At Vicky's apartment, Daiji had awoken and exited his room, trying not to trip over a box of his things. He walked into the living room area and he gasped before putting his hand over his eyes saying,"Sorry. I didn't know you were in here."

"I am. Why are you covering your eyes?",Vicky asked as she was eating cereal at her table.

"Because you're, you know.",Daiji said, using his free hand to motion to Vicky. Vicky looked at herself, seeing that she was currently wearing only a bra and basketball shorts. She then looked at Daiji and said,"Is it 'cause I don't have a shirt on right now?"

Daiji nodded, keeping his hand over his eyes. His hand was taken down by Vicky. Daiji down at Vicky, her being a head shorter than him, and he began blushing while Vicky said,"It's okay. I walk around here in my bra or my underwear all the time so get used to it."

Vicky then went back over to the table and continued eating. Daiji gulped while blushing, then he went to the kitchen.


At Shun's apartment, which was a studio apartment, Shun was sitting in front of a canvas painting, then he stopped and said in frustration,"No, no. This one isn't right."

He put his brush and paint down then he put the painting over to the side. He then ruffled his hair in frustration before moving to another part of the room. Kai looked up from a book he was reading and asked,"What's wrong?"

"I can't do it." Shun whined. "I can't make a painting that captures the beauty of you."

Kai looked at the painting Shun put on the side then said,"I think that looks good." apathetically.

Shun looked at Kai and frowned while saying,"Thank you but I don't need you to lie to me, Kai-chan."

"I can't lie.",Kai said bluntly.

Shun just looked at Kai then he looked at the painting and he grumbled before crossing his arms while frowning childishly. He was then surprised when he felt Kai hug him from behind. Shun looked over his shoulder at Kai, who looked at him and said,"I was once told hugs help people feel better." in his normal apathetic way.

Shun hesitated then he said,"Well this is making me feel slightly better." while looking away from Kai. He then turned around and hugged Kai back while resting his head on Kai's chest.

"This is much better.",Shun said while gaining a content smile and nuzzling into Kai's chest slightly. Kai continued to hold Shun and he blankly looked at Shun's painting. He then whispered to himself,"Beautiful."


Back with Daiji and Vicky, the two had gotten their clothes on and were now walking down the stairs together. Vicky looked back at Daiji saying,"Can't believe you got so nervous at seeing me in a bra."

"It's not that weird. Most guys don't see their roommates without a shirt on if they're a girl.",Daiji said.

"You obviously don't have a sister.",Vicky joked.

"You'd be right about that.",Daiji said. Vicky chuckled then she asked,"So what are we doing today?"

"We're going to meet with Shun and Kai and go over possible ways to begin investigating these buckles.",Daiji said as he and Vicky got to the end of the stairs and went to a car.

Half an hour, Daiji and Vicky walked into a café to see Kai and Shun sitting together. The two sat in front of Kai and Shun with Vicky saying,"Hey guys."

"Morning Vicky-chan, Daiji-kun.",Shun said with a smile and a wave. Kai simply waved while trying to imitate Shun's smile. Vicky and Daiji looked uncomfortable by Kai's smile then Daiji said,"How have things been for you guys?"

"They've been good. No monsters have attacked us in the last few days since we all met up.",Shun said.

"Same for us.",Vicky said no chalantly.

"Which is making me more nervous.",Daiji said.

"Why? Wouldn't having no monsters attacking be good?",Vicky questioned.

"It would if we weren't in the dark about tons of information and we weren't in some weird game.",Daiji pointed out, causing Vicky to agree. Kai gazed out the window, lost in his own thoughts, then he said,"Shadow."

"Huh?",Vicky questioned while she and Daiji raised their eyebrows.

"Shadow.",Kai repeated.

"What about shadows, Kai?",Daiji asked.

"There's been something watching us from the shadows.",Kai said.

"There is?",Vicky and Daiji said with disbelief.

"How do you know this, Kai-chan?",Shun asked. Kai pointed out the window,"Because I see it over there."

Shun, Vicky, and Daiji looked out the window to see the shadowy figure watching them from an alley. The three gasped then they and Kai got out of their seats and ran out of the café. Shun having to grab Kai's hand and drag him outside.

The group ran across the street to the alley, the shadowy figure walking further into it. The group followed the figure with Daiji saying,"Hey, stop!"

The shadowy figure stopped moving then said,"Grow."

Suddenly, a pool of shadows appeared on the ground in front of the group. Daiji and Vicky tried to stop but they along with Kai and Shun, fell into the shadow pool before it closed. The shadowy figure stayed silent before going into shadows on the wall.


A large shadow appeared on a wall and Daiji was tossed out of it landing on his back. Vicky was flung out of the shadow screaming and landing on top of Daiji. Shun and Kai were the last to be tossed out of the shadow and it closed, Kai holding Shun to protect him.

Vicky groaned then and Daiji noticed they were on top of one another. Daiji then said in a pained voice,"Vicky, you landed on my nuts."

"Oh, sorry.",Vicky said while sitting up on her knees. Daiji grabbed his groin in pain while moving to be on his side. Vicky then noticed her hat was gone and she looked around for it.

Meanwhile, Shun grunted then looked down to see he was on top of Kai. He gained a worried look and said,"Kai-chan, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. Are you okay?",Kai said as he and Shun adjusted so he could sit up and Shun was now in his lap. Shun nodded, then said,"Thank you for protecting me." with a thankful smile. Kai nodded, showing confusion at how to respond. Shun giggled then said,"You showed an emotion, Kai-chan."

"I did?",Kai questioned.

Shun nodded,"You were confused." still giggling. He and Kai then got to their feet.

Daiji stood up then said,"Where are we?" while looking around. Kai looked around then said,"We're in a cave."

"Aren't caves supposed to be so dark you need a flashlight to see in em?",Vicky said, finding her hat and brushing some dirt off of it.

"Yeah depending on how deep into them you are.",Daiji said while looking around. Shun turned around and then he said,"Guys, turn around."

Kai, Vicky, and Daiji turned around to see each of their symbols floating in the air and glowing in front of four doors. The four stood in front of their respective symbols and Vicky said,"Anyone else getting a Lord of the rings vibe from these?"

"Not how I'd describe my feeling but yeah.",Daiji said, looking at his symbol with wonder. Kai just stared at his symbol and door then he walked up to them, his hand outstretched. He touched the symbol and it shined bright before it said in a gravelly deep voice,"Nondum!"

Kai was then shocked and sent backwards by a pulse of red energy, causing him to crash land on his back. Shun ran over to Kai and helped him sit up while saying in a worried tone,"Kai-chan."

Kai began coughing in pain, grabbing his hand and wincing. Shun reassuringly brushed Kai's hair with his hand, causing Kai to move into his touch. Vicky and Daiji looked at the doors with cautious gazes, reaching for their buckles. The other three symbols began glowing then they stopped. A portal opened underneath the four and they all fell into it.


The group appeared in the alley they were first in, coming out of the portal as it came up from the ground before disappearing. Daiji and Vicky looked around cautiously before Vicky looked at Shun and said,"How's Kai doing?"

Shun looked at Vicky,"He'll be okay but he's in some pain."

Kai groaned while trying to stand up, Daiji and Shun helping him. Kai tried to stand on his own but he stumbled with Shun catching him. Daiji moved over to Kai saying,"Hey take it easy bud."

"The door said not yet to me.",Kai said.

"Not yet? Why would a door say,'not yet'?"Vicky questioned.

Kai thought about it briefly then he said,"That figure said grow before it sent us to that place."

"The shadow thing said grow? Why would it say grow and the door say not yet?"Vicky questioned.

Daiji thought about it then he said with a contemplative look,"Maybe it was telling us to grow stronger."

"Grow stronger?",Shun questioned.

"Yeah. I think it meant for us to grow stronger in our powers. Don't know why it'd say that but those doors may have something to do with it.",Daiji explained while tapping his chin.

"That would mean that the door meant Kai's not strong enough to enter it. By extension meaning we're all not strong enough."Vicky said while crossing her arms. Kai stood up straight, still having Shun assist him, then he said,"So we must fight monsters and see what is behind those doors."

"Yeah, looks like it bud.",Daiji said with a sigh. Kai nodded while saying,"I can do this."

"Not today. You need to rest.",Shun said, in a caring and demanding tone. Kai looked at Shun and nodded. Shun and Kai walked to Vicky's car, Shun sticking by Kai and keeping a hand on him to assist him. Daiji and Vicky followed the two both having worried expressions on their faces. They briefly stopped walking and looked down to see their buckles faintly glowing for a moment. Daiji and Vicky raised eyebrows before continuing to follow Shun and Kai.

Unbeknownst to the group, the shadowy figure watched them from a sewer grate. It's blue eyes followed the group then it narrowed on Daiji before saying,"Grow, Spirit."