｢Chapter 22｣
Misa finally realised that there were 3 pairs of eyes staring at them, in shock. "Mama, who are they?" Misa whispered softly to Taiki, with her eyes going from Kakyuu to Ameno and Yukini at the door. Mochi came running to her feet.
"Misa, go back to your room first. Bring Mochi with you." Taiki kneeled to the same level at the short girl. "Stay in there unless I ask you to come out."
"Yes, Mama." Misa replied with a smile as she picked up Mochi and jogged into her room.
"Sorry about that, Ameno. She really stays here." Taiki tried to explain to the disciples who were standing at her door.
"It's alright, Maker-sensei. We will leave Ouhi-sama and you to continue your conversations." Ameno assured, turning back to the yard, where the car was stopped.
Taiki walked back to the living room where she tried to avoid the questioning eye glares from Kakyuu. 'There is always a time where reality will fill in and truth had to be told. They cannot be kept as secret forever. Never.'
"Mak-er" Kakyuu called out after a long period of quietness, still unable to digest the news that were presented right in front of her moments ago.
"Yes Ouhi." Taiki responded. Receiving nothing after her name was called, Taiki sat back on the couch, and whimpered,"I'm sorry, Ouhi."
"Why are you sorry?" Kakyuu asked. "I never expect you all three lights to be single in your whole life. Fighter had her own family as well. You can as well. It's just that I'm shock. I . . . Who's the father, Maker? Why didn't I see any photos?"
'Fighter had her own family? I should have expected. I'm glad she's happy, deserving the happiness that comes from it.' Taiki closed hers before answering Kakyuu's question. "We're - separated." Taiki tried to hide the tears. But the tears were too stubborn to listen to the will of their owner. They lingered at the edge eyelid with Taiki bitting her lower lip, trying to keep them as where they were.
"Maker. . ." Kakyuu called out.
"Yes Ouhi . . ." Taiki responded softly, afraid that any vigorous action will cause the tears to drop.
"Forget what I have told you just now. Live your life as it is. I do not want to disrupt your peaceful living with your daughter." Kakyuu ordered. 'There's no way I could ask her to put her live at risk with her having such a young daughter.'
"But Ouhi! The Morions are coming soon. I can't pretend that -"
Before Taiki could bring in her objections, Kakyuu interrupted her. "Maker, don't be worried about that. We have very strong armies. Ameno had did a very good job these few years. I'm sure that the armies can fight the Morions." Kakyuu ensured.
A knock on the door stopped Taiki from arguing back. Yukini came out from the open door. "Ouhi-sama, sorry to interrupt your conversation, but it's time for us to get going. If not we will not be able to reach back the palace on time. Himeko princess will be asking for you soon when she finishes her classes." Yukini informed.
Kakyuu nodded her head and stood up. Taiki did the same actions as well. Kakyuu went over to Taiki and braced her a hug. "I will miss you Maker, please keep in contact. You don't have to come back with me." Kakyuu whispered to Taiki before breaking the embrace.
"Nee, Mama, why do you look so troubled? Did something bad happen?" Misa, lying comfortably against Taiki's shoulder, asked innocently. "And who are those people in the house just now? They looked kind yet scary."
"Nothing much, Misa-chan. Do not worry so much. I'm just thinking about something. I should be back. No strong armies can win a starlight. "Stroking Misa's brownish long hair, Taiki replied.
"Mama, you are not making any sense in your sentence" Misa pouted, not satisfied with the answer her mother had just given her. "I know that the starlights are strong, but why are you talking about it? What do you mean by 'No strong armies can win a starlight?' "
"Don't speak like an adult when you are just 6 years old, Misa." Taiki scolded. 'You always reminds me so much of her.'
Misa giggled at Taiki's scolding. To her, her mom never really mean what she always says. She knew that her mom just wants her to grow up like how a normal 6 year old would. 'But Mama, I want to protect you. Every night when I felt tears dripping on my forehead, the more I would want to grow up faster, to stop the pain that you're enduring. Misa thought. Brushing the thought behind her, Misa continued speaking to Taiki, changing the topic, hoping that that would take away Taiki's worries as well. "Anyway Mama, I've seen the three of them this afternoon in school." Misa informed Taiki what happened earlier in the afternoon.
"You met them in the afternoon?" Taiki repeated what Misa had just said.
"Yeah." Misa nodded her head. "I was watching Riko and Hishi playing when the three of them came over to talk to us, asking us about our age and details." Misa recalled.
'Is Ouhi thinking about recruiting them princess's guard?' Then I should really go back. I have my duties 7 years ago. Now that Kinmoku is in a state of danger, I just can't close my eyes and pretend nothing had happened. Ouhi looked so worn out today when I saw her. I knew it's because of that. I should do my part.'
"Mama?" Misa called out.
"Hmmm?" Taiki responded, getting away from her previous thought and focus on her daughter. "Yes, Misa-chan."
"What are you thinking?" Misa asked.
"Why do you need to know what I am thinking, Misa." Taiki replied, not willing tell Misa what was in her mind.
"Because I cared. I don't want Mama to be unhappy." Misa replied quietly, looking down at her hands.
"I wasn't unhappy. I was just thinking about some decisions to be made." Taiki assured.
"Then what decision are you stuck in making? Maybe I can help you to decide." Misa suggested.
"It's alright dear. I've already made the decision." Taiki answered.
"Which is?" Misa tilted her head a little and asked.
"Which is. . . You shall go and pack your belongings and Mochi. We are leaving here. Right now." Taiki informed.
"Now? It's already in the middle of the night . . . And . . . Riko, Hishi" Misa trailed off. 'I won't want to leave without informing them. They are my best friend. They are the only ones who were willing to be friends with me when I'm the only 6 year old in grade 2.'
"I know what are you thinking. You will get to see them real soon, Mama promise. We need to leave now. " Taiki patted the top of Misa's head and explained.
*kong* *kong*
The sound of someone knocking the door sounded off.
"Come in." Kakyuu ordered.
"Ouhi-sama." Ameno greeted with a big smile on her face.
"Ameno, you're looking for me? Was it that the situation had grown worse?" Kakyuu asked anxiously. "Why are you smiling so much?" Kakyuu finally noticed the smile on Ameno's face. 'The situation should not has worsen if Ameno is smiling.' "What is it that you are looking me for? Kakyuu questioned.
"Someone's looking for you, Ouhi-sama." Ameno notified.
"Looking for me?" Kakyuu repeated. "Who?"
"Me, Ouhi." A third voice come from the hallway. Maker walked into Kakyuu's working room, hand in hand with Misa on her right side. Misa was carrying Mochi and bowed as she entered the room. "Ouhi, I'm back."
"Ma-ker. . . " Kakyuu was shocked. She did not expect Maker to come back. Not after she told her not to. "Didn't I tell you not to come back?" Kakyuu scolded.
"Ouhi, there's no way I will pretend nothing serious will happen to Kinmoku. I'm a starlight. It's my duty to protect you and Kinmoku from any danger." Maker replied firmly.
Misa looked up to her mother. 'Mama's a starlight? I never knew. We had learnt so much about the starlights history in school and I never knew I was so closely related to a starlight. Why did Mama chose to leave that time? Was it because of me? I never knew who my the other parent was. Mama had never mentioned anything about it. But one thing that I do know. She still love my other parent.'
"Maker . . ." That left Kakyuu speechless. 'Maker was right.'
"Ouhi, you have gave me your forgiveness. It's my turn to repay it."
Glancing around her room, Maker thought. 'Nothing had changed here. Everything is in their position.' Maker stared at her bed, which brought back lots and lots of memories she had with Fighter.
[Flashback]
"Piggy . . .Wake UP!" Maker nudged the side of Fighter. "You are going to be late for your drills if you don't wake up at this moment." Maker continued.
"Noooo…." Fighter mumbled. "Five more minutes. . . "
Maker rolled her eyes. She picked Mochi up from the floor and place him on Fighter. "Do your job, Mochi." Maker ordered playfully."
The puppy yapped in response and started licking Fighter's face.
"ARGH! Stop it Mochi! I hate it when you do that!"
- Flash -
"Do you love me?"
"Yes I do . . ."
"What do you love about me?"
"Everything about you, Fighter." Maker replied as she enjoyed Fighter's soft touches on her curves. "Don't stop. I will never stop loving you."
"Me too . . ." Fighter agreed, placing her lips on Maker's, kissing her tenderly.
- Flash -
Maker was in the middle of reading her book when someone snatched her book away from her. "What are you doing? I'm in the middle of reading!" Maker asked, slightly irritated by the actions of Fighter.
"No reading when I'm here. You're mine for now." Fighter beamed, placing the book Maker was reading on the table.
"But - "
- Flash -
"Don't leave" Fighter pleaded out in her dreams as she laid on Maker's bed. "Stay with me. I love you."
Maker stood from her position at the door, watching Fighter sad expression. 'It's ending soon, Fighter. I'm sorry Fighter." Maker turned away and walked out of her room, closing the door with tears falling. 'It's the end. The end of struggles and suffering.'
[End of Flashback]
"Mama!" Misa called out as she entered into Maker's room wearing a set of purple uniform through the connecting door. Kakyuu had arranged Misa to take Fighter's room. Fighter's room was cleared when she left. "How does this fit? Is it okay for me?" Misa asked as she turned rounds to let Maker see.
"Yupp Misa-chan, it fits you so much. And remember what you have said just now yourself?" Maker joked.
"Opps, I forgot. Sorry Maker-sensei." Misa corrected.
Misa had requested her relationship with Maker to be kept as a secret as she does not want to have any special treatments. She wanted to be treated fairly and normally like all the other kids that are call in here to train to be guards.
"Daijoubu" Maker said as she messed Misa's let down hair. "Do you want to get a hair cut? your hair is getting real long." Maker asked.
"Can I? Misa looked up at Maker with her blue eyes. "Can I cut it real short?"Maker nodded her head. Misa beamed with joy. "I always want to have a short hair cut.:
[Flashback]
'You mean we can do anything with our hair as long as we have a long pony tail? A young Fighter asked.
'Yupps. It's written in the books." Young Maker replied, eyes never leaving the book she was reading.
"That's it! Today it's the last day then! I LOVED having short hair cut!" Fighter beamed.
[End of Flashback]
"You can get your hair cut at the image dressing room at the south wing. It's near the place where you collected your uniform today." Maker informed.
"Thank you Mama!" Misa grinned, placing a peak on Maker's cheek. "You're the best!"
"Maker, can I come in?" Maker heard Kakyuu calling from outside.
"Yes you can, Ouhi."
Kakyuu opened Maker's room door and came in with a young girl with her. "Guess who is she?"
"Himeko?" Maker exclaimed. "You have grown so much. The last time I saw you, you're just a 2 month old."
"Maker-baasan!" Himeko called out. "Mummy also tell me stories about her three starlights."
"Ouhi-sama." Misa greeted lately, not sure about how she should greet and what she should do. She was hiding beind Maker.
"Misa-chan. You're wearing your new uniform? Come over and let me have a closer look," Kakyuu ordered.
"Hai." Misa walked out from her position.
"You look just like Maker, no Fighter and Healer when they first wore this uniform." Kakyuu commented. "Maker's always too tall for her age. You're cuter."
Misa just smiled shyly and the compliment.
"Hishi, I missed Misa." Riko told Hishi as they walked down the halls in the same violet uniform. Today was their first day of training and they had just arrived the day before.
"Me too Riko. She just went missing. It's been a week. I wondered where did she go." Hishi agreed as she heaved a heavy sigh.
When they entered the training ground, Ameno began shouting at them. "Come on girls! You two are late!"
"Sorry" The two said in unison as they jogged towards the group. They stopped behind a short brown haired. She turned around and look at the two of them. "MISA!"