"I'll Be Here Beyond the Falling Moon"

by: Glass Angel

CHAPTER I

"You got no place to sleep, huh?" Japas asked Mikau as the trio left Japas's room.

"Well, not here," Mikau replied.

"We don't have an extra room," Lulu said, looking over at Japas.

"What," Japas eyed Lulu slyly as they walked down the path, "do you want him to sleep in your room?"

"Of course not," Lulu blushed a deep shade of dark blue against her indigo skin. "How about Tijo's room? He's got that loft up top that he can't reach. We can't let that go to waste."

"Yeah," Japas nodded in agreement. The three walked over to Tijo's room and stepped in. Tijo looked up from his drum set.

"Oh, hi," Tijo said, waving.

"I know this is kind of in your face, but this is Mikau, and he needs a room, so we thought he could stay in the upper part of yours," Japas said, pointing to a space near the upper corner of the room where a floor had been created with a tree growing from it. Tijo shrugged.

"That's okay with me," he said in reply. Mikau looked over to Japas and Lulu.

"I'm gonna hit the sack now," he said. They both nodded.

"Okay," Japas said as he and Lulu left the room. "We'll be seein' ya."

"Goodbye, Mikau," Lulu said and closed the door behind her. Mikau grabbed the edge of the loft and pulled himself up, finding a table and soft grass.

"I guess I'll go ahead and get to sleep, too," Tijo said. Mikau heard him get up from the drum set and settle on the ground. Mikau did the same and stared up a the ceiling. He waited patiently until he could hear Tijo's snores, then leapt lightly to the floor and exited the Zora Hall.

* * *

Mikau opened the door to the laboratory and let himself in. The professor looked up from a test tube.

"What did you learn?" He asked promptly, not one to waste time. Mikau leaned against his tank.

"Well," he said, not really sure where to begin, "I met a lot of the zoras there, and there was this band—the Indigo-gos—who were going to stay for a month."

"Go on," the professor said impatiently.

"I met the singer of the band first," Mikau continued. "Her name was Lulu—"

"'Her'?" the professor looked at Mikau closely. "You met a female zora?"

"Well. . .yeah," Mikau shrugged. "Why?"

"Hmm," the professor scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I want you to get to know her better. Become closer. I want to learn about her."

"Okay," Mikau shrugged again. "I will." The professor looked at him.

"Do I sense that you're using slang more than usual?" he questioned.

"That's how everyone talks over there," Mikau answered. "I just thought I might start talking like them too."

"You may sleep now," the professor replied, climbing onto the ladder and pulling the switch once more. Mikau let himself slip into the water of the tank as the old man closed it and stepped back down the ladder. He drifted to the floor and laid down, thankful for the familiar surroundings. As he laid there, he thought of the past day and all he had learned from the other zoras. Being around them gave him a feeling he wasn't quite used to. Lulu also gave him an unusual feeling, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. All he knew was, it was a good feeling, and he could hardly wait to get back.

* * *

As the days passed, Mikau learned the music the Indigo-gos' played and was officially accepted into the band. He and Japas became good friends, and the feeling he had for Lulu continued to grow. He felt even more like he belonged with the zoras, and thought less about the laboratory, even though he still returned every night to stay.

After a two weeks had passed, the Indigo-gos were once again in rehearsal.

"Hey, Evan?" Mikau said. "You know the name of the band?"

"Yeah," Evan replied.

"Can we rename the band?" Mikau finished. Evan eyed him.

"What's wrong with the Indigo-gos?" He asked.

"Well, it's kind of. . . ." Mikau searched for the right word.

"Lame?" Japas finished. Evan glared at Japas.

"Do you have a better name in mind?" Evan turned to Mikau.

"Actually, I do," Mikau answered. "What about Riff?"

"Sounds good to me," Japas said. "Y'know, since we've been writing heavier songs? I like it."

"Me too," said Lulu.

"Yeah," Tijo nodded. Evan examined the keys of his keyboard for a moment.

"Well. . . . ." he looked up at his fellow band members. "Fine. Our new name is Riff."

"Yeah!" Japas slapped a high-five with Mikau. "Finally! A cool name!" Evan rolled his eyes.

"Thank you, Evan," Lulu said. Evan shrugged.

"We've been changing a lot," he said in reply. "What's one more? Anyway, it's been a long day. We're done. Everyone get some sleep; we'll be rehearsing again tomorrow." The others gathered their equipment and left.

"Don't forget, Mikau," Japas said as he opened his door, "we've got a jam session tomorrow. Don't be late."

"Don't worry, man," Mikau retorted. "I'll be there." He looked over at the back entrance. "I guess I'd better go out the back way this time," he said, walking over to the exit of the Hall. As he did so, he heard the faint sound of Lulu's singing voice. He blinked and walked outside. Mikau stopped when he found Lulu sitting at the edge of the side, singing a deep ballad he had never heard before:

"My heart is beating for your love

As you have returned to me

Speak to me once more, my dear

That you will love me eternally

Hold me in your arms

Just like you had before

And give me love's eternal kiss

To love me evermore"

Mikau watched in awe as she continued. He took a step forward, and a stone beneath his foot loosened and fell into the water. Lulu stopped and quickly turned around.

"Oh! I didn't see you there," Lulu said, standing. "I'm sorry."

"No, that's okay," Mikau responded. "I shouldn't have snuck up on you." He shifted uncomfortably. "That was a beautiful song," he said. "Did you write it?" Lulu smiled. Mikau thought of how beautiful she looked when she did so.

"Thank you," she nodded. "Yes, I did. I usually sing it when I'm sitting out here. It's where I go before I turn in at night to think. Do you want to sit down?" Mikau sat down at the edge with her beside him.

"Beautiful view," Mikau said, watching the last fragment of the sun slowly descend into the horizon. Lulu nodded her reply. They sat in silence, quietly watching the sun set.

"Do you like it here?" she questioned. Mikau nodded.

"Yeah, I do," he said. "I really like it here. In fact, it's better than home. I really do feel like I belong here with you guys."

"That's good," Lulu said in return. "I like you in our band. The band's really improved with you in it. And," she turned to him and smiled, "I really feel like I can talk to you." Mikau smiled back at her beautiful face. The last few rays of the sun set off her gorgeous violet eyes. She put a hand on his. "Thank you for coming here," she whispered to him softly. "These few weeks have been the best in my life, and it's all because of you." Mikau looked deep into her eyes. The feeling washed over him even more than ever; he felt as if he could do anything.

"Thank you," he whispered back. They held their gaze longer, as if searching the other's soul and finding what they wanted. Mikau then leaned over and kissed her gently on her soft lips, his arms lightly around her waist. She returned the kiss with her arms wrapped around his neck in a sweet embrace. They held eachother even more tightly as they clutched the moment. The kiss ended, and they embraced once more. The two looked into eachother's eyes once again, no longer caring that the night would eventually end. Mikau stroked Lulu's delicate cheek and kissed her another time.

The kiss lingered until Lulu gently pulled away and stood. Mikau watched her as she gazed at him, then turned and entered the Hall. He sat there for a moment, then went inside himself and into his room, where he climbed to the loft and laid down. The feeling he had continued to wash over him as Mikau thought of the past event. He then realized that feeling he had—it had to be love. True love.

For once, he didn't bother going back to the laboratory.