｢Chapter 21｣
"Maker!" Kakyuu brisked forward to the tall brown-haired, pulling her to turn around to face herself, revealing the familiar face that she had not seen for nearly 7 years. "It's really you, Maker!" Kakyuu exclaimed with tears starting to form.
"Ou-hi" Taiki managed to call out after her moments of shock.
Tears of joy formed in Kakyuu's eyes. "I can't believe it's you. I can't believe that I've found you, Maker. . . " Kakyuu cried out, pulling the tall (ex-) senshi into her embrace. "I missed you so much, Maker. We all do. We were all so worried about you."
"Ouhi -" Taiki started with uncertainties. "I thi-nk it's better for you to call me Taiki now." Taiki shuttered. "I'm no longer a starlight" Taiki finished quietly, glancing downward on the ground.
Kakyuu release Taiki slowly at the reminder that Taiki had given up her identity as a starlight. Nonetheless, she still treated her as one. She had not informed anyone on board, any beings in the system that Kinmoku had lost one starlight. In another words, Kakyuu hid the fact that. "No, Maker, you are still one."
"What do you mean?" Taiki questioned. Then realisation filled her. "You did not report?"
Kakyuu nodded her head at Taiki's question. "Can we get to a place where we can sit down and talk properly." Kakyuu asked Taiki. 'There's no way I am going to let you go again, Maker. All these seven years, all of us were so worried about you, about your well being.'
Ameno and Yukini caught up with Kakyuu and saw Taiki right at their sight. "Maker-sensei!" Yukini exclaimed. "Why are you here?" Ameno added on, "We were all worried for your safety, Maker-sensei."
"I - " Taiki could not come up with any excuses. She was not sure what Kakyuu had inform others about her disappearance, since Kakyuu told her that she had kept it a secret.
Kakyuu held onto Taiki's hand and took the reply for her. "We have found her, Yukini. Finally." 'It was only said that you had left. I did not tell anyone of them that you left your star brooch behind, Maker.' Kakyuu then turned to Taiki and asked, "Where would you like to go? You know this place better than I do, Maker."
"I'll lead the way." Taiki answered as Kakyuu 'dragged' Taiki towards the car. "I'll drive." Taiki stated as she got behind the wheels just like how she always do 8 years ago.
Taiki stopped the car pool in front of a simplex designed house. "We're here, Ouhi." Taiki informed as she got off the car and walked to the side of Kakyuu.
"Is there where you are staying?" Kakyuu asked. Taiki simply nodded her head. "It's a nice place." Kakyuu praised.
"Thanks." Taiki appreciated softly. "Shall we go in?" Taiki asked Kakyuu politely, feeling the little awkwardness for the fact that she had not seen nor contact anyone from the palace for 7 years. It just felt weird to meet them once again.
"Sure." Taiki escorted Kakyuu to the gate of her house when Kakyuu stopped suddenly. "Ameno, Yukini, the two of you shall wait for me in the car. There's some stuffs which I will want to speak to Maker privately. Thanks." Kakyuu instructed.
"Yes Ouhi-sama."
"Let's get in to the house, Maker. I would like to see how your house is decorated." Kakyuu continued.
"Yes Ouhi." Taiki replied as she continued to lead Kakyuu into her little nest.
Once they were in Taiki's house, Taiki guided Kakyuu to the couch while she went into the kitchen to prepare some tea. 'This is not what I've expected. I never expect anyone to find me again. I never expect Ouhi to keep my selfish actions and decision a secret. I never. Why is Ouhi out for her parade anyway? The situation right now is so dangerous. She should not be out.' Taiki thought as she waited for the water to boil.
Suddenly, Taiki heard a soft scream from the living room. 'Ouhi!' Taiki rushed back to the room, being afraid that Kakyuu was in a danger. "Ouhi, are you okay?" Taiki asked with concern, grabbing a baseball stick from the corner, prepared to attack the intruder(s) (well, if there's any.) Taiki held the stick in heights for a moment before letting it down. "Ouhi?" Taiki called out questionably. "What did you scream?"
Kakyuu was at the couch, with Mochi lying at her feet. Kakyuu was leaning downwards to cajole the then puppy, now dog. " He scared me. I was admiring your decorations and was about to tell you about it when something furry touched my feet. I thought it was a monster." Kakyuu replied sheepishly with a smile.
Taiki could not help but to smile as well. The smile of her queen was so infectious that she had finally show the first smile back to Kakyuu since the first hour they met back again. The slight childishness of her queen just made her felt like they were back in their childhood days.
Kakyuu looked up at Taiki and saw that smile. "I miss the smile of yours. Even though it was always rare, it's really beautiful Maker."
"Th-ank you, Ouhi." Taiki blushed slightly at the compliment.
"Is this your dog?" Kakyuu asked as Mochi licked the hands that were cajoling him. "He's such a sweetie pie. even though he really caught me there."
"Mochi is always scaring people. That's his favourite past time." Taiki explained when the water kettle sounded off. "I'll be back in a moment." Taiki place the baseball bat back to its original position before moving back to the kitchen. She returned back to the room with a tray carrying a tea set. She place them on the table in front of Kakyuu and remained standing, waiting for Kakyuu to start her questioning. 'That's the reason why she wants a private conversation with me, aren't it?'
"Maker, take a seat." Kakyuu ordered."It's your house, you shouldn't be standing. And you don't have to be so formal with. You should know that." Kakyuu continued. "We grew up together as friends and family."
"Hai, Ouhi" Taiki responded as she sat down. Once she was seated down, Mochi started to climb onto her lap and decided to make there his napping place.
"Here, I will return you this." Kakyuu placed the 'Star Maker Star Brooch' on the table. "You are always a starlight, Maker."
"I - " Taiki hesitated for a moment before picking up her star brooch and held it in her plam. She looked at the star brooch gingerly. 'I never thought that I would be able hold you in my hands once more.' Taiki then looked up from the star brooch and let her attention stayed on Kakyuu. "Thank you, Ouhi."
"So, how have you been all these years Maker?" Kakyuu started with her questionings, verballing out her concerns for the tall starlight of hers.
"I'm good, Ouhi. Life is much more simple as a commoner. Less politics, less stress level." Taiki replied. 'And less heartache as well.' Taiki then continued, "I'm teaching at the elementary school over here. It's fun teaching children and meaningful as I get to pass down the wisdom I've gained in my years."
"Why did you leave?" Kakyuu asked suddenly, totally different from the previous topic that there were talking about.
"I - I explained in my letter, didn't I? I want to explore the world. I want to experience a different kind of life." Taiki answered. 'And also to - '
"But that do not require to make the decision to surrender you starlight identity, Maker. Why didn't you discussed it with us? Do you know that Fighter cried real bad when she saw your star brooch in Himeko's craddle?" Kakyuu reprimanded at the senshi's foolishness.
'She did? That's the purpose. To make her give up completely.' Taiki winced. "I- I'm sorry' Taiki looked down to Mochi and let her glaze stayed there.
"Why was it that you chose to leave, Maker?"
Taiki closed her eyes, trying to think of a best answer to answer Kakyuu. 'No. there's no way where I can tell her the real reason why I have to leave.'
"Maker?" Kakyuu called out.
"Sorry Ouhi, I can't tell you." Taiki answered truthfully.
"Why?" Kakyuu could not understand what was keeping Taiki from saying the truth out.
"I - I just can't" Taiki insisted. But when she felt Kakyuu intense glare on her, she gave up. "I broke a rule." Taiki answered truthfully.
Kakyuu was shocked. Taiki was the last person she would expect to break a rule. 'What rule did you broke then, it doesn't really matters anymore.'
"Maker" Kakyuu placed a comforting hand on Taiki's, giving her assurance. "It's alright. I won't probe in deeper. You are forgiven. Just don't run away anymore. That's the reason why I did not announce what you have did, your star brooch. I want Star Maker to be existent."
Taiki began sobbing. 'What have I did to deserve such grace from you Ouhi? Nothing. Why? I'm so guilty. I made everyone worried about me. I should not be forgiven. I should never be Star Maker anymore. I'm not worthy of it.'
"Maker." Kakyuu called out. "You are always Maker."
"Thank you Ouhi." Taiki managed to say out between her sobs.
"I'm glad, Maker. I'm really glad that you're back." Kakyuu reassured.
Taiki managed to calm down after 5 minutes. 'The situation.' "Ouhi, how's the situation right now?" Taiki braced courage to ask the question that was in her mind for sometime. She had heard from the local news about the state Kinmoku is in. But she knew, the actual condition was actually worse that what was reported.
"We heard that they planning an attack soon." Kakyuu told Taiki the truth. There was no way she can hide the truth from Taiki like the way she hid from Fighter and Healer. Taiki is on Kinmoku. She knew about the situation.
"Do - you want me to go back." Taiki asked. 'Did Fighter and Healer knew about this?'
"Yes." Kakyuu answered. "I don't want to lose you anymore. Who knows where will you run again since now that I know that you lived here." Kakyuu joked. "But if you promise me that you will not move, you can stay here. As long as I know that you are safe and sound."
Suddenly, a commotion outside interrupted their conversation.
"You are not suppose to go in!" It was obvious to both of them that that was Ameno.
"This is where I stay! Why can't I go in?" Sounded a childish voice in an angry way. Taiki's eyes shot open. She stood up and brisked towards the door. Before she could even open the door, the door had opened itself, revealing the same brown haired girl Kakyuu had seen in the elementary school.
'What's her name again? Misa!" Kakyuu thought. 'Why is she here?'
Once Misa entered the house, she hide behind Taiki's tall physique. "Mama, they wouldn't let me in!"
It was Kakyuu's turn to be shocked. 'Mama?' Kakyuu thought as she looked confusingly at Taiki.