(insert song: "Tenshi no Kyusoku" by Masami Okui)

Riva ran down the street with Duo, Sanzou, Koinosuke, and Wufei at her heels. Her face was set with determination, her eyes on her distant goal: the crowd of people circling an intersection. I won't lose her mind repeated, over and over again, I won't lose She couldn't, the chapter was her last chance. I won't lose!

" Aah, " Schuldich stepped out of the alleyway to stand next to Crawford, watching the group run down the street. " Looks like you've instilled determination, 'goshujin-sama' "

" It's all in how you word it. "

Riva and crew pushed their way through the crowd circling the 'battlefield' and found themselves presented with Trunks taking on Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha. Duo scanned the crowd and found futher objects of his search.

" Tasuki! Ryuuichi! Xellos! "

" Hi! " Ryuuichi left the group he was standing with and ran around the inside crowd of the crowd to meet up with them.
" Xellos was thinking this would attract attention! I'm so glad we found you guys!! "

Sanzou mentally took stock of all who were there. " We're still missing people. "

" We'll find them later. " Duo pointed at the two demons fighting Trunks. " Betcha one of those guys is one of who we're looking for. Riva, can you get a letter? "

" Un, " Riva pulled out an envelope and handed it to him.

Duo tore it open and pulled out the folded paper within. Unfolding it caused an unpleasant reaction however. " Is This Some Kind of Joke?! " He shook the paper at Riva. " It's !)*#$!(*#$*#@ blank!! "

" Blank?! " Riva cried in dismay, taking the letter from him. Sure enough, what she uncrumpled was a blank sheet of white paper. " Now how in the world did that happen? Oh well! "

" Oh WELL?! " Duo spazed. " What the !(#*$!*# do you mean Oh well?! Where's the (#@$!(* letter?! !)(@#$(!*#$$!! "

Sanzou smacked him. " We're trying to keep this PG, you stupid monkey. "

" Who're you calling a stupid monkey?! "

" Who do you think, stupid monkey?! "

Ryuuichi pulled a large mallet with 'fish' written on it out of hammerspace and pounded them both. " This isn't the time to be fighting! "

" Hey! That's cool Ryuu-chan! Can I have it? "

" Hai! " Ryuuichi handed the mallet over to Riva.

Riva then in turn spun and bounded into the space where Sesshoumaru, Inu Yasha, and Trunks were having their little spat.
" Konnichiwa! " she greeted cheerily.

All three warriors blinked at her in absolute confusion.

" What is that onna doing now? " Wufei asked dourly from the sidelines.

" I have no idea... " Tasuki trailed off.

" Who the hell is that?! " Kagome demanded from another part of the sidelines.

" Who knows, but I wonder-- "

" Don't even finish that Miroku. "

Riva smiled at Trunks. " I'll take it from here, Trunks. " She turned to Inu Yasha. " I'm mortal, do you hate me? "

Inu Yasha turned up his nose. " I hate you, but it's not because you're mortal. "

" Inu Yasha! " reprimanded Kagome.

" Yoush'!! " Riva turned and malleted Sesshoumaru soundly on the head. Kneeling next to him, she withdrew the crumpled piece of paper and showed it to him. " Dou? "

" I get it, " Sanzou said, " It only works if that person is present. If anything, this 'Crawford' is smart. That way we can make sure we're not picking up the wrong person. "

Duo made a sound of agreement around the sock Ryuuichi had stuffed in his mouth to stop the flow of curses.

Sesshoumaru lowered his eyelids haughtily. " I refuse. " Within seconds he was bound to the folding metal chair and gagged.

Inu Yasha gaped. " H-How...? "

" Never mind!! " said Riva, with a flourishing movement and a thrust of her fist into the air. " Only one more left to go! Oh-hohohohohohohohohohohoho!!! "

**

(insert song: "Truth" (ballad version) by Two-Mix)

" Hail! Il Purazzo!! " she greeted, one hand on her hip and the other in the air, as was her usual greeting pose. Dropping that pose, she took note of the other person in the room. " Il Purazzo-sama, who's that? "

The man in the white suit smiled at her, the light glinting off his glasses and making his ebony hair glimmer. Il Purazzo indicated him with a grand sweep of his hand and introduced, " Riva-kun, this is Crawford, my childhood friend. He has come with a request to borrow one of Across' senior members for an important mission. "

Question marks hovered around Riva's head. " Ara? Who? "

" You, " answered Crawford for himself, leaving the dias to approach her. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he said, " I've taken a liking to you, Riva-kun. " He dropped his voice, " Il Purazzo has allowed me to steal you away from Across. I am you're new goshujin. "

Riva's eyes shined. A tall, darkhaired bishounen had chosen her especially. How could she even think about resisting, or denying this request? " Hai! "

Crawford smiled and slipped his arm around her shoulders, turning to face Il Purazzo. " Thank you very much, old friend. "

**

(insert song: fade to "Truth" original version, by Two-Mix)

Riva tilted her head to the side. " ... why am I remembering that now...? "

Duo turned to look at her. " Riva? Are you coming? "

Riva was jarred into motion by this. " Ah- oh! Hai!! I'm coming! " She ran to catch up. " I have a hint for the next and last person we need! " she declared proudly. " It just came to me! The clue is: White. "

Tsuzuki and Hisoka, who were tagging along, looked a little edgy at that.

" White? Wasn't that Crawford person wearing white? " Duo raised an eyebrow.

" Nonono, not Goshujin-sama. Lots of white. "

Duo thought on this. Suddenly a visible shiver ran through him. " You mean like that creepy guy who claimed to be a doctor? "

Tsuzuki and Hisoka looked more than a little edgy after that.

" Yeah! He's a doctor too! Good job Duo! " Riva congratulated him.

Hisoka sputtered. " Y-Y-You can't be serious!! "

" Oro? Doushite? "

" A doctor in lots of white, " Tsuzuki summarized, " You can't possibly mean Muraki! "

" Wai! " Riva glomped Tsuzuki. " That's the name! Arigatou!! "

" What's wrong with Muraki? " Sanzou queried.

" What's not wrong with wanting Muraki! " Hisoka shouted.

Riva suddenly clicked on something and looked up at Tsuzuki. " Hold on a minute, what did you say your name was? "

" Uh... Asato Tsuzuki... "

Riva narrowed her eyes. " You're not the lead singer of a band, are you? "

" What? No! "

" Okay good, I still haven't completely forgiven ASK... "

" ...? " was Tsuzuki's response to this.

" Hey... " Ryuuichi trailed off. " You're right, he does sound like-- "

Wufei put his hand on his shoulder and requested, " Please, just... don't even start. "

**

(insert song: "Reminiscence" from Weiss Kreuz)

" So let me get this straight... this Riva person has been gathering people from other dimensions to perform some task or 'quest' in this world for some unknown 'master' of hers? " Ken repeated incredulously.

Subaru and Eagle nodded.

Ken looked at the other three members of Weiss. " No offence, but it sounds a little incredible to me. I don't know what to think... "

" Think it's Schwartz? " Youji surmised.

" More than likely, " Aya agreed.

" What does that mean? " Subaru asked quietly, noting the unpleasant undertones in those two phrases. " Is that bad...? "

**

(insert song: "Seeds" by Lastier)

The last evening sunlight was filtering through the skyscrapers, casting long cold shadows all the way across the streets to create thin replicas on the other buildings of them. The feeling in the air was aprehensive, after Tsuzuki and Hisoka had given the group a detailed description of the doctor Kazutaka Muraki no one really wanted to go through with the quest anymore... but what other option did they have? So the search had become a half-hearted one, and silent, even as all four members of Schwartz appeared before them and they ceased walking.

" Riva-kun. It's the end of the chapter, where is the last person on the list? "

Riva timidly stepped forward. " Ano... Goshujin-sama... "

" I don't want excuses Riva. Have you gone against me? "

" No! " Riva protested, taking a few running steps forward. " I haven't. Goshujin-sama-- "

Nagi hardened his gaze on her and an invisible force sent the girl flying with an outcry. Everyone watched as she flew through the air and was caught by arms clothed in the sleeves of a white trenchcoat.

Tsuzuki shifted to face the newcomer head on and voiced the name with venom in his voice. " Muraki! "

Muraki chuckled, stepping forward with an unconscious Riva in his arms. " Tsuzuki-san, unfortunately, I cannot play with you this time. " He switched his gaze to the leader of Schwartz, " It's been a long time, Crawford-san. "

**

Next chapter: In Which the 'Velvet Underworld' Opening Sequence is Explained and the Truth Rears it's Ugly Head (Weiss Kreuz)