"Well, Ouji, you've found yourself a proper Japanese Bride at least. I did worry when those people," He didn't like the way that Akuma referred to his adopted parents at all, "Would total anglicized you. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she's full blooded Japanese. Unlike you, but at least your mother knew the language of our ancestors and respected the heritage that was in your blood. It was your father that caused the problem.." He trailed off and Oliver glared. He really didn't want to revisit this issue.

"I"m leaving Akuma." For emphasis he pulled Mai to his side but never took his eyes off of the other man. He wasn't suicidal.

"No, you aren't." He was smirking at him and Oliver had to suppress the urge to lash out physically at him. As he two men locked gazes he could hear Luella crying close by, Ayako screeching about something and Madoka's 'colorful' commentary. He didn't drop his guard yet, just because Lin had found them didn't mean they were safe.

"Would you like to know how I got everyone here? Would you like to know who it was who betrayed you?" It was at this that not just he stilled. Everyone did. They all wanted to know who it was that delivered them into the hands of the devil.

They were so close to leaving, but he knew the one thing to say to stop them. It was then at two cloaked figures came out of the door directly behind Akuma. Apparently not all those robes had been empty. The two figures took their places behind his mad uncle. One on each side. The smile that Akuma wore was not a nice one and he was dragging this out for maximum psychological impact.

He'd reasoned days ago that they had a traitor in their nest, and he'd fully intended to find out who it was but after this got dealt with. He knew what was being done.

"Don't listen to him. Get out everyone. Mai," he said releasing her arm. "Go with Lin and everyone else. I'll be along shortly." He couldn't look at her but he was hoping that just this once, just this one time she'd do as he asked without and argument. He didn't want her to see the things he was planning on doing. He couldn't take it if she looked at him with fear in her eyes . Mai didn't move and he set his jaw. He could hear that no one was moving. Damn it to hell, did they have a death wish.

"Oh nephew, they have to know who it was. They just have to know who it was that led me to you all. Well, would you like to show them?" Akuma turned to the hooded figure to his left. There was a nod and the robe stepped forward. "Show the great Dr. Oliver Davis who it was that handed me everyone he cared about. "

With this the hood of the robe was pulled back and even Oliver couldn't keep the shock off of his face.

"Bernard" Lin heard Luella and Martin both gasp and even he was shocked. Out of everyone close to them he would have never suspected the older man. He'd started with the Davis family just days after they'd adopted the boys and returned from America. Having first been Martin's personal assistant then Noll's the man had been a trusted part of the family for years. He was invited to holidays and had been at the wedding a year ago.

It was a betrayal of epic proportions. He knew that this would only damage Noll's shaky trust in the rest of humanity even more. He tried to get everyone moving but it seemed that they were frozen in place. Even Madoka's mouth hung agape. Lin knew that he too was reeling having spent many hours with the man at the pub but all that could wait until they were safe. It seemed that the charismatic Akuma was playing his trump card.

He had to wonder for how long the other man had been apart of this cult. Was it recent, or had it been from the start. Was he always a traitor. These were things that they all wanted to know, but now was not the time. He grabbed Madoka by the arm and tried to pull her down the stairs but she planted herself.

Luella Davis had a hand to her face in shock and Martin's eyes were dark in anger. Even Ayako Takigawa was in shock having met the man at the wedding of her surrogate sister. He was shocked too but he had a job to do. He tried to pull against the woman he loved bu she glared at him. He knew it was futile so it was best to just try a different approach. He gave a harried sigh but didn't take his hand off of her arm. He'd let her hear what the man had to say then he'd throw her over his shoulder like a sack of rice if he had to.

"Go on Bernard, I'm sure they would love to hear all about why." Akuma said. He knew that he had them by the throat. He knew exactly what he was doing. Lin longed to wrap his hands around the man's neck and just squeeze the life out of him. He wanted to see the light go out in the man's eyes for all of the pain he'd caused. Now he was just toying with them. "I imagine they'd like to know for how long you've been apart of our family."

"From the start." Came the reply. Lin noted that his voice was lacking the British accent that he'd grown so accustomed to. It was free of the lilt that they had all known for the last fourteen years.

Fourteen years. For fourteen years Bernard, or whomever he was, had been watching them. Had he betrayed them. A wild idea went through his head. What if..no it was too much..but what if this man had a hand in Gene's death all those years ago.

"You see my beloved nephews, since I couldn't be there myself I arranged for your to be watched over. Kept safe." Akuma stepped closer to Noll. He reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. Lin expected him to immediately knock it away but he didn't. "I wanted to make sure no hard befell them." He looked sad for a moment but Lin doubted it's sincerity. "I couldn't protect Kazuya, but Ouji, I can offer you revenge."

He was seducing Noll Lin realized. There wasn't anything that Noll wanted more than Mai and his son. Nothing..except to know who killed his brother. This man coudln't know, could he?

Lin watched in horror as Akuma smiled.

"I can't bring him back but I can give you closure."

"Closure?" Noll whispered and Lin had to strain his ears to hear. 'No, No, NO Noll,' he thought wildly, "don't listen." But it was no good. He could see from the way he was holding himself that Noll was giving Akuma his total attention.

"I can tell you who killed your brother."