The adventure continues kids! This chapter is just some (mostly) harmless fooling around and silliness. Nothing too serious this time.

Once again, none of these characters belong to me.

Climber sat outside of the shop wearing a lonely expression. Wantanuki was at school and the shop was fairly quiet in the heat of the afternoon. He let out a long sigh and wondered what Clarice was doing right now. How long had it been since he had seen her? A long, long time. Climber closed his eyes as he remembered their first meeting so long ago.

The memories occupied his attention and he didn't notice the pink and blue heads that poked around the corner. Maru and Moro looked at him and then at each other. "Sneak, sneak sneak," the whispered as the tiptoed over to him. Standing on either side of him, they looked at him with wide eyes. Then they smiled. "Climber!"

His eyes shot open and he yelped in surprise. The twins laughed and wrapped their arms around him. "Climber! Climber! Climber!" they sang.

"Uh…y-yes?" he stammered, not really sure what he should do.

"Come play with us," Maru said.

"It's so boring without Wantanuki," Moro added.

"And Karl won't play with us."

"And Mistress is working."

Climber smiled. "O-ok. What should we play?"

The twins gave him matching grins. "It's called the catch the crow game!"

If Climber had any color in his face it would have drained away. "Th-that sounds a little…dangerous…." -Especially if they're talking about the crow I think they are, - he added silently.

"It's fun, it's fun," they insisted.

"As long as we don't get caught by Mistress," Moro whispered.

"Or Karl."

"I don't think I want to play," Climber said. "Karl doesn't really like me and…."

They pouted and glomped him. "Pleeeeeeease Mister Climber?" they begged. "Just once? We're just so bored and it's more fun when three people play."

"Ok, but just one time and that's it," he conceded. He wanted to be useful and help them out. But something told him this wouldn't end well.

Arma was just a crow when she wasn't in Karl's hands. But, even knowing this, Climber was still scared of her. "I don't think this is a good idea," he whispered to the two girls.

"Just watch."

"Just watch."

"It'll be fun," they said in unison. Then they took off across the yard. Climber almost yelled for them to come back but then remembered that Karl might be near-by and decided against it. Wishing he hadn't left his pickaxe in the shop, he followed Maru and Moro.

Hiding in the bushes, Maru held a net and Moro crouched low. "One…two…THREE!" They burst from their hiding place and swung the net at Arma. The crow dodged they attack and flew away. "Follow!" the twins exclaimed.

"W-wait!" Climber yelled running after them. Moro grabbed her twin by the waist and lifted her up so she could get a better shot. They swiped and snatched but Arma avoided them. Moro jumped and grabbed Arma, attempting to bring her down. The crow struggled and broke free only to run right into the soft stomach of Climber. He fell back but grabbed hold of her.

"You did it!" Maru and Moro laughed and went over to him. He struggled to keep her from flying away.

"N-now what?" he asked.

There was a snap as the heavy boots of a certain pirate broke the abandoned net. "What are you doing?" Karl asked, his smile an annoyed grimace and his scarred eye twitching madly.

"Uh…" The twins turned heel. "Run away!"

Climber looked at them and then at Karl and the bird in his hands. Then he yelped and took off as well. He thought of maybe just letting Arma go, but then Karl would turn her into a sword and cut him to pieces.

"Why are you running Cloth Guy?" Karl taunted as he ran after him. "Give Arma back."

"No," he cried. Now what? Now what? Now what? He thought frantically as he ran through the yard. Karl kept up with him, but as usual, Climber was too fast for him.

The mannequin came to an abrupt halt as Yuko stepped out of the shop. "Miss Yuko, help me!" He hid behind her, still keeping a firm grip on Arma.

Karl stopped in front of Yuko and glared daggers at Climber. "Give…her…back…" he spat.

"Climber," Yuko said, holding out her hand. He looked at her and then at the crow struggling between his hands. Looking ashamed of himself he handed the bird over to her. Arma didn't flutter away and instead remained with the tall woman. "I believe I told you earlier to keep an eye on your bird." Yuko stroked Arma with a smile. "I thought you were heartless, not careless."

"I…I didn't mean to cause any trouble. The two little girls wanted me to play and…I'm sorry." Climber hung his head. He wasn't useful at all now.

"That's quite alright, it was Karl's fault for letting her wander around alone."

"I fail to see how this is my fault," Karl said, barely able to keep his temper under control. It was clear that when he had a chance he was going to murder Climber.

Yuko let Arma go and she fluttered back to her owner. "Climber, I need you to run something to Wantanuki. He'll be getting out of school soon and I want him to pick up some things for me on his way home. Can you do that for me?"

Karl bristled. How dare she ignore him! "May I dare ask why –he- gets to leave and I don't?"

"That's easy," Yuko said, handing the mannequin a list. "He's just more useful than you are and less likely to get into trouble."

Climber blinked. Useful? Really? A smile came to his face but it vanished as he saw the cruel look Karl was giving him. Yuko's voice brought his attention back to her. "Take Mokona with you and he'll tell you how to get to Wantanuki's school, ok?"

"Ok. Th-thank you…. for saying I'm useful."

"Of course." Yuko looked at Karl who was still seething in anger. These two were very interesting. They were the same, with no similarity. What a paradox.

That's all for now folks! Hope you enjoyed this fun little chapter.