Disclaimer: I don't own FY, and all characters belong to Yu Watase.

Chapter Two: The Perfect Crime

"You're going WHERE?"

Keisuke Yuuki, brother of the Priestess of Suzaku and Conjuror of the Sacred Instant Noodles flailed at his sister wildly.

"To China." Miaka repeated matter-of-factly, making no sign that she had seen the incredulous, furious expression on her brother's now beet red face.

"China..." Keisuke repeated numbly, his eyes unfocused. Yui, who had promised not to try and stop her, stepped up from behind Miaka and leveled a stern look at her friend's brother.

"If you don't tell her no, I will."

Miaka flew around, shooting a betrayed look at Yui.

"You promised!" she accused, pointing at Yui and trying to keep from dissolving into tears again. No, she would not give in to tears. She had made her mind up. No one was stopping her!

"Miaka, its insane," Keisuke pleaded, trying to approach the situation more rationally. "Even if you did go to China, what would you do then? Break into the guy's house and steal it!"

"Of course not!" Miaka replied incredulously.

"I wouldn't be breaking into his house, I'd be breaking into the National Museum of China!"

At this Keisuke nearly choked on his own stutterings, his frustration levels soaring off the charts. He had tried to understand his sister's depression and introversion for months, but this was the final straw. Something had to be done!

"Tetsuya...!" Keisuke and Yui snapped almost simultaneously, looking for back up. Tetsuya, who had tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible for the past three days sat bolt upright in his chair and nearly spilt his unfinished 7-Up.

"Uum.." he fumbled under the heated glares of all three.

"Well, seeing as the National Museum of China is one of the most fortified buildings in Hong Kong, I don't think there's really an issue here--"

"There is an issue! An issue of loyalty, and responsibility!" Miaka interrupted, her body bristling. "I promised to keep the Universe of the Four Gods safe, and if I have to hang from a few ceilings to do that, I will!"

"Hang from a few ceilings! Do you remember why you were banned from gymnastics classes when you were eight!" Keisuke interrupted incredulously.

"It wasn't my fault, I had inner ear problems!"

"I swear Miaka, if you do this I'll call mom!"

"Yui! Tell him he can't stop me from doing this!"

"You're right. He can't, but I can!"

"Yuuuui--!"

"SILENCE!"

The room became eerily silent. Tetsuya readjusted his glasses which had been knocked askew when Miaka (apparently still having troubles with her inner ear) had whirled about and tried to whack her brother with a stuffed animal she had been clutching. Yui gave him an 'you will rue the day you didn't back me up' look, but he ignored it and focused on Miaka.

"Mi-chan-- Miaka," he began, knowing that although he would always remember her as the little kid who tagged along with him and Keisuke, she was now a full grown woman capable of making her own decisions. Crazy decisions, and possibly criminal ones, but hers all the same.

"I can't say that I understand what you're going through. Keisuke and I didn't experience what you and Yui did. We can never comprehend the bond you have with that ...world. All I know is that we love you, and that if you need to do this... I'll help you." he finished bravely, not so much seeing but feeling the daggers that were showered in his direction from Yui and Keisuke as they glared at him.

He didn't have time to worry about impending doom from Yui however, as suddenly he was bombarded with arms, legs and lips that were Miaka's. She kissed his cheek over and over, strangling him in a hold that would have made Nuriko proud.

"Thank you Tetsuya! Thank you so so much!" she exclaimed tearfully, pulling back to gaze at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

Tetsuya felt an inkling of forbiddance. Not only was he committed now to partake of a crime devised by a woman who had never so much as acquired a parking ticket, but he was about to be faced with the full fury of his beloved: Yui.

He didn't have to wait long. Both Keisuke and Yui looked thunderous. Keisuke even picked up the phone to call their mom, but stopped short when Miaka vowed she would divulge every single detail about his current crush to their extremely protective mother. Finally, Keisuke flopped down on the sofa and blew out a frustrated sigh.

"Miaka...I don't want anything to happen to you.."

Miaka gave him a long, earnest look.

"Keisuke.. I have to do this. If I don't, I don't think things will ever be the same."

Keisuke felt his heart sink. She meant, she would never be the same. In that instant, Keisuke admitted defeat. He knew that if he did not at least help her, he would regret it. Still struggling with his angers and doubts, Keisuke held out his arms. Miaka slowly approached her brother, her gaze wary. Would he tie her to the sofa? She reached out her hand, and Keisuke grasped it.

Pulling her down to sit beside him, Keisuke folded his baby sister into his arms.

"I've hated it, Mi-chan. Seeing you like this. Its not fair what they did. They might not understand why, but you need it. You need Konan."

Miaka closed her eyes, letting herself drift on the comforting waves of her brother's understanding.

"Yui...?" Tetsuya asked cautiously, rising to place a tentative hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Yui?" Miaka questioned, hoping against hope that the one person who had experienced Konan with her would understand.

Yui's shoulders were shaking. Turning, she smiled tearfully at her friends.

"Someone's got to make sure you don't end up with the entire Chinese Government after you!"

Miaka felt her heart unfold as if it had suddenly been given nourishing sunlight.

"Speaking of foreign governments hunting down my sister, I'd feel much better if we devised some sort of game plan." Keisuke said dryly, still holding Miaka firmly by the shoulders.

Tetsuya looked at Miaka. He knew her well enough to see that she probably had an idea already lined up. He wasn't disappointed.

"I have a plan," she said decisively.

"But it will involve identity theft, hacking into the Museum of China's security system and maternity clothes."

Keisuke stared blankly at his sister.

"Please tell me you haven't thought this through, Miaka. Then at least I can say with confidence that my sister is insane by default."

"No, Keisuke...I think I know where she's headed," Tetsuya said, his mind churning excitedly.

"You said you spoke with your dad today. He must have told you about how things are going at the Tokyo Museum." Tetsuya said, thinking that he was beginning to understand. Miaka's father had been a resident professor of ancient symbology at the Tokyo Museum for the past fifteen years. If anyone could give Miaka the proper identity to slip past the Museum of China's nets it was his connections.

Miaka nodded meaningfully. "He did. He also mentioned that his research assistant was out on maternity leave," she paused, her expression suddenly withdrawn.

"He even offered to have me fill in for her, while she's away."

Keisuke gave his sister a supportive smile. He knew how hard it had been on her since their parent's divorce. His father was always traveling, always too busy to make time for them. The fact that she had contacted him only proved to Keisuke how much retrieving the book meant to her.

Tetsuya began to grin, his eyes alight with understanding.

"If your going to pose as Dr. Yuuki's research assistant Mi-chan, we'd better get you some proper ID."

"Can you do that?" Yui asked apprehensively.

Tetsuya walked back to the sofa, and slipped his laptop onto the coffee table in front of him.

"Easily? No. In about six hours with lots of noodles and background accompaniment? Possibly. Now, Miaka if you would please go pack your things. And don't pack too much, just enough so it looks like your staying for a couple of days at least. Yui, you'll find a movie in my bag and a box of M&M's. Keisuke...noodle me."

With each one given a task, the room cleared and Tetsuya was left to tap on his keyboard.

"Tetsuya..." came Yui's questioning voice from the hallway.

"Yes, my dear?"

Yui came into view, holding up a DVD box and grinning in bemusement.

" 'Beauty and the Beast'?"

Tetsuya pointed at the DVD player.

"Do not question the quirks of an artist at work," he declared, but the effect was ruined when a packet of M&M's bounced off the side of his head.

Tetsuya sighed as he logged on to the Museum of Tokyo's website. Years of computer training told him that procuring an official ID that would pass Museum inspection was next to madness.

Good thing he'd checked his day planner this morning.

He was only sane on Tuesdays.

TBC...!

A/N: Lol, so it was the next chapter that's the longer one.. sorry! I'll be posting it soon, thanks for reading!