Please excuse any spelling and punctuation errors, or probably typos. I'm trying to crank these chapters out as fast as possible before the fall semester starts, because if I don't finish it...it'll just hang in limbo. The next few chapters are mostly focusing on Hoshi developing friendships within the group.

Chapter Twelve

Cye laughed as Ruby and Hoshi bickered. They were almost like sisters, he even thought that if Ruby's hair was a little shorter and white and Hoshi didn't have the scarring that they could be identical twins. Ruby kept asking about Rowen, but Hoshi would change subjects and start with something else. The subway was quiet as they got on the train. He liked Hoshi, he could see why Rowen liked her so much. She was fire locked in a small body. She was brilliant, quick, and witty. Ruby just was just stubborn and refused to admit her professor was right on some of the subjects they covered.

Ruby turned her gaze to Cye, "so Cye, does it bother you that miss know it all here is a know it all?"

"No, she is quite smart!"

"But she doesn't know everything," Ruby snapped and Hoshi laughed.

"I never said I did," Hoshi replied as the girl sat defensively with her arms crossed.

Ruby smiled finally, "I can't believe I get to meet Miss Koji. Her and her grandfather's books are pretty prolific, don't you think?"

"I never said I believed in it," Hoshi lied and glanced at Cye who shrugged nonchalantly.

"I do," Ruby grinned and Cye noticed and a darkness flicker in her eyes. He couldn't help but feel a shiver run up his spine. "Maybe, you will soon?"

"Don't get your hopes up, kid," Hoshi replied as their train stopped.

Hoshi was pretty certain that there wasn't much to tell Mia other than her grandfather was hiding stuff. What if he did know about the upcoming events. Or where to find the Light? What was the Light, she wondered, a person? An object? An armor? She considered maybe it was an energy? She noticed Ruby starring at her and shiver ran up her spine. Why is that ruby freaked her out so? Wasn't she just a student who was a bit pushy and demanding?

She ignored most of Ruby's words as they walked to Mia. She could hear the music again as they passed by the lake and her head hurt. She groaned and Cye looked at her with concern. She shook her head to keep his concern away. Hoshi kept to herself as they went into Mia's house, she felt like the energy she had was draining from her. Most of the conversation between Ruby and Mia was just twittering as far she was concerned. She wouldn't mention Leea's words til Ruby left, which wasn't long after that.

Mia starred at her disapprovingly, "interesting child."

"Pushy too," Hoshi agreed which made Cye laugh.

Mia said, "but you didn't bring her here just to see me did you?"

"No, I don't think your grandfather left you all the information on the armors he had," Hoshi said which perked Mia's attention.

"I don't understand," Mia said.

"Leea told me the poem your grandfather had about the armors, but there was more to it when she told it to me," Hoshi said as she repeated the last part of the poem.

"It seems relevant to our situation," Cye said at the end.

"It does," Mia frowned. "Why would my grandfather keep this information from me? I mean he knew I would have to deal with the dynasty!"

Hoshi shrugged, "why do people do anything that their kids disapprove of?"

"Oh brother," Mia yawned. "I think it's too late to call everyone over. I'm going to go to his archive to see if I can find anything about this. There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry."

"Not really, I have to grade papers," Hoshi said but Cye was already pushing her that way.

"No, you need healthy food, no pizza," Cye insisted.

"Did you just become my mom," Hoshi yelped which made Mia laugh as they walked past her.

Cye laughed as well, "perhaps I have!"

Hoshi frowned as Cye made her some food in the kitchen and served her a large plate, "how am I supposed to eat all this?"

"Eat what you can," he said with a smile he looked at his cell phone. "Rowen says he's going to be by in a little bit to take you home."

She smiled, "you sneaky devil."

"I have to make sure my best bud gets to have his girl around," he winked and she chowed. "Besides, I know you go to class later tomorrow, and his just got canceled in the morning."

She blushed, "you are a sneaky devil."

"Only for my friends," he grinned as he sat down with her. He had his own plate of food. "It's been a while since you've been on a date, he's been pining."

She blushed, "sorry, its just that its almost the end of the semester..."

"Oh no...i wasn't saying you weren't attending to him...I mean...ugh..." Cye paused to find the right words as she ate, "I mean you both are so busy, it doesn't seem fair to either of you."

"You are our waifu!"

He blushed, "perhaps I just care that my friends are happy with each other..."

She giggled, "god, you're cute. Thank you for caring so much about us."

He blushed again, "I know you probably don't really consider me a friend yet..."

"No, I do," she grinned. "I mean I even consider Sage a friend, despite how cold he is to me, but I'm thankful that Rowen has such a thoughtful friend to boot as well. We both can be kind of...hard headed."

Cye couldn't help but chuckle out loud, "a little bit? Didn't you spend a good hour debating over Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?"

She blushed, "he challenges me...I never thought I would like someone who was so clever and competitively witty."

"Much less attracted to them like a magnet?"

"That too," she paused and her cheeks flushed bright red. "Enough about me, do you have a girlfriend?"

"Me," he paused for a few moments. "Not at the moment, most women think I'm batting for the same side because of how I am."

"You mean because you're not a chauvinistic ass?"

"I guess, is that why you thought me and Rowen were a thing?"

She laughed, "in hindsight, I don't think Rowen or you would make a good couple. He would drive you nuts!"

"Well...gee...that still sounds like you think I don't enjoy female companionship," he grumbled and she placed a hand on his.

"Cye, you respect women, that's a hard quality to find," she paused to smile, "I mean, I guess all of you do...but you really see everyone as a person, not as a stereotype. There will be a girl who sees that you see her, and when she does she won't unsee you."

He turned bright red, and looked down at his food as the kitchen door opened and Rowen walked in.

"Don't tell me you're trying to steal her," Rowen teased and Cye shook his head.

"Rowen, I think I found us a waifu," she winked and Cye turned even redder.

Rowen sat down next to her, and wrapped his arm over her shoulder, "waifu, huh? Why is that?"

"He cooks better than both of us," she replied honestly. "Well, him and Leea."

Cye grumbled as he took her plate with his, he teased in return, "I don't think I could stand him."

Hoshi giggled, "I told you so!"

Rowen just starred at them both of them as they laughed and laughed, "you guys are so weird."