.:Next Day:.

"Huh...?" I asked stupidly.

Uncle Nikaidou sighed with frustration and re-explained, "Your brother has decided to work with Easter as a trainee. He wanted to work in the same section as you, but the President refused to allow it. So, he was offered a trainee spot in the banking department instead. Hayato agreed."

I felt myself go stiff, and a feeling like my heart being squeezed painfully entered my chest.

Hayato... is now an employee of Easter...?

He was even closer to them than he was before, and he didn't even realize the danger he was in if I failed!

I slammed my fist on the window angrily.

Dammit, Hayato!

Uncle Nikaidou smirked at me in the rear view mirror. "Does it bother you that we have a tighter grip on him, and you, than we did before?"

I met his gaze and glared at him. He looked surprised for only a moment before fixing his composure, looking away from the mirror and back to the road.

"We're almost there," he said curtly.

I merely looked out the window; staring down the passing buildings and people.

(^^^-^^^)

My eyes widened. I wasn't expecting to see him so soon after just talking about him moments before. He was even wearing a suit and tie like a professional.

"Hey, Ream," he greeted casually.

"H-hi..." I replied, still a bit surprised.

"Don't tell me you didn't tell her, Uncle Nikaidou," said Hayato, looking to uncle.

"No, I told her, but I think she wasn't expecting to see you so soon here, am I right?" he asked, looking to me.

I nodded.

"Anyway, we have to meet up with another coworker, so please excuse us," Uncle Nikaidou said calmly.

Hayato nodded, and then looked to me.

I waved a little and followed uncle.

I felt a very slight movement in my pocket. If I hadn't of been paying attention, even the slightest, I wouldn't have noticed. I smiled a bit to myself.

He slipped a note into my pocket.

(^^^-^^^)

"Uncle Nikaidou, are we almost there?" I asked.

We had climbed what felt like an endless amount of stairs, and I was getting exhausted.

"Almost."

"Where are we going anyway?" I questioned.

"To the roof," he answered.

"The roof? Why?"

"'Cause Ikuto wouldn't come unless we met on the roof," he answered.

That's weird, I thought.

"Here we are," said Uncle Nikaidou before he opened the door, a wave of bright light piercing my eyes. I covered them and grabbed onto the back of his casual suit jacket for a moment so I could be lead to the spot as my eyes adjusted.

When I was able to see properly, I let go of his jacket right when he stopped, and peeked past him. My mouth dropped. He was... How do you describe a person who looks so much older than you, yet doesn't at the same time?

"Hi," I greeted without thinking first.

He opened one of his eyes and tilted his head just enough to get a look at me. He grinned a bit.

"What is this? She's quite young, and innocent," he said, his gaze instantly going to my uncle's.

"I didn't want her to meet you, but Yukari insisted," Uncle Nikaidou explained.

Ikuto's small grin vanished.

He looked away from the both of us and closed his eyes again, turning on his side so he wouldn't face us. "So what is she doing here? Why am I meeting her?"

"She can't character transform on her own. She needs the Dumpty Lock's power, just as you do, in order to do that," uncle explained.

Uncle Nikaidou looked stiff. His expression was strained, and his voice was very... stern? I couldn't really put my finger on it.

"Why's that such a big deal? If she can't, she can't. Use her for some other use in the company. You probably didn't even want her involved in the first place."

Uncle Nikaidou didn't answer.

I looked up at him again. He looked more tense. I tugged at his sleeve. He looked down at me, his expression not changing, but rather, looking more strained.

"Forget about it, uncle," I said.

His face twisted into something... evil.

"What? Are you saying you want you're Guardian Character to turn into an X-Egg? That you want Hayato's heart's egg to turn into one as well? If that's so, then sure, lets settle this right now!"

"NO!" I shouted, grabbing Koori and hiding her in my hands, thinking that would help.

"You threatened her?" asked Ikuto, his voice sounding very threatening all of a sudden.

I looked up and saw his face. His eyes were glaring at uncle and he looked silently furious.

"Yes, I did," Uncle Nikaidou replied. "It was the sake of the President. It was what he wanted."

Ikuto hadn't replied, and then he looked at me. His eyes changed, but only slightly. They didn't look angry. They looked... sad? But why would he feel sad for me?

"Alright. I'll babysit the kid," he said suddenly, and then returned to his position on the roof that he was in originally; laying down while he faced the sky, closing his eyes.

"Then I'll leave her here with you. What you decide to do is up to you," Uncle Nikaidou said before turning around and exiting through the roof entrance.

I stood there, not sure what to do.

"Seems like we'll be working with this guy now," said Koori, escaping from my hands and fixing her messed up hair and wrinkled clothes. "No more Uncle Nikaidou. Isn't that great?"

"I'm not sure..." I answered. I peeked over at Ikuto again.

He opened one of his eyes and looked at me. "What's her name?"

"Huh?"

"You're Guardian Character's name. What is it?" he repeated.

"Koori," I answered.

"And you? What's your name?"

"Ream. Ream Kiyomizu."