Chapter 2

"KYOKO-CHAN!" A young blond male bolted from the building and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I missed you so much!" He exclaimed in a familiar fashion.

"KUON! Get back in here. It's starting to rain. You'll catch a cold." Another voice called out. "You should all come in from the rain." The large hen told the group as she greeted them at the entrance.

"Bo?" Kyoko said in confusion. "I thought you were a rooster." She furrowed her brow at the news as the group was led into the main sitting area and a feast was placed before them by the elegant young, raven-haired ojou-sama in a red kimono.

Bo giggled. "I'm only a rooster when we're in costume." She told her. "Now... sit, sit, enjoy the meal. You cannot go anywhere on an empty stomach. It's bad for your health, my dears." She told the group and hovered in the background in typical mother hen fashion. "Just let me know if you need anything and Chouko and I will make sure you are well cared for." She turned to the shadow that was now in the corner. "Momiji, there is nothing here to be on guard for. Sit. Eat." The large hen took the girl by the hand and pulled her to the table and forced her to sit with the group. "So antisocial." She shook her head and sighed.

"Mo Kyoko, please wake up. We miss you. Even that idiot Sho-baka keeps coming around. You have to wake up, even if it's to tell him off." Kanae's voice sounded throughout the halls, distantly.

"Moko-san?" Kyoko's smile went all gooey. Her best friend was at her bedside with her fairy prince. She grimaced. So was Sho. Why could she only hear Kuon and Kanae's voices?

Chouko smiled softly. "It's because they are your most important people."

Kyoko looked at her in surprise. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

Bo clucked. "Sweetie, we all know what you're thinking. We just choose to give you the opportunity to voice it. Chouko is the eldest here, unless you count Okami-san, so she's allowed more privileges than we are. She's more you than we are." The hen explained.

"Who else is here?" Kyoko asked with curiosity and a little worry.

Chouko sat next to Kyoko primly and poured her tea. "The Okami-san, there is A-ko, Angelique and finally the other but she doesn't come out much. We try not to mention her. She's not exactly what one would call sociable." Chouko explained.

"Why not?" Kyoko pressed for knowledge on this new revelation.

Bo nodded to Chouko in silent agreement to something as the others sat nervously in their seats. "Well... She's been here the longest. Okami-san told us that she was like a fairy princess once upon a time but she was damaged by something traumatic. It turned her dark. She's been a little less violent lately but one never knows with her." Chouko told her and the group kept silent.

Kyoko nodded in understanding. She had a hunch who this personality was and what the event was that caused the poor princess to turn dark. She sighed. "I think I know." She said sadly.

The doors to the room flew open and all were greeted by an excited and flustered Okami-san. "You have to come quickly! It's Angelique!"

"What is it? What happened, Okami-san?" Chouko asked with worry.

She shook her head. "You have to see it for yourself! Follow!" She told the group and led them outside to the garden where it was still raining. "Look!" She pointed to a pure white-winged angel, smiling back at them heavenly.

"I don't understand." Kyoko said confused and turned to the others then gasped as she watched Mio's scars heal.

Angelique caressed the heiress' temple and smiled softly. "His tears. He truly loves her."

Okami quickly left the group. She was on a personal mission and hoped beyond all hope that she was right in her hypothesis. She stood hesitantly before the large black doors, covered in locks and chains. She removed the key from her obi and began the process of removing said locks then silently opened the door. She slipped into the dark room, made her way to the doors of the balcony, tore open the heavy drapes and opened the doors. She stood in the healing rain and smiled at the refreshing downpour as she held out her hands. "Come princess, your true prince has returned for you." She smiled as a blackened clawed hand reached out to her and emerged from the shadows and into the healing rain of true love's tears.

Kyoko looked up and watched as, what she could only describe as a hideous, misshapen monster emerged onto the balcony above the group. Thick, matted black hair, smoothed and glowed with a midnight, silken sheen. Horned protrusions, crumbled away and burned and blackened skin, healed to a healthy, smooth ivory. Tattered, dull wings, slowly healed and expanded into a beautiful array of dazzling colors. Finally, slitted demonic eyes turned a blinding metallic gold and a beautiful smile crossed her visage as the Kyoko below was pulled up into her arms and fully absorbed.

The others looked up in horror as they watched their creator become one with what was once the demonic presence in the little Inn.

"It's alright. I'm still here." She said softly. "You have no reason to be afraid."

"What happened?" Mio called from the garden. "What did you do to Kyoko-chan?"

The princess giggled melodically. "Kyoko-chan is fine. She's back where she belongs." She told them as she alit in the center of the group.

"What happens now?" Young Kuon whimpered in tears.

The princess caressed his cheek and kissed his forehead. "It's time for me to return."

"Will you be coming back?" Natsu asked trying to sound bored with the events.

The princess sighed. "Oh... I suppose I'll be back when I'm needed." She smirked and gave Natsu a mischievous wink.

Setsuka's and Natsu's eyes went wide at the revelation and looked at each other in surprise. "Hi-mi-tsu..." She shushed them and blew them all a kiss as her wings spread and she quickly soared above them.

The others looked at the pair inquisitively. "What was that about?" Okami asked as she joined the group.

Momiji chuckled and shook her head. "So naive... Do you not recognize the Empress when you see her?"

The others gasped at her revelation and Angelique sank to the ground, wrapped in her pure wings, shivering, murmuring something about purity and chastity.

"Come now." Mio sighed. "You all had to have known this would happen once she discovered that he truly loved her. There's no other way it could have gone."

Setsuka fell into the wet grass and laughed. "I suppose Nii-san will finally get what he wants."

Natsu shook her head and Bo went back to her nest to sit on the large egg that contained the next personality that would emerge into the group.

"Come Ladies and Young Master, let's celebrate our accomplishment. There is more than enough food and sake for us all." Okami-san told the group as she headed back to the dining room.