[Maron wakes up in a large bed, fresh tears residing in her eyes.]

Maron: Where...am I?

[p.104]

Maron: My tears won't stop falling... Why...

[She remembers Zen, smiling and other various ways.]

Maron: Zen-kun. He's no longer here...

Maron: I wasn't able to protect him...

[p.105]

Maron: I couldn't protect him!

Maron: I didn't!

[She raises her bandaged hand [from taking Sinbad's pin] in frustration but someone takes hold of it. She looks beside herself...]

Maron: Hijiri-sensei...

[p.106]

Hijiri: I brought you a light meal. How are you feeling?

[Maron hurries to wipe away her tears and put on a happy face.]

Maron: You're the one who helped me out sensei?

Hijiri: I'm surprised because the evil presence disappeared. I was worried because you were pretty beat up.

Hijiri: Excuse me but I went ahead and changed your clothes, but don't worry. I didn't look.

Maron: HUH? No~..umm...I mean thank you very much.

Hijiri: I've washed and dried your clothes.

Maron: Okay okay, is it okay if I go ahead and change?

Hijiri: Sure, I'll be in the other room.

[p.107]

[As soon as she slides the screen shut, her tears being to flow freely again. Just as she tries to brush them away, Hijiri slides open the door and pulls her into his embrace.]

[p.108]

Maron: U...uh sensei. Let go of me~.

Hijiri: I won't see this happening because I can't see anything.

Hijiri: I won't ever look...I just don't don't want to let you cry alone..

[p.109]

[Maron finally gives in to his comfort and cries freely. At the hospital Chiaki's father works at, everyone celebrates Chiaki's first day at work.]

minna: Welcome Chiaki-ku~~~n!

[Chiaki doesn't seem too pleased...in fact he looks downright irked. ^^;]

[p.110]

Chiaki: Would you please stop these rowdy parties every time I get a new job!!

Kaiki: Huh? Why?

Yashiro: We just want to congratulate you.

Chiaki: Yashiro! Why're you here anyways?

Yashiro: That's cold! Even though our engagment is off, I haven't said I'd give you up so I've decided to come see you.

Miyako: What did you say?

Yashiro: Toudaiji-san of Momokuri High School... [after thought] How gaudy.

Yashiro: Would you kindly remove yourself from -my- Chiaki-sama?

Miyako: [sticking her tounge out] You mean -my- Chiaki! Only if you can remove yourself too~.

[p.111]

Yashiro: Chiaki has a job from now on! He has work to do! I hope anyone who gets in the way goes back to where they belong~!

Miyako: Aren't you one of those who get in the way!? Shoo shoo shoo~~~! 

Yashiro: Maa~~ for someone who treats people like dogs, you're a devil~~~!

Chiaki: Oh~ my throat is dry. I'm hungry too~.

Yashiro: I'm going to go buy beverages!

Miyako: Dad, I'm going to use the kitchen!

[They both dash off to get him something, leaving him with his dad.]

Kaiki: So~~~...you're quite popular, huh Chiaki-kun? [after thought] Just like your dad.

Chiaki: I'm not very happy about it. Besides, I know I hurt the one I feel is important to me.

[p.112]

Kaiki: Could that important person be...Maron-chan? [waaah! he looks so cute SD in the teddy bear outfit! ^^]

Chiaki: [blushing] Yeah.

Kaiki: I knew it, you two are dating!

Chiaki: [little daggers sticking out of his bubble] No... I don't think she likes me much.

Chiaki: Or to be more precise, I betrayed the trust I had earned from her...

Kaiki: ......

Kaiki: But whatever reason you had...if you really care for her, then you shouldn't give up.

Kaiki: You do want her right? Maron-chan...

Chiaki: .........

Kaiki: [holding a little Maron ufo doll] ...as your mother!

Chiaki: NO I DON'T!

[p.113]

Chiaki: Maron's is mine! She's gonna be my bride!

Kaiki: Oh~~~? Is that so~~~?

Kagura: Chiaki-sama, welcome-...

Chiaki: ...but I know she doesn't like me much right now. A real man would give up.

Kagura: Don't be like that!

[p.114]

Chiaki: Ka...Kagura?

Kagura: [furious] Just because Kusakabe-sama won't look back on you, does this mean that you intend on returning to Yashiro!? Kagura is saddened by the fact that Chiaki-sama, whom he grew up with and played together since childhood, has become a selfish, rebellious relative!!

Chiaki: Who said I'd go back to Yashiro?

Chiaki: It's really unlike you Kagura, getting angry at me and all.

Kagura: [embarassed and leaving] E-excuse me...

[p.115]

Chiaki: Now that I think about it, last time we saw Yashiro, she had gone out by herself. You can go and accompany her if you like.

Kagura: O...okay, I will.

Kaiki: I guess he does like Yashiro-chan.

Chiaki: Huh?

(Chiaki's rosary begins to beep)

Chiaki: Evil? It can't be... Kagura is?!

[p.116]

(Kagura has found Yashiro, who is dragging a bag full of groceries, and pulls up next to her in his car.)

Kagura: Yashiro-sama~, please get in the car.

Yashiro: No thank you.

Kagura: But...

Yashiro: As I said before, I can manage on my own!

Kagura: [change of tactics] You know, being ureasonable isn't very cute. I don't like it when you're like this. 

Yashiro: [furious] It's admirable that your being a faithful servant but...you're certainly not being a gentleman! You should really take lessons from Chiaki!

[Kagura develops a case of puppy eyes... Let's all take a moment to go 'Awwww...' ...then gets rear-ended. ^^;]

Yashiro: Uh.

[p.117]

Jerk: Oooooh...you messed up my car, bro. You know you'll have to pay for this.

Kagura: Yes, I sincerely apologize.

Yashiro: [steps in front of Kagura] I saw what happened! Even though the light was red, you're the one who didn't stop and caused the crash. It's your fault! The one who should compensate is you!

Jerk: [pushes Yashiro down] Get out of my way little girl.

Yashiro: Ahhh!

[p.118]

[Kagura gets -peeved- and punches out one of the guys.]

Jerk: Well then.

Kagura: How dare you touch Yashiro-sama without permission.

Kagura: Your punishment!

[He proceeds to punch out the other two and then some as Yashiro looks on, very surprised. Kagura gets a poster boy stance with the guys piled in back of him.]

Yashiro: .....

[p.119]

Yashiro: You're the worst!

[Poor Kagura has a little black rain cloud over his head... ^^;]

Yashiro: Whatever reason you had, it doesn't mean you should become violent yourself! Only the lowest would do that!

Kagura: At...at the time I couldn't think of anything else to do...

Kagura: Yashiro-sa...

Yashiro: Would you please not touch me?

Yashiro: People who are violent like that...I reeeally hate!

[p.120]

[Once again, Kagura has a little black rain cloud over him as Yashiro walks away. His cel phone rings.]

Kagura: Yes, Kaiki-sama.

Kaiki: Ah Kagura! Something has come up. Please come back as soon as you can.

[Switch back to Hijiri and Maron.]

Hijiri: I see... That young boy passed away.

Maron: .....

Maron: I'm...not sure. If it's okay to be mad at Sinbad. If it's okay to forgive him.

Hijiri: Sinbad is Nagoya-kun, isn't he?

Maron: Yes. 

[She then get's a 'D'OH!' expression on her face realizing what she just said. ^^;]

Hijiri: Maybe, you're worrying about it so much because you consider him important.

[p.121]

Hijiri: Kusakabe-san, what does your heart tell you?

Maron: ...I don't want to be angry. But I can't forgive him either.

Hijiri: .....

Hijiri: ...I was angry when the one I cherished was killed...

Maron: Huh, you mean you lost someone important to you too...?

Hijiri: Yes.

Maron: That person...were you ever able to forget them?

Hijiri: No...I haven't forgotten her.

[p.122]

Hijiri: I won't allow myself to forget her. She continues to live within my heart.

Hijiri: [looking deep into Maron's eyes] And...someday I know, I will meet her again.

Maron: [blushing] U-umm...

[Maron's rosary suddenly starts beeping.]

[p.123]

Fin: Maron! Where are you!? There's a problem! Sinbad has already sent out a notice! The target, Kagura Shoyuu's western painting 'A Faraway Tree', is at the Nagoya house!

[Everyone is gathered at the Nagoya household except for Miyako it looks like. *shrug* Maybe she's still trying to cook something. ^^;]

Yamato: Come on Sinbad! Your opponent is me!

Chiaki: Minazuki, you're still bent on catching him.

[p.124]

Yamato: Of course. I will claim Maron-san's heart once she sees how cool I am, capturing Sinbad with this trap I made!

[Chiaki takes a mallet to Yamato's invention, which Yamato doesn't take well.]

Yamato: [tears streaming from his eyes] CHI-A-KI-KUN~~~~.

Chiaki: *grin* Sorry, but my hand slipped.

Yashiro: Uncle~.

Kaiki: What's wrong Yashiro-chan?

Yashiro: Kagura seems to be lacking manners as a secretary.

Kaiki: What did Kagura do?

Yashiro: He beat up people when he was in the city! If he's going to be a doctor's secretary, he shouldn't do such things.

Kaiki: I think he did it for you.

Yashiro: [stunned] Huh...

[p.125]

Kaiki: [grinning] Usually Kagura dislikes violence. He's a gentle kid. I've known him since he was 10 and I've never seen beat someone up. If anything, he wanted to protect you. And most likely, he likes you very much.

Yashiro: [so surprised she's blushing and the only thing she can do is look in Kagura's direction] .........

[p.126]

[Sinbad shows up looking all bishounen-y. *.*]

Sinbad: My fate goes with the sea. Kaitou Sinbad will defeat all here!

Kagura: So you're here Sinbad!!

[Jeanne is hidden in the shadows, merely watching. Fin flies up to her.]

Fin: Go Jeanne!

Jeanne: [hesitant] I...I will. [thinking] Chiaki.

[p.127]

Jeanne: [thoughts] I knew it. I can't do this. With the way I'm feeling, I can't show my face! I knew it...I don't want to be an enemy to him!

Sinbad: Tonight, I will take the painting.

Kagura: [possesed] I won't allow you to! This painting is a precious keepsake of my mother! To let a thief steal it is intolerable!!

Jeanne: [thinking] What?

[p.128]

[Sinbad takes care of the guards and officers quickly as Jeanne looks on. He spots her just before he throw his pin.]

Sinbad: Checkmate!

[He leaves out the window, not all to pleased with what went on and Kagura faints from the evil leaving his body]

Kaiki: AHH! Kagura has fainted~~.

[p.129]

[Kaiki is waving his arms about while Officer Toudaiji pokes Kagura with a stick. ^^; Yashiro observes quietly.]

Kaiki: Aa~ wake up Kagura~! Don't worry about the painting! It's okay! Yashrio, say something to him.

Yashiro: [cutely points to herself, then pics up a microphone] IS IT TRUE THAT YOU LIKE ME?

[Kagura bolts up and sweatbeads profusely.]

Kagura: U-uh... That is uh, I... 

[Yashiro has a very...unimpressed look on her face. Ganbatte Kagura-kun! ^^;]

Kagura: ...Yes.

Kagura: Since you were betrothed to Chiaki, I constantly tried to forget my feelings for you but...

Kagura: ...I still long for you.

[p.130]

Yashiro: [trying to keep her composure] W-well...I guess I can consider going out with you!

Kagura: [shocked and blushing] HUH?!

Yashiro: But! You have to stop being violent!

Kagura: [passive] Okay...

Yashiro: You can't talk about my faults!

Kagura: [passive] Okay...

Yashiro: You can't show an angry face to me!

Kagura: [passive] Okay...

Yashiro: [graceful and slightly flushed] And from now on be a little...kind please.

[p.131]

Kagura: [blushing] Okay...

[We return to Maron's apartment where her and Hijiri are having tea.]

Maron: I'm silly, aren't I... I can't figure out Chiaki. It's not like he did it because he wanted to do it during that time with Zen-kun like this time.

Maron: There must've been a reason...when Zen-kun's heart got possessed, he got killed by the demon and such...

Maron: But...for now, I think I'll deal with it for now and not get all worked up over it.

[p.132]

Maron: Because I still believe in him. [thought] Only Chiaki brings on such strong feelings.

[Hijiri smiles smugly then stands up.]

Hijiri: ...You're mistaken.

Maron: What?

Hiriji: [untying his hair as he approaches] A human whose heart has been possesed by a demon evolves into a stronger demon...

[Hijiri, now the Dark Knight Noin, lays Maron down on the couch and hovers above her.] 

Noin: They don't die...they become unable to die...like me

[p.133]

Noin: From the day you became the oil that fed the flame, I became a demon...overused by the Demon King... Over the 500 years, I continued to wait for you, why did your heart happen to become fascinated and stolen by another without my notice?

Noin: [lying above Maron caressing her hair] I love you Joan of Arc...I have never throughout time forgotten you...