It was well past two a.m. when the Wasatanara family bid their guests farewell. Minako stood beside her friend and forced a smile when Jonasan placed a kiss to her cheek. Arturu's limo pulled up behind Jonasan's and Luci looked positively miserable. She wasn't crying but she looked to be on the verge of, and she was whining like a child. He himself did not look too pleased at their parting, but he had his business to run, and assured her he would be back the next night.

Minako turned to face Lucinda's mother and father and thanked them heartily. They had always treated her well, and despite their vast difference in social class, she always felt welcomed by them. Luci hugged and kissed her parents goodnight and watched them head back into the mansion before tugging Mina to the last remaining limousine.

"Now, what was it you wanted to show me?" It was only a seconds glance, but Mina swore she saw that mischievous glint in Luci's eyes once again.

Minako explained to her friend everything that happened that day during the ride home and they pulled up to the house by the time she was finished. Luci could deny it all she wanted, but she was just as anxious to explore the shrine as Mina was; if not more. Together, they snuck quietly through the house, changing out of their fancy clothes in Minako's room. Luci had to borrow a nightgown and a pair of slippers; but when they were both dressed down, they headed out the back door. Along the way, they grabbed flashlights so they could see.

Without the light of the moon, the gardens were pitch black at night. Mina led her through the gardens, past the koi ponds and deeper still until the bushes grew thin and the trees bare. The ground became hard and crunched beneath their feet, unlike the soft fertile soil of the gardens, and they stuck close as they approached the old shrine.

One of the flashlights pointed at the door, where that single rose had appeared. It was still there in full bloom, and Luci stared incredulously.

"But Mina, how? How could it just grow from nothing?"

"That's the thing, Luci I don't know. I touched the door handle, that's all."

"You said it spoke to you. Maybe it will tell you more go on and open the door. I'll hold your light." She ushered her friend closer and took the flashlight from her hand, pointing them both at the door. Minako closed her palm around the handle again and gripped it tightly.

"Mimi is going to kill me..." Pulling with all of her might, she finally opened the heavy door to the shrine. The hinges screamed in rusted agony and the grayed, peeling wood creaked and groaned. A swarm of moths exploded from the entrance and she swatted at them with her hands, watching them fly off.

Luci followed her as she stepped into the shrine, shining the lights directly in front of them, and both beams rested upon a small room. It could just barely fit two people inside, and the shrine was completely empty.

Minako was relieved, and yet strangely disappointed. She was half-expecting at least one of her grandparents to be hiding in there, waiting to frighten her and scold her for snooping; but there was nothing, and she was left to cope with her dissatisfaction.

"This is it? An empty shack is what they've been scaring me for years with? Come on Luci, let's go." Unfulfilled and annoyed, Luci stepped out and handed Minako back her flashlight. She shined the light all over, taking one last look around before turning to follow, and as she did, she stubbed her toe hard upon something on the floor.

Casting her light down immediately, her heart leapt in her chest. Directly beneath where they were standing was a trap door.

"Are you sure we should open it Mina? You don't want to get into trouble now..." It was strange indeed for Luci to be the one hesitating, but Minako felt a strong sense of courage because of it.

"Of course. Stay up here if you like, but I want to know what's being kept from me." With that same impish grin that her best friend had trademarked, Mina tugged open the trap door and started climbing down the stairs. And not wanting to be left behind, Luci hurried along after her.