THIS IS CHAPTER 3! DID YOU REWAD CHAPTER TWO? For some reason skips chapter two, and sends you here. Please go back and read it.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction produced for entertainment purposes only. I do not own Juvenile Orion; if I did I would be so rich.

Gumi – this on the end on the Japanese means group/gang. It is used in gangs, and by the Japanese mob. (Not exclusively by them, you can look it up. Just think of it like this when you read it)

I think this will show up fine on FF. net, but I'll explain just in case. Links speak between Haruna and anyone else (mostly Itsuki) is shown link 'this'.

------oOo------

Horizons

Chapter 3: A New Case
------oOo------

Tsukasa stared at Mana.

"What?"

Mana sighed, and sat down at the cafeteria table beside him, "Please don't make this hard," She looked at him intently, but with nothing but kindness in her eyes, "You've been in 'extreme emotional distress' since I woke up this morning. You know, I'm not trying to pry, but if there is anything at all I can do to make you feel better, please let me."

Tsukasa managed to smile weakly at her, "You have gotten much better at using your powers."

"Thank you. I've been working hard to get stronger." Mana smiled sweetly in return.

"Amou-chan! Amou-chan!"

Tsukasa turned to see two freshman girls headed in their direction at an alarming speed. He didn't know their names, but for some reason they kept trying to get close to him. Itsuki had referred to them as "a bit like mosquitoes, always buzzing around for your blood". At the time he had disagreed, Itsuki was just upset they had brushed him off. But now, watching the giggling pair approach, he was beginning to understand...

"I'll try to lead them off for a bit, okay Tsukasa?" Mana gave him a quick wink, and charged off.

"Brave girl," Tsuaksa turned back to see Haruna sitting down across the table from him, "Never doubt she cares about you. That's quite a bullet to take, if I do say so myself." Mana was now standing at the end of a table full of freshmen, chatting animatedly with them. The two girls were seated at the same table, glaring moodily at her.

"Yes, I know." Tsukasa smiled.

"They seem to have some sort of bet going," Tsukasa's head shot around to Haruna who was staring vacantly at one of the girls, "They want to see who can get a date with you first...and oh my..." Haruna scrunched up her face like she had just eaten something very sour, "That red-haired one has a very foul mouth. Bet she wouldn't let mother hear her talk like that."

"Are you reading her mind?" Tsukasa asked, shocked.

Haruna blinked a few times, and her eyes retuned to normal. "Of course I read her mind. The animosity coming of her is almost tangible. If master is in danger we need to know about it."

"Oh," Tsukasa glanced back at the red-headed girl, who was still glaring at Mana, "It's okay then, I guess..." He mumbled uncertainly.

"I thought you'd agree." Haruna nodded, and poked a wilted lettuce leaf, "Yummy."

"Um, where is Itsuki-kun?"

"Oh, I don't know. He probably didn't wake up when class ended." Haruna waved her fork between her fingers, "What do you need him for?"

"I just have to ask him something..." Tsukasa eyes were locked on his small lunch box. Haruna eyed him carefully. Nervous posture? Yes. Embarrassed? Yes, and cutely so. Avoiding eye contact totally? Yes.

"It's not about a girls, is it?"

"Huh?" Tsukasa's head shot up, "No! Nothing like that!"

"Oh, good. Then I'll tell him you're looking for him, if I see him before you. Don't ever ask my brother for love advice. It's a very bad idea. Just ask Isshin-senpai."

"Ummm...Okay."

"What do you need to ask him, anyway?"

"Ah," Tsuaksa took a big bite of his sandwich before answering, "It nothing important."

------oOo------

Elsewhere…

He was only going to rest his eyes, only for a minute, so he should be glad that Itsuki woke him. It would have been very embarrassing if his next class, or another teacher had come in to find him asleep on his desk. It was just that a grinning dirty blond was not what he expected to wake up to.

"I think you like hitting me, Sensei." Itsuki grumbled, rubbing his red cheek.

"It was an accident, and I apologized." Tomonori stated calmly. He busied himself with his next class' tests.

"I should go get Tsuaksa to heal me. This really hurts!"

Tomonori found himself slightly tempted to give Itsuki something that really did hurt, but thought it wouldn't be a very unprofessional act. "What was it that you wanted, Itsuki-san?"

Tomonori watched as Itsuki's face turned to a more serious expression. It was one that he rarely saw from the teenager, but had come to associate it with bad things. "I'm not sure I should be asking you this here, but I need to know. Have you heard about any unusual attacks around the city?"

Tomonori was silent for a moment, before he carefully asked, "What sort of attacks?"

"Looks like a Darklore, but the marks on the bodies don't match any Darklore we know. It's almost like bears attacked some of the people. Whatever attacked them wasn't hurt in return. It looks like they never even had a chance to fight back." Itsuki's eye weren't looking at Tomonori, but gazing blankly out the window.

All the stories of other brutally attacks of other Wiz-dom members came rushing back to Tomonori. It was not surprising that it had happened in other factions too. "It was a Chimera." Itsuki's eyes shot back to the teacher, but before he could irrupt Tomonori continued, "Early this morning it was killed downtown. It seemed to have returned to the place is was created."

"I didn't think there was such a thing as a Chimera." Itsuki's face lost some of its seriousness, to be replaced with mild interest.

"Human alchemy is forbidden even among alchemist. It has been over three hundred years since the last known attempt."

"Ah, and was this in a unfinished apartment complex?"

"Yes."

Itsuki grinned, his eyes squinting into happy lines, "And was the devil hunter that killed it you?"

"Yes."

"You killed a unheard of, mythic monster, and you don't even take the day off." Itsuki shook his head still grinning, "I'll never understand you."

"Exams are coming. I can't afford to be out." Tomonori said, not seeing anything odd about the situation.

"Tell me if the investigation turns up anything really interesting, if you can." Itsuki slid off the desk he had been sitting on, and headed for the door. "That thing killed six E.G.O. members in less than a week."

"No one is investigating." It was Tomonori's turn to look out the window, as Itsuki froze mid-way to the door.

"Why is that exactly?"

"They said there wasn't enough to start a investigation with."

"Oh," Itsuki took the time to think over what he said next very carefully. There was a silent agreement between those Mana had mind broken. 'One does not question another faction without very good reason.' Rumors had been spreading throughout E.G.O. since the Eraser's retreat almost a year ago, stories about the higher-ups in Wiz-dom acting strangely. "Do you agree with them?"

"There wasn't much left at that site. That is true, but you said it yourself, this was not an isolated incident."

"Then maybe this is something the Mana-gumi can look into!"

"The what?"

"Mana-gumi. I'll call Isshin tonight. Get together what E.G.O. has now. Later, Sensei." Itsuki stepped out the door with a wink.

Tomonori rubbed his forehead, fighting his growing twitch. "Mana-gumi…" He mumbled.

"Oh one more thing, Sensei," Tomonori looked up to see Itsuki's head sticking into the room, "The next time some poor soul fall asleep in your class, maybe you should be nicer."

------oOo------

"What do you mean I can't walk home with you?" Itsuki almost shouted.

"Tsukasa wanted to talk to you." Haruna replied, calmly making her way to the doors.

"He's had all day, and I'm sure he can use the phone."

"I think I might be important. You should wait."

"Why?" Itsuki crossed his arms, and pouted. Though Haruna had the sense to not say he was pouting.

"Haruna-san, are you ready to go?"

Itsuki turned around to find a towing figure of a student behind him. He had black hair that hung into small, dark eyes. Itsuki recognized him from the school's basketball team. He was often seen walking down the hall with girls on all sides of him. Kaname had once told him, the record of the most love letters stuffed into one locker was held by the man before him.

"Yes, Kazu-kun." Haruna smiled sweetly at him.

"To go?" Itsuki questioned, not at all liking what was going on.

"Yes, brother," Haruna said, directing her gaze back to her bother. Her sweet smile stayed pasted on, but her eye glared daggers, "He is going to walk me home." 'And don't you dare say anything to him.' Haruna said over their link.

'I don't like him.'

'You don't even know him!'

'His hair is too long!'

'It's not longer than yours, bother dear.' Haruna smiled at Kazu, and causally stepped around Itsuki. She hooked her arm in his (much to his surprise it seemed), and walked off.

'His eyes are too squinty!'

In his defeat, Itsuki wondered around in the school's courtyard in his search of Tsukasa. He had first checked Tomonori's office (where Tsukasa was often found). Tomonori had been alone, and told him he hadn't seen Tsukasa since the last bell. He then proceeded to lecture him on his falling grades. He had also been informed that he would be attending extra lessons on Sundays for the next month.

Itsuki kicked a small rock that had the great misfortune of getting in his way.

He sat down on the front steps of the school. If he couldn't find Tsukasa, Tsukasa would just have to find him. He reached in to his school bag. After pulling out a few lose paper, and stuffing them into random folders, he pulled out a purple covered book, "'Ghost Gadgets: A Paranormal Hunter's Toy Book' Perfect." With a smile he began to read.

It wasn't long before Itsuki was drawn out of his book by the voices coming around the building's corner.

"That's very nice, Nezuma-san. It's just that--"

"Oh, your so polite Amou-kun. Please call me Ayako." said the blond girl who was clinging to Tsukasa's stiff arm like a limpet.

"Ayako-san, I really have to--"

"Oh, I love that way you say me name!" Ayako squeaked.

Itsuki recognized the blond girl as one of the freshmen that had been following Tsukasa around recently. Tsukasa had always gotten many girls attention, he just fail to understand it. These two new ones had been rather pushy though. This one stood out from the rest though. It wasn't because of her breathless, simpering, and ear-splittingly high-pitched giggle either. (Which she was now letting loose on an increasingly panicked Tsukasa.) It was the stuff she no doubt called "perfume". It was sickly sweet, and strong enough to make a heard of skunks complain. Itsuki couldn't help imagining what Tomonori's reaction would be, when Tsukasa came home smelling like he had been in a flower shop explosion.

Still, Tsukasa was his friend; he probably ought to save him now.

"Yo, Tsukasa. I've been looking for you." Itsuki stood from him step. He watched Tsukasa eyes grow wide, as a smile spread across his angelic face. For moment, he thought Tsukasa might run over and hug him.

"Itsuki-kun!" Tsukasa waved to him, still smiling. Somehow, he managed to free his arm from the death grip is was in, and quickly made his up the steps to stand beside Itsuki, "I've been looking for you too."

Ayako stood at the foot of the steps, pouting for a moment. Itsuki thought, if he looked hard enough, he could see the gears turning in her little blond head. Unfortunately for Tsukasa though, while Itsuki saw it coming, he wasn't fast enough to warn him.

"See you Amou-kun." Ayako had ran up the steps, giving Tsukasa a hug, and run off before either of them were sure of what happened.

"I-I just helped her-her pick up her b-books." Tsukasa stammered out, blushing.

"Do you like her?" Itsuki asked, a rather evil grin appearing on his face.

"No!" Tsukasa's denial was quick, and Itsuki laughed.

"Are you sure? You're around her an awful lot."

"I really don't. I just…" Tsukasa sighed, "I don't know how to get her to leave me alone. I've tried everything. She just pouts, and says that I shouldn't tease her that way. Then acts like nothing happened." Tsukasa sunk to the steps in defeat.

Itsuki sat down beside him, "How about pushing her away, telling her to leave you alone, and then walking away?" Even as he said it, Itsuki had his doubts it would. This girl was weird…

Tsukasa looked horrified, "I couldn't do that! I would be rude!"

Itsuki opened his mouth to say something more, but deiced telling Tsukasa it would be all right, was a lost cause. "What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

"Oh, right," Tsukasa sat up a little straighter, clutching his hands into fist. It looked like he was bracing himself for something.

That can't be good… Itsuki thought to himself, beginning to get a little nervous.

"I need a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"I sort of need some money…"

"You aren't in some kind of trouble are you?" Itsuki asked concerned. Tsukasa asking for money? This was an odd day. "I mean I'll help you out, if I can-"

"No! I mean, I need to make some. I want to get a job."

Itsuki could feel Tomonori wrath bearing down on him then. If Tuskasa was asking him for help, he must not want Tomonori to know. Meaning that if something happened, if Tomonori even found out Tsukasa was keeping a secret from him, Itsuki would be blamed.

Crap. "Tsukasa, you don't want to get a job now. There's exams, and the holidays."

"But that's why I need the money," Tsukasa cheeks had turned pink, and Itsuki didn't think it was from the cold, "I wanted to get Tomonori-san something nice for Christmas. And I don't have anywhere near enough."

"How much do you need? I can make a loan."

"I want to earn it myself."

And I want to live. Doom was clouding Itsuki mind. Tomonori could--no would--do so many awful things to him, if he found out.

"But if you don't want to, or you can't, it's okay," Tsukasa's eyes looked a little too shiny, for Itsuki's liking. His voice was meek, and quite now. He had even started fidgeting with his coat buttons. "I just wanted to get Tomonori-san something nice this year. He never really buys anything nice for himself. He has needed a new watch for weeks, but he hasn't bought one. I just wanted to get something nice…"

Itsuki shook his head. He tried to keep in mind all the horrible, nasty, awful things Tomonori would do to him if he found out.

None of that seem to help.

It just wasn't fair. From the moment Tsukasa's eyes started to look glassy, he knew he was going to say yes. Maybe it was some super Eraser power, he thought. In any case, he might as well get it over with.

"I don't know what I can find, but I'll try to get you something, okay?" Itsuki sighed.

"Oh! Thank you, Itsuki-kun!" Tsukasa's grin was bright enough to light several football fields, as he almost skipped into the school.

It really wasn't fair.

------oOo------

NEXT CHAPTER: Tusaksa gets a job. Itsuki pays a visit.

In my defense, the last chapter was technical 34 pages long because I re-wrote it so many times. I don't have that excuse this time. Real life and laziness took over my brain. Hopeful with the next three weeks off from school I will get a lot written.

There really isn't any place to find info on JO characters. It is hard to even find anything on the major ones. I should make a web page for it…

Show me some love (or hate, if you think that's warranted), I'll even accept indifference. Anything?