Chapter Eight
School went as usual, like nothing was wrong. Sometimes Serena wanted to scream at people, asking how could they not notice? How could they be happy while she was sad? But she knew this would make no sense to them and kept silent, instead focusing on her homework for once, anything to keep her mind busy.
Drama would be the hardest, she felt. Lita was supposed to be there. How would this be explained? Entering with Molly and Mina, Serena noticed Darien, Andy, Roe and Adnama were already on stage, Darien and Adnama going over the scripts quietly. But something was different with Adnama. With surprise, Serena noticed she was now wearing glasses. But why?
As Serena approached the front seats, her heart stopped cold. The back of someone's head, a brown hared one yet a bit dark, the same style. Could it be?
Serena heard Mina gasped from behind as well as Molly walked past and gave Serena an odd look.
"What is it, Serena?" she asked.
Serena shook her head and gave a grin to Molly, "Oh nothing Moll. I just realized I forgot to ask Mina something. You go find a seat. I'll just be a sec."
As Molly went to the second row, Serena turned to Mina and her face showed the same surprise Serena felt.
"You see it too?"
Mina nodded, her mouth still open, "But… I thought…"
"Well standing here won't help us find out any sooner. Come on!"
As they joined Molly in the second row, Serena leaned forward, trying to see the girl's face but she was looking down at her script. With a sigh, Serena shook her head. No, it couldn't be.
At that moment the girl looked up and turned to face Serena, a grin on her face, "Hey Serena!"
Mina and Serena nearly fell out of their chairs in shock, but quickly covered their surprise, Mina trying to speak.
"Lita! What… how… where…"
"…When, why?" Lita chuckled.
Serena finished for Mina, "What are you doing here?"
Lita blinked, "Why, I'm in drama, remember? Your idea, right? Boy, you two are acting silly?"
"But I thought… last night, we couldn't find you. What happened?"
"Oh that? Hehe, well, I found out I was just chasing some poor schmuck and decided to go home from there. I didn't think you guys would be worried so I never called."
Mina and Serena looked at each other, mouthing 'schmuck' in question. Lita didn't usually use such words. Serena turned a look of relief on her face, a sweatdrop present.
"Hehe, well you certainly gave us a scare. I'm glad your safe."
Lita tilted her head in confusion, "You had reason to worry?"
"Hehe, guess not!" Laughed Mina. She elbowed Serena giving an 'I told you so' look. Serena only reddened.
As Lita grinned, turning back to the front, Serena stopped. Had Lita looked a little annoyed for a moment there? And did her eye seem to flash or was it the stage light reflecting? Filled with these questions, she quickly let it go as Karie walked on stage.
"Well, people," she clapped her hands together, "I'm glad to say today will be your final test. I want all of you to read the lines you read last week on stage and we'll see how you do this time. And at the end of class, I will be handing out your final roles. Good luck!"
Picking up a clipboard from the floor, she suddenly stopped for a brief moment, glancing at the front row. Then as she stood up, she glanced about, a look of concern on her face. This caused a few to start talking.
Karie only chuckled and waved it off, "Oh it's nothing. Thought I swallowed a bug."
Everyone laughed but it did seem that Karie didn't laugh so much as they did her eyes in concentration for a moment before she looked through her clipboard and announced the first set of people.
By the end, everyone seemed to have pulled off a great job. Michael still seemed to be feeling nervous so it was to his great surprise that Karie gave him the role of the king.
"It will help you build more confidence," she grinned as she wrote on her clipboard. When all was said and done, Mina got her covenanted part as Titania, a shout of glee followed by a red face at the laughing that commenced. Darien was a prince, Serena a queen, wife to Michael (more red faces); Lita was to play a guardian, Molly was a royal cousin to Adnama who would play the lead as the princess in whom the story seemed to revolve.
"Now for technical support, I'd like the following to stay behind to receive your duties from me, Andy and Roe. The rest of you may go. Kurt, Lita, Molly, Mina, Michael," she listed a few more and gestured for the rest to leave while the ones called came to the front. Serena did a final turn, glancing at Lita, getting the thumbs up from Mina and headed out with Darien and Adnama.
"What with you today, Serena?" Adnama asked as they silently headed down the hall, "You seemed rather out of it today, up on stage."
"Oh, nothing." She gave a quick smile, "Just lack of sleep I guess."
"Anymore classes for you today?" Darien asked as he brought an arm around her.
"Actually, not today. Funny but the teachers seem to be up to something these days so they called for early leave today again."
"Must be a plot to cram your brains and turn you into zombies." Adnama made a blank stare and moaned like a zombie, receiving a laugh from Serena. She grinned, "Looks like that worked."
"Glad to se your doing better, Adnama," Darien said.
Adnama looked forward again, her face still yet calm, "I suppose I've just accepted the inevitable."
Darien grinned, giving her a warm look. Serena unwittingly spoke up cheerfully, trying to return the favor in cheering her up.
"Well it's not like you're gonna die, ne?"
Adnama's face changed so quickly, Darien thought she was going to be sick. But instead she force a small grin, but spoke quietly, "Yeah."
From this, Darien knew right away that what Adnama may have not told him in words, she did in actions. What she'd learned from Dr. Hyoko must have been just that bad.
Reaching the outdoors and trying to lighten the mood, Darien commented to Adnama, "Those glasses do suit you, wouldn't you say Serena?"
A little surprised but taking it up, Serena nodded, "They do. So I guess the doctor prescribed some glasses then for you? That's what's been bothering you, I'll bet. But don't worry, you don't look one bit the nerd like Melvin."
At this, both Darien and Adnama burst out laughing. To make it funnier, Serena just stood there confused.
Wiping away a tear of mirth, Adnama spoke, "Hehe, that's what I like about you, Odango. Your sweet innocent comments. Your spirit really does shine through. I'm gonna miss that."
This caught the other two off guard as Serena asked, "Why? Are you going somewhere?"
Adnama's face fell a bit but she covered again, "No. I guess not. I gotta run. Cha!" And she ran off to the parking lot leaving them to only stare. Serena looked up to Darien.
"Don't you think that was odd?"
He nodded as he watched Adnama disappear on her bike out the lot. Then seeing the others coming from the school they headed over, forgetting about Adnama for the moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"This is getting worse. I don't know where he is, he wasn't in classes today and I got this very bad feeling in drama. I'm afraid another has been taken."
"Are you sure?" the quiet voice asked from the shadows, "She was here, wasn't she? I would think she'd be gone if it were so."
Karie kept pacing the stage. "Something's not right here. I feel…deceived some how. Like a cloud has been cast over me." She turned to the dark wings, "Are you sure you're not hiding something from me?"
There was silence and then a quiet, "No."
Karie looked skeptical; "It wouldn't be the first time. There are things I could never learn from her. Things no one would speak of."
"Follow your gut and let go of your feelings. They can sometimes betray you."
"If only I could change. Do what he does. Wasn't there something…"
"Perhaps but the time will come when you will know. For now, go home and wait. I'm sure he is all right. I feel nothing of danger for him right now. You can to, am I right?"
Reluctantly, she nodded, "But it doesn't stop me from worrying." She sighed, "All right. I do need to get this play taken care of. It's begun it's task already so things are going as planned." Still she seemed to pace.
The voice grew concerned; "Perhaps I should not have called upon you two. This may be more then you can deal with."
"No. I need to do it." She stopped pacing her face lowered as she spoke silently, "For her."
"I must go. I cannot stay here too long or I will be missed. Be strong. All will be right again."
There was a silent whoosh and then nothing.
Taking in a deep breath, Karie collected her things and headed out of the auditorium and to the teacher's meeting.
Later that afternoon, as she came outside, someone was standing by her car, waiting. Seeing red hair she grinned but her face changed as she realized it was only Roe.
"Oh, what are you doing here Roe?" she asked as she dropped her stuff into the car.
Roe's face seemed so angular. Almost like Aaron's, she thought. With a strange smile, Roe spoke, "I thought I'd go over idea's with you about the wardrobe and make-up. I do believe Molly and Mina will do well in those departments."
She spoke for a while, all the while Karie nodded yet feeling a small nagging feeling in the back of her mind. Something… something she didn't understand seemed to be bothering her about Roe.
"Karie? What do you think?"
Karie blinked and nodded, "Sounds good. Bring them up with the others tomorrow and we'll get started right away."
Roe gave another very strange smile, her dark eyes almost seemed to glint, "Very well. Thank you for your time. She turned with a small swish, her black skirt moving with grace in line with her steps.
Karie leaned wearily against her car. She felt like someone had just doused her with cold water. Roe's voice seemed so… cold. Yet that was all that seemed odd. Shaking her head and getting into the driver's seat, she touched her forehead again.
Cold sweat was there and she hadn't even realized it. Taking in breath, Karie passed it off as worry for Aaron. There was nothing wrong with this picture. It was no secret that Roe wasn't really a people's person. She just didn't seem the type.
Throwing this aside, she started her car and headed for home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
His vision felt blurry, his eyes feeling cold sting every time he tried to open them. Something had woke him and still felt the fog of sleep over him. So when he did see something, though rather blurry, he wasn't surprised his mind was making things up. It had to be.
The room was dim but afternoon light filtered from a window shrouded in soft white curtains. Someone was in that light, beside him, a damp cloth going over his feathered forehead.
Her hair looked every bit as red as his but for two stripes of soft black on each side of her face, and it draped delicately against her arms. Her face, he could almost make it out. That same soft face he once knew, the loving eyes, the soft caresses. Even as he was, he wanted to weep.
'Aroi-he.' Her soft voice whispered, 'Whatever happens, you know I will always love you, my most dearest of all.'
The same words, the ones he'd held to him for so many years. He wished to speak but all that escaped was a soft cry of a wounded bird.
The face seemed to shift the voice so quiet.
'Aroi-he… Aroi-he…'
He blinked and before him was someone else. Her heart mourned as another voice spoke.
"Are you okay?" The little girl from the night before sat beside him, a cloth in her hand. Had it been a dream? Was it only his mind allowing him that one wish but for a moment?
Feeling hurt yet feeling the fierce pain of condition hitting him, he was finally fully aware of his surroundings and he blinked again.
The pain ached but it was not like it had been the night before. His head moved from side to side, his blinking like any falcon would. The girl smiled.
"I'm glad. You seem better today. Sorry I couldn't stay all day but I had school. And I didn't want Auntie to know I'd found a bird. She might have sent you to the animal shelter to get help there."
Though he couldn't speak, his indignation at this thought came out in a screech. The girl laughed.
"Yeah, I thought you'd feel that way too. Well, I'll get you something to eat. Be right back."
Once she left, he considered his options and gently moved his wing. It still stung but he'd have to risk something soon. He couldn't stay. Ki-he would be frantic.
He mused over his last conscience thought of the night before. A faerie? No, it must have been his imagination, thoughts of stories he'd once heard.
With determination, he concentrated and the bird suddenly glowed bright and grew larger. In the bird's place lay a small red hared boy, almond shaped eyes the color of emeralds. He glanced down and realized he forgotten something, turning red. With a quick thought and a flash, he soon wore blue jeans and tee shirt with a funny little cartoon on it.
Getting up slowly, he held his arm close. Wincing, he rose and silently stepped out of the room and down a hall. Coming to an open area, he saw the girl in a kitchen going through the cupboards.
Trying to be quick and silent, he made a run for the door. Just as he grabbed the handle with his good hand, he spotted a tabby staring at him from a couch near by. His senses kicked it like lightning and he gasped. The cat seemed very interested in him and he almost felt hypnotized.
"There we go." He heard the girl getting closer and finally breaking eyes with the cat, he opened the door and closed it with a soft click, making a run for the elevator he spotted.
Getting in, he hid by the button panel, hit the 'main floor' button and pushed the 'close door' repeatedly. The finally began to close just as the apartment door slowly opened. With a deep breath, he waited but the doors finally clicked before the apartment door opened any further.
With a sigh of relief, he sank to the floor and winced at his arm. Looking at it now, it seemed rather purple but he hoped it wasn't broken. How'd he explain that?
With a ding, the elevator reached the main floor. He rushed from there, not really watching where he was going, nearly knocking over a lady.
"Whoa there! You shouldn't be running."
He turned only briefly, his eyes widening as the lady only watched. With a swallow, his small voice cracked, "S-sorry."
"Hey, you're not from around here, are you? And what's wrong with your arm?" But before she could do anything, he bolted again, out of the building and ran across the street and into the park. He didn't stop till he was half way through it, finally coming to rest against a tree, breathing hard.
This wasn't his most favorite of forms but it seemed less conspicuous then some grown-up running out of a building.
Having caught his breath, he began to wander around, not exactly sure where he was now. He hadn't really been paying attention the night before and had lost his bearings. He got many stares and comments, mostly "What a sweety" and "Are you lost, dear" but he only smiled sweetly and continued on, trying not to look too pained as he held onto his arm.
At last he found another entrance out of the park and onto a street. Walking along the sidewalk, he glanced about in worry, trying to recognize anything familiar.
Not long after, he heard a car stop behind near the sidewalk and a door open. With a slight groan, he hoped it wasn't some stupid supposed kidnapper. With a bit of an annoyed look, he turned and nearly choked at who stood there, their arms crossed.
"Even in such disguises, you do stand out. Don't look so innocent. Get in already. You're in big trouble, young man." She said this last bit with a laugh as he glared and got into the passenger seat of the white convertible.
As they drove along, he finally spoke in his small boy voice, "What took you so long?"
"Drop the 'cute' act, would you please?"
"Fine," his voice changed to that of someone much older then six. Not turning to him, she laughed.
"You know, you had me worried. Whatever you might be working on, you shouldn't just disappear like that. Who would look after your classes, for one?"
"It wasn't exactly my plan for this to happen," he said in exasperation, as he explained what had commenced the night before.
After he finished she glanced at him briefly, "You know, with that look and your voice, you almost seem like a munchkin."
Getting a good laugh out of this at his expense, he fumed, glanced about and crouched deep in his seat. A flash later and Aaron sat there, looking rather perturbed with her in cargos and green tee shirt.
"Much better." She said.
"You're not exactly showing any pity to my situation."
"Well, it is your own fault. You should have been watching where you were flying. Lucky for you that girl had a good heart."
"Yeah," he said thoughtfully, lightly touching his arm. "I was almost sure I saw something though. She seemed so like… but I don't believe it could be possible." Then his face widened again and he turned to her.
"But she was there. Just as I ran out. It must be where you've gone those few nights."
She frowned, "You've been spying on me?"
"No, not that. It just happened. I ran into Adnama. She lives there. Do suppose she knows this girl? Or that cat for that reason."
She shrugged, "I don't recall hearing anything about them. We didn't get briefed on anyone like them. It probably just tat you surprised the animal and it was protecting its territory."
"'It' was a female and I don't believe there was anything 'normal' about her. Perhaps the same is with this girl."
"Why not just drop it. You will most likely not see them again and I doubt there is any connection to Adnama. End of story." She seemed to cut this like a knife and he said nothing of it again, but he did look at her in concern.
"What happened today?"
She spoke of the strong feeling of foreboding and the talk with Roe, and what had resulted in it.
"I never felt anything from her. But maybe she its because she keep to herself so much. But for you to feel something now." He was thoughtful and then his face grew very stern.
"Watch out, Karie. I don't want you around her alone. Until we know what it means, I think we should even have her leave the drama team."
"No. It would look to suspicious. And I believe we should keep an eye on her. Whatever is going on, I want to be able to catch it before something happens."
With his good hand, he took hold of one of hers and gave it a squeeze. "Just remember what you promised me. Don't do anything possibly dangerous without me."
"I don't need to be babied." She said sternly but after a while gave a small nod, taking back her hand and holding the steering wheel tightly with both.
He sighed, watching her for a moment. "You know, you have so much of your mother in you."
Her face relaxed a bit as she spoke quietly, "I'm surprised you remember her. You were only six when…" she blinked and looked back at the road.
"And you were not that much younger the me. And we both remember well. As I do mine."
Having reached their parking lot, she turned off the engine, sitting there. She turned, her hand raised.
"'To cherish and remember,'"
He took her hand in a firm grip, "'Those we loved, forever.'"
Aaron smiled, "This promise we made as children. Let's make sure we accomplish this. For the sake of our future."
"And our past."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Haruka walked into the house, still feeling empty since Michiru's disappearance. The house was quiet, Hotaru over at Rini's and Setsuna… well, she hadn't return for a number of months. With a sigh, she dropped her schoolbooks on the kitchen table and suddenly stopped.
A sound had come from down the hall. With her guard up, she held her henshi stick close as she slowly entered the living room. Someone exited from the bathroom and went into another room.
Haruka couldn't believe someone would break in only to shower. After a moment, the person entered the living room, their head bent as they dried their hair. As the looked up, the towel moved off to the side and the girl smiled, her hair flowing like soft waves; Haruka could only gasp in utter shock.
"Hello, Haruka." Her voice in gentle tones.
Michiru!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, hoped this wets your appetites. If it seems to boring, do let me know. I am trying my best. Many things have been going on. But as always, do R&R. Cha!