Welcome to Gaia! ::

Name: Jin Sosuke

Age:18

Bio: Jin lived most of his life under the watchful eye of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia ) due to his father being one of the bosses known as the dragon of the north. After an attack on his family, his father decided it would be best for his son to attend school away from the clan. Jin doesn't support the relationship of Natsu and Yuki.

Yuki slammed the knife onto the desk shouting, forgetting to close the dorm room door where Jin could easily hear, "Are you out of your freaking mind, Natsu?! So what if you got scared at Yagami castle? So what if you lost at a dare? I mean, it was Jin's challenge anyway and from what I hear, the guy's a jerk!"

Natsu went over to the bed and held his knees in his arms, "But, Yuki, I told everybody that I wouldn't be afraid! That castle really is haunted man!"

Yuki then thought of an idea, "You know something, maybe we can get back at Jin. Turn the tables on him ya know? By the way, what was in that place?"

Natsu would never forget the floating ball of snakes hissing at him trying to bite him and infect him with venom. "Snakes, Yuki. A giant ball of floating snakes. Then there was this guy, I didn't get a chance to see him, but his laughter...it sent chills down my spine, dude. It was as if...as if that ball of snakes... that was the guy's pet or something."

Yuki wrapped his arm around Natsu, "You know what I think happened?"

Natsu shook his head, his deep brown eyes focused solely on the other, unaware that Jin was hearing every word that they were saying, "No, what?"

"A security system. A security system designed to scare anyone who trespassed on the property. I bet the actual guy that owns the place is really nice. Kind of like your brilliant scientist or something."

Natsu thought about what his friend suggested, "You know, maybe you're right. So, like what would be the best time to view the place without, you know...setting off the security system?"

Yuki shrugged, "I dunno. But we can discuss that in the morning." The taller man yawned as he yanked the sheets over himself. "Good night, Natsu."

It wasn't long after that before Yuki was fast asleep. And that's when Natsu noticed the open door. "Uh oh," he thought, "I wonder who heard our conversation. I sure hope Jin didn't hear. He'll know we're planning something for him."

Shutting the door quietly, and with some notion of fear, Natsu also drifted off to sleep.

That night, Natsu had nightmare upon nightmare. He kept hearing that laughter over and over. Aside from that, he kept dreaming about various ways that ball of snakes attacked him.

When his alarm clock rang, signaling that it was time to get ready for class, it was obvious that he got barely any sleep. This concerned Yuki of course.

Yuki asked Natsu the obvious, "Didn't you get any sleep last night?"

And Natsu gave the obvious answer, "No, I didn't. Yuki, what if...what if it wasn't a security system that I somehow tripped last night?"

"What else could it be?" Yuki replied, disrobing and heading into the shower.

As the shower's steam clouded the room, Natsu sat on a chair that was conveniently in the bathroom and thought about Yuki's question. What else could it be?

Once Yuki was done, Natsu disrobed and showered. During breakfast, Natsu remained silent, still pondering Yuki's question. It had him stumped. First period was a total bore, and yet, the droned voice of the professor was somewhat soothing to the younger boy.

Yuki, of course showed off his smarts, as many knew him to be somewhat of a nerdy know it all competing for the ultimate prize of getting into the best job of all working for the Queen.

By second period, history, Yuki asked Natsu if he got his project done. Natsu felt sheepish that he didn't have a report to hand in. Then Yuki had yet again, a brilliant idea. He suggested, "Natsu, why not speak about your horrid experience. Make it public. That castle is a historical building that only websites were able to post until you managed to get in there. Maybe there is more to the place than what had been made public before?"

Natsu shuddered at the thought, but nodded silently. When it was his turn to speak, he said, "My report is on Yagami Castle. I do not have a written copy to hand in as words cannot begin to describe the terrifying horrors of what I witnessed. At first, I was simply going on a dare. A dare made by Jin, but if it wasn't for him, I would have no report to make today. So, in a way, thanks Jin for making my grades boost. Now when I entered the castle all was dark. So, I couldn't see my way around really. I do know that the floors are a mix of tile and hardwood depending on where you step. There was brand new red carpeting, which was really the only thing I saw clearly at first. I wondered if someone actually lived at the castle, but everyone knows that it had been empty for years. Then, as I neared a set of stone stairs leading down into what appeared to be a cellar, I saw a bright light. I thought I had been busted for trespassing, but I couldn't have been more wrong. After the light faded a bit, I saw a huge floating ball of snakes. These snakes, they hissed and tried reaching for every limb that I owned! There had to be about 20 of them, maybe more! If that wasn't bad enough, I heard a man's voice. Rather, a man's laughter. That laughter was what got to me. It echoed off of the walls and the more the man laughed, the faster the snakes responded! And so, I must say that there is still some activity going on in Yagami Castle. Now my dorm partner Yuki suggested that I did trigger a security system of some type. I don't know if that's true or not, but what I do know is that if there is someone still living there, then I'd advise never to go in there when you are not supposed to. It will turn your hair white!"

Yuki stood and clapped for his friend, and then he said, "Since this was Jin's idea to begin with, I suggest we give him an extra day to further research this. He will go during the day, when it is possible to go in without trespassing and confirm whether or not there is someone living there. If I am right and Yagami is still alive he must give Natsu a public apology for making him do something clearly illegal and that his father be notified of this crime."

The professor thought about this idea and said, "Very well, Yuki. But, Jin must also submit a different report also. Since my instructions were specific on no more than two students per project. You too did a report on Yagami castle, but not one as specific as Natsu's."

Meanwhile, back at Yuki and Natsu's dorm room, Yuki had been organizing his rucksack for the class after lunch when Natsu asked, "Why did you challenge Jin to finish the report we were doing?"

Yuki sighed, stopped putting his stuff in the rucksack for a few seconds then resumed. He said in answer, "Because what the Internet speaks of and what really is, is totally changed thanks to what you've found. You pretty much made the discovery of the century. News reports and the Internet alike both state that the last of the Yagami clan died 25 years ago to the day yesterday. It is also said that it was because of one known as Kyo Kusanagi that actually was responsible for that. Of course, we both know that the media just loves a good story and what better story than one such as this? I mean, if it wasn't a security alarm that you triggered in the castle what else could it be? You were obviously stumped by my question. That's because it was a trick question. There is nothing else that it could be. Someone is still alive in that castle and obviously, from your report, the person living there is male in gender. That laughter you heard. I am also going to make another suggestion. But one not so pleasant as my challenge to Jin. You and I are going to go back to that castle together. We are going to find out what that was you found."

Natsu shivered, "Yuki, I really don't think that's a great idea. You said so yourself that trespassing is illegal, so why do it?"

Yuki sighed again, "Because what we've found may be proof that what was said in the media wasn't true at all, and I want to meet Iori. The guy who was said to have lived there last. If he can put a scare into every being for the last quarter of a century and place a rumor that has everyone believing it, he must be an absolute genius! It will be worth the trip."

"But what about the snakes?"

Yuki sighed a third time, "If that thing can harm us, then it would have done so already."

Natsu shivered still just as the lunch bell rang indicating that lunch was over. Yuki then placed a gentle hand on Natsu's shoulder. "This time, I am coming with you and we are going in that castle together tonight. Anyone who makes you scared that badly has to answer to me anyway."

Jin arrived at his chemistry class and had a the table closest to the door. He was already planing out his plan of attack for the castle. He had downloaded and printed out a map of the castle. Since his Professor wasn't there yet, he pulled a red marker and the map. He looked over the map and circled the places he thought his treasure could be hiding. He thought " If the yagami is in fact alive then there could be some truth to the maiden story but i'll worry about her later." He quickly put his stuff away as the Professor walked into the room.

The Professor lectured on about the periodic table then gave the students a pop quiz on history of chemistry.

Name: Kratos
Sex: Male
Age: Not Sure
Species: Half Human/Half Greek God

Bio: Forcing his way into the school, there is something of importance hidding inside. Keeping calm while dangerous is not easy, and a few people might end up at the wrong end of his swords.

For or against: Against

Gya chuckled, "Not exactly. I just simply love mixing things together and solving mysteries. I hear that there is a huge mystery going on lately and I want in."

Meanwhile at the Castle, Iori had spotted an intruder in the castle one whose energy signals was one of evil intent. Iori also knew that the ghost illusion would not work this time. Sighing heavily, Iori had to make himself known.

Jumping down from the balcony staircase, Iori's vampire-style cape extended outward. Landing gracefully, he met the intruder head on. "What business do you have in my home? Are you aware that you are trespassing?"