MIDNIGHT ILLUSION

After an hour or so of hammering at the game controls in the shared living room of their connected suites, Fujima declared that he was bored and wanted to be left alone.

Of the two of them, though both had met equally strange incidents, apparently only he was deeply shaken.

Sendoh of course, rather gladly went right away to search for Fila.

Fujima calmed his nerves, chided himself for his somewhat ridiculous behavior and thought, "Sendoh's right. This place is old, it surely still have some secrets and ancient stuff. Also, Fila and Keax had been so nice and warm. Sendoh seems so taken with the Fila-chan. Jin-kun is here too, and he never complained. Not to forget Jigs, Yue and Ran...it's just a normal happy family, Kenji Fujima..."

With that thought cheering him up, he decided to go for a relaxing time at the indoor bowling alley.

*+*

Jigs was in her suite with both of her bishies, having the conclusion of what Keax dubbed, "a painstaking debate" finally set.

"And so...I hope you 2 would get along..." Jigs finally ended her torrent of words with a deep sigh and a hopeful glance at Yue and Ran.

After what seemed like infinity to Jigs, Yue made the first move.

He offered an outstretched hand to Ran and smiled gently, "Welcome to the family..."

Ran grinned a little and shook it, " Thank you for letting me share the affections of Jigs."

Jigs felt even more relieved than Fujima as she hugged both of them tightly, knocking the breath out of them.

*+*

Sendoh of course, was having a hard time finding Fila.

He halted outside Jin's suite after a long and extensive search in the huge mansion and nearly getting lost despite the map of the Mansion he had.

He rapped sharply, "Ano, Jin-kun? Are you in?"

The oak door moved open and Sendoh found Keax blinking up at him.

"Akira-kun!" Keax pounced and wrapped her arms around Sendoh's neck joyfully.

"Uh-huh...trying to make me jealous, Keax-chan...?" Jin grinned wryly as he lifted Keax down.

"Lost Fila, didn't you?" Keax deadpanned abruptly.

"Yeah...kinda, I was just wondering where is she..." Sendoh smiled broadly.

"Maybe it isn't such a good time to asking for her now..." Jin cautioned as he tried to find a way to explain.

"Tsu-kun is back." Keax bluntly filled in.

Sendoh's grin faltered, "What?"

Jin shrugged, "You heard Keax...Fila-chan is with Tsu-kun now...if you know what I mean..."

Sendoh's face took on a somewhat forced smile which failed badly to mask the dejection in his eyes as he nodded.

Keax nudged Jin who winked discreetly before saying aloud, "OK, I'm going to check on dinner anyway...see you then, Akira-kun."

Sendoh took a seat at the bar in Jin's suite after Keax moved behind the counter. She poured tequila and lemon juice into 3 seperate chilled tumblers and stirred them a little before topping them with sparkling wine.

Placing them in front of Sendoh, she announced, "Tequila Slammers. You know how to drink them?"

Sendoh blinked and shook her heads dully.

Keax prepared another single glass and flashed a grin, "Watch."

She covered the top of the glass with a hand and slammed the glass onto the bar top hard before downing it.

Sendoh raised his eyebrows before chuckling. Following Keax's example, he drank all 3 Slammers in a minute. He let go of the last glass before suddenly, burying his head in his arms and started sobbing.

Keax cleared the glasses and patted him on the back, "It's ok..."

*+*

Tsuzuki gasped for breath as he sank down back onto his pillows with Fila lying on his chest.

Fila played with a strand of his hair as she whispered softly, "Are you leaving for so long again?"

Tsuzuki gave a low chortle before nuzzling Fila's neck, "No....not for the near future...can't risk losing you..."

Fila laughed as her eyes glinted with mischief, "Not to worry... Our guests wouldn't be staying long already..."

"What are you and Keax planning this time?"

"Something... Tell you some other time..."

Tsuzuki pouted a little before agreeing happily, "OK, but only if we do it again! I'm tops this time!"

"What?! Again? Why do you have such a high sex drive?"

*+*

Fujima was panicking as he realized that he was lost again. He had been wandering about blindly after he stepped out of the bowling arena. And he could not help but being reminded dreadfully of the unfortunate "accident" he had came across.

He stumbled about in the big maze of deserted corridors and halls as he rushed to see someone, just someone who can tell him how to get back to the area he was more familiar with. He dared not opened any doors or touch any walls.

To his utmost delight, he spotted a figure staring at an old painting in front of him.

Hastening over, he called in relief, "Hey hey! Can you tell me how to get back to the East wing?"

He got no response which irritated him, "Hey! I'm talking to you here...!

He put an arm on the shoulder of the young boy in front of him and turned him around.

Fujima paled horribly as blood drained from his face and he felt a sudden desire to barf at the ugly and horrendous sight in front of him.

The matted hair, the gray face with only one ear, hollow white eyes, small holes in the place of a nose, odd and uneven teeth jutting out from swollen gums and the bruised neck of the boy with standing so close made him let out a loud and shameless scream before blacking out right there and then.

Chapter 12