Note: Prima is a bit ahead of the others. In the last chapter she spent about 5 days on the island before all the discoveries. So now we're going back in time.

If you don't understand what I'm trying to say, it's okay. Just don't be surprised if they didn't notice her absence or something.

To the chapter…

Chapter 20 (already!): Attration Romance

The master swept his glance over the ninjas presented. His son, Enrique was holding in his arms a girl with chocolate hair. His new girlfriend. Apparently not only the mission had failed but the ninjas nearly lost their lives. Hiro had accounted their escaped by using the car's flying system.

"Now what do we do?" Enrique asked hi father, looking concerned for once.

Giovanni rubbed his tired eyes.

"I must admit that Boris' plans pass my expectations. I thought the man only wanted to become President of the States but now it seems like he wants to have it forever, and if I know him well enough, he's going to take his plan over to the international field."

"That would explain so many foreigners there," Mariam exclaimed. "Lee Chow would probably sell his own country and as for Johnny…"

"The McGregors have all the UK," the master finished for her.

"And Ming Ming is an international star!" Hilary gasped.

"And the fact that he's building an army, it's pretty obvious that he wants war," Max said.

But the master shook his head.

"Boris is a careful man. He won't risk open war. Even so, I can't imagine what we would do with all this information. We won't be able to get our paintings back."

The hall went back into silence. Hilary fretted in Rique's arms (now that they are close, she can call him by his nickname). She thought back of the expression on Boris' face when he looked at her. She couldn't believe that a man like him knew her grandfather since her mother's father was only a farmer… Or did he mean her father's father? Hilary's heart gave a jump. Hilary had never seen her father before but her mother told her that he left them. She heard that he worked in Japan or something.

Her gaze fell on Salima who was sitting opposite her and another bang exploded in her heart. Garland's face that night was a scornful and arrogant one. Did he mean what he said? Or is it a mask to shield him from humiliation? And Brooklyn! She couldn't believe it of him. Not only that he was in the enemy's side but because he obeyed orders without even a second thought! They had known each other!

"What about Prima?" Rique suddenly broke the silence. "Has she found out about anything?"

Hilary had completely forgotten about Prima and her mission.

"For now, she's inspecting the area, pretending to be a guide-writer," the master answered.

"That's one smart girl!" Rique laughed. "But she sure is slow to take action."

"That's not the problem," Emily barged in for the first time. "Sir, I think we have to move and make it fast. Boris already knows that we're on the case, he's smart enough to make it worst for everyone of us."

"You're right, Emily," Giovanni agreed. "You said that the paintings are kept in a warehouse?" he asked Tala, Hilary and Mariam.

They nodded.

"Well, we can steal them back like what I've been trying to do in the first place," Giovanni said brightly.

"Er, master," Tala spoke up. "I don't think that Boris is that stupid. He must have them hidden in another place. He just moved them to the warehouse that night to show the guests."

"You're right," the master gave up.

"Oh, Father, don't look like an old dog," Enrique comforted him. "I assure you that we will get back your paintings and kick Chow's ass before you can say Dickenson."

Giovanni looked up.

"That's it! That's it!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Everyone looked confused most particularly Enrique.

"We will talk to old Dick about it! Then he will give us an army to crush down Boris!"

"Sorry to interrupt you but," Tala started, "they'll need proves."

"And they'll have proves!" the master punched his hand. "Kenny, turn on Dizzi. Order some cans of invisibilities, sticky pads, passkeys, laser-detectors… Oh yeah and that eyeball invention of yours is welcomed."

"Thank you, signor." Kenny then turned to execute.

"Emily, go and search for a guy named Zeo, we'll need him."

"Yes, master."

"Ninjas," he turned at last to them. "We're going to play good guys for once."

Tala grunted but Hilary could feel a surge of excitement passing through the others. Have they been stealing and killing all these past years? She wondered. Rique hugged her closer in his joy.

"Tala, I want you to search Lee Chow's house for a sample of this Philosopher's stone or anything suspicious," the master continued his commands.

Tala nodded. No one else noticed but his white skin flushed a little.

"Mariam, Max, you two will keep an eye on McGregor and his army. Report me of their numbers and technique."

Mariam watched Max at the corner of her eye with a feeling of uneasiness but she had to accept.

"Salima, Hilary and Enrique… you can rest," the master smiled.

"No one's watching Ming Ming?" Salima inquired.

"Oh you're right. How about playing a little comedy and try to get at one of her bodyguards?"

"I'm on!" Salima said determinedly.

Hilary was surprised that Salima took up this mission but after all maybe she wanted revenge.

"What about me?"

Everyone had forgotten about Tyson.

"Oops, go and help Hiro prepare the car?" the master suggested. "Or clean up some of the weapons. They are getting rusty from staying on the shelves."

Tyson pouted.

"It's not fair!"

Everyone laughed at the childishness of the boy.

"Looks like we've got time for each other," Rique whispered in Hilary's ears.

She shivered with pleasure. Everything was going to be well after all…


Mariah was in the garden when someone called her name. The voice came from the mansion. She ran inside.

"Ray?"

No one seemed to be there. While passing the hall, she saw a flower pot. She approached it and suddenly the plant began strangling her. Mariah struggled and finally got loose but the plant's vines were still after her. Mariah ran upstairs to her room. The décor had changed but somehow she knew that it was her room. Something commanded her to go and look in the cupboard.

There she found the red-haired boy.

"Tala, what are you doing here?..." Mariah's voice seemed to echo endlessly the question.

Mariah gave a start. She found herself sweating in her four-poster bed. The moon was peeking through her curtains. She got out of her bed, carefully walking over Gary who was camping on the floor (well, no let's say she walked around to get over to the window).

Was it just a dream? But why on Earth am I dreaming about that Tala boy? I hardly know him. Yet I can't stop thinking about him since the day I met him. Everywhere I go, I secretly hoped to see him. Why? Why?


The next day she went out with Ray. This was the first time that they had the opportunity to be together since the night Ray asked her hand in marriage. Ray was very busy lately. Lee told her that he was working for Boris Balkov now.

"Where are we going, Ray?" Mariah asked as he opened the limousine's door for Gary and her to enter.

"Nowhere special," Ray said with a smile.

They arrived at the Chow's personal airport.

"Ray, are you taking me to France or something?" Mariah asked, half-believing her eyes.

Ray laughed.

"Don't worry, you don't even have to cross any oceans," he reassured her.

When they got into the jet (it was spacious enough to hold a small meeting), Ray surprised her with a box of her favorite chocolates.

"Oh thank you, Ray!" Mariah said.

"This is just the beginning of the surprise."

"What day is it today?" she wondered.

"Only the 12th of September," Ray answered.

"Wait a minute… it's my birthday!"

"Of course, darling."

Ray gave her a kiss on the cheek (he's quite polite) as they rose into the sky.

They reached their destination half an hour later. Ray had Mariah blindfolded and he led her down the steps. Mariah could hear loud noises like children running and screaming.

"What is it, Ray?"

"Wait and see…" he took off her blindfold at last and Mariah could only gasp at the sight before her.

"Disney World!" she clapped in delight (A/N: I don't know why but Mariah seems to be like a child to me, you know she is rather young and light of spirit. But it's not a default!).

"I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself," Ray grinned as Mariah hugged him.

Gary was eyeing the ice cream parlors inside the theme park.

"Where you do want to start?" Ray asked.

"Hmm…"

Mariah led Ray through all kinds of attractions she'd dreamed of. They went on roller coasters (Gary nearly puked, due to the quantity of ice creams he ate), merry-go-rounds (Mariah pretended to be a princess), space mountains, the haunted mansions… Ray bought Mariah a giant size Minnie Mouse doll and they took pictures with the Disney characters.

By the end of the day, the three of them (let's not forget the bodyguard) were exhausted but Mariah still wanted to go on the Ferris wheel. After waiting a very long queue they got on the carriage. Since there were only a space for two, Gary had to mount the next one. Ray waited till they were high enough and he took the opportunity to take Mariah's hands. The girl was too absorbed in the magical view of the theme park that she didn't notice.

"Mariah," Ray cleared his throat to catch her attention.

Mariah turned her gaze towards Ray's equally golden ones.

"Yes, Ray?"

Ray started playing with her hands as if he was nervous.

"You know, the day," he began, "when I asked you to- well, when I asked your brother to ask you to marry me…"

Mariah nodded.

"Well, I haven't given you your engagement ring yet."

When Mariah recovered her hands from Ray, she found something sparkling on her left hand.

"Oh, Ray!"

It was a rose quartz carved in the shape of a glittering heart which had two silver wings spreading at each size.

The fiancés looked at each other as the last sun rays shot an approving glance over the two lovers. Somehow they were getting closer, so close they could feel each other's breathe upon their lips.

"Mariah?"

"Yes, Ray?" she breathed.

"May I kiss you?"

"Of course."

Their lips met in a warm embrace, fighting against the glare of the sun. Time seemed to stop as they were suspended on that Ferris wheel. Ray put his arm around his lover's neck, pulling her closer, breathing in her sweet strawberry scent. The kiss seemed to last forever but when they heard cheering they immediately broke from each other and saw that the whole crowd of people waiting for the ride on the wheel was clapping at them.

"Seemed like we've arrived," Mariah muttered as she blushed furiously.

"Next time I'll pay him to hold us on top as long as possible," Ray whispered.

He helped her get off and the two broke through the crowds, followed by Gary who was grinning at the young people's love.