I am having doubt on how to end this arc with a BANG! Ha ha!
Case 07, Part 06
Usually Naru could avoid eating breakfast with SPR team, and Mai would bring him and Lin something. Today however Naru was told to sit with them by Mai and much to their shock no argument escaped Naru's lips and he promptly sat beside Mai. They supposed it was not so odd Naru indulged Mai's wishes, especially after the ordeal she went through last night with the nightmare.
Though they had to wonder why Naru sometime unconsciously touching his cheek with a wince, and Mai was muttering whenever he did so.
Mai ignored their inquiring look, eyes wandered and noted none of the other groups seemed to be present, Fujiwara had assimilated himself to their group so he didn't count.
"Are you alright, Mai?" Bou-san asked. "I'm sure if you wanted to stay in bed, Naru-bou would be okay with it." He gave Naru a look. "I am sure you didn't get enough sleep last night."
She shook her head, eyes closed. "I am fine..." The Monk didn't look all that convinced. "I have trained to deal with my power since I was young, compartmentalizing my mind so something such as traumatizing vision won't affect my mental health much."
"But Mai."
"I am dealing with it better if no one fussed over me about it." Mai said in clipped tone and that was the cue to not pursue the issue.
Yasuhara changed the topic, "What does everyone think about this theory," Yasuhara said. "We know there's a chance that Suzuki and Atsugi have passed on. Could your dream have been an accurate representation of what they suffered at the hands of this unknown killer?"
"A dream that's… telepathic?" John questioned.
"If that's the case, then they've both been murdered, right?" Ayako said.
"This may sound crazy," Bou-san began, giving side glances to the staffs attending them, "but is there any chance the people working here are up to something?"
Mai and Naru exchanged glances, knowing where their resident monk's line of thought was heading. A cliche mystery plot found in detective fiction.
Bou-san sputtered at the look Mai and Naru gave him, knowing very well what they thought about his unvoiced theory. "Just look at the situation," He hissed in mock whisper. "The employees have been working here for a full week and nothing's happened to them, yet we've been here for three days and two people have already disappeared."
"Now that you mention it, no one directly associated with the house has disappeared," Yasuhara pointed out. "Isn't this scene like those in a movie?"
"Is it?"
"They clearly know there are hidden rooms and hidden passageways but they don't tell us; there's this possibility too."
"Exactly. It's these fellows who hid the 2 people who have disappeared. If it's like this…" Bou-san put his hand on his head.
Yasuhara couldn't stop nodding. "If it's like this then we're all sacrifices. They told us that it'd be troubling to let the media know, and they closed us in here, then one by one they make us vanish. In the end there's not one of us left…"
"The one called Ohashi is actually a homicidal maniac or something."
"Perhaps this place is a secret temple for satanic worship."
Naru and Mai sighed at the idiocy of their theory but neither was in a mood to comment on it so early in the morning. Not after what happened last night. Beside what Satanic worship? Mai would have laughed if she was in the mood to imagine Checker Face was Satan incarnate, Bermuda would have agreed. Though rather than Satan or demon at works, she'd say there was another Bermuda here.
One with no sense of reason left most likely.
However one question remain if something like Bermuda or Daemon was born in this place, what the sacrifices were for? If this monster go to killing spree it was more make sense to Mai but it deliberately took victim one by one, and there must be some sort of rule behind the killing. If she assumed this entity was a serial killer.
"These fellows – didn't they say that they had not encountered anything strange? They were here preparing for a very long time, right? They say nothing had happened; is it even possible?" Bou-san was still on his conspiracy theory.
John and Yasuhara agreed, "True."
"Exactly. None of the staff here have disappeared before. Thinking carefully about it, none of the people directly associated with this house have vanished. But paranormal investigators, the punk who broke into this place, and the fire brigade volunteer who came forth to investigate…"
"So only outsiders are the ones being affected," Mai murmured softly. "True… even if we count victims from Kaneyuki-shi's time, they're all not associated with the mansion." Then she smiled at Bou-san. "Wonderful analysis Bou-san but… I'd be the first to reject the idea the culprit is Ohashi-san's staffs or him."
They blinked owlishly at Mai. "Why?"
"If someone like that is among the staff… I will pick their killing intent up even with a blindfold." The Vongola told them bluntly, at the surprised look she got she elaborated. "I never told you? Intent like bloodlust is really easy to be sensed by my intuition, even normal human could sense it… so I will tell you clearly, none of these gentlemen have such intention to us."
Bou-san groaned, while Ayako huffed. "If such dangerous person is around, Mai would have known."
John agreed. "So true… I don't believe they're the culprit either."
Naru spoke for the first time, "Especially since this mansion is abandoned by the time the teenager and firefighter were missing, so Ohashi-san and the rest of the staff weren't here yet." Bou-san's shoulders fell in disappointment.
Mai nodded in agreement, "But Bou-san is right, it's still strange they're unharmed… they didn't even experience any supernatural disturbance until we got here."
Their resident priest began a list, "Hm… Mr Kaneyuki, who lived here, was fine. Mr Hiroyuki, who frequently stopped at this place, was also fine. Even the various staff members, up till today, have lived safely here..."
"If that's the case, then don't the spirits here have the hobby of picking out sacrifices? The spirits here will not hurt anyone with an association to the Miyama family or something." Ayako pointed out.
Bou-san sank into deep thought. "But the staff here is associated with the former Prime Minister not Miyama family now."
John's blue eyes shone with realization. "What about this," John said. "Is it possible the spirits prefer people of a certain age…? All of the staff are of the older persuasion, yet everyone who's disappeared has been younger."
Light bulbs sparked on their mind at John's conclusion. "I see…" Naru cupped his chin, before glancing at Mai. "We have to check the age of all missing person, compile data of the range of age when they went missing."
"That would be no problem, Fondation sent us the age data under description of each missing person." Mai assured him before turning towards Shima who knows since when was behind them. "Shima, aside from compiling data on the age range of victims… inform Hayato to cancel his trip to Venice, and ask Byakuran to call certain person he had pissed off few weeks ago."
What? They all had this question written plainly on their face.
"And while he was at it, ask where did Skull is left behind… and pick the poor gopher up." Even though it was Skull, he was still part of Trinisette and high ranking member of Carcassa famiglia. They were middle tier famiglia, but when they were up to trouble they had no common sense.
Mai wouldn't want Yuni to deal with them if they got wild over Skull missing.
(Mai's POV) Few hours later…
"Yes, I'd like you to find out about the market price Hayato…" Because I wouldn't know, as I had never purchased something like this. Even back then when we decided to celebrate the first year of our reign, we just sign the paperwork while cringing at the zeroes on the check needed to build seven private jets.
How I missed the life when we only know yen and the zero was five at most, and not in Euro which with same amount of zero already hurting our commoner's eyes. Reborn lied that we would get used to the numbers, because we never did and never would.
Hayato gave me the number in cheery tone, and I suppress my urge to cringe. Even if he told me the price in yen, it was still lots of zeroes. "I see… then I will leave it to you. Bye, Hayato."
"Mai." Naru who just returned from whatever he did outside of the base with Lin-san called me.
I harrumphed, I had ceased ignoring him him on breakfast because we were having an important discussion.
(Flashback (Astral World)
"Naru, Gene… what are you two doing here?"
It was a valid question to ask when you had an intruders in your astral world, even if they were your friends, waltzing to the world that embody your soul was still a serious issue. I couldn't even feel amusement at the twin look of shock on Gene's and Naru's. This was like caught butt naked, explained Mukuro in his crude attempt to drill it to my innocent thirteen years old mind to be more guarded in astral world.
I was not angry at the Davis twins to be honest, after all obviously these two were here by accident and it was not like I had anything Gene didn't see yet. Wait, that sounded so wrong even in my mind.
Gene moved first, as in bowing and apologizing profusely. "I am so sorry! I don't know how we got here! Honest! It's all accidental!"
Naru opened his mouth to retort to that statement before clamped it shut, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Did you see anything?" Before I would just let them off of the hook but after I knew about their psychic ability, the complete list, I just had to ask first.
Gene gulped audibly, while Naru looked away as if ashamed. They obviously had seen something they didn't want me to know. "Spill."
Before Naru could stop him Gene had launched a rant, telling me about vision of the past they had seen and one I interrupted midway. I paled when they had apparently overheard about the trial, and saw the aftermath. Miraculously what they saw were both extremely vague on darker side of her past I hid, they didn't see the trial or what happened few days later that erased our mother from our life.
"I know we shouldn't! But the first vision looks so innocent! And… in the second you're bandaged from head to toe! And believe me, it's getting harder to break out of it!"
I could believe that, because of this mansion our link were getting stronger and the two weren't experienced enough to deal with psychic link connected to someone like me, a sky. There was a good reason why certain pest of a ghost was still rolling over after death when Primo was concerned. Which was also why Mukuro and Kyou-san were so peeved with their link the first time around, because it was like a leash to those two. It would have if Tsuna and I were dictators with our guardians, but we liked the idea of free will, family and democracy too much to let the link to be a shackle.
"So please don't hate us and say you won't see us ever again."
Wait- what?! I blinked at them and realized when I was so distracted by my line of thought I missed most Gene's long winded apology. Where did he get the idea I would be that cruel, what kind of impression he had on me?!
"I won't say such thing…" On second thought, considering on our first meeting I threatened to burn him I supposed while Gene had forgotten the fear was still ingrained in him. "And I understand how did it happen." I raised her hands placatingly. "I am upset, but it's not something I will cut ties with you over..." I assured them because with how quiet Naru was and not criticizing his twin's idiocy said a lot about his discomfort and remorse for what happened.
I had kept more secrets than they did and by now they almost had none, but it was a product of circumstance. I however never pried on their past with my power like they did, even if it was by accident. Still…
"I like you two too much…" I was closing her eyes as I confessed this, it was my honest thought. I really liked Naru and Gene. They were too good to me, and I felt this way all the time. I wished I could've met them in different circumstances and maybe I won't feel guilty for binding them to me even if it was temporarily. If there was anyone who should feel scared to be erased from their heart, to be cut off, it should be me.
"So I won't." When the time came I would brace myself to be hated, and their blue eyes won't gaze at me so kindly ever aga- Wait, since when Gene was so close?
"I like you too Mai!" Gene pulled me to his embrace before I felt his lips on mine, kissing me soundly on the lips. My eyes went wide in shock at the contact, and a jolt ran through my body when Gene nibbled on my lower lip playfully before releasing me, or rather Naru pulled his twin off of me with a growl.
I looked at the two glaring at each other in shock and disbelief, "He… He…" My lips stuttered.
"He?" The twin echoed.
"HENTAI!" My hand flew on reflex and two resounding slap echoed through my astral world, and when I regained composure, the two identical face spotted red handprint on their cheeks.
I realized I had made a mistake, "Ah." I didn't mean to slap Naru too but he was so close with Gene, and I got him by impulse.
Naru touched his stinging cheek tentatively, "I don't think I deserve that."
"Aha ha… sorry?" I said timidly, blinking at the glint that entered his eyes. He was smiling now, a real cocky smile with mischievous glint on his eyes. I saw that before, but where?
The younger twin stepped in and closed his distance with me when I was distracted, hand reached out to the back of my neck and pulled my lips flush against his, swallowing my gasp. I almost choked when I felt intrusion on my mouth licking the sensitive cavern before withdrawing, sending electric like tingle through me. Naru looked smug when he withdrew, and stepped away from my reach.
"Ah, Noll! That's sly!" Gene's comment snapped me back to my senses.
I began to tremble when I realized these two had made fun of me, this was a sexual harassment! English gentlemen? These two were just… just... "Oliver Davis…. Eugene Davis." I called out their full name threateningly. "WHAT MAKE YOU THINK TWO WRONGS MAKE IT RIGHT?!"
And so second slapping sound echoed through the sky, and the Davis twins were kicked out of my astral world not so gently.
End of flashback
3rd POV
Naru was still rubbing his cheek, "And I'm still feeling the phantom pain the whole day." It was noon but Naru had been feeling the sting on his left cheek since he woke up, his cheek was not even swollen or red but the pain was so vivid like it was real. Maybe because the one Mai slapped was his spirit, interesting.
Mai rolled her eyes, "I believe you find your pain interesting somehow, idiot scientist."
Naru fought his urge to blush, because at the time like this in which Mai saw through him and he couldn't deny he was indeed as his twin nicknamed him was an idiot scientist. 'Indeed you are…' Gene added in deadpan tone. 'Getting slapped by our lady love and you find a silver lining in your scientific mind.'
'Gene, not another word.'
'Idiot scientist in love.'
'Stupid medium.' Naru caught himself before he could add anything else, because getting on name calling argument with Gene would be degrading his intelligence. Hayato was so right.
Gene snickered, 'You're agreeing with Hayato often lately, are you going to give up the next debate then?' Their score was still even by now.
'Never… speaking of idiocy…' Naru trailed off, eyes glancing at Mai who was on phone call, a business call he was not going to begrudge her for considering the colossal company she manage was BSPR's collaborator and sponsor now. It would be self-defeating reprimanding Mai for running her own business. She was speaking in Italian rapidly as groaning.
[Verde, I swear… do us all a favor and just- oh of course I can call Talbot, do you think? I don't even know if the old man is still alive! He only come running if Onii-chan ask for him! No! I am not going to be your lab rat in return! I will not give you my mist either! It's your job! I will pay you!]
Mai was tapping her feet impatiently now, [Fine! I will even get Shouichi and Spanner to work with you for your next project! But! If you dare to try anything with them, I swear Varia will come knocking in your door!]
Verde had the gall to retort wittily at her, [No, the manner of your death is not up to your suggestion. Regardless of Varia's policy, I'm still their boss. Regardless of what they write under their flag.] Squadra killer autonoma di Vongola IX, which means: Autonomous Assassination Team of Vongola IX. Seriously she had to tell them to change that line to just Vongola, or she would take it as they would disband the moment grandfather died. [The one who sign their paycheck is still me! So no creative death for you!]
It was a good thing Naru only knew a little of Italian so Mai was relieved even if Naru and Gene were in the same room, they didn't know she had just threatened a mad scientist with a group of assassin.
"Your business is not doing well?" Naru asked, pouring himself a cup of tea.
Mai laughed sheepishly, "Erm, sorta…" Before dialing another number. [Hello, Byakuran… have you apologize yet?]
She still had to make another call? Never mind… but still for someone who was so good in running business, which meant she was no idiot… not to mention there was her hyper intuition. So… Naru's mind trailed off in bewilderment.
Why didn't Mai notice their feeling for her yet? 'You have a point there, Noll.' After all they were not subtle, what happened last night might as well a blatant confession of their feelings, or at least a hint that they were interested in her romantically so why did Mai show no reaction whatsoever? Not that they wanted to be confronted by Mai about their feeling, not yet… but-
She was not ignoring their feeling right? At least they were sure she was not the type who would pretend not to see what was obviously there, especially if her blunt rejection to suitors in Italy they heard about was anything to go by. So she was indeed clueless they were in love with her. She really didn't even see them as a man, more like family? Perhaps they were no different than Hayato to Mai? Part of extended family not related by blood? Which was why the idea they could be in love with her didn't even cross her mind?
'Nevermind.'
'Noll! This is serious.'
'We're in still in the middle of work.'
'Fine, but I tell you… you're not fine with the idea Mai don't think it's possible we have that kind of feelings for her. So don't run from that, idiot scientist.'
Naru's pOV
I was about to retort Gene's statement mentally when Bou-san group entered the base. "We're so beat." Bou-san announced. "So how about the young people is targeted talk again?" They had delayed it in favor of taking advantage of daylight to work and agreed to return early before dusk to discuss their next move.
I was about to reply him when Matsuzaki-san came in with Hara-san and Fujiwara in tow, "Another one went missing! Just now, Minami's medium… the young girl Fukuda disappeared!"
We glanced at the window, the sun had went down. "When?" I asked.
"Just ten minutes ago Minami who was exploring the mansion in the same area went to panic about one of their medium went off on her own." Fujiwara answered me, "And at that time I felt the presence of negative energy… as did my shiki."
"So did I." Hara-san joined in. "And if Father John is right… Fukuda-san is in her twenties I think."
As soon as sun went down someone went missing, the monster wasted no time to hunt for more prey and it went after weaker group it seemed. I doubted it very much in Minami's group there was any genuine spiritualist like in ours. Sometimes I wonder about our luck, from the case in Mai's school all spiritualist the client gathered are genuine ones even if I had my doubt about Matsuzaki-san at first.
"I suppose this means we should spare no expense for our safety." I concluded in grim tone, "So all of us as I told you all before aren't allowed to be alone and always in company of others." I turned to our resident miko. "Matsuzaki-san, obviously without the tree spirits your power is compromised so, to what extent I can expect you to perform?"
The miko sighed, "Well… I have my warding technique, nine cuts and so on. You can rely on me to defend myself and whoever you think I should protect."
"I suppose you have no problem either Fujiwara-san?"
He nodded, "No worries… I can protect a lot of people if I want but the problem is because of the situation of this mansion that bewilder sense of direction of spirits, I can't control my shiki remotely well here. However I think I can lend Matsuzaki-san my shiki, considering her shamanic skill she could control mine to a degree."
Matsuzaki-san nodded at that, "If you give me Keito it would be perfect, she is compatible with my element.
Of course that was the problem with shiki, especially considering his was not as autonomous as Lin's because they had more sense of self. Good for Matsuzaki-san if Fujiwara could lend her his shiki. "Well then, I will ask your cooperation to accompany Matsuzaki-san and Hara-san. But they too must never act separately. Can the two of you cooperate with each other?"
"I think so…" Matsuzaki-san nodded
While Hara-san asserted, "If it's Matsuzaki-san, I don't feel comfortable."
"What is the meaning of that statement?!"
I raised a hand towards the miko, as I didn't need her to start an argument with Hara-san. "Hara-san. Basically I don't trust anyone besides the members here. Reliable people are few and far between. However one puts it you are also a psychic; if this is the case then you should at least be able to protect yourself." Why did she had to put up an attitude at the time like this?
Gene nudged me mentally and I turned my attention to Fujiwara who frowned disapprovingly at Hara-san. Oh… at the time like this, why this girl let personal feeling got on the way? 'Noll, not all of us can set their feeling aside for later like you.'
"… Yes." Hara-san answered, "As a medium I could protect myself at least."
Mai was frowning, it seemed she judged that Hara-san couldn't protect herself. Then again per my instruction I had stated Matsuzaki-san would be with her all the time.
"Yasuhara-san completely does not have any ability to protect himself. To protect him we need an extremely reliable person." He was the most vulnerable in our group. "Then Bou-san and John cannot leave Yasuhara-kun's side. You must never let him out of your sight."
Hara-san paused, "Then who will watch Mai-san? Could it be?"
"I will have Lin to protect Mai."
"WHAT?!" That came from both Lin and Mai, looking scandalized by the idea and here I thought they got alone quite well. In common ground of keeping me in line at least.
'I think you just touched a nerve on both.' Gene pointed out to me.
"Please wait a moment." Lin spoke loudly, while Mai glared at me indignantly. "Why are you saying I am to protect Sawada-san?"
"Exactly." Had Lin went deaf?
"Just let me put this clearly. You aren't even able to do any warding technique, are you?" That was true but I was not completely defenseless, not with Gene.
'I don't think that excuse is going to fly.' Gene gave me his input.
"Then your position is practically identical to that of Yasuhara-kun. You need protection."
"Lin, I'll find a way." I insisted.
"You're out of your mind," Lin said. "You need to have some protection. Takigawa-san will cover Yasu and Father Brown will be protecting Sawada-san, alright?"
"Bou-san can't handle it alone," I said sharply.
"Hey, man, I'm not an amateur!" The monk protested.
"I don't think you understand the danger here." I was getting more irritated now.
"Then send one of them away, we have sent Shima and Tojo out to operate from our van in front yeard… anyway." Lin said. "I cannot allow you to be alone in this house. If you were to come to harm while on a job, how would you expect me to explain that to the professor?"
'Noll, give Lin a break… after what happened to me…'
"Think about how your parents would feel if that happened," Lin continued scolding Naru.
'Definitely not fun, Noll… making how our parents…' Guilt-tripping us now? Lin, you were not above blackmailing apparently.
I ignored Gene, "Lin, if you don't like how I conduct my investigation then leave," I said firmly.
"How quickly you seem to forget," Lin halfway scoffed. "My main objective here is to protect you at all costs."
Someone cleared her throat, Mai had her arms crossed while tapping her foot impatiently. "Excuse me for interrupting… but may I remind you that I am not someone helpless who need to be protected?"
"Mai!" She was angry now of all time? "You need it! Your astral walk is unstable! What if you pass out like that time in Ryokuryo's corridor?"
Everyone minus few who knew gasped, "Astral walker? Mai was?" Matsuzaki-san looked shocked.
"That's why she passed out back then?"
She looked incensed, "I don't need protection!" She yelled at me, "Where did you get the idea I even need it? Even if I laid out cold in this mansion that monster won't even touch me even with ten feet pole!"
"There's occasion where the spirits were bolt enough to attack you!" I reminded her, how confident she could get after repeated attack to her person?
'You're right about that, but-"
Mai whipped her head to my side, obviously she heard Gene's comment. "I can manage protecting myself, thank you! Lin-san is right he should protect you, Naru can't cast any warding spell himself."
"Neither can you." I shot back at her.
"I have my own way to protect myself, thank you." She looked frustrated, and her next words froze all of us on our track. "I don't need protection! No more!" There was power in her voice and it stunned me and the rest within hearing range.
Fujiwara quickly covered his ears, hissing. "Sawada-san! Your voice! Your voice!"
"AH." Mai clamped her mouth shut, covering her lips with her hands in horror.
Just now… her voice was… it didn't change but I could hear it resound in my head and-what was that?! The power Madoka spoke of?
Someone knocked our window furiously before prying it open from outside, it was Tojo. "Hime! You get a call! From…" He paused when he noticed Mai was not alone, swallowing heavily before he made a triangle with his index finger in the air. "He called… and it seems he is losing his patience."
Mai groaned, "He has patience of a baby when it comes to this kind of matter!" She scowled before grabbing the satellite phone Tojo offered like some sort of tribute to her.
Fujiwara I noticed was paling rapidly, whoever Mai and Tojo were talking about he knew this person and it was a bad news. Mai looked like she was about to leave the room for privacy but Fujiwara stood firmly by the door. "I'd think I have right to listen to this."
Mai gave him a searching look before picking up the call that had been put on hold. "Hello… Bermuda."
Bermuda, that was why Tojo made a circle in reference to that name? Glancing at Lin I could tell there was no recognition in his face at the name, so it was not someone prominent in onmyouji circle most likely.
"Yes, there's already three victims went missing if you have to know." Mai reported in saccharine tone. "We're still investigating so I'd rather you to stay put." Mai frowned, "No, you're not coming here."
Fujiwara was shaking his head frantically at this, a rare open display of panic that was strange in him. This boy had been completely calm throughout his stay in this haunted mansion, and one unknown call from this person send him to panic?
"I am not giving you permission to come personally to this country and that's final, be patient… I am giving you my word. I am well aware of what at stake…. If needed I will even call my guardians if you're so restless about it." Mai was looking at Fujiwara who sighed in relief. "Deadline? Alright… we will resolve this within reasonable deadline… I will allow passage for your subordinates by then."
Fujiwara lost his calm again, "Guardian, you! What are you promising to those..."
"If that's all… I will end this call, as we all know we're both busy… Bermuda." Mai finished in even voice, dripping with sarcasm as she ended the line.
Fujiwara was on her in instance, "You can't do that! Allowing those… those…" He seemed to be at a lost of what to call them. "Walking corpse in this country! This place!"
Mai sighed at him, "That's the last resort… in case you have forgotten Onmyouji, they're outside my sphere of influence. I have no absolute authority over them, they work with us not under. I have to compromise to keep our alliance."
"You should have gotten rid of them in the first place." Fujiwara argued heatedly, "Creatures like them shouldn't be allowed to continue existing in this world! They're as you said isn't yours to control! So why you leave them be?! You didn't need them to keep your people in check!"
Mai pointed one finger at him and Fujiwara recoiled, "In case you have forgotten the decision rest not solely on me… there's three of us and we're all agreed on the system to ensure a lost lasting peace."
Peace?
"If Japan disagree…" Mai trailed off, her voice was low now so only Fujiwara who was close could hear her. "Don't take it just on me but the rest of Three Great Skies, we will listen but whether you can change our mind is still up to question… especially if… we have to fight a war with Vindice, putting our world and yours in danger just because you can't allow the dead to walk in living world."
Fujiwara swallowed heavily, looking shaken and ashamed in the same time. "Very well… but my people would hear of this."
"If that's what you want." Mai allowed.
The air was tense as the onmyouji inched away from Mai in defeated fashion, then Mai turned to me. "So about this nonsense about protecting me."
'Noll, this is Mai's landmine…' Gene told me. 'Seriously… don't you think with a teacher like Reborn, Mai would be hard pressed to think she is in any way qualified as a damsel in distress?"
Yasuhara chirped in before either of us could continue. "Erm, how about I go instead? I am more of a researcher so I'd be more useful with Mori-san than in this place. We'll just say I had other business to attend to and that I left the case in the hands of my wonderfully attractive team of investigators, should anyone notice and ask where I've gone."
Mai interjected, "No… we would get mocked if you say that… and getting underestimated by other spiritualist is the last thing we need aside from more missing person. So let's just say honestly you're researching about this mansion in town… more credibility and less hassle rather than giving some vague excuse."
(The next day) Mai's POV
Substitute Head Yasuhara left this mansion on the car with a staff member running errands in the city. The other psychics purposely loudly made cutting remarks that he was running away, but since he was researching and would periodically came to check his team at least no one made fun of SPR too much. Not with me pointing out we're conducting the search for Fukuda-san and the only team with no missing member so far so unless they wanted us to not go looking for them if they went missing…
Bou-san and John were impressed because since then everyone including the irritable monk, Imura-san gave us a wide berth.
Success vending off irate psychics aside, despite our thorough searching, as expected, we couldn't find a trace of Fukuda-san. According to her team, she said she wanted to go out for a stroll then she left the base used by Minami-san and his team. After that she never returned.
Coincidentally there was a member of the staff cleaning the hall at that time; " I was cleaning the front entrance at the time, but I didn't see her." he didn't even see her leave the hall. She only disappeared; that's the only explanation.
Minami-san was thus in an extremely awkward situation. The other psychics derided Minami-san with, 'haven't you summoned you helpers', 'Regardless of the others, when your own assistant has disappeared, you should let us see the abilities of the Professor right?', 'Your other helpers should have arrived already, right?' and the likes.
Why didn't he and the imposter crack yet was anyone's guess. Though I had a feeling that was for the same reason everyone else was still here, pride as spiritualist.
We didn't care of their titterings anyway and returned to work. We carefully completed the remaining measurements. At dusk, after we wound up the measurements, we discovered an unexpected truth.
"The structure of this house is elevated in the middle." Lin-san said while generating the sectional diagram of the house.
We understood that the ground of the first floor of the house sloped gently towards the center; the area around the center was about 2 meters higher than the periphery.
Bou-san tilted his head. "Why in the world would they build this type of house. Repeatedly renovating, hence producing things like level X?"
Naru coolly shot back. "…I feel it wasn't intentionally done like this. This type of house is definitely constructed like this for some purpose."
"Purpose…" John tilted his head too.
"What was this house like right at the beginning?"
Naru inclined his head and retrieved a printed out diagram. "From the finish of the windows, the rooms are all built around the small structure in the middle. Extending further outwards, the rooms become gradually larger; up to this point it is clear-cut…"
Bou-san sighed a huge sigh. "That, as expected it's still the huge empty center portion that is suspicious. At first, there is clearly no courtyard; it's also too strange that the ventilation is good up to the second floor. The question is where exactly is there a path to go in…"
Naru flicked at the diagram. "But as Daniella found out there's a completely sealed room so… perhaps there isn't any path to begin with?"
"So that piece of empty space isn't actually a hidden room, but a sealed room?" I asked him.
"But, what exactly is hidden? Could it be… the execution room?" Bou-san glanced at me. "The one you saw in your dream."
I nodded, "Most likely…"
Naru sighed, "What it is actually like, whether something like this exists or otherwise – after we investigate the other side of the wall we will find out."
"Are we really doing this? Knocking through the wall?"
"Of course. I've already obtained Ohashi-san's permission because someone keep mentioning it so before she did it herself..."
I glared at him, I had not completely forgiven him for previous fiasco nor I appreciate how subtly Bou-san and John following his order to protect me. "Excuse me?"
I was distracted so for once someone succeed knocked on the window without my interference.
"Good evening!" Mori-san beamed, "No welcome from Mai-chan today?" She asked with a pout.
Yasuhara looked very much at home by her side, "We come to give you information~" He said in sing-song voice.
Then they paused when they realized the state in the room in which Naru and I were about to start an argument. "Erm? Would you like us to come back later?" Mori-san asked.
"Stop talking nonsense and deliver the information if you must." Naru told them impatiently and the two came in. I offered both of them tea and coffee with accepted gratefully, as I refused to let them talk before some warming beverage after hard work.
"Let's see I noticed something strange about the house from outside," Yasuhara began, reaching over and grabbing a large folder, taking its contents out while talking. "It's the number of chimneys. When we were investigating the place earlier, I believe we found either ten or eleven fireplaces."
"There are eleven," Lin-san spoke up without turning even the slightest. It seemed like me, he was still peeved with Naru too, served the narcist right!
"But if you look here," Yasuhara continued, "there are twelve chimneys."
"You're right, there's an extra one," John said as he leaned over to look.
"And as you might be able to see, the extra chimney is round, much thicker, and made of brick instead of plaster," Yasuhara described.
"That's right above the part of the house with the hidden space," Bou-san realized.
"There is definitely something there," Naru said before glancing at me. "The incinerator she found I suppose?" Naru of course meant Daniella by 'she' and I agreed with that assessment.
"We also have more info about Kaneyuki," Mori-san reported. "We interviewed a lot of the neighbors, the older ones… Apparently his health condition had been quite fragile ever since childhood."
Yasuhara picked up, "When he was young, he was told he won't live for long," He added. "He then traveled extensively abroad and had foreign doctors examine him for second opinions."
"Also," Madoka continued. "Soon after Kaneyuki moved into the house, he kept two employees with him at all times."
The two from that dream.
At some point, Yasu pulled out a small pocket notebook. "At the time, there was room detached from the main house. The two were connected via a complicated maze of hedges…" My heart thudded in my ears. "The gardeners that maintained the grounds said the maze was so creepy they avoided working there as often as possible."
"They also said the detached room had a putrid smell and that the staff was constantly changing."
"No wonder…" I murmured softly, "Considering what they were doing inside the house, no amount of cleaning could clear the air."
Naru frowned at that, "Did you find out anything about the relationship between Kaneyuki and Urado?" He asked.
"As a matter of fact, I did," Yasu said, setting his notebook down into his lap as he looked over to the side, where the portrait was. "'Urado' was an assumed name he often went by."
I had predicted that, someone with his reputation would have pen name or sort. "And Hiroyu-shi?"
"I found someone who claimed to be Hiroyuki-shi's friend. It was an old lady; her husband was a friend of Mr Hiroyuki in his later days. According to her, Hiroyuki-shi hated his own father a lot. Apparently he practically never listened to his father's words and he would get extremely angry if anyone were to speak of his father."
That sounded like me.
"And as mentioned previously Kaneyuki-shi apparently had very frail health since his youth and he was frequently bedridden when he was young and he died at fifty. However, according to Hiroyuki-shi, it would have been better if Mr Kaneyuki had died earlier in his youth..."
Alright even I wouldn't wish my idiot father to die young if it meant my brother and I would never exist. "If Kaneyuki-shi were to die in his youth, then wouldn't his son have not been born?"
"Exactly, that's a very shocking statement." Hiroyuki-shi must have really hated his father a lot.
"Ah, the gardener from before or rather… their kids said said one more thing. About the helper Kaneyuki-shi hired from another region we talked about previously every time his father went here the maid was always a different person. That was what the gardener said."
"You said the maid was always a different person…?" I concluded, "So we can say… they're all went missing. No… the girl in my dream is obviously one of them and so…"
"So the spirits of those murdered in the same way are still wondering the house," Naru added in his own conclusion.
I heard a loud click of a houseful of electricity shutting off. That's when the screaming began. Horrified, terrified screams, all at once, all one voice. Sobbing, crying, screaming for help that never came. It surrounded us, muffling everything. It reminded me of trial, all those blood and life taken throughout our sinful history. No good… don't remember! Don't let it got to you!
A pair of warm arms surrounded me and I went still. "Don't move," Naru instructed calmly, his voice relatively quiet as he pulled me to his chest. "It's only a dream… it's a past, you said it yourself… you have the present and the future." That was what I said back in Morishita house to him, he remembered.
The sound of the electricity coming back on echoed, and the voices stopped. Something had to have happened, Naru's hold on me loosened so I could inspect the room. Writing… on the wall… it was everywhere…. And it was red.
"Is… that blood?" Ayako said as everyone assessed the room.
It was… unsettling, to say the least. Help, I'm scared, It hurts, I don't want to die… the words covered the walls and ceiling.
"What a terrible sight…" Fujiwara spoke for the first time since I talked him down. "The spirits are really trapped by their fear of pain and death in this place.
Then I spotted two characters written in blood. "Naru." He turned. "Urado's name is there…" I said, pointing it out on the wall.
"Look, it's over here too," Ayako called from another wall. Urado's name was actually written quite a few times all around the room…
I perked up, "Someone's coming, Ohashi-san I think."
Naru turned to the door. "Madoka, Yasuhara-san you better leave now."
"Come on Yasu, let's move," Mori-san whispered as she got up.
"Right," Yasuhara followed right after her.
"Be careful guys," Our monk whispered to them, and Mori-san waved as both slipped out the window and gone in seconds.
Right as the window closed, the door burst open to reveal Ohashi-san who looked like he was in panic, but he didn't seem surprised by the state of our base. "Everyone okay? It looks like this room has got it as well," Ohashi-san said in a hurried breath. At the questioning looks, he explained further. "I don't know how it happened, but this strange writing just appeared on the walls… It looks like blood…"
"Just how many spirits are in this house?" Ayako wondered as she looked around at the new paint job on the hallway the spirit just did.
Naru knocked three times on the wall next to the name Urado, one of the many throughout the room. Why the heck he was knocking, I'd never know. "The name 'Urado' appears to be more important than I originally thought. I doubt it's a simple alias." I could sense Naru's gaze on the wall narrow into a glare. "If only we knew what it meant." He paused for a moment before turning to Masako who was next to Fujiwara. "Hara-san, do you feel up to performing a séance tonight?"
"Yes, of course," Masako immediately answered.
"Wait a minute," I protested. "You're talking about allowing a spirit to possess Hara-san aren't you? Do we have to go that far? These spirits are traumatized to a great deal and there's so many of them
"She is a professional." Naru replied coolly.
"I'm sorry, but compromising someone whose body is susceptible to possession in duration of investigation is not a good idea in my opinion!" I approached him closer, "Are we going to let her or anyone experience what we saw?"
Naru's pOV
I tensed for a moment, knowing very well as we both were very familiar with pain brought by vision it would be unfair to subject someone else to the same suffering. Why she always knew what to say to me? "You leave me no other choice. We'll have to try something else." I craned my neck towards the two Onmyouji. "Lin, Fujiwara-san… can you do spirit summoning? Since this method is less precise, it would be good if the two of you do it."
"Yes I do," Lin responded.
Fujiwara nodded, "There would be no problem on my part either… however as I tried before with the list Sawada-san gave me… the date of death is crucial. When I tried to divine their fate, all I could see is they died horrible death… and it's not out of grudge or anything alike, but some twisted desire…" He murmured softly. "There are three victims so far whose date of death is easier to guess but if we guessed it wrong we will compromise the spirit."
No wonder he never said anything about the result of his divination, "Such as?" I asked.
"Losing ability to speak, weakening the spirit to the point we can't summon them anymore… and the time would be more limited." Fujiwara answered promptly. "And also… can we be sure these recent victims knew anything?"
Of course not, "No, we can't be so sure."
Mai raised her hand, "Uhm… if you just want to know about the name, maybe I can ask my teacher."
Silence…
"You know I've heard that name from somewhere? Well… ha must have said that name years ago but I don't remember so rather than troubling anyone why don't I just make a call?" Mai looked nervous as she said this. "If I am wrong we can proceed with the summoning ritual."
I shrugged, "If that's an easier option."
Fujiwara interjected, "Uhm… by teacher you mean… the sun…"
"Right."
"You want to contact him just to ask for a name you have forgotten." Fujiwara said in disbelief as if what Mai was going to do was akin to attempting suicide.
Mai heaved a long sigh, "It won't be so bad…" She grumbled as she dialed a number to her phone, it was on speed dial. "At worst he would just chew me out for being an idiot as he is in another side of the world." Mai had a look that said she was being optimistic.
'She is calling that teacher who shot her with gun.'
'Indeed she is, I am surprised she is still in contact with this Reborn person…'
Mai swallowed, she was so distracted she didn't even notice me right behind her. [Hello, Reborn.] Mai called cheerfully in Italian. [I miss you so much!]
[Hoo… is that so? My cute student?]
Mai laughed nervously, [Of course after all… sensei is…] Mai launched a volley of praises, [Cool, god-like, considerate sensei… we're so lucky to be blessed with…] Mei ended.
She was sucking up on him, most likely. 'She definitely did.' Gene and I agreed. 'Then again, can you blame her? Calling that sadistic guy just to ask for a name she forgot from his lesson?'
[Of course, and don't forget it… for the rest of your life. So… may I know why you call earlier than usual? You're lucky I can pick up your call, Mai… because I am not in the middle of blowing someone's brain up.]
[Aha ha ha.. Vongola's luck?]
"Which is crappier than anyone but Skull's?" Reborn snorted, "Now, spill…"
Mai's eyes shifted restlessly, [Well, you can ask the detail from Kyou-san but it's really emergency honest!] Then Mai launched a short summary of what happened during our investigation. [But I don't remember the name at all…]
[Are you telling me you forgot my lesson?! One that become a vital clue now?! Mai… my idiot student you're so… disappointing.]
Mai jumped, which surprised me at how her hand holding the phone shook. [I am sorry!] She was crying now.
Which shocked the rest of us because Mai rarely cried, and now one phone call and she was in tears. "Jou-chan?"
Mai was sobbing now, [I am so sorry Reborn… I promise I will review the lesson again. Hic hic…]
[Wipe your tears, no student of mine may cry like a weakling.]
Mai nodded frantically as wiping her tears. [Yes!] The she got angry. [I swear this mishap would never be repeated again!" At herself no less. [I am so angry for my lack of attentiveness to your lesson!]
'Next she would be very happy…'
'Mai's cycle of emotion is always cute…' Gene commented.
[So what name you forgot?] Reborn asked with a sigh, his Mai was more adorable than Dino and Tsuna most of the time as the girl admired him more than scared of him like his male students. Sometimes however… being a girl made Reborn felt weak against her. [I will quiz you on them next time.]
Mai beamed, this change of mood really drastic. How did she get from point A,B and C? I had no clue.
[It's Urado.] At last she asked after buttering up her teacher.
There was a long pause from the other end of the line, [Since when your pronunciation gets that bad?]
[No, it's really the name of the former head of this house… it sounds like a name you have mentioned before.]
Reborn sighed, [Mai… you idiot, the name you're looking for is Vlad. And next time don't forget the review or I will push you to another landmine, this time with your hands tied on your back.] Then he ended the line.
Mai blinkedowlishly at the disconnected phone, staring at the device in shock. "The name is… Vlad? I am an idiot?" She echoed in confusion.
"Ah." Her teacher was right, we were idiots… as if everyone bilingual in the room.
John and Lin were the next one who realized the idiocy. "Oh… Urado, Vurado… Vlad."
Great, how did we miss such an obvious case of Engrish, as in wrong use of English by native Asian. Then again perhaps because we were so used speaking Japanese fluently, and while we also had Japanese in our team their pronunciation was quite good it never crossed our mind Urado was deliberate mis-translation from Vlad.
I sighed, "Well… this start to make sense…"
Fujiwara frowned, "How so?"
He must lived a sheltered life, and I could imagine he never read anything foreign. He was even more traditional than Hara-san. "What is this Vlad?" He asked again.
"The Vlad we are talking about is… the vampire Dracula." John must have hoped the young onmyouji knew about the legendary monster.
He frowned, "I have heard it in passing as a fictional character who suck blood."
He knew at least that much so I continue, "The story of the popularly know Dracula originates from the novel called "(Vampire) Dracula" Obviously Fujiwara wouldn't know this so I elaborated for him.
" 'Dracula', published in 1897, is a horror novel written by Bram Stoker. A strange man by the name of Count Dracula arrives in London. He is actually a vampire – it is a story like that. This novel has been adapted into operas, movies etc, and gave birth to the domain of 'Vampire Culture' in literature. Famous enough for this fictional creature to be thought as legitimate legend to some."
"There are youkai known to share similar nature." Fujiwara suplied.
He would know that. "In actual fact, Count Dracula was modeled after a real person. It was a person who was really named Dracula. The Count Dracula in the novel was born in Transylvania. Transylvania has historically been the territory of Hungary, and is currently part of Romania."
Mai had strange look on her face at mention of Romania.
"Dracula was a Duke from Transylvania's neighboring area of Wallachia. His name was Vlad. He was known as Vlad III, and commonly called 'Vlad the Impaler'."
"Impaler?" Fujiwara nodded, "Is it something he did to intimidate enemies like Nobunaga's use of human bone as chawan?"
There was someone who did something that morbid in Japanese history? I nodded, the idea was the same. "At that time Europe was frequently invaded by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Because the area of Wallachia is very near to Turkey, that area was the frontline of the battle. Furthermore, even if the king of Wallachia was overthrown, that did not stop the power struggle. Vlad was an extremely mysophobic duke, he hated being known as idle; he is well known to be ruthless, especially towards his enemies. Enemies who were captured by him were mostly executed by impalement with a spear, hence his name."
"I see." Fujiwara nodded. "And how his name is relevant to Urado in any way? I mean… the man himself is simply a historical figure with bloody achievements."
I shrugged, " I am getting to that… This Vlad's father was Vald II, known as 'Vlad Dracul'. 'Dracul' in Romania has the meaning of devil or dragon; so VLad Tepes means the son of devil or dragon… like in any history there's always two sides of the same coin. In the Wallachia area, there still remains 'Legends of Dracula' today. In those legends, Vlad was a savior who protected Hungary from the Germans and the Turks. Despite his actual cruelty towards his enemies, he was still the hero who defended Hungary. I don't approve of lumping things together; taking into account the situation in Europe at that time, I think saying that isn't wrong either."
Mai's eyes lighted up all of a sudden, "I remember the story my teacher told me about him." It seemed recalling the name brought up the memory. "There was a rich merchant who moved all his wealth on a carriage and passed by the capital of Wallachia. When he arrived at the capital, the rich merchant entered the castle and asked Vlad to protect his wealth. To him, Vlad said, that there wasn't such a necessity. Then he ordered the rich merchant to leave his fortune wherever he liked then to leave. With no options, the rich merchant could only leave all his wealth in the public square before leaving."
Oh the lesser known story about him, why Mai's teacher brought it up as a lesson for her?
"Then at dawn the second day, the rich merchant went to inspect his carriage, he realized not a cent of his wealth had been taken. Because Vlad was a very mysophobic duke, his own citizens were also not allowed to lie or steal or be lazy. People who did so were all impaled with no exception; hence nobody would steal a thing from the merchant."
'From how cheery Mai recall it I think it's how Reborn-san taught them how to keep their subordinates in line… it's no wonder with people like her family…' As in extremely unmanageable.
'I think you should stop that line of thought.'
Mai had finished her story, "Anyway, he was really very similar to Vlad, Kaneyuki was… or more like he is emulating Vlad."
Bou-san tilted his head. "Vlad was the savior of Hungary. If we put it like this, then did Kaneyuki also wanted to call himself a savior with being a philanthropist? But why?"
I drew a conclusion, "Around 1900, Kaneyuki had toured Europe. At that time the book 'Dracula' had long been published. I think, it is more likely that because of the meaning 'Son of the Devil', he called himself 'Vlad'. – Furthermore, "
"Furthermore?"
"Mai has mentioned it before, right? There was a bathtub placed in the bathroom, and there was blood remaining in the bathtub."
This time everyone minus Fujiwara paled with realization. "Ugh…"
"Frequently discussed together with Vlad was a person called Elizabeth Bathory. She is known as the 'Blood Countess'."
Matsuzaki-san spoke up then. "There are countless stories of Elizabeth being so obsessed with her fear of growing old that she would kill young women and drain their blood. She would bathe in it, hoping it would restore her youth."
Mai turned to me, "You're saying… his generous charity work to save Suwa region, his meticulousness to eject the whole family from his property, the blood bath and cruelty… he was emulating two people when he was alive?"
I nodded at her, "Kaneyuki must've grown to hate his frail body and, like Elizabeth Báthory, he may have thought he could reverse his chronic health issues by sacrificing young people and using their blood for nefarious purposes,"
"It would explain why the staff kept changing so often," Mai added in grim tone. "He sacrificed them.
"Now we can decipher what was written on that five-yen bill…" Our resident monk said. "'Everyone who has come here is dead. I heard they were killed by Urado. Run away.'"
"So it was a warning for the next person who came here," Matsuzaki-san said.
Fujiwara glanced at the writing on the wall, "And they're still here, trapped, and giving warning…"
"But wait," John seemed troubled. "The coat that the five-yen bill was found in belonged to the Miyama Charity Hospital. Why was it there…!"
We all seemed to realize the disturbing truth of it, then again after that degree of cruelty of cutting up young people for blood I couldn't imagine the people in his hospital would be spared. What Mai said made sense, to Urado those people are his because they owed him and as their kind he had right to treat them as he wished.
"No way, all those people in the shelter too?!" Bou-san yelled.
"Unbelievable… He killed those people just to keep himself alive…" Mai sounded oddly calm but I could feel she was angry.
"Hold on, isn't it a possibility that Hiroyuki knew what his father was up to in here?" Our resident miko asked, she had a point.
"Sure is," Bou-san said. "And in order to hide his father's dark secrets he kept building onto the mansion to seal them deep inside."
Mai nodded, ?Why do you think he hate his father so much to the point it's alright if he was never born? He must have felt ashamed of his father… a man who cling to his pathetic life so desperately to the point he committed this atrocity, even after his death."
"After his death?" John echoed. "You mean-"
I sighed, Mai was right. "Kaneyuki didn't live a full life which is obviously a major disappointment for him. He killed others in an attempt to stave off death but still died sooner than he wished."I glanced at Mai who had grim look on her face.
"Urado's still here, inside this house. And he's far from being finished with his sacrifices…"
In the other side of Japan, FOundation HQ
Hibari felt headache just from looking the sleek red private jet landing on their front yard, Irrequito Tempesta, their storm guardian's personal jet. "Why did she has to ask for you too?"
"Because you know shit about business negotiation, Kyouya." Hayato retorted back. "And also because I can't stand Iemitsu back at home hounding me about Hime!"
"...Can't we just kill him."
The storm scoffed, "I wish… but he is still useful so no we won't, never mind we have another business to do." He dragged his suitcase with him. "Mukuro was already here, though… not in body. So please don't hurt whoever he possesed yeah?"
He grunted, "Hn. are you informed that your psychic friends are involved?" Kyouya murmured. "What are we going to do with them actually? Hime only spoke about it to few people…"
Hayato sighed, Hibari was unhappy he was not told. "Nah… you will find out later. Just put your trust in HIme as usual… and by the end of it I hope…"
No one would get hurt.
(Back in Miyama's mansio) Mai's POV
Fear was imminent in the air, as the threat of Urado became even more real with the revelation. As for me other than real, Urado was more of a pest that could turn to be a catastrophic mess if we didn't handle this properly. We as in Vongola not SPR.
Bermuda's call tonight also included an unsettling information. At first I was really skeptical someone who was unrelated to Trinisette like Urado could develop flame of night no matter how desperate and hateful he was for his short and unfulfilling lives. All user of Night Flame one way or another had access to one of trinisette set, and I was sure even when Urado travelled abroad all three sets were in our possession. Arcobaleno pacifier to each, Vongole to our family and Mare was kept by Cervello.
I even asked Daniella and she was sure during her reign no ring escape their watch. However there was a loophole, which Bermuda pointed out in his call.
"What make you think all used vessel of pacifier are accounted for?"
Once upon a time according to Bermuda there were some fools from their world selling the clear pacifier they got in black market during her reign as immortality stone, or philosopher's stone. Which was thought as a hoax because of the clear color and Daniella, the head of Vongola famiglia at that time didn't know what it was at the time just punished the one who sold them, without bothering to hunt the sold merchandise to outside world. Bermuda believed most are fakes but who said there was no genuine clear pacifier sold by accident?
I had asked Shima and Tojo to sneak out to ask to Miyama family about stone Kaneyuki-shi might have purchased abroad, and indeed… there was one glass ball the friend of Hiroyuki-shi said as a relic the man held so dear he would fly into rage if HIroyuki-shi was as much as look at it. One story the friend didn't tell Yasuhara because it was just one of dozens oddities of Miyama Kaneyuki, and he had collected other relic related to immortality and long life before.
This case no longer belong to SPR, it was Vongola's. "Hello… Konbanwa, Kidou-sensei." Kidou Keichirou, the former prime minister of Japan and current owner of this mansion. "My apologies for calling so late at night." This couldn't wait anymore. "I am… Sawada Mai of Vongola, COO of Neo-VG corporation… and also vice-boss of Neo-Vongola Famiglia."
There was fear in his voice as he struggled to reply to my introduction. As most upper echelon in political world knew of Vongola and our fearsome reputation.
"I am calling for business, this is about the property of your family in Suwa… yes, I am well aware of its reputation. I am still interested in this property so how much? I will leave a blank check for you if that will convince you to release this property to us."
There was sputtering excuse from the other side.
"Very well if conducting business through phone is insufficient for you, by tomorrow… my right hand man would come to your residence. So please make time for him in the morning, we are in pressing schedule you see… Well then, Kidou-sensei… good night and I am waiting for the good news tomorrow." Then ended the line.
Which mean there was no choice for him keeping this property. "Well then… Urado, let's see how you fare when we Vongola hunt you down."
You wanted immortality? To live? We will show you how much pain our flame could give you to the point you wish for death and regret all the life you had taken for your own...
AND SO this arc is about to close though I don't know… if I can fit the end in one more chapter ha ha ha! Though I did finish 80% from the novel content… so perhaps one and half chapter? So maybe if last chap is around 15K ha ha ha.
Review Please!