I do not own any of the following.except the legend and the characters Erin and Cathleen.

Sorry it's been so long since I updated. I'm busy working on another story (You've Got Mail) and well, after I came up with the initial idea for this story I wasn't sure where to go with it, so updates might be slow. But this fic will wind up at the end.eventually. ^_^ On a side note, I think I got Ken's last name wrong...it should be Hidaka, not Hikada. And it isn't Hirofumi, but Masafumi Takatori working with Schrient. These will be corrected in future chapters. If this confuses anybody, let me know and I will re-upload the already written chapters with the corrections. Gomen for my mistakes!

Enjoy!

A brief glance flitted between Ken, Yoji, Aya, and Omi. "What did you just say?" Ken asked.

Makoto blinked, looking at the group of young men. "Are you deaf? I just told you my name was Kino Makoto."

Mina frowned. That wasn't at all what Makoto had said. It had been a phrase in a language she didn't recognize.and obviously, Makoto didn't seem to remember saying it.

"That's not what you said," Aya said bluntly.

Makoto glared. "I would think I know what I said. Geez.."

"Anyway," Omi interrupted. "I think it would be best if you girls got to your hotel. You might pass out again Miss Kino."

"He's right you know," Yoji chorused. "And in the even that it does happen, you would most likely require assistance again. So I move that we accompany these girls to their hotel, just to make sure everything is alright."

"Well.thanks for the offer but we wouldn't want you going to any trouble," Mina started.

"No trouble for a pretty girl like yourself," he answered smiling.

Mina blushed. "Well, if you're sure.."

"Absolutely. Now don't give it another thought. We'll go along for the ride, just in case you might need us."

Aya looked more then a little miffed at Yoji's sudden group commitment, but said nothing, preferring to glare silently from the background.

"Then we'll accept, thank you."

Yoji grinned. "Excellent. Now where are you two staying?"

"Twin Clovers," Mina answered.

"No way!" Ken exclaimed. "That's where we're staying too."

"What good luck for us," Yoji said. "Being 'neighbors' to you two."

"Yeah, just peachy," Makoto said sarcastically, looking point blank at Aya.

Realizing the situation was getting out of control, Omi quickly interrupted with the suggestion that everybody gather up their luggage and then they could find transportation for the 6 of them to the hotel. "Good idea," Mina said, dragging Lita off toward the baggage claim.

"Well be there in a minute," Yoji called after her.

Mina waved to show she'd heard him.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Aya tapped Yoji on the shoulder. "Would you mind telling me why you're getting us involved with them? We're here on a mission."

"Yeah, yeah.I know. But Aya I think Omi is right to suspect those two as the ones we're looking for."

"I think you're hormones are doing the thinking for you again. The odds of us finding the two we're looking for right off the bat are too slim."

"I don't know," Ken said. "I tend to agree with Yoji in this Aya. I mean, you heard what Makoto said.that was the same phrase that the legend said were the last words of Erin's spirit. Not to mention they fit the descriptions pretty much exactly. Well, physically anyway. We should at least check it out."

Omi nodded. "I think it would be wise if we did. We shouldn't ignore a possible lead just because it seems improbable."

"Alright.but the first clue they're not it we're out, understood?"

"Understood," the rest chorused.

"Good," Aya said. "Now let's go." He led the small group in the direction the two girls had gone.

They went and picked up their bags, scanning the crowd for their new companions. "I think it happened again."

"What happened Yoji?" Omi asked.

Yoji pointed his finger over toward a bench that was occupied by one blonde and what appeared to be a passed out brunette.

They made their way hurriedly through the crowd over to the bench. "What's wrong Mina?" Yoji asked.

"It's Mako-chan.she's passed out again." Mina frowned. "I don't get it.this is really unusual for her. I mean, I can understand right after having gotten off the plane, but this.." She shook her head. "Something's very wrong here."

"Well, she seems to be ok," Omi said, straightening back up after giving Makoto a brief examination. "What makes you think something is wrong? You did say this was unusual for her, but if she's that afraid of planes I wouldn't think this was too out of the ordinary."

"It's not just that. She said something.I didn't catch everything.but right before she collapsed she looked me straight in the eye and said ''Til death sister Cathleen'." Mina bit her lip nervously. "Maybe this trip was harder on her then I thought...maybe she's gone nuts!"

"Convinced now Aya?" Yoji said with a slight smirk.

Aya said nothing, preferring to glare silently at his fellow traveler.

"I don't think she's gone nuts," Omi said. "But I think the sooner we get to the hotel the better off she'll be. Aya, if you could arrange for the transportation?"

He nodded and left to go find the nearest phone to make the call.

"Yoji, you get Mina's bags.I'll take Makoto's and Ken, you take Makoto if she doesn't wake up before we go," Omi continued. They nodded in agreement.

A few moments later, Aya returned. "The hotel will be sending out their van to pick us up. They said it will be about 15 minutes."

The group settled in to wait. The 15 minutes passed, the van came, and still Makoto hadn't awakened. Everybody assumed their duties and piled into the van. The time back to Twin Clovers passed, and just as the van pulled up at the entrance Makoto finally stirred. Blinking her eyes open and seeing her surroundings, she turned to Mina and said "We've been kidnapped!"

"No we haven't Mako-chan. This is our hotel."

"But.but we were just at the airport a second ago."

"Well.sort of. You passed out again.about half an hour ago," Mina answered.

Makoto frowned. "I don't remember doing that. I guess I'm having jet lag or something. Oh well." She shrugged it off, grabbed her bags, and hopped out of the van.

Mina, having grabbed her suitcases, followed Makoto with the young men filing in after her. Mina plopped her bags down and signed in for the room.

At the same time, Aya was doing the same thing. After getting the room key, he turned to his co-workers. "We're in room 223," he said.

"What room are you two in?" Yoji asked.

Mina looked at the key. "224."

"You'll have no trouble then," the lady at the desk said. "Those rooms are right across from each other, right before you get to the stairs that go to the outdoor pool."

"No way! The first thing I want to see in the hall in the morning is not him!" Makoto said angrily, glaring at Aya. Grabbing her bags and the key from Mina's hand, she stormed through the lobby to the elevator.

"Gomen minna," Mina said. "I don't understand why Mako-chan's acting this way. Hopefully a good nights rest will calm her down." Smiling apologetically, she hurried after her friend.

"We better be going to," Aya said. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.especially if it's going to involve those two."

The others nodded, and soon they too had made their way to the elevator and into the room they would be sharing, beginning the task of settling in.

Meanwhile, across the hall, Makoto had hurriedly unpacked and dumped her bags next to her bed. "I'm going out for a walk," she announced before Mina had a chance to say anything. So saying, she left the room and took the elevator down to the lobby, exiting the building. She followed the short drive from the entrance down to the street, where she stepped onto the sidewalk and headed left. After about 30 minutes or so, she stopped to sit on the edge of a fountain in front of a pair of locked gates, next to which stood a sign saying Leprechaun Park. Makoto was startled suddenly by a noise, and toppled over into the water of the fountain. Pulling herself out and trying the shake some of the water off, she glared into the night. "Who's there?"

Ken stepped out from behind some bushes in front of the sign. "I'm sorry I spooked you.but Mina was concerned about you going out by yourself and asked if one of us would follow along to keep an eye on you." There was no answer, so Ken went slowly edged his way over to the fountain until he was standing next to Makoto, who was now wringing out her hair. Then it was his turn to be startled.

When Makoto turned to look at him, she looked different. Her features had softened somewhat, and her eyes had a bit of a hazy, clouded appearance to them. "No harm done.just a wee bit of water. I'll dry," she said.with a lilting Irish accent.

"Who..who are you?" Ken asked, beginning to wonder if maybe he was going nuts instead.

"Mise Erie.I am Ireland. Do you not remember?"

He nodded, still awed by what was transpiring. "Erin.The legend is true.you are Erin."

She nodded. "I am both Erin and Ireland. We are one and the same.and we need your help. Ireland is falling into a time of darkness, I have sensed it. That is why I have awakened.to summon my sister Cathleen's soul to the surface, that together we may protect our home. Alas, we can not do it alone. There is much of this place we have no knowledge of.many changes have taken place in the years we have slumbered in the hearts of young women. Please.what name might I call you by?"

"Ken.my name is Ken Hidaka."

"Ken.very well Ken. I ask of you your help..please. Not for myself, but for my home." She held out a hand to him.

He nodded mutely and took the offered hand. "You have my word."