Mikau: Not my best, but an adequate chapter. It took so long because I was at the hospital a few days ago, (I'm okay now, don't worry). I was going to make this chapter longer, but I think it would be better if I did it in two parts. Hope you like the chapter; so sorry that you had to wait so long.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King or Grease.

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Falling Raindrops

I sat with the side of my face pressed against the car window, and watched the rain stream down the glass pane. I could feel the vibration of the car through the window as the soft, soothing rhythm threatened to lull me to sleep.

"You seem tired." My older cousin smiled, but kept his eyes on the road.

"Rain makes me sleepy." I let my eyelids close slowly, following a raindrop's descent down the water-spotted glass. The pane fogged over a little when my warm breath touched its cold surface.

"But you're being really quiet. Usually you would be talking even if you were falling asleep." He lowered his voice in hopes that I wouldn't hear what he said next. "Most of the time you even talk in your sleep, too."

"I heard that. If you weren't driving, I would hit you soooooo hard. I do NOT talk in my sleep." I growled, lifting my head from where I had been resting it.

"Easy Thorn, you know I was just kidding." Hana's smile only increased in size as I glared harder. "You're very cute when you're angry."

My cheeks lit up like I had just downed a bottle of hot-sauce. 'Oh god he didn't mean that! He couldn't possibly have meant it in the way I'm thinking of.' I tried desperately to change the topic. "Uh—Hana? Is Akira really going to be there?"

"Probably. I'm not exactly sure. He usually comes, but sometimes he's antisocial. It's understandable though, given his family history…. He never did get around to telling me why he moved away from his folks…" Hana paused and snapped out of his little ramble. "Sorry. I probably shouldn't have said that. I just know Aki's going to kill me now." The blonde laughed openly at himself and the thought of his friend murdering him in cold blood. "I suppose all ya need to know is that Akira's had some hard times with his family. He really doesn't get along with his dad or his granddad, and he hasn't seen his little sister in forever. Jade's 14, just a little younger than Ivory's 15 and a half. He's only met his little sis a few times, but they really hit it off. Kinda like Ren and Jun…or Pilika and Horo, or Hao and…well maybe the twins aren't the best example of 'hitting it off'. They did try to kill each other. Yeah, well I'm rambling about things I shouldn't be again, and we're here anyway, so I'm just gonna shut up."

I shook my head fondly at Hana. He really was amusing the way he would just go on and on about anything, even things that shouldn't necessarily be said. 'And he looks so dreamy in the rain…' 'Where did THAT come from!' I shook my head vigorously.

"God, what's your problem Asakura?" A harsh, deep voice interrupted my inner conflicting thoughts. I looked up to see Akira holding an umbrella over my head so I could get out of the car without getting soaked. "Are you coming, or are you just gonna sit in the car by yourself?"

It was a sweet gesture, but his taunting tone killed all the kindness in it. "I'm coming." I bit back bitterly. "You're the one with the problem! I always tell you to call me Thorn, but you never EVER do!"

"Fine. THORN. Hurry it up; it's cold, and I don't want to be here." He glared as he led me over to the door of Tippy's Café and Arcade.

"If you don't want to be here, then why are you?" I didn't bother to mask the disdain dripping from my voice like venom from a cobra's fangs.

"I came because I knew it would annoy you, and my sole goal in life is to make yours a living hell." He smiled menacingly down at me.

"I knew it!" I jabbed an accusing finger in his face.

Hana saw the hostility flying between the two of us, so he came over and tried desperately to smooth the ruffled fur. My cousin led me away from the Tao. Akira glowered at the Asakura as Hana guided me in the opposite direction, his arm around my waist. "Relax Thorn, he was just kidding."

"Sure he was." I glanced backwards at Akira, and he childishly stuck his tongue out at me. I decided to act civilized and ignored him, resting my head on my cousin's shoulder.

When we finally got inside, we found Ivory and Makoto alone together in a booth. "Hyia!" Ivory jumped out of her seat, knocked me out of the way, and pounced upon Hana.

"Hey there Ivory." My blonde relative and I greeted from the ground. I got to my feet and smiled at Makoto, who was reading some sort of book.

"Hello Hana-kun, Thorn-san, and Akira." The bespectacled bookworm smiled shyly at the three of us as we took our seats at the round booth. Ivory on the end with Hana next to her, followed by me, Akira, and Makoto on the other end.

"Hey, did you guys here about the musical this year?" Ivory was the first to suggest a topic to talk about.

Makoto shifted uncomfortably on his booster seat and looked up from his gigantic dictionary/thesaurus/encyclopedia thingy. "I did, but which one is it again? I didn't really pay attention because I can't sing to save my life. Here, listen: Lalala!"

Hana and Ivory covered their ears in such an exaggerated way, and pretended to be in pain. Hana teased his best friend: "God, Makoto! Please stop! I'm gonna go deaf!"

"I agree! I agree!" Ivory went along with the charade. "Oh God in Heaven; make it stoooop!"

Makoto glared knowingly at his gang of friends. "Thanks guys."

"You're welcome." Two shamans with sickly, sweet grins chirped in unison.

Akira broke through the light, joyful atmosphere with his pessimism. "You all are so juvenile. I don't even know why I let people see me in public with you."

"You're seen with them because they're your friends. I can't imagine why they'd want to be seen with you, though. You're, like, the most annoying person I've ever met." Everyone looked up to see a woman standing to the side of our table. She wore star-studded, bright orange boots, a tight, black leather mini skirt, and an orange halter-top with a baby-blue star on the center. Her long reddish-brown hair was pulled up in a messy bun, and her bright blue eyes stood out from the rest of her outfit.

"Hoshi! What are you doing here!" I was shocked to see my sister standing there. What could she possibly have wanted with me?

"Relax. I, like, came here to check the place out. I don't mean any harm little sis, chill." My twin tugged lightly on her orange, fingerless gloves as she smiled sweetly, taking a seat between Hana and me.

"Hey Thorn, are you going to introduce this hott chick to the rest of us?" Ivory eyed my sister lustily.

"Uh, yeah. She's my twin, Hoshi Asakura." I replied lamely, still trying to get over the fact that Ivory had called my sister a 'hott chick'. "Hosh, this is Ivory, and that's Makoto. I believe you already know Akira?"

"Yeah, I know Akira all right." She glared spitefully at the Tao sitting next to me. "Bloody pervert. Anyway, like, nice to meet you Ivory." She waved pleasantly to the Usui girl. Next my sister turned to Makoto, and, reaching across the table, kissed him on the cheek. "And it's a pleasure to meet you too, Makoto."

The Oyamada nearly fainted; his cheeks turned bright red. "The pleasure is all mine."

"I'm sure. Hey Hana." Hoshi smirked deviously at our cousin, letting her hand rest on his thigh under the table so no one would see her slip a piece of paper into his hand.

"Hey Hoshi. Long time no see." He opened the piece of paper without anyone noticing and read her message.

"Like, tell me about it. So, I, like, heard that you all were talkin' about, like, the school musical. Isn't it Grease this year?" My sister quickly got down to business, slipping into her Valley-girl accent.

"Yeah, I heard that too." Hana replied enthusiastically, whispering something else into my older sister's ear. "Are any of you trying out?"

"I'm not." Makoto blushed. "I'll probably just do lights crew or something else that involves technology."

Ivory perked up, instantly speaking her mind. "I'm gonna try out for Jan of the Pink Ladies. I could soooooo do a good job with her!"

"I refuse to take part in this foolishness." Akira rolled his eyes, shutting himself off from the conversation.

"Aw, come on buddy! It'd be fun! Don't you at least want to try out? You know you can sing. You sing better than I do, and that's saying something." Hana coaxed his reluctant friend.

"No Hana. There is no way you're talking me into it this time. I refuse to be swayed in my opinion that Grease is a ridiculously stupid waste of time. Plus, who would I try out for? Kenickie?" I could tell that Akira was starting to consider it. Hana was slowly wearing him down.

"Actually, I was sort of thinking Danny." Hoshi stepped up to chip further away at the Chinese shaman's resistance. "You know, that girl that you were talking about at the hospital is a close friend of mine, and she said that she's trying for Sandy. If you go for Danny, you could end up playing opposite the girl of your dreams. Plus, the two of you would get to make out on stage." My sister had a way of talking people into things.

Akira soon agreed to try out for the leading male roll. "Maybe Danny wouldn't be too bad to play."

"What about you sis?" I asked tentatively. I knew she wouldn't have brought up the musical if she wasn't planning on being in it.

"Me? Isn't it, like, obvious? Here, I'll give you a hint: 'I got so many hickeys people will think I'm a leper.'"

Hana quickly responded with the next line. "'A hickey from Kenickie is like a Hallmark card—"You care enough to send the best."'"

Hoshi answered back, "'You pig!'"

"'I love it when you talk dirty.'" Hana fought off laughter as Hoshi pretended to slap him like in the movie. I had only seen Grease once or twice, but it had been mere weeks before hand, so I recognized the scene from the malt shop.

Makoto smiled fondly at his best friend and my sister. "I take it that Hoshi is trying out for the part of Rizzo, the leader of the Pink Ladies, and Hana is trying for Kenickie, the leader of the T Birds?"

Both Asakuras nodded. Hoshi winked seductively. "Damn right. I think I'd be perfect for Rizzo."

Akira rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath. "Yeah, you wouldn't even have to act since Rizzo is a slut just like you. Figures that a hooker would want to play the hooker."

I didn't even see what it was that Hoshi threw at him as it whizzed past my face, barely skimming my nose; blood spewed from Akira's. I couldn't tell if it was broken or if he just had a nosebleed. "Bastard." My sister hissed.

Hana, in an attempt to restore peace to the group, turned his attention to me and asked, "So Thorn, who are you going to audition for?"

All eyes were on me, waiting for my answer. I blushed and hid a sheepish smile behind a menu. "Actually, I can't sing." I pretended to be extremely interested in the drink choices. I was grateful when the waitress came to take our orders; minutes later she returned with our food.

"Lair." My sister smirked triumphantly, having caught me in my obvious attempt to escape the subject of the musical. "I grew up with having to listen to you sing like an angel; I know that you can sing."

I blushed heavily at being caught. "I'm telling you Hosh, I can't sing in front of people like you. Therefore, I CAN'T sing."

Ivory tossed a French fry across the table at me in a flawed attempt to cheer me up. "Aw, come on Thorn! I could give you lessons on singing in front of people! I could teach you to audition and all sorts of other stuff!"

"Oh I don't think—"

Hana hastily cut me off. "—Oh, why not! It'll be fun! You'll love being in the musical!"

I blushed deeper as Makoto and my sister started adding reasons why I should try out. I was receiving so much attention; other people in the restaurant were looking over at our table. I was starting to want to give in to just to make them stop attracting so much attention.

What really got me was when Hana looked me in the eye and pleaded, "Come on Thorn, do it for me?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel my stomach tighten. A small "Okay." slipped out from between my lips.

"Perfect. Then you'll be auditioning for Sandy." My sister took advantage of the moment and made up her mind that I would be auditioning for the leading role.

"WHAT! But…but…I can't be Sandy!" I tried to argue my way out of stardom.

"Why not? You have the "good little girl" personality for it. You'd be fine." Akira joined in trying to convince me. "What are you scared? Chicken?"

"I am not!" something inside me burned with hatred for Akira. I couldn't believe the jerk had the audacity to tease me like that. "You know what? I'll do it! I'm going to audition for the role of Sandy, and I'm going to get it." I stood up and stormed off, leaving money for my food that I hadn't eaten. I knew that Ivory would probably finish off the soy-burger and diet cola anyway. I just really didn't feel like talking anymore; being anywhere near Akira was starting to get to me, and I needed to escape him.

A hand caught me by the arm as I was about to walk out the café door. I looked slightly over my shoulder into the worried eyes of my cousin. "Thorn…it's raining. You can't walk home; you'll get soaked and catch a cold. Let me drive you."

"Thanks, but no thanks Hana. I'll be fine; it's just a little water."

He nodded grudgingly, but let me go. "Be careful."

I stepped outside into the rain and started my long trek home. The rain didn't bother me. It felt good to get drenched in the icy water, and it gave me an opportunity to think. I had been walking for a good ten minutes, but I still hadn't reached Funbari Onsen. I had somehow managed to get myself lost, and I had instructed Isabelle to stay home, so there was no one there to guide me. I had gotten myself into yet another mess. 'I should have taken Hana's offer.' I sat down on the curb and watched water run into the storm drain.

"Excuse me, Miss? You look lost." I looked up from the wet pavement and lay eyes on a man that looked to be a head taller than me. He had dark crimson hair, and crystalic blue eyes. His pants were plain navy slacks, and he wore a burgundy tank top under his brown jacket. He smiled kindly at me.

I was more than a little startled to run into him again since I hadn't heard or seen anything from him since the Masquerade over a month earlier. "Lucifer?"

"That's right." He nodded encouragingly, sitting down next to me and holding his umbrella over the both of us. "I see you're wearing the necklace I gave you."

My hand flew to my neck to grasp the emerald heart choker that I didn't remember ever putting on. "It appears that I am." I blinked back at the person who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

"So what exactly are you doing all the way out here Thorn?" Lucy took off his jacket and draped it around my shoulders.

"I was on my home, but I don't exactly know the way…" I blushed lightly. I hated to appear stupid or incompetent.

"I could walk you home if you'd like. I know this town pretty well." A small smile lit up his face and he put an arm around my shoulders.

I looked away, unable to control my blush. "I don't want to inconvenience you." I insisted.

"It'd be no trouble. I have nothing better to do, and it would be an honor to walk such a beautiful woman home in the rain." He stood up and offered me his hand.

"Well…I suppose I could at least let you walk me home." A victorious smirk overcame his face; I got a bottomless feeling in my stomach. Somehow his look scared me.

"Perfect. Let's go." I took his hand and let him put an arm around my waist. The soft fall of rain was lulling me to sleep, so I rested my head on his shoulder. He didn't seem to mind in the least.

"You've grown even more beautiful over the course of the month." Lucifer's comment woke me from my blissful drowsiness.

"I'm sorry?" I looked up at him with a puzzled expression. "You must not really mean that. I don't see how people find me pretty…"

"I didn't say you were pretty; I said you were beautiful, and YES I do mean it. Thorn, I'm falling in love with you. Do you not understand? But you wouldn't since you've never been in love have you?" An ironic smirk painted itself upon his lips.

I felt a strong urge to kiss him. "I think I am in love."

"But not with me right?" Sorrow dripped heavily from every word.

I opened my mouth to answer, but a voice from behind me cut me off. "Thorn!" I looked back over my shoulder to see Hana walking my way. When I looked back in front of me, Lucifer was gone, leaving only a small bouquet of red roses.

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Mikau: Not much to say other than I'm being buried in make up work from the school I missed, and that the next chapter will most likely contain loads of incest in the second part of it. I must get back to my homework. See you all later! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Thanks To: IvyAsakura13, glitter galz, Andrea Nefisto, HAO-Addictive, Sonseray, yo wuz up, DarkPisces33, Danny, haoxivy 4 eva, Kiva Kyoyama, Katiejuliett, Firebane5, LisaTheHedgehog, and thoughtless dreamer.

To Andrea Nefisto: The phrase 'I don't take IOUs' that Hoshi used should be "I don't take I owe yous." IOU is just an abbreviation. Also 'Yukio' is an OC of mine from another fic that I'm going to write. He's a friend from Hao's first life.

To DarkPisces33: At the very beginning or I,SR I didn't plan on Lucifer being a character, but about halfway through he kind of donned on me. The angels came right after I started working on the fic. It was right around a month after I was diagnosed with diabetes when my grandma died on April 1st. I was riding in the backseat of the family van and we were on our way to the graveyard in the funeral procession when the idea for the rest of the story came to me. Come to think of it, I was working on the chapter Therapy Session right then. I still think that's my favorite chapter.

To Danny: I'm sorry that I used your name as the name of Hoshi's costumer. It wasn't intentional. 'Danny' is also the name of this creep I know from musical practice who always hits on me, so when I need a name, I picked his. And yes, I know that you're a girl. You told me; Darcie, right? Or is it Darcy?

To Firebane: Thank you so much for all your helpful comments. Did you get my email about your fic? The one about Mikihisa? I just hadn't gotten a reply, so I was just wondering. I hope I helped some. Anyway, about the HanaxHoshi think, yes, a little, but I'm usually big on hinted pairings, so it doesn't really surprise me that it came out that way. Next chapter is where they plot to get Thorn and Akira together. Did you see how they kind of tricked the two of them into auditioning for the leading roles of the musical? This was a fun chapter to write, but I want to get back to HaoxIvy AQASP. Yukio is my OC from another fic that I'm going to be writing as soon as I finish up with my Ivy series. He's a friend from Hao's first life, but even though he's reincarnated, he won't be showing up in TBT (there is however a character named after him at the end.) The reason I brought him up in this fic is because I love hinting at my future work in the fic that I'm currently writing. Some examples of that are back in Ivy, Shaman Runaway, Raphael mentioned his sister Façade when he first met Ivy. Façade has her own little fic that I'm going to be writing (it's the same one that Yukio is in). Also, back when Hao and Ivy were thinking of names for their children in the last chapter, someone mentioned the name Gale and how it could be spelled two ways. Gail for a girl, and Gale for a boy. Gail also has her own fic coming out after the Façade one. In the fic, Gail posses as a guy, spelling her name Gale. (it's going to be a collaborated fic with my brother's OCs: Blade, Ivan, and Isaac.) I think in my fic American that I finished for Tippy-chan I made some reference to Ivy's name. Then, at the beginning of this fic when Lucifer tells Ivy that Hao is remarried, I used Anlita for his new wife's name. Another name reference I used, but I don't think anyone caught was back in I,SR. In chapter 56, the day before Yoh and Ivy's wedding, Ren says to Ivy: "Let go of her old life she says…Just like she let go of being Judo; now she's letting go of being Ivy…My sister, Judo Tao. Anna's sister, Ivy Kyôyama. Dearest sister, what shall we call you now? Will it be Thorn Asakura?" I don't think that anyone noticed Thorn's name in there. Anyway, the bottom line is that I love referring to my OCs in fics that they aren't in. Moving on, Val is really hollow. I intended her to be more like a machine than a woman. I think I did a pretty good job accomplishing that because unlike Judo, Valerie has no back-story. She just simply is; she came into being for one purpose, and after that she will be no more. She realizes that, and knows that since she has no other purpose she will cease to exist when she completes her mission. That's sort of why she is so depressed. She hasn't bothered to acquire a real, filled out personality like everyone else since she figures she won't be around long enough to do anything with it. She really is a two-dimensional being. I feel sorry for her that she doesn't get her character developed very much like my other characters do. About Hoshi not being able to read Val's mind: Hao was reading Judo and Ivy's thoughts. Pretty much a lot of Judo's, but Val doesn't have a real mind to read since she technically doesn't exist. There's going to be more about the younger generation next chapter, but it's mainly ThornxHana. Thank you for your review!

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