-1Hi! I'm not gonna say much this time because I'm really bored and I wanna get started on the next chapter so..

Disclaimer: I do not own crescent moon

I heard crying, it was faint and weak, as if it took every ounce of strength it had to shed a tear.

"Stop your crying you insolent brat!" I heard a man scream, a child pitifully weeping crouched next to the wall.

I recognized the man as my father, his cold glare piercing through me with his hatred . And I was the child cowering from his shadow in the corner of the room. My face was covered in bruises and cuts along with the rest of me. Some were old scars that had simply reopened.

"p-please…daddy…s-stop-" I felt a wave of pain spread through me as my father kicked me in the ribs once again.

I hacked up blood sputtering and looking up at him fearfully tears welled in my eyes.

"Don't speak to me you filth! Don't disgrace me even further by uttering your meaningless words! No one deserves to hear your pathetic voice even once in there life time! Don't you see everyone would be happier if you were just to disappear completely!"

He punched my side and I crumpled even further to the ground.

"D-daddy…I'm sorry…I'm sorry I made you so mad…please…no more hitting…I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

My father said nothing but stilled glared at me. He rose his hand, clutching a knife, as it came down I squeezed my eyes shut…waiting.

My eyes snapped and I immediately sat up. My breathing was hoarse and fast. Suddenly, a damp wash cloth fell from my forehead where it had been stuck moments before.

Wha? I looked around me rapidly. Suddenly I remembered, just before I fell asleep again, I was in this room. The people who had been here were nowhere in sight.

Maybe while they're not here I can sneak away, then I can find a place to hide from any agents they send after me.

I was still dizzy from my fever, which was not yet gone, and my body ached all over. At least I could see clearly now so I was able to see were I was going. I stumbled across the room and creaked open the door as quietly as I could. Peering out into the hallway, the coast was clear for the moment.

I silently crept through the door into the hallway.

So far so good… I thought to myself but froze when I heard two voices come around the corner. There wasn't even a plant to hide behind so all I could do was stand awkwardly by the wall when a very short boy along with a very tall one stopped in front of me.

The short one was the first to speak "What are you doing out of bed?"

Before I could do anything I was hoisted over the taller one's shoulder and was being carried back to the room.

Like I said before I still had a fever so it took a moment for my brain to process what just happened.

We were already in my room when I started to struggle to get down. The taller one just set me down on the bed and grinned at my flustered expression. He pressed his hand on my forehead and withdrew it back after a moment.

"She's still got a fever but it's not as bad, I think her body is just going to be sore for a while from that river fall."

The short one nodded and looked at me.

"Your still too weak to walk around so stay in here for the time being."

I had never been able to glare, whenever I tried it just made my eyebrows furrow together so it looked like I was confused instead of annoyed. That's why the short one raised an eyebrow through his glasses when I tried.

He said nothing though and turned around to walk back out, the tall one following.

"Akira, stand in the hallway to make sure she doesn't try to get up until she's better."

The tall one nodded as they walked out the door.

I sat there stunned for a moment. Why are they helping me? What did I ever do for them to make them want to help me.

I got off the bed and went for the window remembering the tall one was waiting for me to try and escape again. I tried to open it but it wouldn't budge.

Just then the tall one poked his head in with a silly grin on his face.

"Just so you know we locked the window too." and then he was gone again.

Dang it! I screamed in my head. I wearily rubbed my temples, I know they mean well, but how am I supposed to leave for their own good if they wont let me!

I reluctantly sat on the bed and folded my arms. Maybe once I'm better they'll let me go, worth a shot I guess. I closed my eyes and once again fell asleep. (I know what your thinking…this girl sleeps way to much, well she doesn't for your info. She hadn't slept for days when Mitsuru found her so now her body has to catch up.)

A few hours Later…….

I felt a warm hand on my forehead awhile later. My eyes opened sleepily and I looked up into the face of a girl not much older than me.

I sat up quickly and she smiled at me.

"It looks like your fevers all gone now, I'm glad your feeling better."

I fidgeted from the girls kindness and nodded awkwardly. I hadn't been good at responding to kindness for a long time now.

The girl just kept smiling, "My name is Mahiru Shiraishi, since your all better its okay for you to get up now, come meet the others down stairs." She took my hand gently and began pulling me down the hallway.

I suddenly got very nervous. I had always had trouble meeting new people, I was always really quiet and it was always awkward moments and first impressions every here. Plus I couldn't even talk so it would be even more awkward.

The girl sensed my nervousness and turned around ,smiling knowingly.

"Its alright, the people here are really nice, you don't have to worry."

Easy for you to say, I though in my head as I continued to be lead (coughcough dragged coughcough)

Down the stairs .

We stopped in the doorway to a bar of some sort. Admittedly a nice one too. It even had a stage that was already being set up by a tall guy with blonde hair.

Everyone in the room turned to Mahiru when she knocked on the doorway to get their attention. She smiled as she pulled me out from behind her.

"Hi guys, she's all better now so I thought it would be okay if I brought her down, maybe we can introduce ourselves now." She gestured for everyone to gather. It only made me more nervous.

The tall guy with blonde hair was first "My name is Nozomu Moegi, I'm 19 and this here is the moonshine bar, I sing here for the customers." He grinned and I could only nod.

Next was the short one from before, "I'm Misoka Asagi ,I'm 21 and I'm also a bartender here." I nodded again

Then the tallest one from before. He grinned childishly "Akira Yamabuki, I'm 16 and the head chef here and sometimes me and Misoka join Nozomu up onstage." I almost smiled at how much more childish Akira seemed compared to me, almost.

"And this is Mitsuru. Both me him and me are 17" Mahiru pointed to her right. my gaze came to the tengu boy, he had a permanent scowl on his face. I knew why it intensified when he looked at me and I looked down shamefully. I regretted biting him before even if it wasn't really a bite, just a nip to surprise him.

I jumped back a little when Akira knelt down and stuck his head under my face so I was looking at him not the floor. He grinned sheepishly continued.

"So what's your name?" I blinked a couple times, they want to know my name? most of the time people just told me their names and left uninterested in my name.

I suddenly wished with all my heart I could talk, I wanted to repay them for there kindness by telling them with my voice but before I could force a syllable out my fathers words came rushing back to my head.

No one deserves the disgrace of hearing your pathetic voice even once in a life time! I remembered the scar he gave me that day, mentally and physically. That was the day I stopped talking, and I wasn't about to start again.

I sadly looked down again and tapped my throat.

Misoka came up to Akira, "Akira, we already know she's mute." He said carefully trying not to offend me.

Akira looked down sheepishly, "oops I forgot." He smiled apologetically at me. I nodded signaling it was okay.

"But we cant just call you "girl" or "Hey you" all the time." Nozomu added.

Why not that's what everyone else calls me… I thought bitterly a the others thought for a moment.

"Hey I've got an idea!" Mahiru ran of to a small supply closet and came back with a dry erase bord. (you know those white ones that are fun to doodle on).

"This was Katsura's request board for a while but it got to troublesome to right them all down, so now he just takes them one at a time. Maybe you can use this to right your answers down."

The others nodded there head in agreement and Misoka tossed me a marker.

"Okay lets try this again, what's your name?" Nozomu started off.

I blinked a few times, this was the hardest anyone has tried to just find out my name, but since they were all waiting for me I quickly jotted down my name.

I showed them the board.

(For her answers on the bored, I'm gonna put a at the beginning and end of her answers."

Kori the board read.

"So your names Kori?" Akira asked excitedly.

I nodded shyly as Akira shook my hand up and down, resulting in the rest of me going along with it.

"So from now on your Kori-chan, nice to meet ya Kori chan!"

Nozomu was finally able to pry Akira's hand off mine and I sat in my chair kinda dizzy.

As the room stopped spinning I heard Misoka ask another question, "Kori, how old are you?"

I was starting to get nervous with all the questions, just tell them what is necessary you don't have to tell them everything if your only going to leave.

I erased my name and scribbled a knew word

14

They nodded "I thought so, isn't that a little young to be by yourself? Especially in an alley." Mahiru asked me her expression a little worried.

I didn't say anything and made no movement to write an explanation so they moved on to my relief.

"Can you tell us where you came from?"

No

"Can you tell us why you're here?"

No

"What about what creature are you? Can you at least tell us that?" Mitsuru asked coldly

I blinked a couple times surprised, How did he find out! I cant tell him I'm really a half demon!

I don't understand.

Mitsuru rolled his eyes. "Don't give me that! Your definitely not human!"

"Mitsuru don't be rude1 this is a lot coming at her at once1" she shouted angrily at him

She turned to me apologetically, "I'm sorry, Mitsuru's like that sometimes."

"Don'tcha mean all the time?" Akira added , grinning at a furious tengu

Mitsuru proceeded in chasing Akira around while Misoka ignored them continuing.

"Well since Mitsuru brought it up I suppose there's no more avoiding it. You see Kori, all of us except for Mahiru are demons."

I blinked a few more times, so what were they doing here?

"Nozomu is a vampire, Akira is a Werewolf, you already know Mitsuru is a tengu, and I'm a kitsune." Misoka finished, he looked at me expectantly.

I thought for a moment, would there be consequences if I were to tell him.

your right I'm not fully human

Misoka raised an eyebrow "fully?" He asked

I'm a phoenix Might as well tell them, they probably wouldn't stop asking me until I told them anyway.

"She's a phoenix? What's that?" Akira asked after he survived Mitsuru.

"A phoenix is a fire bird, that's all I know." Nozomu stated matter of factly.

"Ill have to do some research on them later.' Misoka added.

Deciding that I had told them all they needed to know I quickly jotted down one last note before putting down the board and walking towards the door.

thank you for your kindness but I have to leave now.

"What?!" Akira cried out quickly running in front of me

"Kori you cant go out there now, its pouring down rain." Nozomu said as he pulled open a curtain.

He was right, while I had been resting, a huge storm had come in.

"you'll only end up giving yourself another nasty cold if you go." Mahiru said as she pulled me back to the middle of the room."

"Yeah, you can stay here for now! We can play a game while we wait for the rain to stop!" Akira said excitedly as he helped Mahiru drag me back to the others.

Damn it was I ever going to get out of here?

Normal POV

Misoka watched as Mahiru and Akira started playing rock paper scissors with Kori. Kori looking a little flustered from it all.

"So Misoka? You think she'll be able to help find the last tear drop?" Nozomu asked standing next to him

"I don't know, but I do want to find out more out about this phoenix, she's a mysterious one and she's hiding something, I can tell by the way she wants to leave."

Nozomu looked at the short boy next to him. "so you plan on keeping her here?"

"For a while, I mean Akira and Mahiru seem to have warmed up to her."

Nozomu watched as Akira quickly switched from rock paper scissors to tag.

"Well we'll have to see what happens now wont we?"

Well its done, I told you it would be longer. Oh and I made a mistake in the last chapter, I said moonstone instead of tear drop, SORRY! Don't be mad at me, it was 11 at night I was typing it k?

On to the next chapter!

Akira: R&R!!!!