Scarlett, Hey u changed ur name. I like it. And I'm also glad u liked the idea of Lara being pregnant. Thanks for the review and enjoy the next chapter.

Hi Darlian, here you are again. Thank you for ur review, always look forward to them. Hillary writing gossip sounds fun huh, but let's just keep it with being a butler who can always see what's bothering Lara.

Chapter 8, All that you need to know.

Lara had rested her arms on the edge of the pool with her chin placed on her hands and her eyes closed. Alex had his chest pressed against her back and his arms wrapped around her waist so he could place his hands on her belly. They had been in this position for almost ten minutes, until Bryce came running into the pool.

"Blimey Lara, I've got it." He said.

The tomb raider opened her eyes and aimed them at her tech. "You've got what Bryce?" she asked.

"The location of the box." He replied.

Alex let go of Lara and placed himself in the same position as Lara.

"What took you so long?" the yank joked.

Bryce completely ignored him and turned his eyes to Lara.

"I started searching for this Kumara but I could find nothing, yada." While Bryce started talking Lara pushed herself out of the pool. "But then with some real luck I ended up in a story about a Japanese monk called Kumara."

Lara reached for her towel and wrapped it around her body, Alex was still in the pool keeping his eyes at Lara's beautiful body.

"A monk?" Lara asked

"Yes, a monk." The tech replied. "He was a monk of the Fuji temple in…"

"The Fuji Mountains." Lara finished for him.

"Obviously huh?" Bryce said.

"Yes it all makes sense now. Fuji monks are known for their wisdom and knowledge, it is said that Fuji monks can become over more then a hundred and fifty years old."

"Bloody hell Lara, you really know everything don't you?" the tech said. "Anyway, my biggest guess is that he has hidden the box in that temple to make sure it stays safe and to keep its identity a secret."

"Wow Bryce, you did quite the job," Alex said, still with his hands over the edge of the pool "But what are we supposed to do now, rob a temple full of monks?"

Lara chuckled "No silly, we are not going to rob the temple. We are going to ask them nicely, if that is, they are willing to let us in to the temple."

"Why won't they let you in?" Bryce asked.

"Fuji monks are quite fond on their peace and they don't want any outsiders to disturb them."

Lara tossed her towel on the chair behind her and walked out of the swimming pool. "I'll see if I can ask Shugrave to give us a lift." She said just before she exited the pool.

"Bloody hell yank, you are one lucky man." The tech said once Alex finally had left the water and was drying himself with Lara's towel.

"Why is that?" the American asked.

"Hello? Have you seen the woman who loves you? She's so beautiful, do you even know how difficult it is for me to not stare at her when she stands next to me in her bikini. God, I'm a bloody man yank, how can a man reject so much beauty in a bikini."

For a moment there was silence, then Alex burst out in laughter.

"What?" Bryce asked confused.

"Nothing Bryce, nothing…" Alex replied when he finished laughing. "You're just one funny guy." And then the American followed the mother of his future child out of the pool.

"Bugger...why doesn't he understand what I said…" Bryce said confused "Oh well, American's…" and then Bryce too exited the swimming pool.

-

Powell's manor, London.

Manfred Powell was meditating. He sat on a large pillow with his legs crossed and his fore arms rested on his knees. The scent of incense lingered in the room. He noticed his silence was disturbed by a knocking sound on the door. Powell knew who it was because he had asked Daniel to come by. A special assignment was waiting for the young man and it was important that he does it perfectly or else it will mean the end of his life. If not by Lara, Powell will personally make sure that Daniel will not life to see another day.

And that will be a shame, Daniel is a good man, the best he had in years. It will be difficult to find a replacement so let's hope he will do this the way Powell planned it.

Daniel entered and Powell opened his eyes.

"Daniel, please have a seat." Powell said and motioned to another pillow on the floor.

Daniel applied and seated himself in front of his employer.

"You wanted to talk to me sir?"

"Yes, I want you to do something for me."

"Off course." he said.

"You studied the security on Lady Croft's manor and know exactly how it works?" he asked and Daniel nodded in reply. "Good, tonight I want you to break into her manor and search her computers, closets anything what you might think of as a clue that leads us to the stone she has and see if you can get Doctor Wagner's hard drive back, if we have the hard drive we might find out sooner how the rings works."

"Not a problem, you want me to go alone?"

"Yes, because your stay at Croft manor has to stay unnoticed and if you want to break into Croft manor unnoticed you have to do everything perfect, or else she will have you for dinner and if she doesn't kill you, I will."

The expression on Daniel's face stayed the same, even after Powell's threat.

"Don't worry sir, I will make sure she doesn't notice a thing, but I can't guarantee you that I can get Doctor Wagner's hard drive back. This Bryce is good in what he does and I don't think I can get the hard drive in my possession during my short visit in the manor."

Powell frowned.

"What do you mean with your short visit?"

"Well, if I want to break into the manor unnoticed I can turn of the security system for about half an hour. And with that much time I can barely walk through the entire manor, so stealing a hard drive from a highly secured computer is almost impossible."

The words made Powell laugh.

"I am glad I hired you Daniel, you're a good man. Let's focus on the stone then."

Daniel smiled back and stood up from the pillow.

"Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Powell didn't reply and already closed his eyes to continue his meditation. He didn't even notice the noise from the door that sounded when Daniel closed it behind him.

-

Fuji Mountains, Japan.

Lara and Alex were standing on the Fuji Mountains. Shugrave had just dropped them off. According to the GPS the temple should only be a few hours of walking away.

"Well here we go then." Alex said.

But Lara paid no attention, she was looking around and seemed to be enjoying the beautiful environment.

"It's beautiful in here." She said and then started walking.

"I agree." Alex said "Makes you look even more beautiful."

Lara smiled and looked at Alex "No flirting Alex…" she said. "Focus your attention on the monks, they can think of us as a threat, in that case they can be rather dangerous."

"Your wish, is my command." The yank said.

"I'll keep that in mind." Lara said back to him and made the American smile.

Their journey through the jungle was not quite comfortable. The path that they were following had been grown full with trees and plants, making it difficult for them to find their way up the mountain. Alex even had gazed his leg on a rock that was sticking out from under a tree. Lara had bandaged it and after a short break of ten minutes they continued walking.

"How far away are we?" Alex asked after a long time of silence.

Lara looked at the GPS, it couldn't be far anymore.

"I'm guessing we still have to walk about thirty minutes, how is your leg holding up?"

"It's fine." The American replied.

"If you start to feel sick, tell me, then I have to change the bandage, we wouldn't want that wound to infect."

"Don't worry Lara, but how is your sickness, feeling any better?"

The young tomb raider smiled at her friend "No, but I'll live." She replied.

Suddenly Lara stopped walking. There was something wrong but it didn't hit her yet.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked.

Lara scanned her surroundings. The birds had stopped singing, the wind had stopped blowing, there wasn't even a breeze.

"I don't know yet." She replied.

The tomb raider reached for her guns and as Alex saw this he too pulled out his guns.

And that's when three monks emerged in front of them, Lara heard movement from behind her as well, she spun around and it didn't take her long to notice that they were surrounded by monks. They wore white robes and not even one of them had any hair.

"Alex lower your gun." Lara said as she placed hers back into the holsters on her thighs.

"Why? You said these monks could be dangerous."

"Yes I did, but I think they'll be much nicer to us when we don't aim our weapons on them."

Lara had made her point there. The yank tugged his gun behind his belt and just like Lara, he waited for what would happen. It seemed that not was happening. The monks just stood there, their faces stone cold, their eyes all aimed at Lara. Not even one set of eyes was aimed at Alex, they were all looking at Lara and to be honest, Lara wasn't really happy with that.

Then from behind the monks, a soft croaky voice sounded.

"Ah…Lady Croft…we've been expecting you…"

A few monks in front of her stepped aside. They made room for another monk. It was an old short man. His wrinkled face told Lara that he had to be at least a hundred years old. He walked to her on a funny way, he reminded her of Master Yoda from the Star Wars movies.

"You've been expecting me?" She asked.

"Off course…" the old man replied.

"Well Lara, guess you were right about their knowledge, they even know who you are." Alex said as he paced next to her.

The old monk looked at Alex, he narrowed his eyes and brought up a small smile.

"And you are?" he asked.

"Alex West."

"Oh." Was all the monk said and then he turned back to Lara "Come Lady Croft, this way please."

The monks stepped aside again to let Lara and the old monk pass.

"Hey…" Alex yelled "Lara could you give me a hand here."

Lara turned around and noticed that the monks had blocked Alex path.

"He can not come, he must wait here till you return." The old monk said.

His words made Lara laugh.

"You heard the man Alex, just wait there I'll be back in a flash."

She turned around again and followed the monk up the mountains. Lara could hear Alex curse behind her, she smiled as she knew he wasn't rather comfortable with all those monks around him.

"How is it you know my name but you didn't know Alex." Lara asked the old monk.

"We only know that what we need to know." The old man replied.

"Fascinating." Lara said. But not aimed at his words but at the temple in front of her.

The temple was made of wood and bamboo, a statue of Buddha was resting in front of it. Small primitive huts were surrounding the temple and much to Lara's surprise it weren't just monks that lived her. There were also women and children, not dressed in white robes like the monks.

"There are quite some things you need to know about us Lady Croft, please follow me, all your questions will be answered."

The monk walked into the direction of the temple, Lara followed him but at the same time she admired the beautiful area that surrounded her.

-

I hope u all liked it, cause I think it's not that good as the other chappies I wrote, but please keep reviewing. 