Okay; finally got chapter 12 done! (Celebration time) I actually only found the time 'cause I got today off. YAY! Damn; so grateful for Victoria Day!

Reader's response:

Saturnsaturn: Heh; I like tormenting teachers too. They deserve it. Well, I know you updated and I think you said your computer was fixed again, so let's celebrate! (throws a party)

Mint Drop: Yes, it's very necessary. Actually, it's not, but I'm pretty much basing these people after my own school where everywhere, there are only a few people who don't dress like preps/sluts/whores. See; there are only a few sensible people in my school, therefore, there are only a few sensible people in Sai's school. Yes, I want the Fruits Basket manga now too! I saw a volume on the weekend and it told Hana's past! I wanted it but I didn't have enough money! (Pouts)

Yusagi: Yes…well, it's hard to describe ALL the fun, so I just summarized it. Don't worry; he'll flame something next chapter…not this chapter though. This chapter actually doesn't have much of the seishi in it.

Pil-Z: It's okay for saying that. If I had first started reading this, I would've thought of that too. But it's me, we're talking about: crazy, insane, moody, really tired, violent and insane me, so of course, there's always a plot with a lot of fighting involved…hopefully! And thanks for those compliments! (Head swells up) (Pil-Z comes out pokes it with a needle) (Head deflates) Thanks; I needed that!

Xo Kurai oX: Well, here's your update…

Mtgranola: Um…yeah…this chapter isn't as funny. In fact, it's downright serious. But I'll be sure to make the next one funny. Thanks; I'm glad you like my sense of humor. Most people I know would call it weird, but I guess it's different when it's in a story:)

Crimson Firefox: Yes…soon…but not yet. After this chapter, maybe.

Chichiri's Wanderer: YAY! FIREEE! (stare stare stare) MINE! ALL MINE!...YOU CAN'T HAVE IT! GET YOUR SOURCE OF HEAT AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE! IT'S MINE I TELL YOU; MINE!

Enjoy the chapter...


The sudden shrill ringing of an alarm clock pierced through the stillness of early morning. A hand reached over and slammed a fist onto the alarm, somehow hitting the sleep button without even having to look at the clock. The person in the bed muttered indistinctively. Then the person stumbled into the shower and after a few moments, the washroom mirror was fogged due to the steam of the hot water. One thing was clear, however, Hideki Maeda was not a morning person.

He glared in irritation at the kitchen door as he sat in the dining room, arms crossed. After a few moments, he was about to get up when the kitchen doors burst open. The server was out of breath as he put the breakfast plate down in front of Dr. Maeda, "Sorry, Mr. Maeda; we ran out of supplies this morning so…"

"It's fine" Dr. Maeda snapped. He picked up a fork and began to eat.

"Very well, sir" the server said, giving him a slight bow and retreated into the kitchen. Mr. Maeda rolled his eyes and continued to eat. When he was done, he got up and simply left the plate at the table. Then he left the dining room and headed down a series of hallways. He took a right turn, a left, another right, straight, left; one could get lost following his path, but of course, this was his own home – as big as it was – so he knew his way around.

Finally, he stopped in front of a door and reaching into his pocket, dug out a keycard similar to the ones that hotels used. Then he turned the handle and opened the door. Inside, was amazing. It looked like an entirely different building had been placed inside this house. It was similar to a scientific facility separated into many large rooms and a single hallway. The first room, Dr. Maeda stopped in front of to look in, was what looked like a training room with the most advanced technology. Many young people – most looked to be in their late teens or early twenties – were in there, dueling against one another. He let a smirk cross his lips. After all, why do your own dirty work when someone else could do it for you? The next room he stopped by was a laboratory where many scientists were conducting experiments. Dr. Maeda's lips curled as he watched them.

He continued on and didn't stop by any more rooms until he got to the last one at the end of the hallways. There, he used the key again and opened the door. He entered, revealing an office of some sort. However, one thing that stood out in that office was a long and large mirror with strange and elegant words carved into the metal surrounding it. Dr. Maeda sat down and turned to face the mirror. He traced his fingers over the writing and almost immediately, an unearthly light began to spread from where his fingers had touched the mirror, extending to the center of the mirror.

Then, mysteriously, the room grew dimmer and dimmer until it was almost completely pitch black. Then, a voice – one other than Dr. Maeda's – began to speak, "What do you want, Maeda? I specifically asked you not to bother me until you do something right"

Dr. Maeda wanted to snap at the voice or roll his eyes but something else stopped him. Perhaps it was the consequences of doing either of those things.

"Have you actually done something right in the past week?" the voice snapped.

"Well…there have been some…unexpected twists…"

"What is it? You can't do anything right can you? And I thought you were a capable doctor!"

"I am!"

"Well, so far, you haven't been able to kill Saiyami Shimizu or do any of the tasks I asked you to!"

"Well, excuse me" Dr. Maeda snapped, "I'm sorry if there is such thing as modern medicine that allows Saiyami Shimizu to recover and I'm sorry that there are things beyond my control at the hospital. Why don't you do it if I'm such a failure?"

"You know very well the answer to that!" the voice snapped again, its voice steadily growing shriller as it grew angrier, "Now…what is this…unexpected twist?"

"My daughter ran away to Saiyami Shimizu's home"

"WHAT!"

"What's the matter? Don't worry; I'll kill my daughter too when I kill Saiyami just in case"

"That's not the point! Your daughter has seen all the things that happen here; what if she tells them?"

"She won't; I've made sure of it"

"And how are you so sure that your 'infallible' technology will actually work?"

"Because it always has"

"And you said your assassins have always completed a job, yet, Saiyami Shimizu is still standing!"

Dr. Maeda didn't have a response to that and the voice continued to rant.

"As I've told you before, a human mind can always overcome anything, even the drugs you've forced into your daughter. She'll remember what she's seen soon and very soon, they will know what we're up to!"

"I'll work on it" Dr. Maeda said grumpily.

"You'd better" the voice said. The mirror gave a threatening flash and the light disappeared. Dr. Maeda took the opportunity to roll his eyes now. He turned in his chair and his eyes glanced over a picture. In the picture, there was a woman with dark red hair and hazel eyes. Dr. Maeda sighed for a few moments, then his face grew stern again as he called someone to his office. Moments later, a young man stepped in. He had obviously come from the training room as he was sweaty and panting.

"You called, sir?"

"Yes" Dr. Maeda said, "Sit down, Tyler"

Platinum blonde-haired Tyler sat down, looking questionably at his employer, "What is it this time?"

"I want you to go and keep a watch on Saiyami Shimizu, her friends and my daughter. Don't let them out of your sight, ever and keep me updated on what they've been doing. Do not kill them, unless you have to. Except for Yukari; I'll kill her myself"

"Very well…" Tyler said, standing up. He stopped at the door, "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Will you really be willing to kill your only daughter – the only true reminder of your wife?" Tyler asked. Dr. Maeda was ready to chew him out for speaking like that to him like he would any other person in this place, but Tyler, he had known since Tyler was a child. He and Yukari had once been good friends, but like everything else, he had ruined that for his daughter too.

Tyler opened the door, "Think about that sir. Is power really that great?" he asked before he left the room.


"So how exactly will we find this book?" Sai asked, yawning. Subaru was making coffee in the kitchen and Sai was first in line for a cup, seeing as she was practically falling asleep at the table even if she did get a full night's rest.

"I think we should find Miaka no da" Chichiri said, "She might know"

"Yeah; that sounds good" Nuriko nodded, "Problem is…where does she live?"

"…hm…well, if I can find the phone book…" Sai said, "Uh…that might take a while" she said, surveying the apartment, "I have no idea where the hell it could be!"

"We'll help look" Amiboshi offered.

"Yeah" Subaru added as she handed Sai a cup of coffee. However, it was taken away by Tasuki – a very grave mistake indeed. The next minute, the residents of the apartments under, near and above this apartment could hear Sai yelling, "GIVE ME BACK MY COFFEE YOU DAMN PYROMANIAC! GIMME GIMME GIMMMEEEE!"

"NO!" Tasuki said.

"GIVE IT TO ME OR I'LL HAVE TO…MAKE YOU LISTEN TO…HER…" Sai threatened, holding up a CD with a familiar yet horrifying picture on it. Well, it was certainly horrifying to Tasuki, for he immediately handed the coffee back and inched far away from the CD cover. Sai was suddenly glad that her mother had not known her music tastes and got it for her for one of her birthdays; it was a very effective threat against Tasuki.

"That's better…" Sai said, "Well, let's get started" she downed her coffee in one gulp and began to spring into action. After all, it had to be around here, somewhere.