Japan, Ermengardis HQ, February 27, 2004, 11:15 AM (Feb. 27, 2:15 AM, GMT +9:00)

Corridors. Endless and desert corridors! I hate this place...Canon thought, visiting the headquarters of the Order.

Saga was following him, in very other state of mind. Since their arrival, the elder brother was admiring the half-Western, half-Japanese interior design of the building: an incredible mixture of raw materials, such as wood, stone or marble, with synthetic materials, such as the deep carpets, or the glass of the giant windows, which allowed admiring the luxurious nature, omnipresent all around... Canon was rather considering the disadvantages of this place: wide corridors where they hadn't crossed any living person, only cameras, which seemed to spy them at every corner.

“I hate this place!” sighed Canon.

“For Athena's sake, stop complaining... We've been here for only one day!” retorted Saga.

“One day... I can tell you that's enough for me to see the dangers of staying here... This place is strange enough to head for a safer place!” 

“Oh yes, and where, Mister the rebel? The sanctuary of Poseidon? Sorry, but it has disappeared under deep water...! The Sanctuary of Athena? It doesn't exist anymore! Other suggestions?”

“I will find!”

“Fine! Canon... When you know where we can escape, don’t forget to call me, and also Shaka, Dohko and the others... Who knows, maybe some of them would like to escape with you...!”

Canon stopped to walk and turned around.

“Honestly, do you believe that after all that had happened, they will go hand in the hand with us?”

Saga looked at his brother, like if he had been stroke by an arrow. A sad grin painted on his face. It was true that the reunion with Aiolia and Aldebaran, then with Dohko, Sion and Shaka, arrived a few hours after them, had been full of emotions. But the two brothers had felt a kind of embarrassment from Aldebaran, and especially from Aiolia.

“I know... All is my fault... I will never pay enough for that...”

“Oh! Saga! I didn’t mean that...”

Canon told himself he was a hustle. How stupid he had been to throw this reality to the face of his brother! In front of him, Saga was looking more and more downcast.

Without hesitation, Canon took him in his arms.

“Easy Saga! Easy! After all, we have all returned in so exceptional circumstances that they will certainly forget the past.”

Canon released his pressure, and looked at his brother. His double. Or almost double, because the Gregoriades brothers were not twin, in spite of their striking resemblance... But anyway, a certain reflection of himself. Of his feelings. His hopes. His doubts.

This reflection he had been deprived a too long time...

Canon gripped the cheek of Saga firmly.

“Come on! Smile!”

“Ouch! Moron, that hurts!” protested Saga, catching the wrist of his brother.

Canon seemed not listening to him and drew him ahead.

“Come on! We have to visit this entire place... You haven't finished admiring the design!”

He turned around to one of the cameras, hung in an angle of the corridor, which was rotating on its axis.

“And stop spying us! You don't have better things to do of your time or what...!” howled Canon against the unfortunate machine.

In the engine room, the guard of monitoring woke up in start, dropping his coffee on his desk.

“Who is the moron who howled like that?”

Japan, Airport of Narita, February 27, 2004, 11:30 AM (Feb. 27, 2:30 AM, GMT +9:00)

The air was dry and cold. Aphrodite shivered and went up his collar to protect his mouth from the bite of the cold wind. He had inopportunely left his scarf - or more exactly, one of the expensive scarves that Garn was used to buy - in his luggage, which were already bound to the Headquarters. On his side, Milo and Mu were shivering as well.

“Weather forecasts say it’s going to snow today… We have to hurry before it really starts! The headquarter is one hour and half away by helicopter!” exclaimed Marine.

Snow…Hearing this word, Milo felled tears go up to his eyes. Camus, his best friend, his brother… Camus, he had fought against during the battle against Hades. Could it possible that they meet again?

Japan, Ermengardis HQ, February 27, 2004, 1:30 PM (Feb. 27, 4:30 AM, GMT +9:00)

Canon and Saga had been sauntering along the corridors for more than two hours. The pavilion was built on four stages, and was connected to several buildings, in any point identical, which seemed to be only a succession of　wooden-corridors, or meeting rooms equipped with strange and impressive electronics. The two brothers had crossed very few people during their visit. Only some technicians or majordomos, who bowed with respect and silence to them.

At a bend of a corridor, they emerged in an anteroom, which style was a little different from all they had seen in their visit. It was very slightly lit, and the windows were tinted in black, like preventing daylight from penetrating there. The Japanese Ikebana or ukiyoe were replaced by European-style paintings, which Saga identified as views of London. The two brothers walked in silently, as if the atmosphere of this place suddenly intimidated them.

They felt a presence, indefinable, cold. But they kept walking in.

“You don’t have the right to be here. I have to ask you to leave...” said a calm voice behind them.

Saga and Canon turned around, surprised. A young man was standing in the entrance, blocking the exit. The paleness of his face, his blue eyes curiously shining, his black clothing gave him a mysterious aspect, almost frightening.

“I’m sorry, but we’re just visiting...” apologized Saga.

“Who are you?” asked Canon, intrigued by the pace of the young man.

“Oh! Me? I work here...”

He stared deep into the eyes of Canon, who moved back, and shivered of anguish, ignoring exactly why.

“You are not going to welcome your friends?” asked the young man.

“Our friends?”

“Yes. Milo, Mu and Aphrodite. I think they’ve just arrived...”

“Milo, Mu and Aphrodite! How come do you know their names?” exclaimed Canon.

“I told you. I work here. You should go now.”

“But who are you, for Athena’s sake?”

The voice of Canon was more insistent, betraying impatience and irritation.　Saga grabbed his arm.

“Come on, Canon, we're joining the others...”

And bowing at the young man politely, he almost pushed Canon in the corridor,.

James looked at them moving away, a smile on the lips.

“Some of them haven’t lost anything of their pride and their arrogance of saints...”

“Why didn’t you let me discuss a bit more with him?” protested Canon, releasing his arms from the pressure of his brother.

“Discuss? I would rather say that you were to... loose your control...” retorted Saga.

“Ok, let’s just say that he got me on the nerves... With his vague answers…”

“Look, he’s young... Hardly more than twenty years... He’s certainly an assistant, who is afraid to have his knuckles rapped by his boss... What were you expecting from him?” asked Saga, half-smiling to his brother. “Can we go, now? To welcome Milo, Aphrodite and Mu?”

Canon made the pout. Then started to run in the corridor, shouting:

“The last one who arrives in the Great Lounge sleeps on the balcony this evening!”

Saga shook the head, disapproving.

“I can’t believe it! He’s really like a kid!”

But the idea of sleeping on the balcony was not really seducing him, and he ran after his younger brother.

It is almost breathless that the two brothers arrived in the Great Lounge, the center of the wide apartments that had been assigned to them as their new "territory".

They stopped at the threshold of the door, looking at the reunion, which was taking place inside.

Milo, Mu and Aphrodite had already arrived, and were surrounded by their old pars. Dohko took Mu in his arms, while Aiolia had falled in the arms of Milo, giving him a friendly hug. Aldebaran was standing not far away, smilling.

Dohko released Mu from his pressure, took his wrist, and drew him towards Sion. Mu didn’t try to resist, and found himself in front of his old master, eyes wet, but lips enlightened with a smile.

“Welcome among the living, Mu!” managed to pronounce Sion.

“Thank you, my Master, Sion” answered Mu, the voice veiled by the emotion.

The tears rolled on his cheeks, and he felt on the arms of Sion, overcome by the joy of seeing him alive again.

Still standing away, Aphrodite was looking at those happy scenes of reunion. Perhaps he was waiting until somebody pays attention to him. Saga noticed it, and was going to move towards the former Saint of Pisces to welcome him, when Dohko caught Aphrodite by a shoulder, and pushed him in the middle of the group.

“Aphrodite also is back!”

All the glances turned on Aphrodite at the same time. On this old damned soul, who had sacrificed his dignity on the furnace bridge of Beauty. But who, somehow, had come back to the “right side” during the battle of Hades. A former Saint of Athena. Like they all used to be.

“Welcome!” exclaimed Aldebaran.

He caught Aphrodite by the shoulders and vigorously hugged him.

Under the pressure of the giant, Aphrodite suffocated:

“Aldebaran, you’re choking me! You want to kill me or what?”

Canon thought that it was time to join the group and to welcome the new comers. He pushed Saga, who found himself in front of Aphrodite, slightly embarrassed.

“Eyh, Aphrodite...”

“Saga...”

Saga suddenly noticed the scare barring the right side of the face of Aphrodite. An incongruity contrasting with the perfection of his feature. Saga couldn’t repress an expression of surprise.

“Aphrodite... Welcome among us...” he said, showing anyway his best smile.

“Thank you, Saga, thank you.”

The face of Aphrodite was radiant with joy.

Saga looked at Milo, who was just behind Aphrodite.

“Milo!”

“Saga.”

“Welcome...”

“Thank you.”

The answer of Milo was polite, but completely deprived of feelings. Canon felt it rather aggressive toward Saga, and walked in the middle of the group.

“Milo… Hello! How are you?” asked Canon, laying his hand on Saga’s shoulder, showing that he was granting all his support to his elder brother.

“Canon... Fine. And you?”

The tone of Milo had not changed.

James, Eleny, Marine, Thetis and Sorrente were looking at the scene of the reunion from the office of James.

Marine sighed.

“The reunion is rather cool... Past is not so easy to forget.”

“Yes, but frankly speaking, after all that they have lived together... That should be enough for them to put it behind...” objected Thetis.

“Human feelings are not so easy to overcome...” murmured Sorrente, a melancholic expression on his face.

James pressed on a button of his remote control and the screen turned to black.

“We have enough problems to solve; we can’t afford also their internal quarrels... And it will be your task... And the task of Shina, to make them understand they have to cope with their dissentions, and find an efficient way to work, for the Order of Ermengardis... Did I make myself clear?”

Sorrente, Marine and Thetis nodded silently. Angers of James could be terrible, they were aware of it. And today, the Great Master of Ermengardis looked especially in a bad mood…

“Any news of Ambre and the three others repatriates?”

“Yes. Ambre called just before the plane took off. They had five-hour-delay at departure from Paris. If everything is ok, they would arrive here around midnight or one o’clock” answered Marine.

“Good. Let's give the newcomers time to rest... I fix the meeting with them tomorrow, 2:00 PM. Thank you.”

Japan, Narita Airport, February 27, 2004, 8:10 PM (Feb. 27, 11:10 AM, GMT +9:00)

Kanto prefectures were now under heavy snowfalls. And the wind, blowing by gust, had paralyzed the traffic of the two Tokyo International airports. Planes were not authorized any longer to land neither in Narita, nor in Haneda, and were diverted on the airports of Kansai, Fukuoka or even Niigata.

By chance, the flight coming from Paris had been among one of the last being authorized to land on the slipping and frosting tarmac of Narita. A quite terrifying landing, actually. The wind had played with the plane like with a toy, and Angelo had almost prayed for his sake, at his very surprise.

Now, Angelo was sited on one of the seats of the arrival hall, safe. The head of Shura resting on his right shoulder. Right after the landing, Shura had been overcome by a crisis. One of these cursed headaches inherited from the rite of resurrection. Angelo couldn’t help from thinking that he would be the next one to suffer from it. He threw a glance on Camus. The young French had once again moved away from them, and was resting against a glass window, looking with rapture the spectacle of snowflakes dancing on the luminous scene of the airport.

“I would like to be like him... He doesn’t make any concern of the situation!” sighed Angelo.

Five minutes later, Ambre showed up again.

“Ok, ready to live?” she asked, playing with the keys of a car.

“Ambre, can’t we stay at the hotel tonight? Shura isn’t really in a good shape!” objected Angelo.

“I’m sorry. I would like to rest in a hotel tonight too, but we must join the headquarters as soon as possible!” answered Ambre.

“I see... Sink or swim...!” Angelo sighed, tapping the shoulder of Shura gently, to awake him.

“Yes, exactly, sink or swim...”

Ambre sighed, trying to keep her calm. No! She wouldn’t start to argue with Angelo, which would be undoubtedly endless. The young Italian seemed very obstinate. Perhaps as much as her, or even more...

Ambre just beard the glance of Angelo during a few seconds, then looked at Camus, absorbed by the contemplation of snow.

“We’re leaving! Camus!” she called.

“Yes. I am ready!”

Camus turned his face towards her. A cold and indifferent expression was painted on it.

Ambre was surprised that Camus answered to her first call. Would he be back to reality? 

Japan, Ermengardis HQ, February 27, 2004, 11:00 PM (Feb. 27, 2:00 PM, GMT +9:00)

Aiolia walked slowly towards the door of the living room, absentmindly. He couldn’t get to sleep. Thinking to his return, and the return of the other gold saints were making him tossing and turning in his bed... Thousands of thoughts and questions were hustling in his head, badgering until in his dreams.

In one of them, he had seen Aison, covered with blood, and accusing him to be a killer, a robber. The robber of his body. Aiolia had awaken at the time Aison was jumping on him, gripping his throat to strangle him. What a dreadful nightmare!

In another dream, he had seen his elder brother, Aiolos, who had asked him why he was not back among the livings.  Aiolia had tried to explain him that this return was far from being a chance. It was first of all a murder. The murder of Aison. And then, pain, sufferings… It’s at that point that Aiolia had awakened in start, tears running on his cheeks. And with the terrible feeling he had definitively lost his brother.

Aiolia wondered why Aiolos hadn’t had the grace to come back to life. Why men like Saga, Canon, Aphrodite, Shura and even Death Mask had been blessed with a new life, and not his brother?

In a sense, he couldn’t forgive these men to have returned, to have been "selected". And not Aiolos.

Aiolia pushed the door of the Great Living room, hoping that he wouldn’t meet anybody, and especially not Canon, Saga, or Aphrodite.

The living room was gigantic: a100-square-meter area of fitted carpet, woodworks, walls elegantly covered with, photographs, or giant TV screens. But the panoramic windows, through which it was possible to admire a forest of bamboos planted in the garden, offered the most beautiful sight.

Aiolia dragged himself from his thoughts, when he saw a red-haired woman, seated on one of the black leather sofa.

The heart of Aiolia started to beat quicker. More intensely also.

“Marine...”

Japan, Prefecture of Gunma, February 27, 2004, 11:05 PM (Feb. 27, 2:05 PM, GMT +9:00)

I edge remember

The very first time I cried

How I wiped my eyes

And buried the pain inside

All of my memories

Good and bad that' S passed... 1a

Listening to the words of this song, Camus felt a strange feeling going up in him. Much more terrible than a physical pain.

I remember, the first time that I cried... No! It was not the time to fall in the depths of his memories! Camus deferred his attention on the car navigation system, this little marvel that he could control perfectly. A gift undoubtedly inherited from Gabriel...

“Ambre! Slow down! There is radar two kilometers ahead!” warned Camus.

Ambre looked at him, quite astonished:

“You can read Japanese? ”

“Yes... I think that Gabriel had learned it...” justified Camus.

Ambre couldn’t hide an amused smile.

“Naruhodo!(2) ”

Do you even know who you are?1

Despite his efforts, the words caught him and awoke this painful feeling... Camus felt again emotion torturing his throat and his eyes.

Is life good to you or is it bad?1

Japan, Ermengardis HQ, February 27, 2004, 11:10 PM (Feb. 27, 2:10 PM, GMT +9:00)

Aiolia walked slowly to the young woman. Marine realized that somebody had entered and turned around, offering her face to his glance. He felt a shock, completely unaccustomed to see her without her mask. And this face, which he had imagined so many times, was far more beautiful than in is dreams: two splendid black almond eyes, a charming nose, and sensual lips.

“Aiolia, what are you doing here? You should go to sleep. You need rest” said Marine, surprised to see him here.

Her voice was maternal, as if she was speaking to a child.

“Actually, I can't sleep. Jet lag, I guess... And you, Marine, what are you doing here? I believed this living room was reserved to the members of «the circle of the lost knights» ”.

Marine smiled to the evocation of this name, found by Aldebaran. So did Aiolia.

“I'm waiting the return of Death Mask, Shura and Camus. They should arrive soon... ” Marine answered.

The smile of Aiolia froze when he heard the three names.

“Oh, I see... So, the «circle of the damned knights» will be soon complete! ” he added, slightly aggressive.

This remark surprised Marine. And shocked her, also.

“Why do you say that, Aiolia? ”

“Oh, nothing, Marine, nothing... I guess I am tired, that's all. ”

Aiolia sat down in the sofa, close to Marine.

“You really should go back to your room, and try to find sleep... It's not necessary for you to wait here... You can see them tomorrow... ”

Aiolia thought that it was indeed the best solution. However something was pushing him to stay there. A bad premonition or something like that...

“No, I stay. After all, they are my old pars; I can stay here and wait they arrive... By the way, what time are they supposed to arrive exactly? ”

“No idea... Midnight or one o'clock. I haven’t received any confirmation yet.”

“Can you call them? ”

“Yes. But Ambre’s cell phone is busy. Ok, let’s try again.”

Marine caught her cell phone in the pocket of her jacket and dialed a number. But she only heard the usual familiar voice announcing: «O-denwa ni kaketa bango wa, denpa ga todokanai basho ni aru ka, dengen ga aite inai tame, kakarimasen 4».

“What’s going on? That’s strange...” sighed Marine.

Japan, Prefecture of Gunma, February 27, 2004, 11:30 PM (Feb. 27, 2:30 PM, GMT +9:00)

Weather had inexplicably changed in few minutes. A torrential rain had replaced snow, and the wind was raging, folding the trees.

“My God! It’s a real typhoon we’re going through! Six months in advance!” noticed Ambre with amazement.

She had to slow down the car on this mountain road, transformed into banks of torrent by the cloudburst. On her side, Camus was checking the way on the monitor of the car navigation. On the back seats, Shura had recovered from his crisis and had awakened. He and Angelo were staring at the rain streaming like a torrent against the panes, perplexity marking their face.

Suddenly a flash of lighting cracked the sky, and struck a few meters of the road, in front of the car. An immense tree, struck down and transformed into incandescent torch, felt down on the road.

“Oh no! Hang something!” howled Ambre, braking hard not to strike the obstacle.

Camus hanged the panel in front of him to absorb the shock, while on the back, Angelo　extended his arm in front of the bust of Shura, to prevent him from running up against the seat in front of him.

“God, I really have to stop being so nice!” grumbled Angelo.

The S 600 stopped a few meters before the obstacle. Inside, Ambre, Camus, Shura and Angelo were holding their breath.

“Narrow escape!” sighed Ambre.

“Yes, few second more, and it was the accident!” agreed Camus.

“Ok, stay here, I’m going to check if everything's ok!” ordered Ambre.

She opened the door. A beating and tepid rain struck here face. The atmosphere was moist, almost muggy.

“What’s going on here?” wondered Ambre.

She threw herself in the storm, feeling her clothes soaked instantaneously by this rain, which was more like a tsuyu shower than a February rainfall.

She approached the tree, on which the last flames were dying out in black smokes. The trunk was completely obstructing the road.

“We can’t drive through anymore! We have to find another way!” shouted Camus, who had just rejoined her. The wind was almost covering his voice.

“Yes! No choice... I will put a beacon to warn the drivers who would take this road!”

“Ok, me, I’ll have a look at the car navigation, and check if there is another way... Huh, it’s quite hot here, isn’t it?”

Ambre agreed:

“Yes, it’s rather unusual.”

When she went back to the car, Camus was checking the roadmap of this unknown area, under the anxious glances of Shura and Angelo.

“No, nothing, there is no other road reported on the system...” he announced.

“However, there is another one, overthere...” answered Shura.

He pointed a small road, on the right of the one their car was now stopped, and which left in the thick forest. A new flash tore the sky, lighting it. It seemed drivable.

“We try?” asked Ambre, not very sure any more she wanted to make the decision alone.

“We try... We might fall on a village where somebody will be able to show us the way, or find a road reported on the map...” agreed Camus.

“Let’s go there!” broke off Shura.

Ambre run the engine, and engaged very slowly the car in the way.

Angelo supported his head against the window, and looked at the landscape drowned under the cloudburst. A new flash tore the sky, illuminating the wood as in full day. He started when he made out a human silhouette squeezing rapidly between the trees.

Japan, Ermengardis HQ, February 27, 2004, 11:35 PM (Feb. 27, 2:35 PM, GMT +9:00)

Aphrodite pushed the door of the living room discreetly.

“Eyh, can I come in?” he asked almost timidly, seeing Marine and Aiolia in the middle of a conversation.

“Yes. Of course. But what are you doing here? You must be tired after this long trip...” questioned Marine, on the same maternal tone that she had had for Aiolia, which got immediately on the nerves of the young Greek.

“Sorrente told me that Camus, Shura and Death Mask were to arrive this evening. So, I’m here to wait them...”

The circle of the damned knights... And I am sure it won’t take any longer to Saga to show up!! thought Aiolia, feeling his irritation growing up second after second. He looked at Aphrodite and saw with surprise that he wasn’t made up. He was actually looking quite “male”, wearing a simple dark blue sweater and black trousers. He had also a large watch on the wrist, unquestionably cut for a man.

Hold on, the la-di-da has changed side? wondered Aiolia, almost astonished by the spite of his remark.

He slipped an eye into the direction opposed to Aphrodite, and his glance stopped on the Japanese doll, set on the marble chimney, under its cloche. He felt a shiver traversing his back just by looking at the porcelain eyes fixed on him, almost accusing.

I wasn’t really meant what I’ve thought…! Aiolia added mentally.

Japan, Prefecture of Gunma, February 27, 2004, 11:45 PM (Feb. 27, 2:45 PM, GMT +9:00)

Ambre engaged carefully the S 600 in the muddy road. Since the edge of the wood, the way had become narrower, and was passably numpy.

Camus checked again the monitor of the car navigation, and threw an anxious glance through the pane of the window, in search of another way or any trace of civilization. On the back, Shura and Angelo were engaged in the same observation.

In order to refresh the atmosphere on the passenger compartment, Ambre had put air-conditioning at its maximum of power. The atmosphere in the car was more than fresh, and the occupants had had to wear their coats.

“There is no end to this road! And I see nothing with this rain!” grumbled Ambre. She drew her cell phone from the pocket of her coat and hold it to Camus.

“Can you make a call to the headquarter... And tell them that we will be late... Very late, actually”

“Yes, what’s the number?”

“Search by name... Umezono... Marine Umezono... Oh, hold on, I think I entered the name with Japanese characters...”

Camus pressed the tiny buttons of the phone, browsing the pages of the phone repertory.

“Umezono... With the characters of plum and garden, isn’t it...?”

“Yes, It is... answered Ambre” impressed by his knowledge of the Japanese language.

Camus finally found the name and quickly dialed the number. He carried the phone to his ear, and wrinkled the eyebrows.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think your phone is out of order...” he answered, hanging up then dialing again.

A flash rent the black sky, illuminating the wood.

“Eyh! Straightaway! It looks like a building!” exclaimed Angelo, passing the head between the two front seats.

He pointed a black mass at the horizon.

Another flash struck down the wood, illuminating the landscape as in full day . The silhouette of a large Japanese traditional mansion appeared, and then came back to the shadows.

“Civilization ahead!” exclaimed Ambre, who pressed on the accelerator.

The S 600 jolted on the dirty track, approaching slowly the mansion. Its headlights lit the court, then the entrance steps and the frontage.

“Look, there is somebody!” shouted Shura.

“And who makes signs with a lantern!" agreed Camus.

The S 600 stopped in front of the steps.

“Arigato Gozaimasu!(6)” said Ambre, leaning forward with flexibility.

“Arigato Gozaimasu!” repeated Camus, imitating her.

Shura and Angelo looked at each other, and then leaned forward a little awkwardly, without saying a word, because they couldn’t catch a damned word of this Japanese conversation.

“Domo... Domo... Welcome to this modest place!” answered the old woman.

She joined her hands in front of her and leaned forward deeply, her face touching almost her phalanges.

Camus and Ambre gave her the same bow.

Will it take a long time? thought Shura, slightly impatient and uncomfortably cross-legged sited. He started to have pins and needles in the legs... And, above all, he didn’t want to drink the green tea that was steaming in the cup in front of him, finding it a little bitter. Shura deferred his attention on the five young women who were behind the old witch. He found that they were looking like all the same, with their perfect chignons, their almond eyes, and their dark kimono. At that point, he realized that the five girls were in stitches, looking at them, he and Angelo. Shura raised a hand, and made them a sign, with a charming smile.

Angelo gave him a nudge, beckoning him to stay quiet.

“Oh! Don’t play the goody-goody! Not you, Angelo!”

Angelo shrugged shoulders, trying to ignore his comment.

Camus had certainly noticed their "little game". He turned around and threw them a severe glance.

Angelo and Shura lowered the head, contrite.

Camus deferred his attention on the conversation that Ambre was carrying with the old woman, in Japanese. He was still under the blow of the surprise of being able to understand, speak and read this language, which he had never studied, but made his best not to show it.

“Where are we exactly?” asked Ambre.

“You are in the area of Minakami, in a place called Onimura.”

Ambre and Camus looked at each other, surprised... and a little embarrassed by this name.

“Onimura... Doesn't it mean "Demons' village?” slipped Camus.

“Yes, this name comes from an old legend... Dating from the feudal time. Nothing interesting...” <The old woman smiled gently> “Moreover, there are no demon here, only me and my daughters. We are civilized, you know. We have TV, phone, and even... Internet!”

She laughed discreetly. Behind her, the five girls were now frankly playing up. Indeed, Angelo had finally condescended to wave to her.

“A phone... Do you have a phone? May I give a phone call?” inquired Ambre

“Yes, of course... Everything you want! You are our guests, not our prisoners!"

1. Words of "Lonely Girl", extract of "Missundaztood", Pink, Arista 2001.

2. Naruhodo = "Of course!», "Obviously!"in Japanese.

4. In Japanese: "the telephone number that you have just called is currently in a zone not covered by the network, or is not in service ".

5. Tsuyu: Rain season, in Japanese.  From mid-June to mid-July in Japan. Is characterized by strong precipitations, a strong heat and a strong percentage of moisture.

6. Arigato gozaimasu = polite form of "Thank you very much", in Japanese.

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