DISCLAIMER: I do not own KagePro or any of its characters.

Aye! Scarlet somehow survived her exams and managed to update /smacked. I am SO sorry for not being able to update this story. I really wasn't expecting school to be busy this year. I'm sorry. I'll try updating every two weeks, or something. Plus, I've made a lot of changes with the plot of the story. Ah man! It's hard to keep up with Jin since he keeps on changing the plot! Although I did say this story was gonna veer off from the real storyline of KagePro, I want to make it as canon-like as possible.

Anyway, read on~

Kido's left eye twitched.

She stopped walking, her back arched and her face shadowed by her bangs.

"Are you okay?" Mary asked worriedly, her round eyes questioning Kido's narrowed ones.

"Someone…someone is watching us." Kido said. This seemed to heighten Mary's anxiousness. "Don't be scared. I won't let them hurt you," she said in an attempt to calm the poor girl.

"Wh-who's there?" Mary somehow mustered enough courage to voice out her questions. "S-show yourself, p-p-please."

Just as Mary commanded, a figure (greatly similar to hers) emerged from the shadows.

"Hello, my beloved daughter."

Mary broke into a run.

Ene wandered around aimlessly, picking random directions and heading to wherever she pleased.

"I wonder how everyone else is doing so far." She thought to herself. Ene admitted that it kind of felt lonely not having them around. Still, Ene felt comfortable being alone. She's been imprisoned in Shintaro's phone for so long, she'd almost forgotten what it feels like to be in a 'body'. A real body.

She did a small twirl, feeling a little contented with her current state (even though she still had pixels for feet). Ene thought it was selfish of her to feel this happy when everyone else is in chaos.

"I haven't even found Haruka yet…" Ene sighed. She hasn't solved anything at all. "Much less gather enough proof that he's still alive."

That thought made her remember Konoha. No one has seen him since they got into the maze. She began to wonder if he was gonna be okay even when he's alone.

"Konoha…" If Ene remembered correctly, Konoha looked almost alike to Haruka's video game character. She never paid much attention to Haruka's designs, but she could remember a few details about his game character. Besides, it's hard to miss the small circles under Konoha's eye.(which reminded Ene of Haruka's mole-birthmark, rather).

Little by little, Ene had been starting to convince herself that Konoha IS Haruka, but she knew she still needed confirmation. She needed Konoha himself to confess that he is her lost friend.

A knot formed in her stomach. Was it from anticipation?

Ene's lips slowly slanted down. How she missed her friends. All she was left with was Shintaro (who barely even remembers her). She missed sweet Ayano and jolly Haruka's smiles. Those two seemed to have the same effect on her. Ene smiled at the thought. Had Shintaro felt the same way, too? She made a mental note to ask him later. It's gonna be one hell of a teasing to do.

"We'll meet again…someday. I'm sure of it." She said, mostly to herself. Ene bobbed her head up to look at the plain red sky. Red; Ayano's color. She found it hard to believe that this was all Ayano's doing. No. She didn't believe their accusations. Ene knows Ayano. She was like her little sister. They promised that they'd never hide secrets from each other.

"But why didn't she tell that she was planning to commit…."

Ene couldn't finish her sentence. Ayano was anything but evil. She kept that thought in place. Just because everyone thinks Ayano is the root of this, doesn't mean she had to comply. Ene had her own opinions, and she would rather stick to them.

Her thoughts were interrupted when red light blasted somewhere near her location.

Ene's breath hitched. She glided towards the source of the light.

"Mother!"

Mary started running, only to have Kido block her way. "K-Kido, no! You don't understand-she's a good lady! S-She's my mother!"

"Mary, snap out of it!" Kido yelled. Mary winced. "She is just an illusion. A trap! Don't fall for it."

"B-But she's my-" Mary began to cry. Kido clicked her tongue. She didn't want to hurt the girl's feelings.

"Dear, don't cry. Come here." Shion spread her arms, inviting Mary into a hug. Mary struggled in Kido's grasp.

"Kido, l-let go!" Mary said, tears falling. "I need to go to my mother!"

"Your mother is dead, Mary!" Kido snapped. She didn't want to go as far as to rub salt onto the little girl's wound, but if this was the only way to make her realize…

"Daughter, would you rather believe a girl who could barely even keep her existence at bay, than to believe your very own mother?" Shion taunted.

Mary stopped struggling and noticed that Kido's eyes were glowing red.

"K-K-Kido, y-you…what's ha-happening…" She stammered, eyes wide and pupils dilated.

Kido looked at her palms. She stared right at the ground.

She was disappearing.

"I…It's okay, Mary. I'm just using my powers, that's all." Kido tried to reassure her friend. Mary's small body was shaking vigorously.

"Kido, do-don't disappear!" Mary clung to Kido hopelessly. Kido tried to hush her with comforting words.

"Don't be scared…I won't leave you..I won't…disappear." Tears started to well in Kido's eyes. She was scared. She knew she had gained full control of her powers, but she feared that this day would come. She feared that her powers would go nuts again. She feared that she would someday fully, though unintentionally, erase her own existence.

"Mary, my dear daughter, didn't I tell you not to befriend humans? They are very dangerous. Come on now, let's go home." Shion stretched a hand out for Mary. Her words were said oh-so-sweetly, but each word seemed to contain poison.

"Mother, I-" Her mother cut her sentence with a repulsive grunt.

"I am your mother. Your only family. You should listen to what I say, Mary."

Mary's hands were trembling. She wanted to run to her mother's arms. She wanted to embrace her, and to be embraced by her. She wanted to be cooped up in their old house, just like the old days. She wanted her mother.

She took a step forward.

"Mary…we're your family too." Kido smiled weakly at the medusa, her body becoming more and more transparent each passing second.

Mary's world seemed to slow down. Her mind was swirling. She was pressured. For the first time in her life, she had to make a decision. She had to sacrifice either Kido or…her mother.

"I can't believe she would even dare involve my family into this….into this…mess!" Azami barked.

Kenjirou chuckled. "It's not her fault, not entirely."

"Ah yes, maybe I should blame you." Azami eyed the old man angrily. "If my granddaughter gets hurt-"

"She won't hurt anyone. Even if I make her do so, she would never hurt anyone."

Azami eased her tensed shoulders. "Just…I don't want to see a scratch on Mary."

"That, I can't assure." Kenjirou teased, only to receive a stony glare from the small woman.

"I will kill your daughter if she lays a finger on Mary." Azami threatened, snakes hissing in unison.

Kenjirou smirked, "Your fancy talk doesn't scare me. And your powerless snakes don't work too."

Azami's mouth parted slightly.

"You have already distributed most of your powers to each of those children." Kenjirou pointed out. "Including me," his eyes glowed red. "Your snakes are pretty much useless right now."

"You impudent-"

"Behave properly and I'll spare your 'Mary'." Kenjirou said smugly. Azami would fight back if she wanted to, but it was her granddaughter's life on the line. She couldn't risk the chances. Azami wasn't sure if she still pitied this man or not. He was driving her insane. All she could do was follow this man's orders.

"We'll always be…a family…just as Onee-chan promised."

That's right. Mary didn't come here to be a burden. Mary didn't come here to look for her mother. She came here because she wanted to help. She came here for a significant purpose, and that was to find Mekakushi Dan's lost leader, Ayano.

"Mother, I'm sorry…I can't come."

Shion's eyes narrowed as she spoke, "Why not? Don't you miss me? Do you not want to make flower crowns with me?"

Mary bit back her sobs. No, she had to remind her that this wasn't her mother. She was just an illusion. Mary didn't know how this illusion appeared. She didn't know who made the illusion appear, but she had to put those thoughts aside for now. She had to make a decision.

"Mekakushi Dan is my family. I can't leave them." By this time, Kido was almost fully transparent. Shion nodded in understanding.

Ayano's eyes remained glued to the screen. She seems to take interest in her new preys.

Kuroha saw the next members to face the trial. It was Kido and Mary.

Kuroha was pretty sure Kido would do well on her own, but he wasn't so sure about Mary. And he certainly didn't expect that the trial would mostly be for Mary.

"Mary's desire was stronger than Kido's, just like how Kano's was stronger than Seto's," Kagerou explained, as if reading Kuroha's mind. "Mary wants her mother back."

Kuroha saw the solemn look on Kagerou's face. Her lifeless eyes glazed with sadness and anger, it was like Ayano was the one talking to him.

In truth, Ayano did understand how Mary felt. She had longed for her mother so much. It was a great loss when her mother died. It was the cause of her father's insanity. The cause of their family's downfall.

"You are basing their trials according to what they want?" Kuroha sounded confused, though he understood that it would be hard to say no to your biggest temptations.

"Their biggest desires stay inside their cores…I can feel it." Kagerou looked up at the sky. "I am here to offer them happiness…to grant their wishes."

Kuroha understood why Ayano found it hard to regain control of her body. Her own soul's desire, and the Kagerou's goal…they fit together. Right now, Ayano is having a trial of her own.

But if she continues this, someone could get hurt. Kuroha can't let that happen. He had to stop this.

"Everyone in this world…" Her eyes were glowing redder, it was starting to hurt Kuroha's eyes. "I can clearly see their hearts' desire."

The blast of red light blinded him.

A bright light enveloped Shion and Kido. After it subsided, Kido regained her solidity. She weakly opened her eyes, her gaze landing on Mary.

"Kido!" Mary jumped at the dazed greenhead. Once again, tears started streaming as the poor lad hugged her taller friend. "I was so worried!"

Kido patted Mary's head gently, "I didn't disappear, just like I said. So, stop crying, okay?" Kido smiled slightly, "Besides, Seto's not gonna like it if he find out that I made you cry."

"E-eh…" Mary immediately wiped her tears. "I don't want Kido and Seto to fight!"

"Good girl." Kido said, as if petting a puppy, "I suppose that was our trial…and I don't see Onee-chan anywhere. That means we took the wrong path." She sighed exasperatedly.

Mary smiled, "B-but we will find Ayano-san…I'm sure of it!"

Kido nodded. "For now, let's go find Seto and the others."

As if on cue, the wall in front of them melted away, revealing the other two members of the gang.

"Seto!" Mary squeaked in delight. As soon as the wall melted completely, she immediately jumped into Seto's arms.

"And Kano~!" Kano chirped in, earning a glare from Mary for ruining the moment.

"Kano, what happened to your cheek?" Kido asked, her voice hinting concern. Mary lifted her head up to look at Kano's face. He had a cut on his cheek.

"Ah-I tripped and fell face first on the floor!" Kano said with an awkward grin. Kido noticed Kano shifting nervously. She sent knowing glares to Seto and Kano. Even though she didn't say anything, the boys both knew that her glares meant "We're not talking about this now because Mary is here, but you'll have to answer ALL my questions later. PS: Kano, you suck at lying."

"Ah! You guys should be more careful next time!" Mary chided. Seto nodded and let go of Mary.

"Looks like we both got a dead end?" Seto shrugged.

"Maybe the two remaining groups will find Ayano-nee." Kano said.

Kido sighed, "I just hope that their trials end well…" .

Seto and Kano shared a look. Two remaining pairs. Two more trials.

"Kido said it's gonna be okay, and I believe in Kido." Mary smiled at the three. They felt somewhat embarrassed. Mary looked most composed out of the four, despite what she had just gone through just a few minutes ago.

"Hm, what was Mary and Kido's trial about-" Kano earned a kick in his manhood. He doubled over in pain. "…guess…don't…want to talk…about…it…"

Mary and Seto laughed at the duo's antics. Even though they were still in the maze, they felt a little…light. Relieved, even.

As the two continued bickering about, Mary's gaze traveled elsewhere.

A flash of silver hair caught Mary's attention. A gust of wind blew.

Mary could've sworn she got a whiff of her mother's scent…

But maybe that was an illusion too.

Since I haven't updated for like-a month, I will give you a quick review of the story:

-Ayano goes to Azami's world to get the 'eyes'.

-Ayano receives the 'eyes' and helps Hiyori and Hibiya by creating a loop.

-Ayano meets Konoha. Konoha realizes that Ayano is the one causing the loop.

-Ayano starts losing control of herself, Kuroha promises he won't let her hurt anyone.

-Ayano becomes the Kagerou.

-It is revealed that Kenjirou is manipulating Ayano. He controls the Kagerou.

-Azami is near to being powerless, seeing how she gave away her snakes' abilities.

-Ayano's real 'eyes' is yet to be revealed. So is Shintaro's.

In this chapter, it is also revealed that the Kagerou can mess around with someone else's eye ability (Kido's ability goes wrong when Illusion!Shion appeared).

Next up: Hibiya and Momo's trial! And finally, Shintaro…

But what would be Ene's trial? Would she even have one? Would she Kagerou!Ayano offer her a chance to make her desires come true?

Ene: Oh my gosh, you actually wrote something about me.

Scarlet: Heh, I kinda like your character. You're interesting.

Ene: Oh…are you in yuri's with me?

Mary: Is anything wrong with 'lily'?

Scarlet: …

Ene: …

Shion: Mary, go back to your room.

Ayano: -still has low cameos- I thought I was the main character of this fic.

Scarlet: You'll hit the spotlight next week-ah dammit you made me give spoilers. Shoo, Ayano, shoo. Go make out with Shintaro or Kuroha-

Ayano: -slaps Scarlet-

Ene: -slaps Scarlet-

Soda: -slaps Scarlet-