Prologue

"You idiot! Why did you come back so late last night! Do you know how worried I was?" A woman screamed as she glared at her husband.

"You know that I was busy! There's no need to be so angry." He retorted back.

"I tried calling you but you never replied. Even if you were really busy, you should have time to receive a single telephone call."

"I was having a meeting just as you called me. You cannot expect me to answer it can you?" He replied exasperatedly.

"Yes you can! You are seeing another woman outside aren't you? That's why you came home so late!" she cried as she pointed an accusing finger at him.

Sighing, he tried to keep his voice low. "Karin, you need to rest now. You are…"

"There is nothing wrong with me! Do you know how much the baby have been crying? Everyday, every time. I can't do anything about it at all!"

"Now, Karin, we have spoken about this before…" he started patiently.

"No we haven't! It's always you! You are always right! Do you understand the hardship I have been living through? Who have been raising our child up when you were out? Me! ME!" the woman shouted as she pointed to the young girl of nine that was standing silently at the side.

Stupid, they are all stupid. Idiots idiots idiots! She thought silently. Why are you fighting? What are you fighting for? Why? Why? Why?

Finally, the young girl could not stand watching them bicker anymore.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she run out of the house shouting, "I am going out for a while!"

"Wait, Akina!" her father shouted after her, but her mother quickly cut in harshly. "You still care about our child? I thought you didn't!"

"Karin, don't drag our child into this. It is your…" her father said, frustrated now.

"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!"

Akina did not managed to hear anymore than that, as the heavy wooden door closed after her.

It wasn't always like that… Akina thought as she walked down the driveway. Clenching her fist, she bit her lips and tried to recall the times when things were peaceful, happy and her parents loved each other.

It's because of her. She was sure.

It's all because of her.

It was evening, the orangey sky was starting to get darker and darker, but Akina did not care. Her parents wouldn't be worried even if she comes home late anyway, and she doesn't want to go home either. A home where parents always fight isn't a home worth going back to.

Not knowing where to go, Akina decided to walk to the playground. Sitting on the swings might make her feel better.

The pavement was filled with people. A couple of stranger glanced at her curiously, no doubt wondering why a young girl is out so late on her own, but a glare from her did the trick.

Akina walked slowly, taking her time, for she had all in the world.

Soon, the main pavement spilt into two roads. Akina was just going to turn into the path that leads to the park, when she heard music coming from the central square.

"The stars may be shining, but it is nothing without you by my side…"

A song?

That's strange, you don't really hold concerts in the middle of a bustling city. Akina thought as she walked towards the music

"Oh my love, don't go, don't leave me alone~" A teenager of eighteen sang as she faced the crowd.

Akina blinked. The music was really coming from a live concert. It was weird, but she soon spotted a flyer which was lying on the ground.

DEBUTING SINGER, RIENA YOMUSOU, SINGING LIVE FOR ONE NIGHT IN CENTRAL SQUARE.

So she's the singer who everyone's been crazy about these days… Akina thought, she hasn't really heard her songs, but she all her classmates were crazy over her.

"You are the only one, the one I care about. So don't go, don't leave me alone…"

Akina turned to face the stage. She could see why people love her songs. Her voice was powerful, yet there was a sadness in them that made her feel like both cheering and crying at the same time.

"Riena Yomusou!" The crowd screamed as the singer continued to sing.

She frowned at the audience.

Stupid fans, they are so loud they hurt my ears. It's not as if the singer can hear your every single screams anyway. You are just wasting your breathe.

Akina was just about to walk away, when she overheard a couple of strangers talking.

"Ah~ Riena-san sure is doing well isn't she? Who would have knew that she would be so popular. She has a very powerful voice."

"I agree. It's because of her powerful voice that she can bring out the depth of the song. And, reach into the heart of others and touch their hearts.

Reach into the hearts of others…

Akina stopped to look back at the singer and her concert.

"That will be cool… if I can be… like her. Then my parents won't fight anymore…" She muttered to herself.

"I'll be able to make them happy all the time. And then they will stop fighting, and listen to me, and things will go back to the same…" She couldn't help but let out a small, but sad smile.

"Like how things were…" She took a deep breath has she continued. "Before she was born…"

She clenched her fist as she thought of her baby sister at home, tucked safely in bed by now, no doubt, not knowing how her mother cried as she looked at her every night, not knowing how much hate and pain she has brought the whole family. All the fights… the arguments…

All because of her.

If only she wasn't here, then her mother wouldn't have been in such a state now.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The crowd cheered as the song ended.

Akina looked up, the sky was totally dark by now, and the crowd was starting to disperse.

I guess I should go home…

"I'm home," Akina said as she stepped into the house. But she took a step back immediately to avoid stepping on her mother.

"Mother? Why are you sitting at the door?" she said, horrified as she tried to pull her mother up.

"Akina, you are back…" her mother said weakly as she turned to face her, her face was still tear-stained, and she made no effort to wipe them.

Akina swallowed a sob as she looked at her mother's pathetic state.

"Mum… have you been taking your medicine? And where's dad?" she asked as she tried to help her mother to the sofa.

"Your dad? Most probably in the study room, working. Since that coward can do nothing else." He mother said bitterly as she laughed. But her laughter quickly broke down into sobs.

"Mum, you have not been taking your medicine have you? I saw you dropping them into the plant pot…"

"No, I haven't! Don't tell lies!" Her mother said furiously as she grabbed Akina's hands.

Akina's eyes widen in shock at the harshness in her voice.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Karin felt a stab of guilt and immediately gave her daughter a big hug. "I'm sorry, sweetie… I shouldn't have scolded you." She whispered into her ears.

"It's…ok, mum," Akina replied softly.

"But there is nothing wrong with me. You know that right? I'm not depressed. I don't have… whatever they called it. I'm just… sad," her mother said almost pleadingly as she looked into Akina's eyes.

Akina looked away; she couldn't let her mother see the tears that were welling up in her own eyes.

"If you say so," she replied as evenly as she could manage.

"Good girl." Her mother patted her head as she got up.

"I can hear Ekira-chan crying. I'll tuck her in again," her mother said slightly absent-mindedly as she walked towards the stairs.

"Crying? But no one is crying," Akina said puzzledly.

"Yes, there is. Can't you hear? She is calling out to me…" her mother replied softly, her expression was dreamy, as if in a trance.

Oh. Akina thought as she realized.

Soundlessly, Akina left her mother alone and went back to her room.

Make everyone happy… Akina could not help but laugh at her pitiful dream. How can she make everyone happy when she cannot even make her own parents happy?

I'm an idiot. Akina thought as she jumped into her bed and covered her face with her pillow. I shouldn't have thought of something that stupid in the first place.

But you want to don't you? You want to make everyone smile. You want to sing for everyone. A small part of her told her. Unknowingly, tears begun to roll down her cheeks. Yes I do, I really want to.

But a useless and stupid person like me will never be able to do it. I am just a big, day dreaming idiot…

Who really want to make my dreams come true! She cried out silently. Never had she felt so desperate for something before.

I really want to be able to make people happy. I have been unable to make my family happy for so long, please, please, grant me this power, to make my dream come true… She thought as she slowly fell asleep.

The next day…

Akina woke up with a bad headache. I must have cried too much last night. She thought groggily, instantly regretting her tears last night.

Still rather sleepy, she started to climb out of her bed. It was then, she realized that there was something hard and round under her coverlet.

She flipped the thing immediately, and realized that…

There were two eggs on her bed!

"Eggs?" Akina cried out as she started in astonishment at the eggs. Could my parents have played a prank on me? It defied all logic as to why there were two eggs on her bed.

And weirdly coloured eggs too.

One of the eggs was orange with a big yellow sunflower printed on it. The other was red with a black rose printed on it.

Is it Easter already?

Just as Akina was reaching out for the eggs, both eggs cracked. Akina jumped.

The eggs cracked even more, until it split clean into half, and out flew two tiny humans.

Akina looked on in shock as both of them opened their mouths.

"Hello, we are your shugo charas." They chorused together.

"I am Hibi," the one born out of the orange egg said with a curtsy.

"And I am Mai." The one born from the red egg said with a wink

"And we are here to help you achieve your dreams."