Chapter Two: Hope

Author's Note:

Sorry it took so long for this chapter to be published! Man, I hate it when kids at school tease me! Well, enjoy!

-CelestialTime93

Kim took a deep breath and knocked on the wooden door.

A young japanese woman answered the door. She had long black hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. She wore a pink kimono, and commotion came from inside.

"Oh!" Kim said sheepishly in japanese, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Is this a bad time, Hope?"

The woman just smiled and answered in japanese, "No, not at all. Come in, Kimberly-chan."

Kim smiled and entered. When the two got to the living room, they found elder men in traditional men's kimonos playing an old japanese game while they drank sake. The women were dressed in women's traditional kimonos and were sitting at the dining table, talking in japanese to one another.

"You can speak in english, Kimberly-chan." Hope said in english, "If it is something private, you may speak in english. I am the only one who understands english here."

"Okay," Kim began, "So, we were at the Great Race, and then, even though we won, Ron ended up fainting! Then, the doctor said that Ron was diagnosed with leukemia and that he only had a 50 percent chance of living! Now, I'm so scared that he's not gonna make it, and that something's gonna go wrong! Like, he won't make it! So, I knew you know the story of Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes so I decided to see you and ask me if there is anyway that I can help Ron!"

Kim took a huge breath. She said all that quickly under one single breath.

"Kimberly-chan, calm down." Hope reassured, placing her hand on Kim's shoulder, "Yes, I can help you. But you must listen carefully, and you will have to use your powers as a Lotus Guardian to make this work. Unfourtuantly, it will be a slow healing process, but the fastest one I have got."

Hope stood up from the silk sofa and walked over to a china shelf. She took out a wooden box with japanese characters and pictures of paper cranes engraved on it. Hope sat back down and opened the box infront of Kim.

Kim picked up one of the things inside of the box. "Origami paper?"

"Yes." Hope answered, "The exact same paper that Sadako had used to create at least 600 paper cranes before she died. If she made 1000, then she would still be alive today."

"Paper cranes?" Kim wondered out loud, "But, I thought that was just a legend."

"It is a legend that is true." Hope answered, "Just like the legend of the Lotus Guardians. Or, what we also call, the Lotus Legends. You are one of the guardians, Kimberly-chan. Your powers along with Yori-chan's will help heal Ron-chan's power and rid the illness. But, it won't be in effect, unless one thousand paper cranes are made. At least one must be made by the victim of the illness. Or else, the magic won't recognize the victim. Do you understand, Kimberly-chan?"

Kim nodded, and placed the delicate paper carefully back in the box and closed it.

"Take this." Hope handed Kim a golden key that bore on a golden thread, "The key to the box. It will never come off of your neck unless you need it to open the box."

"Arigato, Hope-sama." Kim said, standing up and bowing low, "Arigato."

"It is my pleasure, Kimberly-chan." Hope answered in japanese, "Farewell. Let us hope that Ron-chan will feel much better after this madness is over. And, Kimberly-chan! A danger comes this way. Be prepared!"

What do you think the danger is? And can Kim and Yori face it without Ron and Jonathan? Find out in Chapter Three: In The Night Alone. I'll be featuring one of the songs that I made in this chapter. And, a little heads up, the score, "Someone's Watching Over Me" will be featured in Chapter Four: Someone's Watching Over Me. You can find the music sheet for it soon on the Lotus Legends website soon. But not yet! Until later, see ya! ;-)

CelestialTime93