The spirit of the teenaged boy looked longingly at the scene before him. He'd come close to this happiness when he was alive, or so he thought. If only Yori-kun hadn't abandoned him in front of the other then maybe, just maybe, he might have been allowed to live freely. He'd loved him and been loved by him at least that's what he'd thought at the time; but Yori-kun had left him to the wrath of the other when they were found. He wished, just one more time, that he could feel the warmth that only the arms of a lover wrapped around you could bring. Looking at the three boys before him he could almost feel that sensation again. Almost imagine that it was him lying between the two boys, enveloped in their strong embrace, instead of his brother's descendant who by some cruel twist of fate looked exactly like him. If he were still alive he might shed a tear from the pain of the loss he felt but ghosts couldn't cry real tears, just memories of tears they'd shed before.

Fuji Shusuke had always been sensitive when it came to supernatural things, so when he felt a shiver run up his back and the dropping temperature in the room his eyes opened immediately. He sat up quickly to look around and ended up staring straight into a pair of hazel gold eyes, at least he was until they disappeared. The presence that had been in the room faded quickly and he looked down just to make certain, but Ryoma was still sleeping soundly. In fact the boy still had a firm grip on his shirt so he lay back down and smiled when he met Tezuka's alert eyes. His lover was not sensitive to spirits, at least not as much as he was, but Tezuka was sensitive to him and had woken when he sat up.

The team captain simply shifted closer, pulling Ryoma firmly against him and reached over to stroke his lovers face. His hand, however, was intercepted by an attention loving cat who managed to sneak her head under it by walking on her mistress' face.

Ryoma, used to this by now, moved her into his arms before sitting up and taking in his surroundings. Realizing just where he was and with who made him blush and squirm his way out of the bed a bit faster than he normally would. Deciding to just ignore his slight embarrassment he made for the bathroom to get ready for the day. Ryoma stopped for a moment outside of his room, he'd forgotten to grab any clothes last night but the room seemed almost intimidating after what had happened. Shaking the feeling off he opened the door and walked in cautiously looking around him for any danger. Just because he wasn't going to let himself be scared off didn't mean he had to be stupid about being in the place he'd been attacked. As he was rifling through his things to find what he wanted to wear today his skin started to crawl. Someone was behind him.

"Oi. Ryoma, you really shouldn't be in here alone after last night. What happens if whoever it was comes back?" Momoshiro asked as he stood behind the tense boy.

"Momo-sempai. Don't sneak up on people like that." Ryoma answered as he tried to calm himself.

He'd been ready to spin around and try to make a break for it before the powerhouse player had spoken; instead he just relaxed back into a crouch by his suitcase. The seventeen year old looked confused about something and Ryoma knew that if he pushed him now he'd never get to the point, but if he left him too long the older boy might think himself to death too.

Momoshiro sat on the bed unsure of how to approach the subject that had been bothering him. Ryoma was looking at him as though he was contemplating the answer to a difficult problem and it wasn't helping him decide on what to say.

"Just spit it out." The sixteen year old finally said in annoyance five minutes later.

"Huh?" Momo replied.

"You want to say something but you're thinking too much. Just spit it out like you normally would."

"Well there is something I wanted to… Hey are you saying I don't think before I talk!"

"Mada, mada dane. This isn't going to involve you picking me up and hugging me again, is it?" Ryoma asked in cautiously.

"Ryoma I'm being serious!"

"Then say it already."

"Look it's kinda hard to say, but… I like you Ryoma. I want to date you." Momoshiro said softly not daring to look at the other.

Ryoma sat on the floor looking up at him in confusion. How was he supposed to reply to this? If Momo had been a girl he could just say no or tell her he didn't like girls like he had with Sakuno, but Momoshiro was definitely not a girl. He wasn't just some random guy that he could turn down without a second thought either. Why did life have to be so difficult? He thought he'd gotten the point across to the older boy when he'd gotten angry and stopped hanging out with him so often last time. He didn't want to hurt his friend but he just didn't want Momo in that way.

"Say something." The demand snapped Ryoma from his thoughts.

"I… Momo-sempai it wouldn't work."

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't it work?" the older boy asked as he clenched his eyes.

"You're a great friend but we just wouldn't work. We can't even play a game of doubles without trying to kill each other; how do you think it would be dating? Besides, I like… I love someone else. I'm sorry but you and I can't be more than friends." Ryoma finally said hoping the words were right.

"Tezuka-buchou and Fuji-sempai, right?"

"Yeah."

"I guess I can't compare. At least I know they can treat you right. Just promise me that if that ever changes you'll consider me okay?" Momo said quietly as he got up to leave.

"Hai." The answer was just as hushed.

"Well I should go get ready for practice." Momoshiro said as he strode quickly across the room to hide a tear that almost escaped.

"Momo-sempai."

"Hai?" the older boy said without turning to look back.

"Do you want to have a practice game with me?" Ryoma asked uncertainly.

The words brought a smile to Momoshiro's face despite the pain. Trust Ryoma to try and fix everything with Tennis.

"Sure."

Just as Ryoma entered the kitchen after getting dressed the phone rang.

"Ohaiyo Ryoma-kun. I have something I forgot to tell you." Nami's voice said after Ryoma answered the phone.

"What is it?"

"It was foolish of me not to mention it, but there are two vehicles in the garage that your friends with licenses can drive while you're out there. The keys are on the drivers seat of each car. The will says you have to spend the nights there but you can leave during the day. How are things going out there?"

"Fine." Ryoma answered.

"That's good. Anyway the cars belong to the law firm but since you're mother works here it was decided that you and your friends should use them. Have fun Ryoma-kun, just three more days after today and the house is yours!"

Ryoma blinked in annoyance at the happy squeal that followed the lawyers words and quickly hung up the phone, she may be a dear friend of his mom's but the woman was just plain ditzy.

"Echizen who was that?" Inui asked as he walked into the room.

"Nami-san."

"Nya? What did she want Ochibi-chan?" Eiji asked as he dished up the omelet he'd made for the younger boy.

"Thank you Kikumaru-sempai. She wanted to let me know that there are two cars in the garage that we can use if we want to go into town or anything during the day." Ryoma replied as he sat down to eat.

"Perfect." Inui said as he fingered the glass vial in his pocket with a smile.

"Nya?"

"Oishi! Let's see who's at the street courts for a doubles match before we go to the tennis shop!" Eiji exclaimed as he jumped from the barely stopped car.

"Sure, we just have to make sure to watch our time. Inui we'll meet you back here in three hours ok?" the vice captain said as he stepped out to join his lover.

"Ah, I'll see you soon. Give me a call if something else comes up." The data player said as he prepared to pull back out into traffic.

He got back onto the highway shortly after and went through the directions in his mind once more. After all he'd never been to that person's house since he moved 8 years ago. He'd told the others that he had some errands to run, and while that was technically true he was sure they hadn't guessed that it would take him into Rikkaidai's territory. About half an hour later he pulled into the strange driveway and stepped out in confidence and approached the door as it opened without his knocking.

"I estimated that you would get here about now if you didn't get lost."

"How could I? Your directions were perfect. It's good to see you again Renji." Inui said as he stepped inside with the other's permission.

"It's good to see you as well Sadaharu. What did you come for though? You mentioned that it wasn't about tennis which most likely means you need a favor." The Rikkaidai data player said as he led his ex-doubles partner towards his room.

"You're right; I do have a favor to ask. Is your brother still a private detective?"

"Yes, but he's away until tonight." Renji responded with a curious furrow to his brow.

"I need him to evaluate the powder in this container. He does still have that chemical analyzer doesn't he?" Inui said as he pulled out the vial.

"Yes he still has it, and I'm sure he'll look at this when he gets back. Where did you get this? What's going on Sadaharu, is someone on drugs?"

"I don't believe so, but I can't rule it out until I know for sure what that is. One of my teammates was attacked last night and I found this just barely under his bed. It's possible something was trying to kill him." Inui's statement was met with the rare opening of his friend's eyes which quickly closed again when they saw he was serious.

"Someone tried to kill one of them? From the look in your eyes I can only assume it was one of two. You normally only get this worried over Kaidoh or Echizen, though they both are capable of taking care of themselves. I understand they're both younger than you, but why you only concern yourself over those two has remained a mystery to me as you obviously care for them all."

"Ah. Yes something attacked Echizen. I'm just not sure what yet."

"Eiji come on, it's time to go; we still have shopping to do before we meet Inui." Oishi said as he tried to drag the hyperactive red head away from the courts.

"But, Oishi." Eiji whined playfully.

"Excuse me." A new voice from behind the two said.

"Hai?" Oishi said as he turned to find himself face to face with Fudomine's Akira.

"You're on the same team as Momoshiro still right?" the speed player asked.

"Yes, in fact our team is staying at the same place right now. Did you need me to tell him something?"

"Yeah, are you calling him out or something?" Eiji butted in with a conspiratorial look in his eyes.

"Could you please give this to him?" Akira said ignoring the jibe as he handed Oishi a piece of folded paper and took off before they could say anything else.

"Ah." Oishi said looking after the retreating boy.

"What's it say Nya?"

"Eiji, it's rude to look at a letter meant for someone else. Come on, let's go before we're late.

Several hours later Inui found himself sitting at his laptop that he'd set up in his room at the mansion, completely stumped on how to proceed with this mystery. He'd managed to download every version of the blueprints to this house that had ever been transferred to computer, but it looked like there weren't any secret passages or rooms that they didn't know about already. He let out a sigh of frustration. He wouldn't hear from Renji's brother until tomorrow at least, and he'd already gone over the room Ryoma had been attacked in with a fine toothed comb and found nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was like running into a brick wall or continually tripping up while trying to learn a new tennis move. He didn't like it. It was like facing Tezuka, Fuji, and Echizen all at the same time in a match.

Deciding he'd been brooding long enough he rose and made his way downstairs to find Ryoma. Luck was with him as he the sixteen year old in the entertainment room watching a video with Tezuka, Fuji, Oishi and Eiji.

"Echizen, I've been trying to find out more about this house, I was wondering if I had your permission to search the attic for clues." He said bluntly.

"Sure. Just let me know what you find up there." The younger boy replied barely glancing up.

"Thanks." Inui said as he noted the blush Ryoma was trying to hide.

Most likely it was due to the face that Tezuka was massaging one of his hands for him and Fuji had slightly lifted the back of his shirt and was softly rubbing his fingers along the skin he'd revealed.

He made a mental note to add that to his data collection later as he turned and headed for the top floor.

Forty-five minutes and three near box burials later, much to the amusement of the three invisible teenaged ghosts, Inui finally found something useful. There, tucked away in a corner under several other things was a small box that held three tissue wrapped journals. A dark brown one that looked to be the oldest was labeled Echizen R., a white one that had been stained off white with age with the name Echizen Aya written in a type of calligraphy, and a pink one with white sakura petals decoration that had the name Echizen Mai. He could only assume that they were the journals of the three sixteen year olds that had died here. Echizen R… could that Echizen, likely Kiyoshi's first son, really have had the same name as Ryoma? Somehow possibility seemed more and more likely. He would have to find out but he wouldn't snoop into this any further without permission; after all these books belonged to his family and it would be wrong, no matter how much data they could give him, to read them without Ryoma's ok.

With that in mind he gathered them back into the box and carefully made his way back downstairs. He decided to check the living room first only to find that Tezuka, Fuji and Echizen had abandoned the room leaving Oishi and Kikumaru in a small amount of privacy which the two were taking full advantage of. Good data; Kikumaru likes to wrap both his legs and his arms around Oishi when they kiss, and Oishi seems to have a slight obsession with groping Kikumaru's ass. He'd have to try and sketch it in his notebook later, but for now he had to find their youngest teammate. He pushed his glasses up as he turned and headed for the kitchen. They weren't there but he did discover Kawamura teaching Momo how to shape some of the easier maki rolls. There was an open note by the phone that seemed to have been crumpled and smoothed several timed. Glancing from the corner of his eye he read it with a smile; more good data. 'Momoshiro. If you're not still hung up on the brat that defeats Shinji all the time then give me a call and we'll go out or something. Akira.'

Leaving that room he next found Kaidoh in the second story hallway playing with the cat.

"Kaidoh, have you seen Echizen?" Inui asked making the seventeen year old jump.

"Ah, I think they're in their room checking Echizen's ankle and Fuji-sempai's back." He answered with a blush.

"Thank you."

He turned and with a few quick strides he was in front of their door wondering if he would be interrupting something again. Smiling to himself he decided to knock, besides, it was almost time for Ryuzaki-sensei to show up for dinner. Tezuka answered the door with his shirt open and an annoyed look in his eyes.

"That's twice now Inui; what is it?" the team Captain snapped.

Inui raised an eyebrow; he must have really interrupted something to cause Tezuka to snap so bluntly.

"Ah, I need to talk to Echizen and I thought I should remind you that Ryuzaki-sensei should be here soon" he said with a knowing look.

Tezuka gave him a withering look before calling to the younger boy over his shoulder. Ryoma appeared a moment later wearing no shirt at all and looking a little mussed.

"Sempai?"

"Echizen, I found these in the attic. I was wondering if you minded me reading them, they seem to be journals from a few of your ancestors." Inui said showing the books to the younger boy and ignoring the glares he was getting from the other two.

Fuji had joined Tezuka near the door in his boxers and a look of imminent death towards the data player on his face. Apparently they'd gotten even further than the last time he'd interrupted. It was strange though, that Echizen hadn't responded. He looked down into the high school freshman's face and what he saw disturbed him greatly.

Ryoma had picked up the brown journal and was staring at it with wide eyes, his pupils were narrowed with fear and he was shaking just slightly. His action alerted the other two and they both drew him back into an embrace as Inui removed the book from the younger boy's hands. Ryoma promptly snapped out of his state of terror and took the book back, much to the surprise of the older three, or four considering that Kaidoh was watching discreetly from the hall.

"You can read those two sempai, but I want to read this one myself first." Ryoma finally said holding the book to his chest.

"Ryoma, are you sure that's a good idea?" Fuji asked deeply concerned.

He really didn't like the reactions Ryoma had been having to certain things in this house, but he couldn't order the boy around.

"I have to." The hazel eyed boy responded simply as he turned to go back into the room.

The Captain and the prodigy glared at Inui once again, this time for bringing that book anywhere near Ryoma whether or not he knew how the boy would react to it. The data player chose self preservation over logic and made a hasty retreat with the remaining two journals.

Later that evening after Ryuzaki left Fuji took the container that his sister had sent him upstairs to his room to look through it and set things up where he thought they should go while the others were distracted with cleaning up downstairs. His eyebrows rose as he saw just how seriously his sister had taken his request. There were at least thirty Hada Omamori, nine (one for each of them) Michihiraku Omamori, nine Housaiyoke Omamori, nine Enmusubi, nine Gakutoku Omamori, nine Shiawase, nine Tsubaki suzu, nine Shishi Mayoke suzu, nine Tengu Mayoke suzu, three Sarutahiko necklaces, nine card Omamori, thirty Gofu, and several packages of Kiyomesuna as well as several seals against evil spirits.

He quickly placed each where he wanted them, making sure that at least four of the seals were placed properly on the door they still couldn't open. He'd had to sneak into the others' room to place the Omamori on or in things his teammates wore regularly. By the time he was done he was pleased with the result, the house felt warmer already though he did notice that the door he'd placed the seals on had seemed to crackle with energy.

He settled onto the bed to wait for his two roommates and, to his later disappointment, promptly fell asleep.

Authors note: I'm back! My vacation rocked except for the fact that my brother's girlfriend is an annoying clingy idiot and I thrashed my feet by walking around the Metrotown Mall for four hours in two inch heeled boots. Ouch… Oh, and thank you all for your wonderful reviews, they're so encouraging! Heh heh, looks like Tezuka is going into a little sex withdrawal in this chapter… oops. Anyways people, you know the drill, please review and let me know any requests you might have for further chapters. Oh, and by the way, yes I'm going to try and write a lemon within the next three or four chapters.