"Ngh, five more minutes..." Sam huffed, pulling the covers tighter over her.

"I already let you sleep in! We need to be at the book store in twenty minutes." Tanya tugged on Sam's ankle, but the girl held tightly to the bedpost.

"I don't wanna..." Sam whined sleepily, opening one eye to glare at her publisher.

Tanya glowered at her and growled, "Get your ass moving now."

Sam shuddered and reluctantly got out of bed and shuffled to the shower, stripping as she went along. She hissed when the water came out too hot and adjusted the knobs accordingly. Once she was covered with soap, she rinsed off and shut the shower off. She brushed her teeth and spit before leaving the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her. Tanya was sitting on her bed, playing with her phone.

"I took the liberty of laying your clothes out for you." She said without looking up.

Sam walked over to her bed and grimaced. Another suit. She dropped the towel and pulled the insufferable clothes on.

"You know I hate wearing suits. Why can't I just wear my casual clothes?" She whined, pouting at Tanya.

"Because, that is what Sam would wear. Saxon Leroux is a sophisticated, professional woman. Besides, you were the one who wanted her to dress like that." Tanya pointed out.

"Yeah, but I didn't think I would have to wear them all the time." Sam sighed as she pulled the wig back on, sulking after Tanya as they left the hotel.

They got to the book store a few minutes before it was opening, a line already beginning to form. The table where she would be sitting for the next two hours was already set up. She sat down while Tanya standing beside her. The book store opened and a large group of people hurried in, lining up in front of her. She was surprised at the age range; there were people as young as twelve and as old as forty in line. A twelve year old girl shyly walked over to her, clutching her book. Sam smiled pleasantly at her as she took the book from her, opening up the hardcover.

"What's your name?" Sam asked.

"C-Clare..." She murmured quietly, smiling back.

"'To Clare, keep on reading! Your friend, Saxon Leroux.' Here you are. I hope you enjoy it." She carefully handed the book back.

"Thank you!" Clare beamed and skipped off to where her mother was waiting.

The line shuffled through, each person praising her for her writing. A boy her age even bashfully kissed her cheek before running off to his friends. Sam's face flushed a little, but she giggled good naturedly. A pale hand placed her book in front of her and she opened it.

"What would you like me to write in it?" She inquired without looking up, black pen ready.

"'To Near. May your puzzle remain blank.'" The voice was still so familiar even after the years she had not heard it, though it was significantly deeper now.

Slowly, Sam looked up and her eyes widened when she saw that it was in fact Near standing before her. At least, she thought it was him. His face had lost its childish roundness, becoming sharper and thinner. His hair was still curly and a pristine white, but it was a little more unruly. He was much taller and thinner. He was wearing a white button up shirt, a pair of baggy jeans, and beat up looking shoes. She gaped at him.

"N-Near? Is that really-"

"Hey, we wanna talk to her sometime today!" Someone protested and there was a noise of agreement.

He paid them no mind and gestured to the book. "If you would."

"Y-yeah, sure." She numbly signed the book and he took it back from her.

"Thank you." He left without another word, leaving her to watch as he disappeared out of the store.

When the book signing was over, Sam listlessly sipped her cup of hot chocolate. Tanya was looking at her in concern.

"Hey, you okay? You've been acting weird since that guy came in. Who was he anyway? You seemed to know him." She remarked.

"Just an old friend...I was shocked to see him is all. I probably won't see him again." She sighed and threw away her cup.

"Can't you look him up?"

She smiled sadly. "I wish it were that easy. It would be best if I just forget that I saw him."

"Huh?" Tanya tilted her head to the side, puzzled.

"Sorry, orphanage secrets." Sam winked at her before standing up, ready to leave.

"If you say so...must be a weird orphanage..." Tanya followed her back to the hotel, going to their separate rooms.

Sam opened her hotel door and closed the door behind her, sighing. She fumbled for the light switch and took the auburn wig off.

"So it wasn't your real hair color. Good; your eyes are more compatible with blonde." She gasped when she heard someone speak from behind her.

She let her back leg swing out, hoping to catch the intruder in the stomach, but they caught her ankle. She hopped up and down to keep her balance, flailing her arms and letting out an undignified squeak. She glared at the intruder, who happened to be Near. He looked bored.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

She sighed and straightened up when he set her foot back down. "Don't sneak up on me! How did you find out where I was anyway?"

"I am L. It was pretty simple finding the hotel room of where the great Leroux was staying in. Even if you were under your publisher's name." He replied, hands in his pockets.

"...Right. So, how've you been?" She sat down on the edge of her bed.

Sam half expected him to sit on the floor like the way he used to, but he sat in a chair instead, his knee pulled up to his chest. I see he's been promoted from floor to chair.

"Alright. Nothing of great importance has happened. But, obviously, a lot has been happening with you." He gestured around the suite.

"Heh, yeah...Told you I'd become an author." She smiled.

Near returned the smile, "I'm impressed and pleased you were able to achieve your dream. Why the pen name?"

"I still wanted to go out without people swarming me. So, I decided to go by the pen name Saxon Leroux so I could still be Sam. No one other than my publisher knows my other alias and I would like to keep it like that."

"And here I thought you would be going by your real name."

"I thought so, too. But, I guess I got comfortable using a fake name."

"Hmm." He looked at her thoughtfully, resting his chin on his knee.

They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. He plucked at invisible pieces of lint sticking to his achromatic shirt, while Sam twiddled her thumbs nervously. "S-so, is there a reason why you are here?"

He stopped plucking at his shirt and looked over at her. She had learned to read people, but his gray eyes were so blank, she still couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Your fan letters."

Sam's frown deepened and her eyebrow wrinkled in confusion. "Huh? What for?"

"Curiosity. I want to see what kind of people are reading your books."

She picked up on the lie. "Why? Do I have a stalker or something?"

Near laughed, but it was mirthless. "You have no need to be concerned; it is just curiosity, I assure you. Could you get them out for me?"

"Sorry, but my publisher handles all my fan letters. You'll have to talk to..." She trailed off when she saw the flicker of emotion over his face. She recognized it immediately.

Sighing, she stood up. "Fine, fine. I'll talk to her and get them from her. Heaven forbid that Near actually talks to someone!"

"The sarcasm isn't necessary." He said flatly.

Ignoring him, she left the room and knocked on Tanya's door across the hall. She blinked and let out a snort of amusement when Tanya opened the door, a green face mask on and hair rollers all over her head.

"Nice look. It does wonders." Sam giggled.

Tanya scowled. "What do you want, Sam?"

"Could I have my fan letters? I want to read them."

She sighed and nodded, grumbling, "Wait one sec."

A couple minutes later, she returned with a large bag filled with unopened letters. Handing them to Sam, she scowled. "Now don't bother me. I need my beauty sleep."

"Of course, thank you, Tanya." Sam smiled sweetly and skipped back to her room.

Near was still sitting in the chair, but he stood up when he heard her come in. She dragged the bag over to him, huffing. "Well...here they are."

He slung them over one shoulder effortlessly and turned to look at her. "Thank you, Sam."

He went to leave, but she stopped him, looking down. "Is...is that really all you came here for?"

"Why else would I come here?" He inquired.

She shrugged and muttered, "I dunno, maybe you missed me or something...If that was all you came for, then why not just send one of your subordinates?"

"Oh. They felt that I needed to 'go out.' I did miss you a little, but I just assumed it was because I had no one else to talk to." He replied dismissively.

Sam scowled and folded her arms across her chest. "Well, I didn't miss you! You know where the door is."

She turned her back on him, nose in the air. Near tilted his head to the side, perplexed. Women are so confusing. They say one thing, then mean the other. How contradictory. He smiled nonetheless, shaking his head.

"Still a child at heart." He murmured.

She scowled and whirled around, "What do you mean by-"

She cut herself off. He was gone. Sam sighed and rubbed her temples. "Even after all this time, he still is so infuriating!"

Near

He, Rester, and Halle sifted through the letters, reading each one. They discarded most of them, but Halle paused when the letter she grabbed felt heavier than the rest of them. She opened it and saw that it was a video tape.

"Near." He looked over at her and held out his pale hand.

She placed it in his hand. He held it carefully before slipping it in a VCR. For a minute, nothing happened, then the screen turned blank. His heart skipped a beat when he heard a scrambled voice.

"Miss Leroux, please forgive the scrambled voice; I am too shy for you to hear my real voice. You can call me Inclementia. I am your biggest fan. I think you have been cheated out of being 'world's greatest author' and I am determined to help you get the title that rightfully is yours. Two weeks from now, I shall begin my mission."

"What do you think he means?" Halle asked Near, looking nervous.

He reached up and twirled one of his curls, frowning. "I'm not sure. Rester, when was this mailed?"

Rester studied the envelope the tape came in before saying, "August 31."

"Thirteen days ago. Rester, you will stay here with me to watch the news worldwide for any strange activity. Halle, I want you to trail Sam. Don't let her see you in case she recognizes you from before. Be on guard." Near commanded.

"Yes, sir." His subordinates replied in unison.

Near turned back to the monitor, his mind in a frenzy. I'm not sure what exactly is going to happen, but I do have a suspicion.