"Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome."

― Isaac Asimov, American author, and professor of biochemistry.

"What the hell..."

Rainier placed a hand on Drake's shoulder and gently taps, "I completely understand..."

"I mean... we didn't get married? You were my fiancée, right?"

Rainier sighed, "Drake you are missing a very big point."

"I'm not. I mean I had a chance but didn't get to take it... why?"

Rainier massaged his forehead and asked for help with his eyes to Motoki who shrugged, "listen Drake... we can talk about this... but not right now. There are other things we need to focus on. Can we agree on that please?"

Drake cleared his throat and sighed, "yeah okay but we'll get back to that right? You promise?"

"YES! Now please focus?"

Drake straightened, "so that means whatever happened to us before is happening or had some role in whatever is happening now. Did I get that right?"

Motoki and Touya nodded, "I think that actually makes some sense."

"What do you mean Motoki?"

Motoki started explaining, "well Grandma Tania mentioned a lot about who we were before but I never gave it much thought. However, if we think about it – she might make more sense."

Drake's brow wrinkled, "you mean the old lady that was here before? What does she know?"

Rainier was about to continue saying something when loud knocks were heard from the door, "Drake – Yu... Yuri here. I have something to report."

Touya ran to the door and opened it before hugging (suffocating) his sister, "Oh God! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Yuri tapped her brother's back, "brother... I'm okay... but I need to talk to Drake. Can you please let me move?"

Touya let her go and rubbed his eyes and Yuri chuckled, "don't cry... "

Drake noticed the gold tint in Yuri's eyes, "let me guess... you're not Yuri? Well, I mean you're Yuri but not our Yuri?"

Yuri laughed (in a non-Yuri way), "You've always been a sharp one young master. I am Yuri though but as of this time, I share consciousness with the 'other' me."

Drake crossed his arms, "I understand. Introduce yourself."

Yuri kneeled as samurais do in the old times and stood with a hand on her waist, "I am Yukinori Shinobu. The heir of the Shinobu samurai line and only child of Magistrate Shinobu. Also appointed general of the Higuchi army and fiancée to Junko who was reincarnated as that boy *points to Jeremy*"

Jeremy walked beside Yuri (his eyes also had a tint of gold), "and I am Junko Takahashi – the appointed Miko serving the temple of the Gods. As sir Yukinori mentioned, I am his fiancée and cousin to Motohiko"

Drake nods and the rest had worried faces, "so if the two of you are your past selves... where's Yuri and Jeremy?"

Yuri and Jeremy looked at each other and smiled, "we are still here. Again, our old selves and current selves are not separate humans. We are one – just able to remember things from the olden times."

Jeremy nodded, "this is why I can use my powers as a Miko even if I'm in this reincarnated body."

Touya gulped and moved close to Yuri, "can you tell me who I was before?"

Yuri looked at him straight in the eye, "If I declined because of personal reasons, are you going to hold it against me?"

The older Shinobu shook his head, "no but I would still like to know if possible."

"I get why you are asking/ You were one of my disciples, a young samurai with big dreams – Young master Daichi took you in as you were being maltreated by the family you were born in."

Jeremy covered Yuri's hand in his and nodded, "I'll continue answering your question. You were born as Takehiko Kawaguchi, later adopted, and widely known as Takehiko Shinobu, the youngest strategist of the Higuchi clan."

The rest of the people in the room exchanged glances in silent understanding and Touya smiled, "I don't need to know anymore than that. I was reborn into the family who took care of me and gave me a chance to give back to the mentor I looked up to."

Yuri smiled, "you connected to your old self it seems. I am happy for you Takehiko, though technically speaking, you should step up more... my present self still acts as your older sister at times."

Touya chuckled and scratched his cheek (something Touya doesn't do), "I suppose I still get scolded in this lifetime."

Drake nodded and walked back to his desk, "I believe we have a bigger item to talk about and this will require you all to take a seat."

Touya sat beside Motoki while Jeremy and Yuri took their seats on the leather couch, while Rainier stayed on the couch behind them watching over Erin.

Yuri started her report, "given the knowledge of past and present selves – we have gathered that the killing is initiated by a reincarnated member of the Takano clan. The way of killing coincides with the assassination skills of the Takano ninjas. The last killing is different from the first two, there was urgency in the kill and the brutality showed uncontrolled anger unlike the two premeditated killings. It meant that whoever we are looking for was triggered possibly by me and Jeremy. Also... this painting was marked with blood and a peony. "

Rainier gasped and Touya clenched his fist, "the peony is the symbol of the Higuchi females... so he is after Raina sama and Eriya sama"

Jeremy nodded, "or in this time would be Rainier and Erin"

Yuri showed Touya and Motoki the painting and Touya sighed, "this is Takano all right."

Motoki looked at Touya and he explained further, "this painting was the first commissioned painting when Master Daichi was declared heir of the Higuchi clan. I remember... "

Yuri signaled for Touya to stop talking and the older Shinobu obliged, "let us not make the master angry as of this time with unneeded memories."

Rainier raised a hand, "wouldn't I be out of harms way now that I am not a female? You said a peony is a symbol of females in the Higuchi house."

Motoki spoke after a few moments of thinking, "that might not be the case Minamoto san... just like my cousin who swapped genders, he still has the powers of a Miko. You might be physically male, but your soul is of Raina who master Higuchi loves more than himself. You are still in danger."

The room quieted and everyone was thinking deeply about the things they need to do and the implications of every decision they will make moving forward.

The silver haired male looked at the people around him and though its weird to say – he felt a sense of calm, yes there are things to do and things to fix but he knows they can do it. He has all the help he needs.

Rainier tapped his shoulder, "Drake?"

Drake smiled at Rainier and squeezed the hand on his shoulder, "I'm fine."

He then interlaced his fingers together and addressed the room, "for everyone's sake... what we have so far is that everything that is happening now is related to what happened years ago. We are all old souls who have been given a chance to protect the people we love and care for. Everyone on the same page?"

All nodded and Drake continued, "right now we have three bodies dead... and possibly more that has not been discovered yet. The police is delayed for three hours and during that time, we need to hold the fort to ensure that no one else gets hurt. Be it the past or the present, our roles remain the same. Motoki, Touya and my fiancé are to stay with me as my advisers. Touya, you have my permission to move out with your sibling when needed as your present skills will be useful."

Motoki and Touya nodded, "Rainier, you are in charge of your usual task as my fiancée and my sister's shadow. Yuri, you will continue to be my sword and Jeremy your shield, gather information and unmask the perpetrator who dares to threaten my castle. Are my orders clear?"

Rainier nodded while Yuri and Jeremy bowed politely making Drake smile, "lastly no one is to breathe about us knowing who we were before. Whoever is behind this is aware of our previous lives and our faked ignorance could give us the opening we are waiting for."

Erin stirred and Rainier was immediately at her side, "hey... how do you feel?"

She sat up and rubbed her eyes, "did I travel back in time again?"

Rainier looked at Yuri who shook her head and walked closer to Erin, "no... you are still in the present time. What you are seeing are the shadow of our souls overlapping with each other."

"Yuu-kun?"

*Laughs* "Its Yuu-chan at this time but I understand. Are you feeling okay Hime?"

Erin nodded and looked at his brother who had a worried look at this face, "do not even dare apologize... in every lifetime that's all you tell me."

Drake laughed making Rainier shake his head, "that's my present sister all right"

*Glare* "shut up my head hurts."

Touya sighed, "the only person who can scold master Higuchi and leave unscathed."

The quiet moment was interrupted by a knock on the door, Drake allowed the interruption and a flustered maid entered, "y-young master... we cannot find the Kawaguchis and Grandma Tania in their rooms."

Yuri stood and bowed at Drake, addressing the maid – "lead me to their rooms."

The maid blushed at Yuri (she does not know why) and Jeremy howled, "move it woman!"

Motoki facepalmed, "don't tell me my cousin's been like that ever since."

Touya sighed, "she was worse back then believe me."

Erin stood and poised to run after the two but Rainier held her arm, "no... We are to stay here. I know and understand but we cant, we are this person's target. Let's not make this easy for him."

She sighed and slumped on the chair comforted by Rainier. Drake stood and placed a hand on Erin's back and Rainier's shoulder.

Touya and Motoki stood to check on old records to research the Takano family and their history.