AN: Yaaaaay for updaaates!
Don't forget to leave reviews! Your words feed my tainted soul~! Anyway, I've said it once, and I'll say it again: Twilight is a pain in the ass to write! The timelines all screwy, and getting the characters to act the same while resisting the urge to correct or otherwise maul their characters is annoying.
Finally, among all the books I can safely say that New Moon is the most difficult to write about. The three month gap is a whole lot of nothing to write about. Its all empty space. In canon, all we know is that Bella attended school, became antisocial, and was lifeless for three months after Edward left. That's it.
Kaguya paced around her spacious living room restlessly, sometimes stopping to absentmindedly clean the glasses she was wearing, then return to pacing. She had reached a rather annoying conundrum, one she wished she had considered planning for earlier, before she left for the States. It was a matter of such grave importance that the entire trip could be ruined if she made the wrong decision.
She had to decide; to go to College or to not go to College?
The importance of this decision rested entirely from exactly what she would gain from such a choice. On one hand she could gain invaluable information on the modern world, experience the culture of today's youth first hand, and avoid suspicion from the locals.
On the other, what if she couldn't get along with her schoolmates?
Such was the mindset of our wise, millennium-old Princess.
While Kaguya painstakingly thought over what she would do, Mokou was happily sampling herself to some chips in front of the T.V. She was quite taken with the program on the show. She particularly liked the man called called 'Captain America' - the man had a good sense of duty.
"Hey, Mokou, what do you think?" asked the Lunar Princess. "I would greatly appreciate your insight on what to decide on."
Mokou responded by inclining her head slightly and giving a short 'Heh?'
"Mokou this is serious! Oh what am I to do . . . . ?" she fidgeted. Mokou sighed and stood from the couch she was reclining on. Walking to her companion, who looked at her in confusion, Mokou proceeded to bop her on the head lightly.
"Ow! H-hey what was that for?" said Kaguya.
Mokou stared at the surprised Kaguya blandly. "It's for being stupid. Honestly Kaguya, what's the point of worrying? In the first place I don't even see the point of going."
"Mokou, you know full well how important this decision is. As of now, all the info we have on the modern era is second-hand and peripheral information. If we are to fully immerse ourselves in today's society, we must see it first hand in a place where we will not arouse so much suspicion!"
"Can't we do the same by just strolling around?"
"What's the fun in that? Besides, at an institution for learning, we will be able to gather information much faster and in a more organized fashion, as opposed to simply 'strolling around'."
"For some reason, I'm inclined to believe that that first sentence is the main source of your motivation, Kaguya." As if Kaguya would go and mingle with children thousands of years below her age just to gather information. Mokou knew her better than that. With the amount of tools and techniques at her disposal, as well as her well above-average intelligence, she would well be able to do what she claimed was her objective even without having to go to College.
"Perhaps, perhaps not," said Kaguya in a way that neither agreed nor disagreed. Mokou snorted slightly at this. "Regardless, the benefits weigh the same, and it does not require much time or effort."
"If you're so keen on arguing with me about this, why are you still so unsure about what to do?" said Mokou. "Honestly, from the way you're presenting it, it's obviously the best course of action, with no visible drawbacks. So why are you still fretting over it?"
At this Kaguya stared at Mokou, who saw in her eye's something she hadn't seen in years. Nervousness. When she spoke again, it was in a whisper. "What if they dislike me?"
"Hah?"
"I am from a completely different era than them, and my way of speaking is still somewhat old fashioned," she said with no small amount of anxiety. "And what's more, I come from a completely different country from them, and what little I know of their customs and procedures is second-hand! Ooh, what if I offend them by mistake?"
It occurred to Mokou that for all her expertise at social gatherings back in Gensokyo, here in America, Kaguya may as well be as bad as she was when it came to dealing with people. However, unlike Mokou, Kaguya was no antisocial. In fact, living alone with no contact with anyone but Eirin and her rabbits had left her starved socially.
Before her exile to earth, Kaguya was a princess, and was thus used to the social tendencies of man. Even when she was on earth, her time as 'Kaguya-hime' allowed her to meet the Bamboo Cutter and his wife, the Emperor himself, and not to mention the number of suitors she had met- one of which was Mokou's own father. She quickly stamped that thought out of her head. She had promised to Kaguya to see this through.
In Gensokyo, her need for other people to talk to was somewhat satiated, but now, as she was once again preparing to enter the public eye, Kaguya had realized that despite her age, she had no experience whatsoever in communicating with foreigners. At least in Gensokyo she new their customs and way of life.
Mokou sighed. "Kaguya, is it really so important what they think of you?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed at once, almost immediately being followed by an unsure expression. "I mean no. Maybe. You know, if I decide to go through with this, I would want to get along with them. I am tired of having enemies Mokou . . ."
Kaguya finished her sentence while looking forlornly at Mokou.
"Urgh." Mokou at once felt a pang of guilt course through her for some reason. "Okay, okay, I get it. No need to look at me like that. Listen Kaguya, there are many things I could say about you, but as much as I hate to admit it, unattractive is not one of them."
"Mokou . . . ?"
"I'm absolutely confident in your ability to needlessly charm people, okay?" said Mokou with no hint of sarcasm. "There's no way you cannot not make friends. And as for your enemies . . ."
A small burst of flame erupted from her open palm.
"Leave them to me, and I'll teach them the only one allowed to mess with you is me."
The two stared each other in silence as the flames on her palm danced and cackled. Mokou waited patiently for Kaguya to respond.
The Lunar Princess closed her eyes and laughed lightly. "Honestly Mokou, if I had not know you any better, I would have thought that as a rather dramatic way of wooing me."
"Never in a thousand years, princess," said Mokou with a snort.
Kaguya smiled.
"I can wait that long."
Isabella 'Bella' Swan sat in her seat, trying to pay attention to her teacher, trying to ignore the stinging sensation in her heart that followed her even here.
'Trying' seemed to be the keyword for everything Bella did now.
It had been almost a month ago now. It seemed so unreal to her, that he, that Edward, would just leave her like that. Bella felt her heart squeeze whenever she recalled her final moments with him.
Her attitude was worrying her friends, but she honestly couldn't feel it in her to try and reassure them that she was fine, when she so obviously wasn't. She wasn't in the mood for any kind of interaction now.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and the teacher paused his lecture to walk over and see who it was. From where Bella was seated, she couldn't get a clear view on who he was talking to.
"Excuse me one moment class." The teacher exited and closed the door behind him, leaving the class to wonder what was going on. From what Bella could decipher from the murmurs around her, it appeared that there was an on going rumor about a transfer student. Bella would have smiled, remembering what she had to go through when she had first arrived, but did not feel like it.
The door opened once again and the teacher strolled through, a second person trailing after him.
Bella's eyes widened slightly. The new person was, in short words, nothing short of gorgeous.
The newcomer was a girl dressed in a pink jacket and jeans. Long, silky, ebony colored hair trailed behind her. She had small almond shaped eyes adorned with long, elegant lashes. She had pale, flawless skin complemented her rosy cheeks and glossy pink lips wonderfully.
Though she had a curvaceous body, though next to the beauty of her face, this seemed like an afterthought. Her obviously foreign looks also gave her an exotic aura, which only further added to her appeal. The only obvious flaw were the rectangular glasses on her face. For some reason, they just seemed so unnatural on someone pretty like her.
Still, she was beautiful enough that, for a moment, Bella had thought of her as another vampire. Then she turned to face the class, and she saw her eyes were chocolate brown. Not the liquid-gold of the Cullens, or even James blood-red.
The teacher faced her, trying and failing not to stare at her too much. "Well, class, we have a new student walking our halls today. Would you kindly introduce yourself?"
Bella would have laughed. At least she didn't have to do that when she had first arrived. Still, the new girl seemed comfortable with speaking in front of the class.
Facing the class with a smile, she bowed slightly, an act that drew a few raised brows, before speaking. Her voice was a perfect match for her looks. "My name is Kaguya Houraisan. I transferred from Japan to America recently due to issues back home. I leave myself in your care."
She finished with a bow, and looked expectantly at the class. Some answered with a 'Sure' or 'Hey there' and Bella was sure she heard a 'What's your number?' from among them, others simply smiled back and waved, while others just stared, slack-jawed.
"Alright that's enough," said the teacher. "Now why don't you go find a seat while I continue today's lesson. Now, where did I last leave?"
Kaguya sighed in relief as she sat down.
"So far so good," she thought.
Thanks to Mokou, she had decided to push through with her plans, though it took some time to falsify the documents, and then get her enrollment proper. Still, now she was here and so far everything had gone off without a hitch. Well, almost without a hitch. She had forgotten that Americans don't usually bow when they greet people.
No one had seemed to mind much at least.
Her only regret about coming here was that she had been unable to convince Mokou to come as well.
"Oh, no way. You can go on and have fun on your own, but there is no way I'm going to spend my free time having to sit down on a desk and listen to some chick drawl on and on about stuff I don't care about!" where her exact words. It seemed that Mokou had enough experience with teachers back in Gensokyo.
The Immortal Earthling had decided to spend her free-time looking for a job of all things. "I have to pull my own weight around here, you know?" What was the point of that? Kaguya had already prepared enough money to last them a lifetimes, so that she wouldn't have to work.
She strongly suspected her companion was quite simply restless.
As Kaguya was mulling over her thoughts, she noticed the teacher gesturing towards her. It seemed like he was asking her a question. Judging from the incomplete equation on the board, he was probably asking her to answer. She stood up and recited the answer without a hitch. Simple earthen equations where nothing compared to the things Eirin had tutored her in thousands of years ago.
It was only when she finished talking that she realized that the teacher, as well as the rest of the class, was staring at her. Some in awe, others with incredulity or surprise, some where even giggling.
"Um . . . While it's wonderful that you already know the full formula, Ms. Kaguya, I'm afraid that you'll have to slow down a bit. Your classmates haven't quite gotten there yet," said the teacher. "I simply asked for what would be the next variable, not the whole equation."
Oops.
Kaguya blushed in embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry!" she squeaked, bowing for the third time in class before sitting down. She planted her face on her desk and groaned, much to the amusement of the class.
The class proceeded on without further incident until the bell rung.
Mokou was annoyed. No big surprise there.
She had been going job hunting for some time now, but it seemed that she could find no available work for herself. The ones she did find open, where, unfortunately, things she was unqualified for. Apparently, she needed a College degree to qualify for a majority of them.
Well, she wasn't about to take back what she had said to Kaguya earlier, so she had simply packed up and left. As of now, she was searching around La Push resort for any open jobs. Surely such a big and open place would be plenty busy.
Her first stop was at a resident beach house. From what she could gather, it payed well enough, and the requirements weren't too strict. Be at least sixteen years old, should be able to clean, cook, and serve and finally, be tolerant of the heat.
Mokou was well over sixteen, at least by a few dozen decades. Years of living alone had taught her how to be self reliant, so of course she learned how to clean up after herself and cook, which she eventually put to use by creating her own Yakitori stand. And there was no need to mention how tolerant she was to heat.
She arrived in front of her destination. She growled slightly at the people who stared at her, or more specifically, her hair. She understood that silver gray hair was rare around here, but that didn't mean they had to stare dammit!
Still grumbling, Mokou walked under the shade of the beach house and called out to the person on the working counter.
"Oh, hello there, how can I help you?"
Mokou brought a folded paper out of her pocket. "I heard you've got a spot open for a job."
The person at the counter nodded. "Ah, yes, we've been short on hands lately. Come, lets discuss the details in my office," he said, gesturing towards a room behind the counter. Suddenly, he shouted. "Hey, Jared, mind taking over for a moment?"
"Sure!
A tall, muscular teen walked towards the counter. He had red-brown skin, brown eyes, and cropped black hair. The teen looked down at Mokou, who was a good head shorter than he was, grinning slightly. "So, who's the little miss?"
"Your new co-worker, if were lucky."
Mokou frowned at Jared. "Call me little again, kid, and I'm gonna have to cut you down a size."
The taller teen simply smirked back. "You can try, but I don't recommend it. You'd only be hurting yourself."
"Hey, don't fight in front of me," said the manager. He put his hand on Mokou's shoulder. "Though I do suggest following his advice. Just hitting Jared can leave bruises on you."
"Speaking from experience?"
"In a matter of speaking . . ."
The two walked to his office, still talking, leaving a smirking Jared to take over the counter.