Hey guys!

I don't really have anything to say, so...

Please enjoy!

~'0'~

Fei smiles at the two. ''And Raimon can still stay here for a little while,'' he says, gaining the attention of his friends. ''I'm sure we can also stall a bit, maybe allowing you to stay a week or two... and we can also try to convince Toudou-san to allow Saryuu to travel back to the past to visit you. As a... thank you, for everything you've done for us.''

''Ara...'' mutters Kariya, ''who was Toudou-san again...?''

His friends sweat-drop as Saru answers. ''Toudou-san is El Dorado's leader.''

''Oh!'' Kariya nods in understanding. ''That grumpy old man!''

Cue to even more sweat-drops.

Then Tenma turns back to Saryuu. ''So... we will see each other again?''

The other grins. ''And you can't forget about the next week, right? We've got a lot to catch up on!'' 

~'0'~  

''Come on, slowpoke!'' grins Saryuu as he runs up the stairs. It's been a few hours since breakfast and their confrontation with Raimon, and now the older twin is 'kidnapping' his younger brother, like he so nicely put it.

Tenma follows his brother up the stairs. ''Wait up! Where are we going?'' he yells back, but the other doesn't answer. ''Saryuu!'' whines the brunet, and only receives a chuckle in return.

The twins are currently going up the stairs, with Tenma having no idea where they are going. He only knows that they've been walking quite a while.

The white-haired boy looks over his shoulder and smiles. ''We're almost there!'' he says, and keeps climbing the stairs.

Tenma just follows him in quiet confusion. A few moments later, they reach the top of the stairs. Saryuu smiles at his brother and walks through the hall at the end of the stairs. The brunet follows him, and they reach a door.

The older twin pushes on a button next to the door, and it slides open. Light comes from the doorway, but Saryuu pays it no mind and just walks forward. His younger brother follows him in confusion.

Tenma's mouth falls open once he steps through the doorway, while Saryuu watches him with an amused expression. ''Th-this is...''

The blue sky stretches out high above them, white cotton clouds floating lazily through the endless blue. The roof they are standing on is surrounded by a railing, to keep people from falling off. Tenma slowly walks forward in awe, leaning on the railing and watching the city beneath him. Skyscrapers rise up from the ground far beneath him, more advanced than he has ever seen before. Dozens of people are hurrying along the streets far below.

The brunet notices absentmindedly that his brother leans on the railing next to him, watching out over the city. ''Wow...'' mutters Tenma, not tearing his eyes away from the scene. ''It's so... different,'' he whispers softly.

Saryuu sighs, and Tenma's eyes fall on him. The white-haired boy has a soft, sad smile on his face as he gazes at the city. ''I wanted to show you this,'' says Saryuu softly. ''Your home. The place you should've grown up in...''

Tenma hesitates for a moment and looks back at the city. ''My... home...''

''Yeah,'' agrees his twin softly. ''We should've grown up here together. There are so many things you have missed.''

Silence falls between them, as the brothers simply stare at the scene beneath him, both lost in their own thoughts. 'My home. This is where I was born,' thinks Tenma. 'What would my life have been like if I grew up here, with my brother? Would my Second Stage powers have developed, and would I have joined Feida together with Saryuu? Or maybe I would've died together with my parents, in the fire...'

''What is it like?''

Tenma blinks and looks at his twin in confusion. ''What do you mean?''

The older one turns around and leans his back against the railing, looking up at the sky. ''The past, I mean. What is your life like?'' he asks, not looking at the younger twin.

Tenma looks up at the sky too, thinking about his answer. ''Well... it's...'' he sighs, also turning around and sitting down on the roof, leaning against the railing. He pulls his legs up to his chest and rests his chin on his knees. ''I grew up in Okinawa, one of the islands of Japan,'' he starts slowly. ''My life was... normal, I guess, until I went on a vacation with my... adoptive parents when I was three. Mom and I were walking back from the beach, when I saw a puppy who was stuck between a few planks that were threatening to fall on him. I saved it from the planks, but I tripped and the planks almost fell on me. That's when, out of nowhere, someone shot a soccer ball that hit the planks. The soccer ball had the Raimon logo drawn on it. That's where my love for soccer started,'' explains Tenma.

Saryuu frowns at the thought of his twin being in danger, and slowly sits down next to the brunet. ''You were saved by soccer,'' mutters the older twin, and Tenma nods with a bright smile on his face.

The brunet looks at the sky again and his smile shrinks to a gentler one. ''Hai,'' he agrees softly. ''From then on, it was my dream to play for Raimon. It took a lot of convincing, but my parents eventually agreed to let me go to Inazuma Town. I moved in with my relative, Kino Aki, when I was nine. I practiced dribbling on my own a lot,'' the brunet chuckles at the memory. ''Four years after I moved in with Aki-nee, about... four months ago, I finally joined Raimon.''

The silence returns as Saryuu progresses everything he has just heard while Tenma thinks back on the last four months with Raimon.

An hour passes as the brunet tells his twin about everything he has been through ever since he joined Raimon: the Holy Road tournament, his Keshin, God Eden, El Dorado, Keshin Armed, Mixi-Max, Feida, everything. Eventually, the older twin stands up and offers his brother a hand.

The brunet grabs the outstretched hand and Saryuu pulls him to his feet. ''Come on, I think the others will be looking for us by now,'' says the white-haired boy with a smile, and the twins head back to the stairs.

~'0'~  

The twins are talking quietly, walking through the halls in the direction of Raimon's suite, the rooms the Raimon and Chrono Storm teams are currently occupying. There is one 'main' room, and from there lead different hallways to the rooms of the players.

When Saryuu and Tenma enter the main room, they are surprised to find most members of both teams there, just hanging around. Some of them are playing games or watching TV, and others are just doing their own thing.

There are a few greetings, but most soccer players are too busy with what they're doing to look up. The twins share a look and sit down on one of the couches, continuing their conversation, when suddenly Shinsuke sits down next to Tenma. The two don't really pay attention to him, but the small boy keeps staring at them.

After a few minutes of staring, Tenma faces the keeper. ''Um... Shinsuke, is something wrong?''

The other boy tilts his head a bit, debating if he should say something or not. ''Hmm... who is the oldest?'' he asks finally.

Tenma and Saryuu share a look, and then the white-haired boy grins and slings an arm around his brother's shoulders. ''You really think my cute little otouto here could be the oldest?'' he smirks at the glare the brunet shoots him. ''Don't glare at your dear older brother, Ten~ma~chan~!''

''How much older can you be anyway?'' the younger twin pouts slightly, and Saru gets a thoughtful look on his face.

''Hmm... not sure, but maybe I can...'' he mutters to himself, and his twin raises an eyebrow. He shakes his head, shoving the idea to the back of his mind.

Shinsuke watches silently at the two bickering twins, and decides to interrupt. ''Birthday?'' he asks.

The twins don't even look at each other as they answer. ''May 27th,'' they answer together, their voices in perfect sync.

''Favorite food?''

Tenma smiles. ''Mitarashi dango,'' he says, Saru nodding in agreement.

''Favorite color?'' the question comes from Shindou, who is sitting on the couch facing theirs and was previously reading a book. Now however, the game maker seems more interested in the conversation and puts his novel down.

''Green,'' answers Tenma immediately. His twin frowns and shakes his head. ''Green is nice, but orange is better,'' says the white-haired boy.

Tenma's metallic blue eyes meet Saryuu's dark violet ones. ''Orange is my second favorite. Green looks nicer,'' he mutters.

Before the twins can start a fight, Kirino speaks up from where he is sitting next to Shindou. ''Favorite animal?''

''Monkeys,'' mutters Saryuu.

Tenma shoots him a look and proudly declares, ''dogs.''

''Which word would you use to describe the other?'' asks Taiyou, also joining in on the conversation. They are getting more and more spectators by the minute, all interested in the little question game going on.

''Evil.''

''Soccer.''

Guess who said what?

''Favorite season?'' the question is asked by Fei who looks up from the card game he was playing with Kinako, both players more interested in the twins than their game.

''Spring,'' say two voices at the same time.

''If you were a cake which cake would you be?'' asks Kinako, and everyone stares at her.

''What kind of question is that?'' asks Saryuu at the exact same time Tenma answers ''brown sugar apple upside down cake with apple cider caramel and chocolate sauce.''

Saryuu gives him a look.

Tenma looks back without blinking.

''...''

''...''

''...''

''You cannot deny you like it too.''

''...''

''...''

''You win,'' mutters Saryuu with a sigh.

Tenma cheers.

''Why would you even want to be a cake?'' asks the white-haired boy.

The brunet shrugs. ''I never said I wanted to be a cake, but if I had to be a cake, I'd want to be a tasty one.''

''Why? So people can eat you?''

''Not a chance. I'd eat myself before they ever could.''

''Your logic is so disturbing.''

''Says the human monkey.''

''You're being cheeky. It's not like you.''

''You're being nice.''

''...Point taken.''

The others in the room watch silently as the twins don't even seem to think about their words. Finally Shinsuke decides to ask another question. ''Are you two identical?''

Everyone stares at him, and the small keeper blushes. ''I mean... you have the same face...''

Tenma looks at his brother. ''Shinsuke has a point. Are we identical or not? You'd think not, but we do look alike beside our hair and eyes...''

The monkey frowns hesitantly. ''I'm... not sure about that, actually...'' he answers after a moment. Then he raises his left hand and points at a small dark spot between his index finger and thumb.

Tenma's eyes widen, and he shows his left hand, which has the exact same spot as Saryuu has.

''Identical,'' says Shindou after he takes one look at their hands. ''Definitely identical. So many similarities can't be a coincidence.''

''So why the hair and eyes?'' asks Kariya, letting himself fall down on the couch next to Kirino.

Saru shrugs. ''Maybe it has something to do with the genes...''

Kariya seems more interested in continuing their question game. ''Do you have any other similarities?'' he asks the twins.

They look at each other, interested in finding out how alike they are. ''Sweet tooth?'' asks Tenma, and Saryuu nods.

''Morning person?'' asks the white-haired boy.

The brunet grins. ''Soccer before breakfast is great. Books or movies?''

''Movies,'' answers the other. ''Peanut butter cookies?''

Tenma shrugs. ''Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are tastier, but they're not bad.''

''True.''

''Inside or outside?''

''Outside, of course,'' answers Saryuu in a 'duh' voice, Tenma nodding. ''Favorite pastime?''

''Soccer!'' is Tenma's response. ''But I also like games.''

''Same. What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat?''

Tenma thinks for a moment, then shivers. ''Natsumi-san's food.'' His eyes are shadowed by his bangs, a dark, depressed aura surrounding him. His brother sweat-drops.

Their game is interrupted by a peeping sound. Saru takes out a strange device. It's made of metal, in the form of a small, thin cylinder, with a few small buttons on it. A small blue light is flicking on and off.

The Lagoon's captain pushes on a button and a hologram appears above the device, showing Meia. She's standing on a soccer field, and in the background are a few playors of El Dorado's teams and Feida's teams.

''Hey Saryuu!'' greets the lavender-haired girl. ''Where are you?''

''Raimon's suite,'' answers the captain. ''Why? What are you guys doing at the field?''

Suddenly another person appears next to Meia. ''We're gonna play a few matches!'' Beta smiles happily. ''Do you want to come too?'' Suddenly her eyes sharpen. ''But be prepared to get your asses kicked!''

Saryuu looks around questioningly, earning a few nods. ''Sure. We'll see you there in five?''

''Of course!'' says Meia, and the hologram disappears.

Saru puts the small device back in his pocket and stands up, offering a hand to his twin. ''Ready for some soccer?''

''Of course!''

~'0'~  

A few minutes later, about the half of the Raimon, Chrono Storm, The Lagoon and the Protocol Omega teams are done warming up. For the next hour they play some short matches, something the Omega and Feida players aren't used to.

During one of their breaks, Tenma spots his brother catching his breath a few feet away from the rest of the players. He walks towards the white-haired boy, holding out a water bottle.

Saru looks up surprised when someone holds out a water bottle. His eyes immediately fall on the smiling face of his twin, and the white-haired captain smiles as he takes the bottle. ''Thanks,'' he mutters, taking a sip. ''Do you guys always train like this?'' he asks, thinking about the easy, short matches.

The other shakes his head. ''No, our training is a lot harder than this. We just play these kind of matches for fun!''

''For fun, huh?'' mutters the older, drinking some of the water in deep thought. ''I guess it's... nice.''

Suddenly a certain rabbit joins them. ''Hey,'' greets Fei with a smile. ''Have you already talked to Toudou-san?''

Saryuu shakes his head. ''No, we tried to go earlier today but he was busy. He told us to come back after dinner.''

''Hey guys! Let's continue!'' Kariya's shout interrups their conversation, and a moment later the three join their friends.

~'0'~  

''Where have you two been?'' asks Shindou when Tenma and Saryuu enter the dining room. The two are late, and the other teams are already eating their dinner.

The two sit down next to each other. ''Nowhere interesting,'' answers Tenma.

They both help themselves to some food. Saryuu looks at what his twin has on his plate and raises an eyebrow. ''No carrots?''

The brunet shrugs. ''I don't like carrots.''

''Why not?''

The other tilts his head and frowns in thought. ''Hmm... I don't know. I just don't like them.''

His twin stares at him in disbelief. ''But... but they're carrots! How can you not like them?'' he asks desperately.

Tenma sweat-drops. ''Um... everyone likes different things?''

''But they're carrots!''

''What is so special about carrots?''

Saru mutters something under his breath and looks away. Tenma leans closer. ''What? I didn't hear you.''

The other blushes. ''They're... orange.''

''...''

''What?'' asks Saryuu, going into defensive mode. ''I like orange!''

''That doesn't mean you have to like orange food! I like green, but that doesn't mean I like all vegetables!''

Saru crosses his arms stubbornly. ''No, obviously. You don't like carrots.''

''Carrots are not green!''

''So are you saying you like all green food?''

''No, I was saying I don't.''

''That's not strange. It's green.''

''Do you have a problem with green?''

''Only that it's not orange.''

''Not everything orange is nice!''

''It's still better than green!''

By now the two are glaring at each other and everyone has stopped order in favor of looking at the strange argument.

Shinsuke stares at his captain. ''I've never seen Tenma so worked up before...''

''True...'' Shindou sweat-drops. ''Is this what they call a 'siblings' quarrel'?'' he asks Tsurugi, who is sitting next to him.

''I've had fights with my brother before, but it's never been so... pointless,'' says Tsurugi, his usual serious expression replaced by a disbelieving one. ''Still, I never thought Tenma could be so...''

''Illogical?'' asks Hamano, who is thoroughly enjoying the show.

Shindou shakes his head before Tsurugi can answer. ''Nah, he's been illogical before. More like irrational.''

Tenma's next shout gets their attention back. ''There are a lot of things that aren't orange that taste good!''

''I never said orange food is the only good food!'' replies Saryuu, and the spectators can swear he has a tick mark on his forehead. ''It's just better than green!''

''Green is a great color!''

''Orange is better!''

''Says the one who walks around like a human carrot!''

The others in the room can almost swear they can see flames behind the white-haired boy. ''I am not a walking carrot, idiot!''

Tenma is thoroughly unimpressed. ''Maybe you should shut your mouth already!''

Saryuu blinks, not understanding his brother's words. ''Why?''

The brunet smiles innocently. ''It's better to let someone think you're an idiot than to open your mouth and prove it.''

''Wow... never thought Tenma knew such insults,'' mutters Shindou quietly, earning nods from his friends.

Saryuu looks hurt for a moment, but then the fire is back. '"And you say I'm evil? At least I'm not ugly!''

''Are you saying I'm ugly?''

''No, I'm just saying hell is wallpapered with all your deleted selfies!''

Shinsuke chuckles awkwardly. ''He does realize they've got the same face, right?''

''You are so ugly when you looked in the mirror your reflection walked away!''

The small keeper sweat-drops at Tenma's response. ''...Right?''

Tsurugi leans back, looking very impressed. ''Never knew Tenma could be so...''

''Bitchy,'' finishes Kurama, shrugging when everyone looks at him. ''What? It's true.''

''Reflections can't walk, idiot,'' says Saru, and then fakes shock. ''Wait. Calling you an idiot would be an insult to all stupid people!''

''People like you.'' Tenma's sweet, innocent smile widens, and the people present can swear devil horns are growing from his head.

''Did you just say I was stupid?''

''I didn't say you were stupid. I said you are stupid. There's nothing past tense about it.''

''You're the idiot here, not me! Tell me, are you always this stupid or is this a special occasion?''

''You know, you're not stupid. You just have bad luck when it comes to thinking.''

''I would love to insult you, but that's beyond your level of intelligence!''

''I would ask you how old you are but I know you can't count that high!''

Shindou's sweat-drop grows. ''They're the same age.''

Saryuu's voice interrupts him. ''Keep talking, someday you'll say something intelligent!''

Tenma doesn't even think. ''You know how you're always going on about being part of the evolved generation? Turns out, you're right!''

Kirino blinks. ''How is that an insult?''

But Tenma isn't done yet. ''You're proof that evolution CAN go in reverse! From human to monkey, shall we say!''

Fei burst out laughing. ''Oh wow, that's a good one!'' he says, and the others laugh.

Meia chuckles. ''Yeah, no one has ever talked to Saru like that!''

''I'm starting to like Matsukaze more by the second,'' agrees Gillis.

Tsurugi raises an eyebrow. ''You do know he's technically insulting you too, right?''

The greenhead shrugs. ''Who cares? This is way too good!''

The twins glare at each other, and then turn their backs to each other in perfect sync, both stubbornly looking away.

After a few moments it becomes clear the two aren't continuing their fight, and slowly everyone focuses on their dinner again. Eventually the twins both turn back to their food, pointedly ignoring each other.

Suddenly Shindou sighs, and Kirino looks at him. The game maker is staring at the twins, and the pink-haired defender raises an eyebrow. ''What's wrong?''

His friend smiles good-naturally. ''I wonder how we're ever going to survive those two together.''

Kirino smiles and looks at the two boys too. ''Yeah. It seems one moment they're getting along perfectly, and the next they look ready to strangle each other.''

''That's how siblings are, I guess,'' comes Taiyou's input. ''And those two have a lot to catch up on.''

Kirino nods. ''True.''

~'0'~  

Tenma and Saryuu walk silently through the hallways, still ignoring each other. The silence is only broken by their footsteps, the sound echoing around them.

Simultaneously, they stop and turn to each other.

''Gomen!'' they both say at the same time, then proceed to look up surprised. For a moment, they keep quiet but then laugh at the same time.

''We really are twins, aren't we?'' says Tenma softly, gazing at the face of his other half.

Saryuu smirks. ''Told you, otouto.'' Then he continues walking. ''Come on, we've got to talk to Toudou-san.''

A few minutes later they enter the office of El Dorado's leader. The man is sitting behind a desk, piles of paperwork lying on it. He gestures to two chairs standing in front of his desk as he signs another paper. The twins share a look and sit down quietly.

After signing another paper, Toudou looks up. ''What is it?''

Saru speaks up. ''We want to know what's going to happen now.''

Toudou inspects him silently, and Saru stares back without showing any emotion on his face. Then Toudou's eyes shift to Tenma, and the brunet fights to keep the nervousness from his face. His brother grips his hand under the desk, giving it a reassuring squeeze yet keeping his face blank.

After a moment the man nods. ''Raimon and Chrono Storm will return to their original time. The children of Feida will go back to their homes and families and are offered a scholarship to a new school we will open for the Protocol Omega teams. They will learn like other normal children, but will help El Dorado keep the peace in the meantime. Children without a family to return to will live in the school, together with some of the Protocol Omega members. We will stop changing timelines and leave everything as it should be.''

Tenma and Saryuu listen anxiously to the explanation. When the man finishes, they keep quiet for a while, trying to process the new information. Then Saru slowly nods. ''I would like permission to travel to the past whenever I want.'' He speaks clearly, without hesitation.

Toudou frowns. ''Why?'' he deadpans.

Saru sighs and looks down, the first emotion he has shown on his face since entering the office. ''I'm sure you remember my parents, Naomi and Shou Evan.''

The man nods, something akin to sorrow on his face. ''Yes, Naomi and Shou were two of my top scientists. Their death was a great loss, both as my employees and my friends. What about them?''

The white-haired boy can't hide the pain in his eyes at the reminder of his parents. ''Well... I'm sure you also remember that I originally had a brother?''

''Of course I do. I still remember how defeated your parents were by his death.''

''The truth his...'' Saryuu hesitates, and Tenma squeezes his hand. The older twin hides a smile and looks up with a determined look on his face. ''My brother didn't die.''

Toudou can't hide the shock on his face. ''What?!''

''When I was three, my powers started to develop, and my brother stayed normal. But what my parents didn't tell you was that my brother and I both had Second Stage genes.''

El Dorado's leader freezes, awe and shock clear on his face. ''Second Stage Twins...'' he whispers, and Saru nods.

''Yes. And my parents knew that.'' He pauses for a moment to rearrange his thoughts. ''While my powers developed, my brother's didn't. That's why they sent him away, so that we wouldn't be killed.''

''Your brother is alive...'' whispers Toudou shocked. ''Naomi and Shou's second son...'' he then looks at Saru. ''Where is he? Where did they send him?!''

''The past,'' answers Saryuu. ''They used Gene Search on him.''

Toudou leans back in his chair and curses under his breath. ''They were always reckless...''

He looks at the two boys, and suddenly his eyes widen. ''You've got the same faces. Don't tell me...''

Saru smiles at his brother, then turns back to El Dorado's leader. ''Tenma is my twin brother.''

For a long while, the office is silent as Toudou goes over everything he just learned. Then he sighs and rests his elbows on his desk. ''I see. Your brother has to go back to the past due to the Gene Search, and you two don't want to split up after having found each other.'' The twins nod though it wasn't a question. ''As El Dorado's leader, my answer is no.''

The two boys freeze, and Saru is already opening his mouth to protest. Toudou holds up a hand to stop him, eyes and expression unreadable. ''Yet as Naomi and Shou's friend... I say yes. Now this doesn't mean this comes without rules,'' he adds when he sees the happiness in their eyes. He points to Saru. ''You cannot interfere with any major events, understand?'' Saryuu nods quietly. ''The timeline has to be safe and secured.''

''Of course, sir,'' says Tenma, the first time he speaks since entering the office.

Toudou's lips twitch upwards slightly, almost unnoticeably. ''I will make sure everything is arranged. Now go, I need to finish my paperwork.''

The two stand up in perfect sync, followed by a bow. ''Thank you!'' the two voices say at the exact same time, and a moment later they leave the answer.

Once the door closes behind them, Saryuu immediately throws his arms around his laughing twin. ''Yes! We did it! We've got permission!''

Tenma just laughs, too ecstatic to say something. Saryuu doesn't seem to mind, and instead pulls the younger twin away from the door. ''You know,'' starts the older brother, ''we should celebrate this.''

''How?'' asks Tenma curiously, and is rewarded by an evil smirk.

''We have a lot to catch up on,'' starts the older. ''And more than half of the people here don't know about us being twins. The other half doesn't think they should look out for us.''

Tenma's eyes widen when he realizes what his brother is implying. ''But...'' he starts hesitantly. ''I've never done something like that before...''

Saru shrugs. ''I haven't either, too busy with Feida's leader.'' Then he grins again. ''But I'm sure the two of us, the evil mastermind and the lovable soccer freak, can think of something, right?''

The brunet bites his lip. ''You sure...?''

''Of course!'' the white-haired teen's grin widens. ''Come on, it'll be fun! Nothing harmful!''

Tenma hesitates for a moment longer, and then slowly nods. ''Okay.'' A smile appears on his face.

Saryuu cheers. ''Yes! Imagine what we can do!''

His brother's smile turns into an evil smirk equal to the one Saru has, something rare. ''This is gonna be great.''

The older twin holds up a hand and the younger gives him a high five. The two share similar smirks. Two voices simultaneously ring through the hallway.

''Prank war!''

~'0'~  

Next chapter, the prank war! I suck at pranks and therefore have been stalling chapter three for over a year, so if you think of something, please let me know in the reviews~!

Also I apologize if Tenma and Saryuu seem OOC. It's just, I think they would act different around each other. In my eyes, they provoke each other and can have very weird fights, or they can be the best of friends. If you don't like it, I apologize, but this is the way my story is going to be.

And yes, most of the insults came from internet XD

See ya next time~!

- Yara Meijer