-Episode 2-
~ The new normal~
"Haru, wake up! It's almost noon," Haru's mother called. Hands on her side, looking sternly down at the sleeping form of the young girl. " …" Haru opened her eyes; her bed for once was surprisingly neat. The pillows were lining the bed, and the blankets weren't all wrapped around her; or all over the place. "Good morning mom," Haru let out, sitting up with a yawn, as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. " … It's almost eleven a clock Haru… Are you okay? You normally don't sleep that long?" Haru's mother asked, looking almost concerned. "It is? Oh no, I'm late…" Haru cried getting nervous. Getting up, she quickly began putting on her school uniform. " … It's Sunday…." Haru's mom said as Haru finished putting the uniform on. Haru, stopped, and looked at her mom with a 'why didn't you tell me' face. " … Sorry, I thought you knew… But, you didn't answer my question, are you not feeling well?" Haru's mother asked. "Oh, yes I'm fine. Yesterday was just a bit of a long day, so I needed some extra sleep…" Haru replied with a smile. Of course, in the young girl's mind, there was a big cloud of confusion. " … Okay, if you're sure, Haru. Come get breakfast, we need to make sure you stay healthy," Haru's mother asked, still sounding worried. Turning to leave the room, her mother stuck her head back in, looking around the still messy room. "While you're getting dressed, clean your room…" Haru's mother said, with a kind but threatening look.
"… O…okay," Haru said, sounding frightened at her calm mother. "Good," Haru's mom said with a smile. Closing the door, Haru's mom's steps could be heard getting farther away, leaving Haru to get dressed. Taking her uniform off, she put on a long sleeve purple shirt, with a red skirt that had some other colors lined threw it, and a gold tie on belt going across her waist. " …" Haru looked, seeing the dragon puff floating next to her staying silent. ' … Oh, right that did happen yesterday. I guess seeing him will be normal now,' Haru thought to herself. "Good morning…" Haru said to the dragon puff. " … Good morning…That was your mom? I saw her last night to, she seems nice…" The dragon puff spoke. "Yes, she's always been a very kind person, if not a stern neat freak," Haru said with a small laugh. Beginning to pick her room up, she neatly folded the cloths hanging out of her dresser, and closed the dresser for once. "She said your name is Haru, right human?" The dragon asked, watching her as he landed to rest on the side of her bed. "Yes, what's your name?" Haru asked, feeling a bit odd at still being called human. "…Name… Usually I am just referred to as dragon of the south…" The dragon answered oddly. "Oh…So you don't have a name…" Haru said, looking back at him surprised. Looking at the dragon silently for a few seconds, then a smile came to her face. "Okay, all call you…Lapin…" Haru said with a funny smile. " … What?" The dragon asked, almost floating upside down with confusion. "Is one of the few French words I learned…It means rabbit…?" Haru said with a giggle. "…" The dragon's jaw opened slack, almost hitting the floor from its spot on the bed.
" … I am not a rabbit!" The dragon yelled angrily, eyes white with anger. "He he…but that cotton like body looks like a rabbit tail… plus, Lapin's a cute name," Haru said with a giggle. " … It's not cute… Plus where do you get naming me…. I am not a pet…" The dragon said very annoyed. "You're not a pet, your going to be a partner from knows on, right? And, I don't want to be calling you puff dragon all the time either…" Haru said looking at him seriously. "…Fine…" Lapin gave in with a sigh. Haru laughed, going to unconsciously touch her chest were her pendant to say something, when a spark of pain went threw her. "Ahh…' Haru said lightly, going to kneel on the ground from sudden dizziness. "Haru!" Lapin said, floating to her looking concerned. Haru, looked where her hand was, noticing the blood stone still in her chest. "Its still there?" Haru asked, looking to Lapin. "Yes… When you said the words wrong, it changed what the ritual was to do. Originally, I along with the other gates invented this ritual in case we could escape our world… The ritual was supposed to become a stone yes, but it was supposed to be separate from you…but, with the change in the wording it became part of you. To be honest, you should be dead… I have no idea how you survived that. In any case, touching it seems to be a bad, so keep it covered so no one else can see it. That, is something that is seeable to any person I am afraid…" Lapin said, looking at her with concerned eyes. Obviously, he had little clue on what to do on this, as this was something he hadn't planned. " … I see…" Haru said, sounding confused and a bit frightened for obvious reasons. "Then, there are others, besides you?" Haru asked, going to another subject. Pulling up her purple sweater, it nicely covered the blood stone in her chest; she was going to have to remind her self to keep it covered. "Yes, have you ever heard the legend of the four gate creatures? I am known as the dragon of the south…Then there's the tiger, the turtle and the phoenix…" Lapin spoke, landing on Haru's shoulder. "I think I've heard that story…it's a legend often told in children's story and folk tales…" Haru answered. The dizziness had passed, and she stood up and began cleaning her desk. "Yes, those four have been my comrades for thousands of your human years… and things in our world are becoming unfavorable to us. So, we had advised a plan to come to this world… but we needed the barrier to weaken for us to open gates…" Lapin explained. Haru, looked at him with a raised eye brow, this was all very odd sounding. "Barrier?" Haru let out, this was becoming very interesting.
"Yes, since our world's creation and yours, we have existed in separate dimensions for thousands of years. A barrier separates us, and normally the only way our kind can cross to your world is if a natural rift appears. Which, some times humans create them selves threw ritual, or by other means and allows our kind to cross over. But, the rituals usually only bring one of our kind over by allowing the humans body as an anchor for the rift for us to cross over. You see dragons and stuff in your worlds legends from civilizations past, no? A long time ago, rifts were more common and we could come on a more regular basic but our presence often caused conflicts with your kind. So, a law in our world was passed so that our kind could only come on special occasions. Ghosts, and yokai are able to pass naturally, they only need a mental or physical link to keep in this world. Of course, the stronger of those two, become much less depended on links…" Lapin explained. Swirls were in Haru's eyes, this was a lot on information, and a lot in general. "Sorry if that was too much at once, this information is seldom known to your kind… Of course, there was an odd accordance a few days ago were there was some kind of attack. And, the rifts began opening more regularly suddenly… Strange thing was the attack wasn't of our world… it appeared to have been by your kind…" Lapin spoke getting a confused look from Haru.
" … That's strange…There was some sort of attack or fire on one of our cities a day ago… And I do remember seeing those white things going by the camera. Think your worlds linked to that?" Haru asked looking at Lapin. Who, seemed to go into a long thinking mode, as Haru finished cleaning her desk. "That is a possibility…Some of our kind may be retaliating for something your world did… Sooner or later when you learn more control of your powers…we should go investigate that city… "Lapin said as Haru sat on the bed. " Wait…if you ran to our world, does that mean you broke a law. And, are the other three in our world to?" Haru asked curiously, trying to piece this all together. " … Yes we did, and yes the others are in this world some where. I am not sure if they found a human to share there powers with or not…" Lapin asked, looking worried. In his head, he wondered how long it would be for the others of his world to come hunting them. "How do I change into that form?" Haru asked another question, getting Lapin out of his thoughts. "Ummm…. If you repeat the ritual verse, it should do it. I am not sure Thu, since you changing the ritual it may be different. I don't advise it indoors how ever…Your house may burn down…" Lapin answered her. "Haru! Who are you talking to…?" Haru's mother asked, knocking on the door. 'Ekk… .' Haru thought in her mind, anxiety feeling her mind. "…No one mom, I was talking on the phone…" Haru answered, quickly getting her small phone out that had a rabbit sticker on the front. " … Oh okay, come eat breakfast…" Haru's mom said opening the door. " … Okay," Haru said, mentally sighing in relief. Haru Got up from the bed, Lapin looking at her landed on the girl's shoulder as she walked to the kitchen following her mom. Sitting down, Haru's mother sat some grilled fish, rice, and miso soup in front of her. Haru's dad, sat in a seat watching TV, Haru's mom began cleaning the kitchen. "Thank you," Haru said to her mom munching on the fish. With her parents looking away from her, Haru looked at Lapin hanging on to her shoulder. Using her chopsticks, Haru passed him a chunk of fish, which the puff dragon munched down fast. "Tastes good…Your mom cook well…" Lapin said in her ear. Haru nodded to him, mostly so her parents didn't think she randomly started talking to things. Looking at the TV, there was a weather lady on, talking about possible rain later in the day? "Oh dad, did they ever say anything about what happened to that city?" Haru asked, hoping to get a clue from what had been talked about. "Hmm? Oh that? No, after that, they didn't talk anymore on it. Was probably just a fire," Haru's father answered her. "Why?" He questioned, raising an eye brow on her interest. "Oh… No reason, I was just curious… "Haru said with a nervous giggle. " No more magic birds okay…" Haru's dad laughed at her, remembering the day before. 'You have no idea…stupid bird…' Haru thought to herself, if she didn't see that bird again it was okay." Magic birds?" Haru's mom asked, the conversation catching the older woman's interest. "Yeah, on the way to school, Haru swore she saw a white bird with one eye….Her and her imagination right…ha-ha…" The dad laughed. "Haru…. You know those things aren't real…" The mom said, sounding strangely concerned. "Yes… I know mom, it's just my imagination nothing more…" Haru said, looking at the table with a sad look. Haru's mom put on an odd look as she looked at her daughter, then returned to cleaning the kitchen. Haru could feel Lapin's eyes on her, like he had something in mind. "Other then that how was school?" Haru's dad asked her. Which was nice, it was a new topic, not something iffy to her parents. "It was fine, I meant some new, interesting people…" Haru answered looking at her dad. "That's good," Haru's dad answered with a smile. Finishing her soup, Haru gathered her dishes, and brought them to her mother. The older woman, quickly washed them, and put them away. "Do you mind if I go look around town?" Haru asked, this town was new so she wanted to see what was there. And, talk to Lapin more, with out others listening. "Sure…just don't get lost… If you do, use your phone this time and call us…" Haru's dad answered, sounding miffed she didn't call yesterday. "Okay," Haru answered, feeling a bit down. Gathering her phone, and bag from her room, she went out. "Have you been able to see spirits and things for a while…?" Lapin asked, as Haru walked down the street. Passing a few shrines, in the heavy forested neighborhood, which in the girl's mind was very pretty? "Yes, ever since I was a little girl, I could…" Haru answered looking at Lapin who stayed on her shoulder. "Interesting…" The dragon responded, looking more curious. "The shrines are curious to… I can feel energy coming from them…" Lapin said, looking at the passing shrine houses. "You can?" Haru asked, stopping to look at him. "Yes… Some spirits and beings thrive off the shrines in your world… Yokai, powerful spirits, and others grow stronger with prayers from them…Shrines, are one artifact that can act as a rift and an anchor," Lapin said. Haru, looked around the area, seeing the shrines around most owned by shrine keepers. One was next door to Haru's family, the other, a bit more down the path. "Do you have shrine?" Haru asked, sounding curious. "Kind of sort of… It's high in a volcano…and doesn't get visited very often… I actually put it there hundreds of human years ago," Lapin answered her, looking fairly displeased. "Oh, really? But, if it's up there, doesn't that mean people can't offer you things? Or make you stronger?" Haru asked, wasn't the idea of a shrine favorable? "With me, it's a different story…They can make me offerings yes, but most ask me for power or riches. Which, I guess is a common thing for your kind, calling to mine. But, it was more in wanting to conquest others…not just defending… It actually got to the point where our lord, asked me to place it where humans could rarely reach it. In case, a human were to ask me, to take them to our world in conquest. They were abusing my power….It was the same from the other three, so they placed there shrines in there guarded directions where people couldn't reach it… "Lapin explained, sounding depressed with some memories it brought up. " Oh I see… But, that means people couldn't send you wishes of being well…Or talk to you… didn't it get lonely..?" Haru asked, putting on a sad face. "No, I still had others from my kind…in a way, yes I've never really minded your kind so much as they saw me as a thing for power…." Lapin answered, looking even more depressed. "Well…If we get the chance…can you take me to your shrine…?" Haru asked silently. Lapin, perked up, looking at her with hoping eyes. " … Really? You'd do that…? Would you bring some of your mom's cookies?" Lapin asked, looking happier. "Sure… No one deserves to be lonely, Lapin. It makes me wonder, why did you allow me to use your power…if you feared I might use you to?" Haru asked him, his talk of his past made her wonder. "Well… I've trusted your kind in the past…and its lead me to distance my self from your kind… In this case though, it seems you're the same as me. You seem longing for something, something not power related. You seem close to your parents…but you distance your self from them in fear of them judging you for things they can't understand. So, in hopes of a one and a million chance, I decided to try and trust human again…" Lapin answered. Haru looked at him in surprise, having to remind herself he was an ancient dragon that has popularly dealt with hundreds of her kind. "That's true… May parents have never believed me…" Haru said, tears forming in her eyes as she looked away from Lapin. "Well…no, I hate to say it…but you can't expect them to. If one human can't see something, how is he supposed to believe something is there?" Lapin asked her. Haru looked back at him, realizing he was right. "That is true…I've always expected them to believe me…not realizing what our eyes saw was different…" Haru said, obviously still depressed. At the same time, he was right; she couldn't expect them to understand. * By the stars…hear my name…* Haru and Lapin stopped talking, as the sound of a voice reached there ears. "Is someone singing?" Haru asked. Lapin looked curious, as he floated off her shoulder and towards the shrine nearest to Haru's home. * Stars…guide my soul…Star's guide my way to a…* the voice continued to sing. Lapin, floated over a big fence, and waved for Haru to come over. "Hey, that's rude Lapin…" Haru hissed, as she came over finding a gap in the fence towards the front of the shrine. "So… You go right in? "Lapin hissed back at her. The shrine was small, with an alter surrounded by the large fences, and white ribbons hanging decoratively from a bell over the alter. A small home, was visible be hind the alter; it looked similar to Haru's on the outside. By the alter, stood a tall, a bit older then Haru, long blond haired girl. In her hand a broom, as she swept the tiles leading to the alter its self, singing beautifully. * By the stars…. Guide my wish…* the woman song. "That's beautiful…" Haru let out. The woman gave a start, dropping the broom as she caught sight of Haru walking towards her. "Ahh…Wait…" The girl let out nervously, like she was frightened. "Huh? What's wrong…?" Haru asked her looking confused. Haru stopped barely after the fences opening, looking at the woman curiously. Looking closer, Haru could see that the woman had beautiful green eyes, but soon the woman turned and ran. "Please, go away!" The woman called to her, running passed the shrine and into the house. " … What did I do?" Haru let out, looking at Lapin drifting to her. "Gee… I don't know…Sneak up on a girl who thought she was alone…" Lapin responded, looking at her with dead panned eyes. "I guess your right… I hope I can say sorry some time…" Haru said looking sad. Turning, Haru left the shrine, followed closely by Lapin. Not aware, that the tall girl with blond hair, watched her from inside the house with tears in her eyes. " … Don't feel so down… I'm sure you'll get another chance to say hi…" Lapin said. Lapin, floated next to the girl, noticing Haru's saddened face; Lapin put on a frown of his own. "Hopefully…" Haru let out, looking at the ground. "Hey, cheer up! Let's go find something for lunch…You should eat to give you more energy in case you need to change… Which, we will need to figure out how you are going to do that… I do feel some energy around here any way. So, you may need that form sooner then you think…" Lapin said, putting on a silly face to cheer her up. "Okay…. Let's go find something good," Haru said putting on a small smile.
"Look, a cake shop…" Haru let out, after a small walk they had made it into the town part. This little shopping plaza was a bit south west of the school, from what Haru noticed. This cake shop was just inside the plaza, a little square and pink shop. It had big window's on either side of the small door in the middle, displaying all sorts of cakes on shelves on the inside lining the walls. "What's cake?" Lapin asked, looking to her confused. "Huh? You've never had cake?" Haru asked, looking at the dragon in surprise. Smiling, Haru went into the shop; the door let them in with a little ring from the bell on top. "Welcome," One of the clerks said as Haru walked up to the counter. "Hello, can I get a slice of strawberry short cake, please?" Haru asked. The clerk nodded, as Haru quickly paid for the cake and sat down at a little tall table near by. "Is it good?" Lapin asked, sounding curious. Haru, nodded, as a clerk set white cake with strawberry's along the top in front of her. Taking a piece, she set it on the side of the plate for Lapin to try, with out it looking odd. The dragon puff nibbled on it, gaining hearts in his eyes; it was obviously good. "Your world has interesting things..." Lapin said in-between nibbles. "He he, glad you like it," Haru said munching on a strawberry covered in whip cream. The bell to the shop door range, Haru looked to see a green haired person walk into the shop. "Mori?" Haru said, recognizing the person from school. "Oh...Haru-Chan?" Mori said putting on a smile, seeing her as the person walked in. Instead of the school uniform, Mori wore a green dress that went to there knee's, that had white frills around the edges. Up to the person's knee's, was the signature green knee sock, it looked cute with the person's short, green, and swirl hair. "What are you doing, Haru-Chan?" Mori asked coming up to her with a big smile. "Oh, I was just looking at the town a little, since it's still new to me. I found this cake shop, and thought it looked good. What about you, Mori? I'm sorry but I don't know what grade you're in?" Haru asked a little bit shy on how to address the person. "Oh, you're silly Haru-Chan. You don't need to address me anything special, but I am in ninth class A," Mori answered her with a giggle at Haru's formality. That surprised Haru, Mori looked to be about the same age, but in fact was a grade higher then her. "Oh, Mori-senpai?" Haru let out. "He he...Yep, I guess if you want you can call me that, but I don't mind just my name. Captain is in my class, if you were going to ask on him," Mori answered with a giggle. Going to the clerk, and ordering a whole cake, it must have made the curiosity on Haru's face obvious. "He he… Captain's got a cold, so I'm going to bring some cake to him, to help him feel better," Mori said with a smile, and slight blush on there face. "Oh? That's nice of you, tell him to feel better for me," Haru said with a smile. Mori gave her a smile, with a kind laugh, like they appreciated Haru's kindness. "Thank you, Haru-Chan. I will tell him for you," Mori said, as the clerk handed the person a boxed strawberry cake. "I got to go, see you in school tomorrow?" Mori asked, heading to the door holding the cake. "Okay, see you tomorrow, Mori-senpai," Haru said, with a smile to the person. Mori, giggled again at the formality, but waved as the person left. "That person seems nice, but is it a boy or girl human?" Lapin asked, having listened to the conversation. " ... No idea..." Haru answered him, with a pained smile. "Oh…" Lapin said awkwardly, he obviously had wondered to. Finishing the cake slice, Haru got a couple more slices for her parents, and thanked the clerks before leaving. "Might as well head back, we started late in the day, its almost three o clock already," Haru said, looking at her phone for the time. "That's fine, but I do want to see what trigger's your change," Lapin said, hoping the girl wasn't avoiding it. " … "Haru avoided her eyes from the dragons. "… Are you afraid of finding a way to use your form?" Lapin asked, her avoiding his gaze confirmed what he thought. " … Of course… I've lived a fairly normal life up till know, besides all the moving. Then, suddenly, one day I get drawn into something I don't even understand. Then, am told that I need to fight, what I am fighting I don't even understand fully," Haru answered, her face turned angry at the dragon. Why, did he think this wasn't going to odd for her? "I know this is new to you…And, I would be surprised if you weren't afraid of this sudden change," Lapin said, floating in front of the girl's face to get her to stop walking. Haru's face went from angry, to sad as she looked at the ground. "I…I Don't know what to do….I is afraid of what's going to happen, if I fully get into this…" Haru said, looking back at the dragon. "Do you regret it?" Lapin asked, looking like he was feeling depressed know to. " …" Haru was taken back by that question. For a moment, she couldn't say anything, because she didn't know what to say. " … No…I don't regret the decision I made…If I hadn't, we would both be dead…" Haru said slowly. Thinking about it, it wasn't regret she was feeling, more just straight up fear. "That's fine…I would more like you to be afraid… This isn't something that's going to small, or easy… By you being afraid, I think you are starting to understand that…" Lapin said, at least not looking as depressed. "Yea…I just don't know what's going to happen…" Haru said with a sad sigh. "I don't either…" Lapin responded truthfully. "I guess… There is no way for us to know… With out seeing it…" Haru said at last. "Yeah…But, to be honest…Unless you learn how to change form…Were not going to live long…" Lapin said bluntly. Haru, took a breath, and nodded realizing he was right. "Okay, let's bring this cake to my parents and will go find a spot to try it…" Haru said putting on a small smile, at least feeling like extra weight was gone. Nervous still, but she at least felt more at ease, given her situation was good. "Okay…Can we get a cookie…too," Lapin said, looking at Haru with hopeful eyes. " …" Haru couldn't help but laugh. "Okay…While get a cookies to," Haru said, taking a breath to stop laughing. The two started walking again; it took them only a few moments to get back to the area where the shrines began. Passing the first two, Haru cast a glance to the one she saw the girl in, and didn't hear anything. '…Hopefully she is okay…' Haru thought, as she walked to her front door. Quietly, she opened the door, and walked in noticing it was quiet. "Mom?" Haru called out. There was no answer, the young girl closed the door behind her and walked into the kitchen. Setting the cake on the kitchen counter, she looked at the living room in the kitchen noticing the TV was on. " … Dad" Haru called out, wondering if they stepped out. Her attention went to the table, there sat a small wooden doll that depicted a pale woman, it looked old. Attached to it was a note, reading 'welcome to the new house...a gift from our shrine it is said to bring good luck'. Walking closer to it, a creepy feeling came into her mind, as a sudden sound came to Haru's ears. It sounded like, a lullaby, that seemed to be coming from the second bed room. " … Careful…" Haru heard lapin say, he noticed something was up to. Quietly, Haru walked towards the bed room, looking around the door frame Haru gasped. The lullaby played the loudest, and on the bed Haru's mom and Dad looked to be asleep. "Mom! Dad!" Haru called, running to them and shaking them. They were both breathing, but wouldn't wake up at all. " … I new something was wrong in the shrine area…" Lapin let out, looking around. "Scratch the practice, we need that form now…" Lapin said, looking at Haru. Looking worried at her parents, Haru nodded to Lapin, and headed back to the hall. Looking at the table, Haru noticed that the doll on the table was gone. " … Join me; join this village in sleep…" A voice called from behind Haru. Gasping, Haru turned, to see a white shadowy figure. " … No one prays for me…They just use me as a thing to give…I will take there life energy to grow stronger…" The white figure called. "A yokai! Run," Lapin called to Haru. Doing so, Haru turned and ran down the hall sweat going down her forehead as fear came into her. Reaching the door, Haru ran outside, breathing hard as she kept going. " … Come back! I want more to dream of me…" The yokai called from behind her. Going into the treed area behind the house, Haru noticed the girl from before lying on the ground, with several other shrine takers near her. "…What?" Haru let out. Going up to the girl, noticing she was asleep to, and on her chest was a wooden doll. Same, with the other people, Haru looked behind her seeing the white figure calmly following her. "Hey! Let them go, these people aren't your batteries to make your self stronger!" Haru yelled at the yokai turned to face it. Fear, was heavy in the girls mind, but what was happening to these people was scarier. " It's your kind's fault…Do you know what its like being seen as a thing to give others, never offering me anything in return for using my figure for dolls…It was humiliating. So, I shall use those accursed dolls to gain power by there life force…" The yokai cursed as it launched a white ball at Haru. The girl gasped, moving out of the way, the ball hit a tree causing it to wilt. "… Don't let that hit you; it will drain your life force…" Lapin called to Haru. ' … I need to change…Or mom and dad, and all these people will die…' Haru thought to herself. "By the gate…from the stone… be my fire," Haru said, putting on a leer at the yokai. Haru could feel heat come from the stone on her chest, as a gold gate formed above her head. The gate came down on her, from heat to toe, revealing the other world from starting from the head. "What?" The yokai let out, in complete surprise. "Let my family go!" Haru called, using the wings Haru rushed toward the Yokai. Using the gauntlets she went to hit the Yokai, only for her to pass threw the white figure crashing on the ground painfully. "Its body is projected! Physical hits won't work," Lapin called floating after her. "Traitor!" The yokai called, turning to face her to toss another white ball at the girl. Painfully, Haru got up, and flew up to avoid the Yokai's attack. "Use energy attacks," Lapin called to her. Haru, took a breath, and expelled nothing towards the Yokai. " …." Lapin looked at her with dead pan eyes. "Not like that, you idiot," Lapin said, yelling at her from the ground. "But, you did it like that!" Haru called down to him. "Yes, because I was an actual dragon, with the throat structure to allow me to breathe fire! Try projecting fire out from the gauntlet in a blast, similar to me!" Lapin yelled at her. The yokai, floated up after her, looking even angrier. Haru, pointed her hand out, and focused the sensation to make fire on it. To her surprise, a blast of fire came out, hitting the yokai hard. "Ahh!" The yokai yelled painfully. A creepy smile came over the Yokai's face, as the burn on it healed up, as energy flowed out of the sleeping people to the yokai. "No!" Haru called out in worry for her parents. "He he… All straight up kill you…" The yokai yelled as it charged at Haru, the white being stronger from the stolen energy. Haru screamed, as she felt what seemed like an invisible hand smacking her down, as the Yokai made the motion with its hand. " …" Haru hit the ground below her hard, coughing to regain the breath that escaped her. "I got to stop it from getting energy, or it will kill the people if I hurt it to much," Haru said to herself as she shaking got up. The girl looked to the sleeping people, and gasped as she thought of something. Running towards the girl Haru saw at the shrine, she got the doll off the girl's chest and crushed it in her hand. "Ahh!" The yokai yelled in pain. Narrowing her eyes at the creature, Haru went to the other people near by and crushed the dolls on them. "Ahh! Stop that! Those prayers are mine!" The yokai yelled, charging at Haru furry in its eyes. One thing Haru noticed was another doll, in the center of the Yokai's white body. "Is this what you mean by a link," Haru asked, flying out of the Yokai's attack. "It's using the dolls, to project its normally weak presence in this world!" Lapin yelled back. " … I'm sorry you got lonely, but I won't let you have them…" Haru said, looking at the angry Yokai. Raising her armored fist, Haru aimed a punch at the creature, and her arm fazed threw it. "Ha-ha…Won't work on my body!" The yokai yelled, only to gasp and look down. "I know…" Haru said sadly, her armored hand grasped the wooden doll at the center and pulled it out. "Ahh!" The yokai yelled in pain. Pointing her hand at the Yokai, Haru let out a strong point blank fire blast the engulfed the Yokai. The flames cleared, at the Yokai's white body faded, leaving the doll in Haru's hand. " … It didn't leave miasma," Haru said, sounding confused as the girl landed on the ground. "No, its body wasn't actually here… But, how did you figure out how to change?" Lapin asked, looking confused. "Simple…I had something I didn't want to lose…" Haru said. The stone blinked from all the power Haru used, as the girl's for shattered like glass. 'Odd…For my kind…we have the power we fight when ever and have the power for it… but for humans, it appears to be different. They need something to motivate them to be affective…' Lapin thought to himself as Haru ran off. Running into the house, Haru breathed a sigh of relief to see her mom and dad sitting at the table. "Hey, Haru, Is everything okay?" Haru's dad asked having no clue on what happened. " …" Haru put on a smile despite feeling tired as she did. "He he…Yes, everything is fine…I got cake for us to share…" Haru said closing the door. "Oh, good, thank you," Haru's mom said looking delighted. After some time, Haru retreated back to her room, a plate with a slice of cake in her hand. "Are you okay? You got hit pretty hard before?" Lapin asked, as Haru shut the door putting the cake on her desk. "Yes, I have a bruise but I think its okay," Haru answered, turning around and pulling her shirt up to show her stomach. There, was a large, blue and black bruise on her stomach. "Ouch… Haru, be very careful with taking damage in combat…With your limited ability to stay in that form, any damage you take will be endured by your human self to… And, there's some damage your human self won't be able to endure…." Lapin said with a worried face. " … I had a feeling…The pain wasn't as bad when I was in my other world form…but I feel me bad now…" Haru said hoping it would be okay. Taking something out of her pocket, she put the wooden doll she got from the Yokai, and put it on her desk. From there, she got some colored paper and decorated a spot for it. Then, finally, put the slice of cake in front of the doll. "No more being lonely," Haru said, putting her hands together in a prayer for the Yokai closing her eyes for a second. " … You're something different…After that, I would think you would destroy that doll," Lapin said, floating over to see the doll on Haru's desk. On its carved face, the image of a frown on the dolls wooden face, the wood image changed into a smile. "…Then, it would be lonely for ever…And no one deserves that…" Haru said, looking at Lapin with a smile of her own.
