Sorry this is up a little late. Internet around here has been... ughh. I tried making this chapter a little explanatory about the whole aroropathy thing. I dont know if it's a little too deep. Just a big head cannon, purely in my head and my creative imagination. I also try to portray some sort of dynamic change in Yuri's character, not sure if that worked out well. Tell me if I do. Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: This story is purely fanfictional. I decided to add a spice of romance to the storyline and created a new character, Muhyo's childhood friend, Hanabi Yuri. Please review and comments. If you do not like it, go easy on the comments and just stop reading this altogether. I have been keeping this in my pc for over three years and finally had the guts to publish it. Enjoy!~ ^.^V

"Welcome home!"

Her apprentices who looked quite happy to see her safe greeted us warmly at Biko's office. I smiled as I watched my friends clutter all over the front of the office. Biko was on the porch, with her huge artificer's bag slung over her shoulder. Yoichi, on the other hand, was already slumped on the ground when Muhyo and I walked through the Magic Portal.

"I still can't believe it's over!" Yoichi stifled a yawn, "And the registering after the thing with Pluto—koff!"

"Shut up," Muhyo stomped over Yoichi, tugging me along with him. Yoichi yelped, "Hey, that's no way to treat your contract assistant!"

I laughed, and crouched next to Yoichi when Muhyo released his hold on my hand, "I'm sorry, Yoichi. Muhyo can be mean sometimes," I winked.

Yoichi smiled and pressed his palm against my cheek, "I'm glad you guys are getting along well."

"So, bread for five?" Peet, one of Biko's apprentices offered, "Huh?" Biko turned around, confused, "No Peet, there's only four of—u"

Biko was rendered speechless at the sight she saw behind us. Yoichi and I turned too, surprised to see a well-dressed Roji just appearing behind the bushes.

"But there's a certain idiot I gotta stick around for."

Ahh. This is unpredicted; Muhyo has a soft spot for this kid, huh? I wonder if he has the same feelings with this kid as he had with Enchyu.

"Hey, it's—mmph," Biko started, but was hushed by Yoichi, "Shh!"

"No talking out of you two either," he said referring to the two apprentices. Smiling at me, he raised his index up to his lips, "You too, Yuu-Chan. Just wait and see."

I smiled and nodded.

From what I heard, Muhyo had sent this kid on a few days off so that he can learn more on his capabilities. Which was a good thing, he seems as if he has more potential in him. Yes, Muhyo. You sure have made the right choice for an assistant. But does he mean much more to you than that?

"So… you're back. Which means you made the contract," Roji smiled at Muhyo. Muhyo looked up at Roji, "Yeah."

"Heh. Wish I coulda seen it," Roji scratched his itch less cheek, "But I'm glad… I was worried—I"

"Idiot," Muhyo cut him off, "Woulda gone faster if you were there."

A slow smile spread across the young executor's face, "How was your ten day leave? Even a crybaby like you must've leaned something. Or… didn't you?"

I gulped. Yoichi and Biko looked intense observing the conversation between the executor and his assistant.

The blonde-haired boy tightened his fists, "No. I learned what I can do. I'll fight by your side, Muhyo!"

"Umm… I mean, if it's okay…" Roji's determination was cut off by his sheepishness. Muhyo grinned, "Not bad. Vacation's officially over," he poked Roji in the chest.

"Let's go. We have to get our office back!"

Hah! And in that instant, a heavy sigh of relief was released from the three of us who'd been listening to the conversation. Yoichi was already jumping with joy, rustling Roji's blonde hair while the starving little executor was still waiting for food to be served by Biko.

Smiling, I walked up to Roji, "Good job, kid!" He was teary-eyed when he saw me, "Yuu-Chan! You're back!"

Muhyo's assistant enveloped me in a hug as he swung me from side to side; rambling on how happy he was to see me back and how horrible Muhyo's state was when I left.

"Hey, I wanna join too!" Yoichi exclaimed as he joined in the group hug, giving us both one of his famous papa-bear hugs. "Ughh," I grunted out, "I can't breathe guys."

BONK!

A Jabin had hit Yoichi in the head, causing all three of us to fall to the ground. I groaned as I sat up, "Oww, Muhyo! That was mean!"

"What the hell Muhyo!" a furious Yoichi was flinging the Jabin around, "Is this how you treat your contract assistant?!"

Roji laughed, the sight of tears of joy still lingering at the corners of his eyes. I laughed, too, as I watched two of my over-protective childhood friends chase each other around the compound.

"I rarely see him like this, Yuu-Chan," Roji smiled, shifting his position so that he could stretch his legs, "You should always come by our office sometimes, you know."

I smiled. Come by their office? That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Being with Muhyo doesn't sound half as bad as it would two years ago. What had changed?

"Yuu-Chan, are you in love with Muhyo?" Roji's hazel eyes were boring into mine, disturbing my train of thought. I felt the blush creeping up my cheeks. What the hell? That was a very straightforward question.

"Uhh…" I glanced to look at Roji; he really is expecting an answer. Gosh, I am in such a hot position.

"Hey," Muhyo came to the rescue as he slipped his hand into mine, pulling me to stand behind him, "Hands off Yoichi! Keep your perviness off of Yuu-Chan's innocence."

"Awh, how come Roji gets to hug her, but I don't?" Yoichi was pouting. Muhyo glared at Roji, "You too, Roji. Hands. Off."

"WAAAAAAAHH! MUHYOOOOOOOOOOO!" the teary eyed Roji leaped at Muhyo, wrapping his arms around the executor's tiny neck. Muhyo was choking on the bread he was munching on, "You want to be put on leave again?!"

I laughed. Roji's affection towards his superior is extremely astounding. He's committed in trying to help Muhyo. I don't think it's just a coincidence that these two may have a strong bond between them.

"Page, I haven't been able to find out anything about that Aroropathy thing. Sorry," I said through the receiver of the phone when I received an unexpected call from Page.

We are all at Judge Imai's house, taking a break for a while. And we are waiting for Yoichi, who said he has something to tell Muhyo and Roji. I had managed to slip away from Muhyo for a while to answer this private call from the Legendary Executor. I heard Page laugh through the other end of the line, "It's okay Yuu-Chan. I called to give you more information on this. It might help you notice some things."

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Yuu-Chan?" I smiled as I rolled my eyes, imagining this crazy teacher of mine to be pouting at the other end, "Yuu-Chan! Come on, your name sounds more fun like that!"

He cleared his throat; "Anyways, Yuri, Maril and Lili had observed something new in the relationship between you three."

"Are you sure it involves me?"

"Yes, Yuri. They are pretty confident in that," he pressed on, "As you know, between the two is some sort of link, passing down tempering from one person to another. Muhyo has an enormous amount of tempering, I'm sure you're well acquainted with that fact. But when Muhyo uses up his tempering to sentence a ghost, some of Roji's tempering may leak out to Muhyo, which may cause grave danger for Roji."

"And I play a part in this… how?"

"I'm not done yet," Page huffed, probably pouting at the other end, "The tie you see around Roji's neck is something that keeps his tempering from flowing to Muhyo."

"But Muhyo's can easily travel to Roji," I noted. Page grunted in agreement, "Yes," he paused before continuing, "Err, Yuri. Do you remember in the MLS, the day we had combat attack in class, and you passed out after ten shots of wards?"

There's no way I would have forgotten that.

"Well," Page hesitated for a few beats before continuing, "It was never because your tempering level being low. Mostly because you are a tempering well for these two people."

"A tempering well?" I couldn't blink, imagining a big well filled with 'tempering'; two buckets dipping out the tempering by Muhyo and Roji.

"We haven't found a name for it, but this is where you come in. You act like some sort of holding place for tempering. It's like how products are placed in a warehouse before being distributed to other places."

"Like a middleman?"

"Yeah. But 'Tempering Well' sounds way more cooler than 'Middleman'," Page laughed, before clearing his throat, "Listen to this part carefully Yuri, it may be able to save you all—you are like a vessel. You actually store much more tempering than it seems, but you can't use that tempering, because it does not belong to you—it belongs to Muhyo. That's why whenever you have any physical contact with Muhyo, a touch, or even a kiss, some of his share of tempering stored in you will flow back to him."

"What about Roji?"

I heard Page chuckle, "Roji has his share of tempering too, but that tie he's wearing does not allow any of his tempering to be stored in the Well. Technically, he has his tempering as well as some of Muhyo's whenever he uses his tempering excessively. But he can't take Muhyo's share from you neither can he take yours."

I nodded, unaware that Page does not see me nodding.

"Have you ever noticed the involuntary physical contact you two share since your MLS days? He's always been wanting to be with you hasn't he?"

WAAAAAAAAAH!

"Whoa! I didn't even grab her yet!" Yoichi raised both his hands to prove his point.

I hurried out to see why there was a sudden commotion in the Judge's living room—Yoichi had just arrived, bringing along a busty, black-haired girl who seems to be about my age, slightly younger. She was wearing a mini-skirt, with a Polaroid camera in hand.

Storing my hand phone back into my back pockets, I quietly crept to perch on the armrest of the sofa next to Roji. From what I caught by eavesdropping into their conversation, this girl, Nana, is a friend of Muhyo and Roji. She has chosen to join the investigation team as an investigator to help with the Enchyu case. She's not a practitioner, but she wants to help? Is she crazy? Putting her life at risk, what for?

"You don't know how I felt! Left all alone like that," she exclaimed, almost seeming like answering the questions wandering around in my head, "We spent so much time together and you just leave?! Creeps!" She was already in tears.

I felt my eyes stung, too. Albeit I barely know this girl, she is right. Being alone is not something one wants to go through. Especially after all the years knowing a person so close to you. I shifted my glance to the Biko, then to Yoichi, and lastly Muhyo. We've spent so much time together, but I still left. I am such a jerk.

"We want to go back too!" Roji was smiling, determined, "We want our own office again!"

The blonde-haired kid laughed, "Yup, pretty soon we'll be sitting around, drinking tea. And you and Kenji will be there."

"Yuu-Chan will be there, too," Roji was looking at me now. I stared at him for a whole five minutes as I registered what he was talking about—You should always come by our office sometimes, you know. I guess he wasn't joking about that.

"Yuu-Chan…?" I realized Muhyo was already standing in front of me, slipping his hand into mine, and pulling me to the seat he was sitting on so that he could sit on my lap. He leaped softly onto my lap and leaned against my chest.

Nana smiled at me, "Oh hello, I didn't notice you just now. I'm Nana Takenuchi, but you can call me Nana," she held out a hand to me.

"I'm Yuri Hanabi," I took her hand and shook it slightly, "You can call me Yuri."

"Yuu-Chan," Yoichi corrected. I rolled my eyes, "Don't make her called me that!"

"Yuu-Chan…" Nana repeated; her brows furrowed in a deep frown as if she were thinking. Suddenly she leapt forward towards me, wrapping her arms around my neck, causing Muhyo to be pushed off my lap, "Waaaaaah! Yuu-Chan is a much cuter name!"

"Idiot!" Muhyo clicked his tongue as he got on his feet, hands on his hips; "Don't push me off of her!"

"Yuu-Chan, we will be best friends!" Nana was ignoring Muhyo as she twirled me around the living room.

"We can be best friends too!" Yoichi exclaimed and joined in the group hug. Out of nowhere, his hands came around Nana, groping her boobs. I laughed, avoiding the girl's fists of fury as she screamed, "Get away from me you perv!"

"Hmmph," Muhyo pouted, placing his hands in mine once more. Imai laughed, "This is one lively group we got here."

Biko nodded in agreement, her eyes dancing with laughter, "I'm sure this investigation will turn out just fine."

I sat down on the empty space on the couch next to Roji, followed by an upset Muhyo on my lap. Roji smiled, "We can do this!"

Muhyo snickered, "Question is, are you really serious?" he was looking directly at Nana, who has her fist in mid-air, ready to give Yoichi another punch.

"I—I can investigate," her expression becoming serious again, "I've got a camera, right?"

"Maybe this is the break I need!" she said as she plopped herself between Roji and I, "Bet I'll be more useful than you Roji!"

"Ha Ha! Too true!" Yoichi laughed. Roji pouted, "Hey! I'm trying!"

"Here, here, have some bread," Biko tried to calm everyone down. Nana grabbed a piece, "That smells fantastic!"

"No more bread," Muhyo grunted, pressing the side of his face against my chest so that he could hear my heartbeats as he shuts his eyes. He was in a light sleep as his breathing wasn't that deep.

"Muhyo seems really attached to you, Yuu-Chan," Roji said as he munched on his bread, "Is he asleep?"

I nodded, "We're just close since the MLS that's all. Besides, he probably has his eyes on someone else," I smiled. Roji probably doesn't notice, but I'm definite that Muhyo has a soft spot for him. I'm sure!

"From the way I see it, I think he's pretty head over heels for you," Roji's words took me by surprise. I looked at him, confused, "But I thought he was feeling like that… towards you."

Roji was suddenly in a laughing fit, "Oh, Yuu-Chan," he said, laughter still lingering as his hazel eyes looked directly into mine, "You can't see what I see since the day he saw you at the MLA."

Muhyo stirred in my lap, "Idiots, what are you laughing about? Can't I get a good nap?"

TING!

Someone had thrown a stone at the window. Roji went to open it, "Hey! What's the—huh?"

It was the infamous Goryo's assistant—Ebisu.

"I was walking by," he looked up at us, "I thought I heard a familiar loud laugh."

"Yuu-Chan," Biko called up to me. She has been having baking classes with Imai for quite awhile, and the classes for today are yet to begin.

"Yes, Biko. What is it?" I took an apron hanging on a hook in the kitchen and put it on. Biko hesitated at first, "Umm, how are you and… and Muhyo getting along?"

I smiled, understanding why this little girl is hesitant over what used to be such sensitive issue. I'm surprised that neither the issue of Muhyo nor Enchyu has made me cold hearted anymore. I finally can accept this—this fate.

Giving her a tight hug, I laughed, "We are getting along just fine, Biko. Thank you for asking." She was staring at me, wide-eyed, an expression of joy hidden behind her dark brown eyes, "Really!? That's great! That means you can help me."

"Of course I can," I held her shoulders at arm's length, "What can I do for you?"

"If you've noticed, Muhyo's book is getting a bit worn out…"

"The Goryo Group Headquarters, it's been set on fire by the Forbidden Law Practitioners!"

Things have gotten from bad to worse when the news came out. It's unbelievable the extent these Forbidden Law Practitioners would go through to bring the Association down. First, there was the list of people to kill, now, this? Bah. I hope no one gets hurt here. Muhyo, I hope he can battle without me in this one. He has too.

I leaned against the door, watching as one by one of my friends left the house. Yoichi was the first one out, a frown etched on his forehead.

"Hey, be careful, Yoichi," I said, giving him a hug. He hugged back, "You not coming?"

"No," I said as I let him go, "I have to help Biko with something."

His frown deepened, "What about Muhyo?"

"Well, what about him?"

"Will he be okay without you around?" his blue eyes flashed with concern. I shrugged, "Don't worry, Yoichi. I'll be joining you guys soon."

"If you say so, Yuu-Chan," Yoichi smiled his impish smile before sprinting off across the road, "See ya when I see ya!"

"Bye Yuu-Chan!" Nana followed behind Yoichi, "We'll get to know each other after all this ends!"

I waved them goodbye before turning around to see Muhyo and Roji already at the door. Roji was thanking Judge Imai when he and Roji were about to leave the house.

"Let's go," Muhyo slipped his hand into mine as he waited for Roji to finish his conversation. I pulled back, "I'm not coming Muhyo."

His eyes widened. A change of emotions from curiosity to fear as he searched my eyes, "What?! Why?"

"I need to stay at the association to accompany Biko with something," I smiled. He frowned, "No! You're gonna leave! I won't be able to see you again."

"Muhyo, let's go," Roji was done, calling his superior to follow Yoichi and Nana far up front.

"NO! No! No! No!" he ran towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist, "I know you will leave. You always do."

"Muhyo, you've got to go," Biko pressed on. Muhyo shook his head, pressing his face onto my chest.

"Executor Muhyo, this is not the time for it," Imai started, her voice was sorry, but stern.

I kneeled on the floor, pressing both my palms against his cheek and rubbed my nose against his, "I'll be back. I promise," holding up my pinky finger. A symbol of promises that he and I would make during our MLS days.

He linked his pinky in mine and tugged slightly, "I look forward to that. Don't break this promise!"

"Have I ever let you down?" I smiled, standing back on my feet.

Before he left, he stood on his tiptoes, gave me a peck on my cheek, and ran off with Roji towards the Travel Bureau. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks at his slick action. Idiot—making me blush at a time like this. How inappropriate!

"They're serious aren't they? Enchyu and Rio, I mean," Imai said as the backs of Muhyo and Roji became smaller and disappeared in the distance. I nodded, "Yeah. Very serious."

"Ah, thanks for the bread Biko," Imai turned to Biko, who was staring at her hands. She replied nonchalantly, "No. I need the practice. I should be better at it by now."

Imai turned to look at me and chuckled, "Executor Muhyo has become his normal self ever since you've been around Judge Yuri."

"Oh, please, Imai. We're both Judges, just call me Yuu-Chan," I smiled. She smiled back, laughter lit up her eyes.

"And you sure have changed a lot. Who's gonna hold the title of 'The Cold Judge' if she melted?"