p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Reiji sat in the back seat as Mio and Karin sat in the front. Reaching for his cell, he sighed. This was one phone call he really didn't want to make. Slowly, he dialed the number./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Are you calling back to apologize?" Eren says as she picks up the phone, confirmation for him that she was safe./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""What do I have to apologize for?" he says in response, and she chuckles./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""How's Mio?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Safe, for the moment." He replies, "Look, there's something I want to tell you, and it isn't going to be easy. I've got a plan, but I need you to trust me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"A moment of silence before she answered, "I trust you. What's the plan?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Sighing, he prayed silently that she wouldn't over react, "I'm going to rejoin Inferno."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"To his shock, she calmly asks, "Explain."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"So he did. As Karin drove randomly through the city, he told her every detail of the plan he'd thought up over the previous two months. Every reason for the decision, and how he planned to achieve every objective. He left nothing out. When he'd finished, there was again silence./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Finally, she sighs, "I agree. You do your part, and I'll do mine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You do realize that there's a pretty good chance one or both of us won't survive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""It's been that way from the start, Zwei." She says before hanging up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Zwei. The use of that name confirms for him that she approves. All that's left is Haiton Godoh./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Sir." Shiiga bows as he enters the room with the leader of the Godoh Group, "How may I be of assistance?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Sit, Shiiga." Haiton says as he pours two cups of sake, "All will be made clear when our guests arrive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Taking one of the cups, he sits and waits./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""This the place?" Reiji asks as Karin stops outside of an unassuming townhouse./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""It is. Just stick to the plan." She answers calmly, removing the three guns and distributing them, "Mio and I will go in. you know what to do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Got it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Karin walks slowly to the door and knocks twice. It's immediately opened by two armed guards, who motion them inside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I'm sorry ma'am, but even you aren't allowed to bring any weapons to see the boss." One of the guards says as he extends his hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Chuckling, she turns to her daughter, "you want to answer that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""No." Mio says firmly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You heard the lady." Karin smirks, "Now can we stop with the covert tests of whether Mio is serious about this?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Laughing, the guard lowers his hand, "As you wish. the boss will see you now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Following behind, Mio grins at how prepared her mother was. All that was left was Reiji's big entrance./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"The silence in the room breaks with a knock on the door. "Sir, they're here." A voice says from the other side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Show them in." Haiton smiles as he pours four new cups of sake./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Shiiga turns his head in interest as the door opens, but he never dreamed she'd be here./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Mio?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Hello Mr. Shiiga." She smiles, sitting next to her mother and across from her father, "And a pleasure to finally meet you, Father."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""And you as well." Haiton truly smiles for the first time that Shiiga can remember./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I'm truly grateful for everything you've done to protect me." She starts, glancing at both of them, "Both of you. But I can't keep living a lie, pretending that the Godoh Family has nothing to do with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Neither man could believe that this was the same little girl they'd watch growing up. The watched silently as she continued, "I've made my decision. I want to join."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""And what has influence this decision?" Haiton asks after a moment of consideration./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""It's something I've been thinking about since that incident with Cal." She says truthfully, staring into her father's eyes, "But I've always put it off because I didn't want to accept the truth. Recent events have made me rethink that. No matter what, I'll always be in danger, and so will everyone else around me. Given that I've nearly been killed over a dozen times in the last two months, it's made it even more obvious that I wouldn't be safe living a normal life./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"If that's true, then I'll live with everyone that I love on this side. With you and Mom, with Mr. Shiiga, and the way Uncle Daisuke always lived. And with Reiji…" She says, surprisingly without tears like she had the first time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Overcoming his surprise that she had been attacked, he redresses the matter at hand, "Could you do it? We are not a peaceful people. If you get involved, you will have blood on your hands. Could you kill?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Staring right back into his eyes, "I already have." Both men gasp at this, and she continues uninterrupted, "I think I've killed fourteen people in the last two months."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""And your thoughts, Karin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You know my thoughts. I wanted to inform her after she became an adult simply because it's her decision to make. Moreover, all of her reasons are correct. If it's what she truly wants, I'll teach her everything I know."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"'And who will protect her until then?" Shiiga asks, glaring at them both, "Right now, only those of us in this room and a select few others know about Mio, and one of those others has already tried to kill her. What you are suggesting would bring another thousand enemies when we still need to discover the traitor amongst us. So tell me, Mrs. Karin, who will protect her until the country acknowledges her as a member of the Godoh family?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""That would be me, I guess." A voice says behind him, followed by a cocked gun, "Shiiga, you really should've told me that scythe had his eye on Mio. Preferably without beating around the bush."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Phantom." He growls, "Daisuke and Macuro weren't enough for you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Don't give me that shit." Reiji snaps, "You killed Daisuke. I'll admit I tried, but he'd have survived if you had put one between his eyes. And as for Macuro, I'll admit I was there. Claudia was using you as bait, trying to drag out Wisemel's assassin. Unfortunately, I lost track of him at the bar and by the time I got to his room, I'd missed my chance. And you already know that I saved you from Webber."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Shiiga's expression darkens as Mio's turns to shock. Haiton chuckles at this exchange, "So are you here to kill me, or simply to tell me something I already knew?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Neither." He answers, lowering the gun, "If I'd wanted to kill you, no one in this house would have survived. I'm here because as Shiiga said, Mio's going to need a body guard. I can help with that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Oh?" Haiton smiles, "So yesterday's enemies are today's friend? I'm supposed to entrust my beloved daughter to a man that I've never even met, and who my most trusted advisor tells me is dangerous?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""No, you should entrust your daughter to someone who cares about her, and is more than capable of protecting her from almost anyone on the planet." Reiji shoots back, "If you doubt my power, go ahead and test me. Or ask your most trusted advisor what I'm capable of, since he should know better than anyone what I can do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Shiiga?" he asks calmly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""There is no denying his skills." Shiiga says venomously, "He's more skilled than any person in the Godoh group. But I still don't trust him. His boss got Daisuke killed."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"'And she then proceeded to try and throw me to the dogs in order to save her own ass." Reiji glares, "If Lizze hadn't finished her, I would have. If you need proof of my loyalty, remind me again who it was that fought Cal to save Mio?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""But you didn't kill her." Shiiga hisses, "You didn't kill her or that master of hers and now Mio's in danger all over again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Mio is nothing but bait to him." Reiji brushes off the comment, "He wants me dead because I pose a threat to his puppet. If I were to join a group friendly with Inferno, any risk vanishes and Mio is safe from friendly fire. Unfriendly fire gets killed long before it reaches her, and everyone walks way happy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""And what about your Wife?" Shiiga says, barely managing to keep the sneer off his face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Scythe doesn't consider her nearly as much of a threat as I am. If I join Inferno and she disappears, she ceases to be an issue." Reiji replies, "With this one move, I can protect the four people I care about more than anything else. Sounds like a no brainer to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Four people?" Haiton smiles, "Mio and this wife, but who else?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""My kids. From what I can figure, scythe is about to grab them for inferno. I'll be dead before I let that happen."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You don't want your family to follow in your footsteps?" he asks knowingly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I don't want them being forced to. If they choose to do so, then that's fine. That's the reason we left them in England. If they remained with us, they'd only ever be the children of killers. Now, I hope the find a much more suitable path." He shrugs happily./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"With that, the Godoh leader laughed, "A man after my own heart. I entrust Mio to you, Phantom."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Sir-!" Shiiga starts, before he gets cut off./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""It is decided, Shiiga." Godoh says calmly, but with a definite note of finality, "Inform the general council."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Bowing, Shiiga nods, "As you wish, sir." And leaves the room without a word./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Harry rushes into the castle, engulfing Daphne in a hug, "Are you alright?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I'm fine." She smiles, returning the hug, "I just wish I could have finished it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Well, one thing is certain." Susan chuckles, "he learned what every man in Hogwarts is well aware of by now. Stay away from Daphne Greengrass."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""But while most of them do so because they fear me, it is clear that she is more than capable of handling herself." Harry grinned, than grow serious, "So what happened?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I was coming back from lunch, and when I opened the door to the common room, I felt something small running across my foot. When I turned, I saw a rat running up the stairs. Since I've never seen a rat in Hogwarts before, I figured it was most likely him. I called him out when I got to the entrance hall. Before he could curse me, I shoot him a couple of times." She smiled, "I'm glad all that training with Eren was worth it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""And people say that I'm violent." Harry chuckles until Daphne punches him in the arm, "Ow. What was that for?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Torture anyone recently?" she smirks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""A few, but they deserved it." He insists, and the three friends start laughing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Miss Greengrass." Snape interrupts quietly, "You mentioned that he was in the common room?" she nodded, and he turned, "I shall investigate. He could have done something."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"As they chat for a few moments, Professor McGonagall bustles into the hall, "Mr. Potter, Miss Bones, and Miss Greengrass. I felt I should let you know that since Peter Pettigrew has been spotted in the area; all students will be sleeping in the Great Hall tonight. Have you seen Professor Snape?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Since Pettigrew was in the Slytherin Common room, Professor Snape went to make sure that nothing was out of the ordinary." Susan answers, "Are we allowed to go out for a fly before dinner, or are the grounds locked down until Pettigrew is found?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Given the amount of blood loss I see here, I seriously doubt that will be needed." She answers pleasantly, "I will, however, request that Professor Snape accompany you, for safety's sake."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"The dungeon door flies open, "Potter, you and your dorm mates will not be sleeping in the dormitories any time soon." Snape says as he turns to the headmistress, "Pettigrew seems to have trapped Potters bed with a time-lapse curse. I, for one, didn't know he had it in him."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""To kill?" Susan asks, and Snape snorts./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""No. the talent to use such a thing."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""When Giuseppe returns from the search, get together with him to see if you can't break it." McGonagall instructs, "I shall sure up the castles defenses. He will not penetrate this school a second time."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Professor, would you accompany us to the Quidditch pitch?" Susan asks, batting her eyelashes, "Professor McGonagall said that we needed a chaperone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Very well." He scoffs, then turns to a first year boy, "Robson, inform Professor Giuseppe that I would like to speak to him at his earliest convenience, and will await him at the Quidditch pitch."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"The scared boy nodded furiously as the four head to the dungeons to get their brooms before heading off to the pitch./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"The aftermath of Pettigrew's appearance was obvious during the next few weeks. Dueling club meeting attendance was at an all-time high. So many students wanted to join that they were forced to split the club by grade. First through fourth and fifth through seventh. Harry's little group continued to improve, despite Weasley's insistence that after all the training he's put in, he could beat them all effortlessly. Oddly, he never mentions this when Harry is nearby./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Idiot." Harry smirked when Will brought this to his attention, "at this point, you and your sister could both crush him. Leave him alone, but never back down. In a fight, he's got no chance."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Nodding, he grinned, "I really hope he tries something against Micaiah again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Why?" Neville asked as he revived the fourth year he had been dueling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Because she's started showing a lot more of the personality she had back when we were living on the streets." He chuckled, "If he tries anything again, I doubt we'll have time to save him."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I wouldn't even bother trying." Harry says coldly, "Though I would want some popcorn."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""So what was she like before?" Susan asks, ducking under one of Daphne's stunners, which sadly, hit Dean Thomas in the back while he was dueling Pansy Parkinson./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You saw what I was like on the train the first time we met?" he asks, successfully casting a bludgeoning hex, "She was about ten times worse. When someone tried to talk to us, her first instinct was bash their skull in, then find out what they want."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Ouch." Neville winces, and the momentary lapse in concentration gets him hit by a body bind curse, falling forward./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Yeah, she mellowed out a bit after Garrick took us in, though. By the start of school, she was practically a different person." He shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"The group looked over towards the other side of the room just in time to see Colin Creevey blasted to the wall by a well-aimed knockback jinx launched by Micaiah./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Why didn't you?" Susan asks as she revives Neville./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I'm the big brother." He answers, standing across from Daphne, both wands raised, "It's my job to be threatening."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Both sides start casting as soon as Harry says three, neither giving an inch until Daphne's experience kicked in. dodging the spells by the skin of her teeth, she would immediately counter with her own, each spell blocking off some way of retreat. After almost three minutes, she connects with a stunner, and he drops to the floor. Harry strides over to him and revives him, helping him back to his feet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Naturally, they couldn't get a moments peace./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Can't even beat a girl?" Weasley says mockingly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""That girl beat you, so shut it." Susan giggled as his face turned Weasley red./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""She got lucky!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You've been using that excuse for the last three years." Harry mentions with a grin, "Can't you think up some new material or did you leave that up to Crabbe and Goyle? They might actually do a better job."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You wouldn't beat me without those spells." He says confidently, "Didn't Giuseppe say you couldn't use them anymore?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""No, I can't." he admits, drawing his wand, "But the only reason I used them in the first place was to make a point. If you want to fight, then draw your wand. Otherwise, go someplace you're wanted. Maybe mommy can read you a bedtime story and make sure your nightlights on."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"The group roared with laughter as Ron turned scarlet and looked within an inch of trying to curse him when Malfoy leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Weasley looked angry for a moment, but grinned and walked away without a word./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Why don't I think that was a good thing?" Susan said nervously, still staring at the back of Weasley's retreating head./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Because it wasn't." Harry sighs, "No matter. We can't do anything until they try something."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Same as every year. Why don't they just get a life?' Daphne says as she and Susan face off./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"None of them could answer as the dueling club continued./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Mr. McGuire." Shiiga said as he walked into the room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Mr. Shiiga. How are our friends in the east?" he says, handing him a glass of wine./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Sitting across from the desk and accepting the glass, he sighed, "Well during a meeting with the boss, the Godoh group gained three new members."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Surely you didn't contact me for that?" McGuire says calmly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""These members include one that you've heard of, and another that you are quite familiar with."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""You've got my attention. Stop beating around the bush."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Mio Fujieda has official made her presence known in the Godoh Group." He says, and after another moment of worrying, he continued, "At her side, former number one of inferno, Reiji Asuma."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"His eyes widen as he nearly drops his wine, "You're joking,"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Afraid not. Mio and her mother requested the meeting with the boss, and he decided to tag along as her bodyguard." He sighs, "After a brief conversation, he was accepted as Mio's bodyguard."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Well, that is interesting." McGuire says with a slight smile, "The Godoh's are affiliated with Inferno, and Zwei would know that. Is this an futile attempt to save himself, or a trap? What are your thoughts, Mr. Shiiga?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""I don't trust him." He answers without hesitation, "I haven't, even while he worked for Claudia."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Though, I believe that was more her, then him?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Perhaps, but I still refuse to believe that he had nothing to do with Macuro's death." He says sadly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""And has Mr. Asuma explained his actions?" McGuire asks, his full attention on the man sitting in front of him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""According to him, Claudia was using us as bait. He followed us to the casino, and after Macuro left, he followed several minutes later, and found the body."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Not impossible." McGuire admits, "It certainly sounds like something Claudia would do far more than ordering the deaths of you and your compatriots. She never did anything unless she stood to gain something from it. Your lives had value to her, hence she would see the need to protect you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""So, you believe him?" Shiiga asks, torn between disbelief and anger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Not yet, no. you wouldn't by chance have his phone number, would you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"Silently, he removed his cell, and pressing number four on the speed dial, handed it to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"After a few rings, the phone picked up, "Hello?" a female voice says from the other end./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Hello. You must be Miss Fujieda, correct?" he says politely, "I was wondering if I might talk to Reiji for just a moment."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Let me check." She answers, and a moment later, a familiar voice says, "News travels fast."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Indeed, phantom." McGuire chuckles, "I must say, you've surprised me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""What else is new?" he asks sarcastically, "I'm guessing that Shiiga just told you, and now you aren't sure if you can trust me or not?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""As quick as ever. What say we meet to discuss Claudia's actions?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""No offense, but you haven't exactly been the most welcoming host to me recently. By the way, sorry for the bloodbath outside L.A." Reiji answers, "However, Mio has expressed an interest in joining Inferno. As her body guard, I would be with her. I have no problem talking if I know you won't shoot me in the back."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""Splendid. Perhaps two weeks from today?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;""We'll be there." He says, hanging up./p