"PSST! Hotaru!"

Hotaru lowered her hand while the entire class worked on their math assignment. Usa slipped her a note while the teacher wasn't looking. Hotaru unfold it and read it quickly. She wrote a response and passed it back. They did this everyday and the teacher didn't mind. Usa and Hotaru only passed notes about homework and assignment questions.

Erik glanced over at Hotaru as she passed the note back. He wanted to tell the girls to include him too but he was across the class and both would refuse. They kept those thing to themselves. It was hard not to jump up out of his seat and kiss Hotaru in front of everyone but he had to stay put. Vincent had warned him about acting on his desires-it was how Erik lost his Death Angel during the Moon Kingdom.

This sucks! Erik thought bitterly. Hotaru's my girl-why can't I love her? The bell rang as he looked up at the clock. Yes! Lunch! Now I can sit with my beloved Gatekeeper!

"Hotaru, can you come here a sec?" Nabuyuki Hojuto called from the door. "I got something I need your help with."

"Sure, Nabuyuki. I'll be there ASAP." Hotaru got up from her seat. "Usa, go ahead and eat lunch. I'll be back in a moment or two."

"Okay, just be careful." Usa told her as Hotaru gave her a wink. Erik glared at Nabuyuki. He was in the next class over and one grade up. What did he gain from her help?

Hotaru left the classroom and closed the door behind her. Nabuyuki took her hand and led her into a dark room that had Sasami, Takato and Matsudo already inside. Nabuyuki closed the door behind them, engulfing them in darkness. Their Palace pins began to glow a faint red.

"We've got a problem." Takato said in his real voice. It was responsible and dangerously cold. It was warmer with his "subjects"; he liked them enough to reveal his real side to them-and only them.

"A problem?" Hotaru repeated, her voice taking its Saturian edge. "What kind of 'problem'?"

"Kimiko's not at home." Sasami muttered, her falsely happy voice had its normal depressing ring.

"And Rin's not answering her cell." Matsudo smooth voice was gruffer than what the "normal" students knew.

" Hotaru, they seemed to disappear." Nabuyuki's voice was lower and edgier. "You're the only one of us who can do that naturally."

"I need you to tell me where they are." Takato said. "Find their living hearts, Hotaru. Tell me what you see."

Hotaru closed her eyes and focused. Blue and garnet flares made her open her eyes with a gasp. Matsudo and Nabuyuki caught her so she wouldn't fall.

"A Virgo and a Scorpio are in the woods." Hotaru told them. "They're in a daze. They're scared. I could sense a controlling force but they don't know what it is."

"Rin's a Virgo and Kimiko's a Scorpio." Sasami piped up. "That has to be them, they must be in the park."

"No, not the park-the woods. Our woods." Hotaru leaned against a desk in the room. "The woods that lead to the Palace of Crimson."

"Shit." Takato hissed. "That's across town. We don't have access until tonight."

"You may not but I do." Hotaru replied softly. "I'll go there as soon as I trans-"

"No, I can't risk losing another one of my girls." Takato shot her plan down. Rin was one of the girls Takato had his arms around at the Palace, Hotaru was the other.

" 'A Lord cannot enter without one of his girls.' " Hotaru received a nod. The "Section Lord" had to choose 2 girls to have on his arm. He wasn't allowed in without at least one of them. "What are we going to do until then?"

"We hang out until sunset." Matsudo answered. "We'll stay at my place. My folks aren't going to be home until we're already gone."

"Alright. Do you all have your outfits?" Takato looked at the four nod. "Good. After school, come to my car. I'll drive."