A/N: This is the longest chapter I have published yet. So be ready... More Noblesse characters are making their appearance here. Also there are some no so good news here about what happened to some characters after the end of the war...So be prepared...

As always I do not own anything except of this story and the OCs.

Chapter 5: Leave the tail, chase the cat

Haji knew that Frankenstein wasn't a person to be messed with. But, he couldn't help thinking that the people that supposedly were keeping the existence of the Noblesse and the others, were doing exactly that.

They were both suspecting that the energy traces that kept popping up, no matter weak, were never ending because someone was kept alive. Usually the Nobles were the ones radiating their energy - werewolves were giving off a different aura - so they had focused on that for now. Their latest technology systems were on track but every time they would get close, they would lose them. It was as if someone was tugging the carrot in front of them with the intention of never giving it.

Frankenstein had left half an hour ago to go outside – Haji suspected the reason…probably to destroy something in order not to destroy the facility itself.

He could feel that awful dark energy springing through the walls, even though he knew that Frankenstein went far away where there is no trace of civilization. Actually he felt like he would have been killed when the last flop of investigation happened. They were ready to go there actually; to the place where the trace of Noble energy was found. Frankenstein was halfway there as he was running like the wind, when Haji told him through the communications that the trail was lost. He remembered how his voice trembled when he said that; he had a small fear that Frankenstein would blame him for the failure and most likely eradicate his existence from afar.

Thankfully for Haji that didn't happen. The furious scientist came back, got inside, checked the screens and the numbers and told his companion that he would be outside for a little while…Haji got the message though. And he could understand Frankenstein's frustration; even though it had been three months of searching, it was some intense searching. He could only hope that the next time they would get to them fast enough.

He sighed. It was a difficult day and it wasn't looking as if it would end soon. He, himself wasn't exactly sure where he was standing; was he with them because he owed them his life, because he was afraid of them or because he was caring about them? Sometimes he was thinking that he was just on autopilot because everything else he had cared for were no more. He smiled to himself. He was used to it, so it wasn't as much of a bother…still…

'Remember Haji, always survive and find the high ground in order to stay safe. Survival is something you should value more than money'. That was his father's last words to him when he last saw him and he took those by heart. Maybe he was doing it for survival. Regardless, one thing was sure; Frankenstein did whatever he did out of true devotion to his Master, as he called him. And Haji respected that.

...Lukedonia…At the Landegre lands…inside a mansion…

The former clan leader of the Landegre Clan was quietly drinking his tea and reading his books. No matter how much he had lived, he never got tired of pursuing knowledge and he would encourage his grandson to do the same as long as it was in his hands to do so. He could see that Regis had a thirst for learning more and more every time they would have a meeting together or a study session. But despite all that, the last two days he was looking at him and he was seeing deep thinking and even daydreaming. Gejuntel smiled to himself; even though Regis was a good student at covering his emotions he still had nothing to his grandfather... 'He will learn' Gejuntel thought 'I just don't know if I will be there to witness him surpassing me'. He shook his head; Thinking like this wasn't good.

He got up from the sofa and walked inside the spacious room and it felt so depressing. These rooms were supposed to be filled with as many persons as they could fit- full of laughing and dancing. The silence rarely pleased him the last few months. It was not a peaceful silence, more like the silence of the battlefield at the end of the day giving you chills on your back.

Suddenly he felt someone approaching his chambers and that someone didn't take the time to hide themselves. It was Regis. One minute away from hitting the door asking for permission to enter.

And so he did. Gejuntel happily accepted him inside and offered him a beverage which his grandson respectfully and with most elegance, declined. It was obvious that this visit had a very important purpose.

He was patient. He would give Regis his time to express his mind.

They sat on the sofas, facing each other in silence. Regis was thinking over and over again how to start this conversation. Gejuntel decided that after half an hour in complete silence he would let the youngling be tortured no more.

"What is it that you have come here to visit me for, Regis?" he started straight to the point and saw his grandson visibly relax. It was most intriguing for the older Noble to watch that happening. He wondered what would follow.

"Grandfather, I believe I have to discuss some things with you" Regis explained. "So if you please listen to me and offer me your piece of mind on the matter, I would be most grateful"

"Go on, Regis; you have my attention" he assured him "What is the matter you wish to talk to me about?" he knew that this conversation would happen sooner or later.

"Everything that already happened and about what we can affect in the future"

Generic answer but Gejuntel got the point. Regis was never talking about the clouds and the air. He actually wanted to discuss the most important things.

"Grandfather, do you think wise of us to return to the humans one last time?" Regis asked in a serious tone.

Gejuntel was a little surprised at that. For Regis to think straight way about going back to the humans when the situation was critical like that…it was a little childish he thought at the beginning…but then again, he reminded to himself that Regis was a child still. He may have had to be forced into very difficult high-responsibility situations, but he still had been hanging from his childish desires and ways.

"Why are you asking me that, Regis? I believe you already know the answer very well"

"I had a conversation with Seira and Rael…I think, that we are still missing them..."

"It's only natural…You have spent a long time with them and regardless of how they perceive time, three months are not that long to forget"

"Especially when you are the only one remembering…" said Regis with a longing to eyes. He didn't know exactly how much was overwritten in their memories as Rael was one who did the process. But it was pretty obvious from their last conversation that he didn't let any room for sentimentalities. At that day, Regis' hopes were gone…and he actually didn't blame Rael neither was he mad at him; he actually did what he had to do.

Regis' grandfather sighed. He was an elder Noble but also a grandfather. How could he answer without hurting the young man's feelings? He was tired, very tired.

Regis saw his discomfort and mistook it for disappointment and irritation with him.

"I'm sorry for offending you" he said as he slightly bowed and got up to leave "I know the right way, you are correct. As a clan leader, even young, rest assured that I will not do anything that would jeopardize Lukedonia's future and wellbeing" he declared quickly and left without another word, feeling embarrassed that he would even go to his former clan leader to ask such a question. He had hoped though...

He suddenly stopped in the hallway and leaned on a big marble column. Who was he kidding? He actually hoped that he would hear that it was alright to go back to the humans; to meet not only the children, but those humans as well, Tao, Takeo and M-21. Even if he was a clan leader, even if Lukedonia was practically headless right now, even though Rozaria and Kei were…He placed his hands on his face. How could he and Seira leave their land when so many people went to eternal sleep? They understood that Rozaria and Kei were no longer with them by the fact that their soul weapons were passed down to their next of kin. Rozaria's younger sister and Kei's only son who was only 153 years old – but thankfully had his mother and his uncle to guide him until he was of age. Rosaria's sister was about Rael's age but she had a long way in front of her too. 'We are all so young' he thought 'The only ones older than us are sir Karias, the Tradio Clan leader, sir Ludis and my grandfather. Huh, and we don't know if the Lord is alive or not'.

Suddenly a feeling of laughing overcame him; and he did so, as a couple of tears escaped from his eyes. He wiped them and his stoic face was back on. As clan leader his responsibility was to make sure of his kin's wellbeing, especially in these dark times of unsureness. He moved forward, embarrassed not only for his personal wishes, but also for the fact that he was unable to grant them.

The silence, that he so dreadfully was frightened by, was back into the room. Gejuntel closed his eyes in sadness. It really saddened him to see his grandson like that. Thrown into responsibilities of a clan leader so soon, while he only took a small taste of life, Regis was fighting inside him, and he was fighting hard. Gejuntel could tell as much. But with more than half of the clan leaders being dead or underage, it was a difficult situation should an enemy arrive at their doorstep. It was bad before, and eventually Frankenstein and the Noblesse had appeared then. Now it would be catastrophic. He mentally apologized to Regis, but he wouldn't tell him what he desired just yet. He got up and went to the archives. He had some work to do.

…At a garden not far away…

Claudia Tradio was tending to her botanical garden with great care. She was determined to have twice the supplies she usually had. The times were unsure and she was afraid, if anything happened she would have to provide a lot of her remedies. Not only for unlike injuries or serious damage but it looked like there was a need by many Nobles of a calming draught or the like. Many were upset by the disappearing of their Lord as it never had happened before. No one dared to assume anything as there wasn't an actual descendant of the Lord; not a child or a sibling. Nobody knew what would happen if a childless and without siblings Lord went to eternal sleep. Not even Gejuntel knew. Most of the days he would be found inside the archives, trying to find information and being prepared for the worst.

She paused and thought of him fondly. For her, he was more than just a man who provided protection; he was a guardian and a teacher, a father and an older – much older – brother…more like a grandfather she was blessed with. Everyone had great respect for him because of how old he was and how wise he proved to be time and time again. But she respected him because of how big of a heart he had. When he took her under his wing, after the betrayal of her father and the other clan leaders, he didn't think even once that she would also betray them. That was how much he believed in her and she was determined to do the best she could in order to help him and the whole Lukedonia.

"It's rather windy today to be outside, don't you think Miss Claudia?"

It was her loyal servant and friend Dirac. One of the few members of the Tradio Clan that decided to stay with Claudia and defy their previous Leader and his betraying actions.

"Dirac, I'm making sure the wind won't break any of my plants. I will be inside in a minute" she said as she was binding the last small tree to a wood in older not to get broken.

"Of course. I also wanted to tell you that someone from the Blerster Clan is here asking for you"

"Oh, yes I was expecting him. Please tell him I will be there shortly. I'm done here anyway"

They went inside and after going to clean her hands and change clothes, she met with her guest.

"My lady"

"Hello Saris are you here for the tea?" she smiled. Her blend was always wanted by a certain outgoing clan leader. He once declared that it was a heavenly experience to drink such a tea. Claudia always provided him with that particular blend, meant to relax the body and clear the mind.

"Yes my lady, if you please"

"I have the bag here" she said as she went to a wooden drawer. "There you have it. Please tell sir Karias that he is always welcome in my house"

The servant took the bag from her hands and bowed in respect.

"Thank you my lady, I will tell him so" and with that he left in haste.

Claudia dropped her smile and looked out of the window. East from her window, several kilometers away, were the grounds of the Blerster Clan. Even though Nobles sometimes could take several months or even years to meet one another in times of peace, in the light of the recent events, they would communicate at least once a month in order to check things out and to keep the situation as steady as possible. But Karias Blerster, would never send a letter or appear in person; to anyone at that. Claudia had an idea why, but she was yet to confirm it. She thought to herself that if the Blerster Clan leader would not come soon out of his mansion…someone had to drag him out of it. She smiled as she thought of the image. It would remain to be seen she supposed.

…Frankenstein's base facility…the afternoon…

"Glad to see you didn't destroy the whole forest" said Haji as Frankenstein returned with ruined clothes, dirty face and his hair tangled like a bird's nest. If Haji didn't value his life, he might have laughed at the sight. But he wasn't crazy or in a mood to die.

"Huh" was Frankenstein's only answer, as he passed Haji and went to the upper floor where a couple of showers were. He wasn't up to do any unnecessary talking. His mind was blank of thoughts anyway. Even the evil spirits got quieter – 'but they never really shut up' –. His eyes fell on the duffel bag Takeo had brought the previous night and his shoulders visibly relaxed. He went through it and found clean clothes but also toiletries and shampoo. He sighed and took what was necessary. They put a towel there too. 'How much did they stuff this bag with?'

The water was a blessing to his muscles and his nerves. Haji had made it possible that there was always warm water but the deposit would always run out very quickly. The shower ended, the drying ended and Frankenstein was now buttoning his clean white shirt. The whole time he tried not to listen to the voices inside him. It was getting more and more challenging by the second.

{…damn you!}

{We curse you Frankenstein!}

{You cannot even find your own Master!}

That particular voice was most irritating right now.

{You couldn't find him back then, you won't be able to find him now! Incompetent! That is what you are! Incompetent! Useless! Useless!}

{Yes! You are a disgrace! DISGRACE…DISGRACE…}

{DISGRACE…DISGRACE!}

"Hahahaha….And you all are mine to control! You are getting controlled by the most disgraceful human being! Oh how much you must like it!" he was screaming maniacally at them! His face was turning crazier by the second. Somehow he forgot that he was still speaking with his actual mouth and not in his mind. He checked to see if Haji heard the commotion and when it was clear he returned in his mental conversation.

The inside of his mind was a swirl of darkness and death. The hate was so much that it was starting to form shadows all around. The power of the Dark Spear was roaming around like a caged animal waiting to be released. The ones devoured by it were only serving as fuel to the fire as they had become one with it and their hate and fear had become their weapon against the actual host. Frankenstein was not afraid of them…

{Don't kid yourself Frankenstein, the worst of humans}

{You always worry about us and you are always looking behind your back}

{One day we will take over you just like everyone else, you will become a part of us}

"Don't flatter yourselves you despicable ones, I wouldn't let my consciousness be conquered by you ever; no matter how many centuries you lived inside me you never adopted my style and elegance anyway" he answered in disgust as he was standing cockily in the middle of them all.

{Curse you Frankenstein!}

The voices were coming from all around his mind. Frankenstein knew that part of his mind too well and he made sure to put a mental fence around it so it wouldn't spread its malevolent poison to the parts where he was keeping his humanity, and whatever he could save from his sanity. He hated connecting with that place without a serious reason.

{You are a completely useless servant! How long do you think it will take you to find him now?}

{Are you sure you are going to survive for that long, a second time?}

{We will devour you this time, before you can find him!}

"ENOUGH!"

His voice sounded more enraged than ever but the evil inside him wasn't affecting him. His range came from disgust more than anything.

"Never talk about my master" his whole body was shaking, even though he was really screaming inside his head "You soil him even by mentioning him, with your filthy mouths! You are afraid! Yes, you are afraid of me finding him because you know that he was the one who helped me put a leash on you! Despicable, vile things of darkness! Hear me out! I will not die until I find my master and make sure he is living the rest of his life blissfully! You hear me?! Now back off or I'm going home sooner and get you to enjoy that woman's presence you all so much loathe!"

His voice was echoing to the vast space of his mind and soul that the blackness had taken. The annoying voices that were drilling his mind had subdued to little murmurs that were too afraid to raise their voice. The Dark Spear's energy overall calmed down and Frankenstein was able to finish dressing. It was becoming a regular occurrence for the evil inside him to try to rile him up lately but, if Frankenstein was honest with himself, this time was the first time he got them to shut up so quickly. He thought of how enraged he felt at the mention of his Master. He knew that was the wrong line for them – or anyone – to step onto but the final straw that made them give up their rant, was the mention of…

He then raised his head from tying his shoes and his mind started calculating and making new courses of action. It was weird and interesting the fact that Sara's presence was able to make them feel uncomfortable….But perhaps her abilities were much stronger than he first thought. If the Dark Spear itself didn't want it then perhaps she actually did deserve a chance. At the beginning he was just offering her shelter for he had seen what the Union was capable of and then he would slowly make her useful in the search or maybe, if the things would get down to it, the hunt for his Master, that Muzaka bastard and Raskreia. Now, however he thought that her abilities might have a bigger value, but also a bigger risk. He suddenly felt an urge to go back home, not only to feel a little bit more relaxed and away from his demons but also because he wanted to be sure that his boys would be alright around her.

As he was walking down the stairs to find Haji, he was thinking that the boys hadn't contacted since Takeo left with her. It had been almost a day since then and he felt like he had to check on them.

As he reached to the room he saw that Haji was asleep on his desk. He couldn't blame him, but he was way too busy to care too much about it at the moment. He went to the main computer or 'The Brain' as it was named and searched for the last trace of….

His eyes bulged out. His speculation was right. Someone was behind all this and they were playing them like marionettes. The trace was not only lost like it never had been there, but the coordinates that were forming, were showing a place thousands of miles away from the previous point. They needed a way to stop chasing their tails and find his Master; in a way that wasn't going to be deceived so easy…

He checked the clock as it read 5:00 in the afternoon. He made a mental note to call home in an hour. He wanted to be sure that all of them would be at the house. But first…he had to look around a little bit. Getting some extra information about his new guest was wise after all. She wasn't dangerous as far as her intentions could go, he could feel that, but he was sure that she was hiding things; things that might help him find his Master. Perhaps he could find some scripted documents about her case, even though he didn't really know her case number or if the name she gave them was her real one.

He went down at the stairs at the floor that he found her.

"So, the searching begins" he said out loud and he felt a small twirling in his dark shadows, like child that couldn't sit still. He wanted to ignore it but this time his curiosity got the better of him. He was a scientist after all. But some things never change...

"What now?!"

{Why are you going to search things about that woman? She was sooo unpleasant}

{Yes, unpleasant}

{Are you going to find things that are going to help her?}

A great amount of different hisses was heard inside the shadows.

{Or…are you going to search for things to help you weaken her?}

{Yes! Weaken her!}

{Are you going to find her weaknesses?}

{Can we fight her?}

"Enough! Hurl back to the darkness, you retched things of hate and misery and stop wasting my time with useless questions! Besides isn't it obvious?" he asked at the end with one of the most cunning of his smiles decorating his face.

The dark shadows stopped their constant chatting for two seconds to focus on Frankenstein.

"I am obviously looking both for information that will help her and that are going to help me; things that will reveal to me…her weaknesses" he knew that the ranting would stop now that he gave them an answer that satisfied them. Besides who said that he was naïve enough to trust that woman fully?

…Seoul…near a park next to YERAN Highschool…

Takeo and M-21 decided to walk back home. Actually it was M-21's idea. Takeo just wanted to go back and see how Sara was doing. Had she woken up? Was Tao driving her crazy with his questions and talking? Was she actually safe to be around? Things like that, were driving his curiosity to the wall and he was frustrated that they had to walk back home.

Every once in a while M-21 wanted to walk back home, instead of jumping from roof to roof. Takeo couldn't fathom why.

"Say, Takeo, what you think of our new guest?" asked M-21 as he was watching the sky slowly turning into a darker hue. He sounded really skeptical.

"I don't really know M. She fainted when she walked in and from what Tao texted me, she woke up several hours after we left…I only know what I already told you from Frankenstein"

"But…you were with her on your way home…didn't she say anything?"

Takeo smirked knowingly.

"If you are asking whether I psychoanalyzed her, yes I tried. You could tell the physical and emotional wear and she is supposed to be non-trusting to others given the place she was until now…but other than the basics she wouldn't talk to me much and she would just gaze outside"

M-21 now seemed even more skeptical. Takeo's answer wasn't soothing his worries about the new situation. He was still gazing at the sky. The darker it became the nearer at home they were.

"Now M let me ask you what you think of Sara?" sounded Takeo after a few minutes of silence.

M-21 turned to look at his comrade and saw that he too had a skeptical facial expression that looked to be directed to him actually more than the situation with Sara.

"I think…that she will either be an important ally or a real troublemaker…either way she came to stir the water of our lives; to better or worse, I don't know…"

He watched as Takeo's face was changing from skeptical, to surprised, to barely holding his laughter until he finally burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?!"

Takeo then stopped and looked at M-21 with something that could be called fondness.

"Oh M…You know Frankenstein said something similar when I asked him about her. Hm… I think they have started rubbing on us…especially you, since you have been with them a little bit longer"

"Them…you mean…"

"Yeah, Frankenstein and sir Raizel. You know I believe we should start using his name again! He is not dead… just missing. Let's not avoid referring to him like he is the plague"

"My, my, Takeo, I don't know about Frankenstein but I can tell that Tao has definitely rubbed his overly positive thinking on you"

"He has not! I am just trying to bring out my positive side!"

M-21 laughed. He then understood that he needed that more than ever.

"You? Having a positive side? Oh how I remember you when I met you…"

"Shut up, that was different! And you were no better…" he answered with a smile on his face.

"I never aspired to be the cheerful one of the group!"

"Hahaha…true, but maybe you need to try it"

"Yeah….yeah maybe I do…" M-21 sobered suddenly. They were there. Back at home at last.

To be continued...

A/N: The servants Dirac and Saris are my OCs. I believe it is interesting to see many characters of the story and how they are all affected by the events that took place in the 544 chapter.

I hope you are not too sad about Kei and Rozaria...It would occur to me that Kei would voluntarily take the most hit of the missile and Rozaria even though strong, would not be too good in defence. They are both great characters though!

Also I made Frankenstein being able to have a mental conversation with Dark Spear while he is doing other things (like dressing himself).

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So how do you like it so far? I would like to know. Please be polite...AND...have a nice day~