Eru sat across the table from Irisu, both taking afternoon tea. The light outside was that of a cold winter morning, and the frost still remained on the branches though it was late in the day. The conversation was polite, but quiet and awkward for both. The two, though friends for a while now, still didn't really know what to talk about with the other, so conversations mostly were limited to the weather and shopping. Eru never liked to burden Irisu with her thoughts about Hotarou (Eru still didn't know that Irisu had known him for a long time), and Irisu didn't bother to ask (she felt a little jealous of Eru). So they sat, chewing on their thoughts as well as their lunch, waiting until the other spoke.

"I have been reading a book lately," Irisu commented after a bite.

"Oh! I did not know you read," Eru replied, intending to be polite.

Irisu glanced at her coolly, having took it as an offence anyway, then continued. "It is a rather old book that I got from the library."

"The library? But our library only has modern books," Eru remarked, surprised.

"Oh? Well, I got it from the poor people's library and…"

"You go into the poor city too—I mean, you know about the poor city?"

"Yes, so what? I am sure many others do as well for the fun of it. Anyway this book is very different from the ones we have here. It is an odd book; it is about opposing the government."

"The government? You mean the Organization?"

Irisu nodded solemnly. "But why?" Eru asked. "I have heard they do some mysterious things, but why would there be a need to oppose it?"

This girl of all I know should understand why, has Oreki not explained it to her? "Well, I do not like a controlling entity that meddles in my affairs." Irisu explained. "There are many things I dislike about this system. I do not understand why the poor must be separate from the rich. We are told never to mind them, but I wonder about what goes on with them. I do not like living in the midst of a mystery."

Eru's large, violet eyes lit up. "Oh! Irisu! I never knew you thought that way! I have an idea, why do you not come with me this evening? I go to the poor city every evening, disguised as a poor person and interact with some poor folk I know. There is a very intelligent person among them who may be able to answer your questions!"

"But is that not dangerous? Would we not put those poor people in danger of the Organization's actions against rebels?" Irisu knew full well who the 'intelligent person' was and knew that he did not like rich folk. She had gotten the sense, too, that Hotarou was already being pressured enough by the Organization.

"I think they would be okay with you coming if you disguised yourself as well!" Eru assured her.

Irisu thought for a moment, truly tempted to go with Eru and see the other two and hear the interaction in this secret group. She also wanted to the Hotarou's relationship with Eru. "Alright, I will go with you, but do you have something I may disguise myself with?"

Eru considered then nodded. "I can pull something together, I think. Come to my house this evening before dinner. We will eat together then leave from there! Oh, I am very excited!"

Eru led Irisu down the cold, quiet streets then into the familiar bar where the group always gathered to chat. They made their way to the back table, as usual, but only saw a worried Ibara who stood at their arrival.

"What is the matter?" Eru asked cautiously.

"Satoshi's gone to look for Oreki, he's gone missing!" Ibara cried.

"How do you know that?" Irisu said, jumping in quickly.

"Who are you?" Ibara replied sharply, noticing the unfamiliar girl.

"That does not matter, how do you know that Oreki has gone missing?"

"Well, Satoshi came in and said that he had run past Oreki's shop so they could walk here together, but he wasn't there! The fire wasn't even going!"

Eru gasped. "What could have happened?"

"Satoshi met me here and told me to wait for you while he looked," Ibara concluded.

Eru was suddenly shaken by a sob. Ibara quickly offered her a seat. "Why did I not understand?" she wept. "It is all my fault! He must have been taken by the Organization!"

"No," Irisu said slowly. "I think I know where he is. But we have to be quick, or we may miss him!" Irisu moved towards the entrance to the bar, Ibara pulled Eru up and dragged her along by the hand. They stepped out into the cold evening air and Irisu began to weave amongst the buildings with Ibara and Eru barely keeping up. I am sure he is there, Irisu thought; he must have taken the day off to prepare himself. I just hope we are not too late…

The crowded city of buildings opened up suddenly to the vast expanse on the edge of the city. White rocky plains were all that was too be seen, save an occasional house. Irisu followed the unfamiliar path she had walked once in the dark after following Hotarou home. She slowed to a walk, allowing time for all of them to catch their breath. Irisu paused at a fork in the road, considering, left and right, then continued down the former. Soon a house appeared, it was surrounded by many neatly stacked objects, all of which were old and of no use.

The group walked slowly up to the front of the building. All three had seen Hotarou's house, but it seemed strangely empty. The three walked up to the door and knocked, but the door was easily pushed open. The three called and said they were letting themselves in, stepping carefully around the many objects also stacked in the house. It was quiet, but some lights were on. They stood and observed the living room, left as if someone had just left. They silence was unnerving and the girls barely dared to breathe. Then a high-pitched whistle sang through the house. They all jumped and gathered together instinctively.

"Hello!" called a voice from somewhere else in the house. "I think the water's ready, have a' cup of tea if you'd like. Or do you girls prefer coffee?"

Ibara and Eru couldn't find a voice to reply, so Irisu spoke up. "Who are you?" she called.

"Oh, me? I'm Tomoe, Hotarou's older sister." A tall girl with light brown hair in dreadlocks stepped out ; holding a basket. The look of this girl surprised the other girls. She had beads tired up in her hair as well as a bandana around her head. Her dress was brightly colored and looked hand-knit. She gave off a friendly vibe as she walked past them and set the basket on the couch then headed to the kitchen. "Now what would you like with your tea? Don't look so freaked out. You're the ones who came in here; I'm just showing you hospitality. I guess that would be unexpected from Hotarou, huh?" She laughed happily.

"U-um, where is Hotarou?" Eru asked timidly.

"He's in the yard or something like that. He'll be leaving soon, so I can have his house. And you're all welcome at any time." She beamed at the girls then brought out a tray of matching tea cups and offered one to each of the girls.

"Thanks, but why is he leaving?" Ibara asked, calming down a little after taking the cup.

"I wish I could say it was for some heroic reason," Tomoe gestured casually and took a sip of her drink. "He has his reasons," she shrugged. The group took the gesture as a sign to sit on the couch. At seeing Tomoe's relaxed position, they had relaxed and began to warm up as well.

"I heard that Oreki was building a ship…" Irisu began, still being the main person on her guard. "Does he usually do that?"

"Hmm, not really. He hates doing extra work if he doesn't have to. But I suppose you are all still concerned about where he is? I'll take you to him though he already had an earlier visitor, Satoshi, was it?"

"He's here too?" Ibara replied happily. Tomoe smiled then stood, signaling for the others to follow her. She walked through the living room back into the outside. The sky was beginning to darken, leading toward to end of the day. Tomoe directed her steps to a large hill and upon walking over it the group discovered a deep cavern in the rock and ice.

"Hotarou should be in there. I'll let you all talk to him," she turned and headed back to the house, allowing the others girls to proceed into the cave. While it was dark, it was clear that there was light at the end which shone off the ice and crystals in the cave. The cave sloped downward and as they walked they felt a surge a heat sweep through the cave and a loud roar echo off the walls. The girls moved faster then found that the cave opened up into a huge cavern, many hundreds of feet high and wide. In the center of it was a massive carrier ship.

The whole place was lit by large kerosene lamps, and filled with papers and tools all of which wavered in the wind of the giant engines of the ship. There was a ladder that led up to the ship and at the base was a familiar figure: Satoshi. His scarf whipped in the wind and he appeared to be yelling something to a person inside of the ship. The girls ran over to him, calling as they went.

Satoshi turned and look with relief as he saw the group. "Maybe you can talk some sense into him!" they thought he yelled to them as they approached.

"What do you mean?" Ibara yelled as she reached him.

"Hotarou's built this ship and he's planning on leaving! I'm trying to tell him to stay!"

"Oreki! Don't be stupid! You can't leave!" Ibara screamed above the engines.

Hotarou ignored her command and replied, "Get out of the way, I'm pulling forward!"

The group instinctively backed up and the ship began to move forward. They watched it roll away. Eru suddenly shook her head and began to run after it then jumped as the ladder began to pull up. Ibara, Satoshi, and Irisu quickly followed and grabbed on after her and pulled themselves up into the ship.

Hotarou turned and glared at them. "What are you doing!" he barked. "Get off! You don't need to come! You just stay here!"

"No, Oreki! Wherever you go, we are going too!" Eru said standing up uneasily.

"Why? I'm the only one that will get in trouble; if I don't leave you all can live normally once I'm gone!"

"But our normal is with you!" Eru insisted.

Hotarou grumbled. He didn't want them along because they would just slow him down, but who led them to him anyway? His sister. Gosh, she's annoying. If I ever get my hands on her…but he wasn't so heartless as to shove them off of a moving ship. He considered for a slight moment. Hmm, it may be advantageous to have them yet. He turned to the group. "I suppose you can stay."

"Yes!" Satoshi cheered. "I've always wanted to be an escapee!"

"You're not an 'escapee,'" Ibara scolded him. "we're just leaving until everything seems normal, right?"

Hotarou didn't respond which made Ibara very nervous. "We are coming back right? Oreki!" Still without a response Ibara cried, "But we didn't even bring anything to wear except the clothes on our backs! Do we even have food? Money? Anything!?"

"It's your own fault. I have food enough for me," Hotarou replied without turning around. "Now we're leaving so sit down or get out." The engines fired up and the old ship shot out of the cave and into the sky in a moment. A bit later they were in the atmosphere. The group looked out of the port windows and down at the ground. A realization grew in their minds that they wouldn't see the small icy moon again.

Goodbye…Dione.

Hello all! I'm very sorry I didn't post this on Friday. I didn't have it completely finished and meh. I had no excuse for not writing it…I'm a slacker. Anywho, the real story begins from here (I think), so I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to more! Do leave comments and express your opinions!