Next, I have something I've been dying to do. Thanks for reviewing, SammiRichGurl, Princess-Sayuri13 and Epic Blowtorch.
The next day, Santa Monica had been told that Arizona was planning to launch an attack on them, and people were running. Miyoko was inside most of the time, not bothering. That was until Markl rushed in from the shop.
"Miyoko, there's some girl here, and she's acting kind of weird!"
"Wha-" Miyoko looked as a girl of about fourteen came into view. The girl looked back at her. Miyoko's eyes widened, and so did the other girl's.
"Topaz?" Miyoko whispered.
"Oh my – MIYOKO!" her cousin screamed, running at her and hugging her. Then she yelled out "Jess! Char! Over here, like, right now!"
Topaz's sisters appeared. Charlotte hung back, shocked by Miyoko's age, but Jessica reacted the exact way Topaz had, hugging Miyoko so hard her ribs nearly broke.
"Where did you go? We were so worried after you went missing!" exclaimed Jessica. "The last time anyone other than us in the house saw you was Aria, and she said she hadn't seen you since she dropped you off outside. What happened to your age?"
"Did you get cursed or something?" Charlotte asked nervously.
"Can't talk about it, like, literally can't." Miyoko said. "I'm working as a housekeeper here. Do you three want to come in?"
The three girls followed their cousin. "How do you keep things so clean?" Topaz asked. "I've seen your room."
"I think you're confusing my room with Jess' room." Miyoko replied. "Besides, we moved in here recently. Up until then, we were in LA."
As the girls talked to Miyoko excitedly, no one noticed when Topaz edged away and placed a tiny pouch on the table.
"Are you going to come home?" Jessica asked. "They say it's not safe in Santa Monica. Besides, you should go back to school."
"That's OK." Miyoko said. "I like working here, and I can leave school. I'm going to be eighteen soon. Look, I'll keep in touch."
"We have to get going, anyway." Topaz said quickly. "Bye!"
Charlotte knew what Topaz was assigned to do, and she felt guilty as the three girls got into the car, and the keys were given back to their aunt.
"What's up?" asked Satoshi.
"Miyoko." whispered Charlotte. "I hope she'll forgive us for it."
In fact, Miyoko hadn't known about the pouch. The car keys were stolen, and Natasha Rainbow had enlisted the family's help to get to the castle, hence why Topaz had been there in the first place. But while Miyoko was out, Rosaria had already sensed it, and made sure everything Natasha had put in the pouch that was harmful was disposed of. The one thing she did find she fed to Calcifer.
Meanwhile, Miyoko watched people leaving Santa Monica, Markl by her side, wearing his old man disguise.
"Do you want to leave with them, Miyoko?" he asked. "Those girls wanted you to go with them."
Miyoko shrugged. "At least I was able to regain touch with them."
Markl suddenly hugged the woman. "Don't leave, Miyoko, please!" he cried. Miyoko looked down at him, realizing that he sounded near to tears. "I love you. Please stay!"
Markl's outburst made Miyoko feel wanted. She loved Markl too, like a little brother. "I love you too, Markl." she whispered. "I was never going to leave. I'm staying."
Markl looked up at her, a radiant smile on his face. "Cause we're really a family now."
"Yes..." Miyoko said softly and dreamily. "We are..." Really, she was still wishing the family could be complete. She didn't want to be the stepsister, or the housekeeper, or even the room mate who had a crush on the guy who owned the place. She wanted to be the girlfriend.
When they got in that night, something seemed strange. Rosaria was smoking a cigarette, and Calcifer seemed to be unusually weak. He just couldn't get going, no matter what Miyoko did.
"I have a feeling that the smoke might be the problem." Miyoko decided. "Could you stub that thing out?"
"Nope." Rosaria muttered. "By the way, you better not open a window. Rainbow's minions could get in with Calcifer being this weak, and none of us want that."
"So I can't even let the smoke out?" complained Miyoko. But she looked out the window, and could tell there was going to be a lot of danger. She could see fire, battle planes, and knew that there was a reason everyone was leaving Santa Monica, her beloved hometown. "Look, I've got to go make sure the shop is OK. Everyone else, stay inside!" She didn't know why she felt a pull to check on the shop, but she simply felt that she had to.
But as soon as she reached the shop, the minions surrounded her.
"What's the concern with me?" Miyoko cried. As she spoke, she felt her voice go back to the girl who was going to be eighteen in a week. She was suddenly back to her regular self, before she was cursed, and this time, it felt like it was probably permanent. What she didn't realize is that while her thick black hair was mostly back to normal, there were still a few silvery streaks through it.
She delayed the minions, but then she saw some things flying down below her. But one flew faster than the rest. It was more feathery than the others. Miyoko's heart picked up the pace, going crazy and doing gymnastics. She knew it could only be one person.
Sure, that chapter was OK, but it's nearing the end. I hope you liked this chapter. Now please review, even if you didn't.
