Tsuki awoke to the sound of thunder, though she just sighed.
She hated storms but something seemed to be keeping the panic from gripping her here. Though the sound of crying caught her attention.
"Maybe you should go see what's going on?" Shin suggested from where she lay on the other pillow.
"Why should I? Even if someone is hurt or something I can't help….I can't even open up to my teacher or sister!" Tsuki snapped, earning a sigh.
"Tsuki….I'll come with you." Shin stated, climbing onto Tsuki's shoulder.
"Okay. Just don't hurt me too bad if I mess up." Tsuki retorted as she headed toward the door, only to receive a light slap by the cat's tail.
"Since when have I hurt you!?" Shin retorted, earning a small smile.
Shin noticed how timid Tsuki was as she paused outside the bedroom door.
"Come on, you'll wake someone up!" Junjun's voice whispered from somewhere behind the door.
"But I'm scared!"
Tsuki sighed at that and glanced down at the cat before sighing and opening the door, hearing a yelp from Pallapalla who hid behind Cerecere, who was sitting on the bed with her.
"Relax, You're not in trouble. What's wrong?" Tsuki stated as she glanced around the dimly lit room.
"Pallapalla is afraid of thunder." Vesves answered, though as another rumble came all four of them flinched.
"Looks like she's not the only one." Tsuki retorted then sighed and glanced at the clock.
"Yeah well you'd be scared too if you were locked out in middle of s storm before!" Junjun yelled, quickly hiding beneath the covers.
Tsuki felt herself flinch at the accusation before she sighed and replied emotionlessly
"I have been."
Shin could feel Tsuki's muscles tighten as she clenched a fist by her side.
"You where?" Cerecere asked, earning a sigh and a nod.
"Yes, among other things. Is that why you can't sleep?" Tsuki replied in the same tone though her eyes softened from their hardened glaze.
"Yeah. Sorry if we woke you." Vesves answered for them, though Tsuki only shook her head.
"You didn't…and even if you did I don't mind." Tsuki answered before sighing and sitting down at the foot of Parapara's bed.
"Do you believe that there is a place for souls after death?" She asked, earning a confused look.
"Well….There has to be don't them?" Junjun piped up from under her cover, causing Tsuki to laugh.
"Someone use to tell me whenever I was scared during a storm that the lightning and thunder were the result of angels playing tag. So try to think of it like that when there's a storm…..and if that don't help you can always come to any adult here...including me." Tsuki stated, trying to keep her voice from wavering.
"What's an angel?" Pallapalla asked, slowly coming over to Tsuki who smiled slightly to cover her own emotions.
"Angels are very pure souls who watch out for people on earth." Tsuki replied, just as another clap of thunder caused the little girl to cling to her.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breaths as Tsuki looked down at the shivering child.
"It's okay." Tsuki stated, lightly stroking the child's hair as she glanced toward the window.
"Thunder is just what happens when they bump into one another….and Lightening is caused by their speed." Tsuki whispered before adding "Kinda like when you and your sisters play roughly."
Pallapalla looked up then, noticing how Tsuki was smiling slightly.
"Really Tsuki? How do you know?" she asked, causing the dark haired teen to smirk slightly.
"Someone very smart told me that a long time ago." She answered before adding lightly "go on to sleep, nothing will hurt you here."
After Pallapalla was finally asleep Junjun glared at her.
"Where'd you really hear that story?" she asked, earning a sigh.
"My step Dad told it to me when I was little. He didn't know at the time that my monsters were real, but it did keep me from being too scared whenever I wasn't at home." Tsuki answered honestly before standing up to leave the room.
Tsuki sighed as she glared over at the window, wincing as lightning struck across the sky. She really did hate storms, though she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Sighing she got out of bed and headed toward the kitchen.
Maybe I can find a pack of those fudge cookie cracker things or something.
She thought as she felt her way through the dark house.
"What are you doing up?" a tired sounding Hawk's eye asked from where he lay on the couch, watching some sort of fashion show.
"Couldn't sleep." She answered simply as she made her way toward the kitchen.
Tsuki sat alone at the table, drifting in and out of sleep on her crossed arms.
"Go to bed squirt." A voice mumbled, causing her to look up in surprise only to see Daichi standing there with a hand on her back.
"Dad? What time is it?" she asked sleepily, causing him to smile broadly.
"Um…four thirty." He answered though as he watched his daughter stumble to her feet, back popping repeatedly.
"Thanks for waking me." She stated as she headed upstairs.
Once she was gone Daichi allowed himself to feel happy, especially with how nonchalantly she had spoken to him.