Catse: Okay, sorry for the long wait everyone. I had this done within two weeks, but I guess Dragon and Sword Master has been busy, because it took a while for him to send it back. But no worries! I want everyone to thank him for taking the trouble to fix my terrible mistakes, so please clap for him! In any case, I hope I can update soon after this, but if any of you watch the news Channel, you'll come to understand that a new update may take a while. We've got a Hurricane coming at us, Hurricane Emily I think, and considering how close it is to us may mean we need to evacuate. So please bare with me on this and I will get an update up as soon as possible! As for now, please read and review! Ja Ne for now!

"Your friends are quite persistent." Sifirus exclaimed with a chuckle as he patted his crow, Corus, over the head. He sat comfortably in his cushioned chair, watching what looked like a giant mirror on the wall. Upon that mirror was the image of the taxis coming through the streets of France, and of the people riding within them.

"Yeah well, I'd expect nothing else from my team." Kenya's spirit answered, sitting in Indian style in his giant glass bottle.

"I see…So you made friends with them specifically because of that?"

"No. Not only are they determined, but also they are some of the best people I have ever known. They have a spirit and will to them that make them a great team when put together."

"I see. So I only have to separate them to kill them I take it?" Sifirus exclaimed, laughing lightly to himself when Kenya objected to it.

"That's not at all true! They are each strong in their own way!"

"Yes, but like a puzzle, they need each other to be unbeatable. Just like the old detective team. Yusuke was not a leader, but he was powerful and determined to see his way to victory in almost every match he fought. His unfortunate down sides was that his intelligence and his spirit awareness were rather low. Kuwabara filled in for the Spirit Awareness, as Yusuke helped fill in his lack of determination to fight anyone but him. Kurama was very skilled and very smart, filling in for both Yusuke and Kuwabara's lacks, but in him, he lacked the actual ability to be a cold hearted killer, due to his time in Human world. This Hiei made up for, as Kuwabara made up for his actual lack of spirit awareness, and Kurama made up for his skill in the use of his energy. Hiei was powerful in his energy, and very skilled indeed, but his need for more power, and his need to keep up, drove him to work harder than he ever had before, and to gain his ability to control the Black Fire Dragon. Kurama helped him to learn to control his skills better, as Yusuke drove his determination to power to levels he had never reached."

"You seem to know a lot about our parents." Kenya said.

"Yes, well. I've done my research. Just as I did so on you."

"What do you mean?"

"In order to complete my plans I needed to make sure I knew both teams, to ensure I wouldn't be messed with. Your parents are strong, but they are also older. They haven't been detectives for four years, and now have families. I just have to hold one member of their family to make them fall to their knees. However, as for the new detectives, you all have reached the same power of your parents in less time, which makes me curious. How could you have done so? Unless the teamwork you have strengthens the bond between you like it did the original team. You, Kenya, kept everyone glued together. When there was trouble, you kept a cool mind and knew what to do. However, you are no longer there, which leaves the missing piece in your puzzle. Katai, Yusuke's daughter, lacks in intelligence where Haku and you make up for it. She is strong, but you need more. Haku is not strong unless he takes his fox form, and then he is intelligent, in which that missing strength everyone else fills in. Seika is lazy, and although powerful, not fast to kill if he can find another solution, so his inability to see the big picture thoroughly you and Haku give to him. Not to mention the girls, Satou and Tsuki, who have little to no experience fighting at all, and Yoru, my reluctant little servant, whom wanted you dead but lost you in the act."

Kenya became quiet after all of this, his eyes pointed to the bottom of the bottle he was in. This man had done his research all right and saw more about them than they saw in each other most of the time. Nevertheless, Kenya still had a question that needed answering. The psychic he had talked to just this morning had told him that he had, indeed, found his friends, but he hadn't had much time to tell Kenya about how his friends were trying to revive him. That was the question he wanted to ask, and maybe, if he played his cards right, Sifirus would tell him without realizing it.

"Why are you following my friends anyway? If I'm the glue that holds them together, then what are you worried about?" Kenya asked, scooting closer to the glass. Sifirus never turned his head when he gave a short explanation.

"They are working for my needs." He said. "They are helping me find something that I alone, could not locate."

"And what is that?"

"A puzzle. A puzzle to great power and great destruction."

"So, let me get this straight. You are all a family of French Detectives, out for the better good. Who's the leader of your team?" Katai inquired, lounging in one of the seats of the train they had boarded. Supposedly, it was going to stop where they needed to go, being Dijon, and from there they would get to the hotel they would remain at.

"I am." Donce stated, raising his hand.

They had found out just a little while ago that, every one of the French Detectives spoke Japanese, and that there would be no problem in translations. Haku was very thankful for the break.

A loud snore escaped Seika's lips as he sat a little bit away, sleeping.

Tsuki and Satou kept themselves busy pointing little things out through the windows of the place, while Haku sat next to Amelia, and the two softly spoke about books they had read.

Yoru was in another compartment in the train, choosing to stay away from her team.

"We are very pleased to meet you, Detectives of Japan." Richard announced of himself, giving a simple bow of respect. "We have heard much of your parents and your fights in Japan. You are the ones that defeated Lord Rioko if we have heard correctly?"

"You got it." Katai yawned, lazily swatting at her mouth in an attempt to flap away her breath.

Richard instantly tugged out a silk handkerchief and handed it to her.

"There. That should help." He said with a voice as smooth as the silk in the tissue. Katai didn't know what to make of him. He was kind, gentle, and very elegant and thought of everyone else. To say the least, any girl would be stupid not to like him, and she was a girl.

"Thank you." She said sweetly, giving him a smile.

He smiled back and an indignant huff erupted from Rick's throat, as he found the little scene of politeness disturbing.

"What's your problem?" Donce inquired as Rick stood up.

"I came here to find something to kill; not to watch my twin flirt. I'm leaving."

"Alright, but keep in mind of our mission. These guys need help."

Rick growled and left through the door, disappearing down the hall.

"Excuse my brother. He's very antisocial." Richard smiled. Katai nodded, but she couldn't help but feel that there was lingering on the angry man. She wasn't one for much deep thought, but he reminded her of a certain gothic bad-ass whom hated her family and preferred to kill a demon before thinking to set eyes on him.

The train stopped a few hours later, in which Seika had finally awoken from his sleep to say he had had the strangest dream, of bamboo tickling him.

Katai laughed in his face, as everyone else just stared at him strangely. The entire mixed group stepped off the train, and instantly conveyed, by taxi, to the hotel they would stay at.

Katai could really care less for the surroundings. The only thing she cared about was whether the beds were as soft as Richard and Donce had told her, and that the food was good. And it was an extra plus that chocolate was put on her pillow, although by accident that night, she was so tired she fell asleep on the bed without removing the chocolate, and woke up the next morning looking as if a camel had sucked on her head. Well, considering how late it was, they all went to sleep at the hotel, with Donce and his group promising to come back at about ten the next morning.

They did, and the next morning they reappeared, with Haku ordering a breakfast for them all before getting started. Of course, Haku and Amelia sat next to each other as they talked about even more books, and then some of the classes and the people they had met.

Katai, somehow got herself situated between the twins Rick and Richard, with Seika next to Rick and growling low to himself about how much attention Katai was getting from the other guys. Donce sat in front of Seika, with the two little girls talking quietly over breakfast to themselves. As much as the commotion of the table went along, Donce couldn't help but keep his eyes on both Satou and Tsuki. When asked later, why he had, he merely said that he remembered when Rick and Richard were little and he had to look after them as their older brother. The little girls reminded him of when he was a kid, and he missed those days.

Well after breakfast, they had a short discussion on where to start looking first.

"These people that have the zodiac pieces are usually very talented in some area. And I believe we are looking for the monkey piece." Seika said to the crowd.

"Well then, the fine arts are probably where you are looking." Amelia told him, standing up. She pulled her rabbit doll with her, and gave a small courtesy to the group. "I would suggest visiting the museums here in the area. Maybe you may find something."

"Amelia's right. France is very well known for its many artistic pieces. I believe there is a museum somewhere here in Dijon that might be of some help." Donce said, and the group nodded.

"In fact, I believe it is in walking distance from here." Richard added. He stood up and before Katai could stand herself up, he reached out a hand for her to take, so he could help her out of her chair.

Katai didn't know what to think of it, so she did what she thought was right and gave Richard her hand. Seika of course didn't like this either, but kept his mouth shut. He'd show Katai his feelings in due time. He didn't need to make her look like a fool now.

Unfortunately, for him, as he didn't realize what he was doing, he had his fist clenched before him, and it shook madly.

"Something wrong?" Donce inquired, and Seika finally noticed the mannerisms of his hand.

"Oh! Nothing, nothing! I'm good! Yeah! Let's go!" He began marching in the front of the crowd, Tsuki and Satou taking it as a game as they followed him.

As they walked, Satou took little pictures of things they saw, and she took even more when they got to the museum and went inside. There were so many paintings that the detectives from Japan were almost overwhelmed by the sight of it all and Seika nearly fell over when they came to the statues. There were a few nude ones there, and he had never laid eyes on such weird pieces.

"They're very…" he coughed, "…artistic…"

"Yes well, that's some of the art from around here. Hm. What is going on with that crowd?" Donce said, pointing to a crowd of people that were gathering in a small room off to the side of the museum. In curiosity, they joined the crowd, came to find that a very famous artist had just barely finished his latest work, and put it up in this very museum. Now, they were just waiting to unmask the painting and show it to everyone.

"You think maybe this guy is what we're looking for?" Seika whispered in Haku's ear. Haku shrugged. "I'm not sure. There is always the possibility. Do you sense anything?"

Seika shook his head.

"No. And Gaia hasn't given me any images yet."

"Then perhaps the artist isn't here."

"There he is!" Amelia pointed her French accent heavy. A tall man, very thin and rigid walked up to the stage, gave a curt bow, and then pulled the sheet that hid the canvas underneath. As soon as the group saw it, they froze.

"I call it the 'Fruit Dish of Life'." He said. The picture was of a large Egyptian like bowl, and inside were various different fruits and vegetables, only they were see through, almost like glass, and with in sat various different animals, sleeping. What struck them the most was that the animals were from the zodiac, with the monkey in the banana and the horse in the apple, a rooster in the corn, a dragon in the squash, and it would continue from there.

"Coincidence maybe?" Donce inquired of the group as they crept in closer through the crowd. Seika needed to see if the artist was the monkey they sat.

However, the clue proved false. The man was not the zodiac holder, just a painter.

They left that area in frustration, and continued to search for the rest of that day. When nothing turned up, they decided to head home.

"I must insist that you come to have dinner with us tonight." Richard offered, and his offer was backed up by a nod of Donce and a plea from Amelia. Rick however just glared and as soon as they reached the detective's home, he disappeared upstairs.

Their home was an elegant two or three story house, with a nice yard of roses in the front and a white picket fence.

Inside, the fashion was tasteful, running along with a sun and moon design in orange, blue, and black. Donce pulled off the black designer's jacket he had worn that day and placed it on a coat hanger, along with everyone else's.

"What would you guys like to eat?" Donce inquired as he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves.

"Anything really." Katai answered sighing into the cushiony couch. Seika sat on her right side, and to his disappointment, Richard sat on her left.

Tsuki and Satou, still energetic even though they had walked all day, asked if they could investigate the house, and Donce smiled and allowed them to do as they wished, as long as they stayed away from the attic and didn't touch anything.

Donce really was a child person. He had the sweetness to him that most children liked, and a care in his eye that told he would let nothing happen to the young with him.

Seika actually found himself liking the eldest Tipideaux, and couldn't help but think that they were very similar.

In addition, of course, as was Yoru's style, she was no where to be seen as of the present moment.

Well Donce cooked up a simple meal, but the group didn't recognize it for they didn't eat French often, and after eating, they sat and talked a while.

"So, where else can we search? The museum didn't have anything." Seika inquired, leaning back. Satou and Tsuki had already fallen asleep, finally tired, on one of the couches, and Katai was getting close to joining them.

"Not necessarily. It may only mean that the person we're looking for wasn't there today. We'll have to go back again tomorrow and have another look." Richard replied, smiling.

"You all can crash here for the night if you wish. We start early tomorrow morning." Donce yawned and stood, disappearing upstairs for a moment after the group agreed to stay. When he came back down, he told them all to follow him; that he had set up sleeping arrangements for them upstairs.

Tsuki and Satou would stay with Amelia in her room, for she had an extra bed they could sleep on. They had an extra room upstairs for Katai to stay in and Yoru, if she ever came around, and Seika and Haku would stay in the attic.

After everyone was set up and settled, the lights went out, and sleep claimed them.

The next morning they tried again, but again to no avail. Seika sensed nothing, and no one out of the ordinary seemed to appear. None of the army that Sifirus controlled came out to disturb and/or distract them, and strangely, no crimes had been committed in the last day that would prove someone had been found dead. Of course, that didn't mean that whoever killed the man in Ireland had found the person here.

Therefore, after having dropped the Japanese detectives at their hotel and returning home, the French detectives quietly talked amongst themselves.

"Are you even sure the man we're are looking for could be an artist?" Donce asked his young sister, and she shook her head.

"No, I'm not sure." Amelia answered. "But there could always be the possibility. The person with the zodiac piece could take weeks, even months to come out of hiding, and not even realize someone is looking for him."

"But we don't have that time." Richard reminded, running his hand through his hair. Rick grunted and stood, going towards the stairs.

"And where are you going so suddenly?" Donce said with a crick of his neck. Rick turned around only a moment to tell his family it was none of their business, before returning to his trek upstairs. His brothers and sister shrugged and continued talking as Rick opened the door to his room and closed it behind him. Just like any Goth, such as he, he had numerous amounts of dark rock posters on his walls, and many different pieces of his own art on the walls.

He sighed, sat down on his bed, and rubbed the back of his neck. The conversation he had last had with the woman called Yoru had been chilling. It was on the train, just a few days ago, when he had stood and left his family and the new people in that compartment in search of a place to sit by himself. He ran into the dark lady herself, sitting alone in her own little space, and trying not to disturb her, went to close the door.

"Come in." She said, glancing her red eyes at him. She had a look that said she would not let him refuse.

He did as asked and closed the door behind him; sitting down near it should he have to escape at any time.

"You can sit a little closer. I don't bite…Well; at least I won't bite you." She murmured. He again did as she said and scooted closer. Yoru kept her eyes on the landscapes that were rushing by her window, and finally, after a drawn out sigh, she slouched back and put her attention towards him.

"They don't know, do they?" She inquired smiling.

"Know what?" Rick had asked.

"About your little secret."

"What little secret?" He wasn't sure what she was talking about, but the look in her gaze told him it was the secret that he had tried to hide for a while.

"You know what I'm talking about. They don't know do they?"

Rick sighed. "No. They don't. And I intend to keep it that way."

"You do realize that you can't keep it for very long. My little 'group' may be stupid in some ways, but they know how to take a hint when given. It will only take one clue somewhere in your house, and they will sense it."

"No they won't. I have it very well hidden."

"In a tree. Hah! A stroll in the backyard will tell them exactly what they need to know."

Rick stood up and walked towards the door, ready to leave. It would take only one last remark to get him going faster than he ever thought his legs could take him.

"It'll cause you much trouble. You never know what…kind…of demons may be searching for it." She smirked, and he bolted.

Rick sighed. Ever since that conversation he couldn't help but have her in his mind, constantly telling him what he already knew himself. He knew there was going to be a showdown, and the demons would be after what he had. However, he very well couldn't just hand it over to the people that they were with…these Japanese Detectives! He had no idea in telling if they were actually true to their mission or not. For all he knew, they could be spies for the Dark Lord or some other demon entity after power. Then, how was Intelligence so easily fooled as to ask his family to help them, unless the Intelligence was corrupt. He sighed again.

There was no way in knowing and he would have to wait for a sign. As for now, he had to make sure his treasure was safe. Therefore, he clambered out his window and jumped into the tree next to it. Reaching in, he pulled out a small silver square with writing carved into it and a golden piece sticking out of it.

"I won't let them have you unless they prove themselves." He told the puzzle piece. "Not at all, not at all."

Catse: So what did you think? Kind of gets the plot going right? Did any of you suspect. Please review and tell me what you think! It makes me feel loved! Ja Ne for now!