Author's notes- Thanks Dr. M, but I should be the one begging you to write more! Well, not much more to say, this should be winding up next chapter.

Disclaimer- Another chapter, another thing to disclaim. Let's see, what don't I own this time? …Here we go: I don't own the song "Hiru No Tsuki".

Enjoy!

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Chapter 3- Apparitions

Smoke wreathed around her head from the hand it was propped on. There a cigarette hung all but forgotten. Another day, another dollar, Sakura thought staring into the clear liquid that was to ease her tired throat.

Tom eyed her uneasily from a distance. It was sake today, that drink was reserved for her more introspective days, and on such occasions she was far more touchy than usual. He decided it would be better if he stayed out of reach and retreated to the opposite end of the bar.

She had just finished a set, playing to the same disinterested crowd. The pay wasn't bad, but the acknowledgement was non-existent. Silently she wondered, if she didn't do back up and the band played without her, would the crowd still applaud lifelessly thinking she had sung? She couldn't fight the part of her that said they would.

The liquid in the glass stirred uneasily as someone further down bumped against the bar. As the ripples began to subside, faces formed in the liquor until it no longer existed and Sakura seemed to be staring into a mythical mirror that reflected past lives.

"Sakura," a weak voice coughed out. The girl in question turned, forcing a smile onto her face, but it failed to reach her pained eyes.

"Hai."

"Could you pour me some tea?"

"Hai, wakarimashita, Tou-san," she replied, pouring the bitter substance and carrying it to the bedside.

Kinomoto Fujitaka lay in an exhausted state, barely able to move. He had been released from the hospital days before in order to be made "more comfortable" at home. It would be a matter of months at most, the doctors had told her and Touya.

She sat beside the bed now, staring warily at the shell that had once been her father, and yet, in a very small way, still was. "Is there anything else I can get for you?" she asked at length, loathe to break the oppressive silence.

"Sing for me, dear. You have such a beautiful voice," he pleaded softly. She swallowed uncomfortably. It was not a request she could refuse, but singing was the last thing on her mind right now. She searched for something calm but cheery, and after collecting herself, began.

Oto no nai mahiru

Kaze wa tada akarui…

The last verse caught at her heart, the words seeming to mock her pain. She seemed to forget that the song had not chosen to be sung. "Softly let me hear of the distant future, so bright it can't be seen…like a white sand moon." She glanced over as she finished, the aging, dying man was asleep.

A tear fell in her sake, and with the disturbance, the scene changed.

Touya stood hugging her. Yukito waited a few paces away, giving them the time they needed. Friend after friend approached to bow their respects, only to go unnoticed. Unruffled, they then turned to pay final homage to the man all gathered had known and loved.

When the funeral was over, her brother drew her aside. "Kaijou," she smiled at the familiar name, "I know this isn't a good time to say this, but I need to. Yuki and I have decided…well, you see…we're moving away." Her head jerked up in shock. "To Jupiter," he added at last.

"Nani? But…that's so far away!" she finally managed to articulate.

"I know. We just need to get away from all the unpleasant memories. But we want you to come with us," he added, trying desperately to explain.

She thought for a moment, "Iie, niichan. I would just be in your way. I'll be fine on my own."

"I'm not going to take 'no' for an answer, Sakura. You're coming with us." She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder to silence him.

"Listen to your little sister for once," she said with all the calm of a fifty year-old woman, "I'll be fine. I'm not a baby and you two need to get on with your lives. You've been tied down here too long." He frowned down at her, and she had to give a sad grin. He had admitted defeat.

Her reverie was suddenly broken by the shifting of body weight next to her and the words, "Hey, you come here often?" gliding over her senses.

Adopting her best death glare, she turned to the object of her annoyance, but was surprised to not hear the usual gasp in response to that particular gesture. Instead, the bespectacled man chuckled lightly. Greeted by the barely altered face, Sakura jumped from shock.

"Hiirigazawa-san?!" She leapt at the unsuspecting man, and had she been able to see his face from her position clamped around his neck, any disappointment from his previous lack of reaction would have vanished.

"It's nice to see you too, Kinomoto-san," he chuckled once he had regained composure. She pulled back and blushed slightly.

"Gomen nasai, I was just so surprised to see you," she apologized.

"It's quite alright, I was rather shocked myself. I haven't seen you since before I left Earth. How've you been?" A ghost of her formerly brilliant smile played at the corners of her mouth as she mumbled out,

"Oh, you know. Daijoubu." Seeing her falling countenance, his smile faded as well. Still, he played along with her charade.

"I'm glad to hear that. So what brought you to Einsam?"

She shrugged, "It's as good a place as any. I didn't really feel at home on Earth after Tou-san died," she paused, realization hitting, "Wait, did you know?"

"Iie, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It makes sense, it was after you left."

A light tap on the shoulder caused her to turn. Charlie was standing there smiling submissively at her.

"It's time for your next set, Miss Kinomoto."

"Thanks, Charlie." The old man nodded and tottered away.

"I have to go do another set, Eriol-san. I'd like to talk to you more, but I don't suppose you'll still be here when I finish."

"Actually, no. I have an appointment, but if you're working tomorrow I could drop by around the same time."

"That would be great," she affirmed with a sincere smile, "Well, dewa ashita."

"Yes, tomorrow," he said in his usual cryptic manner and turned to leave. As she walked back to the stage, a thought occurred. I wonder why Eriol-san is on Einsam, anyway.

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Quick Japanese lesson:

Hai, wakarimashita- "Yes, sure." Wakarimashita is literally "I got it/ I understand" said politely.

Dewa Ashita- Until tomorrow/ See you tomorrow.

Well, it looks like this chapter has turned out a bit longer than the previous two. Hope minna is enjoying it. Only one way to let me know…Review! Thinking about it more, the title for this chapter is appropriate on so many levels. *shrug*

Why is Eriol on Einsam? Who is this 'appointment' with? Does anyone know what 'Einsam' means? All this and more in the next…*dum dum dum*…Into The Gray.