"Getting to know someone else involves curiosity about where they have come from, who they are,"- Penelope Lively.

Fabia was kneeling against a metal wall, her eyes closed peacefully. Her breathing was even, a detail that was obvious through the tight material of her Castle Knight uniform. Her dark blue locks had fallen in front of her eyes, hiding them from any onlooker. No light penetrated through her eyes to her brain, even though the hallway was unusually bright for the underground passages of Gundalia. She was ignorant as to where she was right now, so it held little importance.

She knew she was having another Prophet Dream, but the lack of sight bothered her. She had tried opening her eyes, but was met only with blackness. The world "blind" rose up to her lips unconsciously, and an unsettling chill had descended over her heart, making her stomach churn. She couldn't move or she would risk getting lost in the halls and walking out of the dream, so she had no other choice than to wait anxiously for whoever she was sharing the dream with to appear. She would have taken much comfort in the fact that she was not alone had Aranaut been with her, but he was absent. Just like last time. There was nothing left to do but wait, and hope that whoever controlled the dream she had stumbled upon had good intentions. Somehow she knew she was unlucky.

She didn't have long to wait. After a few minutes spent worrying, high heeled footsteps began to echo throughout the hall, but the heavy footsteps of another followed softly. Fabia stiffened, opening her eyes and trying to peer through the gloom that was invisible to her. After a few seconds she remembered her predicament, but even that was too late. A high pitched cackle met her ears, making her wince, and the footsteps, which had been getting louder, ceased. Fabia knew Kazarina was standing before her, and her suspicion was confirmed when her chin was pressed in between the cold fingers of the sly Gundalian woman.

"This time, Fabia, I know that you didn't come here on your own free will." There was a hint of amusement in her voice, but also irritation. Fabia, despite her blindness, glared in response. Her efforts at trying to be tough earned a snide chuckle aimed in her direction. Fabia was expecting another jibe, but instead, Kazarina's freezing hand moved from her chin. Fabia blinked, hoping that her sight would return, while the cold hand closed around her wrist. Fabia winced when Kazarina's claws dug into her flesh and tugged her upward, and she stumbled to her feet.

"You're sure she can't see?" a deep, raspy voice questioned. Fabia recognized it instantly as the voice of Emperor Barodius, but it sounded much more guttural than she remembered. Much deeper, and it also sounded slightly muffled.

"I'm positive, Sire," Kazarina replied, and Fabia guessed that she bowed with this statement. Fabia stood there, agitated, as the heavy footsteps came closer. She clenched her fists at her sides when Barodius stopped before her. He was close enough for her to feel and smell his rancid breath, making her wonder when he had last brushed his teeth. He had probably never even heard of a toothbrush.

For a moment, he was silent. Fabia didn't speak either, just seethed silently. Then he spoke. "I trust you are aware of my price." Fabia knew he was talking about Dan, and a spark of rage ignited within her.

"I'm not an idiot," she spat with venom. "You want Drago's powers."

"Yes," he said bluntly. Fabia detecting the satisfaction in his voice, and his methods made her feel sick. He just never knew when to stop!

"Why?" she demanded. "Why do you insist on tormenting us?" She gasped when his hand collided with her cheek, making her stumble back in shock. Her back met the wall and she hissed, lifting a hand to rub her throbbing jaw.

"You're not in the place to ask questions!" Barodius snarled. Fabia's lip curled.

"Shut up! What do you want!" she challenged, bracing herself for another assault. Seconds later, after nothing happened, she dropped her guard. It was a mistake. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the ground in agony, electrical charges making their way up and down her body. She groaned and shook slightly, grimacing in pain. She pushed herself up on her hands and knees, her limbs wobbling. A hand with a vise like grip seized her neck then. She gasped as she was lifted up and pressed against the wall, and her lungs were starved of air.

She choked, her arms flying up to resist. Her fingers closed around an arm wrapped in fabric, but at the ends of her pinkies, she could feel a cold, smooth armor-like surface. She grimaced, struggling to loosen the grip. She didn't care about the surface her fingers had brushed against. Instinct had taken over. Her desire to live was visible through her frantic struggles, and she easily conveyed her intense need for air by kicking and choking. Her blood rushed to her face, making her feel very, very scared.

"Are you going to listen to me now?" Barodius growled. Fabia nodded desperately, and she was released. She dropped to her knees, panting, and clutching her neck. Slowly, she regained her breath, but her limbs felt very sluggish. Her chest burned from the lightning, but it was nothing she couldn't take. Now, however, she knew that Barodius was serious, and she didn't plan on doing anything more that was stupid.

"Now..." Kazarina trailed off, circling the princess slowly. Fabia kept her head bowed toward her knees, unwilling to risk her life. She knew that if you were killed in a Prophet Dream, you would be unable to wake up in the real world. She had to wake up, because now, she knew much more than she had the first time Kazarina pulled her into her dream. "You're going to bring that message to your little Brawler friends," Kazarina ordered.

"What makes you think I wouldn't?" Fabia growled.

"I don't like your tone, princess," Kazarina snarled. Fabia didn't reply, but her fists clenched. Kazarina paused in her circling. "Of course, if you don't cooperate, we can always punish Dan some more..." Fabia's eyes widened and she gasped, her head snapping upward. Immediately after giving this reaction, she regretted it. She could almost picture the smirks on both of their faces as Kazarina's chilling laugh rang in her ears.

"More?" she whispered. "What did you do to him?" To her surprise, no punishment met her thirst for insight. She stiffened at the lack of response. She couldn't let Dan be hurt, even though she harbored no romantic interest in him. She knew he loved Runo, since he barely stopped talking about her when they weren't out on missions on Nethia. A pang of fear delivered a painful punch in her stomach when she thought about the horrors that he might have been subjected to, and knew she couldn't risk his life. She let out a shaky breath and bowed her head again.

"Let's just say... he had one unforgettable experience," Kazarina snickered. Fabia swallowed hard.

"Fine," she whispered. "What else do you want?"

"Runo, don't you have to help Julie get to work?" Drago suggested, running low on options. He was floating above the blue-haired girl's shoulder beside Tigrerra, while Splight rested on her other shoulder. Runo, on the other hand, was sitting in a chair beside Fabia's bed, watching the agitated princess twist and roll over in her sleep. Irritated at Drago's fourth attempt to dissuade her from accompanying he, Alice, Julie and Dr. Micheal to Dan's house, she turned on him with her annoyance flashing in her eyes.

"Julie is off today, and I said I'm going! You're not going to talk me out of it! If you don't want me to come, just say so!" she snarled. Her anger looked strange due to the large white bandage encircling her head, and the gauze pad taped to her cheek. She had changed her clothes since the battle to a pair of white jeans and a white spaghetti-strapped top that hugged her stomach and chest. A navy blue sweatshirt had been thrown over that tank top in order to hide a few large bruises that she earned tumbling head over heals from the battle, as well as a few large wounds she had picked up from the same source.

"I would rather you didn't come," Drago said coldly.

"Why?" Runo demanded, making the Pyrus bakugan hop off her shoulder and into the air in front of her. "Why don't you want me to help? You've been against me going to Dan's house from the very beginning! Is there something there you don't want me to see?" Drago was silent, and Runo knew she'd guessed correctly. "What don't you want me to see, Drago?"

"It's... nothing," he said shortly. "I just thought that you might accidentally tamper with the evidence due to your close connection with-"

"Drago, don't give me that crap," Runo snarled. "I don't know what you're up to, and it's obvious you're not going to tell me, but I'm coming whether you like it or not." Drago sighed angrily.

"You are so stubborn it's maddening!"

"Get used to it!"

"Runo, Drago, enough!" Tigrerra cried. Runo crossed her arms and let out an audible "Hmph!", turning away. Drago growled, but floated off in the opposite direction. Tigrerra let out a groan as she jumped off Runo's shoulder in pursuit. "Drago, wait!"

"Milady, you must learn to control your anger," Splight said sharply. "If you are unwilling to do so, your temper could lead to dire consequences. Not to mention your pride." Runo let out an irritated sigh.

"I'm sorry, it's just..." She grumbled something inaudible, then glanced back at Fabia. Her glare melted when she saw the poor girl grimace again, and she sighed as Rafe, who had been kneeling beside the bed, picked up her hand in his own and squeezed it. She had a few cuts of her own on her face, but they were minor. She had a lot of gashes on her back, even though her Castle Knight uniform had protected her from the worst of the attack. Now, the uniform was tattered and torn, so Shun had gone to Nethia to retrieve the outfit she had first worn to Earth.

At the moment, Fabia wore nothing more than a hospital gown for easy access to her healing back. White sheets were pulled up to her chin, and her eyes were squeezed shut as a look of distress came over her. Her limbs were rigid beneath the sheets, and Runo felt a twinge of guilt stab her. Fabia had been this way since yesterday. It was her fault that they had ended up brawling against Kazarina and Stoica. Her anger had proved to have a greater hold over her than her logical reasoning.

Runo breathed out as her anger abated and she started forward through the door. She strode a few meters in the hall, then she closed her eyes, leaning against the wall. "I'm sorry," she murmured again. "I'm just... tense. I'm worried about Dan, and the fact that Drago doesn't want me over there where I might be able to help really... stings." Splight nodded in understanding. She sighed, feeling her eyes prick. "I miss him so much... He never called, he never wrote, he just... up and left. He didn't even tell me he was moving... So... I'm hurt that I can't help him at all, even though last week I didn't even want to have anything to do with him." She grinned half heartedly. "At the very least, I want to get him back so I can slap him for leaving me hanging!"

"You really love him, don't you?" Splight asked after a moment of silence. Runo's grin faded and she averted her gaze, glaring at the opposite wall.

"I wouldn't go that far..." she protested, hiding her blush. Splight chuckled and Runo smiled, walking again. Within moments, she had arrived at the closest access point, and waiting for her there were the familiar faces of Dr. Michael, Julie, Drago and Tigrerra. Runo felt her stomach twist once she caught sight of Drago, and her anger flared up again. Careful to keep a straight face despite her aggravation, she joined the group by taking her place beside Julie, who was leaning on her crutches. She gave Runo a smile, and it was evident that she had no knowledge of the heated battle of words that had taken place in the infirmary a few minutes ago.

"So, are we going?" Runo asked, careful to direct the question at Dr. Michael rather than Drago. If Drago noticed this, he gave no sign of it as he continued to hover in the air in between Julie and Dr. Micheal. Dr. Micheal turned his gaze toward the blue haired girl, then directed it back to the door to the hall.

"Not yet. As soon as Alice comes, then we'll go. I need her help with the new technology, because she knows how to use part of it better than me," he said. Runo nodded. Dr. Michael had explained beforehand that because he had made specific adjustments to the system, Alice's help was needed. At the moment, Alice was assisting Marucho, Ren, Keith, Gus and Mira in the command central for Bakugan Interspace. While Fabia was recovering, Mira had brought up the topic of the Death Bombs, and how those caught within were sent to another dimension. She explained that several experiments had been preformed on the Death Bombs, and they all helped arrive at the possibility that those caught within the portal had survived. Mira had suggested that Marucho and Ren help them with some of the calculations and tests, that way they could truly confirm their hypotheses. They were, at this point, unwilling to let someone go through a Death Bomb's portal, so they wanted to gather more information to confirm their predictions.

Runo nibbled on her lip, then glanced from the door to Julie. Julie was smiling at her reassuringly, and Runo glanced at the foot encased in a bright pink cast. Runo's face fell and she lifted a hand to her heart.

"Um, Dr. Michael?" she asked. He glanced at her. "Can I go ahead with Julie?" Julie blinked, startled, but then seemed to understand that her lack of mobility would be a liability to the group. Julie nodded in agreement with the suggestion, and Dr. Michael glanced at Drago.

"Are you okay with them going ahead?" he asked. Drago hesitated, and Runo felt her irritation stab her once more. Why couldn't Drago understand that she wanted to help?

"Drago, you know that I'll be slower than you guys," Julie said, feeling Runo's agitation. "I'll just slow you down unless I go ahead. And we need to go in pairs, remember?" Runo inwardly smirked, for she had almost forgotten that. Marucho and Shun had decided that in order to prevent further injury and risk, each brawler, unless they could handle themselves like Shun, would not leave Bakugan Interspace without a partner. Not only that, Shun had even gone as far as suggesting that each girl be partnered with a boy, but all the girls quickly shut down that suggestion. Julie and Mira had shouted at him that he was sexist, and that was the end of that. So, pairs were good enough.

Julie adding her voice to the argument seemed to support it better than Runo could alone, and after a few seconds of silence, Drago relented. "Fine. But go together." Runo nodded.

"We will," she vowed. She stepped forward then, into an access point. Julie swung herself up a small staircase, and got situated in an access point herself. Within seconds, the glass dome had lowered around them, and their transport began. Runo squeezed her eyes shut as a tingling came over her body, reminding her all too well of her close encounter with an eternity trapped between dimensions. Her toes vanished, and then, the rest of her did, too. The translation only took a few seconds, and before she knew it, she heard the dome lift in the real world.

Runo opened her eyes, taking in the now familiar scene before her of the private access point above Bakugan Interspace. She took a step forward and descended the small metal staircase, then turned to wait for Julie. Said bubbly girl appeared a moment later, and when the glass lifted, she swung herself out of the circular niche with ease. It took her a moment, but she reached Runo in the center of the room. An accusatory look of puzzlement had etched itself onto her face.

"Okay, what are we really doing?" she asked, eyeing her nervously. Runo averted her gaze, glaring at the wall as she turned away from her best friend. She stared at it for a minute, and when Julie opened her mouth to repeat the question, Runo took a step toward the door. Julie started after her, closing her mouth. Runo led them through the doors of the large computer-building about a minute later, and Julie was lagging behind already. "Runo, wait!" Julie protested, struggling to keep up with her friends brisk pace.

The automatic sliding doors slid open as Runo neared it, and she stopped when the sunlight hit her face. She had cleared the doors and now stood stiffly, breathing in the fresh air. The street was empty, and the twilight sky was a bright orange canvas streaked with red and pink. Large cumulous clouds hung in the sky like huge, immobile pillows of cream colored cotton candy. They inched along in the fading light with the speed of a snail. Their movement was almost undetectable. The orange behind them was so vibrant it rivaled even Runo's socks, which were a bright, creamsicle orange beneath her jeans and boots. Runo's eyes found the sinking sun; it was nothing more than a distant, sparkling penny. Runo couldn't see the ocean from where she stood, but she knew that the sunset must be a truly beautiful sight this evening.

"Runo," Julie whined as she came up behind the bluenette. "Why did you just start going so fast? You know I can't keep up!" Runo blinked, snapping out of her trance. She turned toward the irritated silver-haired girl, who was pouting, and gave her an apologetic glance.

"Sorry Julie," she said quietly, and Julie's pouting expression melted away. Runo turned her gaze upward once again, this time with Julie mimicking her, and gave a slight smile as a gentle breeze toyed with her hair. Julie shifted on her crutches, and the sound snapped her out of it. Runo sighed and took a step forward.

"Come on, I want to get there before them," Runo said shortly, crossing the distance between the doors and the stairs with ease. Julie swung herself forward and matched her pace with little difficulty, and the two descended the staircase together. That was when a powerful gust of wind forced Runo's pigtails to the side, and caused Julie's ponytail to whip up and down. The two girls grimaced, but continued on their way despite the occasional salty wind gust.

"So, why did you want to go so badly anyway?" Julie asked innocently. Runo glanced at her while Tigrerra and Splight popped out on her shoulders. Gorem floated in front of Julie, making it easier for her to limp through the streets. She didn't have to worry about knocking Gorem to the ground if he floated in front of her.

"Drago didn't want me to go to Dan's house," Runo said quietly. "He was dead set against it from the very beginning. I just had a shouting match with him in Fabia's room, and he was very, very mad. I don't know what his problem is, but if I can get there just a little before him, then I might have a chance at finding out exactly what he wants me to stay away from."

Julie looked skeptical at this excuse. "Runo, remember the last time you did something like this?" Runo's jaw clenched. "You got trapped between dimensions!" Julie announced, even though she knew both of them were fully aware of the answer.

"Julie is right, Runo," Gorem agreed. "Drago has his reasons."

"Oh yeah? Well if it were something that could hurt me, I'm sure that he wouldn't be letting those police officers and Dan's mother snoop around the crime scene," Runo snapped. "Besides, if it were something dangerous, he would have told me rather than let me get this curious."

"You make a good point," Julie agreed slowly, " but I still think this is a bad idea..."

"Let her do what she wants," Gorem sighed. "If she's getting herself into trouble, it'll be a good lesson in the long run." The group fell silent once again, with the constant "click" of Julie's crutches the rhythmic noise they all focused on.

It took them about ten minutes to reach Dan's house on foot, even with Julie's walking limitation. When they arrived, they discovered that the whole yard was surrounded by crime tape, and there were two police cruisers sitting out front. Runo and Julie stopped short when they saw this, taking a moment to exchange nervous glances. Runo had no idea that the house would be wrapped in crime tape, and all of a sudden, it seemed strange that they actually had clearance.

The two girls hesitated on the perimeter of the tape for a few moments, unsure if they should wait for Drago after all. Runo, as per usual, was not one to be deterred for very long, and quickly erased all doubts from her mind. Her stubborn side took over, and she straightened up, striding over to the edge of the yellow tape.

Before her fingers could touch it, though, the door of the house opened. Both girls jumped in surprise, and they glanced guiltily toward the figure that now blocked it. Runo's embarrassed facade only lasted about three seconds, though, and she quickly straightened up, sending her challenging gaze in the direction of the door. A police officer stood there, and it was obvious that underneath his uniform, he concealed a toned upper body. His arms were thick with muscle, and his face was clean shaven. His brown hair was cropped close to his head and his dark brown eyes seemed dull. His skin was slightly darker in color than that of a certain boy that Runo hadn't seen since she was twelve. He had a grave yet surprised expression on his face as he strode out over the lawn.

"Can I help you two?" he asked, sounding tired. Runo blinked.

"Uh, yeah. We're part of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, and we're here to help your investigation on the disappearance of Dan Kuso," Runo recited, pulling out a badge Marucho had given them. Julie fumbled with her pocket, but managed to retrieve her own badge. The officer blinked in surprise, then looked at Runo more closely.

"Oh, I remember you! You were one of the brawlers that fought that Bakugan Naga, right?" he questioned. Runo and Julie exchanged startled glances. Usually, the adults didn't notice that. Only the kids knew who it was that fought the final battle. Most adults didn't even know what a Bakugan was, so the fact that this man used the words "Bakugan", "brawler," and "Naga" in the same sentence was a bit unsettling.

"Yes," Splight said slowly. "And who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Officer Jefferson Brown. I've been assigned to this case," he introduced himself, extending a hand. Runo took it, and then Julie did.

"I'm Julie Makimoto," Julie told him. He nodded.

"I'm Runo Misaki." Jefferson frowned at her, and she raised an eyebrow at him. "How did you know about the Bakugan?" she questioned. He ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm Joe Brown's father," he said shortly, turning toward the police cruiser. Runo and Julie's eyes widened, and both girls let out audible gasps.

"Really?" Runo exclaimed.

"No way!" Julie cried. Jefferson shot them a grin that looked more like a grimace.

"Yeah..."

"Dan never told me that Joe lived in town!" Julie grumbled. Jefferson shook his head in response and the girls made confused noises in the back of their throats.

"He doesn't. His mother has custody over him," Jefferson said shortly, his expression darkening slightly. "He still lives in Wardington with her." Runo wasn't sure if it was the light or his sadness that caused the sudden change in facial expression, but it made her stomach twist slightly. His face returned to normal again a moment later, though, and he glanced over Runo's shoulder. He nodded in greeting to whoever was coming up behind the two girls, and this action prompted them to turn to look.

Drago was leading Dr. Michael and Alice down the street at an easy pace, and Runo flashed Alice a smile. The red haired girl smiled warmly back at her, but when her eyes slid past the bluenette, her smile faded. It seemed that the caution tape was what confirmed their friend's predicament, and instilled a feeling of fear in all of them.

"Hello, Dr. Michael, is it?" Officer Jefferson said timidly. Dr. Michael nodded.

"That is correct," he responded politely. "And you are...?"

"I am Officer Jefferson Brown, the officer assigned to this case," Officer Jefferson repeated, extending a hand to the old man. He took it and the two easily shook, and that was when Runo noticed the bag that the old man had been pulling behind him. It looked almost like a small, metal suitcase, but Runo knew otherwise. Inside, it contained intricate instruments whose capabilities she could just barely understand. Their makeup would be more complex than anything she could possibly comprehend, but she did know that whatever was inside that rolling suitcase would lead her to her boyfriend, wherever he was.

"Let's get down to business, shall we? You brought the equipment?" Jefferson asked, apparently eyeing the same thing that Runo was. Alice nodded at the police officer.

"Yes, Sir," she confirmed. "He needs my help to operate it." Jefferson nodded, then glanced at Drago.

"Do you think you can lead these two inside?" he asked. "Just take them around the house, but don't touch anything." Runo and Julie blinked in confusion.

"Wait a minute, why only Alice and Dr. Michael?" Runo asked. Alice hesitated for a moment, glancing from Runo to her grandfather to the authoritative officer in their midst. Dr. Michael didn't move either, confused. Jefferson waved them toward the house, clearly growing impatient.

"What about us?" Julie questioned as Drago floated across the caution tape and Dr. Michael and Alice ducked underneath. Runo was too confused at the moment to feel any anger, but she did feel a stab of irritation. Jefferson held up a finger and called after them as they crossed the yard.

"One of my colleagues is inside. He'll take you around and assist you as well as he can," he told them.

"Thank you!" Alice replied, shooting an apologetic look at Runo. She was peeved, and Alice winced, looking away. She didn't want to fall victim to Runo's anger, and yet, it pained her to leave her there. Runo was ignorant, and Alice was on her way to find answers. Alice could only imagine the conflicts running through the blue haired girl's mind as she lifted the heavy suitcase up the stairs on Dan's front porch.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Runo stormed once Alice had closed the door behind her. "We're here to help! Did Drago tell you not to let us..." Jefferson turned toward them, his eyes portraying his fatigue, and Runo fell silent. The dark circles under his eyes conveyed his lack of sleep, and now that she thought about it, Runo suspected that the man had been up ever since Dan disappeared, trying his best to solve the crime. Clearly, he was baffled. Dan had just vanished without a trace, and he couldn't wrap his mind around it.

"Come on girls," he sighed, suppressing a yawn. "How about I show you something that might help us find out more about what happened to Dan? We have to drive to get there." That caught the girls' attention, but before jumping at the opportunity for knowledge, they glanced at each other. Splight, Tigrerra, and Gorem all shifted to look at one another, surprised, then they looked up at their brawlers. Julie shrugged, and Runo turned back to Jefferson.

"Show me your badge, I.D., and drivers license, and I'll get in the car with you," Runo told him. Jefferson stared at her, but silently got out his wallet. He stared down at the brown leather item as he leafed through it, and Runo couldn't see his face. But when he looked up, he was smiling.

"Smart girl," he grinned, handing her the three items. She took them in one hand and glanced at them, confirming that his name was Jefferson Brown, and that he had been a police officer for ten years. He was thirty five years old. When she was satisfied, she nodded, then handed the items back to him. He smiled at her, then replaced the cards and badge. He returned his wallet to his pocket, then headed over to the car. The girls followed, and Runo opened the back door for Julie. The Sub-Terra brawler sat down with a grateful smile directed toward Runo, who flashed her a smile in return. Then, she started to get into the cruiser as well, but sat in the front seat when Jefferson beckoned her. She buckled herself in, and Jefferson pulled away from the curb.

The group was silent for about thirty seconds while the car smoothly glided down the street, but Runo's impatience got the better of her.

"So, are we going to the evidence locker or something at the police station?" Runo asked, peering sideways at Jefferson. He glanced at her and turned the corner, flipping down the visor above his head when the setting sun flashed in his eyes. Runo did the same, squinting.

"No," he said after a moment. Runo's eyebrows creased. "I actually wanted to get you away from the house." Runo could feel the word 'trap' rising to her lips, and when she glanced in the rearview mirror, she could see the apprehension reflected on Julie's face. Runo nibbled on the inside of her lip and placed her hand on the door handle at her side. Tigrerra and Splight both closed their balls and dropped down into Runo's lap, where her other hand closed around them. Jefferson detected her movements out of the corner of his eye and quickly backtracked.

"No, I'm not a bad guy," he assured them. "I work for the state. You saw my badge. I can be trusted, and if you don't believe me, I can call Joe up." Runo let her hands relax. Jefferson braked at a stoplight, and he turned his head to look at Runo. "We secured all evidence at the scene of the crime that could be potentially useful in our investigation," he began, "so, we have a lot of evidence. There was one item that we are particularly interested in, however, and we think that you might be a big help in confirming our suspicions." Runo was surprised and opened her mouth to say so, but Julie beat her to the punch.

"But we have had less contact with him than Shun and Marucho, and even Jake," she protested. "Why are you asking us for our opinion?" Jefferson jumped when a car horn let out a fierce tirade of honks, alerting him that the light had changed from red to green. He angrily honked back in reply, but proceeded through the intersection.

"There was a letter found when we investigated the house for the first time," he said to them. "It was addressed to Runo Misaki." Runo stared at him, her lips parted in surprise. He glanced at her, then back at the road as he pulled over in a parking lot. Jefferson put the vehicle in park as he continued to speak. "We decided not to open it until we had you here. We have some insight on the contents, but we suspect that some references made in the text might be intended specifically for you and therefore useless to us. So, now that you're here..." He pulled a clear evidence bag out of the glove compartment in front of Runo, and inside it, was a white envelope. He held it up, it's back to Runo. Her mouth fell open. On the back was indeed Dan's untidy handwriting. Her address was spelled correctly, and the format was perfect. All of the information was correct, and she had a suspicion that Dan had finally used a phone book.

She reached out her hand without even realizing it, longing to touch the one thing intended specifically for her by the one she loved so dearly, but Jefferson quickly yanked his hand back. Runo's face fell in disappointment at this sudden movement, and she scowled as she sat up.

"Do you promise to use all of the information you receive in this letter to benefit this case?" Jefferson questioned. Runo glared at him.

"If it is nothing that will help you, will you let me keep it?" she bartered. Jefferson watched her for a minute, taking in her slightly bloodshot eyes, her pink cheeks, and the stubborn gaze that kept him rooted to the spot. He realized that there would be no chance of getting her to read the letter, even though she was dying for information, if he didn't agree to let her keep it. He hesistated for a minute, Drago's warning ringing in his ears. "Don't give the letter to Runo Misaki. She can't handle that information right now," he had said. "She's impulsive, and she loves Dan a lot, even though she's been hurt by him before. If you get her hopes up, she won't just sit by and let you take the opportunity away. She'll jump at it, just like Dan will."

Runo's hand clenched the door handle as she watched him, hoping desperately that he would allow her to read the letter and keep it, too. She could only imagine what Dan could have written. Apologies for the countless days spent fearfully anticipating the news of his death, for leaving her without any explanations, or for the unlikelihood that he had bought an apartment for the two of them. She knew the last one was more than unlikely, but she couldn't help but hope. Dan was the world to her. If she couldn't get him back, she wasn't sure what she would do.

Jefferson finally sighed, giving in. Runo's eyes lit up, and she took the bag when he held it out to her.

"We've fingerprinted the envelope," he said, looking at her wearily as she tore open the evidence bag. "We haven't tampered with the letter itself yet, so if we could dust it-"

"Shush!" Runo snapped, having retrieved the envelope. Jefferson narrowed his eyes at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry," she replied automatically. The reflex hadn't hidden the rudeness of the apology. Years of talking back to teachers had embedded the response deep in her mind, and now, she didn't have to think about it at all. Her hands brushed over the paper lightly, and she regarded it nervously for a moment. She didn't know what was hidden inside the envelope. She only hoped it would contain helpful news. She quickly glanced back at Julie, who looked just as anxious as she was, and then slipped her fingers underneath the folded portion of the paper.

The seal separated from the lower flap, and Runo felt her stomach knot. Her fingers now acted on their own accord, disregarding Runo's apprehensiveness. She licked her lips as they closed around a thin sheet of folded paper nestled in the body of the envelope. Gingerly, she drew the letter out, and placed the envelope in her lap. Eagerly, she unfolded the paper, recognized Dan's untidy scrawl, and began to read.

Okay I'll end it here, and then I'll give you the next part in a little bit. I'm almost done, but this chapter was just WAY too long. It's about fifteen pages now, so I'll break it up a bit more. You'll get the letter next, don't worry! And by next, I mean within the next 24 hours. Give or take. Sorry about the long update, but I have been SO busy with school it's a nightmare. I only got to write about 3 nights this week, and most of that was when I was in the car, or at midnight. So... yeah... I'm sleep deprived. -_-

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