Chapter 2

Hikaru's new high school life has just started, so now she's off headed to class wondering whether or not she'll be with Umi and Fuu. But right after she left a strange shadow appeared from the ground whispering her name…so, what's to happen now?

Hikaru was sitting in a desk by the window. She stared out the window, dazed. Her eyes were fixed on a small baby bird that was sitting in a nest chirping wildly. She thought it was either waiting for its mother to come with food or waiting for someone to come; someone to come and just take it away. It was alone in its nest, so Hikaru felt sympathetic for the small creature. She sighed.

"Hikaru!"

Hikaru turned her head and saw Umi running toward her desk and Fuu waving and closing the door behind her. She smiles widely.

"Umi! Fuu!"

Umi ran and gave Hikaru a humungous hug. The two girls giggled.

"We're in the same class again!" Umi giggled.

"This is so cool!" Hikaru said smiling.

Fuu walked up to Hikaru's desk and smiled. She then pushed up her glasses with her index finger, and giggled as well.

"Fuu."

"Hello Miss Hikaru. How are you?"

"I'm doing fine. What about you guys? I didn't get to see you guys over the break."

Umi sat down in a desk behind Hikaru. Before she said anything she made sure she was comfortable.

"I was in a fencing tournament in America. They were for the championship. We had to leave right when break started, so I couldn't invite you guys." Umi said.

"That's alright Miss Umi. My family went to my sister's wedding in Europe. I asked if it was all right for you and Miss Hikaru to come. Kuu thought it was a great idea, but my parents said no. I'm sorry." Fuu said.

"That's alright, right Hikaru?" Umi smiled.

"Of course. Tell her I said congratulations. What about the tournament Umi? Did you win?"

Umi looked down and was silent for a few seconds.

"…Umi…"

Umi then brought her head up and made a 'V' with her index and middle finger, signifying victory and winked at Hikaru.

"Omigosh!" Hikaru squealed.

Hikaru jumped up, which had gathered everyone's attention to her. Hikaru stood still and blushed.

"Oops…s-sorry." She said sheepishly.

She sat back down in her desk looking down at her hands placed on her lap. Hikaru turned her head toward Fuu, who was already sitting down in the desk in front of her. She smiled lightly and giggled. Right then the teacher walked in the room and instructed the rest of the students to seat in their seats. Everyone sat down and looked forward as the teacher walked to the blackboard. The teacher was a woman who looked to be in her mid thirties maybe. Her hair was short and a tan brown.

"My name is Ms. Shizu. I'll be your teacher for this year, and it won't be an east task to pass either. If you give me respect, I'll give you respect. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am," the class responded.

"Now, I'm going to call roll. You know the drill…Shin Ryuichi."

"Hai."

"Nakamura Mika."

"Hai."

As the teacher called out the student's names, Hikaru stared out the window again, but this time up at the sky. She was happy that Umi and Fuu were in her class, but something was bothering her. She felt it in her gut, and it didn't feel right. It was hard for her to concentrate on anything.

"Shidou Hikaru."

"…"

"Shidou Hikaru?"

"Ah! H-hai!"

The teacher looked at Hikaru and marked her book.

"Pay attention Hikaru…Houji Fuu."

"Hai."

"Ryuzaki Umi."

"Hai."

"Kuro Shadow…Kuro Shadow?"

Just then a boy walked into the room panting.

"Sorry…I'm late…sensei. I'm…Kuro Shadow."

"Don't be late again. Please take a seat."

As Ms. Shizu called out the rest of the names Kuro was looking around the classroom for a seat. His head started from the left and gradually ended at the right. It was then that he noticed Hikaru and the gang. He looked to see if there was a seat there, and there was, right next to Umi. He started walking down the aisle of desks. Right when he walked by Hikaru, she had a chill go up her spine. The air around her was cold and it was hard for her to breath. She almost felt as if she was going to faint, and that the walls were closing in on her. She was so stiff she couldn't even turn her head to look at the guy.

W-what's going on? What was that feeling I just had? Is it that boy?

Hikaru slowly turned her head and had her one eye staring at him. She was scared from just looking at him. She didn't know what to think. Then Kuro looked up and noticed Hikaru looking at him. He smiled at her, but it wasn't a very reassuring. It scared her even more than before. She felt like he had a strange aura surrounding him, but she couldn't explain it. When she started to think of it clearly, she remembered her dream. She felt just like she was then…but this time, it felt a lot bigger, and what was worse was that this wasn't a dream. She knew that for certain.

"Hikaru…Pillar of Cephiro," Kuro whispered.

She gasped She looked away and was facing her desk. How was it that he knew that she was the Pillar? Now she knew something was wrong. She clenched her hands tight and trembled with fright. At this time Umi noticed Hikaru shaking.

"Hikaru?" Umi whispered.

Fuu heard Umi and turned around to see Hikaru trembling.

"Miss Hikaru?"

She looked down and gasped. Hikaru's hands were bleeding.

"Miss Hikaru!"

Everyone turned around at Fuu who was out of her desk holding Hikaru's hands.

"Oh, Miss Hikaru! Are you alright?"

"What's going on Miss Houji," Ms. Shizu asked.

"It's Miss Hikaru! Her hands are bleeding!"

The teacher power walked over to the desk and grabbed Hikaru hands and examined them. Her palms had small incisions from her nails when they were in a fist. Some of the blood had fallen on the desk and down Hikaru's arms, which had stained her uniform.

"Go to the nurses' office and get those bandaged up. Go home after that and clean your uniform. You can't be here at school with your uniform like that. I'll inform the principal what's happened."

"Yes ma'am."

Hikaru got up and walked out of the classroom still trembling, with her hands clasped together. She wanted to get out of there as fast as she could; she wanted to get away from Kuro.

Preview:

Kuro knows that Hikaru is the Pillar of Cephiro, but how? She's sent home from school to relax and clean her uniform, but Hikaru can't stop thinking about what Kuro had said. Umi and Fuu go and check on Hikaru to see if she's all right…but she's missing! Is Kuro the shadow in her dreams? And what's happened to Hikaru?