So I'm back with the next chapter, sorry it took so long, but guess what, 2,000+ words!
Not that it's impressive or anything.

I don't own the series Martin Mystery, just the characters Tatsuki and Sousuke Miyabe, Colin Price, Arashi Komatsuzaki, Hiro, and Takakura (and many nameless followers)

"I knew it would have just been safer to send you back to Japan!" M.O.M sounded exasperated, Colin, whom was standing nearby, looked horrified when he learned of what happened to his dear little Tatsuki.

"but, it's over now, we saved Taki, and even Abrabi is wanting to join our side!"

"It's Arashi."

"Whatever."

M.O.M's eyebrow made an irritated twitch, "That's not the point Martin." She said, "If we had just gone through with what I initially had planned," she paused to shoot an accusing glare in Colin's direction. The man just chuckled nervously and tried to back out of her line of vision.

"But, you can't send Taki back to Japan! (We've been through this!)" Martin said, "I already told you I'm not going to abandon—"

"Whoever said anything about you abandoning anything?" M.O.M. asked, a light mischievous glint had entered her icy blue eyes. The Center agents, and even Taki and Arashi looked quizzical. "Agents, you will be accompanying Tatsuki and Arashi back to Japan, where you will continue with your mission."

"What?!"

"Bu-but what about school?"

-

The Red Monarch

-

A few weeks had passed since everyone had arrived at the Miyabe shrine. Taki had looked around the grounds upon the first moment of their arrival back home, "Well, I see you haven't let the place go completely to hell, Mr. Price." She said off-handedly. Colin put a hand over his chest where his heart was supposed to be in mock hurt.

"Why, Taki-chan, I think I make a fair domestic when the need calls for it!" Taki rolled her eyes and continued to walk around the grounds, as if looking for something out of place. It wasn't before long that Taki assisted, Martin, Diana, Java, and Arashi to their rooms. Diana and Taki shared a room, while Colin and Java shared one, leaving the last room to be shared by Martin and Arashi.

"Man, Arashi, don't you have your own home here?" Arashi had been silent when he was rudely asked this.

"No." Was Arashi short and simple response, but again like I said, a few weeks had passed since then.

Arashi yawned and stretched his arms high over his head. As he sauntered into the kitchen he noticed Colin sitting at the kitchen table taking the drag out of his cigarette while looking at some papers, the older man was wearing what must have been his reading glasses. "I didn't realize you smoked, Price-san." Arashi said. Colin seemed to jump at the boy's sudden speech.

Colin smiled wearily at the teenager, "Well, it's not exactly my most comely of habits, I admit." He took the cigarette and put it out in the nearby glass ashtray on the table and then scooped up the papers on the table and shoved them in a brown briefcase.

"Then why haven't you quit that nasty habit yet, Mr. Price?" The voice belonged to Tatsuki. "I hate the smell of cigarette smoke." She took out a spray bottle of some sort of air freshener and began to spray about the room.

Arashi and Colin both looked like they had a heart attack. "You-you shouldn't sneak up on people like that Ms. Miyabe." Arashi said. Before Taki could respond, Colin interjected.

"So are Martin and Diana awake yet? (Java's exploring the grounds. I hope he doesn't get lost.)" Colin looked expectantly up at the two.

"Diana is getting dressed. She'll be down in a few." Taki stated. "I don't know about Martin." She looked to Arashi from the corner of her eye expecting an immediate answer from the boy.

"Last I checked Martin was dead to the world." Arashi said. "I don't think even a third world war would wake him."

"Is that so?" Colin sweat dropped, suddenly the sound of a cell phone ring tone played, "Oh!" Colin stood and began digging in his pocket for his phone. He flipped the small device open when he saw the caller ID. "What is it?" Colin asked, his dark green eyes became shrouded with seriousness, but with a hint of his playful nature still shining through. "It's really early in the morning…" Arashi glanced at Taki who was putting the air freshener away.

"Ooh! It's a wonderful morning!" Diana said as she cheerfully entered the room.

"Java like it here. Really pretty!" Java re-entered the shrine house after exploring the grounds. He was wearing a traditional Japanese outfit called a yukata. Where Colin found one in Java's size was a mystery in and of it self.

"Anything in particular you guys want for breakfast?" Taki suddenly asked while weaving around Colin to get to the small refrigerator. "I can make some tamagoyaki…and I don't know what cereals we have."

"Yes, I looked the paper work…" Colin frowned, and then suddenly broke out in a big grin, "No problem, my newest contribution is in progress, you'll definitely like it, " Colin became suddenly serious again, "but if you slip up and your mother- my boss- finds out that I'm letting you test run the new tech, she'll be head me. Really."

"Colin, who are you talking to?" Diana asked, suddenly curious, I thought Colin worked for the Center, but, M.O.M. doesn't have any kids…at least…I don't think she does… Colin jumped and cursed under his breath at his small slip up. He turned around with a big, rather suspicious looking smile while placing a hand over the receiver.

"Oh, it's just the son of the FONY Electronics CEO, My cover here is that I work coming up with new innovative electronic toys for teens today. I have to admit, my background as a Center agent really helps! HAHAHAHA." Colin laughed a forceful sounding laugh. The others sweat dropped.

"If anything, Mr. Price, you sound even more suspicious then normal." Taki said innocently as she pulled out a frying skillet, coincidentally making a clatter of metal to occur in the cabinet she pulled it from. Colin turned to Tatsuki, a hurt expression on his face, he was about to say something but Tatsuki cut him off, "Isn't Tenjin Matsuri coming up?" Taki glanced at the calendar, "It's in four days. You did remember to get everything ready for when all the festival goers come to experience the traditional Miyabe Tenjin Matsuri, right?" Colin froze and Tatsuki smiled, but it didn't seem very pleasant, as it made beads of sweat roll down the sides of Colin's face, this was the signature Tatsuki Pretends To Not Be Bothered But Is Really Pissed Off glare, and it was aimed at the older man, "You didn't." Colin laughed nervously and Taki sighed, disappointed and irritated at the older man. She put the skillet on the stove and went back into the refrigerator and pulled out eggs.

"What's going on? What's this 'Miyabe Tenjin Matsuri' you guys are talking about?" Diana asked, thoroughly confused by the conversation that had taken place.

Arashi smiled wearily, "Well, I know what Tenjin Matsuri is," Arashi said, "I'd imagine it's the Miyabe shrine's version of that festival." Arashi walked over to where Taki was toiling. "I will assist you, Miyabe-san." He said.

Diana's eyes sparkled in delight, "So it's a party?" her hands clasped together, "Like with dancing, food, and fun?" she looked thoroughly excited.

"Well, I don't know about dancing, Ms. Lombard, but food and festival games are usual, and fireworks are shot off down at the river, and there's a lot of people in costumes and traditional wear, and I'm sure there's a parade, too." Taki said as she directed Arashi to chop some vegetables. "The style of celebration varies from shrine to shrine, but Temmangu shrine is well known for it. Mostly because it boasts history…" Taki's voice left off, she seemed to be in thought. "But, unfortunately Colin forgot to get everything ready, and I don't know if Miyabe shrine will be able to pull off a Tenjin Matsuri in just four days."

Colin scratched the back of his head sorrowfully, "It slipped my mind…I was busy…" he muttered. Then suddenly remembered his phone conversation. "Aah! Sorry! I was just conversing with my daughter about Tenjin Matsuri…you're coming?! But! Yes I know it would be a good way to get you the new tech…argh," Colin flipped the ell phone shut, "That kid…I swear he's just like his mom." He sighed and made an expression of pure exhaustion; "He's a demon in human form." He said using his dead serious look.

"I," came a long drawling voice, "Smell," it sounded like it had just awoken early from a sleep that was intended to be eternal, "Fooooooooood." Martin appeared in the doorway; his blonde hair plagued with bed head and his honey brown eyes droopy from having just woken up. "Feed me!" he moaned and slumped into a nearby chair, letting his head fall to the table. Diana fwapped her brother on the head, "Oooow." Martin's moan of pain even sounded tired and overall like he was out of it.

"You really aren't a morning person are you, Martin?" Taki smiled slightly as she cooked the eggs. She got a very muffled response to which she snickered silently to herself. Arashi lips formed a thin line as he frowned.

"Do you need these yet, Ms. Miyabe?" He asked, sporting a small smile. He successfully gained the girl's attention.

"Hmm, yes, just toss them in." Taki said, to which Arashi began putting the chopped vegetables in with the eggs. Within a few seconds, she scrapped the food out of the skillet and onto a platter. "Can you guys think of anything else you want to eat?" she turned to the other people in the room. She sweat dropped, "Ms. Lombard, Java, you can sit down, you know." She said, "You guys are making me nervous…"

"Sorry." The two said sweat dropping as well as they took their seats.

"So, are you at least going to try and get as ready as you can for the Tenjin Matsuri thing?" Diana asked. Martin rolled his head to the side looking sleepily up at the other people at the table.

"Tenjin wha?" he asked.

"Well, I can see what I can put together." Taki said, migrating to what must have been the pantry.

"I'll be happy to help you with whatever you need." Arashi offered, "I'd really like to experience a Miyabe Tenjin Matsuri." Taki smiled appreciatively.

"Thank you, Komatsuzaki-kun."

Martin seemed to come alive with renewed energy, "I'll help you out too, Taki!" Martin said with fervor. Diana rolled her eyes.

"Not that you know exactly what you're helping with." She said dryly.

-

Some weeks prior, after Tatsuki had been rescued.

Hiro threw a vase against the far wall, "Taking your anger out on ancient pottery won't help, Hiro-sama." Takakura said as he flipped through the aged pages of Tatsuki's text.

"That little bastard!" Hiro fumed, glaring at the spot where the vase had shattered, "Arashi…he betrayed us!"

"So it would seem." Takakura said, flipping to the next page of the book. Another one of the followers appeared with a tray of tea. "Thank you." Takakura said as he sipped from the cup.

Hiro sneered at Takakura, "Because of that little brat, all my plans were ruined! Lord Sousuke is still trapped in the Spirit Realm!"

"A good leader has patience, Hiro-sama." Takakura said dispassionately. Hiro snorted and looked to the other followers.

"Arashi…next time any of you see him. Kill him." Hiro said, and then disappeared to another room. Takakura shut the book.

"My, my, what a mess you're in, Arashi-kun." Takakura said.

Please Review! Reviews help motivate me, and they keep me company, too. (Wow, that's really sad...)

PS

Does anyone else think that the new FF site format for our uploading stuff is weird??