"It seems...alot of people are looking at us...?"

Niko looked around, commenting at how everyone slowly backed away from them.

"Well..it's probably because these guys look like Yakuza, oh wait they ARE Yakuza!"

Gary exclaimed as he raised his arms, pointing at the group of twenty or so tattooed thug looking men in suits walking behind them, with Zatoichi leading them at the front, one of his hands out of his sleeve and resting at the front part of his Kimono.

"Oh...right.."

Niko remembered, stopping and giving Zatoichi a stern glare.

"Look here, Samurai man, we are going to find a certain person, we don't need a whole caravan for that, so you take your friends and go somewhere else"

Niko sternly pointed her finger towards Zatoichi, making several of the men frown in annoyance at how rudely this strange little girl was talking to their boss.

"I have gathered these men to assist, if something go wrong, we will have advantage this time, if enemy appear again, we will not suffer damage like before!"

Zatoichi loudly declared, gesturing towards his bandages. The men behind him giving a loud battle cry, which made several people run away in fear.

"Look, i understand that you are trying to help, but you see-"

Niko started, but stopped once Hannah put her hand on Niko's head.

"It might be more efficient if we split up, that way we won't waste any effort, and we can just give you a call if something happens, no?"

Hannah said, giving Zatoichi a warm smile, which made the men behind him nod without realising it.

"Hm..i see, what Ane-san says makes much sense..then we shall entrust the locating of woman to Ojou-chan and strange looking salesman, i trust you take good care of little girl, youngster?"

Zatoichi nodded as he looked over at Shoki, who nodded whilst rolling his eyes.

"I am not a little girl Damnit, Do not call me that or i will have you kicked out of our amazing clan founded by this great Niko!"

Niko threatened him, causing him to chuckle slightly.

"Yes, yes, ojou-chan is like strong adult!"

He smiled kindly at Niko, who huffed in annoyance.

"Listen here, Wannabe samurai, i know i let you join us, but you better show some damn respect or else i will- Ow!"

Niko cried out as she looked back. Hannah standing behind her with her hand oustretched in a Karate chop motion.

"Niko, be more respectful to your elders!"

"He's not my elder!"

Niko complained but quickly stopped once Hannah pulled on her ear, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Me and my friends try and assist as much as we can, we will try to find Akuma, also items to help fight Akuma, we will search whole city!"

Zatoichi declared, raising his arm in the air, the rest of the men grunting affirmatively.

"Yea yea, that's great, go away now before someone calls the police, thinking we are starting a gang war or something."

Niko waved her hand dismissivly.

"Before we leave, Ane-san, i cannot entrust Ane-sans protection to anyone else, i ask you come with us, is safer when more bodyguards than just knife boy"

He said, dropping to one knee.

"Oh my...well i suppose shopping for items can be a little tiring for most men? so i suppose i can help you out"

She agreed after giving it a quick thought.

"Good, that way you won't get in the way of my fun!"

Niko looked to Hannah, smiling to herself.

"Now now, Alis- i mean Niko, i can't always be with you, so bear with it, and i'l make you some apple pie for dinner"

Hannah said, making Niko's eyes light up at the mention of pie.

"Alright Niko, be good now, and don't cause any trouble for Gary and Shoki, i will be going with Zatoichi this time, but next time i'l go with you"

She patted Niko's head, and headed off with Zatoichi and his men, causing Niko to frown in annoyance.

"What, you annoyed cause your big sister won't be with you?"

Gary patted Niko's head from behind, as he teased her.

"She is not my sister, you below average salesman!"

Niko turned towards him, biting his hand hard enough for a few drops of blood to slip.

"GAH, it was only a joke, just a joke!"

Gary jumped back, holding his hand in pain.

"Let's just go already!"

Niko snapped and headed off ahead of the rest.

"Jeez..didn't expect Niko to get attached to her this quickly...although i guess it makes sense, considering.."

Gary muttered to himself, a serious look in his eyes, causing Shoki to raise an eyebrow at this strange shift in attitude.

"Well, let's just go before Niko gets her panties in a bunch!"

He laughed lightly his cheerful attitude back again,as he ran after Niko.

"Indeed.."

Shoki nodded, slowly following after.

--

"I think this is the right place"

Gary looked ahead before turning his head back.

"Ha..ha..."

Niko breathed heavily as she climbed the last bit of stairs leading up to where Gary stood.

"Damn..this...untrained...body..."

Niko collapsed on the ground once she finally made her way up the stairs, Shoki slowly walking up from behind her.

Infront of Niko stood a large temple, two stories high and built in the traditional japanese style of housing, two large statues of asian dragons standing at the sides of the temple, ominously glaring at them.

A large courtyard stretched infront of the temple, someone was sweeping the ground in the distance.

"Phew...let's get going then, where is this evil witch?"

Niko slowly stood up and asked, looking around expectantly.

"Well honestly, i don't know, from this point on it's your expertise, legendary con-artist thief"

Gary bowed dramaticaly towards Niko.

"I am not a con artist as that would be you, but i appreciate the compliment"

Niko nodded approvingly and headed towards the temple, noticing someone sweeping nearby.

"Hello, excuse me, i have a quick question"

Niko approached the sweeping figure, which upon closer examination turned out to be a young japanese woman wearing a shrine maidens outfit.

"Hai?"

The young woman wearing a shrine maidens outfit looked at Niko questioningly.

"Do you know where i can find this woman called Evileye?"

Niko asked, but all she recieved was a confused gaze.

"Uhh..Evil..eye!"

Niko pointed at her eye and scowled.

The young woman nodded after a moment, and gestured for Niko to wait there.

"What's taking so long.."

Niko sighed after having waited infront of the temple for half an hour.

"She probably didn't even understand what you meant, and ran to buy some eyedrops or something"

Gary shrugged.

"Well maybe you should have asked then!"

Niko snapped at Gary, attempting to kick him in his shin.

"Well it was more fun to see you struggle OW!"

Gary and Niko continued to bicker while Shoki observed them with an indifferent expression.

The shrine maiden approached them a few minutes later, carrying a small piece of rolled up parchment, which she handed to Niko.

"What's this...?"

Niko rolled out the parchment, revealing a traditional japanese painting of a temple that looked similiar to the one before them.

"Hmm..what's up with this, Gary?"

Niko looked at Gary, only to find him gone, looking around she couldn't neither him nor Shoki.

"Hey, where did you guys go, we don't have time to be playing hide and seek damnit!"

Niko said loudly enough for her voice to echo in the courtyard.

"Did they run inside while i was distracted...could have waited for me.."

She mumbled in irriation as she headed inside the temple, past the twin dragon statues guarding the entrance.

"Hellooo, Shoki, Gary, Evileye lady, anyone here?"

Niko called out inside the temple, the inside of which was mostly covered in darkness, as there did not seem to be any windows or entrances except for the large sliding doors that Niko entered through.

"Hnn...this better not be a prank, Gary!"

Niko said as she headed into the darkness, which disperesed immediately as lanterns started to light up the further into the temple Niko got.

"Automatic lighting lanterns huh...they could have just used normal lightbulbs...so overly dramatic..."

Niko shrugged as she kept going, the painting still clutched in her hands.

Her footsteps were muffled due to the tatami mats covering the entirety of the floor, causing an eery silence to surround Niko, the only audible sounds being her soft breath and the low crackling of flames inside the lanterns dimly lighting her way.

"Uuu.. i don't like this...dammit Gary..i'm going to kick you in the groin when i find you..."

Niko whispered to herself, as talking any louder than a whisper caused her voice to create eery echoes.

Soon enough, after what felt like an eternity, she arrived at a room that was not completely empty.

The room Niko stood in was well lit, and three Buddha statues protected each wall other than the one behind Niko.

The two buddha statues on each side of Niko were of a darker colour, most likely made of copper or painted wood, the Statue that stood opposite Niko however was of a bright, almost shining golden colour. Its hands positioned in the familiar 'Dharmachakra mudra' gesture infront of its heart.

"I wonder if it's layered with a thin outer layer of real gold..."

Niko approached the statue, her Thief senses tingling.

"It is made purely of true gold, if that is what you are wondering"

A thin hoarse voice echoed in the room.

"Wa, who's there, Gary is that you!?"

Niko looked around the room, unable to find the source of the voice.

"I am right here, dear"

The voice echoed from behind Niko, making her turn around in surprise.

Infront of Niko stood a short figure, from her voice Niko figured it was an old woman. It was however hard to tell as the womans body was covered with grey cloth, covering every single inch of her body.

"Uh...are you...Evileye?"

Niko asked as she took a wary step back.

"Some choose to call me that."

Evileye nodded, or atleast Niko thought she nodded, as it was hard to tell what was happening under that pile of grey cloth.

"Well, don't just stand there, sit down already dear, it must have been rough climbing those stairs"

Evileye said, gesturing for Niko to sit.

"On the floor?"

Niko asked, trying to remember if it was customary to sit on the floor in Japan.

"No no, dear, there are some who like to sit on the floor, but i myself prefer to sit on a nice cushioned stool"

She patted her back with her cloth covered hand.

"Well, sit down already, that chair looks lonely without someone in it"

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She gestured behind Niko.

Niko glanced back and found that just behind her was a nice dark wooden chair, which had some cushions with floral designs on them.

"What the, when did this get here!?"

Niko looked back at the woman, and found that she was already sitting on a wooden chair of her own.

"What the, when did-"

"Sit down already dear, you look silly just standing there"

She lightly tapped the arm on her chair impatiently.

Niko looked back at her chair again, and found that it had changed, instead of a wooden chair, it was now a simple wooden stool without any cushions.

"Sit down now or i will make you sit on a box"

The woman warned lightly, Niko quickly sitting down on her stool, trying not to overthink what just transpired.

"Right well that was kind of strange..?"

Niko looked at the woman and noticed that the statue behind her was giving Niko the peace sign.

"Uuu...anyway, where's Gary, and Shoki?"

Niko asked as she rubbed her head that was slightly overheating due to the confusing things going on around her.

"Ah, those two, they are waiting for you outside"

"Hm, that's good, well then i'l just cut to the chase, can you use magical artifacts and do you know how to find any?"

Niko asked with a serious expression.

"I assume you do not mean something abstract but the more...direct items, yes?"

"Yes, god power, powered, that is borrowed from gods..or something!"

Niko rubbed her head as she tried to remember what Shoki explained.

"Well, i certainly know how to locate such things, but using them... well that depends"

She shrugged.

"Depends on what?"

"A variety of things, that i can't really explain as that would take mpre patience that either you or i have. you have to understand that these...artifacts as you call them, do not function on similiar laws, each law for each item is...well it depends"

She shrugged again, not bothering to finish her sentence.

"Hey, you were about to explain, but you got too lazy and just finished the sentence with 'it depends' didn't you!?"

Niko pointed at the woman, accusing her of laziness.

"You got me, but i doubt you really care about my explanation, am i right?"

"Well, you're not wrong...but still!"

Niko folded her arms in annoyance.

"No matter, why do you ask such questions, what is it you wish to accomplish with these items?"

The woman asked, her voice colder than before.

"That's my business, not yours"

Niko squinted at the woman.

"If you are unwilling to speak, then i must simply take more direct means..."

The woman put her arm over her face, before quickly pulling it away, revealing a part of her face.

Nikos eyes widened at the sight of the womans face, but before she could say anything she had looked into the womans left eye, robbing her of her words and thoughts, and leaving her drooling as she looked further and further into the womans eye.

"I see..how..unusual.."

The woman muttered to herself, quickly covering her face as Nikos eyes started to regain their focus.

"W-wha..t..ha..ppened..."

Niko slowly spoke, her words becoming less slurred as she talked.

"Nothing special dear, i just needed to make sure...but it seems i hit upon something more profitable than just doing someone a favour...Niko my dear"

Niko shivered at the womans smile. Niko couldn't see her face of course, and what she thought she saw was somehow gone from her mind, but somehow she could tell that the woman was smiling at her, causing the air in the room to feel colder than usual.

"You wish to attempt to accquire your old body back and also make some profit on the side, no?"

The woman asked, as if she already knew the answer.

"Well..yea..how did you know?"

Niko asked timidly, feeling a lot more meek than she did just a moment ago.

"I have my ways of seeing into peoples memories, it is something you learn once you get to be my age"

The woman shrugged as if it was no big deal, making Niko wonder just how old the woman before her was.

"I am willing to tell you a way that you can acquire your old body back...for a price"

"How much?"

"No no, i am not interested in money, what i want is that Orb you have, it is quite interesting...yes..."

The woman rubbed her hands underneath her clothes.

"Right...well i'm sorry but i can't give it to you, it could prove useful...once i learn how to use it.."

Niko shook her head apologetically.

"Of course, of course, no one would want to let go of such an interesting item, i am not asking for you to part with it forever, simply..lend it to me for a while, and i will give it back the next time you drop by"

"Well..i don't know..."

Niko hesistated, the woman seeing her chance, acted immediately.

"Don't worry, i can just write up a special contract, it will result in my death if i disobey it, sound fair?"

Niko looked at the woman and saw that a piece of paper was hanging in the air infront of her.

"There you go, simple contract, just sign with blood below my signature and it's done"

Niko looked at the paper and saw something she couldn't quite make out written in what appeared to be blood, the rest of the contract was written in normal ink, which she could read wihtout any issues.

"Let's see..said item must remain in the possesion of the borrower for alteast seven days and seven nights and may be retrieved at any time afterwards.. bla bla bla...haa..should have brought Gary along..whatever, sure looks fine!"

Niko stopped reading and signed the contract with a pen that happened to be floating nearby, Niko looked at her signature and saw that it was similiarly written in blood.

"Uh..did i have to write it with my own blood, looks like there was already some blood in the pen...?"

Niko asked, putting the pen back in midair where it floated away.

"No no, it's just a figure of speech, it's not really blood, it's just red ink, writing in blood would be barbaric"

The woman took the contract and shoved it underneath the rags she wore.

"Good, and now for my part of the bargain..."

The woman took something out from underneath her clothes and handed it to Niko.

"What's this?"

Niko asked as she examined the item given to her. A small white wooden box as big as a matchbox rested in Niko's palm, it had small engravings on it in a language Niko didn't recognise.

"Open that box when you wish to know if an item is of the unnatural sort."

Niko quickly put the box into her pocket.

"And as for a way to get you your body back...well i have heard of the lost art of attempting to recreate human life...last i have heard it was a man called Hermes Trismegistus, one of the last good men that was...well if anyone knows anything about those arts it is him, he is probably dead by now though"

"Well a clue is better than nothing i suppos... want me to go fetch you the Orb, since i don't have it on me?"

Niko asked as woman shrugged after finishing her sentence.

"No need, i have that already taken care of"

The woman said in a tone that implied that she was smiling, making Niko feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Do you still have that painting?"

The woman asked, making Niko glance at the parchement she was still clutching in her hand.

"Oh yea, that the shrine maiden gave me it?"

Niko looked up and noticed that she was now alone in the room.

"Rip the parchement once you are tired of looking at the statues, oh and remember, some arts are lost for a reason..."

The womans voice echoed in the room as it grew weaker and weaker as if she was getting further and further away.

"Rip the paper...?"

Niko looked at the parchement quizzically, shrugged and ripped it in half.

Next thing she knew, Niko was outside looking at the temple.

"Hey Niko, that was rude, i know you didn't want that painting but just ripping a painting given to you by a cute girl is just wrong!"

Gary complained from the side.

Niko blinked her eyes a few times and looked around. Gary and Shoki were standing in the same places they did when Niko had first recieved the parchment from the shrine maiden.

The shrine maiden that was still standing infront of Niko smiled and took the ripped parchment from Niko, before running off towards the temple.

"Ah, she ran off, how are we going to find Evileye now, good job Niko!"

Gary sighed and shook his head.

"It's fine...i think...we got what we came here for, also..Shoki, do you still have the Orb?"

Niko looked over at Shoki, who reached into his pocket, his eyes widening slightly in panic.

"It's fine Shoki, i know where it is, man that was wierd..."

"What was wierd, what are you talking about Niko?"

Gary asked, with an annoyed expression.

"It's fine i'l tell you later, let's just get away from this temple first, it makes me slightly uncomfortable..."

Niko started walking backwards away from the temple, intent on keeping her eyes on the temple as she expected something strange to happen if she looked away.

As she was slowly stepping backwards, she felt one of her steps sink further down than normal, making her stumble as she started falling backwards.

'Ah, that's right i forgot about the staircase!'

"...Be more careful, Niko..."

Niko opened her eyes and saw Shoki looking intently at her, which is when she noticed that she was currently in his arms after he had presumably stopped her fall.

'Wa...he's so cool...like my dream prince...'

Niko thought as a soft blush covered her face.

Niko shook her head and pushed Shoki away as she slapped herself.

"W-what the hell,, damnit, i'm a man, damnit, A MAN!"

Niko punched her head repeatedly.

"Bad thought go away, go away!"

Her punches were suddenly stopped as she couldn't move her hands anymore, making her look up.

"Niko, do not cause unnecessary damage to yourself...it will ruin your face.."

Shoki said as he held her arms in his grip.

".....Ok..."

Niko felt her face becoming hot as she looked down at her feet.

'D-damnit..what is happening to me...'

--

A woman dressed in grey rags that covered her entire body sat in a dark room observing a golden orb that was floating infront of her, suddenly stopping as if remembering something.

"Ah...perhaps i should have told her about opening a passage between her memories and her current body's memories when i looked into her mind earlier...Hm...it will be fun to see what happens.."

She smiled as she chuckled, her voice echoing ominously, and continued the observations of her newest acquisition.