So sorry for the long wait. Hope the wait is worth it.

I hope you can forgive me for this. You need to get stronger at a fast pace. Although I'm a patient "person", unlike you, I prefer that I bestow this curse upon you as quickly as possible-it will help you on this journey I have set you on.

I conjure a Dark portal and exit the hotel room. It will be very interesting to see how you're going to manipulate your predicament, Mizuki. I must rest for a bit, I've exerted too much energy to enter this world.

I moan groggily as I blink everything in to focus. Light drizzle splatters against the roof, waking me up peacefully. I yawn, stretching my arms out and looking around the posh hotel room. For a millisecond, I thought I was at home-but I'm not. I'm stuck in this place, without a clue on how to get around.

I throw off the covers and something bathes the room in violet light, practically blinding me.

"I don't remember leaving the lights on," I groan as I picked up the bright object. My eyes quickly adjust to the blinding light as I scrutinize the object. It's a purple jewel the size of my palm that looks like an upside-down cone. This wasn't in bed when I went to sleep.

"So pretty."

I put it on the night-table, slap myself silly to make sure this isn't a dream, and then peer at the jewel again. It's real alright, but what's it doing in my bed?

My stomach growls angrily. Alright, I'll figure it out later. After ordering a small lunchbox to the room, and getting back into my now dry clothes, I pick up the glowing jewel. It's looks really valuable and would sell for…I don't know- 20k perhaps? I could afford to do whatever I want with this thing.

'

Okay, the hotel clerk said it's ten blocks away from here, which is a twenty minute walk. It's a good idea to see the city anyway and be familiar with my surroundings. The tall skyscrapers don't stretch as high as they do in Tokyo, but it's almost as crowded. The jewel's glow is so damn bright though- I don't want to be bait for muggers and thieves. I shove it deeper in my pocket as I stroll across the busy street. As I turn the block, bam! In two seconds, I'm on the pavement along with a woman and grocery bags.

"Shit! Sorry."

"Crap-! Watch where you're going," the woman in her early thirties says, dabbing the spilled coffee on her lab coat and shaking her head in disgust.

In the corner of my eye, I see the palm-sized jewel rolling out of my pocket into the spilled bag of chips and eggs. Quickly I grab it, shove it back in my pocket, and gather some of the undamaged groceries. "Again, I'm really sorry."

The woman stops what she's doing and stares at my glowing pocket. "Hey, what's that in your pocket?"

Craaaap. "That really isn't your business."

"That looked like a Chaos Emerald, didn't it?" she asks, as if I know whatever the heck she's talking 'bout. "Let me see it."

I stand up swiftly, defensively standing my ground. "Sorry about all of this, again, so I'm gonna head off now."

I give the snippy broad my back and start to walk away, but I feel her hand on my arm, yanking me towards her.

"How could you end up with one of those? Give it to me right now kid!"

"Get the hell off me!" I slam my foot on her open-toed heels and sprint past her. Sadly, I sucked at track and field in high school, so I won't be surprised if she's right behind me. She thinks I'm retarded enough to let her "see" my jewel? That broad must be a real idiot.

"Damn kid! These are my favorite pair," I take off the straps and bring my bruised toes into my hand while insignificant bystanders watch me hop up and down. My shades drop onto the yolk from the broken eggs. A man gasps and raises a finger to me.

"Isn't that E-"

"Oh my goodness-! Someone call the police!"

I switch on my altered Bluetooth and call Abaddon's communication watch. He picks up immediately.

"Doctor, I'm heading towards the hideout."

"Don't," I lower my voice while the bystanders loudly repine at me. "Right now, there's a kid running around with a Chaos Emerald in her pocket."

"I'm on it."

"Not yet. I'm in a predicament myself and require your assistance."

"Fine, Doctor," he complies with an innuendo of defiance.