Chapter Three

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. The sound echoed in Nova's ears. Click-clack, click-clack. That sound also echoed in Nova's elf like ears. her heart pounded in her chest. And her shoes hit the floor as she ran.

Running, without stopping. Strained muscles. Her legs felt like they were on fire. She tripped and fell flat on her face. When she raised her face from the cold ground and felt something warm trickling down her lips and chin. Blood. Her own blood from her nose.

Fear froze her in place and gripped her throat allowing no air in, and no air out.

The blood made a dripping nose that echoed off the walls, joining the sound of her racing heart. Sweat built up on Nova's now trembling hands.

It was coming, she knew it... Fear at is best... Something she had to fear, something she could not escape...

Nova suddenly sat bolt up right, loudly squeaking her bed. She slapped a hand to her sweaty forehead. A bead of sweat rolled down her nose and ripped off onto her bed sheets.

Her eyes darted to the window as a bird outside chirped. She relaxed as her eyes fell upon Hikaru sprawled out on her own bed. The early morning sun sown through the open window and onto Hikaru.

Hikaru's eyes twitched from under her eye lids. Seconds later Hikaru opened her crimson eyes into the morning light.

"Oh! That's bright!" Hikaru cried as she pulled her blanket over her eyes.

"Heh," Nova snickered as she watched Hikaru.

Hikaru sat up and let the blanket fall from off her head. "Good morning Nova!" She said groggily.

Nova threw off her own sheets and watched as they hit the floor. "Morning." She mumbled.

Hikaru crawled to the end of her bed and looked at Nova and frowned. "You're all sweaty." She commented.

Nova raised her eye brows. Some of her bubble gum pink bangs were plastered to her forehead. Her face looked pale yet pinkish from the heat.

"But you stink," Hikaru said as she giggled.

Nova crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin up. "Do not," she muttered.

Hikaru jumped up from her bed and bounded over to her dresser. She rummaged around in her un-organized drawers for some clothes. She pulled out a pale pink tank top. She handed it to Nova and then handed her a pair of dark blue denim shorts.

"Clean, normal, clothing." Hikaru said with a slight nod.

Hikaru continued to rummage through her clothing until she found herself an outfit, a white tank top and a pair of red sports shorts with a white stipe down the side. She threw the outfit onto her bed.

"Now your shower Nova, and you'll be all squeaky clean!" Hikaru said as she shoved Nova out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Nova shrugged and headed for the bathroom. Her bare feet thumped softly on the shiny wood flooring. She paused in the hall to look at a family portrait that hung on the wall. Hikaru's family of three brothers, a mother, and a father. Nova wanted to be in the photo with them. It was an odd thing, but she really wanted to be part of the family.

She sighed and went around the corner, thus finding the bath room. She went in and listened as the lock clicked, signifying that the door was indeed locked. She looked around the bathroom, it sure wasn't as grand as the one in the Castle but it was more realistic.

She stripped down and got into the cold running water. She just needed a nice cold shower to wash away all the night mare...

After her shower she dressed. Not wearing her spandex was truly a change she could get used to. Though her new clothes exposed much of her skin, which could be a problem in a battle.

She walked down the hall watching her hair dripping onto the floor as she stood by the wall with the portrait. She looked up at it with her big red eyes trying to imagine herself in the photo.

"Gosh, you look like you could be Hikaru's twin ya know." Masaru said as he leaned against the wall.

"You mean like as if I were your sister?" Nova asked a her eyes glistened excitedly.

"Yup, like a long lost sister."

Nova grinned with delight and bowed. "That's the best thing I've heard all morning!"

Masaru laughed and motioned for her to fallowing. "Let's get some breakfast."

Nova nodded and fallowed Masaru down into the kitchen where Hikaru and her other brothers were.

Hikaru plugged the toaster in, and Nova's eyes lit up.

"Hello Nova," Hikaru said cheerfully.

"Oooh! The toaster!" Nova cried as she pointed to the toaster.

Hikaru nodded and put two slices of bread in. Nova hurried over and watched as the heat toasted the bread. She was very content to watch and loved how the heat from the toaster made her eyes water.

Hikaru leaned against the counter and stirred a bowl of cereal with a spoon.

Nova watched with amazement as the bread rose up from the toaster. She grabbed a piece of bread and yelped.

"Hot!" She yelled.

The toast went flying from her hand as Nova reacted to the heat. The toast landed in Kakeru's plate of pancakes.

"Hikaru-chan, your friend here is a klutz." Kakeru said as he shook his head.

Hikaru laughed and went to the fridge to get the butter. While Hikaru searched for the butter among all the stuff jammed into the fridge, Nova grabbed the other slice of bread and managed to hold onto it.

Nova shook the toast and watched as brown crumbs rained down on her bare foot. Then she licked the toast. Hikaru sweat dropped, and handed Nova a brand new stick of butter, fresh from the fridge.

Nova took the stick of butter and stared at it. "Do you eat this thing?" She asked skeptically.

"Yup, you do, it's called butter." Hikaru replied.

Nova placed the entire stick of butter down firmly on her slice of toast. Hikaru's crimson eyes grew wide as basket balls and her mouth hung open as she watched as Nova opened her own mouth and shoved the entire piece of toast into her mouth. She managed to chew, but pieces fell onto the floor joining the crumbs at her feet. Hikaru and her brothers stared.

Nova rubbed her belly, "mmm-mmm, yummy!"