Tohru looked out the window, her thoughts playing through her head like ballerinas, dancing in and out of the scene. Uo and she now stayed at Kyo's house, another huge tree, but with a manly presence in the air. It was warm and comforting, like sitting near the fire, watching the flames dance. As Tohru thought, a song reached her ears, stirring something deep within her, waking her senses."What is that?" Tohru asked herself, as she opened the window. The song was beautiful, soothing and sweet, yet at the same time urgent and sorrowful. She did not understand what is meant, but she somehow knew it was important for her to listen carefully. Soon she heard what she could not moments ago, words translated to her tongue.
'The hope is fading, diming, dying, falling, no longer there.
Why is there such sorrow and grief, why such despair?
Can we not hear her, crying out, her voice low and sad?
Can we not feel, her hands reach out to us, all weathered and dead?
Why can we no longer see her?
Why does she hide away in fear?
Why do we do nothing to protect her?
Can you not help her, her wings bent and broken?
Can she ever fly again, or are the sands of life broken?
Can I no longer cry to her, hide my tears in her?
She knows me well and seeks me out but she cannot find me.
She looks and searches and finds no one.
Her heart dead as winter, her eyes lifeless portals.
Can I not help her, when she aches and bleeds?
I can no longer find her, her aching heart, her dying eyes, her weathered arms.
Though they reach for me.'
Tears streamed down Tohru's face, as she clutched her chest. She felt it, the heart ache of the cry earth. She needed to protect them, to help them as best she could, she could no longer hide and weep, she needed to live on. Tohru got up from her bed, throwing a cloak on over her night dress, as she slowly walked from her room. She made her way to Uo's room, knocking gently on the door."Uo, it's me."said Tohru, before opening the door. Uo sat silently in her nightdress, facing her window, a vacant stare lingering on her face."Uo?"Tohru questioned settling down beside her bed. The older girl sighed, looking at her, a smile on her face.
"What is it Tohru?"asked Uo, patting Tohru's head. Tohru sighed slightly, leaning back against the bed.
"Did you hear that song?"asked Tohru, staring up into Uo's blue eyes. Uo looked down at her friend, her brows knitting together in thought.
"No Tohru, I didn't, why is someone singing outside?"asked Uo, opening her window and listening closely to the empty night. Tohru looked out the window, hearing nothing but the rustling wind in the branches of the trees."I hear nothing Tohru, go back to bed."said Uo, shutting the window, with a final slam. Tohru looked at her friend, her large eyes gathering tears at the corners.
"But Uo, I..I heard something out there, it was a song, soft and gently, like a..a blot of brocade." explained Tohru, as Uo, lead her to the door. Uo smirked, gently pushing the younger girl toward the waiting door. She gracefully opened the elegant door, shoving Tohru gently from the room.
"Good
night, Tohru, and sleep well."said Uo, shutting the door in her
friend's face. Tohru slowly made her way down the hall, her face
downcast, tears threatening to fall.
She looked out the window,
staring into the starry night sky. She clutched the necklace, a warm
glow illuminating from the center of the flower. She looked down at the
flower, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw, for the first time a
crystal in the the center of the flower.
"What is this?" Tohru asked herself, looking closely at the pendant. It glowed all the more, shinging brighter than a star."Was this the thing singing?" Tohru looked to the moon, her heart throbbing painfully in her chest, as she did."What's happening?" Tohru whispered, never tearing her eyes from the large white circle in the dark sky. The crystal shone brighter, so bright that Tohru shielded her eyes from the light."Why is it doing this!" Tohru nearly screamed, as the light began to burn her hand. Doors flew open, guards rushing out into the hall. Uo stood staring in wonder at her friend as she screamed in agony, clutching her hand. Kyo rushed to her, yanking the necklace from her neck, pulling the flowering pendant from her palm. Tohru fell limp in his arms, her hand clutching her now useless wrist.
"Are you all right?" asked Kyo, gently easing her on to the floor, waving a hand to one of the guards. Tohru's hand shook, tears rolling down her pale cheeks, pain running through lithe body.
"What happened!"asked Uo, kneeling down next to her friend, taking her into an embrace. Kyo shrugged, looking down at the necklace in his hand. His eyes widened in recongition and surprise. He rolled the pendant in his hand, holding it gently as he looked at it's surface.
"This is
the prince's, isn't it?" Kyo asked, kneeling down to exanime Tohru's
hand. Tohru nodded dumbly, holding out her numb hand. Kyo gently took
hand in his, opening the closed hand, his eyes widening all the
more."It has reacted to the moon, which is not a good sign, Tohru."said
Kyo, gently closing her hand. "Hatori will be here soon"
Tohru
nodded, resting her trobbing head in the crook of Uo's neck. Uo gently
stroked Tohru's hair, whispering silent apologies to her friend.
Moments later the guard walked down the hallway, Hatori following
closely behind him, a leather bag thrown carelessly over his plain grey
tunic and black pants. "Hatori." Kyo said plainly, as the older man
knelt next to Tohru and Uo. He took Tohru's hand in his, opening her
palm to stare down at the burn. He frowned, blowing on the wound
carefully. Tohru shivered, taking a sharp intake of breath.
"The necklace must be looking for him." Hatori whispered to himself, as the skin around the wound lifted covering the wound. Tohru winced, clutching Uo tighter, as her skin stretched to cover the burn. Hatori pressed the skin gently to the wound, whispering words under his breath. A dull light flashed as stayed a moment, before disappearing into Hatori's skin. Tohru looked at her palm, her eyes widening as she looked at the mark left by the pendant. A star-shaped outline remained on her skin, intricately drawn on her palm."Better now, hmm?"asked Hatori, looking at her surprised expression. Tohru nodded, tracing the outline with her finger. "I have to ask you a question, is that alright?"asked Hatori, watching her closely. Tohru looked at him, nodding."What happened?"
Tohru folded her hands in her lap, looking down at the floor."I was walking in the hall, and the pendant began to glow, and I looked at the moon, and my heart began to beat faster, and faster, the pendant began to burn my hand, it got brighter and brighter, it wouldn't get off my hand, then I screamed, and Kyo ripped it off my neck." explained Tohru, shyly looking toward the window. Hatori listened quietly, his eyes darkening in deep thought.
"Did anything happen before hand?"asked Kyo, looking down at the necklace in his hand. Tohru nodded.
"Yes, there was a song, but I couldn't tell where it was coming from, so I went to Uo." said Tohru, confusion now furrowing her pale brows. Hatori looked at Tohru sharply, his seeming to see right through her.
"What was the song about, can you recite it?"asked Hatori, urgence in his cold voice. Tohru nodded quickly, looking franticly at the elder elf. Hatori, stood, whispering in Kyo's ear.
"Tohru, come with us, Uo may come to."said Kyo, leading the three a quiet room. Tohru and Uo followed behind Hatori, never losing sight of the men in front of them. They reached a large drawing room."Go ahead, recite it, but don't sing it could be end badly." said Kyo, a warning hidden in his voice. Tohru nodded, reciting the song, forming the words clearly. As she finished silence eneveloped the room, each deep in thought over the song.
"It seems someone is trying to tell us something."said Hatori, leaning back a large pale oaken chair.