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Asahi stared out of her window, her long pink hair blowing behind her as the night air swirled around her room. The stars twinkled merrily and their light was reflected in her silver eyes.
I know...somewhere...somehow...something awaits for me...a strange calling through the stars...
As a shooting star shot across the dark sky, it's reflection did the same in Asahi's eyes which closed, then opened to reveal a beautiful golden tint coming into them.
"Good morning, Asahi-chan," Okashi landed beside her.
Asahi turned her head to look at the bird, and as she did, her now red, even longer, hair danced about her.
"Good Morning!" Asahi cheerfully said, running a comb through her hair.
"Saturday...what do you plan to do today?" Okashi asked, stretching his right wing.
"Valin-kun told me to see him," Asahi yawned hugely as she, too, stretched, then got up and walked toward her dresser.
Okashi watched the young girl with a sparkle in his eyes. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about it. She no longer made movies, and had, instead decided to pursue a life of normality. It seemed as though she had grown tired of excitement. Okashi knew, however, that seven years of peace was all that her life could afford.
My little Empress...I know you love this life...but you know, as well as I, that Eterna will need you again...the time when you have to abandon your childhood...draws near...
"Let's go!"
Asahi's voice brought Okashi out of his reverie and he turned to see her dressed in a white tank top with a pair of denim shorts. Her hair was now tied behind her only by a yellow ribbon. After her ordeal, she never tied it up into odangoes again.
"Why don't you ever put your hair up anymore?" Okashi asked, tilting his head to the side.
Asahi paused, then turned to look at Okashi. She paused before she gently picked him up, kissed him on his head and placed him on her shoulder. Okashi didn't bring attention to her inability to answer.
"Haha!" Asahi giggled as she ran out the door and felt the warm breeze wrap around her.
Okashi looked at her with a puzzled glance.
She seems happier than normal...
"Asahi-chan!" Ayame called, running toward them with a smile. "Asahi-chan!"
"Aya-chan! What's up?" Asahi asked, pausing for a moment, her cheeks flushed.
"Wow! You won't believe it! Hoshino Hakucho is in town!" Ayame said, resting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath.
"Wow..." Asahi uttered with amazement.
Okashi looked at Asahi with a wondering glance.
Hoshino Hakucho...?
"Come on! I hear she's over at the mall signing stuff!" Ayame said, grabbing Asahi's hand and dragging her toward the direction of the mall.
"Oh...I'm sorry, Aya-chan, but I can't go today." Asahi sighed as she remembered Valin. "It's one of those things I have to do."
Ayame frowned. "Wow, I'm sorry. I just got excited. But I guess there's always tomorrow, right?"
"Sure! We'll go tomorrow," Asahi smiled.
"So where are you going?" Ayame asked.
"Well, I haven't talked to Valin-san since the beginning of the summer...soo," Asahi explained.
"Oooh...Valin-san, huh? You two are so close," Ayame winked as Asahi blushed.
"Well, it's not like that between us. In fact, since the summer started, we've drifted apart," Asahi sighed. "So, I decided that today, I have to go visit him. I don't wanna lose my connections with him."
"Hmm...that's okay. I guess I'll see ya tomorrow, then," Ayame walked off while Asahi waved, happy that her friend had understood.
"Who's this swan girl?" Okashi asked when Ayame had gone.
"She's one of the coolest dancers ever!" Asahi explained as they walked toward Valin's apartment. "She can do everything from ballroom to modern dance...so she's just...wow!"
"And you gave up seeing her just to go to Valin's," Okashi shook his head. "I don't see why."
"Okashi!" Asahi frowned at him. "I know you two don't get along, but still, at least try to act civilized around each other. I don't even know what you two constantly argue about."
Okashi sulked all the way to Valin's door. His expression only worsened when the mage answered Asahi's knocking with a smile.
"Asahi-chan! Haven't seen you in a while!" Valin commented as she walked in, still surprised by it's immaculate state.
Not a speck of dust lingered on the simple furniture, nor the elaborate decorations. It always amazed her that his furniture was nothing compared to the multitude of expensive artifacts that lay everywhere. He seemed to be fond of his huge collection and only Asahi was allowed to touch them.
"What's up?" Asahi asked, smiling cheerfully.
"Well, I noticed something strange, the other day," Valin explained, and waved his hand over a diamond shaped golden box that floated over the coffeee table.
Asahi sat down on his couch and watched as the top of the diamond opened and a projection of a spiral galaxy appeared. It zoomed closer until it reached a small yellow planet ringed with red streaks on it's surface.
"What is it?"
"A planet that has a huge connection with the galaxy and Eterna." Valin began, crossing his arms as he went behind the couch with a clear view of the planet, "It is where the Star Fields' powers are channeled so that the Mages of Eterna are able to use it."
"Star Field?" Asahi asked.
"Star Fields are present in every galaxy. They are star placements that produce unbelievable power. The star fields of this galaxy are visible from this planet, but are called by another name: Constellations." Valin explained.
Asahi stared at the projection before her, "What's wrong with it?"
"Star Fields, because of the amount of power they produce, are fiercely guarded by legendary soldiers of the Constellations. But what's strange is that...the powers of the Fields have been waning." Valin frowned. "There must be something wrong...yet whatever it is, I cannot sense it. Just a waning, fading power..."
Asahi heard her heart pounding as she continued to gaze at the planet before her.
The mages once derived their power from this planet...that means...
"If this planet completely loses it's power...what happens?"
"It dies," Valin said without hesitation.
"And that means...your power..." Asahi prompted.
"I don't really care about my power as much as I care about what happens to this galaxy, should this planet fall. This is what trully prevents other galaxies to go into war with this one...This galaxy has the most powerful energy source of any other. Asahi-chan, I wanted to tell you this...not to worry you, but to alert you. These Star Fields are pawns of light..."
"So you believe that I could be a target for whatever is causing this energy drain," Asahi turned to look at him.
"Yes...and I might...I might not be able to protect you as well as I normally can."
"Right..." Asahi said, her face taking a determined look.
Okashi watched and heard everything around him without saying a word.
It has begun...Asahi knows this as well as I do...
"Asahi-chan...don't worry so much about these star fields..." Okashi said as Asahi walked home, silent and thoughtful.
"I guess it had to happen sometime. I knew it was coming, but I hoped that it wouldn't be this soon," Asahi stated without emotion as she looked at the setting sun.
Okashi stayed silent, unable to find the comforting words she needed. Suddenly he perked up and stared out over the street.
"Do you feel that?"
Asahi looked up and a frown crossed her face. "A strange, dark...troubling feeling..."
"Aaaahhh!" A scream ensued from the direction Okashi was looking at and Asahi jumped into action.
"Apollo Golden Starlight! Make up!" Asahi shouted, grabbing the locket that hung on a chain around her neck and raising it into the air.
"Asahi?!" Okashi stared as she was greeted with silence.
Asahi stared at the locket in her hand with confusion.
What...happened? My power broken?
"Apollo Golden Starlight!! Maaake up!"
No light shone from the locket.
"No time! Let's go!" Asahi shouted, dashing toward the direction of the scream.
"Asahi! No!" Okashi screamed after her.
Asahi raced into a scene of a beautiful looking woman whose face was pressed into a young girl's neck. Asahi froze as the woman turned to look at her with blank eye sockets and a red mouth, surrounded by blood from which two fangs protruded from.
A vampire!
"You! Stop right there!"
The vampire dropped the young girl, revealing the girl's face to Asahi. In a second, she had jumped from the girl.
"Ayame!"Asahi cried, frozen by the girl's face.
Asahi blinked and when she opened her eyes, the vampire had landed in front of her. Fearing for her life, but not wanting to abandon her friend, Asahi stepped back. Within moments, the vampire had her neck in it's grasp and a red gleam came into it's eyes.
"Aaahh!" Asahi screamed, trying desperately to pry the vampire's fingers from her neck.
"Asahi!" a voice shouted hazily.
A flash of light came through her now blurred vision and she felt the ground rushing up at her.
Why can't I transform...I need to help...Ayame...
Okashi flew into the scene and saw the huge flash that came from an unknown source. He dove down and got a clear view of Valin looking in awe as the vampire dissolved into vapor. It was then that he caught sight of Asahi lying on the ground, her eyes closed.
"Asahi-chan!" Okashi swooped up and landed right beside Asahi.
"I need...to help..." Asahi murmured.
Valin kneeled beside her and gently lifted Asahi with his arm. Her body was cold, but she was able to slowly open her eyes.
"What..." she began.
"It's alright, Asahi-chan...it's gone," Okashi assured her.
"But Okashi..." Asahi tried to argue, but fell into unconsciousness before she finished her sentence.
"She couldn't transform," Okashi said quietly.
Valin looked at the girl he held in his hands and lifted her without noticing her ribbon slipping to the ground and freeing her long, red hair.
My power...seemed to grow stronger...
"Asahi-chan! Did you hear? Ayame was attacked yesterday," Mrs. Uchuno asked her daughter over breakfast the next day.
"Yeah..." Asahi said groggily.
Valin had brought her home with him and took care of her until she regained consciousness. By the time she left his apartment to go home, it was already ten. She had not been able to sleep as soon as she reached her room.
"How horrible! I'll have to visit her mom today," Mrs. Uchuno said, shaking her head.
"Umm...can I stay home today?" Asahi asked.
"What? Asahi-chan, are you sick?" Mrs. Uchuno lowered the paper to look directly at her daughter.
"Just having a headache," Asahi quickly replied.
Mrs. Uchuno continued to stare at her, but didn't say a word.
"Asahi-chan...you couldn't help it," Okashi reassured her after breakfast as soon as her mother had left for work.
"No...something's wrong with my locket," Asahi said, taking her locket and clasping it tightly.
"Asahi-chan...I understand that it must be difficult for you to just stand and watch, but you cannot endanger your life!" Okashi scolded her.
"But where did the enemy come from?" Asahi questioned, avoiding Okashi's statement.
"I'm...not exactly sure...but it might have something to do with the danger that Amaterasu is in," Okashi thought aloud.
Asahi looked down at the locket.
Amaterasu...that planet where the energies of the Star Fields are channeled...is it affecting my power?
"Asahi?" Okashi interrupted her thoughts.
Asahi, startled, looked up. "Whatever it is...we have to find out before another attack occurs...We'll be helpless..."
Amaterasu...danger...demon...
The girl woke up running her hand through her sweat soaked hair. She had awoken to the same dream for the third night. Clutching her blanket with her other hand, she threw the blanket aside and stepped onto the soft white carpet.
What is this?! What am I trying to recall...why is there somebody always haunting my dreams?!
"I...I have to find out..."