I'm back once again! Sorry that it has been so long since I updated anything... I had finals and then everything was so hectic with Christmas! But now I finally have time to sit back and think about my stories! :) Gotta get something out before I get my wisdom teeth out on Monday. I'll be cranky as cranky can be when I can't eat the food I want... That's gonna be a scary thought! Haha well here is Chapter 2. This is another slow one. But the one after this I swear will be more interesting! :)

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.

- Robert Ingersoll

The weather for a summer night was much cooler than it should have been. The slight breeze that travelled through the night sent shivers down anyone wearing a light jacket. It was cold and foreboding. With the new moon, the night felt almost lifeless… heartless…

Her hand was tightening around the handle of her front door. The cold air brushed past her into the dark, empty house. It sent her short blonde hair fluttering. Yet, even with the cold, she did not shiver. She knew the man in front of her was still talking, but her mind had simply refused to listen to the rest. She could only stare at him with a blank stare.

"Haru Bianci," the man said. He was wearing an officer's uniform. "We are going to need you to come with us." But she only stared.

"Come one sweetie," a woman with him said. She wore regular clothes, but she seemed kind enough. Her light brown hair and blue eyes made her seem safe. "Let's go get your things." She took Haru's hand and guided the lifeless girl back into the house. She seemed to pity the girl. They found Haru's room and packed two bags full of clothes. "We'll come back later to gather the rest of your things." The woman said to Haru, but again Haru didn't answer.

The woman led the girl out of her apartment to the elevator. They rode the elevator down to the street and walked to a gray colored car. The woman opened the door to the backseat and Haru stepped into the car. The woman gave her a small smile as she closed the door. She turned to the man as she began to load Haru's bags into the trunk.

"I'll take care of the rest?" She had said it with a slight question.

The officer nodded. "I think that would be for the best." He said solemnly. "I have to write up the report. I also think she'd be more comfortable with you."

The woman looked in the backseat at the young girl. "She's about the same age as my oldest son." She whispered. "I can only imagine…"

"Thank you for doing this Natsuko. Hiroko had said you were good with children. We were lucky that you were eating nearby." He said. Natsuko nodded sadly and got into the car and began to drive. She had tried to make conversation with the girl, but nothing helped the tense atmosphere that had settled in the car.

Haru heard her talking, but it was like the woman was speaking another language. The car had been moving for a long time, but Haru couldn't tell how long. Everything was moving in slow motion. It was extremely dark outside. They had left the city that she loved. They left the place where her family and friends were. She looked up and the moonless night made it possible to see the stars.

"Do you like the stars Haru?"

"Yes! They are so pretty Poppa!"

"Do you want to know what my father used to tell me?" Haru nodded her head rigorously. "Well, my father used to tell me that all of those stars are powerful beings."

"Powerful beings?"

"Yes." Her father said. "They watch over us."

"Really?" Haru said amazed.

Her father chuckled. "Yes. The sun is the most powerful because he shines his love down on the people every day. Then the moon is the second strongest. He tries his hardest to protect the people from the darkness that lurks in the night, but it is a constant battle. He cannot always protect the people and therefore he tends to vanish from the sky on nights to go off and fight. But the stars are the great people of the past. They do not have the power to fight, but they are always there to lend their light to those hurting."

"Will the stars protect me?"

"Yes. They will always be there to protect you."

Haru continued to look at the sky. 'Are you up there Momma? Poppa?' She wondered. 'Will you protect me?'

The car finally rolled to a stop. It broke Haru's inner thoughts and she became alert to everything around her. She looked out the window to see they had parked in front of a vaguely familiar house. The driver's door opened and the woman from before got out and walked around to let Haru out of the car. She opened the door and motioned Haru to get out. "Do you know where you are?" She asked when Haru got out and looked at the house.

She knew where she was now. The small home surrounded by flowers and trees. The soft scent of the flowers flew through the air and filled her nose. Haru nodded to the woman slowly.

"Everything is going to be okay." She said as she walked to the back of the car and took out Haru's bags. Haru's heart clenched. 'Nothing is going to be okay.' She thought to herself.

Natsuko watched the girl as she just stared at the house in front of her. She was sure that Haru knew it was her grandparents' home, but she didn't show one once of emotion. 'The girl must still be in shock.' She thought to herself. Natsuko lifted one bag to her shoulder and then lifted the other bag in her right hand. "Come on sweetie. Let's go in." She said and held out her left hand for Haru to take.

Haru looked at the woman's hand and slowly lifted her own to take it. Natsuko relaxed slightly. That was the first voluntary movement the girl made besides getting out of the car. She also took that action as a symbol that the girl trusted her.

The two walked hand in hand up to the house. Natsuko realized that Haru seemed to be in a daze. She hoped that her grandparents were faring better than the girl so that she could have some emotional support.

Natsuko rang the door bell. She could hear the steps coming to the door. The fumbling of lock could be heard until it clicked and the door flew open. The elderly couple standing before Natsuko seemed so distressed. They had tearstained cheeks and red eyes, but they looked relieved to see Haru standing there.

"Oh Haru!" The grandmother shouted as fresh new tears came to her eyes. "I'm happy you are alright." The woman practically fell to her knees and hugged Haru tightly. Haru instantly felt the familiar touch and smell of her grandmother and came back to reality.

Natsuko watched as Haru's eyes returned from the dazed state at her grandmother's touch. Haru reached up and hugged her grandmother back with equal force. Her eyes seemed full of emotion in that one instant. Tears began to trickle down her face and soon her face showed the sadness and pain that she was feeling. She began to sob into her grandmother's shoulder as her grandmother held her lovingly.

Natsuko felt for the young girl. "Thank you." Haru's grandfather said with emotion. "Thank you for bringing our granddaughter to us."

"No problem." Natsuko replied. "I was just happy to help."

Haru's grandmother ushered her granddaughter inside the house. "Please come in." The grandfather offered. She wasn't sure if she should, but she wanted to make sure that Haru would be okay. She walked in and Haru's grandfather took the bags from Natsuko and offered for her to sit down. She did and he quickly walked to the back of the house where his wife had taken Haru.

Natsuko looked around the small house. She noticed a picture of 3 beautiful young women. They all held a great resemblance to Haru's grandmother so she assumed that one of them was Haru's mother. There were also pictures of Haru with a bunch of other children. She looked so different with her freckled skin and blonde hair. Natsuko assumed the other children were her cousins since she could see a slight resemblance between them.

Natsuko then took in the entire room. It had a very warm feeling and it made her feel comfortable. Of course it smelled like a typical grandparents' house, but that's what made it so comforting to be in. Natsuko knew that Haru's grandparents would take good care of her just from seeing all the pictures of Haru and other relatives. They obviously really loved the girl and Natsuko knew she didn't have to worry about the girl not getting the psychological support that she would need.

"I'm sorry for the wait." Haru's grandfather said.

"Please, call me Natsuko." She told him.

He nodded. "Then please call me Yuichi." He said. "My wife's name is Sakura. We can't thank you enough for bringing her here so late in the night."

Natsuko smiled slightly at him. "I have a son about her age." She replied. "I would want someone to do the same thing for him as well."

"Yes…" Yuichi said slowly.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Sakura asked as she walked into the room.

"No thank you." Natsuko replied. "I just want to make sure Haru would be okay."

Sakura nodded. "She's asleep for now. It will be a long process… but I believe that she will be okay."

"I'm glad." Natsuko said and stood up. "I should be getting home to my own son."

"Of course." Yuichi answered. The three of them walked back outside. They said their goodbyes and Natsuko began her drive back to the city.

Well that is the end of Chapter 2! I hope you enjoyed it. I'll try to get another chapter out either tonight (if I'm lucky) or by tomorrow! Wish me luck :)