Shippou: Hurray! (Does a "Happy Kitsune Midair Jumping Jack.")
MJ: (staring at Shippou) Okaaaaay . . . .
Kenshin: (entering the scene) Begging everyone�s pardon, is there room for one more, de gozaru ka?
Spike: Sure why not?
Sano: Ninzuu ga oukere be oui hodo yukai da. [The more, the merrier.]
Kenshin: Nihao, Sanosuke. Doushitano, de gozaru.
Sano: Eh? (Scratches head under the sacred fishing hat.) Kenshin nandatte?
Kenshin: Oro? (Looks very confused.) Did I miss something, de gozaru yo?
MJ: Um, yeah . . . y�see Ken-san, our good friend XJo-Chan is currently possessing Tori Atama over there. [tori atama = chicken head]
Kenshin: What? How?
MJ: (taking Kenshin under her wing) It�s kind of a long story. Tea?
Kenshin: Please. (They walk off to get some tea.)
Rin: (peeking out from her hiding place behind a chair) Who�s the man with the funny red hair?
Fluffy: (pounces) Ah-HA! (Scoops up a squealing Rin and begins to tickle her.) Found you!
Rin: (shrieks with laughter) Oh no! Help! (Laughs helplessly. Fluffy is actually smiling and seems to be having fun.)
{Cuteness level: Approaching nauseating again.}
(Gradually, Fluffy notices the rest of the cast watching this little scene.)
IY: *mockingly Well, well . . . .
Fluffy: Stuff it, half-breed.
Neko: *swat* Bad Fluffy. Play nice.
IY: Don�t suppose we could fashion a rosary for my dear brother, do you?
Neko: Take it up with the author. I�m not gonna do it.
Rin: (hugs Fluffy, still giggling) Aishiteru yo, Fluffy-sama!
{Cuteness level meter burns out.}
All: Awww . . . . *beat*
[AN: All the characters speak their native language on the bus, be it Chinese, Japanese, English or whatever. The dialogue is subtitled inside everyone else�s brains, so they hear it and understand it instantly. Names and nicknames are not translated, so Sesshoumaru has no idea that he�s been dubbed "Fluffy." Rin heard Tani�s line and misinterpreted "Fluffy" as a word rather than a name. She�s young, give her a break. Anyway, she just called Sesshoumaru "Kebadatteiru-sama." To save everyone from scrambling for a dictionary, "kebadatteiru" means "fluffy." The secret�s out. This should be good.]
Fluffy: -.-* Chotto matte . . . what did you call me, Rin?
Rin: "Fluffy-sama" . . . . That�s what Neko-san called you . . . . *confused*
Fluffy: -.-*** So . . . (turns to Neko, looking rather murderous) . . . you�ve been calling the prince of the western lands "Fluffy," have you?
Neko: ^.^;;; Eh heh heh heh . . . . sort of . . . .
Fluffy: O.O**** WHY YOU . . . . *scary background lightning*
Rin: Onegai, Fluffy-sama! I like it! It�s pretty! (Throws her arms around his neck, thereby hampering his ability to shred Neko to a pulp. Fluffy glances back and forth between Rin, who is giving him the booboo-sad-puppy pleading face, and Neko, who looks as if she�d like nothing more than to run away and hide.)
*LONG OMINOUS PAUSE*
Fluffy: Well . . . all right. (Everyone lets out the breath they didn�t know they were holding.)
K-Chan: OK, this is way too serious, let�s have some fun!
All: Yeah! (Cut to stage. Neko, K-Chan, MJ, Trin, and Tani perform "Josie and the Pussycats," except they say "Neko and the Pussycats." The song ends to much applause.)
MJ: *after the applause has died down* OK, people, we�re going to reset the stage a bit now and then . . . (gets a dangerous look in her eyes) I want some VOLUNTEERS, people! Volunteers or victims, SOMEbody�s gonna sing! And guys . . . . (glances at Fluffy; lowers voice) . . . . no Disney songs, OK? (Laughter.)
Fluffy: *indignantly* Keh.
[Ten minutes and some rearrangements later . . . . ]
(No one has yet volunteered. MJ is not particularly happy about this, but she has a plan . . . . )
MJ: OK, people, get quiet. (Pauses when this has no effect.) *loudly* Y�all shut up now! (Crowd quiets.)
K-Chan: M-Chan, if you launch into a lecture on neural biology, I�m gonna swat you.
MJ: Don�t worry. *to audience* Now, I noticing that no one . . . not a single person . . . has volunteered to participate in the Karaoke Fest. That disturbs me . . . but it�s also rather convenient. You see . . . (gestures to band) . . . we�ve got a little surprise for you.
(Audience screams in terror and there is a mad dash for the exits.)
MJ: (speaks over them) As I�m sure you all know, every good anime series has a theme song. But, for some reason, The Continued Adventures of the Blue Psychedelic Ghetto Bus of DOOM Doom doom never has . . . until now. Fellow cast members, I give you "Birdhouse In Your Soul." Hit it, girls.
(Opening music plays; K-Chan on bass, Neko on guitar, Trin on tambourine, Chan on drums, Tani on keyboards, MJ on vocals.)
I�m your only friend, I�m not your only friend,
But I�m a little glowing friend, but really I�m not actually your friend,
But I am . . . . *music swells*
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch who watches over you.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
Not to put too fine a point on it, say I�m the only bee in your bonnet.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
I have a secret to tell from my electrical well.
It�s a simple message and I�m leaving out the whistles and bells.
So the room must listen to me, filibuster vigilantly.
My name is Blue Canary one note spelled l-i-t-e.
My story�s infinite. Like the Longines Symphonette, it doesn�t rest.
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch who watches over you.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
Not to put too fine a point on it, say I�m the only bee in your bonnet.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
I�m your only friend, I�m not your only friend,
But I�m a little glowing friend, but really I�m not actually your friend,
But I am . . . .
Bluebird of friendliness. Like guardian angels, it�s always near.
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch who watches over you.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
Not to put too fine a point on it, say I�m the only bee in your bonnet.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
And while you�re at it, leave the night light on inside the birdhouse in your soul.
Not to put too fine a point on it, say I�m the only bee in your bonnet.
Make a little birdhouse in your soul.
(More cheers and applause from the audience. Neko and the Pussycats take a bow. Fade out.)
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