Chapter 7 One answer leads to more unanswered questions

When Jean woke up the next morning she found herself back in Dark Tsukudo Cho. "Oh man, not again." Jean muttered. Sitting up she looked around. The area looked pretty much the same except for one major difference: it was too quiet. Why do I get the feeling that this isn't a good sign, she thought to herself. Deciding she wasn't getting anywhere by sitting around, Jean got to her feet. Looking around she decided to head for the detective agency. But as soon she had stepped forward a voice spoke. A very familiar voice. "So here you are again. I thought after you last experience here, you wouldn't be back,"

The same Summoner who set his demon on her was standing in the center of the bridge. Jean glared at him. "For your information, I didn't come back here on my own. Did you bring me here again?"

He just shook his head. "No, not this time. You did."

This confused Jean and she just stared. "It's true. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you are someone who can help me. Join me." He held out his hand. "We can rule the human world together." Jean shook her head. "Never. You tried to kill me! I don't even know who or what you are."

He smiled. "Then I suppose introductions need to be made. I am Lobo and I am a Dark Summoner."

"Raidou was right. I should have known." Lobo frowned at the mention of the Summoner's name. "So you are a friend of that Summoner. That complicates things." He struggled." No matter, you will still help me. I'll make sure you have no choice." He began to laugh. "I will see you soon." Then he vanished.

"Hey wait! How do I get back? Tell me!" Jean shouted. Lobo's voice answered you never left. Jean began to feel light headed and fell to her knees. Before she blacked out, something lunged at her.

"Nooooo!" Jean cried out. She sat up suddenly and almost fell forward. Realizing she was back in bed, Jean breathed a sigh of relief. Jean then became aware of approaching footsteps. Seconds later Narumi stepped into the room. "Are you okay? You were moaning and then I heard you scream." He moved over to the side of the bed. "Yeah I think so. It must have just been a dream. I hope so anyway."

"It must have been some nightmare. You sounded like you were yelling at someone. I heard you say something like 'you tried to kill me' and 'I'll never help you' it sounded pretty serious to me. Care to fill me in?"

Jean sighed and turned away. "I'm not sure if you'd believe me." Narumi grinned at that. "Well I think I might. I believe that you're not from around here and I deal with weird cases on a regular basis." Jean raised an eyebrow at that last comment. "Am I one of you weird cases?" Before Narumi could rephrase his comment, Jean burst out laughing. Narumi gave her a disbelieving look. Once Jean managed to stop, she apologized. "Sorry but the look on your face was priceless. Anyway now we're even."

"When did I laugh at you?" Narumi asked. He scratched his head." Oh yeah, when you told me you weren't from around here."

Jean smiled "Okay well the dream started like this."

Jean went on to tell Narumi everything that had happened to her in the dream, starting from the moment she woke up in the dark realm to the point where her dream came to an end.

"So basically that's everything. " Jean waited for Narumi to comment on something but he was strangely silent. He seemed lost in thought. For a moment she was afraid he would start laughing again. But he stayed silent. It was kind of unnerving. Finally Jean spoke up. "What's wrong? You haven't said a word."

Narumi looked at her startled. "Uh sorry I was just thinking." Jean looked at him. "Anyone can see that. What are you thinking about?"

"It's just that Lobo told you he didn't bring you to the Dark realm. It was you. How is that even possible? You're not a Summoner like Raidou right?" Jean shook her head. " course not. "

To Jean's amazement Narumi looked unconvinced. "I don't believe this. You think I'm lying."

Narumi looked at her, surprised at that comment. "Hey now wait a second doll face. I never said that."

Jean turned away from him, angry. "I can't believe this. After everything that's happened to me. I get pulled into this world by someone, chased by a mob, dragged into the dark realm. What have I missed? Oh yes and attacked by a crazy Summoner who wants to rule the world with my help. Then my friend thinks I'm lying to him. That really hurts."

Narumi looked sorry and tried to apologize to Jean but she wouldn't even look at him. After a while he gave up and left the room, hoping Jean would eventually calm down.

Sometime later Raidou and Gouto arrived back at the agency. As soon as they walked through the door, they both noticed something was wrong as soon as they walked through the door. "Okay what did you do this time?" He asked his boss. Narumi looked up from his newspaper and stared at Raidou. "What makes you think something happened and that I caused it?" Gouto leapt up from the floor and curled up the desk. "Seeing as you're reading the paper upside down, I know you haven't been here long." At that observation, Narumi blushed slightly. "Plus I can't see Jean in here. Since she's probably still recovering from her earlier run in, I'm guessing she's still inside." Raidou folded his arms against his chest. "That's what I have so far. Anything else to add?" Narumi shook his head. "No. Jean told me about a nightmare she had." Narumi went on to explain to Raidou exactly what Jean had told him. "When I asked if she was a Summoner like you, she told me that there was no way that she could be."

"Then why is she mad?" Raidou asked. Narumi looked kind of embarrassed. "Well, I may have upset her by kind of implying that, well; she might have been making things up."

Raidou looked at him. "So you accused her of lying."

"Well no, not exactly. Not actually said it to her face. More or less." Narumi admitted. Raidou shook his head at his boss in amazement.

Narumi heaved a sigh. "Any idea on how to fix this?" Raidou actually smiled at that. "Yes but since you caused this, you need to fix it yourself."

"You know, sometimes I wonder who's the boss around here." Narumi grumbled aloud. Gouto shook his head at that. "That's what I think too." He told Raidou.

So Narumi started to think about how to make it up to Jean. An hour later he still had no idea what to do. He couldn't ask Raidou since he had left on another case. Finally he decided to try to apologize to her again. Walking over to the bedroom he knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Jean called out. "It's Narumi. Can I come in?" He heard Jean sigh. .After a moment of silence she pointed out that, since it was his agency, he could do what he liked. Narumi turned the doorknob and entered. Jean was sitting on the bed looking at him with a frown. Narumi scratched his head. "I can see you're still mad at me but let me explain. I didn't mean to say I thought you were lying. I don't think that at all. It's just, well, I was shocked when you told me what Lobo said and it kind of slipped out. Forgive me?" Jean looked at him in silence for a moment then she actually smiled. "Okay I accept your apology on one condition."

"I'm afraid to ask but okay. What condition?"

"The next time I tell you something and I say it's the absolute truth, will you believe me?"

Narumi nodded. "Okay then let's go." Jean slid off the bed. Narumi looked a little puzzled. "Go where?"

"To start with, who brought me to Tsukudo Cho? We don't know that yet so let's go." Jean then remembered the sleeve on her dress was shredded, not to mention the bloodstains. "I'll have to change. Just give me five minutes." Narumi was still standing there. "Into what exactly?"

"It'll have to be my own clothes. So much for trying to blend in but there's no other choice. I'll just have to get used to being stared at. "Jean remarked as she picked up her outfit from the bedside table. Just as she was about to change, she noticed Narumi still standing in the doorway. Jean raised an eyebrow

"Can I get some privacy or are you going to watch me change?" She asked.

"Oh sorry! I'll wait outside." Narumi stammered and hurriedly left, almost slamming the door in his haste.

Men, Jean thought then went about changing back into her own clothes.

End of chapter 7