Chapter Four: Message
The next day, a sign over the club read, "Closed for the Week". Many people would be disappointed, but the customers could wait. They had gone to the Moon Palace.
"Your Majesties," said Misoka, as he bowed to the young Lord Shirogane and his mother.
"It is good to see you, Misoka," said the queen.
"We have come to seek help." Misoka straightened. "Last night was a lunar eclipse, as I am sure you all know. At that time, the Lunar Race is at the true peak of their powers, including those of foresight."
"We are aware of that, my servant," said the queen.
Misoka bowed. "Last night, the princess and Mitsuru had nightmares."
Shirogane frowned. "But that's impossible! You lie."
"He does not, my son," said the queen. "But it is hard to believe."
"They had premonitions, which lead us to believe that Dawn's Venus will kidnap Mahiru on the night of a new moon. We are not sure how, but since that is the night we are almost the least powerless – excepting a full solar eclipse, of course – we are worried. We request help."
"But what help can we give?" asked the queen. "For we are powerless on the night of a new moon as well."
"Ah, but the palace is not," said Misoka. "Since we have gathered all of the Teardrops of the Moon, it has endured extra fortification against the waning moon. I know it is impossible for the princess to stay here at the palace, but if we may borrow a Teardrop –"
"You can not," Shirogane interrupted. "We need the Teardrops."
"Shirogane!" his mother admonished.
"I have to, Mother. I need to tell them the truth." Shirogane looked at Misoka and at Nozomu, Mitsuru, Akira, and Mahiru behind him. "The Lunar Race has done well because of the Teardrops, thanks to all of you. But strangely, a new disease has infiltrated the palace, affecting only the Lunar Race within."
"But Mahiru isn't a demon," Nozomu said. "How does this affect her? Why can't she stay in the Moon Palace?"
"It is because we believe the disease to be caused by Dawn's Venus," said Shirogane. "This morning, we received a message. It was from the group, and even though it seems as if they have given up, we believe Hokuto is still conspiring with the unwilling help of Keiko Himura." Akira growled.
"The message was that you would be here today to ask Mahiru to stay. 'If you let her stay, we will kill all the Lunar Race with this disease – and not just the ones in the Moon Palace!'
"But Keiko's going to that dance with me!" Akira said.
"She was captured and held by Hokuto two days ago," said Shirogane.
"Damn him! He planned all this!" Mitsuru snarled.
"Yes, he did," said the queen. "And he is quite capable of carrying out his threat."
"Wait – but then how did Mitsuru and me get those dreams?" asked Mahiru.
The others looked around at her.
"The princess is right," mused Misoka. "Seers have the power to forestall premonitions that they know will be sent."
"Queen," said Mahiru slowly. "You said Keiko was unwillingly helping Hokuto, right?"
"We believe so," was the answer.
Mahiru turned to Misoka. "Misoka, in the ancient texts, is there any mention that seers can send premonitions to others?"
"Yes," said Misoka, "but the cases are very particular. It must be on a night of an eclipse, and the premonitions are made by knowledge that the seer has beforehand."
"Well," Mahiru said, turning to the rest, "Keiko is helping Hokuto unwillingly. But she would know about their plan to kidnap me. And so maybe she sent those premonitions to Mitsuru and me, that night. Maybe she told Hokuto that she had a vision of us coming here – and she probably did too, because you can't lie about visions if you're a seer. Maybe Keiko Himura is on our side now."