This story is currently being rewritten.

Disclaimer: This will be the last disclaimer I put on any of my chapters because I always forget. Anything belonging to Tamora Pierce belongs to her okay? And what's mine is mine right? Right...on with the story.

Those who have read this chapter, I'll just tell you the changes.

-the girls will be meeting in eight years

-every time they see the moon, they have to remember memories…(makes sense?)

-Gen doesn't sing she plays instruments. It gets tiring to find lyrics.

Those who have read this chapter don't really need to read it again but if you love my story so much you can read it again!

Chapter One: Farewell

A bright sun flashed against the sea, like another beautiful day in the Yamani Island.

The four girls stood near the end of the docks. From their faces, you could see that they were fare welling each other. They all wore glum faces and stood close to each other. They were so different yet the same. They had the same confidence and poise in their gesture. They had their faces blank and emotionless, typical Yamani upbringing.

The auburn haired one, stood with grace yet with inner strength. Her straight hair flowed down to her waist. Dark blue eyes rested upon each of her friends: Keladry of Midelan, dressed in a green silk kimono made a stunning contrast against the water. Hazel eyes looked glum yet detached with a slight coolness, light freckles stretched across her nose accentuating her full mouth. Her brown waist length hair was caught up in an elegant knot on the back of her hair, with her long fringes framing her face.

Then her eyes moved on to the next person; Genkasuzu, known to her friends as Gen, was true to her name; the singing crane, with her colour flitting eyes resting beneath perfectly arched eyebrow, stood with an elegant grace like the crane. Gen's similar appearance to her famous mother, Murasaki; the acclaimed musician and Second Concubine to the Yamani Emperor, was stunning. With a hayashi (hayashi is a flute) tucked into her obi, she made an exact replica of her mother. Jet black hair reached past her waist, strands flying freely in the morning wind. Gen made a romantic figure clad in the princess red imperial robes. Gen was now training to play countless types of instruments, under her mother's supervision. Servants stood a little distance behind her.

The auburn haired flitted to her left and appraised her other friend's beauty silently. Michiko noh Hajemeh stood with a dancer's grace. Chiko's hair was swept into a bun, the customary hairstyle of a junior dancer. Chiko was dressed in a light purple kimono, that was cut to just above her knee, the customary Yamani dancer uniform, her obi golden yellow and holding a shukusen in her left hand, gave an impression of her just have given a performance and was accepting praise. Chiko's dark eyes were accentuated by her kamsachi pins. Her kamsachi pins kept her hair firmly in place, the ends tapered into a sharp finish; was a weapon of a women's, the top of the kamsachi was a small velvet rose.

The auburn haired spoke softly, 'Well, Keladry. I hope you will have a good trip.'

'She WILL have a good trip, and a safe one, Chiko.' Aiko said.

'Don't worry, I will take care. Promise me you'll take care too.' Kel said. These words didn't to reassure Aiko. Aikocho noh Kamaji. Aiko was dressed in a peach kimono. Aiko's fingers was clutching a scroll, her fingers was long and graceful, fingers of an artist. Aiko's auburn mid-length hair was tied into a single ponytail, even though it was simple it carried a sign of undefined beauty. Her eyes were dark blue. Her hair and eyes were a symbol of a non-Yamani heritage. Aiko's eyes flitted everywhere, taking everything, committing this moment to memory to paint later.

Gen said, 'And, Keladry, remember of you need any help remember to activate the charm on the bracelet.'

Kel smiled as she held out a silver bracelet. The bracelet had four charms hanging off it. A crane, a butterfly, a flower and a Yamani symbol of virtue.

The other three girls held up their bracelets, identical to Keladry's. The crane symbolized, Gen, because Gen's full name, Genkasuzu meant singing crane. The butterfly symbolized Aiko because her name meant beloved butterfly. And Chiko, her full name Michiko meant child of beauty. Chiko's symbol was the flower. The last charm, Yamani symbol of virtue, was Kel's. Kel's Yamani name was Kimishina, she who is equal and good, her name chosen by the emperor, was entered into the family tree of the Imperial Family of the Yamani Islands.

'I won't forget. Promise me, the four of us meet again in Tortall in eight years. By then I should be a squire. If.' Kel answered.

Chiko grabbed Kel's shoulder's and shook her gently, 'If I agree to your promise, you will have to be a squire. Don't fail me Kel, don't fail on any of us. Promise me not to give up your dream.' Chiko released Kel with a meek smile.

'Yes, Kel. Don't fail me. If I finished my training, I should be able to travel to Tortall in eight years. I will be an accomplished painter. Then I could paint all of us in Tortall.' Said Aiko.

'Kel, by the time I finish my dance training in Carthak. It will be four years and the other four years will be spent as a rising dancer. I intend to meet you at Tortall by then.' Chiko said firmly.

Gen said softly, 'I will have finished my training as well. Let us all meet at Tortall. Let us be as successful as we wanted to be. Kel, remember to practice your shakuhachi' Kel smiled and held up a bamboo flute, the flute was hung around her neck. It disappeared as soon as Kel dropped it. The shakuhachi was magicked to disappear when the owner didn't need to use it.

Suddenly, tears came into Kel's eyes. She said, 'Yes, let us take an oath. We will meet in Corus, eight years from now.'

They all put their hands together and swore to the Goddess. They kept their hands together and said softly, 'Remember. Every time you see the moon, remember.' Thoughts of flitted memories as they stood together: the times they were together, their bonding of sisterhood, their first time of getting drunk, of winning the emperor's favors and the honour of becoming honorary royal members. Then they parted. Keladry off to a waiting ship to Tortall, to train for a knight. Aiko to another waiting ship to the Copper Isles, to be part of the delegation her father was leading, and to seriously train as a dancer. Chiko to another waiting ship to Carthak, a journey to expand her artistic talent, and Gen, to a waiting imperial carriage to take her back to her waiting mother to continue her music lessons.

The four girls all turned simultaneously. With a last glance at each other, they turned back to their awaiting transportations. A large bell on top of a temple chimed, ringing softly as three ships left dock and a red and gold carriage weaved its way through to the palace.

please review if you hadn't already…

thanx!