Naru's POV:

I was awoken by Gene drumming on my stomach, fully-clothed and grinning like a maniac.

"Hey!" I complained, looking at the clock. "We still have an hour until we're meant to meet with the others in base…"

"But it's our birthday!" Gene complained. "I also brought my present for you with us!"

"I've been with you all week, how could you have managed that?"

"When you were being a grouchy-guts in your office!" Gene replied, lifting up some of his clothes from his case and pulling out a small box wrapped in blue.

I sighed, and rolled over so I could reach my own suitcase, reaching into the slit in the lining at the bottom and pulling out Gene's present – wrapped in green, as usual.

"Take this, and let me sleep." I complained, before he pulled on my arm, making alarm-bells go off.

"Come on! I want to see you open my present!" he complained like a six-year-old, and I sat up, catching the present before it hit where my head had been.

Analysing the box, I carefully undid the paper, before hazardously lifting the lid.

Sitting in a nest of purple, was the silver pocket-watch I still remember from the antique store.

In its lid was a single blue sapphire, around which polished jet and pearl sat in a neat ring.

A swirling design surrounded it, reaching around to the back.

"Look on the back." Gene grinned, and I carefully turned the watch over.

In it was engraved "For the best brother ever".

"I…" I attempted, before falling silent in surprise – for once in all my years, Gene had managed to make me speechless. I looked up, and Gene grinned. Carefully, I attached the watch to my blazer, and I felt a small amount of satisfaction as I looked at the present Gene still hadn't unwrapped.

"Your tur-" I began, and Gene shredded off the paper, before tilting his head.

"Well, it's not a book…" he mused, inspecting it, before carefully opening it, and pulling out two smaller, equally wrapped objects.

He raised an eyebrow, and opened the smaller one.

"Cards." he mused, opening it and inspecting the deck. "Limited Edition?!"

I pointed towards the other object, and Gene nodded, pocketing the cards and picking up the other present.

Gently, he opened it, before his face filled with shock and pulling out the leather wristband, inspecting the emerald centrepiece, also surrounded by jet and pearl, though instead of the pieces being circular, his were small square pieces around a rectangle.

"Inside." I stated.

He carefully looked.

"For the best twin ever." he read, before grinning, putting it on and throwing his arms around my neck as he laughed.

I looked at the clock again, seeing I had only been awake for about 25 minutes.

"Come on, we might as well be early rather than late." I said, smirking.

"Ne, you knew I'd do something like this? Ne, Naru! Naru!" he complained.

"All great minds think alike, even if one is greater than the other." I replied, before speeding up as I sensed Gene's anger and annoyance…

···

Monk's POV:

I looked up as Naru zipped in, and standing to one side of the door as he closed it.

Gene suddenly burst in, looking annoyed.

"NOLL! YOU MEAN IDIOT SCIENTIST!" Gene exclaimed, looking around as Naru silently sighed. He looked towards Gene, and Gene's face morphed into surprise as he turned towards Naru. "Don't scare me like that!" he whined.

"Don't charge about like an idiot, then." Naru replied, smirking.

"Meany! On our birthday too!" Gene complained, frowning.

"It's your birthday?" I asked, surprised, and Gene straightened, slowly turning around to show a meek, embarrassed smile.

"I wasn't really planning-" Gene attempted, before Yasu jumped on him.

"Happy Birthday Big Boss and Crime Partner!" Yasu grinned, before holding out two packages. Gene looked surprised, before grinning.

"Thank you!" he grinned, opening it messily as Naru carefully accepted and unwrapped his neatly. "Best Friend EVER!"

Gene admired the small book he held, and looking at the accompanying bag with a grin.

At my surprised look, Gene grinned, and displayed the book.

"A book of magic tricks and some of the equipment for it!" Gene grinned.

Naru remained silent as he nodded his thanks and placed the present on the table by the monitors, having forgotten his blazer.

"Hmm?" Gene asked, looking at the objects, before grinning and high-fiveing Yasu. "Only you can manage to find a book on manners and a full-on escapist's kit with guidebook!"

"He is Big Boss, after all!" Yasu grinned. "With his attitude, and our dear maiden-in-distress' situations, he'll need it!"

Naru sent a small glare over his shoulder, before looking at the monitors.

"Any sign?" he asked, and I shook my head. He then slipped his hands in his pockets and turned towards the door. "In that case, I'm going for a walk."

With that, he walked out again.

"Be back for Breakfast!" Gene called. "Else I'll phone Lin!"

Gene smirked, and sat in Naru's seat, letting Yasu take the one beside him.

"He's just being grumpy, but I have a feeling he'll be slightly less grumpy when he returns." Gene grinned.

"Aren't you worried about Mai?" I asked, and Gene shrugged.

"It's weird how I can't appear to reach her dreams now, but I believe that, since she is Mai, they won't hurt her." he smile, before looking out the window, and grinning. "The rain's let up! I'm glad – Kaede and Hibari won't get wet when they're released."

"Hibari's name matches his personality – ne?" Yasu asked. "Manner of ice"

"Reminds you of someone…" Gene grinned. "Can't imagine who."

"Shall we call him "Mini-Lin"?" Yasu asked.

"Isn't that a bit rude?" I asked. "Being called the same as your brother…"

"Well, I don't mind when I'm mistaken for Naru – it is sort of fun, because then I can ruin his reputation, even if he ruins mine after…" Gene smirked.

"As a big brother, I can only slightly sympathise because my sister telling Mum to not compare her to me." Yasu admitted, "But back at school we still called Koichi's little brother Mikado "Little-Koichi"."

I frowned at the pair, and a while later the triplets entered with Kaede and Ryuuko with them.

"Hey!" Ryuuko waved. "Don't mind me, I'm only looking after these four!"

"Ryuuko, could you please explain what's been happening in the village recently?" Gene asked, "I have a feeling you know more than you let on…"

Monk: JO~KE~R!

Joker: *ignores as continues sucking lolly and writing*

Monk: HEY!

Joker: *continues ignoring as gets out new sheet for yet more plotting*

Lin: ...Naru and Gene in black automated animal-ears.

Joker: *spins round, eyes wide and hunting for such phenomena, before pouting, slumping, and paying attention to the pair*

Monk: Why are you speed-uploading?

Joker: *holds up sign of plans*

Monk: *turns pale, then red, before hiding behind Lin* ... *whispers*She's a rabid fangirl...*whispers*

Lin: Only now you work that out?

Monk: *sees Lin's smirk and runs away.*

Lin: *looks at you* Triple R. *walks back into office as ignores yells from Davis twins stating that the animal-ears have been used*