The Ghost

by Korii Shoujo

Chapter One - Hinoko

"Mitsuru."

A repremanding voice shot out with definite command lying in its tones, causing the frenetic tengu to turn to view who had disturbed his agonizing oaths to himself and his deceased love. Standing in the doorway resolutely, with his lengthy, slim arms crossed, stood Misoka Asagi in his complete were-fox form. His apathetic golden eyes bore down on Mitsuru, seemingly reading into his soul and mind, pulling every secret he had hidden out into the open for all to see and his magnificent ears were pressed forward, catching every trace of sound that reverberated throughout the dusky, mellow room. The fox stepped forward, his coarse, wooden sandles clacking loudly on the floor as he walked towards the tengu deliberately, a disapproving look glowing on his face.

"What are you planning on doing?" The wise half-human demanded, his eyes narrowing pointedly in silent accusation, "If you're planning on using a Tear to revive Mahiru, you may drop that idea now." The tengu's eyes flashed darkly as Misoka continued,"We need all seven to ensure that the Lunar Race remains healthy and whole, especially the Empress and Lord Shirogane."

Mitsuru chuckled bitterly, scoffing the idea of their importance compared to his Mahiru. In his eyes, they were but a speck in the broad spectrum of humans and Lunar Race alike, and his Mahiru encompassed nearly everything he did, said, or acted upon. If he had even planned to use one of those Tears to revive his fiance, he would've stolen one of the gems and executed that plan a very long time ago, regardless of what happened to him along the way. Death was better for him than Mahiru; after all, she'd only ever wanted to escape the fearful thing, and he'd embrace it endearingly if it meant that his princess could breathe, talk, laugh, and sing once more.

Snarling viciously, Mitsuru gathered his wind currents around him, and forced them to lift him off the ground, so that he stood hovering a few inches off the floor, giving him the advantage of height to use against Misoka, whose form still stood firm like his voice. The tengu sneered haughtily at the fox he had hated since he had met and began to speak.

"I wasn't planning on using a Tear, Misoka," Mitsuru's voice dripped sarcasm, yet the always stoic Misoka's countenance did not change. "I have another plan, that involves a different sort of gem...a Tear, you could say. I've been doing my research."

The side of Misoka's mouth twitched humourously, as he attempted to abait his laughter, causing Mitsuru to grit his teeth to keep from lunging at the fox who mocked him as if he was merely kidding around with something frivilous. Mahiru's death was not something he preferred to laugh about, and the fox was acting like it was a mere everyday happening at the Moon Palace at which they lived. The large tengu floated forward a few inches, a fixed glare impressed upon his features the entire time, as he came within two feet of a highly skeptical Misoka. He cracked his knuckles as if he wanted to wrap his hands around the werefox's neck and choke him for his insolence towards his motives.

"There is no other Tear, Mitsuru. Despite what the stories," Here Misoka smirked,"have told you, there is not another one. I've heard those myths as well." As the fox looked the vehement tengu over, his features softened somewhat as he added quietly, "Just let the Princess go, Mitsuru. She left with a smile on her face, and I'm sure she was content that she passed by your side. Your grief is simply running its course. It might take some time, but you'll get over it. Just give it time. You'll find another one who will be your bride one day."

"How can you say that, you goddamn fox?" Mitsuru whispered, tightening his mouth into a thin line as he felt the warmth of tears pricking at the sides of his eyes, "There is no other person who could ever replace Mahiru. If I cannot have her as mine, then I will not have anyone at all. The way you're acting really makes me think. Damnit, Misoka! Do you even care that she's gone?" The tengu felt like he was chewing on a bushel of cotton as he struggled to continue, tightening his fists, "She's the only one I've ever loved in my life, damnit. I don't care what the odds are that this Tear even exists. I still have to try for her."

Misoka exhaled heavily, shutting his golden eyes lightly as he struggled to hold in the emotion that was a direct result of the Princess's sudden passing. As he unclosed them, he surveyed the emotional wreck in front of him with sincere thought on the matter, the decision to let Mitsuru execute his plans in the manner he wished hanging in the delicate balance of Misoka's heart and generousity. The were-fox pondered on what Nozomu and Akira would want for a split second, only to realize that if they were in Mitsuru's position, they would not even hesitate on the issue on whether or not to bring Mahiru back into the world of the living. Misoka even admitted to himself that he wished to see the Princess alive and well again, as he realized that she had most definitely died a premature death, succumbing to illness at the mere age of 23, just as she was ready to start a life with her future husband. In fact, their wedding had been scheduled for next month, long before the illness had stricken her, back when everything was as it should've been in the Moon Palace which seemed like an eternity ago. Making his final decision, Misoka tugged at the tip of his reddish brownish ear lightly and began to speak.

"Mitsuru, you may go in search of this Tear, fictional or not," Misoka proclaimed, almost excitedly, watching as the tengu's eyes lightened up immediately at the prospect of finding a way to have Mahiru in his arms again, "However," the were-fox continued,"If you do indeed find this fabled 'Eighth Tear of the Moon', you must immediately report it to the Empress and Lord Shirogane, and they will then decide what happens with it. The chance that they will grant you permission to use the Tear on Mahiru is high, as there does not seem to be any ill effect on the Lunar Race without it."

Mitsuru nodded slightly, barely registering everything that Misoka was saying, awed by the fact that he might yet have his Mahiru back. He melted as gradually as ice in spring back into his human form, after which he combed back his messy teal hair with a pale, shaking hand as he began to make plans to leave in his mind silently, the excitement at this rare prospect overwhelming his senses. The tengu had read quite a few ancient, barely readable scrolls about a possible Eighth Tear of the Moon. All pointed to the same general direction, which he took as a positive sign. The scrolls claimed that the Tear lay dormant somewhere in Osaka, Nozomu's birthplace. Suddenly, he heard a slight noise sounding like a cough, causing him to startle a bit, realizing it was Misoka. Slowly raising his sharp, amber eyes to gaze at Misoka, the man did something he had never done for the fox in his life.

"I know that in the past, we bit at each other's throats constantly, but I just...want to thank you for this Misoka," Mitsuru injected in a restrained voice, feeling the recently common burning sensation of emotion rising up throughout his body. Rapidly, the rather embarrased tengu turned away and began digging through the drawers where he kept most of his clothes as he started to pack for his journey. Misoka watched him silently, almost amused at his candid display which he knew Mitsuru was desperately trying to hold back to maintain the image he had struggled to obtain for so long, the image that had begun to fade through the dilligent work of the delicate, caring hands of Mahiru Shiraishi.

"You have a week and no longer, Mitsuru," Misoka said benignly, careful not to hurt the tengu, and continued, "The same time tomorrow evening a week from now, we will bury the Princess. Her body won't last forever; the soul needs to be called back to it very soon, otherwise you'll lose your chance. Pack quickly and leave as soon as possible."

Mitsuru muttered something that Misoka couldn't discern, waving the fox out so he could make preperations for his journey that his entire life rested dangerously on. His entire life rested on a wire, and Misoka knew very well that if the winds that Mitsuru usually controlled shifted even slightly in the wrong direction, all would be lost for the despairing tengu, and he would probably end up taking his life if he could not bring back Mahiru's, with the grief-stricken mentality that if the Princess's half of their soul was lost forever, then his would be as well. After all, the soul cannot fully leave without its other half.

'May the moon bless you, Mitsuru Suou,' Misoka thought as he left the busy tengu alone, 'And I pray that perhaps our kind and loving moon has one more Tear to spare for you and your Princess.'

"Are you serious, Misoka?" A startled blonde-haired, blue-eyed vampire yelped out nearly an hour later, long after Mitsuru had left the grounds of the palace, and even Kyoto for that matter. Incredulous, Nozomu stared at the sage fox as if he were insane, as he had always wondered whenever Misoka presented a seemingly obscure idea to himself and his werewolf companion. Sighing heavily, the 24 year-old sunk back into his seat, covering his deeply depressed face with both of his hands as he struggled to calm his erratic breathing which had jumped upon him when Misoka had presented him with the news of Mitsuru's journey to bring back Mahiru.

"It sounds crazy," Nozomu murmured to himself as he thought, yet he was still optimistic that there may be a chance to revive his departed friend. "But then again, if it's for Mahiru, then it shouldn't matter." He shifted his gaze over to Akira, who was close to crying tears of joy at the chance that he had long ago let go as a mere dream. The werewolf's sabled ears began to sag as he started to weep profusely, as he had so often in the week following the death of Mahiru, whom he considered a dear sister.

"Let's h-hope Mitsuru finds that Tear," Akira choked out softly, intertwining his fingers and placing his elbows on the table before him in silent prayer. "For our Princess, Mahiru," he stopped, then softly added, "And for himself."

"I look down, she's asleep

In a place she can smile again.

The world will forget her

As she disappears to them.

I swore I'd love her,

I'd rather pretend.

'All these tears are for you'...words."

A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed the first chapter. Well, I updated much sooner than I thought I would. I believe this fic will be a bit longer than I had originally planned. No problem, though.

Supporting reviews help me much...:)