Well, I think I've kept people waiting long enough for the next chapter. Here ya go!

Disclaimer: I do not own crescent moon.

Recap:

"W-welcome home M-Mahiru chan."

Everyone gasped…after 8 long years …kori had finally spoken!

End recap:

For a moment everything was silent, all eyes were on Kori.

"k-kori?" Mahiru blurted in surprise.

Kori slapped a hand on her mouth in shock. Oh my god! I just-

"S-she spoke!" Mahiru cried in amazement. She had a few happy tears in her eyes as both her and Akira attacked Kori in one of their famous hugs, this time nearly squeezing the life out of her.

Kori started crying a little too. They were silent, relieved, happy tears. After all this time…

Nozomu walked over and ruffled her hair happily, "Atta girl!" Kori still had her hand over her mouth but it broke into a smile. Misoka was sporting sort of a surprised and happy smile rolled into one but you could hardly see it. And Mitsuru...Mitsuru actually looked…surprised and relived! Something you don't usually see in Mitsuru. He had a small smile that he desperately tried to hide but Kori still saw it. Her smile grew.

"I….I did it." She mumbled. Her voice was hoarse from lack of use but it was sweet all the same. Mahiru was just glad they had finally gotten to hear it.

Later that night…

It was raining once again. And just like every other night when it rained Kori was sat in the dark bar, watching it fall out side the window.

It was a heavy rain, but it wasn't sad like it was before. Kori actually thought of something that amused her greatly that she giggled softly whenever she thought of it.

It was like the rain cloud up there was Kori's rain cloud, and all of the emotion she had been packing into her small body just burst out the second her confidence returned. It would be sunny in the morning, all that needed to happen first was a little unpacking.

"Kori."

A light flickered on, courtesy of Mahiru. Kori jumped a foot in the air and landed beside the small couch she had been sitting on. whoa deja vu. Mahiru thought to herself giggling.

Kori scrambled to her feet embarrassed and Mahiru walked up laughing.

"I should probably start warning you if I'm gonna do that huh?" She said giving kori a reassuring hug.

Kori giggled softly too. She stared out the window again for a few minutes.

"You like watching the rain don't you?" Mahiru asked warmly and Kori nodded.

"I-I find it calming." She whispered. It was so strange hearing her own voice, it had been so long after all.

They stood in silence for a second , "May I watch with you?"

"O-of course." Kori scooted on the sofa so Mahiru would have room also. They jumped when a bolt of lightning light up the sky, followed soon after by a roll of thunder. The light in the sky made the girls watch it in awe, it was so pretty once you get past the heart stopping 'boom'.

After a moment Kori blinked surprised when she felt Mahiru hugging her gently.

"I'm so proud of you Kori." She said smiling. Kori looked up at her in confusion.

Mahiru smiled down at her, "It must have taken so much courage to talk today, even after what you've been through."

Kori stared in front of her, thinking it over, blushing a bit by the comment.

She felt Mahiru give a small squeeze, "But that doesn't matter, you've found your voice again, and that's what's important."

Kori smiled but it faded away slowly as she thought of something.

"B-but Mahiru…there is still more to come…I-I still need to defeat my father, so I can stop this terrible killing he has accomplished, and to do that I need t-to receive all my phoenix powers. What lies in the future will take twice as much courage I had today. I-I just don't know if I can do it…"

"Of course you can Kori!" Akira shouted, making both Mahiru and Kori jump.

Akira scratched the back of his head sheepishly when Mahiru and her looked at him shakily.

"Hehheh, sorry."

Akira, followed closely by Nozomu, Misoka, and reluctantly Mitsuru, walked in the room. Akira sat by the front of the couch on the floor, Mitsuru sat on the arm of the chair near Mahiru, While Nozomu and Misoka chose to just stand behind the couch.

"W-what are all of you doing up?" Kori asked curiously.

Akira grinned, "I heard Mahiru wake up so I thought something was wrong. I woke up the others in case and we overheard you guys talking."

"Oh." Kori looked at her feet. Here everyone was, so happy that she had finally talked again but she was being little miss gloom and doom. Why'd I have to bring up my father? Kori moaned inside her head.

"Kori…whether we like it or not, we cant hide from our problems. All we can do is try and face them as well as we can. However it was never said you had to go against your father alone. Yes you'll have to face him eventually but we'll help you every step of the way." Misoka surprisingly put in. Kori blushed as the others nodded their heads. For once in her life, it didn't seem so scary anymore.

"T-thank you…" Kori timidly smiled and fiddled with the pillow on the couch. They smiled seeing this and all together they watched the rain. They sat in awe as the beautiful lightning light up the sky and they would cheer when a particularly loud boom of thunder would sound off. For a while at least everything was peaceful until-

There was a harsh rapping at the door. Everyone turned to it nervously, remembering the last time.

"I'll get it." Mitsuru growled, Making Mahiru sit down again. His body tense and ready for a fight. He opened the door to find a boy, about Kori's age standing there, looking very nervous.

"Whadda ya want at this time of night kid?" Mitsuru snapped irritably, though a little relived it wasn't a certain hulking mass of muscle (cough cough Blackwall cough)

"Listen sir I know it's late but all of you, Especially Miss Itikashi have to get out of here right now!"

"What are you talking about dude?" Akira asked from inside as Mitsuru dragged the sopping wet boy from the rain.

"Please! I'll explain everything if you just come with me! Blackwall is coming and he has friends! You'll all be killed if you stay here!" The boy cried out, trying to squirm away from a towel Mahiru was trying to help him dry off with.

Misoka and Nozomu looked at each other, how did he recover that fast? And who was this kid?

They agreed to retreat, knowing showing Blackwall they were demons before they were ready would spell out all kinds of trouble. They ran after packing up the teardrops safely outside of the shop and down an alley.

"Quickly! Up here!" The boy shouted pointing to a fire escape. They climbed up as quickly as they could and not as soon as they hide behind the edge did black wall and his troops come marching down the alley. There were only about 20 of the agents, but they looked strong. He knocked down the door to the moonshine and Kori flinched as she heard the wood crunch under his unbelievable strength.

It was time to put her courage to the test.

Stupid Blackwall! You ruined a perfectly nice chapter! However you did give another one of my characters a chance to show up (even though I don't know what to name him.) What do you guys think I should Name the boy? Something with a 'T' I've decided but I just cant think of much...Help me!