"Remember today, for it is the beginning of always. Today marks the start of a brave new future filled with all your dreams can hold. Think truly to the future and make those dreams come true."

Jeremy yawned while still keeping a hold on Yuri's head, "are we there yet brother Motoki?"

Motoki smiled, "just a bit more Jeremy... why don't you continue to sleep too? I'll all wake you up when we get there."

Jeremy turned and saw that Drake was asleep on the passenger seat; head leaning towards the window... earphones connected to his ears...Erin and Rainier were both in deep sleep as well.

"Nah... I'll stay awake with you... I don't want to die if you fall asleep as you drive."

Yuri stirred and Jeremy immediately pretended to sleep immediately returning to his previous position, "brother Motoki?"

"Ah Yuuyuu, we're almost there... did you sleep well?"

Yuri nodded and felt a hand restricting her movements; she carefully removed Jeremy's hand from her head and moved Jeremy's drooping head on her shoulder.

"Yeah... I wasn't able to sleep on the train due some stuff so I'm glad I had the chance to sleep for a bit. How long has Jay been supporting my head?"

Motoki thought for a moment, "since you fell asleep I think but I'm not sure.... I was concentrating on driving. Aren't you going to ask me why Jeremy and I are here?"

Yuri shrugged nonchalantly and responded, "I'm sure Drake already did and besides you don't do something unless you really have to so its fine."

"Yuri, why are you only calling Jeremy by his nickname only when he's not aware of it?"

"No particular reason... he's cute when flustered...are we close to the place?"

Motoki nodded and Yuri moved to immediately wake up the other three, "Drake, Erin... Ran... wake up we're here."

Drake was the first to open his eyes and he unplugged the earphones in his ears, "finally... this place is too far."

Erin woke up next followed by Rainier who rubbed his eyes, "we're here?"

A large black gate opened, and the car went in... Erin, Rainier and Yuri gasped in awe at the surroundings while Jeremy kept pretending to sleep on Yuri's shoulder...

"Woah... this is definitely a mansion! A mansion! We can't even see the house yet... look at all those trees!"

"Rainier was right!"

"Of course I am... I wonder how the house looks like... old Japanese? American?"

Drake grunted and spoke in a low voice, "hey... I'm not fully awake yet... stop with the loud voices..."

The three muttered their apologies making Motoki smile, "if only you treat everyone like you treat these kids... you could even replace me at the Council."

Drake smirked, "I can replace you anytime I want president... I just chose not to..."

Rainier, Yuri and Erin had disbelieving looks on their faces and Motoki chuckled, "I know Law...ah I can see the house now. That's where we will be staying. The Higuchi Manor."

Drake crossed his arms and smiled, "not bad great grandpa..."

In the middle of the seemingly endless road stood an old English castle... the walls are white and there were stone guards in front.

Motoki turned the engine off and opened his seatbelt before patting Jeremy's shoulder, "stop pretending sleep Jeremy... we're here."

Jeremy raised his head and sheepishly smiled earning a glare from the girl holding his head, "Let's go in. Grandfather is expecting us."

Everyone in the car piled out one by one, Drake giving the place a good look..."this isn't a manor...it's a castle."

Rainier helped Motoki take out the bags from the trunk, "well the old Higuchi wanted to call this a manor... its smaller compared to English castles."

Drake nodded, "it is but nevertheless... still a castle."

"Wow... Is this really yours big brother?"

Drake found Erin looking at the intricate designs on the door, "according to the lawyer yes... but I think I'm having second thoughts now. A castle in the middle of nowhere...who would want this?"

Rainier stood beside Yuri who was glaring at Jeremy, still holding the bags, "you better check the place out first Drake... I don't think it's fair for you to immediately say you don't want it when we haven't seen how it looks inside."

Drake sighed and took both his and Erin's bags, "fine let's go... we don't have anywhere else to go for vacation anyway."

Jeremy grabbed Yuri's bag despite the latter's complaints and proceeded to follow Drake and Erin who went inside first.

The house interior was nothing short of what was expected inside a castle. A large staircase welcomed them as soon as the door was opened. Drake turned to Motoki who came in last before proceeding, "a tour will come later Law... for now, let's meet with grandfather in one of the offices."

Motoki led the group and guided them through the staircase before turning left on one corner. Yuri shivered and Rainier lightly nudged her on the shoulder, "you okay?"

The girl nodded and Jeremy moved a bit closer... Motoki flipped a switch and a chandelier lit, "let's go..."

The six continued walking until they reached a large oak door. Motoki knocked twice, "grandfather... I've brought Mr. Higuchi's grandson and his friends."

A faint 'come in' was heard and the door was opened, the smell of coffee lingered in the air. Unlike the outside, the room was definitely Japanese designed except for the large desk in the middle and the leather chair behind it.

Drake looked around and smiled, "not bad... I think I like this room a little better."

The leather chair swiveled revealing an old man wearing a gray suit, "welcome to Higuchi manor master Drake. I am the one you spoke to on the phone. And I assume those are your friends? Welcome to the manor young master, young ladies. I hope the journey wasn't unpleasant..."

"Good afternoon, Sir..."

Rainier, Erin and Yuri bowed politely and smiled at the gracious looking person on the swiveled chair, "thank you Sir."

Motoki placed his things down and stood beside his grandfather while Jeremy stayed beside Yuri. The old man observed all of them with his eyes and smiled, "May I ask who your friends are Master Drake?"

Drake lightly nudged Rainier so he went stumbling a bit forward, "I-I'm Rainier Minamoto but please call me Ran."

"Good afternoon sir, I'm Erin Miyazaki."

Attorney Sato smiled, "ah I assume you are Master Drake's proclaimed younger sister?"

Erin gaped in surprise and Motoki sweat dropped, "um... actually both my cousin and I filled in some of your information to grandfather..."

"Oh..."

Yuri smiled and laid out her hand for the old Sato to take, "good afternoon sir... I'm Yuri Shinobu. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"So you're the famous Yuri huh? My grandson Jeremy had a lot of stories about..."

Jeremy rushed to hug his grandfather and the rest sweat dropped, "I missed you grandpa!"

"I missed you too Jeremy." *chuckle* "Please show them to their rooms. I already asked the maids to clean the rooms they will be staying in."

Motoki and Jeremy nodded and as they were about to leave...Drake spoke, "Attorney-san, I have a lot of questions to ask you."

"Master Drake, I know you have questions but seeing how tired you were cause of the travel maybe we can set the meeting tomorrow?"

Drake nodded, "the soonest time possible is the best."

"Thank you. This is a great opportunity since your other relatives will be here as well. See you tomorrow master Drake. Jeremy, don't do something Grandpa won't do."

Jeremy turned red and grumbled that he was always the one scolded by their grandfather. Motoki chuckled and the rest had puzzled look on their faces, "the rooms are this way."

"Big brother, the lawyer mentioned that you have other relatives, do you know who they are?"

Drake shrugged carelessly, "nope... and frankly I don't really care."

Erin sighed, "Typical Drake answer... but what if they want this house? You need to worry about stuff like that."

"Erin's right... what if they do want the house and they'd kill you or something."

Drake smiled and slung his free hand on Rainier's shoulder, "don't worry honey... they won't even dare harm me. But it's nice to know you care though..."

Rainier roughly pushed Drake's arm away with a grunt and reddened upon seeing Motoki's smiling face, "this isn't what it seems, president... I swear!"

Motoki's eyes crinkled in amusement, "its okay Rainier... I won't tell anyone when we get back. It's going to be bad for you if Law's fangirls knew about this."

Rainier hit Drake's shoulder as soon as Motoki turned while Erin and Yuri chuckled at the back. Jeremy walked beside Yuri with a disbelieving look on his face, "you mean... they really are an item? I've heard rumors but this is the first time I saw personally."

"What you see is what you get, Takahashi."

Erin nodded and watched as the two bickered on their way to the rooms assigned for them...

The five followed Motoki as he walked back to the center of the grand staircase and towards the other end. On the walls are different paintings of several famous painters, one of them caught Erin's attention and she stopped in the middle of their walk..."Erin?"

"Ran... look at this painting... don't they seem familiar?"

Rainier walked towards the painting and squinted, "you're right... they...look like us. President Nakajima and Jeremy are there too..."

Drake sighed and lightly ruffled Erin's hair, "that's impossible... let's get to our rooms. I'm sleepy."

"Law's right... that painting must have been at least two thousand years or more old."

Erin and Rainier gave the painting one last look before they continued to walk towards the left. Jeremy and Yuri looked at each other as they passed the painting, but neither said anything as they followed the rest.

Motoki stopped in front of a two-door bedroom, "this is the room you will be staying in Law... it's one of the master's bedroom."

Drake opened the door and threw his bag in before closing it again, "I'll rest after everyone's inside their rooms... where are the rest of the rooms, president?"

"This is Miyazaki's room... its right next to yours, Law. Beside this is Minamoto's room..."

Yuri waited for her name to be called but when it was not, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where will I stay brother Motoki?"

"Our rooms are on the other side, Yuuyuu. My room first then yours and Jeremy's..."

Jeremy smirked and patted Yuri's shoulder lightly, "I'm leaving my door open in case you have a nightmare..."

Yuri and Rainier pouted at the same time, "Can we exchange rooms?"

Drake sighed and carried Erin's bags over to her room, "it should be okay... those are just rooms... don't get too worked out over it."

"The rooms were grandfather's idea...I'm sorry."

"It's okay brother Motoki...and Takahashi, you can keep your door closed. I won't even dream of coming in there. Erin, can I stay in your room until I feel sleepy?"

Erin nodded and Yuri smiled,"Yey! Thanks! I'll just put my bags inside then I'll go to your room!"

"I'll bring your bags to your room, Yuri. You can go directly to Miyazaki's room."

"Really? Thanks Jeremy!"

Jeremy smiled brightly as he watched Yuri grab Erin's elbow and dash towards her room. Rainier shook his head, "I'll be going in as well. See you guys... thank you president for all the help."

"No problem... the maids will call for dinner at eight."

After a nod from Rainier and Drake, the cousins walked towards the other side to their respective rooms...

"Is that supposed to be Drake and his friends?"

"Which one?"

"The scary looking one..."

"Father better find a way to chase them out...I want this house."

"He better or I'll get rid of them myself."

A/N: character introductions are on their way!