This chapter is LONG, and let's say… this arc is getting longer and LONGER because of extra scenes...
BTW this story, Sky Ghost Hunt is also officially my LONGEST story with epic length 400K words! Ha ha ha

Case 07, Part 04

Romania

Iris Hepburn, a loyal member of Millefiore was not happy with her current mission. Her purple eyes shone with annoyance as her partner for the mission, a brute looking man by the name Tazaru from Giglio Nero pushed her heavy bag back to her. They had a staring showdown until Iris had to swallow the fact all Giglio Nero members were lolicon and smittened by their princess, to the point ignoring her womanly charm.

"I don't like this mission, and I hate it even more because those bandaged creeps won't allow us to approach their prison with any vehicle." Iris complained as she pulled her furred jacket closer, because someone with C level flame like her was still as sensitive as non-flame user.

Tazaru groaned, "Stop complaining Iris! You never know if they could hear us." The cloud flame user tensed at that, Tazaru was right. "Beside… we're sent by the three great skies to question Vindice… or rather escorting the real messenger."

Ahead of them a very cheerful punk in full leather suit was over the moon because he was entrusted with a very important mission. "Come on you slowpokes! We need to get to Vindice Prison as soon as we can!"

Iris and Tazaru exchanged glance, sighing exasperatedly as they followed the excited stuntman mafia. "What your princess and my boss were thinking to send the Cloud Arcobaleno of all people? If we have to get Trinisette holder as messenger there's another arcobaleno, Vongola Guardians… or even our general."

The tanned Italian snorted, "Isn't it obvious?"

"What's obvious?"

"Arcobaleno skull is the only holder that's not busy but guaranteed to survive whatever Vindice cooked up." Beside he had been eternally assigned as the 'gopher' in inner circle.

"Ah yes, the man that hated even by Grim Reaper so much… he can't even die properly." Iris nodded in understanding. "By the way, is sending Skull your princess' idea? I am sure as hell it's not my boss' for sure."

Tazaru shook his head, "Nah, it's Vongola's sky princess definitely."

Silence…

"Mai-hime entrusted this mission to me! Ha ha ha! Reborn, I'd like to see what kind of face you make if you know your student is relying on me! Counting on me!"

Iris and Tazaru exchanged glance again, "Ah… I forgot that Neo Primo's younger twin looks as saint like as her brother but-"

"There's good reason why only her brother is hailed as living saint, but really…" Looking at pitiful and excited Skull they couldn't help but shudder.

Shouldn't he realize the Vongola princess was Sun Arcobaleno, Reborn's student through and through? Not to mention, did Skull forget he had once almost -not that he could do it even if he tried- harmed Neo Primo in one of his foolish attempt to attack Mafia land years ago? Sawada Mai was famous for nursing grudge for years when it comes to her brother.

How did an inner circle member of Trinisette like Skull was so oblivious of this?

"Hey… this is a serious business not a covert assassination attempt from Mai-hime, right?" Tazaru couldn't help but wondered

Iris shook her head, "I don't put it pass Sawada Mai…" There was a very good reason on her worst day even their boss dodged the hell out the way.

Depending on how they looked at it, the weakest of Three Great Skies could be the scariest of them all.

Back in Millefiore's HQ in New York (Orchidea)

Orchidea, the Lavish office of Byakuran Gesso was located on top of skyscraper sharing the same name. "Why are we sending Skull again?" Byakuran wondered.

Yuni who came visiting sipped the juice served for her, nimble pale fingers playing with aquamarine locks of Bluebell who decided Yuni's lap was the comfiest spot for a nap. "Because he can survive anything, said Mai-san."

The Mare sky whistled, "Mai-chan is as merciless as ever… but that's maybe why Tsuna-kun can afford to be a saint with that kind of sister around."

Yuni took another sip before replying, "We of all people know Tsuna-san is not exactly a saint either…"

Byakuran's eyes shifted to the side, recalling real Tsuna smiling at him with fist blazing with sky flame. "That's so true, then again considering Vongola's trial… there's no way anyone, even Mai-chan and Tsunayoshi-kun would come out of it intact."

The sky arcobaleno nodded in agreement, "It's the price of our power…"

"Now that power is not doing us any good dealing with Vindice."

Yuni frowned at that, to be honest the concern of her fellow skies this time was a false alarm in her opinion. However there was no denying what was waiting for them in the future.

"E'la nostra ora incise sull'anello,
solo per un momento farò girare la clessidra congelato,
nel mio sangue e il nostro peccato… in invito..."

"Our time that engraved within the ring,
Just for a moment I shall melt the frozen hourglass,
In our sin and in my blood, I call upon you."

The aria of Vongola's shaman, their fellow skies, Mai. The time would come when the hand of time will start to move again.

Japan, Dining Hall of Haunted Mansion

The dinner that night was a quiet affair with Suzuki-san was still missing and the idiots in this group were looking at Mai expectantly because her familiar or whatever Mai wanted to call spirit on her command as, Daniella had not returned since this morning and Mai didn't seem concerned she was going to get lost or not. Or rather Mai was very sure Daniella would.

Apparently according to Mai when she was alive Daniella was directionally challenged, but she believed Daniella would run to something, being a ghost that could walk through wall and all. I had to admit not restricted by wall would be very useful. "Are you alright with her out for so long?"

"She is just wandering around, hardly tasking I'd say." Mai murmured before cutting a piece of meat on her plate. "Don't worry… even if she got lost in Rome, I won't lost her."

"Erm… you think she will get lost to another country?"

"I didn't put it past her. Things happen." She had faraway look when she said this, which made me wondering again if there was anything normal in her family. "But I know Daniella is still inside this house, enjoying herself somewhere in third floor."

She even could tell in what mood her familiar was in, did she divulge that deliberately or not? 'Knowing Mai, it must be something she assume we would have known. You know Mai sometimes forget people aren't as sensitive as she is.'

Hara-san frowned at Mai, "Daniella-san is a very carefree spirit, she is unusual."

"She is."

"Very lively."

"Indeed."

"Unlike spirit."

"Hn."

It was amusing how Hara-san tried to pry some information from Mai and received less and less response to the point Mai only gave her one syllable answer before turning her attention elsewhere. Mai sipped her water before turned to Shima whi was standing on the corner, as they had eaten ahead of us. "Anything from Byakuran and Yuni yet?"

"Messenger has been sent as ordered, but due to regulation they set…" Shima trailed off. "It would take a while, Hime."

Mai sighed at that, "And Kyou-san?"

"Foundation is still investigating the matter as we speak."

I turned towards her, she was just sitting beside me. "Foundation is investigating this case too?"

"Let's just say there's a matter in this case that become… personal to Vongola."

I didn't miss how she refer to her side as 'Vongola' before it was always 'family' or 'Neo-V.G' so this time it was different to her? Neo-VG obviously refer to their business empire, family was the inner circle that consist of Hayato and the rest of extended family of hers, but then…

What was Vongola then?

"Thank you for the meal." Mai had finished her meal and so did I. "I am going back to the base."

I stood up, "Right, we need to check on measurement data."

Beep Beep

Mai stood up and checked her phone, "It seems Foundation will take a while but we got around half of list of missing persons around this region from the first generation head."

I also frowned at that, "A while? There must be a lot then."

"Considering it's era before the WW, the record is not kept so well and not in form of data." Mai told me. "I am surprised we can find anything."

I scoffed as we left the dining room, and inwardly noted Hara-san was glaring at us. It seemed she was still delusional to think she was in love with me. And here I hoped she had forgotten with Fujiwara around, then again the onmyouji was in the middle of meeting with Ohashi-san. Apparently being an onmyouji tied to royal family like him meant a lot of restriction, then again someone with his skill was so rare it was no wonder he was kept so carefully.

"Still… the amount of data we have to gather is insane, we spend a lot of time just to measure this place." Mai gestured wildly to the maze like mansion.

I sighed at that, "Shouichi makes data gathering looks so easy with his hacking skill, I wonder if he even know how to gather them on foot?"

"Don't you know we have to set ground rules just for him and Spanner because he forget there's more in this world than his lab?" Obviously not, and didn't we meet in that convention because…

'Both of you got kicked out of your lab.' Gene snickered, 'Which is why I am so glad while Hayato is also a genius at least he didn't make his lab his dwelling.'

'Be quiet, Gene.'

Mai chuckled softly, it seemed she overheard us. "Maa, it seems my worry for you being upset with getting dragged to an unwanted case, and to check on your imposter of all things… is unfounded."

She was worried about that? "I don't really care, although the case is more dangerous than expected…"

"Un."

"Mai… Suzuki-san is already…" I trailed off.

She just nodded, "Hai… to be honest, I have my doubt she is still alive. That… entity I saw in my dream." Her eyes narrowed, amber shimmering in the dimly lighted hallway. "Thirst for more prey, Suzuki-san won't be the last I'd say…"

'Gene?'

'Shall we try again tonight?' My twin suggested. 'Astral walking I mean.'

"Let's hold that back off after we have more information."

Mai frowned at me, a hand in door knob to our base. "If that's your plan… the same goes for you."

'Mai is right, no psychometry unless it's our last resort.'

'Go figures.'

SPR's BASE

She opened the door and surprise, Fujiwara was with Lin. It seemed he finished his business with Ohashi-san. Then Mai perked up, opening the window just enough for a bird to fly in. I belatedly realize it was not a bird but a paper folded so meticulously to resemble a bird. It flew towards Fujiwara and unfolded itself on his hands.

He sighed, "I have been given a time limit, three days… if by then this case is not solved the order is to pull out of this."

Mai hummed as she closed the window, "I see… you don't have freedom to continue as you please."

Fujiwara's frown deepened before his lips pulled to a tight smile, "Coming from you Sawada-san, I believe this is what we call as sleep laughing at the snot..." Mai scoffed at that, "I shall take my leave." He waved a paper list of victim. "Thank you for this list, I will try my hand to divine what become of these victims." Most likely list of recent ones.

I watched the onmyouji left, not bothering to mention no going alone. Unlike Takigawa I count shiki as not being alone. "Eye wax laughing at the snot?" I repeated to Mai. "A Japanese idiom I guessed, equivalent of pot calling kettle black perhaps?"

Mai's amber eyes lighted up, it was fascinating to see how the change of her mood was so apparent in her eyes. 'Only to us who stares at her eyes more than what's considered healthy.'

'Gene… not a word, not in the middle of investigation.' I was still trying to accept I was apparently could fall to death trap -as Hayato eloquently put it- called romance.

'You're not serious to agree with Hayato that dating makes people stupid, are you?' Gene's asked in threatening tone. 'Seriously, accepting you do in fact… could fall in love won't drop your IQ as Hayato said, why would he know? He never dated either! He think girls are troublesome.' Though Mai was obviously an exception even to Hayato. 'So what he said is nonsense!' Gene declared proudly.

I rolled my eyes, 'I'm more inclined to believe Hayato's nonsense because since yesterday I am feeling idiocy I have never felt because everyone seems to know but me!' It was really a slight to my pride.

'To be fair, lack of experience in romance means you wouldn't know how to be subtle about it.' Seriously, I couldn't win against Gene when it comes about feeling and emotion.

I sighed inwardly, 'Am I that obvious?'

'Not to strangers perhaps but from what I see Lin and the others are looking for the sign in the first place, I mean you looks inflatable most of the time so they can't help but looking for your soft side…'

"Yes, it is." I almost missed Mai's response, distracted by my argument with Gene. "If I am not mistaken in Chinese it would be a chicken that couldn't see it's back?" She asked to Lin.

"Ah yes… there's The crow mocks the blackness of the pig, ignoring its own blackness." Lin replied evenly.

"Hypocrisy is a subject everyone in the world like to pick on, I suppose." Mai giggled, "So how about the measurement data, have we got everything right already?"

"Ah yes." Lin turned back to his PC. "However…"

And just like that Mai also close my chance to ask what Fujiwara meant by Mai was hypocrite to call him trapped by obligation and duty. Did that mean her position as COO of Neo-VG or something else? That discernible talk about being a guardian?

'Noll, drop it.'

'Fine.' If she won't talk there was no point pressing the matter anyway.

Mai's POV

"There are still blank spaces." Naru commented and by then the rest of our group had returned to the base for our nightly meeting.

Naru pointed at the blue colored blanks on the diagram. Large and small, they totaled 18. The small ones were about 1 tatami's size; the large ones could be the size of a few rooms. "Ignoring the small spaces, I'm very concerned about this large empty space."

That large blank space was at the heart of this mansion. Jutting in and out it formed an 'L' shape. Although it's size couldn't be accurately determined, from the look of the surrounding rooms it was clearly the size of a few rooms.

I took the floor plan for the second floor and made a comparison with the one Naru was holding. "The second floor hasn't been accurately measured, so it's better not to say anything now… it looks like there is that blank space on the second floor too." What could be in this blank space?

"… Isn't it a hidden room? If it isn't then it's a little too large to imagine." Bou-san said.

Indeed, if we were to think that the blank space was created as a result of it being convenient for construction, it would be overly large. The question was how to enter it.

"Isn't the third floor very suspicious? There's also entry from the second floor, I think there's the possibility of gaining access from above." Yasuhara spoke. "What do you think Sawada-san? You're the one who have a mansion or rather a palace… you would know better."

I scoffed at that, "I wouldn't know, my ancestor didn't build our mansion with making people lost in mind. Beside… from what I see this mansion is build based on victorian style one in England. In the other hand our mansion is a Italian renaissance building, I assure you… it's very different."

Yasuhara groaned at that, "Is that so?"

"Not to mention…" I trailed off, showing them the floor plan. "See how the surrounding this blank space? There are a lot of strange and weird rooms, furthermore aren't they obviously more complicated than at other places? Or rather the area surrounding the blank areas are obviously strange..."

Naru frowned at me, "It is strange… I suppose, does it bother you so much?"

I nodded at him, "Judging from the floor plan obviously the one who build this mansion have no planning whatsoever, he just add more and more… however if this is a hidden room Hiroyuki-shi, the second head build on purpose… he should have hid it better."

"Huh?" Bou-san blinked at that. "Why?"

"If from walking around this area we can feel something is amiss…" I trailed off and Naru continued for me.

"Which mean Hiroyuki-shi didn't care it looks suspicious." Naru concluded, "Perhaps to some extent he did what to hide something but creating a maze is even more-" I raised my hand to my lips in hushing gesture and point at the window, Naru frowned. "Another shikigami messenger for Fujiwara?"

"Ah, no." I skipped towards the window as a hand appeared in the darkness, poised to knock the window. Behind me Ayako let out a yelp, and before the figure plastered to the glass could knock, I opened the window, revealing a very shocked Mori Madoka.

Naru stood up. "Madoka."

Mori-san climbed through to enter. What an energetic person she was, though she was also a tad subdued with me around. "How's it going?" She was smiling to mask her wariness. How cute she thought it could hide her emotion I could feel coming in waves from her.

"Did you find something?" Naru asked.

"Yeah. I wanted to tell you all about the results of the investigation. It's freezing…"

"How did you come?" How caring of Naru to ask, apparently he was still quite an English gentleman even with his teacher who had tendency to exasperate him.

Not even I ask how did Reborn come or rather appear out of nowhere, then again Reborn was such an infallible figure in my mind I can't bring myself to worry about him. It would be taken as an insult by my mentor anyway.

Naru's mentor answered, "I rented a car to get nearby, and then I walked over. It's very cold outside."

It should be. Because this mansion was built in high ground. I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw some of our members looked shocked when Naru handed Mori-san a jacket, how gentlemanly he could be with woman. With Masako-chan it seemed forced, then again everyone already knew she had something over his head. With me, I didn't exactly give Naru any chance to be a gentleman, or Gene for that matter but I knew the twins were both quite a pair of English gentlemen.

Wearing the jacket Naru handed her, Mori-san sat down on a chair. Rubbing her hands together for warmth, she looked like a squirrel, and appeared very cute especially with how subtle she tried to avoid my eyes. Maa, nothing unusual with people who was wary of my Hyper Intuition and charisma that was part of being the sky of Vongola.

"… Why would you do something so dangerous? What would you do if something happened?"

"Araa, Naru will come to rescue me right?"

Yep, he would come running for sure. Taking pity on him, I walked towards him and asked Mori-san who tensed involuntarily. "So what did you find Mori-san."

"Madoka." She corrected instantly.

I smiled at her, and I could feel amusement coming in waves from Naru because even though she was quite a pro at masking her emotion Naru and I could tell Madoka was trying her best to not avert her eyes from me at the sight of my smile.

In the end Mori-san took out a large notebook from beneath her jacket, successfully dodging my eyes and looked natural at it. "First is this morning's incident concerning Suzuki."

He~, so she investigated that too?

"Buses pass regularly along the road beneath this place. And then, I tried asking the bus and car rental companies if a girl matching her description took them this morning before six. Which I thought that when she left this building, not many people would take them at that hour so she would be obvious... Although it's not impossible to hitchhike." Mori-san spoke while she flipped open her notebook.

"The result of my questioning was that there didn't appear to be any drivers who had seen or met such a person. As expected, Suzuki-san probably never left this building."

Naru turned towards me, and I pulled out a stack of paper, printed from Foundation's email. "From your end?"

"Etto…" I browsed through them, "As Madoka-san said, hitching a ride is possible… but according to Foundation from last night to this morning it appeared no one have left the premise of this mansion."

"How did you know that?" Mori-san asked curiously.

"Satellite."

Silence…

What was so surprising? Of course we had satellite. "Not to mention… this place is too far from Suzuki-san's house to reach with hitch hike, but from our investigation there's no girl matching her description purchasing any ticket of public transportation to her home or university… Not to mention according to Igarashi-san, she also left her wallet…"

Even if she ran away in fear as that con-man Minami said this morning, there was no way she wouldn't at least bring her wallet and phone with her. So obviously, Suzuki Nao had not left this house, she was missing.

"And the missing persons?" Naru pressed on.

Mori-san continued, "Regarding this issue, this is all I know. Then about the 2 people who disappeared in this house."

"The first to disappear was Matsunuma Eiki, 18 years old, unemployed. That happened on the 13th of February. He and 7 friends, 8 in total, came here at night; no news of him has been heard since. Although they came here frequently, it was the first time they did so at night. They planned a test of courage by exploring the mansion, then when they had a feast within one of the rooms, Matsunuma Eiki left the room, apparently to look for a toilet. Following that he never came back."

Mori-san flipped over a page. "The missing person report was made a week later. The police who heard of this incident also get firefighters to search for Matsunuma Eiki because this place is so big. Although they separately searched the building and its surrounds, they did not find Matsunuma-kun. Furthermore when they prepared to leave and did a head count, they realized they were missing one person. The missing one was Yoshikawa Masaya, 21 years old, a firefighter. Everyone frantically searched the house again; not only did they not find him, because some of the people saw spirits floating through the corridors and created a ruckus, they gave up the search and went back."

While she spoke, Mori-san retrieved a few mini tapes from her pocket, and scattered them on the tabletop. "These are recordings from witnesses. The fact is, not a hint was found in here."

"… so that's what happened." Naru glanced at me, "Anything new from Foundation Madoka didn't mention?"

"There is… but we should talk about the previous owner of this house first… so Mori- I mean Madoka-san can go ahead."

She seemed pleased I call her Madoka now, "Regarding the owners of this house. The one who built this house was Miyama Kaneyuki. For generations, the Miyama family was rich and powerful in Suwa (the region). Kaneyuki was the eldest son; at 16 he became the head of the Miyama family. At that time income was practically limited to that from farmers. This place is apparently the location of the Miyama family's mountain villa. When Kaneyuki was 18, he went to Europe for a tour. He returned at age 20. Apparently, after he came back he immediately changed this place into a western villa. That happened in 1877."

Mori-san flipped over a page.

"From that time onwards, up until his death from kidney disease in 1910 he always lived here. It should be said that he wasn't good with getting along with other people, because besides leaving a few times on trips, he was always closed in here. He let his wife live in the city residence, but he himself hardly ever went back. And despite his dabbling in charity, overall he has never appeared to be a social man."

Obviously the charity was for PR. "Speaking of his charity work… we found strangest record."

Mori-san perked up at that, "Wow! I can't find the hospital record myself! Neo-V.G is amazing!"

I just smiled at her, "We are, huh?"

"What's wrong with the 'Miyama Charity Hospital'?" Bou-san asked.

I cleared my throat, "Starting about the hospital itself… It's located at the edge of the city, and apparently it's a very large hospital… and from here it's suspicious already because why such a large facility in such a rural place?" Kaneyuki-shi had a lot of money, he should have gotten a better location.

"What about a secured facility in the vicinity of the hospital?" Naru asked.

Mori-san took over, "There was one... Patient's family members, or recovering patients who do not stay in the hospital, and people who have recovered but have difficulty in their daily living – it was a relatively large facility which accepted these types of people." While she said that, a complicated expression showed on Mori-san's face.

"There were quite a number of assistants there. Apparently it was a place with excellent service. Admission into the facility was free of charge. Meals were also free. Apparently they also distributed necessities to those they did not admit. As long as one lived in that facility, one need not worry about clothing, food or lodging."

I nodded, the information she had matched mine. "How gracious of him… but definitely an overkill for PR charity."

Ayako sweat-dropped, "You're so sure it's for PR."

Of course, I had seen through men who worshipped by media for their charity and saw rotten nature beneath their fake smile in daily basis. "Sure do… people who are sincere about their charity won't be avoided by society like Kaneyuki-shi, and his charity reek of suspicious activity to me."

Naru frowned at me, "What make you think so?"

"Well… aside from how half of Miyama Kaneyuki-shi's fortune was lost due to the Panic of 1907." I read out from my report, "Before that, this facility had already consumed a significant portion of his fortune… and there were also hospices and orphanages, a center for tuberculosis sufferers etc… from how generous he was with people in need he is giving me impression it's not that he is being generous but he needs them."

"…Why?" John asked, all of them looked confused by my conclusion.

Because the same trick had been done by Estraneo of all organization to lure unsuspecting victim to be their lab rat, I couldn't say this of course. "He is a businessman, no matter how generous it doesn't make sense he has to invest on his charity to the point he makes his business suffer. Not to mention extremely dumb because in the end… in Meiji 41 (1908), Kaneyuki-shi started giving up of various industries one by one. When Kaneyuki-shi died, besides farmland and forests, there was practically nothing left."

So it was either he was extremely foolish or there was something else.

"Hu, this should be what they call charitable poverty." Ayako commented.

Mori-san continued, "There's the next family head which is Kaneyuki's eldest son, Miyama Hiroyuki-shi. Besides giving this building various strange renovations, Hiroyuki's history is comparatively normal. I've brought the detailed histories of his and Kaneyuki's along."

Mori-san handed the notes sandwiched in her notebook to Naru, and I added. "That's right… Hiroyuki-shi is aside from building so many additions are mostly normal in his business plan, though he avoided charity like a plague." Which was understandable considering how his father lost the fortune of their family.

"Tomorrow it's regarding the characters of this father and son. I feel that this needs in-depth investigation." She was right about that. "I'll be right back!"

Naru looked clearly unpleased. "Madoka, this is very dangerous. It will do to make a call, don't come near this place."

Mori-san tilted her head. "But isn't meeting face to face better?"

"In any case do not come here."

Mori-san nodded. "Yes, yes."

Somehow it was a tone used to humor a child, and judging from the look Naru shot me he thought the same. Mori-san would come back next time in person to this place in spite of Naru's warning. As he watched Mori-san and Lin-san left, Naru's frown got deeper. "She is so…"

"Complain again about your teacher is so willful I dare you."

He sighed, "What did your mentor did?"

"Nothing aside you know… hold a competition to celebrate our birthday without our consent and promising reward from us, in which the competition involves Hayato, Kyou-san, Ryou-nii and the rest of our family."

Naru's left eye twitched, knowing how competitive his friend could be. 'That's definitely an explosive birthday.' Gene commented.

I nodded sagely, replying mentally. 'I was surprised we still have a roof and enough wall by the end of the day.'

I had thought we won't have a home after our birthday, best present ever.

Gene's POV

It was another dream and for once Mai was not around with me, and I didn't wish she was either. Considering I was watching a hunched figure of dripping wet and naked old men prowling the hallway of this mansion. I couldn't see him clearly in the darkened hallway, and debated whether I should tune the dream to have better lighting.

The guy was naked and smelt awful for God's sake!

Then he stopped in front of a room, Gene's eyes widened in shock and cursed the hallway all looked the same so he couldn't tell whose it belonged to.

"I don't want to die…"

But you already are, monster!

Much to Gene's shock, the monster turned towards him with its milky white bulging eyes and snarled. "Young man…"

This was bad, and the next thing I knew I had to dodge some sort of black flame the monster threw at me. My eyes narrowed at the burning flame, it didn't burn anything but I knew if it hit me I would be dead for real. Since when a ghost or a monster could throw hitodama?!

I have to retreat, and was about to move when I noticed a figure behind the monster. A feminine figure wrapped in soft golden glow in the darkness, and as she approached closer I recognized her as Daniella, Mai's familiar.

"Daniella-san?"

"Ciao!" She greeted me cheerfully, "My! My… such an awful looking monster." Daniella held her crossbow up and aimed at the monster, "Are you bothering FIammetta's friend?"

The monster only let out an animal like growl, "Old… soul… woman."

Silence… did that monster just called a woman old to her face?!

Daniella was twitching now, a smile was firmly in her beautiful face but there was no mistaken the bulging vein in her temple. "Pente e morire ❤ "

I was not sure why even though her bow was aimed right at the monster temple my instinct tell me I should duct, and I followed it and planted myself firmly on the ground when something was blazing and hot passed through a few inches above my back but I couldn't see anything with my face planted on the carpeted floor.

"Che! That coward run away."

I lifted my face, to see Daniella tapping his chin with the edge of her bow. "Uhm, Daniella-san?"

Daniella beamed at me, "Don't worry, I scare the meanie old man away bambino~" She was patting my head now, like I was some sort of kitten or dog to her.

"Thank you for saving me, Daniella-san."

Daniella returned my smile, "Nessun problema! Bambino!" She winked at me before stopped, a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Bambino, how old am I look?" She asked, striking a pose.

At that very moment I was sure if I said the wrong thing I'd be dead, so I dig out the most suave line I learned from my mother's romance novel. "Daniella-san, do you know woman are ageless being? Especially a spirit like you is eternally young!"

She gave me a thumb up and a kiss on the cheek for that, "I approve of you! Bambino!" I was dumbfounded, holding the cheek she kissed. "You likes Fiammetta right?" I nodded frantically, blushing furiously. "So did… your twin?" I nodded again.

She cupped her chin thoughtfully, "Hm… our family allows polygamy for obvious reason." They allow what?! "But do you mind marrying to our family?"

I blinked owlishly at that, "Uhm…" Considering her family was a prestigious one I supposed that make sense, "I don't mind?" Wait! Why we were talking about marriage already?! "But, aren't we too young to talk about it? I mean… I am seventeen going eighteen!"

Daniella placed her hand in her hips, sighing. "Aah… Fiammetta didn't notice you handsome twins likes her, did she?" I nodded again, I had been nodding a lot to Daniella-san. "Of course not, that girl is so obsessed with our family so she has screwed view in romance! Oh well, if you're serious about FIammetta… I will tell you this. Starting a relationship with her means more than just… dating kids nowadays do. The whole family got involved… so I am sure by now some of family members are already checking you two out."

My jaw dropped at the revelation, 'They did! So that's why Shouichi cringe all the time when talking to us! Because idiotic Noll didn't realize his feeling by then Shouichi couldn't give us a head up on this!'

"Well? Still interested in my cute descendant?"

I blurted out, "I do! I mean… giving up because of family pressure is absurd!"

"Aha ha! You have guts! You will fit well in our family!" Daniella was grinning now. "You even faced that monster bravely."

Actually I was trying to retreat but I'd rather not correct her that I couldn't fight without Noll. "Descendant?"

"Ah, Fiammetta didn't say I am technically her great grandmother? Tim is my son!" She pointed at herself, "But never mind, about the cowardly monster from just now... It run away, and I'm afraid someone would fall prey to it."

I groaned, "And here I thought I caught him on the act." Then an image flashed on my mind, of a male figure walked with hunched back like a lamb led to slaughter. "Crap, it caught someone! How did it get from here to another place so quickly?"

"You better return and inform Fiammetta."

"Yes." I saluted, " Thank you, Daniella-san."

Naru's POV

My eyes snapped open and I sat up blearily, woken up by both Mai's knocking and Gene's frantic telepathy. 'Noll! That con-man's assistant was abducted!'

It took a moment for me to compute who he was talking about, "Oh, Atsugi Hideo-san." And opened the door revealing frantic Mai in the same gi like sleep wear. "Is that the one who was taken tonight?" I asked as I let Mai inside, as Lin walked out to check on our cameras.

"I will inform you if we see anything amiss." Judging from the direction he took, Lin was going to wake up his fellow onmyouji. It seemed the two had some sort of agreement considering both were in charge of warding.

As soon as Lin was out of our sight, I asked again. "Atsugi-san, right?"

"Ah yes! That somber looking young man from Minami Psychic Research group!" Mai told me, clenching her fist. "I can't believe this entity got pass us again!" She grunted as she flopped down to one of the beds, mine to be exact.

She was right, he bypassed both Gene and Mai again. 'Should we inform Minami-san?' Gene asked.

"No." I told them firmly, "I'd rather not telling that man who brought my impostor that we do have genuine psychic in our midst."

"Or worse." Mai interjected, "He would accuse us as the one who kidnap Atsugi-san to eliminate competition."

Gene seemed torn, we could feel his discomfort. 'But Atsugi-san is…'

"I know." Mai's voice was grim, "But it's not like informing that man now can help…" She closed her eyes briefly, "Daniella is still looking for that monster… in our vision he drag his feet and yet why he could move this quickly from one place to another?"

I frowned at that, "Daniella-san can't keep up?"

"More like she lost him…" Mai opened her watch. "Daniella had found some interesting rooms though. I still can keep her up if she just wonder… around. Still… this is the first case we really get victims. Two days in a row…"

I nodded at that, "Not to mention… in spite of the large amount of spirits here, the harmless ones are very quiet. The last knocking is incited because of seance…"

Mai closed her eyes, "This mansion… the emotion I could feel strongest from spirits around here is… fear."

"Nothing unusual…"

"Unusual actually." Mai corrected, "These spirits… they're scared of death when they're already dead, Naru…"

'I agree with Mai, I have felt them fearing loneliness, pain, and so on… but for spirits to fear death to this extent after they passed away usually that means…' Gene trailed off, 'They died in the most horrific way, so the pain and fear linger strongly and they're trapped by that feeling even after their death.'

"That explain what I felt when I saw them in our vision." Mai told Gene, "Don't go there, please come back if you do… something terrible is going to happen."

I asked her, "What terrible thing?"

"I don't know aside from obviously the person who goes won't survive it." Mai fidgeted, "I don't like this… even if I stretched my senses, my Hyper Intuition just couldn't get very far…" She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

She likened it to cellphone without reception but from what I see her frustration was not mere trivial need for signal for phone. More like she felt like she had become blind or rather short sighted. For me whose ability had nothing to do with my senses won't be able to comprehend what she felt now.

'By the way, I ran to Daniella… and she saved me from that monster.'

In instance both Mai and I snapped at him, "IDIOT! Why didn't you say that first?!"

"Why are you out there, Gene?! We told you it's dangerous!"

Gene flinched, 'I didn't mean too! I was drawn away, you know that happen sometimes!' Oh right, as medium Gene sometimes pulled away by spirits against his will at random. ' It's not like I made it a habit to spy on naked old man who throw black flame at me!'

Mai had become very pale at that and before I knew it she had ran up to me and reach out to my face. Her amber eyes flickered as if there was flame within, as she inspected me or rather us as close as she could. "Gene, Naru… are you alright? The flame… it didn't touch you, right?"

Against my free will my head shook, and the next thing I knew I took the back seat on my mind. "No, Mai… it didn't."

Mai blinked owlishly, "Gene? You're the one in control of Naru's body now?"

'Eh?'

'Idiot medium! Since when you can possess me?'

'It's an accident.' Gene looked at my body which was just like his in confusion. 'I didn't even know I can, Mukuro-sensei say I could but I never tried! And not interested in this!'

'What?' I groaned at him, 'Mai! Call Mukuro, and tell him his idiot disciple mess up!'

Mai crossed her arms, frowning. "Calm down you two… it's not the end of the world. I can help you to switch."

"You can?"

Mai nodded, "Yes, I just have to-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

We looked at the door exasperatedly and when we heard Minami-san's panicked voice from the other side we just sighed and put the switching business for later. As expected, he was looking for his missing assistant.

3rd POV (Dining Hall)

Ohashi-san had informed them again that the front gate was locked and no one saw Atsugi, the missing medium from Minami's group. "We have checked our camera which we station on each end of the hallway where everyone's rooms are located but there's no sign of Atsugi-san." Lin reported in monotone.

Fujiwara who stood beside him sighed, "To be frank I'm surprised Minami's group didn't get attacked first considering their room is not warded whatsoever." Which mean the entity didn't care whether their would-be victim was protected or not.

"And the one we set up in corridor?"

The younger onmyouji lifted up a simple floor plan with spell formula in circle formation, there was small burn here and there. "We detect it come but it's just appear and disappear…"

The SPR group sweat-dropped at the sight of two frustrated onmyouji, apparently the two felt really slighted their art was bypassed again by the entity haunting this mansion.

On the other side of the room the adults, or rather participants of the investigation with age above thirties were arguing. "Really, what exactly is going on in this house?" Imura-san, the older monk said in a disdainful tone.

Igarashi-sensei looked towards Minami-san. "Can't Professor Davis do anything for us?"

"Oh yes… if it's the Professor…"

Minami-san looked obviously unhappy. "The Professor's clairvoyance has limited scope. I asked just now, the Professor said he couldn't feel a thing."

"In that case, could you please call other people here." Igarashi-sensei said forcefully.

"Don't you have other friends? Won't it do to call anyone who could help?"

"Even if you suddenly tell me so, I can't do anything: because everyone lives overseas."

"This is an urgent situation. If it's you then won't there always be a way? Or are you saying that on the first day, the things that you said about being able to get the help of Geller or Taunus was all hot air?" Obviously the kind woman was losing patience with Minami.

"Alright. In conclusion let me make an appointment first. However, as they are all busy people, it would be very troubling to organize a time for them to come here."

"Are you making excuses and shirking responsibility?" It was Imura-san who spoke, it seemed like it was time for everyone to pour out their frustration to the arrogant man. .

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

The real Oliver Davis who stood in the corner of the room, watching the night sky looked unperturbed. Or rather he was occupied by another problem, and ignore the people arguing over his impostor. "Why are they arguing over Noll again?"

'Like I ask them to argue over my impostor.' Naru was still vexed Mai didn't get a chance to fix Gene's mishap yet.

Mai who stood beside him, pointedly ignoring the commotion and shrugged, "Didn't you come to check this out? That's what Mori-san asked, ne?" She shrugged, "If you ask me, sooner or later that pretender will crack, what's the point of getting bothered by them?"

'Madoka is the one who thinks we should bother.'

Mai fished out her phone, "If you told me before we come I could have asked Foundation to investigate and clean up this Minami mess and save us from trouble dealing with him in person." Peacefully too, it was just a hoax anyway.

Gene sighed, "An oversight in our part I'd admit." To be fair they didn't want to trouble Mai, but hindsight was fifty-fifty considering this case got harder and more annoying with Minami group around. Seriously a group of amateur in the middle of dangerous case like this?

Mai glanced at the commotion behind them and said, "No one would notice it seems, come here… I will switch you guys now."

"How."

"Come closer."

Gene obeyed her instruction, and Mai pulled him down so their forehead touched. Then there was familiar warmth spreading from the contact to their whole body. The next thing Gene knew he was on the back seat of their shared mind, and his twin was back on driver seat.

"Alright already?" Mai asked, she looked amused by Naru's wide eyed reaction.

Naru nodded. "Thanks." They couldn't imagine how horrible it would be if Gene had to pretend to be him, twins or not they were terrible at pretending to be each other. Naru was not used to say gratitude verbally but with Mai, she deserved it for fixing Gene's mishap.

His voice was almost drowned by Minami who had enough, "You're dishonoring me. This is an extreme insult. If you all are still suspicious then so be it. Regardless, I refuse to allow my busy friends to be worried over this. I think that this issue is one I can solve on my own."

And then Minami stormed out of the room, followed by his two remaining assistant and fake Oliver Davis. That was the end of meeting, which was pretty pointless and not productive in Naru's opinion.

"Alright, let's go back to our bed… it's 3AM but I suppose we should catch some rest for tomor- I mean today." Bou-san announced.

Masako fumed, as no outsiders were in the room she asked. "What are you two doing over there? Kazuya-san?'

Ayako snickered, "Such PDA… never know you had it in you."

Naru sighed, and noted that Fujiwara had left the room so he was not around to distract Hara-san. He already came up with an excuse, "Mai is feeling unwell, she is a bit warm." Which was not a lie considering she had higher temperature than normal human. "She also has a dream of Atsugi-san… but I'd rather not drawing unwanted attention to us. Or worse we would get accused for kidnapping members from other group."

Understanding dawned in their group members, Bou-san then asked. "The same dream of the missing person walking away, hunched… and even if you call them out they didn't listen."

Mai nodded, "Yes." She glanced at Naru, "There's another… I think I saw the entity too in my vision." Which Gene shared with her when the older folks were arguing. "It's an old man, naked, and… so thin he looks like hungry ghost in Buddhism."

Bou-san cringed, "Alright… that's creepy." He paused, "Why is he naked though?"

Ayako huffed, "That's your question?!"

That was the end of their discussion, and they walked back to their respective room. Ayako and Masako paused when they saw Naru dragged Mai away by hand pass their room.

"Oi! Naru! Where are you going to bring Mai?"

Naru turned to face them, "Oh, I forget to inform you that Mai will be sleeping in my and Lin's from tonight. She is very groggy about her dream and forgetting them so it's better if she is close when her memory is still fresh."

"Oi, Naru…" Mai sighed, "Give me more credit for memory."

Masako looked scandalized, "It's improper for man and woman to share room!"

"We're sleeping on separate bed." Naru told her, "And I believe I'm gentleman enough to keep my hand to myself."

Mai rolled her eyes, noticing the subtle jab to her. "Right…" Then she turned to Masako. "It's fine with me, I am used to share room with my brothers…"

"But-" Masako protested.

Ayako wondered if Mai realized the guy who was sharing the room this time saw her as a woman not a sister. Although Ayako didn't think Naru would give in to his base urge or anything, considering his personality. Not to mention Lin would be in the same room "Are you sure, it's alright?"

Mai just smiled and said. "Are you guys have so little faith in me and Naru? Beside… I am taught by my mentor very well how to voice my disagreement with unwanted advance, and I know ways to make a man feel it for weeks." She raised her knuckles in emphasize.

Silence…

'Noll, I think this mean next time we want a kiss we have to ask first.'

'You're one to talk.'

One Hour later…

Lin had heard about Gene's little mishap and it amused him to know now the twins could swap places. It was also to his horror to notice that Gene was also in love with Mai, as even if they talked on dinner or other times where reflective surface was conveniently nearby, only now Lin saw how Gene looked at Mai in Noll's body.

He was not too concerned when he saw Mai was sleeping on unoccupied bed in their room, in fact it was funny to see mature and unflappable Sawada-san to curl up on her blanket like a cocoon. Then when he was about to sleep he heard a soft whimper from the girl and when he sat up he saw the girl curl up tighter with a deep frown on her forehead.

That was when his charge sat up and grunted, "Did Mai have a nightmare… poor Mai."

It was Gene not Noll, and before Lin could say a word, the half-awake medium had closed the small gap between his bed and Mai's. He bent down, kissing the frown on her face and the girl just relaxed. Lin thought that was it until Gene walked around the bed and made himself comfortable as hugging the girl from behind.

"Good night." And he was back to sleep again.

Lin wondered if he should drag Gene back to his bed, when they were young it was not rare to see Gene sneaked in to Noll's bed all the time. Especially when Noll just had one of his horrible visions. This time was no different, inappropriate or not Sawada-san was very tolerant with both twins when intimacy was concerned.

Gene's POV

It was Mai's past again and Noll was livid as if it was our intention to invade her memory of the past. We were about to just get out of here when we laid our eyes on young Mai and stopped in our track. She was sitting on the edge of a beautiful fountain of angel carrying an urn. She looked the same as young Mai we saw in previous vision but this time she was wearing orange-white formal suits, which was strange on her young body like a child trying to be an adult.

However what caught our attention was she had bandage all over her body, though on her face only a couple of band aid. She had her suit jacket tucked on her elbow so the short sleeved undershirt she wore exposed her injured states. She was inspecting her hands, wrapped all the way to the tip of her fingers. She tried to flex her fingers, wincing slightly before her breath evened as she got used to the pain.

"What happened to her?" Noll wondered.

I had to agree with my little brother, she looked like she had been through hell and back.

Mai took a deep breath, "Stupid young lion, harebrained blond who should burn to hell!" She cursed under her breath. "This will take days to heal!" Mai grunted.

Days, she said?! "Didn't she mean months?" I corrected.

Mai twisted her body so she could dip her bandaged arms on the water, not the right thing to do since she got her injury wet. The bandaged arm didn't get wet for long, it was strange but it seemed the heat from the sun was strong enough to dry it off in a moment. Mai let out a mirthless laugh, and said.

"I will never feel clean ever again."

She looked so broken when she said it, staring at her hands with disgust. That was also when I realized this was the same Mai we knew when she was in solemn mood, looking so sad and broken. It was then Noll and I realized this was Mai after that trial they spoke of in last vision.

"I wondered before…" Noll said in dazed voice, "How did she stay sane after that… that trial, no… of course she was not fine then..."

I shook my head, "Mai…" She didn't cry, but from how glazed her eyes looking at her shaking hands she was still shaken.

A heavy footsteps could be heard and Mai shot up from her seat instantly, all traces of pain were gone from her expression. Her amber eyes dimmed as a teenager around the our current age appeared from the corner nearby. He was tall with dark hair, light brown eyes and healthy tanned skin. Wearing furred jacket suits, white undershirt and studded pants. A earring on one ear with tail like ornament, but the most prominent feature of his was the scar all over his exposed skin.

"Trash." The man grunted as he stopped in parallel from Mai, eyeing her appraisingly. "You looks pathetic."

Mai narrowed her eyes, her lips curled to a scowl. "Watch your mouth Xanxus, remember who you're talking to."

The man didn't seem chastised by the reprimand. "Ah yes… our dear princess." He eyed the bandaged state of her body with a frown. "Shouldn't you take care of your body better, if you want to be a better bargaining chip? Oh, I forgot… because of the blood there's no way we could even use you for political marriage."

Mai opened her mouth to retort but someone was quicker, "Xanxus, what did you just say to my sister?"

Noll and I almost jumped when Tsunayoshi-san walked through me, smiling serenely as he got to his sister's side. He too, we noted, were injured and bandaged all over his body. He was dressed even more elaborately, with white pinstripped suit and orange tie. He also had a white mantle with golden rim tucked on his elbow.

"Trash."

"I am your boss now, I won't ask you to respect us but do address us like you should a human being Xanxus… unless you intend to drag our family name through the mud if people know the leader of Varia disrespect me and my sister." Tsunayoshi told him evenly, still smiling but we could see the depth of his amber eyes were cold.

Somehow the fear I felt when I saw this smile made me feel I have felt it before but when? Noll was thinking the same but we couldn't recall it.

Xanxus, the older Italian scowled at them. "What do you know about respect half-breed?"

"He is so rude!" I couldn't help but say since we also got that one thrown to our face before. Sometimes I wondered why some people had problem with biracial children like this jerk over here.

Mai scowled, "This half-breed unfortunately inherit the blood you wish you had." She spat to Xanxus.

It was so fast, neither I nor Noll could see anything but blur when Xanxus moved but what we saw next was Tsunayoshi-san who caught Xanxus' hand and threw him towards the fountain.

SPLASH!

"Blub, blub, blub!" And held the man's head down underwater.

"Cool your head a bit, please." He was still smiling pleasantly and Mai just scoffed. "And Mai, please don't provoke him."

Mai smiled sheepishly at her brother, "He started it first… unlike Onii-chan I'm not in the mood to be pleasant." She held up a watch made of gold, one she always brought with her. "After the ordeal we just go through especially…"

Tsuna sighed, he couldn't blame his sister for feeling short with Xanxus. "Now then… Xanxus." Tsuna pulled his head up, and the man coughed before fixing a glare on the brown haired boy.

Xanxus looked itching to retaliate before smiling, and nodding before Tsuna let him go. "You're strong… as ever… good."

Noll and I exchanged look, "He provoked them on purpose?" The violence was a shocking sight but we always expected Tsunayoshi-san was capable considering Mai's own skill.

"Obviously…" Noll scoffed, craning his neck towards the scarred man. "This person is Xanxus… Mai told me once he is an adopted son of their grandfather, considering their Hyper Intuition is hereditary it's no wonder their succession is strictly on their bloodline."

No wonder he would feel bitter, but it seemed the man approved of Tsunayoshi-san to an extent.

The boss sighed again, "You don't have to get on our nerve just to check whether we're getting weaker after what happened."

"It's nothing…" Mai added, "For you of all people to get worried about us…"

"Mai." Tsunayoshi chided her.

Xanxus snorted, "Of course… to the two of you, almost getting killed by your own father is nothing noteworthy."

My eyes widened in shock, "What did he just say?"

Even Noll now looked shocked by the revelation, wasn't the man Madoka mentioned was Mai's father was suspected killing Xanxus' brothers to make way for his own children? Then now these three revealed Mai and Tsunayoshi almost got killed by their father?!

"Did Mai say anything about her father?"I couldn't help but ask to Noll.

He shook his head, "No… Mai is very tight lipped about her biological family aside from Tsunayoshi-san." And at first she didn't even tell Noll about her brother at all, misleading both of us to think he was dead. His father mentioned around twice, as the man who was never around and an idiot who named his children with the same first name, which might as well the same as next to nothing. As for her mother, it was nonexistent.

Mai was smirking coldly at Xanxus now and it made me shudder to see Mai who was so young could make such expression, "Are you sympathizing with us now, Xanxus?"

He shrugged, "As if… I have to say in comparison to you my issue with the Nonno seems trivial, such a cold father you have there… I saw him this morning… going back to CEDEF office with the same stupid grin as if nothing happened."

"It will stay that way to the world…" Tsunayoshi closed his eyes, "We can't appear divided."

They brushed that off so easily?! As if it was nothing.

"True." Xanxus agreed. "We can't make Vongola appear weak at all cost… that's why I will acknowledge both of you for now, Seravino… Fiammetta… or was it Tsunayoshi and Mai?" The twins shrugged, they didn't care how Xanxus addressed them as long as it's respectful. "And so swear in that accursed blood, you shall never show weakness to us… Decimo, be a saint or whatever you want… but never a weak trash! If you do…" He held his gun up and aimed at Tsuna and Mai.

I gasped but neither Mai nor Tsunayoshi looked worried with a gun pointed at them threateningly.

"I will take you two out of your throne myself… Decimo, Principessa…"

The twins just smiled at him, a genuine smile. "Thank you… Xanxus."

I couldn't help it and yell, "You two shouldn't thank him for promising such thing!"

"Gene…" Noll sighed, "What do you expect?"

"But!"

"So… about Iemitsu." Xanxus began with a smirk, "Would you like me to get rid of your father?"

The twins were about to leave when the leader of Varia voiced his offer and turned around. Noll and I held our breath, because we were shocked to hear the man who threatened Mai and Tsunayoshi was offering to get rid of their father.

Mai just sighed, and Tsunayoshi was shaking his head exasperatedly. "I don't feel starting my reign with more blood Xanxus."

The Varia leader just grunted, "Suit yourself." And left the twins.

The scene faded and I regretted ever seeing that, "Just now… can't be unseen."

"Idiot." Noll grunted at me.

"To be fair, every time we want to look away could we?" I asked him, feeling the familiar hum of our power severing the link. "The first time seems to be an innocent memory, and second one… how could we when Mai looked like that?"

Noll became quiet before he broke the silence. "Now I understand why Mai didn't want us to know."

"Eh?"

"There's our safety she is so concerned with… especially with the bandaged men with top hat, but…" Noll trailed off unsurely, "From this dream I can't help but think if we find out everything about her, how we look at her will change… at least she think so."

How we looked at her would change? "What do you mean?"

"Sometimes… I saw it in her eyes when looking at us, at SPR and the others… we're within her reach and yet there's something that separate her from us." Noll murmured softly, "There's no such thing when she interact with her family like Hayato… every time they came to see her, she feels more at ease.. As if she has released the breath she didn't know she has been holding all the time."

Noll…

"Your world and mine is different…" Noll recited, "She told us that once… and from Shouichi warning we know one day she would return to that world." He looked up to me, "I don't know yet what I want with her… Takigawa-san told me that much, but you Gene… you already know. As always you're better at this emotional and feeling matters, so I ask you…"

You must be kidding me…

"Do you know what to do then?"

I shook my head, "I don't know what to do Noll, but don't forget… we both told Shouchi that for sure it's up to us what to do." I pointed at him, "And you my genius brother, for once is an idiot to think this vision will change that."

Noll smiled at me and said, "Well, Shouichi did say they may needs idiots to help Mai, whatever he meant by help."

Obviously my twin was still terrible when it comes about the matter of heart but it was fine since I was with him to help, but still I couldn't help but feel how strange for me and Noll to be closer we had to fall in love with the same girl.

I decide to omit Lin's problem with Japanese, beside in the first place he has no such problem anymore in canon because of Gene. Beside knowing Mai in this story she would be pretty flippant about getting hated for being a Japanese, considering her status as mixed blood mafia princess.

BTW in case you're wondering why Daniella is so open with Gene... obviously there's hidden intention in her part.

Review Please!