Ah, yes, I remember how I told myself that I will not use my powers because humans might see me flying around at the speed of a jet and freak out a little… Well, scrap all that I guess!

This is kind of an emergency and I, as I soar through the skies above a small city, mentally pray for not a single soul to look up into the sky and see a slightly panicking, floating, white robe clad, child that currently stuck in the air like some cheap video-game asset.

Alright, that's an undersaying, not slightly, full mode panic happening right here, right now.

I take my eyes away from my bookkeeper for a few seconds and then I don't see her for a few hours. Can't sense her too because my mamodo seeking abilities can target only other mamodos, which is the complete opposite of what I need at the moment.

"This is my book, why can't I just feel it? What's the point of having a book that keeps you chained to this world if you can't even sense it's presence…", I grumble under my breath in a weak attempt to calm myself down. The evil cackling of "original owner" that rings through my head isn't helping in the slightest!

This is fine. Everything is fine. No need to worry about Koko being in possible danger! EVERYTHING IS FINE GODDAMNIT, STOP PANICKING!

Oh, as fun as it is to watch you break your neck and get your hair in knots over this human girl… I think that's enough. Stop being so pathetic - you're giving me a bad image.

"Well excuse me for having a normal reaction to a highly stressful situation! Koko is our Bookkeeper and if she's in danger - our book could be in danger too, just letting you know."

Ugh, fine, I'll help you find her. But this is only one time thing and I am doing it because your whining is annoying!

"Oh? And how, may I ask, you plan on-" I startle as the world suddenly loses colors around me, the world succumbs to the darkness and all I can see is… auras?

As weird as it sounds, feels and looks, it's like I have opened my eyes and now I literally sense everyone, everything that has a beating pulse, below me.

In my shock I haven't even noticed that I've accidentally risen up too much, making myself an easy target for a few yawners who already, by the looks of their auras, pointed their fingers at the weird human-shaped white thing in the sky.

I fall too quickly and hit the leafy crown of a tree that, thankfully, makes the fast landing more bearable. Would be super nice if I could see things beside people and animals in this weird "Heart Vision" mode… But I guess I'll have to work with what I have (still, it would be nice to have more control over it).

This new ability is actually awesome - I can see, literally see, human hearts! I can feel their emotions, can sense what kind of person they are, manipulate them if needed, shape their hearts to my desire… But most importantly, I think I can find Koko's heart signature in no time!

And I actually do, just in under a minute.

I see Koko, alive and well, standing at the entrance to the park, her aura shape tells me she holds something close to her face but it's too big to be my book. Her translator glossary or park brochure maybe? Ah, no time to ponder over it, I need to get to her!

Just as I jump down from the tree my vision returns back to normal and I have to blink back a few tears as the brightness of the world hits my eyes. I almost miss the black void that "Heart Vision" provided. Almost.

I rub my eyes last time and lightly jog to the park entrance, smiling, when I see Koko turning her head to me as I approach her.

"Oh, there you are, Zofis!" She greets me with a small but gleeful hand wave. "I just saw that there's a restaurant just outside the park that sold very good dango! Really wanted to try them out, they smelled delightful!" She says as she rubs the back of her head in shame. "I uh, I guess I was so hungry I forgot about you… Sorry!"

I just stare at her as she gives a nervous chuckle and offers me her second dango stick.

She what?! Did this pathetic worm just…?! LEFT?! ME?! FOR FOOD?!

I bite into the first ball without saying anything, not to Koko, not to real Zofis (who, for some reasons, really angry about her leaving us. I mean, I am upset too, but this guy is just going on a rant at this point). Thankfully, the treat appears to be sweet enough to calm him down after he spews only three paragraphs of pure hatred.

"...But the cashier was so nice! She even told me where I can buy fruits at the lowest price!", Koko shares what she's been doing while I was losing my mind trying to find her. Well, at least one of us had a good time.

"Oh, also, I met that one boy, he had a mamodo book too!" She suddenly says and I almost choke and fall over from the sheer shock as the joy in her voice keeps rising, as she cheerfully says that she met another Bookkeeper! In broad daylight! WHILE BEING COMPLETELY ON HER OWN, ALONE!

She seems to notice my distress and her attitude tones down a bit. Only for a bit.

"Ah, don't worry about it! He didn't even seen mine in the bag!" She tries to reassure me as I notice I started hyperventilating. The images of clowns and swords (when the heck this THAT GUY had time to slip into my mind?!), I can't have a fight like this again! Not while old wounds still hurt and the memories still fresh! Especially without Brago and Sherry for back up!

"He was actually very nice and he even knew French, can you imagine? We talked for only five minutes or so, though, but he appears to be such a good guy! I don't think he'd want to fight me if he found out I had a book." She says, rubbing circles in my back in an attempt to calm me down. It's, somehow. actually works and I can feel my breath become steady.

I take a deep inhale and then let it out. Few more times, just to make sure I won't break in the next three seconds.

"What did he looked like?" I ask, instinctively scanning the empty pavement we're walking on right now.

"Oh, well…" She goes into thinker mode and I can see by the frown on her face that she isn't best at remembering things. "He was around this tall. Black short hair. Dark eyes… I think? Standart boy japanese school uniform… Or was it just black pants and a white t-shirt?.. Oh, and the book he was holding was red!"

Does she even know how little it narrows it down?

"... Anything else worth noting?" I say, mentally sighing.

"Oh yeah! He had a little brother with him! That guy was short, had bright blonde, almost gold hair. Wore a dark-blue dress like a robe with cute ribbon! Also his eyes were such a vivid shade of orange and… Wait." She suddenly stops as if realization hit her.

"... This wasn't his little brother, was it?" I guess and she nods.

"Yep. Uh, I think, maybe, it was a mamodo." She whispers and I can almost feel my evil twin giving himself a facepalm deep inside my head as my own feelings rise up and I… I just feel sick.

"... Maybe?" I inhale and force panic down. Not the time to get all traumatic and crap, no time to deal with feelings! Down you go, stupid emotions! I'll deal with you after I feel safe and sound enough to have a mental breakdown! "Yeah, alright, so... A scholar with a red book. Got it."

"Zofis, you don't look very well. How about we return back to the hotel and just rest for the end of the day?" She says, giving my shoulder a small reassuring pat.

"Yeah, no, it's fine. I'll be fine, I'm just…" Nope, nope nope nope. We're not talking about this! Change the theme! Change the theme! "Why don't we just finish our tour? I just feel a little lightheaded and all I need some fresh air-"

"We're already outside."

"Yes, but I was talking about even fresher air. All those car fumes and stale air gives me headache!" I spread my arms dramatically, only now noticing that the roads were near, having had its last car drive by an hour ago.

Koko eyes me suspiciously, glaring first at me, then at the empty road, then at the trees that grew near the pavement, then back at me.

We went back to our hotel room right after.

"We should tell Sherry about it." I say uncomfortably, as I sit on the bed's edge and kick my legs in the air.

"I mean, we didn't do anything? And this bookkeeper boy doesn't even know I am a bookkeeper also! He hasn't even seen you." Koko retorts as she leaves the bathroom, still holding her toothbrush in hand.

"Well, he surely will soon. Argh, I should've listened to my senses when I felt another mamodo nearby back at the park!" I curse myself dragging a hand across my hair.

"Eh? You did?"

"Yes, right before I lost you. Back then I thought that maybe it was just my imagination… But now. If I felt this mamodo - they sure as heck felt me. And that means they already know there's a brand new opponent in town! We need to call Sherry!"

Koko gives a light humm as I fidget with my hair. This other mamodo is strong enough to hide their presence from me! I couldn't sense them even while I was in "Heart Vision"!

"I still… I don't think we should." She says slowly and I look at her as if she just said the dumbest thing in the world. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I know what Sherry said about us calling her if something bad happens. But nothing did. And, yes, I know I am being foolish… But I don't want to trouble her. She's already busy, clearing France with Brago from other mamodos. I don't want her to drop everything and rush to our aid."

She… She was right. As much as I hate the idea of us being left in Japan with unknown threats all alone, having to keep in mind that there's a possible, openly hostile mamodos back in France is somehow even worse. At least this mamodo didn't throw all his worst the moment he felt me? Did they not think of me as a worthy opponent, worth fighting with? Maybe… Maybe everything isn't as bad as we think?

I groan and let my head fall back on bed with a soft "umph" sound.

"Okay, we wait two more days. We act carefully, see and prob around but not too much, try to figure out the mamodo we're dealing with to the best of our abilities, without getting their attention. If it gets dangerous - we're calling Sherry in a heartbeat." I finally give in and Koko gives me a cheery thumbs up with her free hand.

"You worry too much Zofis! I'm sure everything will be A-okay!" She gives me a thumb up and goes back to the bathroom, leaving me alone with my worries and thoughts.

This one is strong. They hid their heartbeat. We won't be able to take them down in a fight.

"I know, it's not that hard for me to connect the dots."

Just making sure to tell you that. You tend to act like a total fool sometimes. I don't want this body to wither and die because of your stupidity and rush actions.

"I don't want to die either but there's hardly anything we can do about this. We are still in no shape to put out a fight and, even if we send Sherry SOS, it'd take her and Brago half a day to get here." I sigh. "All we can do is just... Stay low and watch."

Can't believe we're finally agreeing on something for once. Still... We need Sherry and Brago to come here as soon as possible.

I frown as my eyes land on the Koko's phone on the bedside coffee table.

"She won't like it."

Oh please, Sherry would fall over the heels to go out and find a reason to help her loved one.

"I wasn't talking about Sherry." I corrected my worse half.

And? I am sorry (not really), but isn't it better if she's just upset at you for neglecting her trust than her being dead, caught in mamodo's battle crossfire, no?

I frown, deeply in thought, before dropping a quick glance at the bathroom's closed door. The light noise of running water reaches my ears, telling me that Koko is still busy, and I take a small nudge closer to the coffee table.

I will regret about it later, won't I?

[author note: oiiii hiiiiii

im not ded

hoorayyyy

Tru Zofis is a jerk, Fake Zofis noooo what ur doing noooo, dont lisssen to 'em nuuuu]