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: Sorry it took so long. I got excited on making oneshots. I was having author block or more like lazy to continue this fanfic. But I dont wanna quit just yet...!

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**


Episode 4 - It is A Time Travel


Maura's POV

Everything I witness tonight. It is confirmed.
This is a dream.

The fact Yonazuki Shiori is less sickly than the original timeline while Lucia actually allowed me to have a better relationship with him.

This is too good to be true.

'Not bad.' I was amazed actually. 'To think this dream is much more realistic than the one in Eldora's.'

But that box cannot fool me.

I know my memories are not fake. I know that I was not dreaming those 3 years. How the world ended, how the 7 of us saved the world.

How I actually attempt to destroy the world.

That friendship, that bond, that experience is not fake!

I won't forgive this.

This has to stop before the entity takes me over.

"Lets get you home." Yonazuki Lucia whose originally cold towards me is now this gentleman. I know I was paying him, this was a good deal.

A win-win situation.

But you know...sometimes it is exhausting. Because it is very unrealistic to have Yonazuki Lucia be this cooperative and less hostile against me.

"No you go first." I gave him my fakest smile. You cannot trick me anymore. This Lucia is an illusion.

"Why?" Oh see? This Lucia would even bother to ask. The original Lucia never give a shit about me.

"I have a check up." I lied.

"At this hour?" Come on...stop making this act. Its old school to trick me this much.

"Yeah." Fake, fake, fake! How sickening...this kindness is faker than Eldora! Good touch and editting though, I was almost fooled that I was making ammends to my past regrets.

"Is that why you ask to go here?" To the point I doubted my own memories and suffering.

"Yes." I need to hurry and get out.

"Ok..." Can you just stop and go fake Lucia?

"See you tomorrow." I dismiss him.

Since Yonazuki Lucia is dense he oblidge.

"I see. Alright then." Good.

I turn my back without looking back.

Everything that has happen is not a dream I had in drugs or anything.

It's the reality, then that box I found at Leon Aurenche's room is the cause of this for sure!

My body can feel something is punishing me inside...eating me alive...

How itchy...how painful!

No guidance this time...therefore I shall wake up by my own power!

Tonight the moon is a perfect shape of round.

"Ehehehe..." I reaches the rooftop then step up the edge of the said hospital building.

WHOOSH~

The wind blows. What a cold night while the moonlight rays shines through the flooring. Dark clouds collecting themselves as I ponder if this is really the right moment to do this stunt.

Nervously I chuckles as I gaze down the height of where am planning to jump. "If I'll be honest myself, I cannot believe I will resort to this option." The wind sways my hair and my clothings.

I pathetically sighs. "I hate dying so much." Then I begin to step a little more forward to the edge.

Even my skirt is following the wind pattern blows.

I told myself. "However if pain didn't wake me up, then perhaps...just like what the book said so, dying means also waking up." I clench my fist and my eyes that I always close to avoid people reading my real violent emotions.

"Its a real gamble and I cherish my life."

My heart beats nervously with mix of excitement.

"But this is the only way to get out of this fake world..." If I do this, surely I'll be free. Heck, maybe am just inside that strange box. So if I jump and die maybe it will vomit me out.

"Here I go!"

It's moonlight rays shines at me this time, the moment I had my resolved fixed...Yonazuki Lucia's voice roared in my ears.

"Maura!"

Huh...?

How...did Lucia...

He came back all the way to this rooftop?!

Slowly I turns my head to the direction of Lucia's voice.

Is the box playing tricks on me?! Using Lucia as a method to stop my access to freedom!?

My eyes snaps open as I glared to the fake Yonazuki Lucia who just deepens my despair.
You can't fool me box. I know this is a trap to stop me from dying.

So I decided to turn away and ignore Lucia whose seems to be phasing closer.

I moved my feet to jump.

But-

"MAURA...!"

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Outer POV

Maura going to jump at the hospital building Lucia stops him thinking he was being suicidal.

"DON'T!"

"W-what the! Let go!"

Maura's reason is he wants to wake up from this dream but Lucia told him this is the reality.

'Where did it went wrong?' Lucia's clouded thoughts as he just went ahead and pulled down Maura's off shoulder, exposing his back to him.

"Iiyyhh!?" It felt so cold for Maura.

"Stop struggling!" Lucia took the opportunity to grab Maura's waist from behind and spoons him over.

Lucia pulled Maura away from the edge, he was heavy weight despite looking petite.

All did it take to reach this situation was... 'I accepted bringing Maura to see Shiori if they can be good friends for my little sister's mental health...but...'

To Lucia's eyes, Maura Abelard is also unstable. Unaware that Maura is not of this world.

Grappling Maura at the ground, Lucia is thankful that Maura is not physically equip, thus he cannot break free from Lucia's arms hugging him tight from behind.

Lucia is not good with expressing himself so he just try very hard to scold Maura's action.

"Stop! Dont do it! I dont know how, what youve been through... If you are sick and dying, dont hasten your death!"

Maura though is more concern of his off shoulders that was pulled down earlier is making him feel so naked than before. "L-Let me go!" He orders the prince, but Lucia tightens his grip to his body. "Y-you are stripping my clothes! Hold up! Stop it! Where do you think you are touching?!"

Feeling Lucia's breath behind his neck, with a flushed face Maura begans to question boldly. "Why are you stopping me now...?!"

Lucia noticed Maura used a past tense question. He has no memory of Maura being suicidal the least...or maybe...

'Is Maura talking about his dream?'

Nevertheless...

"I dont know your situation but suicide is not the answer!" The fact Maura heavy weight but not physically strong it was easy for Lucia to drag him away from danger yet the insanity is in outrage.

"You say that but you are the most suicidal of all!"

Almost got off guarded by that statement. Lucia truly wonders... "...H-How?" To think Maura even knows his depression and desire of dying. How everyday Lucia wanted to die so badly because it is very exhausting to live. But he couldn't die nor inflict pain to his own body because Shiori is alive. Lucia must live for Shiori.

Which is why Lucia loves using Bloodcraft deck. In Bloodcraft he can inflict self pain even just through virtual means...atleast it puts his hidden anger to himself and to anyone dies down a little bit.

Lucia had always wanted to die but Shiori stopping him from giving up life. However truly he is suicidal too.

Lucia made sure nobody realizes this so he put the utmost effort of being a prince, remaining cool, calm, compose that anyone sees him or tells him rather he is a good big brother.

Maura notice Lucia's strenght waver a bit and took the advantage to distraught him more.

"You thought I dont know~? I know you were suicidal thats why you love using Bloodcraft!" There was intention of insult behind Maura's words and this not go unnoticed by Lucia. The piercing glares exchanged between them as Maura is able to eyed him side ways while still putting him hostage. "Huff! You like self inflict pain! Because you are suffering from hate! You hate this world too right~!?"

Lucia click his tongue. "...I can't deny that."

Maura mocks him. "See? Hahaha~! I knew everything about you! But you forgot me~ All of you did~!"

Lucia getting annoyed already shouts back. "I already told you, I dont remember!"

Maura did not loose either by yelling back. "Then leave it that way! Also, cant you mind your own business like you always have been...!?"

Lucia is not that arguementive so he went back to the typical lets-talk-this-out-calmly. "...I said snap out of it!" He also added his observations, laying his cards that he actually care about Maura's health. "You are not taking your medicines anymore! I saw you threw them in a bin!"

Maura knows himself he is not ill. He is just simply thrown inside the box and is slowly getting devoured. "Because am not sick! Am just trap at this world! This is a curse of mine to bare!"

Lucia not believing a single thing, he believes the books had poison Maura's mind to think that such fiction is real and how is seems to be he is the protagonist at the story projected at him through stories.

"You are hurting yourself! Calm down!" Lucia turns Maura around to face him and grab his shoulders. Maura can feel Lucia's nails starts to touch his skin. Yonazuki Lucia is giving all his raw strenght to stop him.

Maura did not buy it. To Maura this world is fake, a kind Lucia who actually understands him is made up by his own desires, so he yields. "Let go! You are not my Yonazuki Lucia!" Having enough of this world Maura reveals the beans. "Everything here is fake! Its not real! So I must wake up from this false dreams...!"

Lucia running out of patience. "Everything you say never make sense to me! From the start you were so confusing! But eversince I encountered someone like you, you are similar to Shiori! I cant imagine to see you die like this!"

Maura shuts his eyes in desperate tears. "Shut up! You dont even remember me! There is no point in this relationship we have establish. You dont know the world I live in. There is no US at all..! Am...all alone...!"

Lucia shuts his mouth as Maura cries in anguish. "Nobody here understand my despair! This body is fated to be devoured someday. I thought I had escape...yet...am back to this loop. Am running out of patience...! Am done baring for too long! Enough is enough!" How lonely he had felt all this time even though they were together for about 3 months since then.

This time Lucia is a bit calmer. "I may not understand what you are saying, frankly you are weird...strange and you make me feel weird...!" Lucia clutch at his own chest to feel the sense of empathy towards Maura. "But theres is one thing you shouldnt deny...Its my existence in your life!"

Maura gawks at him.

"I know you now! So allow me to know you more! You cant die Maura Abelard! This isnt a dream! This is a reality...am infront of you...am REAL!"

Nope, not enough. Maura rejects him, he held up his two hands to push Lucia away. "Shut up fake Lucia! Just shut the hell up! Please be silent! Don't say any further...!" But Lucia grabs his both wrist and puts them down, making their faces small inch apart.

"No you shut up!"

"...!"

Yonazuki Lucia blantly states.

"If you dont have a reason to live... Live for me...!" finding the right words. Lucia allowed himself to be honest for a minute.

"I can't bare to see you die...and youre the only one I've felt this way for other than Shiori's..!" Somewhat embarass about it, Lucia blushes a bit as he tries so hard to finish his motivational speech. "So stay and live for me, Suffer with me!" Getting all worked up. "...Whatever you're going through right now, you dont have to go through it alone. I will suffer with you!"

Maura's body felt Lucia's geunine care and it made him tremble in fear.

"I-I...I...!"

Lucia puts up the finishing blow.

"So live and tell me your story Maura Abelard..!"

Maura gasps.

He came to realize something...

This is happening for real. It could be possible this is his new reality.

A world where he got closer to Lucia is not so bad right?

But is this truly acceptable...?

"I...I...just dont want to die." Maura says weakly.

Lucia shakes his binded wrist to listen up as Maura's gaze slowly turning back to the ground.

"If you jump at this height you will die."

Maura chuckles before he made a sudden request.

"Prove me am not dreaming then."

Not sure how to react at Maura's personality mood switch.

"P-prove..?"

Maura nods like a small child waiting to be comforted.

Lucia battle's against his mind.

'W-what should I do to him...?' Lucia had found similarities between Shior and Maura, so maybe Maura would actually like...

"Here."

Releasing Maura's hands, Lucia pats his head.

Maura stunned.

He can feel Lucia's expertise at patting.

"There, there. My hands are real right?"

Maura felt stupid with the whole thing now.

Short giggles and heavy sighs.

"...Fine Yonazuki Lucia~ You win." A bit of shyness took over Maura.

"N-not because I like the pat heads!" Crossing his arms as he allows Lucia to mess his hair by head pats.

A smile recovers back from Maura's lips versus to Lucia kind smile for him.

"Can you pat me more though?"

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Before the night ends, Yonazuki Lucia went to escort Maura Abelard back to Genesis company.

With a bit of ackwardness from the two after bickering at eachother like that, exposing their other side of mirror.

"S-see you tomorrow." Lucia says without eye contact. As for Maura, feeling a bit shy as he had his arms cross. Hands trying to feel his own flesh as he also refuses to look straight at Lucia.

"W-well, I may get grounded for getting so late tonight."

Lucia quickly gave him a certain look. "Sorry."

Ahh annoying!

Maura raises an eyebrow getting a bit angry again to this kind Lucia. "Stop apologizing for something not within your control!" Then Maura turns around.

Lucia thought Maura is upset again but then Maura turns his head to wink at him.

The usual flirt.

"I'll see you if I miss you my dear Prince of Shadows~"

Lucia gave out a small smile. "Goodnight."

Thus they part ways.

...


Maura got to their unit but for some surprising reasons Leon has not arrive home. According to Marguirite urgent business meeting came up which cause Leon not to call it a day.

Alone at his room, Maura sats at his bed feeling exhausted from the things have occured today.

'I have really establish a good relationship on Yonazuki Lucia.' What a dream come true.

Whether this is a dream or not...

Maura touches his stomach. The memory and sensation when he allowed Lucia to touch it. Allowed is the wrong term, more like he force Lucia's hands to touch it.

Maura frowns. 'I can feel something moving inside me...and it went hot the moment Yonazuki Lucia had touch me.'

For whatever reasons, Maura never really had the time to look at a mirror.

"Hm?"

Maura's eyes turned blue again.

"No!" Maura finally saw his reflection at the available stand mirror he had at his room.

"Eh...?"

It took him a while to realize what reflection he is seeing.

"Is that...me?"

Aside from his child form with glowing blue eyes, he sees a transparent version of himself whose a bit older.

No mistaking it.

"It's the teeenager me!?"

Getting close to the mirror, Maura stared at his own reflection of two. And he can see through his magical blue eyes his own soul posessing his own body.

"Does this means...It's not a dream then!"

His older soul looks exactly like how he was before the box took him.

'I cannot believe I have averted my eyes for 3 months!'

The answer had always been before Maura.

The fact that his body always in pain...

(("Maura-san can you hear me...?"))

A voice of a woman Maura knows all too well.

"ERIS-SAN...?!"

Suddenly Eris astral projection appears before Maura.

"How come you are here?"

Eris the priestess from the world of Shadowverse who Maura Abelard has a contract with when the Legendary Card is assigned to him at the original world he had live in.

In urgency and quite static signal, Eris tells Maura the truth of this world.

(("Maura-san the Time of Woe throw you back in time. Therefore your soul whose a bit older does not fit in your child self as a vessel...which causes you immense pain time to time."))

Maura intently gazes at his older soul floating in his small body as Eris transparent figure speaks.

(("Not only that, eversince you open the pandora's box who reverse almost everything that has transpired at the real ending of the battle. Maura-san you have caused the whole world rotation to also reverse."))

Maura snickers to that. "Inshort I messed everyone's future."

Eris just nods and continues to explain. (("Remember? You were suppose to be the chosen next God vessel of Nexus. Therefore if you decided to end this world for the second time is an easy task for you."))

Maura is listening.

(("However due to your wishes to amend things the Pandora's box that has a pieces Tree of Woe responded to your desires. And that is to recreate your dream world."))

Maura gasps.

(("The downside of this, everything is the same. It will only change the flow of story in the way you interact."))

Eris finishes. Maura then fully responsible to this mess. "So if I kept annoying Lucia in the first place he would have treated me the same like how it has been?"

Eris nods again. (("Yes, however due to your soul not fitting your vessel. The Bloodcraft boy had mistakenly thinks you had a strange illness and this hits his soft spot."))

Maura eyes sparkles, at least now he knows he had this chance to make it up fron the horrible harassments he made to Lucia to the original timelins. "Thus I created a good relationship with Lucia at this timeline...I see, I see. Sounds nice~"

Eris chuckles shortly. (("Exactly."))

But then again, Maura crosses his arms eyes still glow blue. "Since you knew why didn't you showed up much earlier Eris-san?"

Quite upset, Eris says apologetically. (("As I told you time reversed. Therefore our contract pact is also being reverse."))

Wait...what. "You mean...!"

Eris is serious on her warning. Eris knew Maura is intelligent enough, but she did pray from the bottom of her heart to help him with her remaining connection.

(("I'm the remaining fragment of Eris. This might be the last I can guide you...Maura-san. Therefore...I pray you pick me once more...I will wait for you there...to come and pick me up again...Our pact will now cease to exists...Farewell and...no...see you Maura-san..."))

Eris vanishes completely and Maura felt the cut out feeling of string. Their contract have ended

"Eris-san!"

Maura's eyes return back to normal, he no longer see his adult soul either.

With shaking hands. "I have to make a move...!"
...

The very next day,


Maura is up to begin his plan to save his future.

If everything Eris says is the truth then Maura had to make sure he powers up his chances of survival. The only cheat code here is he knew what is Leon doing behind his back.

Thankfully even without knowing this truth he had already powered up his deck in Shadowverse. He should be hard to beat unlike in the original since Maura learned his imperfections from his previous world.

This is also to make sure he will properly help Hiro and others to save the world once the time comes.

But then...to avoid the same mess in the future as well, he needed to gain trust and good relationship to others so he does not have to get abducted again by the Empty Shadows. That shit was pretty painful aside from this torture he is receiving of unfit soul to this small vessel.

"I need to turn off my phone so Leon Aurenche won't realize I have already made contact with the chosen heroes." Maura turns off his smartphone and proceed to visit the first target.

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"HIRO WAKE YOUR ASS UP!"

"WAAAH?!"

Ryuugasaki Shigefumi scolds Hiro from his pajamas.

Hiro frantically gets ready for school. He took one bread and put it on his mouth as he runs out of the house.

"HEY HIRO! ARE YOU SERIOUSLY NOT GOING TO EAT?!"

Shigefumi's roar echoed. However Hiro waves with a smile as he hurried.

"I'll be late at school! Oh no!" Running in his neighbor hood, from afar he sees a peculiar person wearing some kind of tribal looking vibes clothing in the middle of the road like it was the right thing to do.

Of course its not. But who cares? He must hurry to school.

The moment Hiro passes by this person, the suspicious watermelon head greets him politely with a eerie smile.

"Nice meeting yiu Ryuugasaki Hiro~"

Hiro stops at his track and turns around. "Um do I know you?" For whatever reason Hiro couldn't stop staring at Maura up and down. The person feels strangely familliar.

Maura says nothing else, he just look at Hiro with a satisfied smile.

Hiro raised an eyebrow but he shrugs it off with a polite dismissal. "Um...I'm going be late, I will talk to you later!" Hiro proceeds to dash off.

Maura touches his stomach. The moment he and Hiro had an eye contact his stomach felt heat.

"...What was that?"

Maura though priorities something else.

"I should go see the others."

Knowing Mimori, Kazuki and Kai will be at the same school. Maura decided to choose the route to where Alice could be.

The Shadowverse Stadium play ground.

...


Typical Kurobane Alice hiding from her manager grasps of monitoring.

"Pheeew~ Finally some time the for fun!" Alice mischievously hums to herself. Wearing her standard disguise with a hat and shades.

She made her walk to the Stadium to hang out with other Shadowverse players.

But even before she reaches the staduim, a random person spoke up at the side of her hearing range.

"Ara~ Kurobane Alice." It was Maura Abelard.

Alice immediately panics. "W-what how did you know about me?!" Then she gasps and covers her own blabber lips. "Oops!"

Maura chuckles and approaches Alice with a short tease. "Oops tongue slipp~" eyeing Alice down his gaze. Maura remained friendly but not to the point of scaring the little girl away.

"Anyways you will meet Amamiya Mimori. She will he your bestfriend. Wait for her~" Maura says quickly as if he was some sort of fortune teller.

He walks away gaining Alice interest. "Wait mysterious watermelon!" she caught the end of Maura's sleeves.

"Hm?"

"What do you mean HM? I'm asking you why do you know am Alice and that whoever is this Mimori you are saying will become my friend!?" Desperate for freedom. "If you can see the future please tell me when Alice can quit as am idol...?!"

Maura sighs. He knew about Alice struggles to be set free on working as an adult and just be a child.

Maura politely pulls away from Alice holding his sleeves.

"I do know the future of yours~ But I will tell you some other time. For now patiently wait for it to come. Your wish~" Portraying indeed a mysterious character, Maura left Alice dumbfounded.

"My...wish...?" Alice clutch her heart. "I want a friend that I can confide into..."

Kurobane Alice stares at the direct where Maura disappeared from the crowd.

...


At Hiro's School...

"Sup Hiro? Something in your mind?" Shindo Kazuki noticed Hiro focused at his desk. Usually he would scream: please play Shadowverse so I can watch!

Hiro doesn't have a smartphone yet.

"Hmmm." Hiro thinks deeply and says. "I met a pretty mysterious person on my way to school."

Amamiya Mimori whose listening, joined the two. "Oh! Oh! Is it a girl or a boy?"

They are childhoos friends so its not bad for Mimori to eavesdrop.

Hiro tilt his head and truly wonder. "I'm not sure."

Kazuki frowns at that. "What do you mean you not sure? You can tell difference between a girl and boy right ya know~?"

Hiro smiles and rubs his head. "Ehh...Well it was too fast."

Kazuki sighs as he knew Hiro "Then it should be okay to forger about it ya know~"

However Hiro drops the real reason. "Its not...because the stranger knows my name."

Both stops. "Eh?"

Hiro tries to recall the memory of short encounter. "The person told me 'nice to meet you Ryuugasaski Hiro' as if I met him or her already!"

Mimori guessed. "Maybe you did met the person before?"

Hiro brain hurts. "Hmm..I admit when I saw this mysterious person it feels familliar. But I can't put it in words...!"

Mimori pushes further. "Can you describe how the person looks like?"

Hiro happily shares that part. "Yeah! The hair is mix of green and black like a watermelon then wears a tribal off shoulder looking style. Anyhow it was pecular appearance! But the person smells very nice!" Is his utmost description.

Kazuki uses his brain as well. "Then maybe it is a girl? Or pretty boy...Ya know."

Hiro really cannot understand his feelings right now. Something bothers him.

"Who knows-"

"Ok class, time to start."

However homeroom starts. Quickly Mimori and Kazuki went back to their seats.

"Yes Teacher!"

...


After school, Maura did not saw Hiro and his friends from the gates. But he saw a certain blue haired with glasses.

'It's Ijuuin Kai.'

By the looks of it, Kai is not yet a student to Tensei Academy.

Maura slowly approaches Kai from the side, he hears him mutters.

"Dammit, I fail the entrance exam of Obsidian Academy I ended up here." Kai talks to himself how nostalgic for Maura amused at Kai's usually self rants. "But I guess Tensei Academy is a good school since the chairman is associated with Genesis Company."

Kai click his tongue. "Very well, I must just bare to associate with low IQ's at this school.

Maura couldn't shut his mouth. "Wow such awful personality~" his habit to bully Kai is still there.

Kai of this universe of course does not know him. So he glared at Maura with such upset mood. "And who are you to talk to me like that?" Fixing his glasses.

Kai genuinely find Maura creepy upon how he just casually standing by his side. Kai has his guard up. Maura sees this and giggles. "Oh come on~ I can't play with you. I'm not the person who should destroy your ego." He smirks knowingly.

Kai entertaining Maura's taunts. "As if someone can." He smirks back confidently.

Ah truly his ego in the air.

Maura knows what to do. "The prince of Shadows will~" the usual he sells Lucia.

Kai intrigue. "Who is that?"

Maura is good at coaxing someone so he did "Yonazuki Lucia will defeat you~ After that you will kept loosing." Or more like he put a curse on Kai.

Kai huffs. "Sounds like you are cursing me. What do you want?" Not knowing whatever comes from Maura's mouth shall indeed happen.

Maura purposely talks about himself. "In fact I use God of Curses. Am maybe a wandering curse~"

It will hurt Kai's pride if he let the prince of Shadow slide. But not right now...

"I will check him out once am done with other stuffs." Kai bodly declares. "I will shatter the title of that Prince you speak of! For I, Ijiun Kai is the genius of geniuses!"

Maura claps. "Yes~ yes that is the spirit!" As he bid farawell. "Now if you excuse me~"

Kai stops him though. "Hold up!"

Maura turns his head. "Yes~?"
Kai asks. "Who are you? Tell me your name."

Maura grins. "Maura." And left like a mysterious character he is playing at this point.

Kai said nothing as he watch Maura take his leave.

The sunset goes...

...


Maura knows he still needs to see Mimori and Kazuki. He is doing this to make sure that everyone is in this timeline.

'I have to make sure the cast is all available.' So he can set traps for Leon's plan.

"Oya~? I know this place." Maura happen to stumble at the front of Kazuki's restaurant.

Maura peeks at the glass and saw Kazuki just got home from school and is getting ready to open the store.

Maura glances at the sign board and it did say open. But there is no customer yet.

'Perfect.' Maura smirks as he enters.

"Welcome~!" Shindo Kazuki greets.

Although he paused for a second.

"Hello there. You must be Shindo Kazuki~" This time Maura did not directly said he knows him. Because he wanted to make an experiment if Kazuki will react strangely. Unlike how he bluntly tells Lucia, Hiro and Alice that he knows their name.

"Uhh, Yes that is me...How can I help you...?"

Also the fact he didn't tell Kai that he knows him. So he thought to give Kazuki a same treatment.

For Kazuki though, he never saw someone with such fashion. Kazuki notices right away the red diamond tattoo of Maura. Even though the customer is smiling and means no harm...something feels out of place.

'Looks like a weirdo.' Kazuki can only mentally thinks. "You can order up later ya know? Choose a seat first!" He says in a friendly tone.

Usual customer service.

Maura giggles. "Hehe~ how kind." And then he finds the nearest window view table. "I like your special bowl combo ramen."

Maura says his usual order and that is a mistake.

Kazuki says with the notepad at his hand. "Eh? We don't have such menu." Not yet at this year.

Maura shook for a second before he composes himself. 'The usual meal Kazuki gives me is not yet invented...I see.' Guess he had to wait 3 years for that menu to appear.

"Then give me your special menu at this point please~" Kazuki blinks. The way Maura speaks feels suspicious. "Uhh ok...ummm..I will give you this." Showing the menu and price.

Maura agrees on it.

"Ahh~ that was delicious." Maura praises. "I like how its all creamy and hot." His comment felt lewd to Kazuki.

Kazuki blushes and shake his head to erase pervy thoughts. "U-uh yeah! Thanks!" Finding a conversation since it does bother him. "Are you...new to the city?"

Maura replies with honesty. "Kinda." Then he pull out his phone to do payment.

Oh shoot, Maura forgots.

Kazuki noticed the react of Maura look worried for a second. "Are you...okay?"

Maura nervously laughs as he showed his turned off phone. He came up with a white lie. "I cant pay my phone broke. But I can wash dishes. Or I can offer other service~"

Kazuki shivers and rejects the idea. "N-Nahh! I-it's okay Ya know~!" Then clears his throat. "I'll put it on my tab! After all you are the first customer for today y-ya know~ Ehehe...hehe..." trying to look cool. But actually. 'I don't wanna force this person to pay. He might be part of Yakuza!' Because nobody has tattoos on their body unless they are part of a mafia going around Japan.

Kazuki wants Maura out so he proceed the nice guy route. "T-thanks for eating!"

Maura just accepts it. Taking advantage of kind Kazuki is nothing knew.

He ended up saying. "You always never ask me to pay. You are truly kind Shindo Kazuki~"

Before Kazuki can comment back. "Eh? What do you mean by me-"

The door of their restaurant shuts as if a ghost passed through...just like that Kazuki is left scratching his head. "Such a strange encounter."

...


The night is about to approach...

Amamiya Mimori decided to visit Hiro's house because he forgot his notebook at his desk table in school.

As Hiro's childhood friend she felt responsible to the clumsiness of Hiro most of the times.

"Sheesh...Hiro-kun can't do his homework by this point." Despite being a girl, Mimori is brave enough to walk at night since she is a citizen of Nekome since birth. She knows every corner but not...

"Eh?"

Amamiya Mimori stops at her tracks as she saw the spotlight towards Maura Abelard.

The reason why it bothers Mimori because not only the person is standing in front of Hiro's house. The description is familiar.

'Watermelon hair color...' Mimori had speculations. 'Is it the person Hiro-kun mention?'

The moment Mimori decided to moved forward, Maura turns his head to Mimori.

The stranger in Mimori's simple eyes is smiling as if she is close with.

"Good evening~" Maura says.

Mimori bows her head in response. "G-good evening..." curious of course. "Umm is something you need from this household?"

Maura chuckles. "Why~ such a gossip for a beautiful lady~"

Mimori blushes since nobody conplimented her looks before since she always thinks she look average. "B-beautiful?! Oh please...am not..!"

Maura is satisfied to finally see Amamiya Mimori. This is the final stop, he needs to get back to Leon.

"Well then, I must be heading home. Please take care on your way home as well Amamiya Mimori~"

Mimori just appreciates it frantically. "Y-you as well!"

Before she can react to the fact Maura knows her name. "Eh! The person is gone?!"

Maura is nowhere found in the dark.

"Uhh...who could that be? Why does that person knows my name...?"

Hiro who happen to go outside to get the laundry forgotten displayed at the ropes. "Oh? Mimori! What you doing here this late!"

Hiro beams.

Mimori now remembers her purpose. "Ah yes!" Taking out the notebook. "You forgot this."

Hiro embarassed how he almost lost an assignment. "Oh shit! Glad you got it back for me! Thank you!"

Although Mimori couldn't get off her mind about the stranger.

She then opens up. "Um Hiro-kun... I saw a girl outside your house."

Hiro questioned that. "A...girl?"

Mimori describes it. "She wears an off shoulder all with jewels. Like the person who you said greeted you early in the morning."

Hiro confused. "That person is still here...?"

The question is why and who is it. 'I did mentuon to talk to the person later but I never saw...' Is that stranger a ghost of some sort?

"You know I'll take you home." Hiro offers to change topic since it is getting late. He knows Mimori also had assignments.

Mimori declines. "I'm fine! Hehe...Just goodnight Hiro-kun."

Hiro joked. "Well you punch hard so I bet guys will be afraid!"

Mimori pouts. "Hiro-kun so mean!"

They both laugh. "Hahaha!"

And thus Amamiya Mimori went home by herself as Hiro looks above the sky and wonder.

"Nice meeting you...Ryuugasaki Hiro..." repeating Maura words feels like some storm is about to come to his life.

...


Maura then got home and turns on back his smartphone.

'Alright, I have made sure everyone is already existing at this world. Next is...'

BEEP.

"Eh...?"

Unexpectedly.

"Lucia..."

Yonazuki Lucia sent a message.

["Hey, how are you now?"]

Maura can't help but giggle at that. "Well~ well, looks like someone is pretty concerned at me now. The real opposite of the original Lucia I honed~"

Maura being playful, he sent back a reply.

...


Lucia back at his home where all lights off. There is no need for him to use electricity unless really necessary. Right now he is sleeping at the living room sofa. His and Shiori's bedroom had become a storage room in a sense...

BLINK!

Lucia snap his eyes open, he is resting actually. But the fact his phone made a sound...

"Maura...!"

He reads the reply.

["Are we getting a bit lonely~? I'm fine. I will have my check up after this. Thank you and I appreciate your concern."]

Lucia let out a relief sigh and starts to type.

...


BEEP!

Maura about to remove his clothes so he could change into the hospital gown stops half way as he sees Lucia actively replying.

"Hm~?" The message contains.

["Tell me the results. Let's talk about it, do not keep it to yourself."]

Maura slightly blushes with a small smirk. Typing one last time before he really needs to get going to the lab.

...


BLINK!

Lucia's awaited response from Maura. He reads the following and ended up showing his small smile.

["If I will let you know, I will come there. Kiddin! I will be on my way now. See you tomorrow."]

...


Maura now completely undresses. It was then his stomach glows.

"What...?"

Within the mirror reflection, not only his eyes turned blue but on his stomach the symbol of Morning Star appeared.

BADUMP!

Horrified at the sight.

Maura Abelard knew he can't let anyone know especially Leon.

"Am...Marked already...?!"

.

.

.

.

.

.

At the Genesis Lab...

Maura had been silent and he isn't even moving from his bed seat. He look so nervous and he is hugging himself.

Marguirite thought its just Maura in pain again so he is trying to cope with it by comforting his self. Little did they knew it was more than that.

Maura's mind is noisy. 'What should I do? What should I do?! If...If I strip here...They will see the symbol...!' He can feel it burning his stomach, it hurts but he is more mentally disturb.

Maura's eyes had always been close, so it is pretty easy to hide his glowing blue eyes. But not the part etched on his stomach. It is too big and it was obviously the art called Tree of Woe.

That's just messed up.

Maura wonder what triggered it.

"Maura-san, it is time for check up." Marguirite calls out.

"..."

"Maura-san?"

Weird.

Maura is not reacting, his expression is hidden with his bangs. His gaze were at the floor.

Totally strange.

Leon Aurenche is always present whenever it his Maura's check up. He would rarely be absent on countable times.

Leon asks. "Whats wrong Maura? Why wont you strip?"

Maura shakily says. "I...I dont want to have checks up anymore." Is the best excuse he can make.

Leon raised an eyebrow trying to read Maura's emotion of the oceans.

"And why is that...?"

Before Maura can make another lame lie his stomach hurts again.

"Augh...!"

Crouching.

Leon saw Maura glowing in blue light. It looks familliar.

"This is...!"

Leon grabs Maura's wrist to force him on standing up, to also force him not to block his stomach.

Maura fearful. "L-Leon-sama you are hurting me!"

Leon lifts up his hospital gown and now with proper look the symbol is quite clear.

Leon stared at Maura and his stomach a bit before he came to the conclusion. "I see! I see!" Leon express his joy. "You have the seed inside you! You are baring the fruit of seed!" He laughs. "Ahaha! Everything make sense now! This is good Maura! Nexus has given you a key to defeat itself...!"

Maura's eyes simply terrified now he has been discovered and finally he also understood the real danger his body had been suffering from.

'S-seed...Meaning the seed of Nexus...?'

Marguirite who kinda get the situation when Leon said those words. "Um so Maura is like pregnant with the seed that is part of Tree of Woe..?"

Leon Aurenche proudly states.

"For whatever reason, Maura resonated to the Tree of Woe and gain it's seed. Once Tree of Woe awoken it will be easy to control its power, to stop the world's destruction!"

Maura knew Leon is lying.

'I'm...doomed...!' Leon meant. 'Leon-sama means...Am easily going to be possessed by the Empty Shadows this time!' What can he do? 'I have to escape somehow...!'

Little did he knew what caused this...

The mark awakened the moment Maura had interact with the 6 chosen heroes who still has lingering contract to their Legendary Cards.

Which is why the solemn battle of Maura Abelard begins.


TO BE CONTINUED


Notes: I'm having trouble putting the words in this fanfic. So for the meantime I make random OnShot fanservice for Maura. Kindly check my Shadowverse OneShots as well and drop a review! I really hope I can finish this series AU.

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