Chapter 2: A Wing Broken like My Heart

Is it love or just like?

AUTHOR:Rei Akira-Chan / KiM

I cared for friends, but why for him? He never notices me; he's a heartless genius since he entered the school. When I cried at the time when Dark's disappearance, he and Niwa comforted me, maybe it's because of that. And there's a strange dream that includes him! It's because, maybe, I'm at his house, sleeping. Is he still awake? I sat up and saw him in the balcony, sitting in silence. He's sick and he shouldn't be out there! Wait, he's holding something, a clover pendant?

"How cute…" Uh, oh, I said that out loud, might as well join him there.

"Harada, go back to sleep!"

"I should be the one telling you that. What is it you're holding?"

"A family heirloom, nothing special."

He then sighed like proclaiming that he was annoyed and just looked to the night sky. I got sleepy and am now half asleep and leaned on his shoulders. I thought he was going to move on the other side of the bench, but no, he leaned closer to support my head. I can't react because I'm too sleepy to move, so I let him be. After a while, I felt my body rise from the bench, he was carrying me in a bed. He said some things, but all I can't figure out what he's saying. And I can't let him carry heavy things, especially me! But I'm too sleepy to remind him that he's still sick. Wait, what is this hard thing in my hand? I opened my eyes slowly and I saw the morning light shining in the window and a necklace with the clover pendant I saw last night is now on my hand. Why did he give me this anyway? It's a family treasure, right? I kept thinking about that until I saw him downstairs, eating.

"Good morning, Harada."

"G-good morning, Hiwatari." Uh-oh, what should I say next?

"Y-you left this on the bed." That was SO wrong! Why am I stuttering?

"Keep it if you want to, I don't need it anyway."

"Th-thanks, Hiwatari." What's wrong with me? Why am I nervous? My cheeks feel warm, my heart is beating rapidly and I don't know what to do! And I don't usually stutter when I'm in front of him!

"Harada, how long are you going to stare at me like that? Come down there and eat with me. It's Saturday, but still we mustn't waste our time."

"Uh-huh." I nodded.

I came downstairs and sat beside him.

"Are you feeling fine now, Hiwatari?"

"Yes, my body temperature is normal; I don't feel cold anymore and no more dizziness."

"I see."

"You're the one who looks sick, you're pale and your cheeks are red."

"I-I feel fine!" Butterflies are spinning in my stomach now!

After eating breakfast, I prepared to leave and thanked Hiwatari for having me.

"I should be thanking you for worrying and even watched over me. As payment, I will be taking you home."

He looked so calm saying that.

"No need." I turned the offer down.

"I insist."

"Okay then, I accept."

He took his car, and drove it. I didn't know he knew how to drive! And why doesn't he take it when he goes to school? It was really silent when he drove me home. What is he thinking about now? My cheeks are warm again! Why is my heart beating madly? So many more questions are running through my mind when, I remembered his deep blue eyes. It relaxes me when I see them, like the ocean that gleams because of the morning light. I saw someone else wearing those same mysterious blue eyes, but I can't remember who it is though. These thoughts were interrupted by Hiwatari's voice saying:

"Harada, were here."

"Thanks again for taking me home."

"You're very welcome, Harada. Goodbye."

He drove away after. Is Hiwatari always like that? Thinking that everything has a price to pay? Others must come first before you, always? What a hard fate you'll have if you follow these rules of life every time! When he speaks, it's like he is hiding the feelings that is supposed to be in those words.

"Risa, how long do you plan to sit beside the window and watch the rain pour?" asked Riku. "Good thing Hiwatari walked you home before the rain poured. Poor guy and he just recovered, too. Risa, it'll be your fault if he gets soaked in the rain and get sick!"

"Hey! He didn't walk me home, he drove me home, but I wonder how he's doing now. Recovered from what though?"

"Really? He has a car? How amazing!"

I gave her a look telling her to answer my question.

"You mean you don't know what the reason is that he got sick?"

"No, why, what happened?"

"Well, he was shot and hit by the goons that robbed a bank because he was chasing them. He got home without going to the hospital. Niwa said he treated his own wound but he lost too much blood. I think he was lucky to live after that night, and that just proves he's an extraordinary person."

"Why is it that nobody told me and the only thing Niwa told me that he left home with a fever?"

"We thought you never cared for him?" Said Riku, in a jokingly tone.

"Hmph, shut up! I don't know who you are anymore…"

After I watched Riku so pleased of herself making me angry, I placed myself beside the window, sat in silence and looked out to the gloomy skies, thinking about him. A thought passed my mind that made me smile: 'He gave me the pendant. He isn't that bad after all!' Riku saw my smile.

"You like him, don't you Risa?" said Riku.

I could not stop the blush coming out of my cheeks; I still denied it though.

"Of course not! He's cold, he's cruel to girls, he's just no one to me…"

"If you say so, Risa. Anyways, can you help me with the year book pictures?"

"You joined the year book committee?" I turned and came to her desk.

She nodded and said: "I've got some wonderful shots, thanks to Niwa's help."

I saw an eye-catching bag full of pictures, so I took it.

"Riku, what's this?"

"Oh, just some shots from last night's party. And some shots for the part of the year book that is for the valedictorians of every class, including Hiwatari."

"When and where did you take the shots?"

"We took those pictures from the student's houses, last night."

While scanning them I saw pictures from last nights. How did they shot these? I blushed a bit but shook it off.

"So Riku, are you going to include these too?" I asked. I feel my stomach turning out of shame.

"Now, why would I put my sister in a dangerous situation? I know Hiwatari's fan girls will kill you if we did."

I hugged her."You still care for me after all …"

I felt her cheeks warming up. "Hey! Let go of me, Risa!"

Mom knocked and opened the door, "Girls what are you doing? Dinner's ready."

"Yes mom, we'll be downstairs in a minute!" We said in unison. It was the first time in that year we did it, but mom just did not notice.

But I noticed something far more mystical, the pendant's jewel was glowing…

We ate dinner and got upstairs once again. We bathed and changed into our pajamas but stayed up a little bit longer to arrange Riku's pictures for the year book. I noticed it once again, that glow on the pendant. Every time it shows that glow it makes me even more interested in prying at its beauty. And so I did.

"Oh, How cute!" Said Riku when she saw me touching the pendant Hiwatari gave me."That's from him right?"

"Yeah, he gave this to me when- -" That just slipped off. "Hey!"

Riku made that face that said to continue what I'm telling. "When I fell asleep in the balcony and he carried me to a bed." I sighed and lent her the pendant.

"Risa, there's something in the jewel's center."

Upon hearing my sister, I immediately looked at it. "We need to show this to Niwa! He might know something."

I saw something that looked like a silver cross.

I was planning on seeing Niwa tomorrow morning.

I rang the doorbell.

"I'm coming!" A voice of a man said inside the house, opened the door.

It was Niwa. "Hi, Riku and Risa. What brings you here?"

"Hi Niwa. We just wanted to know something." I told him.

"Niwa, where's your mom?" Riku asked.

"She was out on a date with my father. They'll be back late."

Niwa lead us to their living room and Riku showed him the necklace.

Riku began to speak: "This was given to Risa by Hiwatari last night. We were just curious of what is in its center. Can you tell us, Niwa?"

"No doubt about it. This was really given by a Hikari. It has its mark on the jewel."

How could you Riku! Why did you tell him from who it was! I'm red as a tomato! I'm melting out of shame! Niwa looked in its back. He showed us what he saw:

Light's Grace

"So, what does that mean?" Said Riku, A bit confused.

"Come with me." Niwa was leading us the way to where they put the things they steal and seal away for good. Once we were there, he took a book in the pile. He scanned and pointed out to a page where these were written:

NAME: Rio Hikari

DATE: Unknown

TITLE: Light's Grace

"In the name, it is written 'Rio Hikari' which is the name of Hiwatari's mother. As I recall in one of her artworks, she always put her signature in them like the ones in your possession. It must be hers, the one we were searching for a long time, The Light's Grace!"

"You won't be taking it!" I told him defensively.

"No! You've misunderstood! We just wanted to know where it is, if it contains some mystical powers and if it has, it must be sealed."

"As you can see Niwa, It's important to Risa and is in good hands." said Riku, to assure him.

"Yeah, maybe I shouldn't take it from her."

"And what does that mean! It isn't that important to me at all! It's just that, it's the original copy and it's a pity to just break it and…"

Riku gave me that 'Really?' look.

"Just stop with the teasing already!" I shouted. I felt that I wanted to melt out of shame again!

We are now in the living room:

"The book where Niwa found the information was a list of artworks from an old museum. This one is from a page of Rio Hikari's diary. It is said here that it was called that way because 'even if the night is dark, it will glow like the morning light in the skies above'" Said Riku, telling me what she had read.

"Miss Towa is here, too, right?" I asked.

"Yes, but she's a bit busy though." Niwa answered, giving us snacks.

"I thought she might help. I thought she could tell us something these books won't offer." I said.

"Yes she might." Sighed Riku. "And maybe, we won't be going through all these fuss."

"I got it! Yes! Miss Rio's Diary and the entry that includes the purpose of the artwork are here!" I shouted, sounding really excited. I read the content:

I created Grace for the purpose of doing tasks for me. It wasn't originally made for killing so this will make her go to her limits. I want to change the path of the Hikari, for my son. A painful death and short life is what awaits him if I don't. Once Krad's gone, the artwork will be too, though it still isn't used yet, but it

The rest of the page was torn and burnt. I didn't know that it could be that harsh to be one of them. I cried but I don't know why. But Krad's gone, or is he not? If he is, why is the Light's Grace isn't gone yet? As I closed the diary, a ripped piece of paper from the diary fell on the floor:

I dreamt seeing my child, a child that has blue hair and eyes, just like his grandpa. A pity though, his smile slowly disappeared because of something, something so heart-breaking for his soft heart to handle. I love my son, though I haven't met him yet, I want to keep his smile like in my dream.

More tears ran through my eyes, Riku sat beside me and said: "Hey, why are you crying?"

"Krad is gone, right?" I asked.

"Yes he is." Answered Niwa

"So why is the Light's Grace still here?"

No one knows. Sitting here in the balcony with the moon gleaming makes me wonder more. Did Hiwatari figured it out? Did he finally get rid of Krad? While trying to figure out what are the answers to these questions, another question passed my mind. Do I really love him or is it just pure admiration? Is it really love I feel for him? Maybe so.

A/N: The Light's Grace finally has chosen its owner! (You know the glowing?) Satoshi realized his feelings and Risa, well, she isn't sure! What happens next? Stick with me 'till the end!