Eleanor woke up, still feeling slightly groggy. She looked around, somewhat disoriented, until the events of the previous night came to mind. Blinking sleepily, Eleanor stifled a yawn and looked at the clock. It was 7.15 in the morning!
Eleanor jumped out of bed, the last vestiges of sleep vanishing from her mind. She hurried down the staircase, almost tripping over her own feet. Shiori looked up as she burst into the living room.
"Good morning, Eleanor," she greeted with a bright smile. "You're up early."
"Good morning, Minamino-san," Eleanor replied, pausing. With a quick glance at a nearby clock, she added, "I'm sorry, but there is somewhere I need to be at 7.30."
Shiori frowned slightly. "Where is it? I'll take you there."
"Umm… It really isn't necessary…" said Eleanor.
"It's not safe for a five year old to go out alone…" Shiori appeared hesitant.
Another quick glance at the clock revealed that she had only ten minutes left. "It's really close by…" Shiori still appeared rather uncertain. "Please…" she pleaded.
"Okay then," she agreed reluctantly.
"Thank you!" Eleanor rushed out of the house, calling out, "I'll be home by 7.45 tonight!"
"Wait…7.45?" Shiori ran to the door, but Eleanor was already out of sight. "I hope she knows what she's doing," she sighed.
Eleanor continued running until she came to a somewhat deserted place. Looking around, she checked to see that no one was there. She crouched down, panting slightly. There was a bright flash of light.
Had anyone been there, they would have been extremely surprised. For where a five year old girl had been crouching only moments before, a fifteen year old girl now stood.
"I'm going to be late!" Eleanor cried out, and promptly took off.
"My lady, in here!" A car pulled up next to where Eleanor stood, panting.
He was getting out of the car to open the door for her when she opened it herself and slipped inside.
"There's no time for this," she said, in response to the look he gave her. "Hurry, I don't want to be late on my first day."
Eleanor leaned back into the seat, feeling thankful that the transformation had already
outfitted her in her school uniform. Her bag was passed to her. "Thank you," she told Bill gratefully. Bill was one of the oldest family servants, having been around even before she was born.
"You're welcome, my lady."
The car pulled up outside the school gates. Eleanor got out. "I'll walk home on my own later," she instructed. "There will be no need to pick me up."
Turning around, Eleanor walked into the school. She was just in time; it appeared, for the school gates closed behind her mere seconds after she passed through.
Eleanor looked at her timetable, trying to find the classroom. She looked at the door numbers, searching methodically. The teacher was taking attendance just as she entered.
"Ah, you must be the transfer student," he said. "Welcome to our school."
"This is Eleanor Sunstar. She has transferred over in the middle of the school term due to certain reasons. I hope that you will all make her feel welcome," the teacher told the class.
Looking at the students, he contemplated which one would make the best impression. He nodded to himself as he made his decision.
"There is an empty seat next to Mr. Minamino," he said, gesturing. "You may sit there."
Addressing Shuichi, he added, "As Eleanor is new to this school, I hope that you will show her around and help her if she has any trouble."
Eleanor walked quickly to her seat as she tried to ignore the stares. It was making her slightly nervous and she could not afford to lose control, not here. She slid down into her seat and took out her textbook. The first lesson was Literature, her favorite subject. The bell seemed to ring all too soon, signifying the end of the lesson.
Eleanor sighed in dismay as she looked at the schedule. The next lesson was P.E.
Eleanor panted as she ran. Her head was spinning and her lungs felt like they were on fire. Looking up, she realized that she had not completed even half a round. She groaned in dismay. How was she supposed to complete another three rounds? The teacher was now jogging beside her.
"Hurry up, girl. Just move a little faster," she said. "Jog, don't walk."
Eleanor pushed herself to keep going, but her pace eventually dropped to a walk. Luckily, the teacher had gone to hurry other students.
"No walking!" the teacher yelled from the other end of the track.
How did she get there so fast? Eleanor wondered, her mind drifting. She felt like she was about to drop from exhaustion. Abruptly, she stopped, certain that she was not able to run anymore. She bent forward, hands on her knees, breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked.
"I…I'm fine," Eleanor replied as she gasped for breath.
"Come on then, don't give up halfway."
Easy for you to say, thought Eleanor. You're not even breathing hard. Thinking back to the battle against the demon, she smiled wryly. Though I guess running round the track's nothing compared to fighting those things.
Taking a deep breath, she began jogging again. Should have said I wasn't fine, she thought idly. I wouldn't have to run round this stupid track then.
"Pace yourself, don't go too fast," Shuichi advised. "And regulate your breathing."
With his advice and encouragement, Eleanor finally managed to complete the four rounds required. The rest of the lesson was relatively easy.
As they walked to the next class, Shuichi commented, "You're really good at everything else. Only your stamina seems to be lacking."
Eleanor shrugged. "Well, everyone has their own weaknesses."
"But this is one which you can overcome with training," he protested.
"Believe me; this weakness can never be overcome no matter how much training I undergo."
Eleanor sighed as they reached the classroom. "I hate math."
"Don't worry," Shuichi said lightly. "We're doing logarithmic graphs today."
Eleanor groaned. "I don't even know what those are."
Eleanor was able to understand the lesson, for the most part as Shuichi was explaining to her all that the teacher said. She was somewhat apprehensive though, wondering if he would get exasperated with her slowness. But if he was, he never showed it.
"I could tutor you after school," he offered, as the bell rang. "Would tomorrow be okay?"
Eleanor nodded. "Thank you," she said.
It was now recess. Eleanor grabbed her lunch box and moved towards the door hurriedly, hoping to avoid the crowd of girls headed in their direction. When she reached the door, Eleanor turned back and waved. "Good luck!" she called out.
Shuichi's somewhat disgruntled look forced Eleanor to cover her mouth in order to stifle her giggles. Moving swiftly, she soon found a staircase which led to her destination – the rooftop.
Eleanor sat on one of the benches available there while gazing at the scenery down below. The bench was placed next to the railings, making it easy to look down over the school grounds. Slowly, Eleanor ate her lunch, enjoying the gentle breeze which ruffled her hair.
Suddenly, Eleanor felt a strong youki close by. She jumped to her feet, It was coming up the same staircase she used. With the current limiters on her power, there was no way she could defeat him. There was no time to remove the limiters. Eleanor tensed and prepared to flee.
The door opened, and Shuichi stepped through. Eleanor almost collapsed from relief.
"Hi!" she greeted. "You managed to get away from your fans I see."
"No thanks to you," he grumbled, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves. "You disappeared the moment they appeared."
"I have an aversion to crowds," she said, waving her hand in the air as if to brush the matter aside.
Both of them sat down on the bench.
"So, how did you manage to lose them anyway?" Eleanor asked curiously.
"Oh, I hid," he replied evasively.
Eleanor shrugged and changed the topic. "Is this where you usually come during break?"
"No," he replied, shaking his head. "Though I should come here more often," he added thoughtfully. "The view here is great."
"Yeah, it is," Eleanor agreed. "So scenery is also a factor when you choose hiding places?"
"Companionship too," he replied. "You are somewhat… different from the others."
"Meaning I'm not crazy over you?" Eleanor teased. "It's only my first day. I could be hiding my true personality. Who knows, I might be even more obsessed than they are."
Then I shall beat a hasty retreat when you do reveal your true personality," he said nonchalantly.
The bell rang. "Two more hours," Shuichi commented.
They started walking to the classroom.
"I've only been here a day and I'm tired of that bell," said Eleanor. "They should replace it with a song or something."
"Look on the bright side of things, as least you'll only hear it two more times today."
"It's only the first day of school and I already feel exhausted," Eleanor sighed.
They stepped through the classroom door.
Eleanor stared dreamily into space as she walked home. The weather was good today, so didn't feel like being stuck in a car.
She looked wistfully around her. It felt good to be herself. Of course, that would soon end. At 7.30, her mind and body would once again revert to her five year old state.
Her family was now searching for a counter spell. Due to the places and conditions in which they travelled, it was not convenient to bring a young child along. Fearful that she would be attacked when in her five year old form, they had asked Koenma to take care of her.
Of course, she thought wryly, he dumped me off on the Spirit Detectives.
Eleanor closed her eyes briefly. The power limiters were useful, helping her contain most
of her power. However, even the small fraction left was capable of causing great damage. She came to a stop outside a pair of imposing looking gates. They automatically swung open to admit her. Bill must have told them I was walking home.
Slowly, Eleanor walked towards the mansion, passing by the large gardens. Entering her home, Eleanor shook her head as a maid offered to help her carry her bag. Taking the hint, she retreated, shooing away others approaching Eleanor.
Eleanor placed her bag on the floor of her bedroom before changing out of her school uniform. She made a mental note to change into a fresh set before leaving.
That settled, Eleanor took out the jewel the demon from the night before had so kindly 'given' her. Walking to her study desk, she sat down. Rifling through the drawers, she found what she had been searching for – several crystals which looked identical to the emerald.
Following that, Eleanor took out needle and some string, preparing to thread them all into a bracelet. That was when she realized that the gem had no hole through the center.
Frowning, Eleanor reached inside of her to the well of power that she knew was there.
Carefully, she drew out a single thread, sending it into the jewel, willing it to change. There was a slight stir of consciousness in it. Eleanor drew back in shock, breaking the connection.
As she stared at the jewel, there was a light brush against her mind. Cautiously, Eleanor connected with it.
Are you the one who woke me up? It demanded.
That depends. Are you the emerald? Eleanor questioned.
I suppose to you mortals I would look like a gemstone, it conceded with a sniff.
If you aren't an emerald, what are you then?
I am a familiar, one that is bonded to my master through magic. There was a pause, and Eleanor felt it assessing her mentally. The Starstone family must be in dire straits for one as weak as you are to be my master.
Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise. You're one of the Starstones?
The Starstones were the legendary stones her family was named after. Once every twenty years thousand years – or the average lifespan of a member of the Starstone family, the Starstones would vanish. The family member with the highest potential would have to search for and awaken the stones. This was supposed to keep them from growing slack and their power from waning due to over-dependence on the Starstones.
Yes, that's what I said, it replied rather snappishly. And since you're the next keeper, I guess we're stuck with each other for the next few millennia.
Would it work if I asked you to protect someone else? Asked Eleanor.
Of course! As the Starstone of defense, Earthgreen, no one would even be able to get close to one I was guarding. It boasted. There was a pause. Who do you want me to protect?
A woman named Shiori, replied Eleanor.
Why do you want me to protect her anyway? Earthgreen questioned.
Her son, Shuichi, is a Spirit Detective. I fear that demons may try to hold her hostage in order to threaten her son.
Spirit Detectives, huh? I remember them. My previous Keeper, Jarin, were friends with them.
Jarin's my grandfather, Eleanor informed Earthgreen.
I can see the family resemblance. Both of you are also equally ignorant. Fancy mistaking me for an emerald. What an insult! It huffed.
Um… so about the protection thing… Shiori doesn't know about… well, everything. So, would you mind shaping yourself into a bead?
What for? Earthgreen asked.
To thread into a bracelet for her.
Earthgreen sighed. This is degrading…
It glowed with a soft green light. A hole appeared in its center and Eleanor threaded it up with the other beads. She tied the ends of the thread together and beamed at the finished product.
Eleanor tucked the bracelet into the pocket of the uniform she planned to change into. She then took out her homework and started doing it. It was 4.00pm and Eleanor aimed to complete her homework by 6pm, leaving an hour for revision.
Planning ahead, she knew that in order to reach Shiori's house in time, she would have to leave about half an hour earlier, just in case she ran into any trouble.