(HOME)
"Luuuuucifer~!"
"Hai, ma'am." Lucifer came approaching PheonixFox, Shikamaru, and the duct-taped Neji. Behind him walked Gaara, and along the ground he dragged yet someone else wrapped in duct tape.
PheonixFox leaned to the side to look at the other figure. "Ah! Itachi. I guess I expected it'd happen that way."
Lucifer nodded, and sat Itachi down next to Neji. Neither one looked happy, especially Itachi, since his eyes had been taped over.
"Who's this?" Shikamaru asked of the second victim.
"Itachi Uchiha. See?"
"Uchiha? You mean like Sasuke?"
"That's a yes and not a no! He's got the Sharingan! Only more powerful than Sasuke's! So it's no surprise he's been chosen like the rest of everyone!"
"Chosen?" Gaara asked.
But, apparently not having heard him, PheonixFox went skipping into the large, colorful house, and Lucifer slung Neji over one shoulder and dragged Itachi behind to follow. Shikamaru and Gaara reluctantly went in as well.
(Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro World)
"Missing."
"Hm?" Genuine asked as she licked his shoe.
"X is...missing."
"Mm...is he, now..?" she murred.
"It seems even his care-taker has no idea where he is."
"You'll find him."
"Yes. I will. This is quite annoying, however."
"How far could he go? There's only the world to escape to. Your world, Sicks."
(HOME)
"God bless you," L said dully as X wiped his nose after a sneeze.
Nekozawa was in action at once. "A rumor! Someone is spreading a rumor, X..." A pillow plapped at the back of his head, and he turned, insulted, to find Ed frowning at him.
"What a lousy superstition," he huffed. "He might just have a cold. Or allergies."
"Superstitions usually have to start somehow," Fai said with a smile, walking over to X and patting his head. "Are you okay, X?"
X nodded. "Just fine. I wonder where Ai is."
"Ai?"
X nodded. "Ai." He didn't elaborate.
"I want to explore, too," Alphonse said, "like Kurama and the others, but after what happened before I'm not so sure."
"I'm not afraid to go looking around," Fai said cheerfully. He looked down at X. "Want to come with me?"
"If that's all right."
"Of course."
Riku stood up. "May I come?"
"You don't even have to ask," Fai replied with a smile.
"Of course you don't! That's the point of having the freedom to explore!" Everyone turned to the door, and of course PheonixFox had returned. "Hi my dear adventurers! We have some more for you to meet!"
Edward grimaced. "There're already too many of us as it is, you dope."
"No, not enough. but we're getting there. The adventuring will start soon, so don't touch that dial! For now, we have these four, Shikamaru Nara, Gaara, Neji Hyuga, and Itachi Uchiha!"
Hiei took one looked at Lucifer behind her, carrying two of the new arrivals, and gritted his teeth. "You brought out that evil tape again, didn't you!?" he demanded.
"It's not evil, it's duct tape."
"I don't care if it can quack, crow, or wield a machete, it's annoying and despicable!" he accused.
PheonixFox brought out here silvery roll and cuddled it to her cheek. "It's strong, useful, and dependable! It is the master of the universe! All must bow before the mighty power of duct tape!!"
"You're crazy."
"Yes! Thank you!"
Lucifer came in and plopped Itachi and Neji onto two individual beds, as Shikamaru and Gaara sat on their own hesitantly. Itachi squirmed, mouth grim.
"Now! Let's run off, Lucifer! Oh, but wait! Kurama and Hao and Kayashima are missing! Are they exploring?"
A handful of the group nodded.
"Terrific! If any of you are looking for a certan kind of room, ask Lucifer or me whenever you get the chance, alrighty!"
Alphonse raised his hand. "Can you show my brother and I to a nonfiction library?"
"Certainly! Lucifer, head out without me, I'll be going shortly!"
Lucifer bowed, and with a curt "Yes, ma'am," he was gone in a flash. That's ninja for you.
"Now, this is somewhat...spooky." Kayashima didn't look too well.
Kurama shrugged. "It's not as bad as I thought it'd be. But this is definitely what those two were talking about."
"This way, the library is this way!" they heard behind them, and they turned to out in the hallway to find PheonixFox leading Ed and Al by. She paused as she saw the three in the room. "Oh! I really like that room. Hope you enjoy it!"
Hao, having already stuffed the paper away, grimaced. "I really don't understand you."
"Then learn to~!"
(Kingdom Hearts World)
"Where is he?" a voice in the darkness echoed. "Where..?"
There was no answer, of course. He was alone in the deep abysmal darkness.
"My vessel has gone missing. He still has his powers. I can feel them. But he is missing."
Some punishment was in store for a frightened runaway...
