Time of Woe

by Kanon58

Maura returns every year at Nekome-cho to mourn on Leon's death. Suddenly a mysterious box in Leon's room transported Maura to the past of 3 years ago. Regrets to fix, will Maura survive once more the threat Tree of Woe not to devour him! A HiroxMauraxLucia fanfic!

5. Seed of Nexus

Time of Woe Kanon58

Summary: Maura returns every year at Nekome-cho to mourn on Leon's death. Suddenly a mysterious box in Leon's room transported Maura to the past of 3 years ago. Regrets to fix, will Maura survive once more the threat Tree of Woe not to devour him?! A HiroxMauraxLucia fanfic!

Notes: This is a long chapter and I hope it is enough to make you want more chapters. Help me to move forwaaaaard! Tehee. :3

Before you get angry universe of Champions Battle, Shadowverse Flame and Shadowverse anime is merge in my fanfics. inshort expect all characters in one world as crossover. FANFIC IS FANFIC.

**ENGLISH SUCKS BUT BARE WITH IT, JUST ENJOY THE PLOT**

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Episode 5 - Seed of Nexus

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Outside POV

A dream.

("Help me...help me...")

A weeping voice calling Hiro.

"Whose there?!"

He looks around, the scenery is in ruins and foggy.

"Eh?"

In the middle of the fog, a familiar face appeared.

"You are..."

It was Maura Abelard. The stranger he met the other day. He does not know Maura's name yet- it felt like he was about to utter the name

"H-hey Mau-...Huh?"

Hiro calls out...Only for Maura's figure to say the following words.

("Please save me.")

The dream ended.

---

KRING! KRING!

"Save...Me...?" Ryuugasaki Hiro awoken by his room alarm clock.

Hiro slowly sat up still sleepy and confuse. "Who was that person...?"

Rubbing his eyes, Hiro proceeds to stop the alarm clock.

Opening his curtains.

WHOOSH~

'A clear day! A new beginning! Everyday...something I can look forward. And that is...!'

Hiro just got done changing clothes from pajamas into his school uniform. Eating breakfast with his grandpa and cleaning the dishes himself.

It may not look like it but Hiro is a responsible kid due to the early death of his parents and the strictness of his grandfather taught him to do house chores.

Even though he was a good kid, there is one thing he is not allowed to have.

Which...

"Look up players of the Shadowverse! A new release deck and crafts are on set! If you want to be part of the Pro Players, what are you waiting for? Its time to-"

Hiro yells in upbeat. "BATTLE SHADOWVERSE!" He always wanted to say those words.

"Hiro!" Ryuugasaki Shigefumi from behind scolds him.

"Eeek!"

Shigefumi points at the clock. "Stop watching the TV and get ready to go school!"

Hiro rubs his head laughing. "I know! I know Gramps!" He knows how to make his gramps less angry.

But Shigefumi is highly alarmed. "I told you many times about playing any digital games...Especially Shadowverse is bad for you." There is a valid reason why he had banned Hiro from any digital gadgets.

So Hiro would not find out the truth how his parents did not die from a car accident. Rather they went missing from the blast of the lab where they work with and this involves the origin of Shadowverse.

Hiro is kept in the dark to be protected.

"Heehee." Hiro goes to cuddle his grandpa. "W-what?" Shigefumi sweat drops, Hiro proceeds to kisses his cheek. "I love you grandpa!"

Pulling away. "You cannot fool me with those sweet words. I will never ever buy you a smartphone!"

Hiro beg with his hands. "B-but am turning 14 in a few months!"

Raising an eyebrow. "And so you expect me to give you a phone?" Today is the last day of August. So September, October, November then finally December. Hiro cannot help but wish his chances to convince his grandpa to finally get him a smartphone so he can Shadowverse!

Puppy eyes. "Gramps..."

Shigefumi sighs. "I told you many times...Your mother and father died at a car crash because they were using their smart phone while driving!" With a sad remark. "I absolutely don't want to loose you Hiro." However Hiro reasons with him. "You won't, for am not going to learn how to drive a car at all!"

Facepalm. "That is not the point...!"
Hiro pushes more with a glee. "But Mimori and Kazuki got cellphones and they are still alive."

Shigefumi just stared at his grandchild persistence. "Hiro..."

Then...

"HOLD UP!" Hiro shouts. "What now?" Shigefumi followed where Hiro is looking at, ahh...it is the clock.

"I'M LATE! CRAP!" Hiro runs to the doorway.

Shigefumi yells as Hiro escapes. "You better not fail your attendance or I will disown you..!"

Waving. "Bye-bye Gramps~!"

Glancing at his family photo where his parents are.

'Mother, Father, am going out.'

Hiro opens the door and exits their entrance gate. 'Lalalala!' Before he is inches away from his house.

"Eh?" Hiro stops.

Maura Abelard is outside waiting for him.

'Its that person again...!'

This time Hiro put a hostile stance but a bit nervous. "You are...the person from the other day." Maura casually walk towards Hiro, leaning in.

Hiro froze on spot, he stopped breathing the moment... "Ryuugasaki Hiro, let me tell you a lil secret~" Hiro blushes as Maura whispers in his ears.

"There is a smartphone made by your parents and its hidden at your house storage room, it was hidden by your grandfather all this time~"

Hearing the word cellphone made Hiro off guard and trusting. "Eehh? How would you say for sure?" Maura nods. "I will tell you if you trust me~"

Hiro realize he never know this person name for acting so familiar with him. "Who are you then? Why do you know my name?"

Maura frowns and crosses his arm. "Do you want a smartphone or not?"

Hiro sparkles. "OF COURSE I WANT!"

Maura dismisses him. "If so, please see it for yourself~"

Hiro conflicted. "Ehmm..." he did not have a wrist watch to find the time. Because Hiro had been restricted from any digital means, even the TV he isn't allow to watch much. Hiro learn how to read the time by just gazing up the sky color.

Based on the sky and clouds. 'I'm going to be late anyway...might as well.'

Hiro made his decision.

"Ok! Let me check right now!" Pointing at Maura. "You better stay there!"

Maura just smiles. "Yes~ yes."

And just like that, Hiro did found a strange box with a smartphone with it. However it did not seem to function.

In the original timeline, the only reasons Hiro's phone turned on because Ryuugasaki Eiji has awoken. The portal connection through Tree of Woe is open that time.

However during this timeline Maura is stuck in, it is not yet the time for Hiro to find his device.

But Maura is in a hurry. 'At the very least have Hiro get the existence of his smartphone so I can gain his trust and so he could also level up his Shadowverse raw talent as a player.'

Hiro went out from their storage room and went back to Maura whose waiting outside.
Happily he is amaze. "WOW ITS TRUE. HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?"

Maura is pleased. "Because I'm a time traveler! Do you believe me~?" Although that was sarcastic.

Hiro ignores the logic. "Of course I do! Why wouldn't I? The smartphone was legit!"

Maura then finally drops his name. "My name is Maura Abelard." Adding a brief explanation. "Your smartphone has a set date to activate. It will be around the time of December once you had your birthday. Till then study Shadowverse so when it turns on, you are up for the game~"

Hiro startled. "You even know my birthday?!"

Maura laughs a bit. "Heehee~ Just don't ask too much~ You have a cellphone now for Shadowverse. Happy?"

Hiro surprisingly grabs his hands and then. "YES THANK YOU!" The energy was too much for Maura to handle but he allowed Hiro to be Hiro. "I believe in you Maura! I owe you with my life!"

Making a face, Hiro still annoys him as ever despite knowing Hiro is just a simple minded loud mouth idiot. "M-my goodness, you are exaggerating its just a smartphone. Hmp~"

Hiro releases his hands and looks back at the smartphone at his bag. "No its not. You said my parents made this for me. So it means a lot! Thank you Maura..."

Somehow Maura saw sadness in Hiro's eyes. "Ah...right." He always thought Hiro is a weirdo.

'So he can be sad too sometimes...But he covers it with positivity by absolutely not even thinking about his parents.'

Maura is a bit interested to see a different side of Hiro he never actually paid attention to.

'Oh well, this is my escape plan.'

The truth is...

---

FLASHBACK

"From now on you are grounded." Leon says to Maura.

Maura at his hospital gown, he is sitting at the clinic bed.

"We have to thoroughly look at your condition, specially you are carrying the seed of Nexus."

All because Leon Aurenche discovered he is pregnant with the seed of Nexus. It was that box fault. As what Eris explain, Maura is doomed much worst to his fate but at the same time he had all the cards to avoid such dread future by working his way to gain more stable relationship to the other chosen heroes.

"...Uhh.." Maura pretended to be obedient. "I understand Leon-sama."

Deep inside he is panicking. 'This is bad! My actions are now restricted...! I have to get to Ryuugasaki Hiro to know his smartphone location! By that he will owe me one and he must save me...!'

Maura knew Hiro would never decline a friend or even a stranger. He was that a trusting person...

Even though they aren't friends yet in this timeline, just basing to the original Hiro he had been...Maura is sure Hiro will remain the same no matter what unlike others.

'Even though 3 years passed and we became 17 years old. Hiro remained passionate to Shadowverse and remained loving to his friends.' Which is them.

Therefore, the moment Leon and the Shadow Knights were busy and trusting enough that Maura is a rat lab who never once disobeyed Leon, they didn't expect him to disappear at his lab bed.

So he arrives early in the morning at Hiro's house. It was nerve wracking, but Maura knew Leon is not looking at Hiro for a while.

'Leon-sama is fascinated at his discovery of what is inside my body. So he won't be expecting to see me in Hiro's house.'

Maura knows he can get caught anytime, but he does not have a choice but to make a move before it is too late.

END OF FLASH BACK.

---

"I must be going now!" Hiro tells Maura.
Snapping out of deep thoughts, Maura follows along. "Ah yes~ careful on your way to school."

Hiro then proceeds to walk away. "See you later Maura!" Those bright childish smile, Maura can't help but sigh in relief. "See you indeed~"

Maura walks away in a different direction. 'Now then, I have to go see Lucia.' His plans is to visit the Underground Casino.

And that is a wrong decision.

Upon arriving there.

"Shadow...Knights...?!"

Some of the Shadow Knights were there looking for him already.

"Have you seen this Havencraft User?" Hearing and seeing that, Maura turns around.

BUMP!

Ah oh.

"Maura there you are." It was Drei. "Why did you left? Are you betraying Leon-sama?" Suddenly Drei grab Maura's wrist where he happens to hold his smartphone. Drei puts very quick a small tracking device. Maura unaware of it... "Let me go!" Bites Drei's arms so he can be released. "Ow..!"

Maura like a cat escaping, leaps to the other side and yells.

"I'm not going back!"

"MAURA!"

"GET HIM QUICK!"

Running desperately, Maura had never run with his life. The last time he did is when he was out the streets being chased by fellow peasants. Its where he found a bread and they wanna steal it from him.

'I refuse to be caught this time...!' Even though not physically equip and never done exercise. Due to the fact he hated to be chained again, Maura force his legs to run as he could without tripping.

"Hahh, hahh, hahh...!"

The rain starts to drop.

---

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.

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.

.

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At Yonazuki Residence...

It was raining so Lucia had no choice but to open the lights. It is too dark to see.

He just got home from school and is craving to relax. Apparently after Lucia and Maura visits Shiori - Shiori's health improve. It seems like Shiori truly believe him and Maura are friends in that short encounter.

'When do I invite Maura again...?'

The idea to use Maura as Shiori's delight was there.

'I'm exhausted lately...I need coffee.'

Lucia making his coffee suddenly a loud knock at his door.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Immediately his thoughts. 'Who could that be?' Like the hell, nobody knows his address except the school's principal. And the school principal won't be knocking like that. There is no rent to pay, since they own this house. Also...He doesn't have to pay electricity when it is barely used.

Feeling tired to think, Lucia just decided to slowly open the door.

Confident with his self defense skills.

"Yes?"

What met him is a shivering stray kitten.

Oh it isn't.

Its Maura all wet at his front door violently shivering. As if Maura have run for his life.

The recognition that the door finally opened up, Maura slowly lift his face and met Lucia's confused eyes.

"Yonazuki...Lucia...c-can I come in~?"

Instinct kicks in. "What the hell happen to you!?"

Lucia allowed Maura to went inside.

...

---

At the sofa...

Pluck, pluck.

Dripping wet.

Lucia at first placed a towel at the sofa before he told Maura to sat down at it.

"T-thank you." Lucia handed Maura some towel while Maura shivering at his seat.

It comes without questions. "You better dry up, over there is our bathroom." Suddenly Lucia realize. "For change of clothes..." he stops halfway thinking. 'My clothes are too big for him. How about Shiori's pajamas...?'

The moment Lucia's eyes landed on Maura's soak clothes, his eyes widen.

He can almost see Maura's chest. Even though knowing Maura is a fellow boy, something about Maura's skin getting more exposed than before truly bothers him.

Heck Maura in off shoulders and cycling pants is already disturbing everyone who sees him, what more if he looks so weak, defenseless and drenched.

Clearing his throat. "Ehem, I will let you borrow my little sister's pajamas. Its unisex..."

Maura though focus on something else. "N-not right now." His stomach is crumpling. "My stomach h-hurts...its moving."

The last time they talk is through text message. Maura did mention he had a check up about his condition. But what the heck is...

'What did they do at you at the check up?' He badly want to ask but...Rather he ask the other. "What moving?"

Maura hugs his stomach. "I have something inside me. Its growing..."

Lucia can't seem to get it but he guessed the most impossible thing. But based on how it sounds like. "You are pregnant with a cist?" Because Maura said something have grown inside him and it moves. That is a cist right?

But no.

It was worst, Maura shake his head as he says.

"I got violated."

Lucia stoned on spot.

"Excuse me?"

Maura looked terrified as he is hugging himself from the cold wet clothes, legs fidgeting to each other.

Lucia's mind got questionable. 'What...how..is that...' as far as he knows he already cleared up the misunderstanding that Maura is not a girl. So why is Maura saying he got violated.

'You mean he got...attack...by...a fellow male?' Lucia refuses to think about the most dreadful thing. So he decided to went silent as his eyes is utterly having wild imaginations right now.

To make Lucia head more messed up, Maura continues to dramatically describe his pain. "It entered me without my permission. It was very painful...Even now I feel it inside my body~"

Maura opened his crystal gaze feeling weak.

"Lucia please help me."

BADUMP!

Lucia's heart felt a strike of both discomfort and embarrassment. 'Y-you mean Maura got...really...!' Still couldn't settle with that conclusion. 'No, it's impossible. If it is possible maybe they thought Maura is a girl or...'

Maura still doesn't shut up and flared more Lucia's mental debate if he should believe this.

"I-I didn't have a choice. It happened so fast~" Maura meant how the box unguards him and force itself to take him as it's vessel to nourish the seed of Nexus. Which is why he is now at this mess.

Yonazuki Lucia meanwhile is baffled. Because...

'Wait, wait, did I hear him correctly?!'

Tracing Maura's words, Lucia carefully said so. "Aren't we suppose to call the police?" He sweat drops, praying he misunderstood.

Maura refuses. "I can't! You see, I run away from home just now. I can't come back. Leon-sama will...lock me up in the lab!"

Oh now that is different. Lucia move on to his next question. "Lab? Not clinic or hospital?" Like what the hell is happening.

"No. Genesis Company has a lab and its also where am being observed~" Maura then stops shivering as he declares. "Ah, it stops moving~" Then Maura's split persona emerges again, he smiles at Lucia. "Can I have now my spare clothes you mention of~?"

Lucia decided to pretend cool. "Wait here." As he walks away.

Yonazuki Lucia reaches their wardrobe where all Shiori's forgotten un used clothes were stock. The last time Lucia opened this closet is before Shiori have completely been bedridden and confined at the hospital. Around 1 year ago.

Lucia gently took the pink pajama of Shiori's while his head is full of crazy questions.

'Calm down Lucia. Remember Maura is sick. The other day he tried to kill himself. Now he is telling you he had a weird cist inside his stomach...And he got, ehm violated at a lab.' No, something doesn't make sense. Lucia slowly move his feet back to where Maura is at the living room. His thoughts are still noisy as his heart felt some pressure.

Badump, badump, badump.

'...But what I don't understand what does he meant it was forced to be inside him? Like...how are you suppose to shove in a cist unless a surgery happen?' There is not even a doctor who would put a cist inside you. 'He mention a name...Leon is the name right?'

The only thing Lucia can think of, Maura got violated in a sexual way. 'I should ask him differently, knowing Maura always use wrong choice of words and everything he says are always sounding suspicious!'

As Lucia placed the change of clothes at the small table that faces the sofa Maura is sitting in. Maura quickly took it. "Why thank you~!" He seems to be upbeat now.

"You may change clothes now."

Before Lucia can even move away, he got startled again.

'Eh...?'

Maura just right there at the sofa, removes down his cycling pants. Untying his red scarf with the golden brouche he always had. Both of it fell off to the sofa's. Now Maura just with his off shoulder blouse, this make his clothes look like a daster skirt, his thighs are highly exposed. The glossiness of his skin is revealed.

That bothers Lucia a lot in a unexplainable level.

"Why are you changing here?!" He clearly remembered. "I told you the bathroom is over there!"

Maura eyed the said bathroom, the lights are off so it look dark and scary. Maura gave Lucia a look that he does not want to go there, but Lucia gave him an ordering glare.

Meanwhile Maura thinking of nothing else but his own benefits. "I can't handle walking far right now~ duhh." Purposely referring to his stomach aches. Lucia twitching. 'This guy...He had the guts to whine!'

Lucia narrowed his eyes, it doesn't hurt Maura he is used to his cold glares.

Oh hold on.

Maura now figures out, the moment he now see the visible small red cheeks visualizing in Lucia's face.

Because Maura is a bully, he evil smirks. "Hn~? Is this your first time getting naked with another guy~?" The smug.

"Hah?" Lucia made an angry face to correct him of whatever he thinks making him uncomfortable. "I'm not-" No use, Maura has the upper hand.

"Ohh~ I'm actually a girl that's why I got pregnant."

Lucia dumbfounded. "H-huh?"

Maura almost halfway naked as he already undress his cycling pants. He stood up and cat walks to Lucia, zooming his face purposely teasing the poor virgin prince.

"If so will you give me love~?"

Lucia know his tricks and put a strong farce. "Look, I just want you to properly change clothes onto the right place-" Maura made a cute Shiori pose. "Niisan~!"
Lucia pissed. "Just take it off!"
Maura is a good boy. "SURE~!" Lifting his skirt.

Lucia looks away with a large facepalm. "Maura not here! Go to the bathroom!" He pointed while angrily hiding his flustered face with his other free hand.

This is highly embarrassing and strange for Lucia whose very introvert.

Maura loving this moment. "~Aww poor you this the first time you see another boy get naked? My my, aren't we being a bit perverted."

Lucia grunts. "I never said anything about uncomfortable seeing another guy naked."

Maura shrugs his shoulders. "Sure~ Then I shall strip for you my Prince~!"

Lucia pleaded. "You cant!" The gag stops when Maura suddenly curls in pain. "O-ow...!"

Lucia saw this before. "Maura!"

Wanting to touch Maura's shoulders, but Maura gesture he would be fine. "Hnn...Let me be...urghh..."

Thinking he made Maura move too much may have trigger his usual unexplainable body aches and now stomach. "Fine...I will just go to the kitchen." Lucia remembered he did made a hot coffee.

Deciding to respectfully allow Maura to undress at the living room, Maura just follow with his eyes as he just go ahead and changed clothes.

Normally you are suppose to take a bath. The problem is Lucia did not have soap at the bathroom. Lucia hoped Maura would at least shower but for whatever reason, Maura did not do so. The refusal to go at the bathroom alone makes Lucia think more.

'Like what really happen to him...?'

Is Maura having another mental breakdown? More on. 'He even knows my home address.' If Maura already sounds dangerous, what more is Genesis company? 'I better make him talk.'

Going back to the living room. Lucia made another coffee and gave it to Maura while he kept his coffee portion from earlier.

"This should comfort your cold." Lucia place the mugs at the table. Maura now in Shiori's pink pajama's. "Thank you."

Maura unties his wet ponytail, revealing his long hair that points all over the place. As Lucia always thought... 'He looks like Shiori but male version.' Now that Maura is indeed wearing a Shiori clothing. 'He looks fitting with those.'

Lucia had a small satisfied smile that Maura noticed. But he decided not to tease him too much. 'I'm glad I had a better relationship with Lucia at this timeline.' Is Maura's thoughts. 'It's time to make sure I will fix my past regrets.'
The clock sound made Lucia's place haunted.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

"Aahh~" Maura expresses his relief from the hot coffee mug he just finished. "That was hot~"

Lucia decided to ignore Maura's words that really should be unsaid. He knows Maura talking about the good coffee temperature but still.

'I will ask him about his situation a bit later.' He knew how fragile Maura is so he focus first on what should be done next. Gazing at the old grandfather clock.

"I'll prepare us some food." Lucia excuses himself.

Getting the plates, he had a short pause. 'It's been a while since I use plates...'

Lucia normally just drink coffee then go to school and eat at it's pantry. When he gets home, it is very late. He would just go ahead straight sleep after taking shower. Usually Lucia take baths at Obsidian luxurious bath room and it smells very nice. By doing those he doesn't have to spend money nor water and electricity while still properly living as a human being should be even though he himself is depressing.

'Truly I live a cheap steak life.'

Quietly Lucia arrives to back the table and placed the plates. He got some utensils too.

Lucia said out loud. "Where do I use this again?" He had this small spoon. Usually he no longer cares if he use big or small spoon. At the school's pantry they have chopsticks to dispose so they also do less dish wash.

To his mistake, Maura made another dirty joke about it by saying. "Game~!" While purposely placing both elbows at the table so he can lovingly relax again in a twerk position. Maura's face being supported by his own palms as he grins.

Lucia annoyed. "Be silent. I'm trying to find its right position." Placing the proper etiquette at the table mat. Maura doesn't drops and said so.

"Spooning position~!"

Lucia tsukkomi's. "Its fine dining!" For god-sake make Maura stop. Is what Lucia prays.

Maura pretends dumb. "What~?" A bad idea. "I know~" smirking. "Want me prepare the table instead~?" Something much bad. "Want me to be at the table~?"

The older Maura had new bad habits, if not twerking to someone he now sits at the table as if it is a good manners. Maura's soul mentality is older now than it is.

Lucia did not gave Maura any opportunity. "Doesn't matter, just eat."

Maura pouts in response. "How boriiiing~"

Finally they settle the table for midnight dinner, though the fridge is empty so Lucia can only make pancakes. Its is already lucky enough he did brought some pancakes last week and this is just now got used. 'Its not expire yet but this should do to help Maura's stomach be better. Maybe he is just hungry too...'

However Maura whines as he eats small bits of the pancake. "Kinda dry~ need more something makes it slippery~" he even made a disappointed face. Lucia chokes, but he can see Maura has no intention of teasing this time. He just simply said it wrong and genuinely think of it that way.

Observing Maura for now, the two finishes the pancake and drank their glass of water until they just start to snooze out.

'Maybe this is the perfect timing.' Lucia sitting across Maura's view. "Now tell me what exactly is going on with you."

Maura's silly face went serious as he reveals. "You see a seed was inserted inside me and now am pregnant."

That sounds super wrong!

Lucia kept himself composed while utterly confused and all.

Lucia pushes his doubt. "If you are not joking...How is that even possible?"

Maura sing a song. "Hmm~ there is no father, maybe you wanna be the father?"

Lucia lost his cool. "Can you stop joking around-"

Too late.

"Uurghh...!"

Maura had another attack. Feeling bad he raised his voice. "Hey..."

Maura stops his pity. "I-I'm fine..." While obviously in immense pain but he lately getting used to it. "But I seriously need to talk to Ryuugasaki Hiro."

A new name Lucia never heard but felt like curious.

"Ryuugasaki Hiro, whose that?"

Maura confidently smiles. "You'll eventually meet him and you'll be the best of friends~" He fortune tells. "And by then you will forget about me~"

Lucia interest drops from this Hiro to the Lein-sama guy. He remember Maura mention the word Master Leon. That does make him wonder if that is Maura's owner.

"Tell me about this Leon."

Maura looks at Lucia, his eyes opens.

"Now were talking~"

Maura then explains.

A few minutes later, Lucia tries to summarize what he understood. "You mean he only adopted you because he wants to sacrifice you for his ambitions?"

Maura did not entirely told Lucia about the Tree of Woe, the box and time travel. He knew it is too early for Lucia to understand those.

So what Maura told him is that he got found by Leon Aurenche at the streets, then he discovered recently he was taken as a lab rat to be disposed later once the ambition or project is met. By this, Maura is able to convey to Lucia that he maybe the adopted son of Genesis company CEO but not as a heir, only a display in the shadows of Shadowverse.

Lucia mind is in chaos. 'They are experimenting on Maura all this time through his check ups?!'

Before he can ask for more details Maura hurls again. "...Gguuuh!"

Lucia stood from his seat. "Hey!" Touching Maura to support his pain. Patting some of his bones. "Calm down...It's going to be okay. You can stay here if you like." It came out surprisingly.

Maura happy to hear that but he had much more important gag to make, so he choose that. "~Ohh touching me to places so suddenly just because we had such an intense time at the rooftop~?"

Lucia frowns. "What do you mean? Of course I'll touch you. You were about to hurt yourself, you almost fall to the ground."

Maura didn't want to stress Lucia to his problem since he needed him to chill down, he pushes the joke. "Hehe~ you see I don't mind being touch as long as you have clean hands. Unless you want to be that dirty with me~"

Lucia went red. "What the hell!"

Maura laughs it off. "Hahaha~! You really are cute!"

Deep inside Maura is thinking carefully. 'It's about time Leon-sama and the Shadow Knights discover's Yonazuki Lucia's closeness to me if they did ask the people to the underworld about me over there. If so...The worst case scenario they will harm Lucia. They might even go here just to find me. I better change hiding location. I'm sure Lucia would understand...But for now... I will appease him.'

Lucia sighs as he looks at the time. "It's this late. We better rest now. I still have school." He reasoned.

Maura nods and follow Lucia with a side comment. "By the way I don't have an underwear since it got wet. Can you let me borrow one of yours~?"

Lucia stops and eyes Maura with shock eyes. How come he never offered that option? Now Shiori's pajama pants is exposed to Maura's...

"Damn. Now you mention-" but wait. "Why do you have to wear mine?!"

Maura raised an eyebrow. "Huuhhh~ Who else do I ask? Are you telling me to live my life no underwear moving forward?" Shaking head in dismay. "How shameless~"

Lucia clear his throat. "Fine I'll get it for you. But that will be yours from now on."

Maura confused. "I'm just borrowing it, I don't need to own it. Tomorrow for sure my own underwear should be dry by then once rain stops~?"

Lucia blushes and figures it out for Maura who surprisingly can be slow sometimes. "As IF I will wear it again when some other guy already wore it!"

Maura turned chibi. "Oh, Okaaay~" Then cuddles to Lucia while cosplaying Shiori. "Now I have a souvenir from you Niisan~!" Cute face.

Lucia pushes Maura away but not harmful enough. "Stop pretending to be Shiori!"

After the tiresome gags, Lucia and Maura move to the storage and they went ahead and grab the bed mattress.

Putting it at the living room where space is wide.

Maura now understands. 'His house is like an abandoned haunted home full of sweet memories.' Peeking at Lucia's emotions for doing this. 'No wonder he always wear such a depressing face~'

While Lucia staring at the mattress. It hits him how no actual bed, but rather literal bed foam only. Lucia placed it at the floor with Maura's help. His mind occupied with more nostalgia. 'Been a while since I had someone with me at this house. Feels a bit refreshing...'

Lucia pats the bedding until its cleaner than the webs at the ceiling.

Maura puts both hands at his waist with assumption.

"Were going to sleep in one bed~? Wild."

Lucia shuts him up. "No you take the bed I take the sofa." As Lucia turns around, Maura caught the end of his sleeves.

"What is it?"

Expecting Maura to say anything, nope.

Purple alluring eyes opens meets his red irises.

Maura just gave him the pleading face. As if a small kitten using it's magical cute eyes, Lucia resigns to it.

A heavy sigh escape his lips, tonight sure is tiresome. "Fine, I'll sleep with you."

Its a trap, Maura evil grins.

"Make sure you make me feel comfortable~"

Ultra facepalm. "That's not what I meant!"

As they lay on bed, both fell asleep from the rain sounds pretty quickly.

Though halfway as the clock tick tocks for the rainy night.

"Mmnh...nnhhh..." Lucia heard Maura moaning so he opens his sleepy eyes. Maura is facing the ceiling. Lucia suspected that maybe Maura is still awake.

'Why is he moaning? Is he seducing me again?'

But no...

Lucia saw it how Maura whimpers in his sleep mode.

"Leon-sama...why..." No tears but the way Maura's face twisted in sadness.

Lucia knew Maura is crying in his sleep now.

Worried its a nightmare. "Maura...wake up...you are dreaming bad." Soft tug. "Maura...?"

Maura is really asleep. He must be that tired.

"..."

Maura made a movement and that is hiding his face like a cat stretching not to be disturb in it's sleep.

'How cute.'

Mentally coughing.

'Why am even staring at him?!'

It seems like Maura's nightmare switched into nothing because he suddenly stops whimpering.

Knowing Maura is good now.

'I must go back to sleep...'

Lucia felt peace and without even noticing he fell into a deep un disturb sleep.

---

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Tick, tock, tick, tock.

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp.

Its early morning.

Maura's eyes flutters open.

"...!"

Something is blinking in red.

Maura who had slept with his cellphone near his face, eyes widen in horror. There is a freaking small tracking device attached to it.

Maura covers his mouth from gasping. He didn't want to wake Lucia.

'Oh shoot. You gotta be kiddin me. They found me so fast...!' Maura curses himself for not even noticing when it was been attached. 'Must have been when Drei took my wrist.'

Judging from the strong rain last night, they might have slight trouble detecting him due to signal problems. But now he can see the Sunrays means the signal is better.

'I have to go...However...'

Maura could only sat at the bed mattress he and Lucia shared. Lucia is peacefully sleeping.

Something inside Maura hurts. "Look at you...Such handsome face...Like a baby with no problems in earth. You can actually make such face behind me~"

Detaching himself from wavering.

'I have to make a choice.' Maura carefully gets off the bed mattress.

Hearing the bird chirping means the rain had stop.

"I got to get moving before it's too late."

Maura thus grab his real clothes, ponytails his messy hair and his boots.

Maura proceed to scrabble notes to a small piece of paper and placed it to Lucia's side.

Walking away from Lucia, Maura whispers. "My dear Prince of Shadows~ I'm sure we will meet again. Until then please get stronger."

Maura Abelard silently exits the door from Yonazuki Household.

Maura about to get away, he now notice he forgot to grab his cycling pants and real underwear.

Turning back to get it, suddenly Maura saw familiar 2 black cars.

'It's Genesis Company...!'

Maura have no choice but to forget about his undergarments.

...

---

As if time was kinder, Lucia snaps his eyes open.

"...!?"

He quickly grab his smartphone and to his surprise his alarm was turned off.

"Why is it turned off...?" What would be the reason it won't alarm when he had school to go?

'Wait...'

Remembering last night events.

"Maura...?" Lucia looks behind him and found no watermelon head at bed. "Eh...?"

Scanning the surrounding with his eyes, no signs of other individual.

'He's gone?'

Lucia squint his eyes, his head feels rejuvenated but his heart feels broken.

'...What could it be this feeling?'

His fingertips touched something.

There is Shiori's folded pajamas, one is a small device and a piece of folded paper as well.

"Hm..? Is this what I think it is...?"

It looks like a device tracker. It's even blinking red. Then under it a small piece of note.

Opening the folded small memo size paper, Lucia reads the following.

["...I turned off your alarm because I wish no harm to you and your sister so I must vanish without a trace. Don't look for me. I'll be fine. Thank you. P.S. Just ditch school for today~!"]

If the last part is a joke...Definitely this situation is not funny.

Knowing Maura is sick and all.

If what Maura saying is all true, he can't leave a somewhat pregnant person experimental lab-rat right?

"That idiot...!"

The moment Lucia finished reading the note, a knock came to his door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Lucia alerted, he slowly creep to peek at the window.

Lucia heard a man's voice.

"I know you are inside, do not try to hide. Let's not be a child to play hide and seek. Be a man."

It doesn't sound aggressive but definitely the message was a threat.

Lucia is able to see there is at least 2 black cars.

Lucia counted in his head. '1...2...No...there are five people outside.' Thinking this is fishy. 'Should I really call the police now?'

However Leon seem to be able to read his mind.

"You can't call the police Yonazuki Lucia. They will not even come. But I have arrive here in peace."

Lucia can imagine a triumphant smirk from the man. 'Rich privilege's...huh.' He does not have a choice he is out numbered.

Thus Yonazuki Lucia choose the peaceful way.

He opens the door and came out.

"Hello there~ Am Leon Aurenche, the founder and CEO of Genesis Company. Pleasure to meet you Yonazuki Lucia, hence the Prince of Shadowverse according to the majority who believes so."

Ignoring Leon's introduction, Lucia made sure he is ready in case he gets abducted or hurt. Here at his garden there stood Leon then four individuals in a strange armored suit.

"What do you want trespassing my house?" Lucia says with commanding voice.

"Hehe, interesting. I applause you boy~" Leon Aurenche chuckles but he did not waste time.

"Where is my property? Where did you hide it?"

Seriously clueless. "Property?"
Leon drops the name. "Maura."

Eyes twitch.

'It...?' Yes Maura's pronoun was an IT to Leon. 'Is he serious?' Lucia cannot believe what he have heard. He never met Leon before but he makes him irritated. Unexplainable feeling of disagreement.

Possible fragments from original timeline synching with him but there is nothing to confirm just yet.

Leon here was a stranger to him at this timeline, but something about this man pisses him off dearly. As if he did met him before and he knew he was somewhat evil despite speaking so politely while having a face of a handsome golden angel.

Lucia couldn't help himself to question that.

"What? You call Maura a thing?"

Leon Aurenche declares his authority.

"He is my property. I found him, his everything is mine. And for you to even use him is a crime."

Lucia felt the terror and danger. 'This man is...Evil...'

Leon gave him a cold glare. "So where is IT?"

Lucia sweat drops. Judging on the number of people and power Leon has, surely he is never going to win against them.

So he lied. "Maura never went here."

Leon smiles and asks him. "You think I believe that~? Clever, how come Maura's cycling pants and underwear is hanging at your backyard?"

Eyes gawks. 'What the hell! He left some evidence...!? That stupid...!'

Lucia tried to be slightly honest.

"...Maura's not here anymore. When I woke up he was gone. I have no idea where he would go."

A awkward air exchanged between them.

"Hmm~"

Running out of excuses, Leon Aurenche gives Lucia a final warning. "Return my property, Maura does not belong to you. Unless otherwise you want something to happen on little sister?"

Lucia snaps his cool demeanor. "DON'T YOU DARE!" Since Shiori is even in danger, Lucia finally understood why Maura ditch him too sudden to the point he forgot to wear his cycling pants and underwear. But even so... 'He could have at least say goodbye.'

Leon sighs, he isn't really here to cause commotion. So he comes to propose a perfect agreement. "Simple, just surrender Maura's location to me. We will leave you alone."

Lucia being skeptical himself. "...How would I know you will keep your words?"

"1million."

Leon and Lucia stared at each other. Clearly Leon has the upper hand even preparing the utmost temptation towards Lucia.

It's the money he needed.

"Do you want to bet 1million?"

Lucia though had some pride left.

"...I don't need your money."

Leon narrowed his eyes while smiling.

"What is your answer then~?"

Yonazuki Lucia fists his hands as he tells Maura's fake location.

"...Underworld."

Lucia is not sure if he can trick Leon, but Lucia is confident with his acting skills. At his school he is one of the best stage play actors aside from sports, brain storming and literature. Lucia had practice his facial act for sake of not having Shiori find about his depression and suicidal tendencies.

'Please work...!'

With a pretend guilt he finishes his words. "Maura went back to the underworld, he thinks since you had search the place you won't return there to look for him. Not sure if what he told me is true..." then glaring up to Leon with such upset and cornered face. "Happy?"

Thank goodness.

"As long as you stay away from my belonging."

Leon Aurenche walks away as he ordered the Shadow Knights.

Leon believe him because Lucia did really not know where Maura is.

Wind blows~

WHOOSH~

Lucia left in heavy relief, he walk towards his backyard and held Maura's cycling pants and underwear finally dried up.

"Souvenir huh..."

Lucia cannot help but find this utterly dumb event, because he is very late for school the moment Maura turned off his alarm.

The fact he felt peace sleeping with another human being has been ages.

Frowning eyebrows as he folds the souvenir garments from the mysterious Havencraft.

"I guess am ditching school today..."

The fact Maura just like that left him hurts as if his pride was stepped on.

"Maura...Abelard...the mysterious Havencraft user."

He went to his life like a storm and disappeared like the stars at night.

"Why you didn't rely on me...?"

---

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5 hours later...It started to rain again.

"Hahh, hahh..." Maura can't even tell how many times he successfully avoided some flying drones coming from the Shadow Knights.

Thanks to the device tracker Drei attached to his smartphone he was able to trick them that he is still at Lucia's household when he left the small device there.

Maura's cellphone still turned off. The problem is where he go now he is wanted?

The least expected place Maura can hide is...

"Ryuu...ga...saki...Hiro's...house..." Maura's body pain is attacking again. But now he knows the source and reason why it happens to him, he fights it. "S-soon...!"

Maura falls to the ground. "Urghh...! I hate this body." His stomach hurts again. "The seed of Nexus is moving...! Disgusting feeling..."

Hiro who happen to be coming home from school.

With his umbrella and careful steps towards the rain, he stumbles upon the sight of Maura Abelard who told him where his cellphone yesterday is now lying to the ground soak under the rain.

"O-oi...!"

Seeing how pitiful Maura look like and why he is lying at the floor hurting, Hiro quickly runs to Maura's.

"Maura! What happen to you?!" Holding Maura at his arms forgetting his umbrella dropped to the ground.

"Hide...me...please...take me..." Maura says in a stern voice.

Hiro can feel Maura's body is already shivering from the rain. "I got it!"

Thus he carried Maura in a princess cradle and carefully tip toe's his way to their gate.

"Hold on... I just wanna check if Gramps is home yet." Maura who says nothing just curls in Hiro's arms.

"Great! It's lock, it means Grandpa has not return home yet!" Hiro temporarily puts down Maura to their backyard support as he unlock their gate.

"Let's get you inside!" Maura wheeze as he feels more and more unwell.

Allowing Hiro to carry him like a dried kitten, Hiro is able to get inside and have Maura laid at the sofa where he placed a towel to avoid the sofa getting wet.

"Are you okay?" Hiro genuinely don't know what to do. "Should I call-" Maura stops him, knowing what he is going to suggest.

The usual generic response when someone feels very sick.

"D-don't call any doctor nor ambulance! You have to hide me, please." Maura whimpers as he pleaded yet commanding.

"B-but..." Hiro notice Maura is holding his flat stomach, it looks like something is going on. "I don't get it but ok! I won't!"

Hiro eyed the clock. 'Oh shit, Grandpa may come home soon!'

It's not like Hiro had authority to do what he wants. This house belongs to his parents yes, but he respects his grandpa Shigefumi to be the boss at home.

While Maura is busy focusing to bare the pain as a whole, to hid surprise Hiro carried him again and says.

"Let's get you in my room!"

"E-eh?"

Without chance to protest, Hiro went up the stairs with Maura at his arms.

"Here we arrive!"

Placing once more the towel so he can lay Maura on it. Maura now sees they are both wet from the rain.

Maura silently observing Hiro whose too trusting so far.

"Umm...Maybe change clothes first?" Hiro begins to phase around his room to find where was his cabinet again.

Maura can tell Hiro is actually panicking. "Your wardrobe is behind you."

Startled and embarrass. "Oh! Yeah! Right! Sorry! Hehe...!" Hiro turns around.

Before he could dive his hands to find spare clothes to have Maura change onto, Ryuugasaki Shigefumi is at his room's doorway.

"Maura, hurry and remove your clothes before Gramps comes back home!"

Maura fidgets feeling sticky.

"Even my underwear...?"

Hiro nods in happiness.

"Yes please!"

An alarmed shout.

"HIRO WHO TOLD YOU TO BRING A GIRLFRIEND RIGHT AWAY AT YOUR ROOM? ARE YOU INSANE!?"

Heart jumps!

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---

A few minutes before Shigefumi found Maura and Hiro at the room.

"The rain is getting stronger, dear oh dear." Shigefumi just got back from his store.

The door is not locked.

Suspicious.

Then what greeted him inside is a wet floor.

"Hm?" Wet foot prints traced all the way from the entrance where he stands towards upstairs where Hiro's room is located.

"Why didn't Hiro clean the floor? Did something happen?" Sometimes Shigefumi fears one day Hiro will disappear just like Eiji his son and Eiji's wife Asagi.

Something tells Shigefumi not to raise his voice.

Badump, badump.

'W-what is this heavy feeling..?' Shigefumi cannot figure out why he feels intense to the point he sweat drops.

So he tip toes.

Creak, creak.

Shigefumi squeeze his eyes hoping that small creaking sounds from stair are unheard.

Silence...

'Phew...'

Shigeumi then proceed to go upstairs, finally he heard Hiro's voice.

The light in Hiro's room is open but the fact he is talking to someone what bothers Shigefumi.

Because Hiro is suppose to be alone and has no cellphone to even communicate to anyone. Not even a PC to go online video chats.

So who is Hiro talking to?

"Maura, hurry and remove your clothes before Gramps comes back home!"

Wait, wait.

Shigefumi shakes his head, did he misheard? 'Who is going to remove the clothes? And why would he wouldn't want me to get home?' Who is this Maura?

He hears next much more horrifying. "Even my underwear...?" The uncertain voice from the other.

How Hiro happily begs. "Yes please!"

Shigefumi blows up in embarrassment as he realize Hiro will have his first laid!

'This isn't happening...!'

And there goes back to the present.

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---

"Hiro! who told you to bring a girl right away at your room? Are you insane?!"

Maura just have his eyes closed while helping himself to sit properly. 'I should help silly Hiro at this situation...but let's see how he handles it.' being able to cover the intensive torture in his soul and body vessel problems, Maura had his innocent smile as Hiro in the other hand...

"Eek G-Grandpa!"

Shigefumi narrowed his eyes in dirty assumption of his grandson planning to get laid while he is out. 'Did he think the sound of rain can cover the sounds once it started?!' Hiro's grandfather is furious.

"I don't remember raising a boy bringing a girl to the room right on spot without even introducing to me!" He scolds the boy.

In regards of response Hiro grab his own hair, he couldn't explain the situation since if he speak too much about him and Maura's relationship... 'Crap! Gramps might discover I got my smartphone...! I cannot!'

Finding words of uncertainty. "Ummm...Errr...!" Hiro not equip to lie on spot. "B-but Grandpa, Maura needs help!" He says with honesty but the information is incomplete.

Maura decided to help by waving his hands to take Shigefumi's attention away from Hiro for a second. "Hi Grandpa~"

However did not work, Shigefumi shuts him up. "Don't casually call me grandpa! I haven't accepted you!"

Hiro did not like how Shigefumi yells at Maura, so he got defensive for Maura. "N-no! You got it wrong! You see Maura stomach hurts and-" and that is the wrong term.

"Stomach hurts?!" Shigefumi exclaims, he was turning red in dismay. "Hiiirooo! I swear of you got someone pregnant am disowning you..!" It feels like he is going to have a heart attack.

'Have they done it already?! My grandson is hasty!' Shigefumi prayed this is a lie.

On the other hand Hiro wants to cry. "Eeeh! Can you listen to me first!?"

Maura nods in agreement as he comments to back up Hiro.

"Indeed listen, he is not the father~"

Thunder-shock.

"That's even worst!" Shigefumi mentally blames himself. 'Oh good lord! Hiro fallen for a flirtous girl at this age!? This is insane! Oh dear Eiji! Asagi! Your son...I thought I raised him correctly...?! Why did Hiro choose a harlot?!'

As the boss of the household and loving grandfather, Shigefumi tries to put senses to Hiro's somewhat desperate actions to have a girl.

Shigefumi wants them to break up.

"Why would you take ownership for something not yours?! Hiro have you gone so low!? Tell this Maura to get out of here this instance or I will throw you out both!"

Scared, Hiro looks behind Maura and had tearful eyes asking for rescue. "Eeeeh! M-Maura help me!"

Maura is rubbing his stomach while remaining calm as he encourages Hiro. "I would love too but your grandfather does not acknowledge me yet and our relationship." Shigefumi can see how Maura is gently patting the stomach part, the misunderstanding goes wilder. "Do your best~" Maura smiles brightly.

Hiro shocked he got abandoned. "Eeeeh! Nowaaay! Uhhh..." Slowly turning his head back to his grandfather, he already gulps down in anticipation of Shigefumi's rage.

"Hiro if you lie at my face am going to hit you!" He was about to grab his slippers indeed.

Hiro mentally panics. 'No, no, no! At this rate Grandpa will hate Maura! I cannot let that happen!' He knew he had to do something or else Maura will have no place to go.

'Hiro think! Think...!' Running out of options, Hiro goes for a straight forward confession.

"It's like this Gramps! Maura is a friend of mine! And uhh... Y-yeah! Maura is being chased by bad people!" He says half the truth hoping that clears the first stage.

But no, that puts more reason for Shigefumi to dislike Maura. "And you want us to get involve with such sketchy thing?" Glancing at Maura, he finally sees a red tattoo on the left cheeks. Totally fishy. 'If not a harlot perhaps from a mafia clan?'

Tattoos are very rare in Japan. You are not allowed to have one unless you are part of some Yakuza's. Some foreigners had tattoos, Shigefumi debating if Maura is even from Nekome-cho.

'Which ever the case, this Maura looks like has no good intent!' Deciding this is going nowhere, he order's Hiro. "Get your so called -friend- out of my house!"

Hiro though begs. "No! I cant leave my friend outside!" His grandfather rolled his eyes. "Friends? Then why are you guys alone in this room stripping!?"

That what bothers Shigefumi the most.

Seeing this Maura putting a hand between his thighs, the emphasize of the skirt. Maura actually feels very stick right now, the underwear he got from Lucia all wet from the rain and this is taking so long for him to change attires.

Unknown to Hiro how lewd Maura looks like right now, no wonder his grandfather thought they were doing something M rated for their age. "Errr thaaats ehehe...Ehm..!" Hiro nervously chuckles to attempt on explaining the alone in the room situation. "W-We got wet! What do you expect us to do? Let it dry...!? Come on Granpa!" Trying to swoon Shigefumi with a proper valid reason.

However Shigefumi ignores Hiro's reason and rationally decided to talks to Maura whose been watching their entertaining misunderstanding.

"Hey kid, if this is just a run away from home set up. Go back home. You are not welcome here. Hiro is the only one I have left, I cant have him be friends with dangerous or harlet like you!"

Half heartedly Maura pretends to be such a weakling. "But Grandpa~ am in need of help." With a wonderful idea to offer himself thinking he can maybe brainwash Shigefumi in this situation.

"How about this~" lifting his fingers sexily to his chin. "I'll give you massages and do house chores. In exchange let me stay here will you~?" Even gaslights. "It's fine if you don't feed me much. I can eat trash. Just please accept me dear grandfather~"

Shigefumi's eyes gawks how a 14 year old kid can act so flirtish. Meanwhile Hiro is against it, how Maura brings himself down the bottom of negotiation so he can get help. "No way I will allow you to eat garbage Maura!"

Maura shot Hiro a glare though as he tells him to be silent. "Can you shut up for a second Hiro~?"

Hiro steps back like a whimpering dog. "S-sorry!"

'Strange...' Even though he see a 13-14 years old range in Maura's appearance, it feels like he isn't talking to a child. Rather a teenager?

Also Shigefumi did see how Maura can switch emotion after slightly getting irritated from Hiro's loud voice while trying to obviously get his good side. "I will do anything. I can give you the greatest pleasure, it what am best trained to~" giving his utmost seductive yet with soft touch of cuteness, Maura smiles to offer himself more and more.

"Please show me some mercy Grandpa~"

Gulps.

Shigefumi averts his eyes a bit, Maura is actually pretty for a kid and that what makes it so unpleasant!

The noticeable looking soft hands and the manicure sparkles. "W-well you do look pretty good with massage with those hands." Shigefumi had to admit.

Maura giggles for the compliment. "Why thank you~"

There is a short pause from the two, invisible to Hiro how both sides is thinking how to stop each other.

'This kid is not normal.' Shigefumi thinks.

'I will make you surrender~' Maura plans.

For Hiro whose not getting any of their exchange between those fake smile and short chuckles. "Eh? Eh? So its a deal?"

The two eyed Hiro whose dense.

Ryuugasaki Shigefumi decided to take the next national step to have a private conversation with Maura.

"Hiro you get out."

"Eh?"

Maura agreed as he gets what Shigefumi trying to achieve. "You hear that Hiro~? You have to pack your things it seems..." pointing at the doorway. "The door is open~!"

Hiro totally an idiot. "But I don't know what to pack...?"

Shigefumi says one more time as he raised his slippers. "I said HIRO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE BUT I DIDNT SAY YOU PACK YOUR THINGS!" Scaring Hiro from the threat to hit him.

Hiro shield himself while still shock he is the one getting kicked out now.

"EEEEEHH?! WHY? WHAT DID I DO!?"

Shigefumi is doing this so he can talk to Maura. "Punishment for not telling me first hand about this Maura you bought here. Don't come back till I call you to go back inside okay?!" He specified. "STAY AT THE YARD TILL PUNISHMENT IS OVER!"

Its still raining though.

"No Grandpaaa don't disown me!"

"I'm not disowning you, am just temporarily kicking you out! Now go before I hit you!"

Hiro got spiritually stab for getting in trouble so badly that he get a punishment.

"Nowaaay...Grandpaaa so meaaaan!" But he abides anyway.

"Will you do it or not?!"

"Y-yes Gramps!"

Hiro slowly walks out of the room with one last glance at Maura.

"I will be fine, thank you Hiro~" Maura gave him an assuring smile. Shigefumi saw how Hiro lits up a smile and trust. "O-ok! See you later Maura!"

Shigefumi sighs. "Now were alone..." he closes and locks the door.

He had fate Hiro won't eavesdrop. But the kid sitting at Hiro's bed whose clothes are all wet while thighs almost exposed...

Shigefumi turned serious.

"Tell me about yourself. You think I didn't notice? You are intelligent bright kid at your age unlike Hiro he is simple minded."

Maura whistles as he fascinates how Shigefumi actually did notice he is no ordinary kid. "Yes~ I was expecting you to confront me Ryuugasaki Shigefumi-san."

The way Maura talks like an adult had confirmed Shigefumi's suspicion. 'This kid is trying to control my stupid grandson. Seriously, this is his type?' But what comes next made him feel flabbergasted.

Maura introduces himself, putting a hand at his chest with a straight body.

"You see am the adopted son of Leon~"

'Son?' What it's not a girl Hiro got to this room! What more... 'The name Leon...could it be...!'

Shigefumi knew one Leon and that is. "Leon...You mean Leon Aurenche?!" Bewildered.

"Yes." Maura simply admits. But... "Wait, adopted?" As far as Shigefumi knows Leon did not adopt.

"Indeed am." Yet this kid Maura says he was.

"You are not his real child...?" Kinda doubting, Maura explains his background. "Leon Aurenche found me by the streets after I lost my clan of a certain lab explosion."

Opening his piecing purple eyes.

"The Project Nexus."

Ryuugasaki Shigefumi shivers at that realization.

"So he lied..."

"Hm?"

Shigefumi shared Maura what he was told. "Leon Aurenche told me he had a son just like Eiji in order to convince me to accept that damn box..."

This time Maura is the one stunned. 'Eh? Leon-sama admits me as his real child towards this person? ' to think Leon actually introduces him as a legitimate son to the Ryuugasaki household.

Somehow Maura felt happy if that was the case, then again... 'No...Don't waver Maura. It's a trap.'

Trying to focus on the topic at hand. "Box...?"

Shigefumi huffs refusing to disclose further. "Nothing. Its none of your business."

Maura can tell which box it was. 'Ah must be the cellphone from the storage room~'

Shigefumi puts his rights to scare Maura away. "Now I know you are related to the founder of Shadowverse. I want you to stay away from Hiro. Please get out of my household. I do not want Hiro to be involve with Leon and his stuffs that took Eiji my son and his childhood friend that has become his wife Asagi!"

Maura shows his sympathy. "Yes am aware the three of them are the best of friends, it must be truly traumatizing..." but he won't give up. "So am with your son~" declaiming his relationship with Hiro is that way.

Shigefumi raised an eyebrow, he does not believe that shit. "Since when you are bestfriends with Hiro? His best of friends is his childhood neighbors!"

Maura shows off how much he knew about. them. "Ahh you mean Shindo Kazuki and Amamiya Mimori? No they are not~"

The confidence and bravery from Maura gets to Shigefumi's nerves. "I don't like how you talk eye to eye to me. You sound like Leon! Always smiling but words cannot be trusted at all." Because he is raised by Leon, means Maura is a dangerous individual.

"Expose your self child!" Shigefumi tries not to get so angry.

"Aren't eye exposed enough~?" Referring to his off shoulders and no cycling pants skirt.

Shigefumi blushes. Maura is kinda half naked if you look carefully. But that not the point so Shigefumi fights back. "That's not what I meant! I mean the real intentions you have to my grandson...spill it!"

Maura louder his voice in return. "I came here for a purpose!"

Making Shigefumi startled.

Maura stood up from his sit as he declares his mission and purpose for getting into their lives.

"It is to protect your grandson from Leon Aurenche's plan!"

Shigefumi still distrusting. "How should I know you are not a goat to spy here and to brainwash my grandson?"

Maura reminds him. "I told you am wanted."
Shigefumi pushes to know more. "Wanted for what exact reason?"

Maura puts his hands together, his fingers fidgets and Shigefumi is observing his body language.

Maura's gaze went to the floor with hint of sadness. "I betrayed...Leon-sama. Therefore he is looking for me. If any of the Genesis Company found me whereabouts...The world Hiro lives in will be in peril."

Those words had weight. "You...you are not telling me something important. Spill it out!"

Maura drops the bomb. "I got pregnant."

It went back again to the misunderstanding, it makes Shigefumi crazy. "You are too young for that kind of stuff!"

Maura inserts next. "The seed...Tree of Woe. You do know about Project Nexus right~?"

Shigefumi admits as he crosses his arms. "I heard little from Eiji and Asagi. They said one time...Tree of Woe is a hope for humanity. But that hope killed them."

Maura confesses as he clutch at his stomach.

"I bare the child of Nexus."

Shigefumi's mouth gawks. 'He's what..? Isn't son...a boy?' When Maura said he was adopted son, Shigefumi now knows his gender so why would he say he is pregnant with the child of Nexus? What in the hell!

Hearing Maura's reasoning. "If am found, your son Hiro and the other chosen ones to finish project Nexus will be taken advantage of Genesis Company. In short another set of sacrifice for the project."

There is sincere-ness within Maura's beautiful purple eyes and it resonated with Shigefumi to think twice.

"Do you want to loose your grandson Hiro~?"

Shigefumi still fighting with stubbornness.

"Loosing you won't make me loose my grandson."

Maura ended up smirking.

"If I die or I disappear, mark my words. Ryuugasaki Hiro will snap~"

"..." Shigefumi stared at Maura who had that confident smug. "Does Hiro loves you a lot in that level?"

Between their eyes there was a battle so Maura closes his eyes, going back to his typical normal self. "Think about it carefully. Has your grandson ever knelt down for anything~?" Adding facts. "Aside from Shadowverse and want a smartphone of course~"

"You..."

Maura humbles itself. "But then again~ I can't say for certain what is going on with Ryuugasaki Hiro's simple minded head. But that's what I feel. How about observe with your own eyes and judge~? See how much deep your grandson adoration towards my existence~"

Next Maura went apologetic. "I apologize in advance if I will be here, but I promise not to be a burden~ As mention I can cook, I can clean the house, dishes, laundry and I can even offer amazing massages."

Shigefumi is able to see multiple personalities from Maura from just this short confrontation.

"Just let me stay for Hiro's sake~"

Ryuugasaki Shigefumi thinks back how Hiro kneels down the floor earlier. 'Hiro only dogeza on me when it comes to asking me to buy him a cellphone...' Hiro never knelt down for something else.

This is the first Hiro done a dogeza other than asking permission to have a smartphone so he can play Shadowverse.

'Is this Maura kid had the same level of importance like Shadowverse Hiro loves and wants the most..?'

He decided to have a neutral agreement.

"...For now I will like to observe. I don't want to hurt Hiro than I have been hurting him."

Maura agrees. "Ahh yes~ he mention you refuse to buy him a smartphone."

Shigefumi ignores his words rather he felt bad for a second. "Gadgets are threat to Hiro. If I could lock him up I would have done so. But I know his mom and dad would be upset. So the least I can do is to just protect him from the very last item that will change his fate forever." He curses. "Stupid Shadowverse."

Maura Abelard steps forward and twerks.

"Do we have a deal I presume~?"

Shigefumi hard blushes and looks away.

"D-Deal."

Unlocking the door, one more warning. "But if you happen to be lying like Leon Aurenche your adoptive father, I will sell you myself to set Hiro free!"

Maura smiles. "Your emotions are valid~"

After this Shigefumi calls back Hiro and gave him permission to have Maura stay for a while.

.

.

.

.

.

.

---

Hiro went back to his room where Maura awaits.

"H-how did it go?"

Maura faces Hiro with a relief. "Your grandfather and I have quite the intimacy. But all went well~"
Unknown to Hiro that sounds wrong, he was just rather happy. "I cannot believe you were able to convince Gramps! He is strict to me you know! So am truly surprise you easily convince him to have you stayed! Amazing!"

Maura says nothing but he is bit cold.

Hiro looks down. "Maura you look a bit different."

He finally notice Maura is like wearing a skirt without his cycling pants. Curious why Maura is not wearing it, Maura is able to read his mind.

"Ahh maybe because I forgot to wear my cycling pants~"

Hiro felt small blush at his cheeks when Maura made a movement down there and it exposes more of his thighs. It's like he is staring at a girl wearing such mini skirt.

Trying not to feel anything weird, Hiro changes topic. "A-anyhow! You better take a bath or you'll get sick!" Grabbing the clothes from the wardrobe finally.

"Thank you."

Hiro handed it to Maura.

Their hands met.

ZAAPPZ.

To Hiro it felt like something clicked.

'Eh...? What was that..?'

Hiro saw nothing, he hears nothing. But he looks at Maura one more time.

He can see a very vague a bit taller Maura.

Rubbing his eyes.

"What's wrong~? Getting sleepy?" Maura teases.

Hiro shake his head. "Down the stairs is the bathroom! Shower well..!" Deciding to ignore whatever was that. 'Hallucination perhaps...?'
Unknown to Maura...Maura proceeds to take a bath.

...

---

Hiro's POV

Maura looks familiar.

I look at my hand and recall how our hands bumps. Its not like we touched each other, it was just a quick accidental bumps between our hands.

I felt something clutch in my heart.

I blinks and I feel a foreign feeling.

'Where did I have this feeling before...?'

"Hiro~?" Maura's calling me from the bathroom! I must hurry!

"Maura have you got the towel? It's right over there-"

I never seen such an alluring appearance before.

Just now Maura emerges out of the bathroom with hair down. Seeing a very unusual side of Maura with no ponytail. His off shoulders are gone and is replaced by a towel wrapped at his body. Both shoulders are now exposed. As for the legs and thighs more visible than it was earlier.

Maura looked like...

I genuinely thought. 'Is he really a g-girl?!'

"Waah!" I screamed a bit.

On the other hand Maura open his eyes, those piercing purple gaze. "Why are you staring. Are you drooling at me~?" A rather bored stare from him.

"Err umm...nothing!" My heart is beating while my ears is heathening.

Maura then unwraps a bit of where his chest and it hit me. 'Oh he is a boy. I knew it, I knew it!' I fix myself to calm down. Why would Maura be a girl anyway? He doesn't have what Mimori has.
Anyhow...I keep blushing but I thought to compliment Maura so he won't be upset how I stared at his wet look appearance fresh out of bath.

"E-eh! No! I just thought you had such beautiful skin...and beautiful eyes and...uh...cute hair down..."

Maura stared at me in silence.

I tilt my head in question.

Instead...

"Ryuugasaki Hiro."

Maura falls down towards me with fainting final words.

"I don't feel well in my body..."

I catches Maura as I yell in disbelief.

"Maura...!?"

I called grandpa who helped me carry him up to my bed.

"What the earth happening now?" Surprising grandpa is concerned. I thought he would be mad how Maura keep making his peaceful day to be in chaos and surprises.

"It's Maura's stomach. Maura said he does not feel well..." I accidentaly had touch and seen his stomach.

There is a strange symbol marked in his body down the abdomen.

It looks like a tree I have seen before...but I have no recollection of it.

Grandfather suggests. "Should I call the ambulance now?"

I was against it. "No! Maura said we can't bring him to the hospital at all!" I was fired up. "Please do not call the ambulance Grandpa!" I put my hands together up in my head. My triangle pleading pose.

I do this to get a smartphone but does not work. I hope this time it works!

I hear Grandpa heavily sighs and sounds like he surrender for today.

"I understand...Well..." Grandpa walks to my closet and grabs my spare Padjamas. "Let's dress your friend up before he gets really sick."

I was crying in tears. "Gramps...!" I jumps to cuddles at him. "Youre the best!"

Quickly Grandpa got embarassed. "Oi! Oi! Don't be sudden or my back cannot handle your weight! You are a big b-boy now!"

I grins. "Heehee! Love you Gramps!"

We undresses Maura and confirmed he is a not a girl but a boy. Now this clears the misunderstanding that I bought a girl at home.

Phew...

"I'll get some medicine and warm soup." Grandpa offered as I slowly fix Maura lying at my bed now in my padjamas. "You also got soak at the rain Hiro, you take a bath now then we'll eat."

Grandpa did not smile, but I know he is trying to say sorry for giving me a hard time earlier when I got Maura at my room.

"Thank you Grandpa! I will go down soon!"

Grandpa goes down to go at the kitchen. While I tuck Maura properly at my bed.

"I'll be back Maura..."

Then I went ahead take a bath, got to my padjamas. Ate the soup then got my teeth brushes.

I said goodnight to my Grandpa who volunteers to washes the dishes. Usually I wash them but he quotes to me.

"Go take care of your new friend instead Hiro and also get to sleep if you could."

I'm am obedient grandson so I did go back to Maura side while holding the medicine at my hand.

Grandpa gave me pain killers. He uses this for his backpain and joints. For proper reasons Grandpa gave me a basin with water and small towel in it for sick people. I wonder if this is what truly Maura needs.

Grandpa seems to not question much Maura's condition and it reminds me...

'Did they talk out properly when they kicked me out? I wonder what it is...?' I have hope. 'I wonder if Maura will tell me.'

Arriving back to my room, I found Maura highly feverish now.

He was moaning in his sleep.

"Maura!" I goes besides him. "Maura wake up!" I tug him a bit.

No use.

"Nnhh...nnghh...immnnhh..." Maura is grunting in pain. Even though he is unconcious, I can clearly tell something is making Maura suffer inside.

"Maura don't worry! I'll take care of you!" I dip the towel to the basin. Grips to it, so the towel won't be that much wet. I put it on Maura's hot forehead as I hear him mummbles.

"H-help..."

I frozed.

"Eh...?"

Those words...I heard them before.

It flashes back inside my brain. My dream from early the morning.

Maura in his ponytails and unruly off shoulder clothes. His clothes were like dissolving in the dream making his legs and arms exposed to see his skin.

The dream placed in a apocalyptic sequence as he sobs faintly.

"Help me." I re said those words. I turned very concerned now. That dream is about Maura! Holy shit!

I grab his trembling hands from fever and unknown painful battle only Maura knows. I wanted to encourage him even if he will barely hear my words.

I say the following as if It is something natural I would do.

"Maura, I'm right here beside you! You are not alone anymore...!" I put both of my hands to clasps at his frail ones as I knelt down to the bed level.

"So don't cry..."

...

---

Outer POV

(("Maura, I'm right here beside you! You are not alone anymore...! So don't cry...!"))

Words Maura heard before.

'W-who...?'

The words of promises from a certain Dragoncraft user.

---

(("Don't die on me Maura...!"))

---

Maura maybe travelled back in time but still, some future of themselves will reflect to this very present.

'That...voice...?'

Heavy and hot eyelids, Maura opens his eyes he found himself at Hiro's bed.

"H...i...ro...?"

Ryuugasaki Hiro's worried face greets him in a sudden lift up of relief.

"Yes! Maura!" Maura noticed a damp towel at his forehead while Hiro takes hostage of his right hand. Hiro seems to be gripping to his right hand like a prayer tool.

It was pretty obvious he forgot what happen to him, like why would he bed at Hiro's bed. His last memory is he is taking a bath.

Maura did feel the soft fabric, he is in someone else pajamas again. Probably Hiro's pajamas.

Too tired to speak...

'What happen to me...?'

Hiro seems to be able to read Maura's mind and answered. "You have a fever." With the bright smile of confidence. "Don't worry, I will help you up!" This time Hiro's voice is softer than the usual ones. "Then afterwards...tell me more about you. I wanna know you Maura!"

Maura Abelard first words were...

"Why...?"

To this timeline, he is sure they are still strangers even if he did reveal Hiro's awaited item.

Ryuugasaki Hiro had his own rationality and says with honesty.

"Because I like you! A gut feeling I think!"

Maura lost for words, he has no energy left.

"Uuhhh..."

Then at the door frame Shigefumi coughs.

"Ehem."

Maura and Hiro looks at the door, there is Shigefumi with a tray of porridge.

"Eat this then go to sleep." Shigefumi places down the tray at the ground.

Hiro sparkles and was touched. "Thank you Grandpa! You are the best!"

Shigefumi seem to be easily embarass whenever his grandson praises his good deeds.

"Just don't stay up too late ok?" Maura can tell Shigefumi is in a tsundere mode.

Hiro grabs the tray. "Of course! Goodnight again Grandpa!"

The truth is...

Shigefumi saw how tearful Hiro was when this Maura kid collapsed.

To the point he saw his grandson holds dearly to the unconscious Maura's hand as he pleaded.

---

[["Don't die on me Maura...!"]]

---

Ryuugasaki Shigefumi thinks deeply as he walk down the stairs.

"Is this perhaps fate...?" Shigefumi wanted to know. "Eiji...your son getting involved with your bestfriend's son...Is this suppose to happen anyways even if I try to stop it...?"

Shigefumi talks to Eiji and Asagi's family picture with little Hiro before he does go to his room to sleep.

"Eiji...if you are alive somewhere, can you return home for Hiro's sake?"

Meanwhile, back at Hiro's room.

"I'm glad you gained conciousness, you gave me heart attack when you fell down!"

Hiro explains happily and that has always been how he is. On face of despair, Hiro smiles and burns brightly optimistic.

Maura always wonder...

'Why does Hiro always speaks so loudly?' It always annoys him Hiro's upbeat voice. However this time he felt too exhausted to even complain.

Hiro approaches Maura with the bowl of porridge. "Careful it's hot." He smiles.

Maura let out a appreciating smile. "Why thank you~" before he could get the bowl, Hiro puts it far from his reach.

"You can't! I will feed you!" Hiro insisted.

Maura pauses and had a slow glance at his own hands. They were still trembling.

He genuinely thinks now...

'Are woman like this when pregnant...?'

The pain he feels other than this vessel is tpo small for his grown up soul to fit, the fact a small fragment from Tree of Woe is already harboring inside him moving...

This causes his stomach to heat up or just plainly damn painful crumps.

This triggered after he met all the 6 heroes. Maura had a speculation...

'The seed of Nexus recognize the threat who owns the contract with Legendary Card. Maybe that's why it awokens inside me to try and devour me.'

It's scary but somehow Maura believes in his friends would actually help and save him. He just need to bare a little more...

'I should enjoy peace while it lasts...'

Since Maura is too weak to even sat at bed, Hiro helps him up.

Next thing he knew Hiro is spoon feeding him and Maura just simply accepts it.

"Is it delicious...?" Hiro looks innocent when he asks. Maura kept his politeness in an act of a habit. "Yes it is good~"

Maura starts to think.

'Why I did not even look at him properly before...?'

Maura really hated Hiro's guts. Partly because Maura is jealous of Leon's adoration towards Hiro. Therefore he decided to mark Hiro as his enemy all because he thought Hiro is stealing his Leon-sama away.

'But it has changed.'

Hiro is the one who empathize with his pain at the original timeline to the point Hiro made sure he will avenge him against Leon.

Although it could have been better if Hiro didn't kill Leon.

'We cannot be control that situation when Leon-sama force himself to fuse with Nexus by finishing the last piece of Ryuugasaki Asagi's heart...' Fresh from the back of Maura's head how the 7 of them gang up to attack Leon and Hiro did the finishing blow.

Right before their eyes Leon got sliced in half. His human body died and fell off to the abyss.

All remains in Maura's heart is emptiness same time relief that the important person that shackled him the most is gone.

Sometimes Maura regrets on allowing Leon to die. 'Even I travelled back to this past, I couldn't see a glimpse of hope to change Leon Aurenche's ambition and mindset.'

It maybe possible that even if Maura will have the power to repeat the time again and again until he gets a good ending...there might be no ending at all where Leon can become a good guy.

Hiro noticed Maura had stop responding.

The porridge is already all eat up, except Maura is dozing to the distance of who knows what is inside his mind.

Hiro at the side of his own bed finally dares to ask. "Can you tell me what happen to you Maura? Maybe I can help...?" The last words were wanting to be relay on because either he owes Maura or he just really wanna help cuz he cares.

Maura not looking at Hiro, just eyes closed and his head and neck is feeling tired. "If I tell you the truth, will you believe me though~?" It was a test.

Hiro puts his usual confidence. "Of course I will! After all you told me where my cellphone is and its legit!" The bed almost shaked when Hiro got too excited. "I believe you Maura!"

Maura mentally sighs. 'If Lucia still skeptical, maybe Hiro will 100% going to believe in my story because he was naive.'

Maura won't loose anything if he tells Hiro. Unlike to Lucia...Lucia will think he is mentally dellusional. However Hiro never doubted his friends.

Maura made up his mind, Hiro saw his small hands clutch to the sheet covering his cold legs.

"The truth is..."

Maura begins the reality yet sounds like a forgotten folktales in Nekome city.

"Your mom and dad were not only childhood friends with my adoptive father but were bestfriends." He begins.

Hiro of course taken back. "Eh? You know my parents?!"

Maura continues. "Ryuugasaki Eiji and Asagi then Leon Aurenche. Together they went to a village of Abelard where the Tree of Woe sleeps. They dig, dig and dig..."

Hiro is silent.

"Then of course they found it, The Morning Star."

Hiro repeats back. "The Morning...Star...?"

Maura still his back resting at the bed frame support behind explains. "The Morning Star is also the Tree of Woe. There they begin their project called 'Project Nexus'...They truly believe it is a hope to save humanity from ruins. Yet later on your parents notice the entity they found is dangerous yet Leon Aurenche does not agree with it."

Hiro curts his eyebrows. Maura can tell his head is all confused, thankfully he asks. "So you are saying my mom and dad with this Leon guy work together to this umm...Project Nexus which is the Tree of Woe?"

Maura nods. "Exactly." He wanted to know though. "You do know your parents are scientists right?"

Hiro scratches the back of his head. "All I know they were researcher! That is what my grandpa told me!" Nodding to self. "I see now! So mom and dad are actually sciencetist! Amazing! Must be a tough job! No wonder they are barely at home..." Hiro shared the lack of his parents parental love. "Since young I was always with Grandpa more than the time I spend with my parents is very vaguely solid..."

Maura is surprised. 'Is this why Hiro just accepted his parents death so easily because from the very start they were never really by his side...?'

Interesting discovery.

Maura can now see a new proper explanation how come Hiro is never bothered to the fact his parents soul never went to heavem and hell, instead they are forever lingering inside the dimension of Tree of Woe known as Eldora.

Hiro phase up the story. "Now what happens next?"

Maura reveal the terrifying truth. "Your parents were sacrifice by Leon Aurenche for the project to awaken the Tree of Woe's potential." Hiro eyes widen. "Asagi...became the vessel of Nexus while your dad went to try and free her. You know the ending they were declared dead in human realm. However in truth they were trapped inside the Tree of Woe and is never coming back..."

Hiro slightly trembles in his voice. "Wait... Are you saying...they are still alive...?" Somehow they bothers him.

Maura tells him more. "Your grandfather didn't knew they were alive. But he knew they were missing. He and Leon agreed to pretend they died in a car crash so people would not question their missing bodies. Thus the cremate and funeral ceremony you saw as a child is fake."

Hiro is stared at Maura. Either he was shock or he thinks Maura is lying.

Maura tries to open up Hiro's mind to he understanding incase he misunderstood.

"Your grandfather doesn't trust what Leon told him. He is innocent. The only thing Ryuugasaki Shigefumi knows his son Eiji and Eiji's wife is missing. He believes they are dead or have escape the Project Nexus. Therefore he fears you might fall a victim like them, he kept you away from any digital means..."

Hiro looks serious as he listens. Since Hiro didn't react, Maura proceeds to tell the rest.

"Thus with the hardwork and team work of your parents with Leon Aurenche wonderful ambition. The Shadowverse is created. After that Leon Aurenche took over his father's company known today Genesis."

Hiro reacted on that part since Shadowverse got mentioned. "Shadowverse is created by my parents with Leon?" Hiro then felt like smiling adorably. "No wonder I like Shadowverse a lot...!" Maura did not expect Hiro to be this overjoyed to find his parents are involved with the developement of Shadowverse.

"I see! I see! This is why Shadowverse is the best?! Mom and Dad made it together with this Leon guy! That is very amazing!"

Maura now thinks Hiro is ignoring the fact his parents is murdered by Leon in a sense.

'I really don't get why he doesn't despair to his parents disappearance.'

Maura just continues on. "The cellphone you found is the first invented phone for Shadowverse. It was a birthday gift made by your parents as surprise but as you know they were gone. Therefore it is designated to activate when the Tree of Woe awakens..."

Hiro crosses his arms thinking about it. "You mention by this year my phone will activate once December comes. Are you telling me this Tree of Woe is soon to revive?"

Maura affirms. "Certainly the world's time is running out as Leon Aurenche the CEO of Genesis Company and founder of Shadowverse claims to say he wanted to save the world."

Then Hiro adds. "But what about you Maura? I'm thankful you told me about the truth where my parents are...What I want to know now is yours Maura!"

Maura now puts his feelings to this one. 'If Ryuugasaki Hiro believes in me this much...Then he might truly be the key once more for this seed to get out of my body...!'

Maura now talks about himself. "I came from the lost village where Tree of Woe is found. Though same as yours I barely remember nor care about my origin. I started to live my life at the streets. In a verge of despair as I wanted to die..." Somehow saying this out loud felt so painful.

Maura's eyebrows frowns and Hiro can sense Maura is feeling sad as he reveals his story. "Leon Aurenche found me and took me in...Thus I became his adoptive son. Now I have colorful feelings of wanting to live for am a possible heir to Shadowverse and Genesis Company. So I mastered the field of the game...However that was not his goal..."

Maura places a hand to his chest feeling sentimental and once again that certain pain that the man he thought loved him never actually like him at all.

"His goal was to offer me to Nexus."

This time Hiro reacted violently. "Leon wants you to be what?!"

Maura opens his eyes and it connects to Hiro's shaky irises as he can feel the terror in Maura's fate.

"I was raised as a sacrifice for the Tree of Woe to be devoured. To replace the latest vessel which is your mom Asagi. If I become it's god, Asagi soul will vanish...Then Leon Aurenche...his ambitions to recreate the world will be fulfilled."

Maura suddenly unbuttons his pajamas, in response Hiro blushes and stops him. "Oi! Why are you stripping?!"

Maura cared less. "You already saw me naked duhh~ But I need you to not forget this symbol almost carved in my body~" Maura shows his stomach with the mark.

"This is our enemy, the humanity's enemy. I one more time harbors what it means to destroy the world that I once wanted to destroy."

The Tree of Woe symbol at his stomach downwards the abdomen glows in light blue.

"In the original world...I was devoured by empty Shadows. But you and Yonazuki Lucia did your best to bring me back. Leon Aurenche told me to save the world yet I decided to destroy everything...You guys were my last hope to believe that the world did not entirely made me evil."

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Lucia? Whose that?"

Maura says shortly. "Your bestfriend."

Hiro just simply okayed. "Is that so...?"

Right now he doesn't care about anything else except Maura's situation.

"You are telling me...You got puke out by the Empty Shadows?"

Maura smiles. "Through your Shadowverse yes."

Hiro's eyes lit's up in realization. "I was playing Shadowverse?!" He was fired up. "Oh no! I can't wait!"

Maura frowns. "Don't be in hurry to end the world excuse me~"

Hiro nervously laughs. "Sorry! I was happy am doing Shadowverse to protect the people I love!"

Maura suddenly blushes at that straight forward admitting Hiro loves everyone including him.

"S-Stupid." Maura mutters, but Hiro wasn't paying attention. "Did you say something?"

Maura buttons back his pajama's.

"Anyway, in short after we succeeded saving the world together. 3 years later I found a strange box, Leon Aurenche left and the next thing I knew I travelled back in time...Now I face you like this. Do you understand what am trying to say~?"

Hiro summarizes. "Yes! In short you travelled back in time which will make you experience again the hardships and danger!" Maura is surprise Hiro quick to catch at the most important part of after everything he just told him.

"Maura!"
"Yes~?"

Hiro took his hand with bold declaration.

"...I promise I will protect you again!"

Maura felt touched. "Hiro..."

Ryuugasaki Hiro proves him again he made the right choice to believe in him. "All I have to do is to get stronger with Shadowverse right?!"

Maura made sure Hiro won't forget. "Not only that, you have to befriends with Amamiya Mimori, Shindo Kazuki, Ijuuin Kai, Yonazuki Lucia and Kurobane Alice."

Hiro counts his fingers those are 7 people if he includes Maura.

"Mimori and Kazuki have my back already but I doubt the others. But I will do my best!" Hiro grinning. "So rest assured you don't die Maura!"

Maura then points at his smartphone he had seen placed at Hiro's study desk. "Ok I turned off my cellphone it has tracking device if I open it." Maura promises Hiro. "But I know everything about Shadowverse, I have a direct special lessons with the CEO Leon Aurenche and I will teach them to you."

Hiro gasps as Maura takes ownership.

"I shall personally train you with everything I know about Shadowverse so you can exceed your future self Hiro."

It is like taking a huge responsibility.

"Do you have what it takes~?"

Hiro of course when it comes to knowing more and playing Shadowverse agreed right away.

"Yes mam sir!"

Its midnight.

"Can you not shout?!"

Hiro then happily decides its time to sleep.

"Sorry! Sorry! But let's go to rest!"
Hiro about to turn off the lights while he left the bowl at the tray to his study desk. Maura's eyes widen when Hiro took his pillow and is about to sleep beside him.

"Yay! Were roomies. I never had a sibling before. This is pretty exciting!" He is very excited indeed.

Maura side comments. "I didn't say we will become siblings..."

Suddenly Maura stood up out of the bed. Hiro questioned it. "Umm where are you going?" He guessed Maura felt shame of taking occupancy of his bed. So he said to Maura. "Lets sleep together in the bed Maura!"

It was the opposite, Maura just didn't want to sleep next to Hiro aside for feeling bad. "I'm fine sleeping at the sofa, No thank you~"

Hiro blocks the door when Maura went to walk pass him "Huh? Whose going to take care of you? You can't! You have to sleep with me in bed!"

Maura crosses his arms and slightly irrorated. "That sounds wrong~"

Hiro begs while grinning ear to ear. "Please Mauraaaa."

Maura sighs and looks down. "Fine, you sleep at the floor. I will take the bed."

Hiro like a child forcing his wishes. "Eh?! Why am at the floor when its my bed?!"

Maura fake chuckles as he really refuses with Hiro's idea to be all chummy. "I will take the floor, It has been a while since I sleep at the ground-"

Hiro attacks him. "Alright!"
Maura did not expect Hiro to carry him up.

Totally embarrass. "H-Hey put me down!"
Hiro firmly says. "Sick people should stay in bed! Stop being stubborn!"

Maura weak enough to be placed back at Hiro's bed.

"Sleep with me! I promise I will behave!"

Maura facepalmed.

"Hiro..."

Those words were suspicious, if his grandfather heard it again surely it will be another chaotic misunderstanding.

It is no use, Hiro won't listen. Hiro even turned off the lights already.

Maura resigns to it, he moves to the very corner of bed where the wall is. "Ok, just please don't kick me."

Hiro lays besides him joining the bed sheets.

"Yay!"

Maura wants to die from all the chumminess.

"I like you Maura!"

Hiro is disgustingly too close for comfort.

"Yeah~yeah. Let's sleep. Have a good night sleep."

A bit later, Ryuugasaki Hiro couldn't sleep because he is worried about his grandson.

Secretly and silently...Shigefumi peeks at Hiro's room and saw Hiro hugging Maura like a pillow.

He never seen Hiro so happy in cuddling before.

'As long as you are happy...I'm fine with it. As long as it has nothing to do with the creation of your parents and that guy...'

It only takes a few months for Shigefumi to judge Maura again...

---

TO BE CONTINUED

---

Notes: I tried to put the best Maura living in Hiro concept just like what Hiro promised to Maura, he will give him a home and he wont be alone. Im recently starting Shadowverse Flame and realizes Hiro been doing stuffs for Maura after discovering how Leon used Maura. Hiro such a simp to Maura while Lucia is a simp to Hiro lol.

**CAN'T PROMISE TO FINISH BUT HOPE YOU STILL APPRECIATE THIS FANFIC EVER EXISTED TO HELP SHADOWVERSE FANDOM LIVE ON**