Notes:- I'll explain how they can understand each other even though they're all from different places, later. Also how Kaido's going to survive in school if he spends his nights gallivanting here. And how this is possible? All in the story, in the next chapter though.


Chapter 1- A Whole New Dimension

Where it can be hottest summer or icy cold
Dreams and Nightmares exist no more
And all can truly feel what they pretend to
There will be Eden,
That lost Heaven of yore

It looked like a cartoonized version of those American movies his younger brother could never get enough of. And right in front of him was a…a…Kaido finally decided just to ask. Now came the problem of what to ask, 'Who are you?' would be fine except that he…she..it didn't look like anyone he had ever seen, 'What are you?' on the other hand would be a bit too rude.

Thankfully the other…person decided to come to his rescue, "I'll give you a pic, it'll last longer," the voice was extremely female, a light contralto with a slight slur that sounded like the effect of cigarettes.

"I don't keep photographs," he muttered, too unnerved to even bristle up as he normally would have.

He was amazed when the woman- he thought it was a woman but it didn't look much like one though it's voice was convincing- gaped at him and burst into laughter.

"A newbie, then?"

"A what? I can't understand," Kaido stuttered slightly, unnerved by this strange person

"You're new here, right?" she sounded slightly impatient now.

When Kaido quickly nodded she asked him, "Why aren't you in the I.C.?"

"Icy?" he repeated puzzled, "But it isn't cold here,"

"Where are you from?" she demanded with a frown

"Ni…" Kaido started answering automatically then he caught himself, "Japan"

Her face cleared and she nearly beamed, "So that's why you have that strange accent! No worries, I'll get rid of it in no time, and its not icy it's I and C, the Information Center. "

Kaido blinked at her cautiously, he was starting to think that coming here had been a very bad idea. He opened his mouth to ask politely how he could get back, extremely politely, in fact. But she held out a hand, Kaido stared at it as if he had never seen a hand before.

"Go on, take it," she said nodding at her hand

Kaido did so and she hauled him up, "There must be a wrong connection somewhere, lemme guess, you used a laptop?"

Kaido nodded. She continued, "Yeah, that sort of thing happens a lot with laptops, c'mon, I'll take you to the IC and we can get you fixed up and log into one of the bars, you look like you could use a drink,"

"I'm not old enough to drink," Kaido replied before his brain registered that he had made himself almost three years older than he actually was and he should be legal. The woman looked at him puzzled, then with an enlightened light in her eyes, she said, "Gave the wrong age?"

Kaido nodded for the third time and wondered whether she was psychic, "Don't worry about it," she cut into his musings, "loads of people do, there's no fun in being underage,"

"What's your name?" Kaido asked after they had been walking for a few minutes

"Hmmm, who me? My name's Lucy but don't tell anyone, you can call me Laura,"

"Uh…alright," Kaido didn't know why exactly someone would want to be called by something other than their own name but he felt oddly flattered by the confidence. He debated whether or not to tell her his own name, his parents had taught him to be polite but they had never taught him what to do when he was sucked into a laptop and landed with someone who didn't like her own name.

"What's your name?" he heard

He blinked up at the tall woman, "Huh?"
"What- Is- Your- Name?" she asked again loudly and spacing the words as if she were talking to an idiot child

And for all the response Kaido gave, he might well have been one. Just when she was going to ask again he spoke, "Kaido Kaoru,"

"Well, Kaido Kaoru, let me introduce you to the Information Center of Shadows Inc." she threw her right arm in the general direction of a large steel building. It looked like almost any company headquarters, except…

"There are no guards," Kaido said in surprise

"Of course not," the woman…no, Laura said shrugging, "There's nothing to steal, and anyway it's not like there's any concept of money inside this place."

Kaido nodded, it made sense. He followed Laura to glass doors which slid open automatically.

It had been exhausting. Kaido for once slumped down in his chair in the café instead of sitting ramrod-straight, he would have yawned except that he was too tired. But at least now he knew why that idiot Momo, whined so whenever his newest girlfriend asked him to go shopping with them.

He opened one eye when he heard footsteps and then stirred himself to look presentable when he saw Laura moving towards their table with his burger and her…it was a pastry, he surmised but couldn't guess any further.

"Tired out, are ya?" said Laura, smiling wickedly, "And here I thought we could go shop for some shoes after this."

Kaido eyes widened in horror and she burst out laughing, "Sorry, sorry. I didn't think you'd take it that bad! But seriously, you want to do something after this?" she gestured to the plates.

Kaido shrugged in a non-committal manner "I need to ask you some questions,"

"Shoot," she replied in a muffled voice, already eating

Kaido bit into his burger and chewed slowly, musing on what to ask. The last few hours had been a whirlwind of new things, he finally decided on "Why do you come here?"

"That's kinda personal, you know," Laura answered, slowing down from her eating to grimace at him

"I'm sorry," he shrugged again, apologetically.

"No, it's okay, I suppose you wouldn't know not to ask, but be careful. Some of these people they turn real nasty when you ask them" she looked at him seriously,"Some people take this place as rehab from stuff like drugs, even. Me, I'm just here 'cuz my dad died a year back and I suppose I'm sorta lonely since I've just gotten a job and am living a long way away from home.
"Also, I'm worried about me mum, she's really upset but even if I know she's strong an' all and she'll get through OK," it was her turn to shrug, "I lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone else, and now I'm all by meself. It can get really scary."

She laughed suddenly, breaking the tensed atmosphere, "Or it could be that I'm getting sentimental in my old age. No worries, I'm not going to start crying, really I just come here to relax. Much easier than going to a club in rush hour. And where I live it's perma rush hour."

"Perma?" Kaido repeated blankly

"Permanent, man," she replied impatiently, "You really are a newbie! Let's get you introduced to the latest scene,"

She nodded at the door and told him to finish eating quickly.

He shook his head, "I have school tomorrow, I need some sleep," though it was bitter saying it, he wanted to explore this new world some more but his parents had brought him up to be dutiful so…

She smiled at him, "No worries, all the time that you're in here your body's actually sleeping so you'll get rest. Not absolutely 'nuff but you won't be yawning tomorrow either. So choose some room, I suppose you like sports?"

At his nod she went on, "Well there's the football room, and the basketball though the guys there are all jerks. None of my pals go there anymore because of them. There's also the Gen room (General y'know) but only the outcasts go there,"

"Is there a tennis room?" he interrupted

"I suppose there must be," she scowled at being interrupted, "That where you wanna go?" she added

Kaido nodded and she jerked her thumb in a northern direction, "Let's go then, or all the good seats will be taken,"

Some time later they were in what looked like a bar with an indoor tennis court attached and a medium sized table tennis place in a lighted corner. Kaido sat down cautiously at one corner of a couch and looked around at the three or four other people in the room. Laura had gone off to find some friends and bring them back and "We'll have ourselves a partee!" in her words

That was when a husky male voice near his ear asked him, "What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?"


I've been saving up writing this chapter for MONTHS. At last I sat down today and finished it in the happiness of finally being able to login to my ff account again.

Anyone noticed that Laura has a catch-phrase? And please do not tell me that she is a Mary-Sue, she's not. She has her faults and peculiarities but she's also a nice and extrovert person. As I've tried to make obvious! Don't worry folks, this will still be a Momo and Kaido story.

Here's a small preview of next chapter:-

"So he asked for your number?" Laura nearly squealed, he was one of the hottest players around and he had asked for her friend's number

"Yes, he did," Kaido shrugged, he didn't see the big deal in the fact.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Did you give it?" Laura asked impatiently