Someone told me love makes you stupid. Or rather I heard it in a song or perhaps it was a movie. Anyway the quote goes on to say that love makes you go crazy and it makes you go blind. I wish I could remember how the rest of it goes. For some reason I always smiled at the last part. Funny, I didn't think Hell would be so boring. I expected to be in a whole of a lot of pain, not just floating in darkness trying to remember song lyrics. Sometimes death surprises even me. ~*~ Dark Star XXI: "Living is Changing..." As transcribed by: Chandra "Lady Chaos" Rooney [sophiaroth@hotmail.com] Being shared with the world via Improfanfic [pixelscapes.com/improfanfic/] "Somebody told me that once in a lifetime destiny finds you" -- "Love Lift Me", Amanda Marshall "And though the world may change Coz nothing stays the same I know we will survive." -- "Hopelessly Addicted", The Corrs ~*~ So anyway, love makes you stupid. I've lived long enough to see plenty of examples of how blind people become once they're in love. Hey, blind devotion is what is behind this whole situation of mine. Had I not listened to Tenkou four hundred years ago, she might have not died that first time. And if I *had* listened to her this time, I wouldn't be floating around talking to myself about how true-to-life certain song lyrics are. Looking back, sacrificing my freedom for Tenkou's wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done. I mean, it *was* noble and gallant and selfless and all that over stuff that is supposed to be romantic and touching. But it wasn't necessarily *intelligent*. Oh well, Mom always said I wasn't the brightest star in the sky...technically I guess I'm not even a Star anymore. Hmm...makes me wonder if I would have done the same thing if I had known the full implications of it. If I knew that saving Tenkou would mean falling from grace would I have done it? You're damn straight I would. My life for hers. A beautiful thing...but so ridiculously angsty. I have to wonder when I stopped acting like myself and started acting like my brother. Ah well, screw it. Brooding isn't going to help, *that* much I know. See, I'm not completely like Zellar. I'm still Kurayamino. Hmm...I wonder if I'm going crazy. I think if I stopped talking...or thinking...or whatever I'm doing, I would. This place, this...void that I'm in, it's so empty. There's nothing. Well...this officially sucks. Sucks big time. Sucks eternally. Not only have I made it damn hard for me to protect Tenkou, but I can't even see her anymore. I *do* have faith in Zellar. I know he's more than capable of handling things. Sure, I even believe Hitomi, Junta and Atsuri can take care of her. Blinded by tradition and hopelessly stuck in their roles they may be, but they're good at it. Guard the Queen, stop Shiko and don't fall out of your role; isn't that what Mom told us? She was always preaching about how it was so important that we all behaved the same way each time. It was enough to make anyone sick. Well, no one ever said fighting Destiny was easy. I guess I am living, or dead or...whatever, proof of that. 'Indeed, it takes a very special soul to dare to stand against what the Gods had planned for them,' a voice says. Great, now I'm hearing voices. Maybe I really have gone crazy. I look, or feel or whatever, around and I can't see anyone. 'I have been waiting for such a soul to be born into the Stars for countless generations,' the voice, that I'm quite sure isn't there, continues, 'one such as you has never appeared in the Stars before, and for it to be the Dark Star of Death, no less. Such defiance and a reckless love for Life! You are the one that I have waited for most certainly.' 'I wouldn't call sacrificing my life for hers a love for life, more just a love for her,' I reply. 'I feel it is the highest display of love for both her *and* Life. You did not want your loved one to suffer.' The voice, I think it is a woman but I can't be sure, pauses. 'Tell me, Fallen Star, did you mean what you said?' 'What I said when...?' 'When you claimed you cared not for the battle, only for the Queen of Heaven.' 'I rarely say things I don't mean when it comes to Tenkou. And I don't care about the battle. It's pointless if you ask me. It keeps happening again and again. No one ever wins in a war like that.' I pause. 'What's the point of fighting when it just starts all over again in five hundred years?' The voice sounds pleased. 'Exactly.' The tone suddenly becomes less muddled, clearer, as if the speaker is now closer to me. She, for I'm sure it's a woman now, confesses in a silky tone, as if sharing a secret with a friend. 'I've been awaiting your choice, Kurayamino, watching both you and your brother, Zellar. You are the two that caught my eye, the two that reached out for me. You would praise me, and he would curse me, and then you would curse me and he would praise me...but you both acknowledged my influence in your lives and that's what mattered. I knew it would be one of you, and I had always hoped it would be you.' 'What are you talking about?' I ask, confused. 'Who are you?' She avoids the question. 'Shiko called this battle a universal self- check, and indeed it is. It is a carefully maintained, well-planned, very highly organized self- check. A self- check that has been going on since the beginning of humanity on this world. The parties didn't start out as the Kobun and the Stars. The last time a member of the battle force Fell, those two sides were created in reaction to the actions of the Fallen One. The other three have been around forever, dear Kurayamino-kun, and will probably outlast the next creation of new groups.' She pauses. 'That must have been...oh, two thousand years ago.' 'Someone sacrificed their powers to keep another safe before?' 'Yes, the one that reached out for her told her she was very brave. She loves life as much as you do. You remind her of what she was those two thousand years ago. She made a choice that no other amongst her group would have dared. She chose to challenge the meaning of that battle, to suggest that one life...one love was more important that her designated role.' 'Tell me about her?' I ask. 'She sounds interesting.' She laughs. 'All in good time, Kurayamino-kun. Her story is not what we must talk of right now. Your choice is. You have made the same choice that she did. So I will offer you what was offered to her before.' 'What might that be?' 'You are the Fallen Star of Darkness and Death, something that has never occurred before amongst the Stars. You are a great factor for Change and Chance in your present state, but you are also very vulnerable. Unless actions are taken, you will be lost.' 'Wait, before you go any further, I think I deserve to know who you are.' 'I am what an ordered system cannot predict, but must take into account. Things like luck, random happenstance, and the choices that those with free will make. I am the Light of Change.' I consider this for a moment. I think I just might believe her. 'You're a god then?' 'Hmm...perhaps. I am a...guide, an avatar for a balancing force of the universe. I am not Change Itself, just the being It chose to act on Its behalf.' She pauses. 'And now I seek you to become my avatar, Kurayamino-kun.' 'It's an honor that someone would single me out for such a task, but what makes you think that I'm the one you want?' 'When your mother...bedded with human men to father her children she thought it would increase the child's tolerance for humans. She believed it would help to make them more sympathetic and willing to fight to save humanity. Perhaps it, perhaps it didn't. My concern it that it had a much more important effect...it gave you humanity's free will, and ability to choose your destiny. A trait that, as I mentioned before, has always been strongest in you and your twin. Still, you were born within in the structured pentagram of the Stars and beyond my reach. I could feel you reach for me, as I reached for you...but we could not interact like we are now. It was only when you fell from that pentagram that I could touch you, hold you, like I do now.' 'Wait, you're the one that's dumped me in this void?' I demand. 'Cuz I'm getting really sick of just *floating* around...' 'Would you rather be being tortured as your soul undergoes purification?' She asks. 'This is the best I can do for now. The rest is up to the choice you make. What you decide will determine how Shiko reacts.' 'Why are you telling me this? I thought Chance would just leave it all up to me.' 'Perhaps, but this is how I prefer to work, for I know how it angers people to only be told half the story. I will never toy or manipulate you, Kurayamino, and that is something that I cannot promise of the other groups. I will tell you all that is significant, all things that effect you so that you may best make your decision. I offer to make you the avatar of Change for this battle and those that follow it. Should you accept, you shall become the Star of Change, and you shall shine brighter than any within the pentagram of the Stars. Be warned, a life outside your pentagram is difficult, as freedom is never as easy people believe it to be. But your children shall have that freedom as well.' 'So I'd be shrugging off the weight of being a Star to Nesuni.' 'Order will always replace a member of the pentagram, as Its system decrees it to happen. But you will not suffer any retribution for becoming the Star of Change. Order realizes that for the universe to work, there must be a balance between Itself and Chaos. Change is a part of that balance, an essential part of life. The point of Change is not to try to destroy Order nor Its self-check. Change exists to remind Order that the Balance is all-important. Living is changing, and therefore the Star of Change must possess the love for life that you have. The time for a change is now, Kurayamino-kun, the half- human Stars inside the pentagram proves that.' 'Nesuni taking my place, huh? ...Ouch, that's a bit of a knock down to the old ego...' She laughs. 'Do not feel anger or bitterness towards Nesuni, Kurayamino- kun. She is being manipulated, and has become ambitious because of it. You must promise that you will not take action against Nesuni until it is the best time to act.' 'Don't start giving me orders just yet,' I warn. 'I haven't accepted your offer.' 'But will you?' She asks. 'Will you, Kurayamino Hoshi, take the mantle of the Star of Change? Will you become a Star of Life?' The offer lies before me. I know it would be a difficult road that I would walk should I accept it. But I love life, and I love Tenkou. And I know that staying here will not allow me to ever tell her that again. I want to be with her, I want to stand beside her and keep her safe. And...when have I ever turned down a challenge? 'I would be honored to be your Star,' I reply. She must be smiling. I'm certain of it. I don't know how I know, but I can just tell. 'I am glad it is you, Kurayamino-kun,' she says, and I feel the touch of a hand upon my forehead. It is gentle and loving like a mother's caress. 'Bear the mark of the Star of Change,' she says, 'the seven points of wisdom, courage, harmony, strength, choice, luck, and passion.' Each word singes my soul. The marking of the seven-pointed star is being burnt into my Self, my very being. I can feel that power flooding into me...for an age as the experience flows through me...and then, suddenly, it stops. I feel different, in subtle ways that are hard to name, but it's not a *bad* different. It's a *good* different. Somehow, I just feel...right. 'Most of the five who can aid you are known to you,' she tells me, 'two are creatures of magic, one is a sprite of protection, and the others are humans who have been gifted by the gods. Seek them out, and make your presence know. They will form the pentagram of Change. And the other pentagrams will react to it, and to you.' 'More of that ordered stuff, huh?' 'We are all creatures of Balance, Kurayamino-kun. We just sometimes lean more towards one extreme. The pentagram of Change is part of the five pentagrams of the self-check, but until the pentagram is formed the other groups will try to convert you to their side of the battle.' 'How do I form the pentagram?' 'Gather the other points of change. Speak with Master Elcid, as he has been studying the prophecies. No doubt he is expecting the Star of Change to appear as I was.' 'But what exactly am I supposed to do once the pentagram is formed?' 'You will know when the time comes. For now, learn of Tranquil Butterfly and her minstrel. Perhaps the story will help you, perhaps it will not. Ask Master Elcid of it.' 'Check. But there's just one little problem...I swore my soul to Shiko in exchange for Tenkou's freedom, remember?' She is smiling again. I just can tell. 'You made your choice, Kurayamino-kun, and that changed everything. Shiko has been touched by the love that exists between you and the Queen of Heaven. She has released your soul to Tenkou. You are free to go.' 'Cho-sugoi!' I exclaim. 'So I just have to...?' 'Open your eyes,' she replies. 'But before you do...' 'Yes?' '...It can wait. Go on, and see the one you love so much. Anytime you need me just reach out, and I will answer. Gamabatte, Kurayamino-kun.' ~*~ I open my eyes, and the first thing I see is beautiful violet ones looking down at me. "Tenkou," I whisper, and she bursts into tears. "Oh, Kuryamino," she sobs, "thank God you're alive! I was worried after you didn't wake up right away." I look around. We seem to be floating in the fog. "Where are we, Tenkou?" Then I realize there is a slightly more immediate question to answer. "And where are my clothes?" Tenkou blushes and looks away. I wonder why she's so shy now. It's obvious to me that I've been out for a while, so what's she so concerned about now? The fact that I realize that she's been watching me? Anyway, back to the clothes issue. "I don't know, Kurayamino," she replies. "They just...disappeared when Shiko made you human." I grin. "Well, can't say I blame her. It's probably been a long time since she—" SMACK! "Itai...Ten-chan, what was that for?" "You just about died and you're making jokes about it?" she demands, tears starting to well up in her eyes again. "Kurayamino, don't you realize how serious this is? You're not Dark Star anymore!" I rub my cheek, and debate how best to continue. "Give me a moment, Ten- chan?" I close my eyes, and...summon forth my clothing. It's not a difficult thing to do. Basically, it's the same principal that I applied to calling forth the Dark Star costume. My boxers, khakis and t-shirt reappear on my body, called back from wherever Shiko had sent them. "There, that's better," I reply, and give Tenkou a reassuringly grin. "Now, this matter of my being Dark Star..." "Don't tell me you're still a Star, Kurayamino. I think Shiko is a lot of things, but a liar isn't one of them." "Why would I be worried about not being Dark Star?" I ask her. "That's Zellar's job." She stares at me blankly. "I thought Hitomi had explained that," I continue, "Zellar and I both had the personal title of Dark Star, but mainly was because for the longest time we weren't sure if we were two individuals or two personalities. Sharing a body left us connected in a way that no one else will probably ever be able to understand. We both called ourselves Dark Star because that was how we thought of ourselves. It wasn't really connected to our actual titles of Dream Star and the Star of Death. But, in all rights, the title belongs to Zellar now. He is the Dream Star, the Dark Star. I'm..." "Just a human named Kurayamino Hoshi," she says sadly. My mouth quirks up in a grin. "Oh, I'm a little more than that." "Oh?" She asks. "Care to explain that, Kurayamino?" I lean in. "That's a secret, Ten-chan." I look around. "And one I don't want to share in this place. Any idea how we can get back down from here?" "Why are you asking me?" She asks. "Well, she did get us up here while she was possessing your body," I explain. "So she must've used your powers to do it." "Kurayamino...do you need to lie down again?" She takes my hand. "I've told you, I don't understand how I can be this Queen of Heaven. I don't believe it. Stuff like this doesn't happen." She looks like she might cry again. "I should never have told Dad it was a good idea to come to Japan. He'd still be with me if..." she breaks off, in tears. "Why is this happening, Kurayamino? I didn't ask for any of this!" I take her in my arms. "Ten-chan, very seldom does anyone ask for things to happen. They just do. And we have to adjust to them and keep going. No matter how hard it is." I gently brush away her tears. "We're going to make it through this together, all right?" "Thank you, Zellar," she whispers softly. Then she realizes that she has said that. We both draw away, looking at the other. "I'm sorry, Kurayamino," she says, but the damage has already been done. The name spoken cannot be taken back. "But just for a moment...I forgot who you were." She pauses. "I just keep thinking about those first days you were in Kuroimura. You're like a different person now, you know." I nod. "Is that okay? I mean am I a better or a worse person?" She blushes. "Let's not talk about this right now. Let's figure out how to get back. Then we can go to the others. Everyone probably thinks we're dead." "Zellar knows differently." "How so?" "He senses me, Tenkou, we have that connection." I scratched my head. "We need to get to Master Elcid. There are some things I want to ask him." "You want to go to him before you see your family?" Tenkou asks, confused. I stare off into space for a moment, reaching out with my mind. [Zellar?] There is a startled feeling that floods into my mind, and then one of happiness. [Kurayamino. You're alive.] I find myself smiling. [Yep, and so is Tenkou.] [What happened to you?] he asks. [Can you meet us at Master Elcid's? I'll explain there.] I pause, and then add. [Make some excuse, okay, Zell? I'm sorting a few things out, and I don't want to have to answer questions from Mom and the others until I'm a little clearer on a few points.] [I'll be there,] he promises. I come back to myself, and find Tenkou is waiting. "You were talking to Zellar just now," she says. "Did he know how we could get away from this place?" "I didn't ask him," I reply. She gives me an exasperated look. "You're not taking this seriously." I give her another grin. "I haven't changed when it comes to that." ~*~ We now take a little break for the author to say: "Is your name in the queue?" Now we return to chapter 21. Let's follow Zellar around for a while, okay? ~*~ "I need to go," I say to my siblings. They look at me. It's Hitomi that actually says what they're thinking. "Go where, Zellar?" she asks me. "I need to go and tell Master Elcid about what happened to Father Cloud," I reply, not missing a beat. "He and Father Cloud were friends. I think he deserves to learn from someone other than the police." She looks at me, but I know she's going to let me go. "You're saddened by the loss of the priest," she says. "He was a good man," I explain, "his family helped me for over four hundred years. His death is the end of that. Of course I'm upset about it." I stand. "I'm going." "You're acting very strangely by rushing off like this so suddenly," Junta remarks. "Is there something you're keeping from us, Zellar?" "My twin brother quite possibly is dead, no one has any idea what's happened concerning Tenkou, an innocent man is dead and the blame is being placed on one of Kurayamino's friends," I slam my hands down on the table. "I think if any of us are acting strangely it's you three. Doesn't any of this matter to you? Don't you care?" "We are upset, Zellar," Atsuri speaks. "But running off after Shiko isn't going to bring them back. Getting yourself killed won't save Tenkou. So sit down and be reasonable about this." He gestures to my pushed back chair. "You've always been a reasonable man, Zellar, and rushing off into battle completely unaware of the full picture is something that Kurayamino would have done, but not you. Sit down; let's finish the discussion. Then we'll all go looking for this Firu." I look at him. Then I look at Junta and Hitomi. They agree with Atsuri, I can see it in their eyes. Feelings of anger and betrayal surface in me. I don't *want* to sit here and talk. I don't want to listen to them speak of Kurayamino in the past tense, like they've already dismissed him. "I'm going to find out when the services for Father Cloud will be," I say softly. "Then I am going to tell Master Elcid. And then I am going to look for Firu so I can hear his story." "Firu, if he even is Firu, is dangerous," Hitomi warns. "He killed a man." "You don't know that," I remind her. "All we have is Nesuni's version of the story." I look at Atsuri. "And you need all the stories before you can understand what's happened. Because justice is supposed to treat people as innocent until proven guilty." Atsuri looks surprised, and then he smiles a little. "Are you telling me how to do my job, Zellar?" "Maybe I'm just reminding you something you've forgotten," I reply. "Don't condemn Firu before you've heard his story, all right?" I pushed the chair back in. "And don't count Kurayamino out so soon, Atsuri. Or there'll be hell to pay when he finds out." I turn and start for the door. As I reach it, I hear Junta. "It appears that instead of sharing a body," he says, "they now share character traits." I know what he is saying. I know he expects me to turn and tell him that I am nothing like Kurayamino, that he and I are very different. And I know that he is doing it to try and keep me from walking away, just as he would have used it to keep Kurayamino behind. To force him to return to the table so he could argue about it. But I'm not Kurayamino. I'm Zellar. I walked out the door without even looking back. ~*~ I walk the streets towards the church. I know Kurayamino isn't at the Painter's Guild yet, because I haven't been asked why I'm not there yet. The church looms before me, but for once I'm not worried about the consequences of going inside. It's funny how in a matter of weeks my world has changed completely. I went from a solitary lifestyle to being surrounded by people, both new faces and those known to me. Who would have thought that the arrival of Professor Alan Stone would have signaled the beginning of this. Professor Stone... A feeling of sorrow washes over me. He was another good man that became caught up in our battles. Because of me, Tenkou lost her father. [Because of you Tenkou didn't lose her own life that night,] Kurayamino says. [You wouldn't be eavesdropping, would you?] I ask. [Not purposely. I just wanted to let you know that Tenkou and I are behind the church, we should be at the Painter's Guild soon.] [No need, I'm in front of the church. I'll wait for you here.] [All right.] I reply, and sit on the church steps, aware of how it echoes the past. I had been sitting on this very step when Alan Stone had descended these same steps after the late night mass. Twenty-four hours later, at the Shrine, I took the life of the Ryuujin he was tranformed into by Yasha. Five days later I begged Tenkou to give me a chance inside the confessional. That night I met her outside. Then behind this church I met Joodan. Who would have thought that Joodan would become my ally when he had been sent to be my punisher? And then the fight with Himiko. The first fight that resulted in the destruction of Tenkou's statue, and the first time that Kurayamino had ever reached out to aid me in a battle. Together had almost killed Himiko, and I fled to the woods. That's where I met Milei, and he lead me back to his home. Where a demon that had been posing as his older sister attacked, and I fought her. The result was the defeat of that demon, but at the cost of Milei's parents' lives. They had asked me to take care of him, and I agreed. Then Kurayamino had appeared in town, and we'd rejoined. Then Hitomi, Junta, and Atsuri had come. Somewhere along the way Yasha had tried to get me to join her by offering Tenshi's life for mine. And then Tenshi had been returned to us, and it was time to celebrate Tanabata. I'd learned about the Queen of Heaven from Kurayamino, and we'd separated again. And so many other things had happened as well. This past few weeks had seen more events than the hundred years before them. "Yep, it must be Zellar," a voice says, interrupting my train of thought, "only Zellar can brood that well." I look up to see my own face looking back down at me. Kurayamino grins. "Hey, Angst Boy. You miss me?" I consider hitting him, but return the grin instead. I stand, brushing myself off. We look at each for a second or two, wondering what to do next. Things have changed. Even if Kurayamino is alive, Junta said he is no longer a Star. Kurayamino knows that things are different, and I think that this is the cause of the awkwardness between us. "I'm not a Kobun," he says finally. "But I'm not a member of the Star pentagram anymore." "You're still Kurayamino," I tell him, and give him a quick hug. "You're still my brother." "C'mon, Zellar, knock it off, people are watching," he says, but the look in his eyes tells me all I need to know. He needed to hear what I have told him, and I think he knows that I needed to say it. Tenkou steps up from behind him. I look at her, and for a moment I see the girl I saw the very first time I laid eyes on her. She has a blend of her Japanese mother's traits and her American father's. She's...just a girl. Queen of Heaven or not, she's just a young girl. So young to know so much of death and loss. So very, very young to have to know the truth, to know that demons are real, that battles for the fate of the world happen, to know that she has to play a part in one. "You look so sad to see me," she says, "what's wrong?" I shake my head. "Sorry, I was just thinking about something. Tenkou, I'm sorry about your father. About the ways things turned out." "I'm sorry that things are the way they are, too," she says, "but let's not dwell on the past, okay?" I know suddenly that we are talking about more than just the death of her father. We are talking about a girl and a boy that met on a trip to a Shrine. We are talking about the way they felt and the time they could have had together, and I see that she has made her choice. I don't hold it against her; I smile. "No, let's not talk about that. We should think about the present and the future." "Why are you at the church?" Kurayamino asks. He looks around. "It sounds like there's something going on inside there." "Father Cloud was killed a few hours ago," I tell them. "Nesuni claims that it was Firu." "Firu?" he blinks. "But Firu is in Tokyo." "No, we think he's here. He came looking for you, and claming he had amnesia. Nesuni went to talk with him, pretending she was you-" "She did *what*?!" he exclaims. "I can't believe this, I wasn't even dead yet and she had already moved in on my spot..." He looks angry, and for a moment I'm worried his temper will get the better of him. Then he seems to recall something, and calms down. He shakes his head and sighs. "Firu wouldn't kill Father Cloud, Zellar. I know he wouldn't. Nesuni is lying." "We'll look for Firu after we talk to Master Elcid," I promise him. "We'll learn his side of the story." Kurayamino nods. "I guess you want to go inside the church, then. Sort of a way to pay respects in case we can't later?" I nod. That is exactly what I want to do. I don't want to think about why we might not be able to pay our respects later. "I'll come with you," he says, surprising me. "I know that the Ojijii and I weren't exactly on friendly terms, but he didn't deserve to die. I liked him. He was a tough old man." I notice the honorific 'o' that he has added to the term he calls Father Cloud. It speaks of respect, as does his tone. "This is kinda different," Tenkou says, looking at us. "Aren't you worried about the consequences of going into a Holy place, Zellar?" Kurayamino grins. "Let them try. I'd like to see what I'm still capable of." "For Father Cloud, it's worth it," I reply. "You'll explain what you're talking about sometime, right Kurayamino?" "As soon as we get to Master Elcid," he replies. "Let's go inside." ~*~ Inside the church are a few altar boys and some elder women. A man is standing before them, dressed in clerical robes. He must be the other priest. We walk up behind the group. These are the followers of Father Cloud's faith. These are the people who came to listen to him when he spoke of his faith. These are the people that depend on us to protect them, even if they think we are evil. "It is a great loss to the community," the man dressed in the clerical robes says. "We will be holding the services in one week." "Father," one of the altar boys speaks, "do they know who would have done such a terrible thing?" "We're investigating that," a woman says. I look and see that she has been standing away from the group. That must be why I only notice her now. She's dressed in black jeans, a red shirt, and a black leather jacket. Her hair is black, and her eyes brown. "I'm afraid that's all I can tell you right now." "Do you think it has anything to do with the destruction of the Ryuujin shrine?" one of the elder women asks. "Is there some psychopath in our little town targeting religious sites? What's next? Why aren't the police doing anything?" I want to smile. If only this woman knew the truth, that our little town was the chosen site for the battle between the pentagrams. But she can't know. None of them can. It's how they will continue to sleep at night, and continue to live their lives during the day. "We are doing what we can," the woman replies. "I know that I'm a stranger in your town, but I lost my partner. He came here to find the person responsible for the destruction of the Shrine, and hasn't been heard from since. If someone or something is preying on this town, I will find it and stop it." "Thank-you, detective Kaede," the priest says. "I think we need to get out of here," Kurayamino whispers. "Anywhere the police are is where we don't want to be, Zellar." I nod. "Let's go, Tenkou." We back out quietly, hoping to pass unnoticed. It's only at the bottom of the steps we speak again. "Well, this is really going to make things difficult," Kurayamino says. "Why?" Tenkou asks. "Because the police think I destroyed the Shrine and murdered your father," I reply. "And since Kurayamino and I are twins..." "I guess I should probably let you know about this then, Zellar," Kurayamino rubs his neck, looking guilty. I have a bad feeling about this. "What did you do, Kurayamino?" "Well...I, um," he looks down at the dirt, and then back the church, and then down at the dirt again. "Kurayamino..." "Well, I hitched hiked here, right? I kinda killed the guy who dropped me off." I groan. "Kurayamino..." Tenkou smacks him. "Why would you do something that stupid?!" "Itai! Ten-chan-" "Don't 'Ten-chan' me," she says darkly. "I want an answer." "I don't really know why I did it," he says, exasperated. "Every once in a while I do things like that. Just to make life more exciting for me." Tenkou looks horrified. "You kill people when you get bored?" "Ten-chan, it was just the *one* time. I hadn't done something like that in a long time, and I haven't done it since. Well, unless Yasha's minions count as people." "I do not believe this," Tenkou mutters, "I'm in love with a psychopath." "Ten-chan...I'm *honestly* sorry I did it now." "It doesn't bring the person back to life, Kurayamino." "Yes, exactly. I can't change it, so let's forgive and forget, okay?" he asks. "I promise not to do it again." Amazing. Kurayamino apologizing for something he's done, and promising to behave himself. I chuckle. "What's so funny, Zellar?" he demands. I try to recall what Joodan told me when he saw my visit to Tenshi. I'm not sure I can remember the exact words, but I've got something that says the same thing. "She has you whipped," I tell my brother. He looks shocked. "Oh this from Mr. Stayed-In-Town-Moping-" he begins. "Enough you two!" Tenkou cuts him off. "Fight about this some other time. Right now, let's get away from here before that police officer sees us." ~*~ We end up at the Painter's Guild. I don't think I've ever been here before. It's a huge stone building, probably a few centuries old. Considering it's the Guild of Painters you think the outside wouldn't be chipped and in a state of disrepair. Anyway, we climb the steps. "Was this here when we were growing up?" I ask my brother. "I don't remember," he replies. "I don't think it was this building, but there was a Painter's Guild. Don't you remember the contest?" I smile, recalling it. "You won first place." He grins. "*We* won first place. Your hand held the brush." This is different. Just the three of us, and this easy feeling of peace that exists between us. It's something I don't feel often. It's something I'd like to feel *more* often. Tenkou knocks on the door. "Maybe Vincent is here. He probably knows where Master Elcid is." " 'Fraid not," a cheerful voice says. I turn and see Joodan climbing the steps. The green creature is sporting his usual grin. We're all so happy tonight. Maybe there's something in that church incense that's done it. "I saw him on the way over here," Joodan continues. "He's taking a painting to show the others." "What are you doing here, Joodan?" Tenkou asks. "Can we be punished later?" Kurayamino asks. "I'm really kinda busy right now." "Punish?" the inutatsu asks. "Oh, no. I just got back from talking with Maurice. He's given me new directives." "And those are?" I ask, shocked. Maurice isn't upset that we defied him, and entered his Holy Place? Perhaps the Gods too have come to realize that there are bigger matters than demons in churches to deal with right now. Joodan grins at Kurayamino. "I'm to assist the Star of Change." "Lovely." Kurayamino rolls his eyes. "Well, Joodan, as soon as I know what the hell I'll be needing your assistance with, I'll let you know." "Star of Change?" I ask, confused. I've never heard of the Star of Change. It must be what Kurayamino was going to explain to us. "Ah, this would be the secret," Tenkou says softly. "You've got some explaining to do, Kumi-chan." "Yeah, Kumi-chan," Joodan chimes in, "how come you never told me you were working for Un-sama?" Kurayamino glares at the inutatsu. "First off, *you* are not to call me 'Kumi', and second, I don't know anyone named 'Un'." Joodan gives him an impatient look. "Un-sama, the Light of Change? Maurice said she'd contacted you, and that you had become her principle point in the pentagram of Change." "Oh, well yeah, but she didn't say her name was 'Un'," Kurayamino replies. "The Star of Change?" I repeat. Then I smile. "Somehow it suits you, Kurayamino." It does. Ah, so that's what this reminds me of. Tanabata. The last time Kurayamino opened up and shared things with me. "Yeah, I guess so," he rubs the back of his neck. "Anyway, I'm supposed to go and talk to Master Elcid because he can help me or something." "Indeed I can." We turn. An elderly man has answered the door while we Kurayamino and Joodan were talking. He doesn't look like anything special to me, but I suppose I don't look like someone worth a second glance to most people in Kuroimura. Just a normal boy. Gods, illusions work both for and against us. He bows in a formal ojigi to me. "It is an honor to meet you at last, Dark Star. I have heard much of you from my pupil, Vincent." Tenkou looks surprised. "How do you know that he's Dark Star?" "Illusions may keep things hidden from the average person in Kuroimura, but I am skilled in the Art." He bows to her. "Queen of Heaven, I bid you welcome." "I'm Joodan," Joodan smiles, bowing in his own ojigi. "Of course," Master Elcid returns the bow. He turns to Kurayamino. "The Star of Change; this is a great honor. I did not think I would see you appear in my lifetime." Kurayamino extends his hand, and the elderly man shakes it. "I don't go for the whole bowing thing very much anymore," my brother explains. "And I'm still adjusting to this Star of Change thing. Kurayamino Hoshi will do just fine." "Please," Master Elcid gestures to the door. "Come in. I understand that we have much to talk about." "We came to tell you about Father Cloud," I say. "Unfortunately he is no longer with us." Master Elcid nods sadly. "Yes, the news was brought to my attention a moment ago when Father Gainsbourough called me." "He must have been the priest we saw when we went to the church," Kurayamino remarks. Master Elcid nods, and leads us to a room. There's a fire going in the fireplace, and a few chairs have been set up in front of it. He gestures for us to sit. Kurayamino sits next to the fire, Tenkou sitting in the chair closest to him. Joodan takes one more the outside. Master Elcid looks at me, and then gestures to the chair on the other side of Joodan. It seems he'd like to sit beside my brother. If this was a month ago, I would have told him he is a very brave man. Now, I'm not so sure that he should feel threatened. "What is it that you would like to ask of me?" he wants to know. Kurayamino looks thoughtful, and then nods. "Okay, I remember now. I'm supposed to know all the points of the pentagram. Two are beings of magic, one is a sprite of protection, and the other two are humans that have been gifted by the gods. I'm guessing that sprite who guards is talking about Tenshi." "Tenshi?" I repeat. "Tenshi is a part of this?" My heart sinks. I had hoped she would not have to fight in this battle. She has never been one for fighting, at least not in the past...but maybe she has changed. At least now I know that she will be by my side in the upcoming battle. That provides a little consolation. Master Elcid nods. "That sounds reasonable. I will warn you right now, Kurayamino, I cannot tell you who the others are. This is your task. I hope you realize that." "I had a feeling that it sounded too easy," Kurayamino grins. "Okay, and I guess one of those creatures of magic would be Joodan here, since his boss has made him my...'assistant'." "You have ideas of who the others are," Master Elcid wagers. Kurayamino nods, but doesn't say any other names. I have ideas as well. Vincent is gifted with this Art that Master Elcid has. It would not surprise me if he is a member of this pentagram. Joodan, Vincent, Tenshi and Kurayamino. What an unlikely group. "I have been reading a book," Master Eclid is saying. "It is called 'The Infinite Stars', and contains the legends of the Stars...and the groups before them. In it was the prophecy of the Fallen Star becoming the Star of Change." "Would you tell us about the ones that came before us?" I ask. "And...Kurayamino, when exactly are you going to tell us what the Star of Change is?" Kurayamino shrugs. "The Star of Change gathers the points of the pentagram of Change. I guess. I'm sorry, Zellar, it was sort of a really personal experience. I...don't know how to talk about it just yet." "I understand," I reply. I have faith in him. When the time is right, and he is ready, Kurayamino will talk to me. Until then I have to just trust him. I can do that. Master Eclid is talking. But I find it hard to focus on what he's saying. I feel sleepy. I hope I don't nod off here. I keep my eyes moving over the room; it keeps me awake. Something...someone hovers near Kurayamino. I can just make them out. It appears to be a woman. She has long, pale violet hair and eyes the same color as Tenkou. She's dressed in a robe that could be gold...or maybe silver. It's honestly hard to tell. She fades in and out my sight. [Who are you?] I wonder. She turns and looks right at me. Fades in and out. Opens her mouth, but I cannot hear what she replies. I concentrate, trying to focus on her words, perhaps I can read her lips. [Who are you?] I ask again. [My name is Un,] she replies. [We cannot speak for long. Even with your powers, even with the acknowledgement that we see each other, we cannot remain connected.] [Un...that's the name Joodan mentioned. Something about Change...] [Yes, I am the Light of Change.] She pauses. She flickers. [Zellar-san, I have a favor to ask of you.] [How do you know my name?] [I've been watching you for a very long time. But our time is short. I wish to tell you a story. Will you listen?] [Why me? Isn't Kurayamino the one who works for you?] [Yes, but you are the one who asked to know of the ones who came before you.] [The Stars?] [No, my dear Zellar-san, the ones who came before the Stars.] She flickers again. [Before the Stars and the Kobun...there were different names for those pentagrams. They were called the Lights and the Shadows. I belonged to the Lights. I was the Light of the Mind. And I went through my life as a Light quite happily for sometime, until I met him.] [Him?] [Tenjin. The Knight of Heaven. I fell in love with him, and I risked everything to be with him. I Fell from the pentagram of Light. I was nearly claimed by the Shadows, but something reached out to me. Change asked me to become its voice in the battle, to form its pentagram. I did, and I was happy at first with my choice. I was with Tenjin, and I loved him very much. But as much as I loved him, I grew to resent my choice.] [Why?] [My family shunned me and called me a betrayer. They cut themselves off from me, and I suffered greatly from it. My will to fight faded, and my love for life fell into question.] Un pauses. [Kurayamino faces a difficult road. He has chosen my path. He has given up his status in the pentagram of Stars for his love for Tenkou. You have seen how this is beginning to affect your family already. But there is a difference between him and myself. I did not have a brother like you, my dear Zellar-san, to turn to. He does.] [I would never turn my back on Kurayamino,] I tell her. [I swear it.] She smiles. She flickers. [I will remember that you have sworn this to me. Now ask your question.] I am confused. [What question?] [The one that flickered into your mind at the name 'Tenjin'.] [The Knight Heaven. Yes, I see. What is his relation to the Queen of Heaven?] [He is her father.] Un flickers, and does not return. ~*~ Someone is shaking me. I open my eyes and realize that I had fallen asleep. Joodan is looking down at me. "You were talking in your sleep," he tells me. I don't reply right away. I cannot see Un anywhere, but I sense her. "What did I say?" I ask him. He does not have an opportunity to reply. There is a knock at the door, and Master Eclid rises to answer it. A young man bows in an ojigi to him. "Forgive me, sensei, but someone is here to speak with you," the young man says. "Who is it, Fei?" Master Elcid asks. "A detective, sensei," Fei replies. "She says her name is Quistis Kaede." I look at Tenkou and Kurayamino. "Master Elcid, is there another way out?" He turns and points to a door on the opposite wall. "Take that and follow the hallway to your left. It will lead you to the students' entrance." Kurayamino starts for the door with Joodan close at his heels; I follow. Tenkou hesitates. "You're not going to ask why we have to leave?" she wants to know. Master Elcid shakes his head. "I know why, your Majesty. Please, I will stall the detective, but I will not risk making her suspicious." Tenkou nods, and I turn back to Master Elcid. "Thank you, sir." He nods, and gestures to the door. "Hurry, Dark Star. Irvine, lead me to Kaede-san." ~*~ We go back to the square. The students' entrance to the Painter's Guild opens right out onto the square. Tenshi's former podium is still empty, but the scattered stone has been cleaned up. "Joodan," Kurayamino speaks, "I've got a job for you." The inutatsu looks up. "What is it?" "Go back to the hotel and tell the others about the police being here," Kurayamino instructs. "We're all going to have to be careful about throwing our powers around now." Joodan nods. "No prob, Bob." The green creature took off in the direction of the Bright Star hotel. "Jeez, Kumi," Tenkou teases, "it looks like you've acquired a new best friend." She absently rubs her arm. Suddenly, I realize that she has not complained about her arm since this whole matter began. Had I not heard on the news that it had been broken? Wasn't that why she had been in the hosipital, to recover from the injuries she sustained at the destruction of the Shrine? "Tenkou," I ask, "didn't you break your arm?" She looks at me. "I...well, yes. I mean, it happened at the Shrine." I wonder if she wants me to apologize for that as well. Maybe some other time. It's not what I'm concerned with right now. "Is it healed?" I ask, looking at Kurayamino. He shrugs. "Well..." she trails off, searching for an explanation. "The Queen of Heaven has advanced healing powers," Kurayamino tells us. "I saw them in action a few times. I think she might have told me that no injury lasts more than a week thanks to those abilities. I could be wrong. My memory isn't the greatest when it comes to some things." "You guys..." she groans. "For just for once can you not try to convince me that I'm the Queen of Heaven? Look, for now, I don't believe it. Can we leave it at that, please?" Kurayamino shrugs again. "Whatever you say, Tenkou." "There's one way to tell for sure," a voice says. "We'll kill you and see if it makes a difference." My sixth sense goes, well, nuts. Every alarm that could go off when danger is around does so. I have a very, very bad feeling about this. Kurayamino has already gone into action. "Kobun," he calls to me, and quickly pulls Tenkou out of the line of fire. "Stall him!" I look up and see the blond man. "Which one are you?" he asks, grinning madly. I bring my hands before me, and summon forth my Star powers. "Yukikureru!" The shadows swirl forth clothe me in my indigo-on-indigo costume. My skin turns white as snow, and my ears grow into their demon form. My hair becomes the pale blue color, and the black, five-pointed star appears on my forehead. "Shadow Sword, come forth," I command, and the black weapon forms from the night's shadows, materializing in my hand. The Kobun grins. "Ah, Dark Star. Funny, I thought you were taken care of." His grin is cut short as a black whip winds round his wrist. Surprise is clear in his features, and he turns to see the other, the one who looks nearly identical to me. His hair is shorter, and its tips are the indigo color of my uniform. The boy is also dressed in black, not blue, and his tunic's hems are trimmed with a brilliant emerald green color. Also, the star upon is forehead is seven-pointed and golden. Kurayamino pulls the whip back, and the Kobun staggers backward, falling down. With a flick, the whip coils once more in my brother's hands. "I just felt the need to do that," he says, and shrugs. "Sorry. I'll keep out of it now." He leaps over the fountain, and lands next to Tenkou. "Two on one, eh?" the Kobun asks. "How cowardly." He glares at Kurayamino. "And who in all the hells are you, anyway?" "He's the Star of Change," Tenkou snaps. "But right now I think you should worry about Dark Star, buddy. Get him, Zellar!" Encouragement from Tenkou to fight? Well, that's new. The Kobun frowns. "Hrmph, as soon as I finish off you, Dark Star, I'll take care of your sidekick." He rubs his wrist. "I'll choke him to death with that little string of his." "You'll have to be in one piece to do that," I tell him, and raise the Shadow Sword, charging forward. A ball of red energy gathers in his palm, and he throws it at me. I block it with the Sword, and reach him, bringing my blade down. It clangs, and locks with a dagger he has drawn to protect himself. After a moment he throws me off, and slashes at my throat. I roll out of the way, and get to my feet, sword ready for another swing. When he turns, I come at the dagger from the side and knock it from his hand. It clatters across the ground, beyond his reach. The Kobun glares up at me. "Don't think you've defeated me, Dark Star." "It looks that way," I remark. He waves his hand, and I hear Tenkou cry out: "behind you, Zellar! The dagger!" I leap to my side, and narrowly avoid the dagger embedding itself into my back. The Kobun catches it, and beckons me forward. "Well, little Star, what are you waiting for?" he taunts. I grip the Shadow Sword, and advance towards him. Light spills out onto the street. "Freeze!" a voice orders. "You, with the blue hair, back away from that man!" [Damnit!] Kurayamino's voice seethes. [Zellar, it's that woman from the church. The detective.] [Get Tenkou out of here,] I tell him. [It won't look very good for her to be seen here. They might think she's an accomplice.] [What about you?] he wants to know. [I'll draw her attention. So the two of you can escape.] I turn around, and see the pistol aimed at me. The detective gasps. I wonder if she sees a demon, or a wanted fugitive. Either way, I have her attention. "Drop your weapon, and put your hands up," she tells me. "You, sir, are you all right?" she calls to the Kobun, but he has already vanished, disappearing with the same skill he used to arrive undetected. I dismiss the Shadow Sword, and it melts into the night. "Nice night, ne?" I ask. She stares, and her grip on her weapon falters. Kurayamino uses the instant to disappear down the street behind us. She has not noticed, and should not have reason to give chase to him and Tenkou. That problem taken care of, I must now decide how to get away from her. She peers at me. "Well, well. It must be my lucky night, I get to see some of Kuroimura's wild-life," she says. "Any reason you're dressed up so fancy, pal? That's quite the mask." That is the problem with most people, the reason why Kuroimura can so easily cast its spell of illusion upon them, they see what they want to see. She cannot conceive that a demon stands before her because it defies her rational view of her world. So she has decided that I am in a costume. "All right," she raises the gun again. "Put your hands behind your back. You and I are taking a little trip to the station." ~*~ Trump Card XXI is "The World" and generally implies reaching a natural conclusion. Another interesting note is that in part 6 Kurayamino and Tenkou meet. Trump Card VI is "The Lovers". How funny. Hm. Felt like writing first person. Felt like writing it all in present tense. Dissocitive as hell to switch the "I" persona's half-way through, but very fun. Of course, I don't mind getting all confused about who I am because I'm usually confused anyway. ^_^ It was supposed to be sort of a look from two pairs of eyes. I would have written the story completely as the same events as viewed by Kurayamino and then Zellar...but that didn't work. Thanks to Squall...er, John Evans (who bore witness to how badly I can misspell "tanabata", among other things) and Katy for prereading. ^_^ When I stop being lazy and get something drawn you'll get thank-you pics. (Hey, I know exactly what they'd be of and everything.) ^_^; Also thank you to Del who can count because it is well-known that I cannot. Un= fortune, luck. Makes sense about her being cursed and praised now? Tenjin= assuming I put that together right: "Ten"=Heaven, "jin" King or Knight. Even if I didn't put it together right let's say I did. Gambatte: "Do your best" Cho-sugoi: Um, well the best way I can think to translate this is something like "double wow". Kumi: Hmm, interestingly enough this can mean a "group, team or class (in schoo)". Kaede: tree of some kind, but I can't remember specifically which one. (5 point ref) Fei: Um, not sure what it means. (4 point ref) Quistis (2 point ref, it's not a difficult one ^_^) The matter of the quote is a 'twisted-reality' as it comes from the same Amanda Marshall song that the one about destiny does ("Love Lift Me" off the Tuesday's Child album). Kurayamino probably hasn't ever had a chance to hear it, or maybe he has. I can't remember how long it's been out for. Anyway, the complete piece of the lyrics is: "Someone told me loves makes you stupid Makes you go crazy, makes you go blind It comes uninvited, leaves with it wants to, calls you at midnight and ties up your lines." And yes, I also smile every time I hear that last line. Lady Chaos "You kill people when you get bored?"