Chapter 2: Start

That afternoon, everyone, yes everyone, went out to show Hoshiko the world that she has missed. We went everywhere, and she seemed to remember a lot of it. At 5:30 PM, we arrived home at last. We had nothing to do, the day was so exciting, and now it was dull again. The minute we got home, Mitsuru ran into his room and locked the door. We gave up trying to get him out, so we all sat around, doing nothing.

"Hoshiko, I haven't heard you sing yet. May I?" I asked. Normally the Lunar Race was very good at singing and dancing. "If you're not singing, you might as well be dead." Misoka's saying popped back into my mind.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt. Katsura, can you play the piano for me?" Hoshiko's was a lot gentler. I thought that she would love to sing, and that she would be good at it.

"Sure, I would be glad to. What song?" Katsura walked out her room and sat on the piano bench. Hoshiko took out a sheet of music out of her purse, and gave it to Katsura. She looked over it, and nodded. She took the mike and stood on the stage. A pleasant melody filled the room. The song was gentle and touching, and with the melody and lyrics combined, it moved me so much that it made me cry. After the song was over, Nozomu let out a whistle.

"That was the best you have ever sung!" He said to her when she headed towards us.

"It's because you haven't heard it in two years!" Hoshiko said mockingly. She used what Nozomu said that morning against him. I laughed, and they both stared at me.

"I loved the song, Hoshiko. It must mean a lot to you, huh?" I asked. I really liked the song too.

"Oh, it does. The first human that became my friend wrote it for me," she told me as she took a sip of the water that Mitsuru had set on the table before he stomped up to his room. I was shocked for a moment, but sometimes I am so comfortable with the Lunar Race that I forget that they're all not human. Just then, I remembered something I wanted to ask Hoshiko.

"Uh, um… when you transform, do you really turn into… something evil?" I stuttered. She stared at me for a moment and she put down her glass.

"It's just a term that we all use to describe me. Just because they call my kind Dark Warriors doesn't mean that we are 'evil.' I'm just your average member of the Lunar Race. Each Dark Warrior transforms into a certain animal and if we carry the special trait, an element," Hoshiko answered my question, but I couldn't tell if she was happy or sad about it.

"What animal are you…?" I asked again.

"You'll just have to find out huh?" she winked at me with a smile.

"Miharu, you have to see what she can do! No one can touch her when she Shadow Dances! It's a very unique skill that will help us a ton!" Nozomu joyfully said.

"So, can you help around here, Hoshi?" Akira yelled from the kitchen. He was preparing for that night when the bar opened.

"That's up to you, I guess." She sighed and leaned back into the chair.

"Well, then can you help me then?" Akira's voice sounded rushed; he did have a lot of things to do in the kitchen.

"Sounds good; is there anything you want me to help out with now?" she asked and she walked into the kitchen.

"If you can chop up some garlic and then fry this… Whoa! How did you do that?" Akira's voice was heard faintly. I guess Hoshiko was really handy in the kitchen.

"Hoshi has really settled in with us, huh? I say we did a pretty good job of welcoming her." Nozomu mumbled to me.

"I guess we did. But I think there's something on her mind. Something heavy that she can't tell us," I told Nozomu as I wondered into space.

"She's always like that. But that's what I like about her. She has a mysterious aura. You know, while I was helping Hoshi unpack, she said that you seemed like a very smart girl and that she would be happy to work with you." Nozomu told me as he drank his water.

"Really?" I blushed.

"Yeah! Hoshi's skills are beyond belief, and if you help her, she's going to be able to help us clam back all the Teardrops of the Moon with no problem!" a smile was spread across his face.

"Hello taste-tester Miharu!" Hoshiko had stepped out of the kitchen with a plate of fried won-tons. She put it in front of me with a small bowl of sweet and sour sauce. I dipped, and put the warm won-ton in my mouth. The sauce hit me with a sour flavor and then turned sweet and tangy. The flaky crust melted in my mouth and revealed a creamy cheese filling.

"This is amazing! Hoshiko, did you make all of this?" I was truly flabbergasted.

"Yep. Akira will be serving these as an appetizer. He said that he's going to make the main course. But he wouldn't tell me what he was up to." Hoshiko said proudly as she pulled up a chair and sat down.

"He must be up to something new." Nozomu sighed. "There's no way we can sneek up on him."

"Agreed. Even if I tried using my dancing, I don't think I'm well enough to find out what he's doing," Hoshiko muttered.

"You shadow dancer." Nozomu taunted Hoshiko.

"You mean she can blend into the shadows whenever she wants?" I gasped.

"Huh? Yeah. It's really fun," Hoshiko stared at the kitchen.

"Uh, how long does it take for you to regain your powers?" I grabbed her hand.

"Hmm, I really don't know. But I feel stronger by the minute. Thanks. Miharu, your powers are truly powerful! I'll be able to transform in no time at all," she smiled at me and turned to Nozomu to see his happy expression.

"Isn't the cutie wonderful? She's helped us every time!" Nozomu threw his arms around Hoshiko, and she patted his head twice.

"Hey Miharu, why don't we go shopping next Sunday?" Hoshiko winked at me.

I thought quietly to myself for a split second and then quickly replied, "That would be great!"

"We should take the guys too; they have no sense of fashion," giggled Hoshiko. I knew that she was just joking, but somehow I think that she was somewhat right.

"Are you directing that comment at me, Hoshi? Like, how dare you!" Nozomu teased.

"Kidding, kidding. Anyway, we need a "Girls' Day Out" thing. Sometimes living with guys will be a total drag." Hoshiko moaned.

"That may not be a good idea, Princess. That will be the day we set out for another Teardrop of the Moon," a voice boomed through the room. We all looked at the door, and standing in the doorway was Misoka.

"Relax. It's not like shopping takes one whole day. Besides, I can tell that there will be time."

Misoka walked in silently and thought for a moment. "Fine, I trust your word on this, Hoshiko," he whispered.

"Have I ever been wrong about these kinds of things, Misoka?" she asked with a slight bit of an annoyed tone.

"No, you haven't. That's why I trust you to be back here at 7 PM," he replied.

What in the world was she talking about?

Chapter 2: End