"I am certain that I have been here as I am now a thousand times before, and I hope to return a thousand times." - Goethe

Motoki signaled for Yuri and Jeremy to stay quiet, and they nodded agreement before going back inside the mini library. Drake gritted his teeth and raked a hand on his hair before turning to the frozen butler, "You are one of the butlers in this manor, am I correct?"

"Y-Yes sir..."

"Call the other butlers and head maids and everyone are to report in this office in 10 minutes. No exceptions. As I have mentioned earlier, no one is to leave the mansion without my permission. Who knows about the body?"

"J-just me and the ones who found the body s-sir. I happened to be near the place w-when I saw the boy running...""

*Nod* "Good... we should keep the information to a minimum so as not to agitate everyone. Those who found the body are to guard it until my team gets to it. No one is to touch the scene or the body, anyone who does is immediately a suspect. Is that clear?"

"Y-yes Master Drake..."

"Now go and do as I tell you. We'll talk more in 10 minutes."

The butler bowed politely and hurriedly jogged out of the room and Drake sank in the chair... sighing heavily...

" Goddammit! This is more serious than I thought."

Jeremy's head popped out of the corner, "Brother Motoki? Is it safe to come out now?"

Motoki gritted his teeth as he looked at the manor's young master as if asking for permission to divulge information. Drake sighed again as he massaged his forehead, "looks like Yuri and you would have to play detective again."

"Huh?"

*Clears throat* "The police can't be here for another 3 hours... or more so we need your help."

Yuri's hands clenched and Jeremy stared at his cousin who looked away, "where's the dead body?"

Drake leaned slowly on the chair making it creak as he answered, "stables...I have given instructions regarding the handling of the body. Yuri... Jeremy... I'm leaving the investigation in your hands. Try to get to the bottom of this, I trust you both."

An unexplainable feeling overcame Yuri and her eyes shone with determination as she politely bowed towards the young lord, her voice dropping a few octaves lower..." I won't let you down, my lord."

Drake smiled as he relaxed a little, "As I said earlier, do not be so formal Yuu. I know what you are capable of. Jeremy, please support her as much as you can. Report as soon as you two are able, Motoki and I will wait here for you."

"As you wish..."

Yuri bowed one last time and turned to walk out the door, Jeremy hot on her heels. Drake scratched his head and sighed, "Yuri's getting weirder by the day."

Motoki chuckled as he arranged the papers in front of Drake, "Maybe it's the effect of the house on her? She sounded like one of those vassals in the olden times when speaking to their lord."

"No... I think she's just weird."

Silence ensued for several minutes before Drake spoke again, "President... why did grandpa give this house to me?"

"I can't answer that question, Drake and you know that yourself. But in the letter, he left my grandpa, he said he is returning the house to its original owner. I guess that's you?"

Drake raised an eyebrow and sighed, "Original owner? How can I be the original owner? This doesn't make any sense..."

"I'm sorry I can't give you any more answers."

Raking a hand on his hair, Drake sighed and gave a small smile at the other man, "I don't blame you or anything. I'm sure that whatever I have is the same information you do too. I was just thinking... maybe I should have listened to Ran."

*Yawn* "I never thought I'd hear you say something like that Drake."

Drake smiled at the newcomer, "I never thought I'd say something like that too. Still jetlagged?"

Touya plopped himself in the chair across Drake and crossed his arms, "yeah... seems like it. I don't think I'll ever get used to travelling like this. Erin is all right by the way... I slipped out of the room while Rainier and an old lady were talking about something."

Motoki smiled as he handed another file to Drake, "Must be Grandma Tania... we left her with them while you were asleep Mr. Touya."

Touya waved a hand dismissively at the Council president and, "just Touya... I believe we are the same age, or I might even be older than you. Yuri has mentioned you a few times to me and I'm thankful that you take care of that sister of mine. She can be a bit clumsy at times..."

"It's my pleasure. Yuri is a nice kid."

*Nod* "That she is... where is she anyway?"

Drake reviewed the papers Motoki handed him as he answered, "with Jeremy doing some investigations... there's another dead body in the stables. President, can you please have someone make a copy of the original blue print of the house and the map of the whole land? I want to mark the places where we found the corpses."

"H-hold on a minute! Another dead body?? Why was she sent there? Can't that Jeremy kid check it instead of my baby sister?"

Drake sighed, "you and your sister complex... She'll be fine. Your sister is tougher than other guys I know, and I believe Jeremy won't let anything happen to her. Besides, if there is anybody, I can trust to deal with something like this it would be Yuri and you know that."

Touya sank further on the chair, an expression of worry on his face..." I know but you can't blame me for worrying. I only have her and dad left in this world, I'd rather not risk losing her."

"I know buddy... but you do have to trust your sister and me too. Every decision I make has a reason behind it."

*Sigh* "Nothing I can say will change the fact that she already feels that this is her responsibility. So, you say there is another person dead?"

Drake and Motoki looked at each other before the young master replied, "yes... and since you are here... I might as well fill you in with all that we know. President, the blue print please... I need that as soon as you can."

"As you wish," Motoki bowed politely then rushed to leave the room.

Drake shook his head with a raised eyebrow, "everyone's getting weird since we came here... "

"Everyone?"

"Yeah...your sister bowed the same way earlier... like one of those vassals bowing to their lord or something. Probably the atmosphere of this place..."

Touya leaned further on the chair and sighed, "Won't contest to that. This place is way too creepy."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Is this the way to the stables?"

Yuri nodded as she consulted the map once more, "that is what the map says... we should be there by... now. There it is... why don't you know the way anyway? You and brother Motoki grew up here, didn't you?"

"Nah... Brother Motoki and I would only occasionally come here with grandpa when the old Higuchi was alive. And we don't get to roam around because it's too scary especially to kids."

"Hm... makes sense. O-kay! He... or maybe she must be waiting for us, let's go!"

Jeremy shook his head and smiled slightly, "that false excitement you are showing is a little creepy. But it's very you to seem positive even though we are just about to investigate a dead body."

The men bowed politely upon seeing the pair, "Young lady, young master... are you the ones sent by young master Higuchi to check on the dead?"

Yuri nodded and walked forward to start questioning them, "who saw the body first?"

Jeremy proceeded to the body sprawled on the floor and started taking photos... the wrists and legs also have bruises like the first body...

"Hey Yuri!"

"Hm?"

"Can you come here for a sec? I think I see something..."

Yuri rushed beside the body and crouched close to see, "Welcome...back...? What does this mean?"

"I'm not so sure myself but isn't it weirdly placed close to the body?"

The girl pursed her lips and her eyes narrowed, "Jeremy... make sure to take photos of everything. I have a bad feeling about this. Let's report to Drake as soon as we can."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Oh my God..."

Grandma Tania took Rainier's left hand and gave it a light squeeze, "I'm sorry my lady. I wish I can say everything isn't the truth but I'm afraid it is."

Rainier shook his head and smiled, "it's okay... don't worry about it. I believe you. Just... give me some time to digest things and then I'll be better."

"I see that you have your kind heart maintained in your new body, milady..."

"Please don't praise me so much Grandma Tania, I'm not as perfect as you make me to be."

Erin stirred and slowly sat up while holding a hand to her head, "ah I feel like my head split into two..."

"Do you want some water Eri?"

The younger girl took the offered water and smiled a little, "thank you Ran-chan. Has Drake or Yuri returned yet?"

Rainier smiled back as he watched his friend finish the water he offered, "no... they haven't but I was thinking we should go to them once you feel a little better. I am a little worried about the stuff that happened and I'm sure you are too."

Erin nodded and a solemn look passed her face as she stared at the now empty glass, "Ran-chan...I think who we were before has something to do with what is happening now."

"What? But... we were... them... about several thousand years ago. How can it be affecting the happenings now?"

"I'm sorry... I don't know. I just feel that's the case."

Rainier massaged his forehead and heaved a sigh, "it's not that I think it's unlikely but those things just happen in series and novels and..."

Grandma Tania looked away and Erin sighed, "let's just go to Drake and Yuri... all this thinking is making my head hurt again."

"All right. Would you like to come with us Grandma Tania?"

The old woman shook her head and smiled, "I'm afraid I must take my rest now, milady. My body is not as tough as it once was. Please forgive me hime-sama."

Erin shook her head as she took the old lady's hand in hers, "Grandma Tania...there is nothing to forgive. Please take your needed rest. Ran-chan and I will visit you after we talk with Drake and Yuri."

"Thank you very much... hime-sama."

"No need for thank you as well. Ran-chan, can we ask someone to help Grandma to her room?"

*Chuckle* "As you wish princess..."

"Oi! Don't call me that, sister-in-law..."

*Roll eyes* "Shut up."