discs. His other hand reached out, after banishing his cane in a cloud of strings, and attempted to hook around her waist. If the snare succeeded, the Puppeteer drew her against his body, feeling the petite frame press against his taller, stronger build. The capture ended with a stolen kiss. If he had caught her in the first place, he released her after the kiss. Otherwise, he gave a disappointed huff.

The Puppeteer wriggled his fingers, making the pair of coins tumble across them like glimmering gymnasts. When one of the tokens somersaulted onto his thumb, he flicked it up into the air. Swinging his other hand around, he snatched the token as its upward momentum diminished and it hovered in the air before changing trajectory. Bending forward, the Puppeteer deposited the one coin into the slot in the machine while he continued to dance the other across the knuckles of his other hand.

A half dozen balls whirred down a track as they were released from their cage. They crashed into the rim of the tray with a loud crack and subsequent softer clacks until they’d settled. The Puppeteer, amused by the thought of each ball being a head getting knocked together, reached down and plucked one of the polished wooden spheres. He tested the weight of it, rolling it across his fingers, down his palm, to his wrist, where with a flick, he popped it up into the air. The Puppeteer seized the ball in a tight cage of his fist and nodded. “Well, let’s see how well I do.” The end of his statement was punctuated by the wooden orb smacking and skidding up the ramp before rolling. The initial rough landing hampered its ascent and when it launched from the ramp, it only, just barely, plopped into the first ring before rolling into the hole labeled ‘10’.

Grumbling to himself over his obvious failure, the Puppeteer grabbed a second ball and tried again. The second throw was smoother, the ball skating up the ramp and leaping over the ‘10’, ‘20’, and ‘30’ before plunging into the ‘40’. “There we go, that’s better,” breathed the Puppeteer, a soft sigh of relief in his voice for having achieved a better score without cheating. Four more tosses and the Puppeteer tallied up his score: Ten, forty, twenty, thirty, fifty, fifty for a total of one hundred and seventy points. It seemed that he was getting the hang of playing Skeeball by the end. When the Puppeteer lifted his gaze though, he realized that the number was already flashing in big red numbers on the top of the machine. A small smile grew on his lips, enjoying the convenience that the digital age offered.

Hearing a quiet hum, the Puppeteer glanced down to see a second slot just beside the one in which he’d slid the first token spitting out a ribbon. The tailor reached down and tore the ribbon free from the machine and examined it. He quickly realized that it wasn’t a ribbon but instead a series of small connected pieces of paper stamped with numbers and words. It seemed that for every five points he has scored, he had received a ticket. “Do you see anything you like, my precious Doll?” he offered, grinning at her as he counted up the tickets and looked at the prizes. While the best of them were impossible to earn by playing even five perfect games, there were some decent stuffed animals or trinkets for the price of one hundred tickets—though that would require the Puppeteer to play a perfect game for his next one.

That girlish giggle seeped through those still rose tinted lips as he snatched the tokens from her hand. The warmth of his fingers brought a tingly sensation as they brushed across those delicate knuckles. It seemed the show was back on as he worked his magic. The cane dispersing into that intricate array of threads as his other hand encircled the curve of her waist. The makeshift lasso ensnaring her small form as she was tugged towards him. Petite frame colliding with his body and that quick peck laid upon her mouth, leaving her with a goofy grin as she was released.

The trickery continued as the coin like objects proceeded to flip across the back of his hand. Dancing from one digit to the next before one was flipped into the air and caught expertly. Bruxa clapped her hands like an excited child in response to the delightful entertainment. Standing beside him as he inserted the circular key into the slot so the wooden balls were liberated and the first game began. Nipping at her lower lip, tugging it into her mouth as the inaugural sphere was thrown.

Brows knitted at the score but she said nothing, just standing tentively next to him as he took aim and improved dramatically. "Well done my dear Puppeteer..." She cheered with a light bounce on the toes of those boots and another round of applause that roared louder with each toss. Watching the string of tickets stream from the machine to award his winnings.

“Do you see anything you like, my precious Doll?” Eyes darted up with the posed query. Gaze flickering over the treasures that could be bought with the winning coupons. The focus came upon the doll with the ruffled dress and curly blonde lockes and those bright blue eyes that closed when you laid it down. "That..." She announced her decision firmly. Accentuating it with a long slender finger jutting out from the extended arm. Pointing out the object of desire. Assuring the child within her existed strongly with the choice. Dark hues alit back to the Puppeteer with that sultry and lightly impish smile.

The electric shock, once again. Shivers throbbed through her body as for a moment the electricity shot through her system, sending every hair on end. This caused her lips to part in a most generous of smiles, as the southern lick of Australia came in like giant waves over her pronounced English."Spells...Be but the grain of the source. Charm, now that be where the secret lie'."The terrible grammar flew off her tongue, in a strange comforting way. Fingers raised and pulled at the blue puff of cloud on a stick, it bent and leaned with each tug. His tone of voice set her into a slight bundle, fingers placed between her lips as the cotton candy melted from them. The face seemed to drop, from that happy joyous frame, into a soft yet disturbed offset.

"That's not it at all Ai-za-wa-San" She strung his name out like a gentle whisper, as a soft smirk came to her lips crooked against the frame. "That's not it at all, I just didn't want to be keeping you all night, I'm sure you have others to see." She gave a slight nod of her head before her shoulders raised and fell shrugging at the situation for the moment. Letting silence over come them even for but the moment, pulling at the cotton candy mindlessly as they walked, her eyes kept off to the side, searching through the river beside them as her chest raised then fell heavily with sighs.

The soft reassuring sound of the gentle waves lapping against the sandy shore, just a few feet from where they where walking. Hazel orbs shifted from this site, back to the one that walked beside her baring a gentle smile as she did. [i]"But I would think it would go without saying, that I've had quite the enjoyable evening with such a electric shock.'' Her play on things may have been quite plain, silence overcame her once again as the blue cotton candy mixture was placed in her mouth. Gently she leaned towards him and bumped his shoulder while still wearing his coat, carrying on with her eating of the candy.