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Sanju had no idea what kind of business that Sanata is working out, until he realized that he just came back from Semarang--where he started his batik and beskap fashion to preserve their traditional originality. Beskap is a Javanese thick shirt without a folded collar, usually dark in color, but almost always plain. The front is asymmetrical, with a sideways button pattern (not perpendicular) and he always added the golden brooch with sun and moon-like symbolism attached to the batik in dark and bright colors--mostly crimson, black, dark purple or oceanic blue. It was special and unique, only tailored for the wearers whom he considered have pride and resiliency that made the world spin fast and never to be stepped on. Also, there's so many customers who wanted to buy his products--like how did can he confident in his business anyway?

Semarang is known to be one of the top two most fashion city, the other one is Yogyakarta as well. An hour later, they were seated on the front-of-the-house batik which displayed many products--including his own. The Adinatas are known as business pioneers, where they would build companies that have reputation and people went insane by their company products--of course not forgetting it. Sanata continued his batik works while thinking for something--while Radithya is managing his restaurant across the hotel, lastly Sanju deals with his hotel.

Meanwhile, Kirana was watching the view of the city--she was bored while walking along the side of her father and taking in the scenery. Not only she had to manage her work, but she also need a break from the annoying and obsessive fans that kept trying to take a look on her. She was thankful that Kirana and her father has a bodyguards and driver. "Well then, Kirana... why don't you just come inside of the limousine?" her father asked, standing outside of the car. Her purple eyes narrowed, before she climbed up inside of the limo. "What's the matter, Kirana...?" her father questioned her, closing the car door.

"I'm bored... but, I can't be home alone... I wanted a pet at least..."

They just stay silent, before her father Rayhanda recalled that Max has a pure white Siberian Husky puppy which was considered a gift to Kirana but he never got to name the pup due to his death--it was not Max's fault of course. He just didn't get to meet her if he was still alive, but they often called the Husky as Maxime--which means 'little Maximillian'. Also, he was curious that why Sanju was called as Sanju... considering his real name is Sanjaya Adinata of Adinata Family, but he knew the answer why.

That's because Sanju is the combination of his first name Sanjaya and middle name that is Juniarasthra, which the word 'San' and 'Ju' and somehow only his foreign friends called him that and some of his Indonesian sometimes call him by his real name or his nickname. "If you want a pet, go ahead."

Kirana's eyes widened, before she cheered and kissed her father's cheek. "Thanks, Dad!" she smiled, oh such an adorable angel is returning and Rayhanda knew it that his heart was sinking faster with her cuteness and she would totally give the men their time of their life. As she saw a message from Sanju, asking her if she was free because he wants to talk to her about something--like a friend to a friend, her expression changed into a light frown. 'Should I tell him about Max...? Even though he never met him in person back then... he didn't even know him in person...' she thought, but she began to think. 'It's natural for him to be curious, besides he and Max seems resemble to each other... I have to tell him,' she decided, typing her response to him.

Hours later at a park, Sanju was getting more and more curious on the thing he is about to know--something tells him that he and Max are same people... just he was born in a different year and time. "Why you want to know?" the voice from him snapped him out, then Kirana glanced at the spot where the trees created a shadow--looking at him. "It's about... Maximilian Tjandrakusuma, I learned that he was one of my relatives from my father's side. So, do you know him...?" he questioned, Kirana's eyes widened--before she smiled lightly with a faint blush at his question. "Oh... my dad told you about him? It was long time ago, he was... the first heir to our family business," Kirana responded, before her eyes became filled with sadness and lost hope. "Sanjaya, I--"

"It's okay, I understand that you really missed him... because when I ask my forefather Sanata about him, Max and I... we had something in common--like our appearance and such... except our attitude."

She closed her eyes, exhaling sharply before he was taken aback. "Ah, Sanjaya... I remembered... how about I'll tell you the story of Max and me?" she asked, before Sanju nodded. He was wise enough to stay silent, because he was listening to every words that spilled out from Kirana's mouth. His eyes closed as the memories flow into his mind, forming scenes from within--but from Kirana's perspective. "At first, I don't want to get married nor engaged... because my father picked him to be my fiancé--even though I'm not really infatuated with Max, but I love him for his kind and respectful attitude. When I heard about his death, I never cried in front of everyone... but I just... couldn't help it, I cried my heart out. I spent two weeks to console my pain, I still need him and... you two looked alike, that's how it makes sense--maybe because... I was quite familiar to him, his personality is... somewhat reminding me of you. You do have the same quirks, but mostly you're the playful and calmer type."

Sanju seems interested to know everything on why Max died in a car crash, but she was wondering that how the heck Sanju could find Max's younger uncle among many people--other than this she should get over her own pain for a long time. "Kusuma Kencana Hotel, formerly Kusuma Guesthouse... is a namesake for Tjandrakusuma Family who died during the unfortunate events; included Maximilian's death. At first, I don't understand why my late-grandparents inheriting this guesthouse and family wealth to me when I was young... until I realized something. All members of the Tjandrakusuma family died, even if someone who would live long just to fight for their kingdom died--every single living soul that has Tjandrakusuma Family's blood was extinct. Only the remaining children survived in Adinata Family's hands, now they're under the care of my father's younger siblings."

Sanju explained, since he knows that Tjandrakusuma was actually a namesake. "Can I visit your mansion? There should be belongings of Max's family in their mansion," she asked, looking at him. "Sure," Sanju agreed with her, even though how it will make the feeling worst. But maybe, it'll change the flow of time, especially him visiting the old residence of one of the prominent and respected noble family--the Tjandrakusuma Family in the Adinata Mansion as the trusted prestigious family to have a clean conscience, despite having two rivals with each other which was... not pleasant--considering they had history in the past. But, at least it will be worth to have a closure for Kirana's pain and sorrow.

In the Adinata Mansion, Radithya noticed his son's friend visiting the residence when he took a break from the restaurant--he wondered why Kirana is always busy every time she was supposed to be on a week-off vacation. Kirana shrieked comically to see Sanju's father, knowing that Radithya is the current head of the Adinata Family and manager of the family business since he didn't want his friends taking his advantage and leading his family's business down. Kirana was not only surprised to see him working on some documents on the modern desk with crystal ink bottle and fountain pen, but also his unusual messy hair style resembling Sanju's.

"You must be Kirana, right?"

Radithya asked, sitting himself with more comfortable position by putting the documents aside--then he took a glance at them. Sanju then explained the situation to him, before Radithya finally knew why Kirana is in the Adinata mansion. "Max, huh... let me call Master Sanata to come here," Radithya suggested, walking away and find him eyeing on his employees working on the batik-making process in the other side of the mansion. "Master Sanata, I need your assistance..." he called him, making him nodded. Soon, he was joining the current head with a look of questions like what Sanju was expecting--but no one made a comment until Sanata stared at Kirana, his eyes completely held a blank expression which make Kirana feel uncomfortable.

'Oh crap, this must be the infamous Sanata Adinata... the Father of the Adinatas... no wonder he look stoic... he's so mature and attractive...' she thought, gasping a bit. Until he gave her a weird stare and what just happened after this is... all chaos. "Are you Kirana Tjahyadi, the one and only daughter of Rayhanda Tjahyadi?" he asked, Kirana nodded--not wanting to make him confused. She remembered about how Sanju made a comment about him--that he behaved like a gentleman but often stiff like a board at times, unlike Max who was straightforward and proud.

His calm attitude can put her heart down in a beat, though. "Yes, I came here to ask if there are belongings of the late-Tjandrakusuma Family inside this mansion--if there is, I wanted to know about... Max's belongings such as his..." she spoke, but Sanju halted her. "She wanted to see if there are any keepsakes of Max inside his room before he died, can you give us a full tour around Max's old room?" he told them, making both Radithya and Sanata exchanged glances with each other, before Sanata sighed. "Follow me."

It was located in the old wing of the Adinata Mansion, the place haven't really change even though 15 years passed from Max's death. It was hard to open the door of the room which has the last will of Maximillian Tjandrakusuma above it--because no one was able to opened it, not even the servants when Sanata was leading them towards the Max's room. "Strange... it looks like, something blocked the door. I don't understand," Sanata said, feeling the door which has the feeling of cold air coming out from the gap.

"Many servants informed me that there has been sightings of Maximilian Tjandrakusuma's figure appear near from the spot in his old room, many people believe that his spirit are still living," Sanata recalled, his cold gaze shifted towards the door. "Nobody was able to find the key of his room, because he's smart enough to hide them with a password to his abode inside. A very challenging man."

"Your point? Max is haunting his room?"

Kirana interrupted, looking at him while she stood closely with Sanju. Radithya nodded, all of his family believed in ghosts--even superstitions that why he chose the West Wing room for his family as it has the room to avoid walking into ghost. "Aren't you scared, Kirana?" he asked, putting his hands on his pockets. "Well, I'm afraid of ghosts like our friends... what if there's a Kuntilanak here?" she asked.

Oh no, please not her creepy ass laughing. Everyone except for Sanata's face pale at this realization, now they're all frightened to the death if Kirana dared to sing the song due to her voice will be a big influence to see that this spooky thing will kill them all. "Fortunately it's still afternoon, consider yourself lucky that you didn't mention that ghost at nighttime..." Sanju muttered, looking around the view of the mansion. He can imagine Raiden's scared expression that made him run away from this area, Akito's defensive instinct like picking a fight to a ghost, Kanae simply walk past the ghost since she's unafraid of them. Karina doesn't give a shit to them, not even Senja due to his indifference--but Kinana? Nope, she's too scared about it.

Sanju heard his younger sister Kinana shrieked as she hugged him in fear, making them surprised to see her frightened nature unlike her silly attitude. Well... what can they say? Everyone got scared one way or another. "What's wrong, Kinana? Did you see something?" he asked, ruffling her hair as she nodded and sobbed. It was difficult for her to explain anything due to her strong instinct against this, before her father hugged her in his arms. Then, she closed her eyes while hiding her face in her father's shoulders. "I saw someone passing through the corridor in here... so it seems like a real ghost..." she whimpered, still shivering and trembling at the mere remembrance. Her father comforted her, rubbing her back in circle.

"We need to find the key to his room, but it's not an easy task when he hid the key somewhere... unless he wants me to find his belongings in his secret chamber," Sanata answered, explaining the situation they are in. He eyed on Kirana, seeing her interest increase at the realization of a challenge ahead of them.

They also saw Rayhanda entered the area, making Kirana shocked that her father's stoic and cold expression turning pale after what he just witnessed.

"Father, did you see a ghost?" Kirana asked, making her father nodded, biting his lips slightly. "I thought I didn't, but the one I saw was Maximilian..." he replied, before he was gazing in his surroundings as if Max would appear out of nowhere. "I followed him, until he suddenly disappeared... and then I heard footsteps heading straight to Max's former room, and here I am."

Sanju and Radithya was worried that maybe Kirana was scared, but instead he almost let a 'whew' escape from his mouth when he saw her neutral expression. "There should be a vintage safebox that kept all of his belongings or maybe that is the part of the legend. If we manage to crack the clue, maybe we can retrieve it," Sanata reiterated.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

They had to separate themselves into pairs in order to find clues of Max's family in this old wing of the mansion. Kinana had to tag along with Kinana, but that's okay--Kirana can follow Sanju to help him finding the vital parts that one of them can open. So, there has to be more clues and additional places where Max stayed in his childhood days--although he never met Sanju in person or one of his ancestor--except for Sanata. "Here it is... so I guess we need to find few other spots, right? Just in case there are more... or maybe two... it's about a specific number and hints," Sanju read a paragraph from Max's notes, Kirana looking at her side--feeling as if his ghost is watching her moves.

They shivered when they sensed Max's ghost is passing by the corridor, it was always them who feel bothered by him. "Will he always do this?" she murmured, gulping and trying to not show her fear towards him as they kept searching for new evidence and hints. When Sanju was observing a red ruby necklace, his ancestor Sanata felt his body tensed before they met his red crimson eyes. "What's that?" Radithya asked, both staring at the pendant he always hid in the box and now Sanju is holding onto it. "Ah, this old thing... so, this necklace is Max's, since he's often wear it but he hide it," Sanata commented.

Rayhanda narrowed his eyes at the ghostly presence, finally a second later it was there before them--only to disappear seconds later. Kirana peeked from behind, widening her eyes to see Max's ghost was becoming more clear and clear until it was humanized from behind. Her heart was pounding fast, before she closed her eyes at Max's glare on the men before him. "Fuck, he's here... his spirit is following you, Kirana..." Sanju whispered, Kirana closed her eyes before her heart thumped that could be heard from the specters--which slowly began to appear from the corner of the hallway.

Sanata close his eyes, before he glared at the specters--making them intimidated by their ancestor's presence. Sanju and Radithy apeeking over his shoulder, Kirana opened her eyes before she saw Max's figure--her eyes widened that she covered her mouth before stuttered from seeing the scene in front of her. "M-Max...?" she called, seeing his appearance--it was faint but clear as her own blurry vision of tears were flowing. The ghost closed his eyes before it looked away, before it bowed a bit in silence.

"Long time no see, my sweetheart," his voice echoed, making Kirana's heart thumped madly in pain while feeling it as if something had stabbed her so hard. "I wish... I want to tell you this sooner... but, I'm sorry..." his words, Kirana tried to move towards him--but feared that he may disappear in front of her eyes again. Before Max could vanish for good, he turned his head at Sanju before he froze--shocked to see the boy who he was shy to meet. "Are you... Sanjaya Adinata?"

Sanju blinked, before he answered. "Yeah, it's me. You must be Maximillian Tjandrakusuma... right?" he responded, gazing at him with curious crimson eyes to him. The ghost stood there for few seconds in silence, before he floated towards the group and stopped an inch away from him. "No wonder my relatives found it, anyway the necklace you've been holding on it was mine... now give it to me," he growled, the crimson eyes seemed bewitching like him. Sanju handed the necklace to his hands, before Max examined the necklace and nodded.

'It's probably the things that we used to make binding connection between each other, including me... since I am already dead,' he thought, clenching on the necklace in his grasp. "I have unfinished business in this world, and I don't plan on going to afterlife yet. I wanted you to take the reins for it," he suddenly said, catching Sanju off-guard. He looked at Sanju, his red eyes seemed haunting with his handsome face and the aura emanating around him. "W-What?!"

"Maximillian, that's enough."

Sanata halted, while Radithya defending his son Sanju and daughter Kinana from being possessed--before Rayhanda barricading his daughter Kirana from getting closer to Max. What just happened after, it was enough to break her heart again... right in front of her eyes. She realized that Sanju kept falling into those piercing eyes, wanting to make contact... but Sanju close his eyes and resisted. "No, I'm not letting you possess me. You can't control me."

Max had to cast a spell to make Kirana can't move, before he came closer to Sanju. "I'm sorry... to interrupt, but your body resembled mine... perhaps that's why," he apologized, before a flick of flame erupted in front of them from his hand. "I'm going to find that bastard who crushed that car on me, that's why I wanted to live inside you," he smiled, placing a hand over Sanju's collarbone as the flame was placed firmly over his chest.

Then, his eyes burned with madness and revenge.

Sanju close his eyes, before he opened them with his scarlet-gold blazing eyes as a Senapati Raksha that shocked Max just by seeing it--making Sanju began to speak at him. "Is that how you behave when you reunited with Kirana? I would've slapped you for life," he said, before his eyes reverted back into his dark brown ones. "Tell us, Max..." Radithya spoke, his expression showed curiosity and a scowl as if he just realize a revelation to the ghost before them. "It's okay, I know. Please tell us, we'll find the culprit who murdered you."

The ghost stayed silent, not moving an inch, before Max inhale a bit of breath. "Very well, if I will be one of you--which I'll just have to manipulate to make people think I am Sanjaya Adinata incarnate--"

"Max, stop it!"

Kirana yelled, making him paused. 'She really doesn't know...? Oh fuck...' his ghostly face began to twist into a look of regret, sadness and rage. "Forgive me, Kirana... but, I decided to reveal the real culprit behind the Tjandrakusuma Family Murder..." he growled, tightening the grip on Sanju's shoulder before he whispered, "You might suffer a bit from this..." He gasped in pain, as a dark crimson haze began to emit from his body.

"I already get rid that culprit back then."

Rayhanda suddenly admitted, he was glaring at him that made them shocked--which Kinana also surprised by the confession of her friend's father. He rubbed his temples, trying to not argue while the ghost was very calm at the revealing point. 'If I have anger issue, I'll go all out or either shut down...' he thought, gritting his teeth. "Enough of this! I'll fight you, you're not helping Kirana at all," he snapped, but Kirana wanted to listen to her father who already got rid of him--before he sighed softly. "Listen, Max... behind your family's downfall--you might find this truth painful and most disturbing of all," he answered.

"Who is it...?"

The only question the ghost could muster out, wondering what kind of truth his father were holding in--even his relatives who has low-prestigious rank was shunned. "It's... your own father, Willy Tjandrakusuma... who plotted that murder on you and your entire family on the day you had to leave Yogyakarta to follow your job in Semarang."

Willy Tjandrakusuma. The name started it, even his children realized their brother Max's family was destroyed by someone who planned to lead this--his own flesh and blood. To make him suffer the curse of having an unwanted child, despite the family's position as the third most powerful family with nobility status.

Only it was an absolute hell for Maximillian to experience pain of betrayal, he fought with all his power of his anger inside of him--even he was about to erupt his explosion of emotional pain. "Impossible... that can't be... I thought, he cared for me..." he whispered, before his arms and legs were beginning to numb--making him stood up weakly that he clenched onto Sanju's shirt for his support. "It's for beneficial purpose, Max. Business doesn't see sentimental nor love, they only care for money and resources--including fame and reputation," Sanata explained, staring at Max's sad eyes.

"Your father wanted to take over your business, your insurance--he was envious of how you were leading the businesses and get jealous that your late-mother's family was stronger than him. Therefore, you were like the perfect puppet for him to played with and used until it runs out of its purposes. Remember what your uncle Guntur told you about Willy? He was using your financial funding to give them a financial aid, without your permission."

Max clutched his throat, his ghostly pale skin started to show cracks on his translucent body. Max wasn't just looking sickly, but this rage affected him in a deeper way. Tears started to fall from his eyes, but it was more transparent due to he was feeling the emotions that overcome his hatred and revenge. Kirana slowly hug him from behind, while Sanju placed a hand on his shoulder. "Max... don't dwell on it anymore, you're not alone anymore..." she comforted, but Max just could not understand all of this--even as a ghost.

Sanju was struggling with the conflict of letting Max being resurrected, if he was letting Max to return... it would break the law of nature in this New World--because what if Max was the evil which was to disturb their fate? If he wanted him to stay, then that was it. "We're here, Max..." he assured, Kirana letting a whimper escape from her mouth before his glare softened. "I can't rest in peace... because my grave... got destroyed during the Phantom Eruption tragedy. So, I choose to remain here as a vengeance and seek for justice... now that I remember. It was my father..." he grunted.

Suddenly, Sanata used his Arbiter ability to stop Max's spirit from dissolving into the light while closing his eyes. Then, his spirit morphed and reincarnated into a baby--making their jaws dropped comically. "... huh?" Kinana blinked, watching the baby now cradled in Sanata's arms with a white blanket over it. "Holy smokes... Max is a Baby!"

Radithya gaped, jaw-dropped. Sanju prayed that he wouldn't be a babysitter, while Rayhanda reluctantly hold the baby in his arms--not gonna lie he was super weak to an infant. An infant was cradled into his arms, before Sanata stated. "If you cannot revive a person, then give them a chance to reborn... as an infant."

HUH?!

Baby Max was now falling asleep, his hair now white-colored with light fair complexion and he has purple-blue mixed eyes. It made Kirana squealed at this, making the father shuddered. "Unfortunately, he will not use the previous identity as Maximillian Tjandrakusuma--he will use a new identity and resume his life as a new person in another form..." Sanata announced, his eyes shut down tightly as if he was trying to regain back his strength from losing mana--but he recovered from his ordeal. Sanju hummed, wondering if he will be adopted into Kirana's family. "It's the rule of nature's law, so we should not intervene in any means..." he mumbled.

Kirana didn't want to dwell into the past anymore, everything is flowing smoothly as her tears rolled down. "Hey, it's fine... now he's still alive, let him have another life, shall we?" Rayhanda asked Kirana, though he was rather annoyed seeing his daughter's lovesick look at her former lover's infant form. Sanju watched her took a deep breath, before she smiled at them. "I will focus in the present time, I don't need the past interfering to my life..." she declared, looking into the baby's amethyst eyes.

"And this is the perfect start."

Their friends visiting Sanju's hotel like usual, Kirana was holding her adopted younger brother who was an infant while her father had to buy some baby supplies. "Do you have a name for him?" Raiden asked, while Kinana was cheering up the baby in her arms. Akito watched with his older twin Yukito while Kanae yawned, she was looking at the baby with Karina as Senja kept his silence. "I don't know... I'm bad with names, unless I talk about legends," Kirana deadpanned. "Want us to name him? I have perfect names for that guy!" Kinana smirked, making them turned to look at her in fear--before she cleared her throat.

"How about Regis Adrien Tjahyadi?"

Karina suggested, that was a majestic name and powerful enough for him. Kirana gulped, why is she thinking of choosing one of the 12 star signs, if he's too powerful for that her brother's name would definitely cursed as the opposite. "Let's take that," she muttered shyly, but there's a possibility that he is able to do incredible things if not stupid. "Then his nickname would be Ragus--"

Kirana looked at her with a weird expression, who the heck will name a kid like that? Oh my god, can you stop? Please! "Yep!" Kinana cheered, not even bothered to know whether it's possible to make the baby being bullied by the kids for such a terrible name. "My dad's gonna go mad if he heard about this..." Kirana shuddered at the thought of his father's rage mode, how did her dad still standing despite having a busy lifestyle after her mother died? "Ace--"

Her words halted when her father Rayhanda entered the house, carrying many shopping bags full of baby supplies--he was panting like an insane man and that looks of anger was not what Kirana wanted to have. "So, what's the name of the baby?" he asked, still feeling exhausted to visit many shops to buy the baby supplies after a week where the 100 days celebration for his arrival. When everyone suggest weird names, Rayhanda almost exploded his anger towards them.

Kirana sighed, her heart still belong to Maximilian Tjandrakusuma. However, it is simply better to let go of the past and move forward to find your happiness--she moved on from the past because now is her present that made her smiled and learned something. He can finally let his spirit finally depart in peace in order to find new future--who knows when a miracle happens, and somehow the karma went to his father. Now that he was reborn into a new life as an infant, even as her younger brother. "Fine, let's call him Adrien instead," Rayhanda grumbled, before taking the infant Adrien into his arms and Radithya snickered at his rival's new task in babysitting again.

Rayhanda glanced down at the baby Adrien's curious gaze, before he kissed his forehead and let a soft chuckle escape from his mouth as a faint and rare smile appear on his usually straight face. "Be a good boy, okay, Adrien... you're a younger brother for Kirana. Do not cause trouble... and grow up to be someone you can become."

He said, making the baby squealed with a smile--making a new memories with the Rakshas.

Sanju watched with a smile, before Kirana suddenly approached him and sit next to him. "Sanjaya, I know... maybe when the opportunity comes," Kirana looked at his eyes, then he could see a bit of sadness from the woman's eyes--but it was natural for her to feel such emotion that was expected in a lifetime. He hold her back, comforting her like a best friend he should be and not letting her go into despair--fighting through the pain of the past memories and emotions.

However, he knew that their journey isn't over yet--there's still more to go as he look up at the sky after he released her. He clenched his fists, knowing that there's so many things he wanted to know about this world. Like... what is this Phantom Samsara? Why the Asuras let them discover that on their own? It's quite strange, but this fueled up his curiosity even more. And, he knew that something isn't right with them but he keep it to himself.

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