I'm back! Sorry about the short conversational notes at the end of the last chapter. We're finally onto the chapter where we find out where Hiroko's been all this time. Still, it wasn't hard to guess, so you probably know where she is anyway. You finally got to know what she looked like in the last chapter, too! Things might start to clear up in this chapter, so bear with me!
Chapter 3"WHOA!" Yuhi instantly sprang back a few feet in shock. The strange girl groaned and slowly propped herself up on her elbows. She looked around the room in complete bafflement.
"Where am I?" she asked. Then her eyes fell on Yuhi, and she instantly screamed. Yuhi froze, not sure of what to do. When the girl shot up and out of the room, Yuhi chased after her, realizing that she was in her celestial form the entire time.
Meanwhile, Aya had just finished her story when she heard a scream and sounds of running feet. Suzumi and the others heard it, too, and it became quite clear that Suzumi was annoyed.
"Well, I believe Yuhi has awoken our guest," she said. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"
She started to go in the hallway, but the girl that had just awakened charged into her as the door opened. The wind was instantly knocked from Suzumi's stomach, and she doubled over in pain just as the girl sat up and looked around at the faces staring down at her. She stood up in shock when she saw Aya, who instantly stopped helping Suzumi and did the same. The two teenagers stared at each other for a few seconds, and then Aya cleared her throat.
"You look.." she began.
"Like me!" the other finished.
Both girls swooned, and then collapsed upon the floor.
Hazy images swam into Aya's view. When they became clear, she found herself looking up at everyone else's faces.
"Are you okay?" asked Chidori.
"I'm fine," Aya replied. "Who was that girl?"
The others looked at each other, and then back at Aya. "That girl was the woman we brought back from the road," said Suzumi. "She's awake now if you want t o see her."
"Huh?" thought Aya.
Suzumi took her hand and led her into her bedroom. The strange girl who looked so much like Aya was sitting on the floor. She stood up when the pair walked in. Suzumi began introductions immediately.
"Aya," she said. "I'd like you to meet Hiroko Tokiri, age 16. Hiroko, meet Aya Mikage, also age 16."
Aya looked closely at Hiroko. "Did you know what you are already?" she inquired.
"Not until today," she replied. "Suzumi already told me, thank you."
There was an awkward silence, and then Hiroko finally said quietly, "She also said my family wants to kill me. I don't think my mom does, though. Do you know where she is?"
Aya's eyes widened in surprise. "So her family is after her too," she whispered. Then Suzumi spoke up.
"Well, I think this all deserves an explanation," she said. Then she looked at Hiroko. "Don't you agree?"
Hiroko looked at her in surprise, and then looked down at her feet. Then she began, "Well, I was at home with my mom when she suggested that she and I go for a car ride…"
Now things are finally cleared up a bit! Now if you're wondering about C-Project, that comes into the next chapter. For people who have read this far, thank you for being so devoted! Just one favor: pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaasssssssseeeeee reeeeeeeeeevieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew! (Um, that means please review!)