I so glad so many people have reviewed this fanfiction (so far 13ish), it's every more that my drawings (wow...thenmy drawings must really suck Oo!), but really, I'm glad so many people find itso captivating. Well...enough about me, on to...

Chapter 5

Darkness. It's all Macchi saw with her eyes closed. There were strange noises coming from the hallway. Doors slide in and out, footsteps trampled across the floor, pointless talking, and Tamao's voice. Macchi was in her own little world. That was until a glaring light hit her face. She threw her bed covers over her eyes. She moaned and tried to send the message she didn't want to wake up.

"Macchi? You awake?" A voice said. Macchi didn't know to whom it belonged to it was too early for her. "I have some food for you, if you want it that is." The voice said, a bit disappointed this time. Macchi threw the covers off to see who it was. Her vision was blurred, but she could make out green hair, Lyserg. She was still wearing her clothes from the training.

"Yeah...I'll...have it." Macchi said tired. She slummed back into her bed and saw the food in front of her. It didn't look like buttered toast or cereal or even pancakes. A sandwich with something in the middle and some fruit on the side. "What's this...breakfast?" Macchi asked him, she was still tired.

"Well...more on the lines of lunch to exact." Lyserg said. He still stood by the window. Macchi slowly picked up the sand and took a bit of it. "Hard to believe you've slept this long." Lyserg said, also to himself.

"What day is it?" Macchi asked. Her head was throbbing with pain.

"It's Tuesday, about noon." Lyserg explained. Macchi quickly flung out of her bed.

"Tuesday?! But...but today's the day...Tamao..." Macchi said erratic and stopped. "Her wedding dress..." Macchi finished a few seconds later. Lyserg nodded and talked toward Macchi and sat beside her bed.

"Yep. They left an hour ago. Tamao...she looked so happy. Macchi, have you ever thought, that what we're doing is wrong? I meant...you know I hate Hao for...you know." Lyserg said, his moods quickly changing. He pounded his fist into the ground quite girlish. Macchi was lost, completely.

"What he do? He take Tamao away from you?" Macchi asked. Lyserg was shocked.

"You...mean...you don't know." Lyserg said in horror.

"Were you part of X-laws, right? I thought you were..." Macchi continued to say. Lyserg was still speechless. He couldn't believe Macchi didn't know. Not to mention how much she fought them and how much he would curse at Hao for the death of his parents.

"What happen to you guys? I haven't seen anyone, but sliver hair girl." Macchi said. Lyserg looked at the ground, speechless and shocked.

"Don't you remember anything?" Lyserg said in a faint voice.

"I guess not...I only remember Kanna, and Mari and Tamao really. Everything seems like a blur." Macchi said. She wondered what Lyserg was so worked up about. "Is something wrong?" Macchi asked him. Lyserg stood up and walked back to the window again.

"I can't believe you don't remember anything." He started to say. He slammed the window still, the wood broke into two. "You don't remember how you and Hao killed off the X-laws?!" Lyserg screamed. He swung around and smashed the wall. "Nothing!" He screamed. He fell to the ground crying. Macchi got up and tried to approach. She reached out her hand, but Lyserg slapped it away. Macchi was shocked by his behavior. "Stay away from me!" He screamed at her. Macchi back away, afraid of what Lyserg would do next. "I'm sorry. I need to blow off some steam." Lyserg said hoarsely. He got up and stormed out her door. Macchi sat there paralyzed. She stood there for a minute to make sure he was gone.

Macchi opened the door and poked her head outside, no sign of anyone. She took a left and walked to the exit out back. She slowly opened door to see Lyserg have Ren pinned against the wall.

'I forgot Ren is now here. He must have came back like today, like Yoh said.' Macchi thought. Lyserg pushed Ren toward the wall tighter.

"I will not allow you to make fun of my parents!" Lyserg yelled into Ren's face. Ren took the punishment, he could take care of Lyserg another way.

"I said nothing you fool. You just slammed me into the wall. If you want to fight..." Ren said, but Lyserg let go and slammed Ren back into the wall.

"Don't you play smart with me! I'll kill you if you dare mention anymore about my parents!" Lyserg screamed into his face. His voice shook the air and birds flew away. Ren remained silent and waited. After a minute Lyserg let him go. Ren fell to the ground and Lyserg stormed off, pass the pond. Macchi slowly walked outside and to Ren. Ren sat there on the ground, mediating.

"Ok, what is going on?" Macchi asked. Ren put a single finger up. Ren's eyes opened revealing his piercing eyes. Macchi nearly jumped back. Something about those eyes set something off in her.

"You just as ditzy as Pilica aren't you?" Ren scolded Macchi. He settled down to further explain the situation. "Lyserg has a painful memory. He lost his parents when he was six. Usually he would have been fine, there were plenty of families willing to take him, but there was one snag." Ren explained. He stopped again, to think of what to say next. "Hao killed his parents, in cold blood. He vowed to kill Hao one day. Usually he be able to keep that those emotions in control." Ren said. Macchi sat there speechless. A faint memory returned. Something about Lyserg yelling at Hao, but no words came out.

"Wow...I never knew...I mean, he seems so calm." Macchi said. Ren began to look at Macchi closely.

"Hey...aren't you Marion? Of the Hanagumi?" Ren asked. Macchi laughed and shook her head.

"No, I'm Macchi. Marion had blonde hair and talked weird." Macchi explained. Ren sat back and continued to look at Macchi.

"How ironic, two enemies falling in love." Ren said. Macchi put her fist under his chin. Ren was use to this threat. He could deal with her later too.

"Me and him?! Are you nuts?! I only love Hao! Lyserg is just helping me." Macchi yelled at him. Ren smirked and closed his eyes again.

"Then why are you so worried about him?" Ren said. Macchi gasped and moved back, lowering his fist. Ren glared his eyes straight at her. "Obvious, you 'love' him if you are worried about him. Does Hao worry about you? He took his time on reviving you." Ren said in that sick evil voice. Macchi held against the wall again.

"Hao was busy! You can't expect him to do everything!" Macchi said in his face. She let go of him. "Now excuse me, I have to help a 'friend'." Macchi said. She ran off in the direction in of Lyserg. Ren smirked again as he got up.

"Well...she isn't the same, that's for sure." Ren said. He walked toward the entrance. "So Yoh, is this the girl you talked so much about?" Ren opened the door and closed it as fast. "All she is, is trouble."

"Lyserg." Macchi called out. No response at all. Macchi continued to walk deeper into the forest. "Lyserg!" Macchi called out louder, yet still no response. Something hit the water. Macchi ran to the noise. Again, something hit the water, but there more noises after it. She stopped at a huge lake in the middle of the forest. A spring brought water into the mansion-sized lake. Lyserg was at the other side Macchi was. He threw another stone across the lake. It skipped the water a few times before it sunk to the bottom. Macchi began to walk closer to him. Lyserg lifted his eyes for a moment to see her coming. His eyes were narrowed and not like his previous joyful ones. He threw another stone across the lake. It sunk to the bottom after three skips. Macchi was ten feet away from him and stopped. She didn't want to end up like Ren and this time there was no around to save her.

"Hey, is everything ok?" Macchi asked him. Lyserg ignored her at first and threw another stone. "Ren told me, about your parents." Macchi said trying to get him to talk. Lyserg threw another stone across the lake. "I know how you feel." Macchi continued.

"You have no idea how I feel!" Lyserg yelled. He threw the stone harder this time. It took only four skips to go across the lake. Macchi took a step closer hoping Lyserg wouldn't slam her into a tree or something. "Just leave me alone. I'll be fine." Lyserg said. Macchi only continued to move forward, slowly. "We'll start again tomorrow." Macchi was right behind him. He was only a bit taller than her. She jumped on the rock behind him.

'Man...should I really do this? He could attack me at any moment. But, Lyserg is my friend, and I promised I get Tamao for him. Ok, I really didn't promise him, but it seems like it. Do I love you? Not like that matters now.' Macchi's thoughts raced through her mind. She slowly and cautiously put her arms around Lyserg's shoulders. Macchi could feel his muscles tense up.

"Look, just sit down." Macchi asked him. Lyserg at first was going to disobey but Macchi tightened her hold on him. Lyserg released his tension and sat on the ground like Macchi ordered. Macchi followed him down, not letting go. She cupped her hands over his heart, feeling his heartbeat slowing down. Macchi positioned her head right of Lyserg's.

"Hey, I'm sorry about before...and anything I've done before." Macchi whispered. She squeezed harder. "You know, I lost my friends too." Macchi began to say. "We're like sisters, always looking out for each other, pulling pranks on each other, sharing stories, and stuff like that." Macchi explained. She forgot to mention what kind of pranks they used to pull. Some innocent, but others, Macchi found herself glued into her sleeping bag. Lyserg put his hand around Macchi's own hand. Macchi felt his hand and feared Lyserg would push her off. Lyserg gripped her right hand and held onto it.

"Thanks, Matilda..." Lyserg thanked her. Macchi was shocked at his response because had ever called her by her true full name. She smiled and loosened her grip around Lyserg.

"Hey, no problem. Listen, I'll take care of the next mission. All you have to do is go for Tamao at the right time." Macchi said. Lyserg nodded, a way to show he understood the plan so far. Macchi completely removed herself from Lyserg. Lyserg's hand held onto her hand at long as possible until it slipped away. "A little lesson from Kanna. The three S's." Macchi boasted. "First, Spy. Then Sabotage. Lastly, Seize." Macchi briefly explained. Lyserg was lost, Macchi could just tell it in how he looked at her. "I've took the...um...liberty in finding out about the enemy, a.k.a. Tamao. Tonight, I'm going to set up all the equipment and put the bombs in place." Macchi explained. Lyserg eyes widened.

"Bombs!?" Lyserg said shocked.

"Well...not real bombs." Macchi corrected herself. "More like the...water balloons." Macchi said smiling.

"Ok, just making sure on that part. So...am I the Seize?" Lyserg asked. Lyserg was still trying to figure out how Macchi was able to find out information on Tamao. Macchi smiled.

"Yep. You'll be the knight in shining armor and comfort Tamao. If I planed it all out...that should be about seven thirty in the morning." Macchi finished up. Lyserg nodded.

"Ok...hey you can go. I'll be fine, now. So...thanks." Lyserg said.

"Hey, no problem." Macchi said joyfully. She started to walk around the lake back to the exit. She reached it, but turned around and waved to Lyserg. He slowly waved back. Macchi jumped into the forest and went back to the mansion. Lyserg picked up another rock and threw it at the water.

"The knight in shining armor...the savior of the hopeless. So, will I save Tamao from Macchi's plan, or save Macchi herself when this whole things collapses." Lyserg said to himself. He picked up another rock and threw it at the water. "I hope neither."

Macchi entered her room and pulled out her suitcase. She flipped open the pad locks and revealed her bounty of weapons.

"Hmmm...so hard to choose. So many weapons, so little ways to cause mischief." Macchi said rather impishly. The first she picked up was a bottle of dye, then a bottle of a powerful liquid, and several other things, including a black book. She laid them all out of the floor, seeing how they would all fit into the plan. Lyserg creaked the door and step inside. When he looked down at her arsenal, he stared at her blankly. Macchi turned around about two minutes later. "Oh, hey Lyserg." Macchi cheerfully said. Lyserg continued to stare at the weapons shocked.

"Um...Macchi. About how severe is this prank going to be?" Lyserg asked as he looked down at the arsenal of weapons she had..

"What? This is nothing. I used to pull stuff like these all the time." Macchi said. Lyserg slowly moved back and left the room. "Look, don't worry about it. I'll won't be that hard on her." Macchi said as he left the door. Lyserg quickly walked away from the room with the demon inside. Lyserg turned the corner to see Ren at the other end, walking toward him. Lyserg slid behind the wall he just passed. Lyserg couldn't even imagine what Ren would do to him. Lyserg looked down the way he just came. The door to the outside was too far away and to go the straight would lead straight to a dead end. He was trapped. Ren slowly turned the corner to see the terrified Lyserg.

"I told I get you back." Ren said to him. Lyserg tried to make a break for it, but Ren caught his shirt collar and threw him against the wall.

"Please! I never meant any of those things, honest." Lyserg pleaded. Ren pushed Lyserg against the wall and held him there. His yellow tiger-eyes pierced his soul and paralyzed him. "Please, Ren. I'm really sorry. You know how I was back then." Lyserg pleaded again. Ren threw him to the ground this time. The pain raged through Lyserg's body and to make things better Ren put his foot on his chest to hold him down. Lyserg looked up in fear at Ren.

"You should be glad I'm in a 'good' mood today." Ren said. He picked up his foot and put it back on the ground. Lyserg slowly got up afraid Ren would pummel him down to the ground again. When Lyserg stood up he was taller than Ren. "So why do you hang around with 'her'?" Ren asked him. Lyserg never thought about it before in depth, or came up with a good reason. All he knew was Macchi was his friend and helping him out. "Please tell me you remember all she did. All the destruction she caused to you. And you still call her your friend!" Ren barked at Lyserg. The horrible memories entered his mind once again. The deaths of his friends and all the pain he went through. "Do you remember her face when she killed Meene? Was she the sweet girl she is now? I suggest you kill her." Ren proposed. Lyserg was shocked at Ren's answer.

"I...I can't kill her. She's my friend!" Lyserg yelled back. Ren shrugged and when back the way he came. "Ren, you're wrong about her! She very kind and at least..." Lyserg stopped on that last part. Macchi had been nice to him, but him and Hao alone. Ren grinned at Lyserg's short supply of reasons.

"See, she's still the killer from the past. You might as well as kill her yourself." Ren said. Lyserg erupted and grabbed Ren and pushed him into the wall. Ren was frightened at Lyserg's ferocious. His eyes weren't like they were before. They were vengeful, but strangely still humane and kind.

"I'll never kill her!" Lyserg shouted right into Ren's face. Ren smirked and pushed Lyserg aside with his foot. Ren walked away from Lyserg and continued to grin.

"Ok then. Just tell me when you want me to kill her for you. The sooner the better." Ren said before he was out of Lyserg's view. Lyserg continued to breathe heavily. He slammed his fist into the wall again, but his punch only sent pain into his fist. Tears slowly leaked out.

"Why am I so weak? Why can't I do anything right?" Lyserg said to himself. A arm then wrapped around him.

"That was pretty heroic. That's what you'll need that for Tamao." Macchi said. She let go and let Lyserg turn around. "I'm glad you stuck up for me." Macchi said cheerfully. Lyserg blushed and looked the other way.

"Oh, that was nothing, really." Lyserg said still blushing.

"Yeah, whatever. Can you please help me out here. I just remember to put the 'special liquid' into the oil bottle required two people." Macchi asked.

"Sure. I guess." Lyserg blindly agreed. Macchi took his hand and lead him back to her room. She held an blank green bottle. Lyserg picked up the lotion bottle without evening told. Macchi slowly poured the liquid into the bottle. It was colorless and odorless. "So, what is this stuff?" Lyserg asked.

"If one drops gets on you, it will burn for a hour." Macchi said terse and quick. The last of the liquid went into the oil bottle. "Ok thanks. I'll be fine now." Macchi said. Lyserg put the bottle down and sealed the lid and stood at the door, his hand almost ready to open the door, but he just stood there. Macchi continued to put everything into place as Lyserg in place. She looked up for a brief second as she was picking up the shampoo bottle and comb. She quickly put the items away and went over to Lyserg.

"Hey, is something wrong?" She asked him. Lyserg remained motionless as she stood there.

"You heard everything right?" Lyserg asked. He was afraid Macchi would put him down with how he reacted or something.

"Well...yeah. Kind of hard to tune out your yelling and fighting out there. Look, the important thing is you stood for me. You're the only other person I know who has done that besides Mari or Kanna." Macchi said. Lyserg nodded and opened the door.

"Seven thirty, correct?" Lyserg asked. Macchi smiled and nodded. Lyserg gave a smile back and left her room. Macchi grinned and looked back at her arsenal.

"Well, I better get started." Macchi grabbed the black sock mask from her bag and put it over her head. She picked up the suitcase and when out onto the corridors to cause mischief, holding that black book in hand.

Lyserg was out by Zen gardens. He lost himself in the swirls and turns of the rock waves. Nothing was happening much. Horo was trying to get Jeanne to date him again, and he complaining about there was no caramel. Pilica was doing who knew what, Ren was mediating, hopefully he was, Jun was out going something, Faust went somewhere as well, and Yoh was kept to help Anna with the baby. And Lyserg knew Tamao would be with Hao, one hundred percent. Footsteps walked across and stopped right after they passed. They approached him from his right side and the figure sat down.

"Hey Lyserg, how you doing?" Tamao said. Lyserg almost jumped when he heard her voice.

"Oh, f-f-f-fine, and y-y-you?" Lyserg stuttered. Tamao giggled a bit. 'Come on Lyserg! Think of her as other person, think of her as...Macchi! Tamao is Macchi, Tamao is Macchi.' Lyserg thought and repeated in his mind.

"I'm pretty well myself." Tamao replied. Lyserg nodded and gripped the sliding. Tamao looked at the Zen garden with Lyserg. Lyserg concentrated all his thoughts on that Tamao was Macchi. "So, have we ever really talked before?" Tamao asked. Lyserg almost jumped again.

"N-no, I don't think so." Lyserg said.

"So...you wanna do something Saturday?"

"What?!" Lyserg yelped. "What about Hao?!" Lyserg asked. Tamao giggled to herself.

"Well, we are getting married, but that doesn't mean we have to be with each other twenty-four seven. Besides, it be a good chance to get to know you." Tamao said. Lyserg was still shaking with fear. "Lyserg, we'll be going as friends. It's not like a date." Tamao said further. The word 'date' struck Lyserg's mind like a bell. "So does Saturday sound good? I know Hao will be fine with it." Tamao asked.

"Um...s-sure." Lyserg muttered. Tamao looked directly into his eyes. Lyserg was paralyzed.

"Is something wrong?" Tamao asked him.

'Great, now she figured out I like her. Man, this isn't going well.' Lyserg thought. "Sure, Saturday sounds find. I was just a bit hesitant cause I...had to make sure I was open." Lyserg said. Tamao smiled and got up.

"Ok, Saturday it is. Meet here, ok?" Tamao said. Lyserg nodded and waved goodbye to her. Once she walked off back to the mansion, Lyserg let out a huge sigh.

"Man, that was so bad. I wish I just talk to her and not have to worry about." Lyserg said doubtfully. He looked at watch,

6:07 P.M.

'Well, I better get going and grab something to eat.' Lyserg thought. He got up and walked back to the west wing of the mansion. Tamao was right behind the door and heard what Lyserg said. She looked down in doubt and pity for Lyserg.

'So he was just like me...and that means...' Tamao thought to herself. She looked back at Lyserg and realized what he was feeling. Tamao walked back to the kitchen, knowing Horo, one of her ex-boyfriends, be waiting for food. Lyserg continued to walk by letting his mind run wild and entered the mansion.

'If only I could talk to her, face to face and let he know how I feel.' Lyserg thought, 'Then, I could say I at least tried.

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Well...I remember Kiyuu-chan and I were arguing about this chapter and the...well I won't go there, yet, because she and I knew that Lyserg and Macchi wouldn't even be within 5 feet of each other. So that's why I got Ren and we tried to explore Lyserg's psyche for helping Macchi...maybe that's what makes it so cute (Dra-goon-san is murdered by thousands of Macchi and Lyserg fans alike)

Auch! It's a livin...