7

Chica

"Hey Nolan! How are you feeling?" Chica asked him as she walked up to his hospital bed.

"I am fine, except I have a wicked headache!" He said smiling. "What's that in your hand?" He asked.

"I'll show you." She said, jumping on his bed, careful that she didn't hit him. "I got my first wand! Cool huh? And I also received a broomstick, an owl, and the rest of my school supplies." She told him. "Tomorrow, if you are feeling better, we will go and get yours okay?"

"Okay, sure. What is your owl's name?" He asked, petting him.

"His name is Midnight." She told him, noticing that when she said his name, his head went up.

"I think he knows his name already." Nolan said, smiling. "What kind of broomstick did you get?"

"Some kind of a Firebolt, I think. I don't really know." She said, picking it up. "I believe Tsukasa bought one just like it today."

"So you and Tsukasa have the same broom? What if you and him get them confused?"

"Well, ours are different colors! My tail is multi-colored and I have a butterfly on my handle." She pointed out.

"Cute." Nolan said sarcastically, so she hit him gently.

"Chica, you have to leave now." Matt said from behind them. "There is something you should look at too." He adds.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming." She told Matt. She gave Nolan a hug and a kiss and told him she would come back up as soon as she could. "Now, what is it that you want me to see?" Chica asked Matt after they had left the hospital wing.

"You'll see." He said with a smile. When they got to his classroom, he led her to a miniature habitat that was set up in the back of the room.

"Hey, that's awesome! What is it?" She asked, walking around it.

"Well, it is a place for certain animals to live. Duh!" He said, laughing.

"What kind of animals?"

"These!" He said, holding up a small cage, containing four small dragons.

"They're so cool…" She said in awe, moving closer.

"They belong to you now."

"Thank you!" She said, giving him a hug. "But are you sure about this?"

Kisa

"Don't worry," Matt said. "I'll help you care for them until you're comfortable with them."

"Don't dragons throw fire though?" Chica asked worriedly.

"These can't actually. But they need to be cared for like any other dragon. They're certainly interesting though. I believe Kisa called them dragon-chibis." He said with a smile. "Do you think that I would ever put you in danger?"

"No," Chica said, "You wouldn't do that. Wait, Kisa has already seen them?"

"Yeah in fact, it was her idea that you take care of them. She seemed very confident in you."

"I wonder why…"

"That reminds me, Kisa wanted you to go and see her."

"How come?" Chica asked, wondering.

"Don't know. That's all she told me. 'Tell her to meet me in the classroom right by the stone troll trying to dance.' You know where that is, right?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, Daniel took us there the other day." Chica said, heading for the door. When she reached it she stopped and turned around. "And thank you so much for letting me take care of the dragons. I will stop by the library after I am done talking to Kisa to look up how to care for them correctly."

"See you later!" Matt called after her.

Chica

'I wonder what Kisa wants.' Chica thought to herself as she walked down the corridor. Just before she got to the corridor where she was supposed to meet Kisa, the pipe that Kazuto had given her started to vibrate.

"What the heck?" She said aloud. She turned around and walked out of the castle toward the Forbidden Forest. The closer she got, the stronger the vibrations became. 'Hopefully Kazuto is okay'

When she stepped into the forest, she was greeted by Kazuto. "You came." He said with a smile on his face.

"Why wouldn't I?" Chica asked.

"You and your friends could have been busy with homework." He said.

"Good point, but school starts on Monday! Today is Friday." She said laughing. "Is there a particular reason that you wanted me for?"

"I just wanted to see you." He said. "After all, I owe you my life." He added.

"Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal." She told him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "How was your day?" She asked tightening to keep his mane out of her mouth.

"It was okay. I went for a really long walk." He said.

"That sounds like fun. Did you find any new places?" She asked, trying to choose her words carefully.

"I found a peaceful waterfall that I'll take you to someday." He said. After that they sat and talked for hours, about nothing in particular. When Chica looked at her watch, she noticed that Kisa was probably worried about her.

"Kazi, I am sorry, but I have to go. Kisa's waiting for me." She told him sadly.

"Kazi? Is that a nickname?" He asked her, laughing.

"Yeah. Is it okay if I call you that?" She asked, blushing.

"It's okay, it's actually kind of cute." He said laughing and nudged her with his muzzle.

"Oh by the way, Kisa would like to know if she could see your true form one day" She informed him, "But it is your decision." She added after a moment.

"If it is only you two, I don't see why not." He responded, "She seems nice."

"Okay. I'll see you later!" She told him, after giving him another hug. Then she started toward the castle to meet Kisa for the second time.

Kisa

"Sheesh! That took awhile!" Kisa exclaimed. "What were you doing?"

"Kazuto wanted me." Chica said as she entered the room.

"Anything wrong?" Kisa asked, concerned.

"No, he is fine. He just wanted to talk." Chica answered. "He said that you could come with next time too."

"Great!"

"Now, what did you want me for?" Chica asked.

"A discussion." Kisa said. "About… Nolan… and the future." Even though Kisa's was wearing a somber expression, Chica knew that she wasn't sad about anything for herself. She was sad for Chica.

"What about Nolan and the future?" Chica asked, her expression becoming worried.

"Well, I don't know how to say this really. Nii-san, Tsukasa, he is brilliant at divination. Anyway…he found something out yesterday about Nolan. I'll tell you, only if you ask. Nii-san told me that I shouldn't but I think you deserve to know. But also know this, you can't change it. You can change and make your own choices, but you can't change events that are predetermined."

"That hardly makes sense." Chica said a bit confused. "But if it's important, I want you to tell me."

"Only if you understand that you can't change it." Kisa said. Chica nodded so she continued, "I don't want you to be in more pain then needed. Otherwise, I wouldn't be telling you this. But Nolan… his body can't heal from his wounds without the potion that Madame Pomfrey is having him take. The only problem is, is that his body is rejecting the potion. She hasn't noticed because he's in so rough of shape as it is. The potion will buy him some time, but in the end, it will kill him."

"So what you're saying," Chica said, her voice just above a whisper, "is that he'll die?"

"Yes," Kisa said sadly. "But, by what Nii-san could tell, he has until morning. I'm sorry Chica-chan."

Chica looked at her, tears threatening to fall, and said smiling, "Thank you Kisa, for telling me." Kisa nodded and Chica ran out of the room to return to the hospital wing. Kisa returned to Ravenclaw's common room and found Tsukasa and Eyes sitting by the fire talking about everyday things.

"I told her." Kisa said. Tsukasa nodded and went up stairs to go to bed early.

"Told who what?" Eyes asked as Kisa sat down on his lap.

"I told Chica-chan that Nolan would die by morning." She revealed, silent tears starting to fall down her face. Eyes put his arms around her and held her tight. "I – I don't understand why I feel so sad. I don't even like Nolan," Kisa said, half-laughing, yet still crying.

"It's because you are an empath." Eyes said. "You must be picking up Chica's emotions"

"They still feel as though they're mine." Kisa said, laying her head on his shoulder and letting her tears fall.

"Then I'll have to hold you till the tears end and you're happy again," Eyes said with a smile.

"Fine by me," Kisa said and let him hold her until Tsukasa woke them in the morning.

After Chica had left Kisa, she ran to the hospital wing. "What's wrong?" Nolan said as she entered the room. She was out of breath but fell into tears as soon as she saw him. "Tell me," he said and patted the bed beside him for her to sit down. She sat beside him, but her mind raced.

'Should I tell him? No I won't, I'll just…' She thought to herself. Then a moment later, she said, aloud, "It's nothing, I just need you to hold me, okay?" Nolan nodded and put his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest until her tears became soft and silent as she drifted off to sleep. Nolan also fell asleep soon after that.

Sun coming through the window woke her and she noticed how heavy Nolan's arms were around her. She touched his ice cold face and stood up. "Goodbye, Nolan. Sweet dreams." She said, kissing his lips one last time.

Black curtains were hung at the opening ceremony that night in remembrance of Nolan. Chica sat between Senpai and Elie. She had accepted it, and thanks to Kisa, was even able to say goodbye. She looked over at the Ravenclaw table and caught Kisa's eye. Kisa gave her a reassuring smile and turned to Dumbledore. He started his speech with some acknowledgements towards Nolan. He said to not be discouraged though and reminded them to not give up hope for a brand new school year.

After dinner, which was the best any of them had tasted, Chica found herself wandering down to the Forbidden Forest. She played the flute that Kazuto had given her and he appeared by her side. "You need me?" He asked.

"I was wondering…" she asked softly. In truth, she didn't know why she had come. Maybe she just needed to take her mind off of things for a while. "If you would take me to the waterfall you found yesterday. If it is no trouble to you that is…"

Kazuto sensed her sadness and said with a smile, "Of course. Ride on my back so you don't get lost."

"Are you sure? I mean your leg and all…" Chica said, concerned.

"Kisa and Tsukasa did a fine job, I am completely healed." Kazuto said. With that, she climbed on his back and he took her to see the waterfall.

"It's beautiful" Chica exclaimed, looking at it spellbound. She dipped her hand in the water and was pleasantly surprised. "It's warm! The water is warm!"

Kazuto neighed softly, meaning for her to sit down beside him. She did and he asked her what was wrong.

"Nothing really." Chica said with a sad smile. "I just lost an old friend on mine."

"What was he like?" Kazuto asked curiously.

"Well, let's see." Chica said slowly. "He was a bit impulsive, no really impulsive. Tall, about 6'8" I'd say. Annoying at times, but he sure could make me laugh." Chica brightened as she talked about him. "But he is gone now, forever…"

"No he's not," Kazuto spoke to her softly. "He's still inside of your heart, making you smile. Do you feel him?"

"I do feel a warmth when I think about him." Chica acknowledged, shutting her eyes.

"I can sense your heart, Chica. You never really loved him, and you've come to realize it yourself. But, he was a friend. There will be a hole in your heart for awhile, but only if you think of him as gone. As I said, the ones we care for never really die because we will always carry them in our heart. But don't worry, you will find your soul mate. I know it."

"Think so?" Chica asked, a little happier than before.

"Promise."

Just then, Chica felt soft fur on her leg and looked down to find an adorable kitten that looked just like a mini tiger. "Where did you come from?" She asked, thinking that the kitten reminded her of someone that she knew, but who?

"Kisa, if I remember right?" Kazuto asked the small tiger. The tiger jumped out of Chica's arms and she watched in amazement as it transformed into Kisa.

"I just thought I'd repay the favor and let you see me in my other form, Kazuto-san." Kisa said and bowed low to the Unicorn Prince.

"You're a very polite girl. It's very rare that a human treats an animal with such respect anymore." Kazuto said flattered.

"It is still custom where I come from," Kisa said standing up straight.

"But Kisa… you said you were a tiger, not a cat!" Chica said, laughing.

"I am a tiger… just a very small one." Kisa explained. "I heard what Kazuto-san said and I agree. I tell Eyes that over and over again. As long as you don't give up hope, possibilities will always be around you, the happiness of those who believe."

"About Eyes," Chica asked, "How do you know him? You got here even later that I did and you two seem to have been going out for years."

"I guess we have," Kisa said with a reminiscent smile.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Eyes used to live in Japan. Heh, I always called him Rutherford-kun. But he insisted that I call him Eyes. If he gets me irritated some times I call him Rutherford-kun to get back at him. Did you know Eyes is actually a very famous pianist?" Chica shook her head, so Kisa continued. "He travels a lot but he always returned to Japan. You see he is cursed, him and five other children. They are known as the Blade Children and are said to be the incarnations of death it self. They're hunted mercilessly for it, but I know. Inside, they hold more love than any other being. Eyes is the Blade Children's leader so he comes to Japan often to help them as that's where almost all of them live. My parents made Nii-san and I transfer her because they had heard Hogwarts was the best. Eyes may have been born here, but his duty lies in Japan. He transferred with me but I know it won't last long before Ryo-chan and the others need him. I know we are destined not to be together but still, I can't help but try to give him strength. When he does leave though, can I count on your shoulder?" A single tear slid down her cheek.

Chica put her hands on Kisa's shoulders and said, "I guess we're more similar than we had first thought. Both of us can't seem to get this love thing right."

"I'll be here for you too, whenever you need me, you know how to reach me." Kazuto said. He transformed into his human form, the robes that Matt had given him magically appeared to cover him. He wiped away Kisa's lone tear and said, "Now you best be getting back, it's becoming quite late." Chica looked up and realized he was right; the crescent moon shown brilliantly above them in an ocean of stars through the trees. Kazuto lead them safely out and then returned to his herd.

Kisa said good-night to Chica at the Fat lady and then went down to her own common room. Chica, exhausted, went straight to bed and rested up for tomorrow. Classes started then after all. Kisa found Eyes waiting up for her in his usual chair by the fireplace.

"You seem content," Eyes said as she sat down on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and cradled her as she laid her head on his shoulder. "Chica must be okay then as well."

"She will be," Kisa said, "after all, she's the light of joy, right?"

Eyes smiled and kissed Kisa's forehead gently. "That may be so but your light will forever be the grandest to me, love. None can shine brighter, as you're the light of hope." A smile crept across Kisa's face at his words.

"Eyes, can we sleep like this again tonight?" Eyes looked a bit startled and asked why. "Just, please? For me."

"Anything for you, love," Eyes said and closed his eyes.

Kisa closed her eyes as well as a final thought entered her head. 'As long as I can still hold you tight, I will. I want to make the most of the time we have together, however short it may turn out to be.' Then she whispered out loud, "Watashiwa ai anata…"

Eyes caught her words and smiled as he thought, 'And I love you, Kisa'