A long time ago, a young girl sat and gazed up at the stars. She and her friends were alone in a strange place, fighting for a strange cause. There were many who opposed them with their lives, and many who depended on them for their lives, and it was hard to tell which of the two frightened the three heroes more. They had fought and struggled and laughed and cried together for what seemed like forever, and now their quest was finally about to end. She should have been happy about it. She really should. Teru sighed, looking up into the clear, sparkling night. Her lips moved silently, forming words she hadn't used in years. _Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight--_ "Teru-chan?" Teru started, looking back over her shoulder. A faint shadow stood there. "Akie?" "Mia-chan's asleep," the other girl offered, sitting down next to Teru and removing the ribbon from her own hair. A wave of shining blonde tumbled down her back as she turned concerned blue eyes on Teru. "Are you okay, Teru- chan?" "I'm fine." Teru made a noncommittal gesture, hoping it would be enough. "It's just... hard to believe it's nearly over." She glanced back at the silent campsite. "We have to make the crystal, and face Wintergreen, and then..." "Going home..." Akie said, dreamily. "I haven't thought about home for so long." She giggled, suddenly. "What do you think's going to happen, Teru-chan? Do you think they'll have had the police out looking for us?" Teru blinked, trying to force her brain into long-disused paths of thought. How long had they been stuck out here on Mars? "Uh... no idea. Maybe we'll just be back at the same instant we left, and no one'll even notice." "Nobody except us. It's odd, isn't it?" the other girl said thoughtfully. "The three of us probably never would have met if we hadn't been sent here." She paused. "But... well, after we get home... we'll all be best friends, right, Teru- chan?" "Sure we will." It almost hurt, it was so hard to form the words. Couldn't Akie see it? Mia's isolation, silently resenting Teru and Akie whenever they were getting along too well. Or Teru's own confusion. She cared for them both--but how much, and in what way? Should she say something to either of them? Which one? Was there even anything to say? It was too late now, though. They would have to carry it all with them to the end, and hope that they could make it through. But somewhere deep down, Teru doubted if it would be enough. "Goodnight, Teru-chan." Akie finished re-tying her ribbon and got to her feet. "See you in the morning." Her hand lightly brushed Teru's shoulder. "Goodnight, Akie." Teru returned her eyes to the shimmering vista overhead. _I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight..._ Trying hard not to feel stupid and childish, she closed her eyes and made her wish. _I wish we could start over. I wish I--we--could have another chance at this._ Teru opened her eyes again. The stars twinkled back impassively. _Stupid,_ Teru told herself, standing up as she turned back toward the campsite. _You know wishes don't come true. Not even on Mars..._ But somehow, as she drifted off to sleep minutes later, she found herself still hoping that it would. >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< The Starburst Crystal Created by Ardweden Legend Sixteen: Soft Centres by Marcus Fong >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< "Yumi?" Yumi blinked, opening her eyes to see Tsugiko's worried face. "Yumi? Are you all right?" "Uh, I... I'm fine, Tsugiko-chan," Yumi managed to say more-or-less coherently. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. Why had she fallen asleep? Had she been... And then it hit her. "Kyouji-san!" Yumi blurted, looking wildly around. He was under the Brittle Curse; if she'd dozed off and fallen on top of him-- "It's okay, Yumi," Tsugiko soothed, tapping a small sack hanging by her side. "We got the flowers. And Kyouji--" she hesitated just a fraction-- "and, uh, girl-Twix are all right. Still cursed, but..." "Wait a minute!" Yumi's eyes widened as she took in her friend. "What happened to you, Tsugiko-chan?" The other Warrior Priestess's clothes bore numerous slashes and tears, far too fine to be anything but blade cuts. A quick inspection showed that Tsugiko was just as badly off as her clothes. Yumi started to reach for her wand, then realised it was already in her hand somehow. "Here, Tsugiko-chan, I--" "I'm fine," Tsugiko interrupted. "The other Twix needs some help, though." She indicated where the male Twix was lying peacefully, a long rip in his clothes stained with something that definitely wasn't rust. Yumi nodded. "Leave it to me, Tsugiko-chan." >o< As a healing pink light bathed the area, Tsugiko knelt beside Kyouji, pulling out the small sack containing the Crystal Ice flowers. She reached inside for one of the snowy blooms. Then she stopped, biting back several words which weren't on the St. Hebereke Young Ladies' Approved Vocabulary List, as she realised that she had absolutely no idea what to do with the flowers. Tsugiko twisted to look over her shoulder, seeing the male Twix stir and sit up slowly as the pink glow faded. "Hey! How do we use these things?" she called to him. "Pass them to me and I'll show you," he replied, meeting her gaze calmly. Tsugiko frowned. Did he think she was an idiot? "Tell me first. After we cure Kyouji, I'll pass them over." She folded her arms, giving him a hard stare. Twix seemed about to reply, but just then his sister shuddered violently where she lay. "Put one in his mouth," the summoner said hurriedly, as he rushed to her side. "It'll dissolve and cure him, but it takes some time. And it'll feel ice-cold while it's dissolving, so you'll have to keep it in there." Tsugiko watched for another moment as Twix explained the situation to his dazed twin, occasionally interrupted by muffled exclamations from her. Then she turned back, taking a deep breath, and gently prised Kyouji's jaw open. Then Tsugiko carefully wedged a long-stemmed Crystal Ice into his mouth, closed it, and waited tensely. There was a rustle beside her, followed by a brief pink flare, and the assorted aches from Tsugiko's cuts and bruises vanished. Her torn dress mended, too, leaving a light tickling sensation across her skin. "Thanks," Tsugiko said, turning to look at Yumi. "I'm just glad you're okay, Tsugiko-chan," Yumi said, her voice sounding faintly strained, but just as sincere as always. Tsugiko looked at the other girl more closely. A whole day had come and gone, but Yumi didn't seem to have slept at all; her eyes weren't nearly as bright as usual, and her shoulders were just a little bit slumped... "Is something the matter, Tsugiko-chan?" Yumi asked, half-raising her wand. "Does anything still hurt?" "Huh? No, I'm fine." Tsugiko quickly changed the subject. "Hey, how come she's awake already?" She indicated the female Twix with a tilt of her head. "I mean, Kyouji's still asleep." Yumi paused, considering her answer. "Tsugiko-chan... did anything strange happen while you were on that mountain?" "Strange? You mean like accompanying a guy who wanted to kill us up until yesterday night, fighting all sorts of creatures and some weird swordsman who kept talking about his sister..." Tsugiko trailed off, and blinked. "Wait a minute. Was that your voice and Kyouji's I heard, when I suddenly had all that extra power?" Yumi nodded. "I think... no, I'm sure that was us, Tsugiko- chan. I heard Kyouji-san's voice telling me that you needed us, and I concentrated, and I think afterwards I passed out." She looked down at Kyouji's peaceful form. "Maybe that's why he hasn't woken up yet." As if on cue, Kyouji chose exactly that moment to start choking violently. "Hold him down! Be careful!" Tsugiko gasped, trying to put a hand over his mouth as gently as possible. It wasn't easy holding someone down while simultaneously treating him like he was made of glass, but somehow, between the two of them, they managed. The choking spasm subsided, and Tsugiko lifted her hands away from Kyouji's mouth to check. Just then, Kyouji gave one final, violent heave as Tsugiko leaned down to inspect him. For a moment, her vision was full of blurred Kyouji as he lurched upwards... then she became aware of a cool, fresh sweetness on her lips. Then, as her eyes focused very close in, she realised that she was tasting the Crystal Ice on Kyouji's lips. Tsugiko's mind blanked completely. This was a bad thing, since it meant her natural reflexes took over. >o< "Kyouji-san? Kyouji-san?" Darkness was warm. Darkness was nice. Darkness was hundreds of itty-bitty blunt forks stabbing rhythmically into your skull and-- "Oww..." Kyouji moaned, and opened his eyes. Everything swam for an instant. He looked around. Tsugiko was walking back from... the two Twixes? The female Twix was shivering and seemed to have something in her mouth, which she had clapped her hands over to prevent herself from spitting out. Her twin was hovering nervously over her, throwing the occasional wary look at the three teenagers. Kyouji returned his attention to Yumi, who was still talking. "--you were cursed," she continued. "So Tsugiko- chan went all the way up some mountains and brought back a flower to cure you!" Kyouji blinked and flinched, rubbing his jaw. "Ah. So I got this in the fight?" Yumi blushed a little. "Um... actually, you... er, Tsugiko- chan, ah..." Then Kyouji remembered, and flushed pink himself. "Um... never mind." He clutched his head as the pain suddenly decided to come back. "Ow." I should've stayed a girl, a tiny corner of his mind piped up. This sort of thing never happened back then... Kyouji clutched his head harder. "Shut up, Teru," he mumbled. "Who's Teru, Kyouji-san?" Yumi asked curiously. "Is she your girlfriend back home?" "Huh? Don't you remember?" Kyouji turned back to Yumi. "But you were there when the spirit said--" Just then Yumi's eyes widened, focusing on something behind him. Kyouji realised who must be there, replayed the previous conversation in his mind and panicked as he understood which parts of it Tsugiko had probably heard. He whirled, frantically trying to condense the explanation for it all into under half a second. He got it down to one syllable, and there was just enough time for it. "AAAAA--!" Yumi and the Twixes all winced as the hammer blow shook the clearing. I really should've stayed a girl, part of Kyouji thought. _Just shut up. Owowowowow..._ >o< A more complete explanation, several embarrassed apologies and much shiny pink healing light later, the Warrior Priestesses and their Knight Protector stood opposite the Twixes. Both sides eyed each other uneasily. "Um... well." Kyouji stepped forward, breaking the silence. "What happens now?" The Twixes shared a look. "Wintergreen knows I betrayed her for my sister," the male twin said calmly. "So there's no point in us going back to her... and no reason for us to fight you Crystal Warriors anymore." "Crystal Warriors?" Tsugiko echoed. "Oh, that." Both Twixes shrugged in unison. "Wintergreen got sick of having to call you 'the Warrior Priestesses and the Knight Protector' all the time." "Er..." "At least she only tried to _kill_ you," female Twix grumbled, looking at Kyouji. "_We_ got to hear her rant on and on about how inconsiderate you were to come back as a boy." Kyouji's response to that was inaudible, since he had one hand over his face. "...um, anyway. Why don't you join us?" Yumi asked. "If we can beat Wintergreen, then you won't have to worry about her ever again!" "No offense, but I doubt we'd live long that way." Twix shook his head, slipping an arm around his sister's shoulders. "We're going to drop out of sight for a while." "Fine," Tsugiko agreed. "We go our separate ways." She hesitated... "Good luck." The male Twix actually smiled at that. "And to you." He inclined his head, an ironic gesture of respect. "I think you'll need it." >o< "So what do we do now?" Kyouji asked, after the Twix twins had left. Afternoon was giving way to evening, and the light was already fading. "Any ideas?" Tsugiko looked around at the darkening landscape. "It's getting late. Maybe we should just stop here another night?" "No." Kyouji shook his head decisively, pointing at the crack in the ground where the Britecrawler had emerged the night before. "The Twixes found us here before. We'd only be inviting another attack." Yumi shivered a little at that. She doubted she'd have been able to defend herself and two helpless, vulnerable people as well. If Wintergreen had chosen to attack her group instead of Tsugiko's... "Gika!" The furry little creature jumped into Tsugiko's arms, staggering her backwards. "Kit Kat? What--mmf!" Tsugiko gasped, as Kit Kat looked up and cheerfully spat something faceted and golden in her face. Managing to hang on to Kit Kat with one arm, Tsugiko caught the shiny thing with her other hand... and stared. "A Shard? Where'd you get this?" "Gika!" the cat-ferret squeaked proudly. "You're wonderful, Kit Kat!" Yumi reached out to stroke the little animal's head. It purred softly. "Thanks, Kit Kat!" Tsugiko hugged the carret and began to put the Shard away. As she finished tucking it into a safe place, something pawed at her forehead. "Gika!" Tsugiko brushed the furry paw away. "What is it? Is there something else?" "Gika!" The paw swiped again at her forehead, and missed when Tsugiko held the carret away from her. "Kit Kat! What's the matter with you?" Yumi followed Kit Kat's paw with her eyes and gasped, dismayed. "Tsugiko-chan! Your crystal! It's..." The crack in Tsugiko's crystal had once been a hairline; now it was a deep green fissure. "What happened?" Kyouji demanded, his voice filled with sudden concern. "I think... I think it was all that power I got from you guys, up on the mountain." Tsugiko reached up to touch her crystal, feeling its scarred surface. "Maybe a cracked crystal couldn't handle it. I don't know." Kyouji exhaled sharply. "We need to get that fixed as soon as we can." Yumi quickly nodded agreement, looking at Tsugiko with worried eyes. "How can we fix it, though?" the blonde girl ventured. "Did Patty-san say anything...?" "Just that the spirit of the temple might know what to do," Tsugiko said reluctantly. Kyouji was right--they _had_ to fix her crystal, and soon--but she couldn't tell him everything that Patty had told her. He wouldn't let Tsugiko fight if he knew she risked losing her powers permanently. Neither would Yumi, she was sure. And the two of them might end up dying for it... Much to her relief, neither of them asked any more questions. "Okay, we're heading back to the temple," Kyouji said simply. "Let's pack up the campsite, fast, and--" "Gika!" "Huh? What is it this time?" Yumi asked, confused. "_Gika!_" Kit Kat said emphatically, and leaped. "Hey!" Tsugiko sputtered, trying and failing to ward the furry missile away from her face. "What--!" A paw batted at her crystal again; then Kit Kat leaped lightly away and ran a short distance, looking back at them. "Giiiiika!" the carret squeaked urgently. It took another two paces and looked back again. "No, we can't follow you right now, Kit Kat," Yumi said firmly. "We have to get Tsugiko-chan's crystal fixed before we--" "Gika!" The carret nodded enthusiastically. "--you know how to fix Tsugiko-chan's crystal?" Yumi asked, clearly puzzled. "Gika! Gika!" Nod. Nod. The Warrior Priestesses and Knight Protector exchanged glances. "All right, Kit Kat. Just let us pack up the camp first..." >o< Even though it was getting darker and darker, trailing after Kit Kat was easier than Kyouji had thought it would be--all they had to do was follow the calls of "Gika!" somewhere in front of them. The terrain was pleasant and cooperative, with no forests, ditches, potholes or even rocks to trip over--just gently rolling hills. All this gave Kyouji plenty of time to think, and thinking was something he really didn't want to do right now. Especially not about... He yanked his eyes away from Tsugiko's legs. No! Teru was wrong. Even if she _was_ his former self. The middle of a life-or-death quest was not a time to be thinking about dating either Tsugiko _or_ Yumi! "...Kyouji-san?" Yumi's whisper tickled his ear. Panicking, Kyouji nearly jumped a foot in the air before Yumi grabbed his shoulder and clapped a hand over his mouth. "I'm worried about Tsugiko-chan," she continued softly. Kyouji took a deep breath to settle himself, and nodded. "We need to talk," he murmured back. There was a slight pause. "Okay," Yumi agreed, almost inaudibly. >o< They finally stopped for the night, camping on top of a hill which, Kyouji argued, would make it harder to sneak up on them. "But it's dark anyway," Tsugiko pointed out. "And we'll be asleep." "Ah... actually, we'll be keeping a rotating watch tonight," Kyouji explained. "Yumi volunteered to take first shift. Right, Yumi?" "I did? Oh, of course I did!" Yumi said quickly, covering up the slip with faked brightness. "So, I'll take first shift, and then--" Tsugiko fought down a wave of irritation. Little Miss Perfect again, always the first to volunteer for everything, so bright and cheerful and nice-- "I'm taking second shift," she interrupted, her voice tight. That shut both of them up. They turned to look at her, the growing darkness making it impossible to read their expressions. "But, Tsugiko--" Kyouji began. "I said, I'm taking second shift." A sudden suspicion struck her. "Unless there's some reason you two want adjacent shifts..." "Nonono!" Kyouji panicked, as expected. "Second shift's fine, aheh..." "No, of course not, Tsugiko-chan," Yumi said, her voice still cheerful. "Let's eat, and then you two sleep and I'll wake you when it's your turn." >o< Yumi looked up. "Tsugiko-chan's asleep?" "Yes," Kyouji said, easing himself down beside her. "I looked in on her before I came out here." "So what did you want to talk about, Kyouji-san?" Yumi asked, surveying the area one last time--all clear--before turning her attention to Kyouji. "That little mind-trip we had into Tsugiko." Kyouji sighed. "Now we've got some time to talk about it... well, I'm not sure what it really meant, and you've known her a lot longer than I have." The silence stretched uncomfortably. Kyouji opened his mouth nervously, wondering whether he'd said something wrong-- "I--I don't know anymore," Yumi blurted. "Ever since then... I've wondered how well I knew Tsugiko-chan at all." She averted her eyes, but not before Kyouji caught the faint glistening of tears. "Yumi!" "It's... it's the truth, Kyouji-san. I... I thought I was her friend, but I've been making her so unhappy, somehow..." Kyouji reached out instinctively at the pain in Yumi's voice. His hand brushed her shoulder, and she shivered... but she didn't pull away. "Yumi... you _are_ her friend. She does care about you. Even I can see that." Yumi shook her head miserably. "She thinks I'm perfect. I wish I was... then I'd know what to do. What should I do, Kyouji-san?" Almost of its own will, Kyouji's arm slipped gently around Yumi's far shoulder, silently comforting. "I... I wish I knew. What did she say in the dream? That nobody noticed her..." "...and that it was all my fault." Yumi's voice was almost inaudible. Kyouji had to lean slightly closer to make out the words. "And then?" he prompted softly, after a short pause. In the starlight, he could barely make out the faint flush on her cheeks. "She said that she saw you first," Yumi whispered, raising her eyes to his, "but--" "--but that as soon as I laid eyes on you..." Kyouji finished, struggling to even remember the words. Something in his brain was screaming at him, but right now the world was Yumi and only Yumi, as the two of them came closer and closer... A sudden noise froze both their blood. They whirled. >o< "Tsugiko-chan, do you really hate me that much?" Yumi asked sadly. Tsugiko flinched, almost recoiling from the pain in the other girl's voice--then she threw herself forward, hammer swinging, before she could think twice about it. The hammer slammed into the ground as Yumi slipped aside easily. "Why?" Yumi appealed, her voice carrying only hurt innocence. She didn't even make a move to raise her wand. "I don't understand--" No, of course Yumi couldn't understand. Yumi wasn't showing off; she had no idea what it was like to be jealous. The jealousy was all inside Tsugiko's head, because Tsugiko was awful and terrible and everything Yumi wasn't-- Tsugiko's control broke, and her hands tightened painfully around her hammer as it whistled up in a vicious arc. She saw Yumi dodge backward through tear-blurred eyes, narrowly avoiding the blow. Detached, as though she were a spectator, Tsugiko watched the hammer halt and swing savagely back. Dimly, she heard a voice shouting something, ringing harsh and raw with bitterness. Then she realised it was her own. "You don't even _try_--!" Swing. Miss. "I saw Kyouji first, but as soon as he laid eyes on _you_--!" Advance. "Nobody notices me, and you don't care! It's _your fault_!" Swing. Miss-- And then Yumi was sprawled on the ground, staring helplessly up at her. The hammer finished its arc and swept up for the kill. Yumi could still have raised her wand and blasted Tsugiko, but she didn't; she just sat there and looked at her, and Tsugiko could see tears pool in her friend's eyes as she closed them-- And that cut so badly into her heart, cut and twisted painfully, that all Tsugiko could do was bring the hammer down with all the force she could muster-- --and Tsugiko bolted upright, breathing heavily, the dream splintering into a million receding fragments. She looked wildly about, as her mind fought to establish reality. "Yumi?" Had Yumi been hurt? She remembered that Yumi had been about to get hurt, somehow, in the dream... Her brain finally got itself working again. Oh, of course; Yumi was outside on watch. Tsugiko lay back, relieved. Yumi was all right... Then she thought back on the day's events, and guilt crept over her. She shouldn't have been jealous of Yumi like that. Yumi hadn't done anything wrong. Tsugiko got up, pushing the tent flap open. It wasn't time for her shift yet, but that was okay. She'd go out and take over the watch from Yumi, and apologise. >o< "Yumi?" Tsugiko called quietly, as she walked toward the watch point. "Yumi?" There was a faint scuffling from up ahead, and then a prolonged rustling of grass which faded down the hill as she neared Yumi. The blonde girl was sitting quietly, turning her head to study the surrounding area. "Was something moving a second ago?" Tsugiko asked, coming to a stop beside Yumi. "I thought I heard something." "Oh. Um, I heard it as well. It was just the breeze." "Huh." Tsugiko frowned. "Okay, then..." "What's wrong?" Yumi asked, looking up at Tsugiko. "Trouble sleeping, Tsugiko-chan?" "Kind of, I guess." Tsugiko sat down next to her friend. "Bad dreams. I thought I'd take over the watch, and you could get some sleep." "Bad dreams?" Tsugiko blinked at the odd note in Yumi's voice. "I don't really remember. It was dark. We were both there, and I was... shouting? And you were dodging something, but then you fell down, and you were about to get hurt somehow... and then I woke up." "Oh." Yumi digested that for a moment. "Tsugiko-chan... do you remember that trouble we had with the Gobstopper?" Tsugiko winced. "You mean, when I looked into its eyes, and the next thing I knew I was waking up in Patty's hut?" Yumi nodded. "Do... do you remember anything between those times, Tsugiko-chan? Anything at all?" "...no. Why?" "...just curious." Yumi bit her lip. How did you say, do you remember the time you shouted out everything you didn't like about me, and tried to kill me? But she'd promised Tsugiko-chan that they'd talk about it later. Even if Tsugiko-chan didn't remember. "Tsugiko-chan..." "It's okay," Tsugiko said. "You should get to sleep. I'll wake Kyouji when it's his turn." "...if I was doing anything to make you unhappy, you'd tell me, wouldn't you?" Tsugiko turned to stare at Yumi. "What?" "You'd tell me, right, Tsugiko-chan?" Yumi repeated, her head bowed. "Yumi, what are you talking about?" Tsugiko asked desperately, while trying to banish all traces of guilt and jealousy from her head. "Why would you think that I'd--?" "Just answer the question, Tsugiko-chan." "I..." Tsugiko's mind whirled. Just a few minutes ago, she would have bet her life that Yumi hadn't a clue about any of this... why now? A stray memory floated up, of Yumi's voice. _And... and I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to, but I--I--_ Had Yumi suspected back then? But why? Tsugiko found her voice. "Of--of course I would!" she said emphatically, hoping she sounded sincere enough. "Right." Yumi exhaled, almost a sigh. "Tsugiko-chan... I'm sorry anyway." "Sorry for what? Look, I already said--" "I said I'd be your friend no matter what," Yumi continued, as if Tsugiko hadn't spoken. "But... but, if all I'm doing is hurting you--" "_No!_ Stop it, Yumi!" Tsugiko found herself saying. "You're not doing anything wrong. You're..." Her throat felt tight. "You're a better friend than I deserve." "That's just it, Tsugiko-chan. I'm not. I can't be. If I was, I... I wouldn't be hurting you, and I'd know what to do, and I..." Yumi broke off, looking away. Tsugiko just sat there, rooted in shock. This was Yumi the ever-cheerful? Perfect, kind Yumi, who never had to worry about what other people felt because she was always nice and good to everyone? "I'm babbling, aren't I? Sorry, Tsugiko-chan." Yumi started to rise. "I'll go to sleep now. Just forget I said anything, okay...?" Tsugiko stared at her for another second, then caught Yumi by the shoulder. "Yumi, wait." Yumi stopped, but didn't say anything. "Yumi..." Tsugiko fumbled for something to say. Then she gave up and grabbed Yumi's other shoulder, pulling the blonde girl down into an awkward hug which she hoped would speak for her. "Tsugiko-chan...?" Yumi said, uncertainly. "I... I think I remember now," Tsugiko said quietly. "In the dream, it was me who was about to hurt you..." She hesitated. "But... I don't think I could have. I know that sounds silly--" "No," Yumi broke in. "You didn't--I mean, you wouldn't hurt me, Tsugiko-chan. You're a good person. But, but I--" "Stop it, Yumi." Tsugiko fought for a reassuring tone. She felt almost giddy, light-headed with shared vulnerability. For the moment they weren't perfect-Yumi and second- best-Tsugiko, but just two confused teenage girls, equally scared of losing each other. "If I'm... if I'm unhappy about something, I'll talk to you about it, from now on. I promise." "Tsugiko-chan..." "But you have to promise, too." Tsugiko blinked as the words left her mouth. Now where did that come from? Yumi did turn to look at her this time, and Tsugiko was startled at how good it felt to see the weak smile on the other girl's face. "I promise, Tsugiko-chan." Yumi twisted in Tsugiko's grip, and hugged her back for a long moment. Tsugiko cleared her throat, letting go. "Okay, you'd better get to sleep now." Yumi nodded. "Good night, Tsugiko-chan." Tsugiko watched her friend turn away, then shifted a bit for a better view-- "Ow!" "What happened, Tsugiko-chan?" Yumi asked, turning back a couple of steps away. "Nothing," Tsugiko called back. "Just sat on this rock, that's all." She tossed the offending mineral away, watching it arc away down the hill. "Ow!" Tsugiko frowned. "Did you hear that, Yumi?" "What, Tsugiko-chan? Must have been your imagination." Tsugiko listened, but no further sounds were heard. "I guess you're right." She didn't hear Yumi's silent sigh of relief, as Tsugiko looked up into the night sky. The stars glittered calmly, looking back at her. It was odd, Tsugiko thought, but somehow she felt more peaceful than she had in a while. A faint slithering of grass interrupted her. She jumped to her feet, going for her hammer. Nothing was going to get past her to her friends, not tonight-- "Tsugiko-chan? What's happening?" Yumi called, as the reverberations from the hammer blow died away. "Yumi? Um, a bit of an accident... could you bring your wand with you?" A pause. "Uh, Kyouji, you can wake up now. Wake up? Please?" ...anyway, so much for a peaceful night. Well, except for one of them. "...zzzgika." Author's Notes: ...er. All that just to take the plot nowhere? Oops. ^_^ I meant to have a few scenes with Wintergreen and the villains, honest I did. Then everything got, well, busy... Thanks to Ardweden for prereading, suggestions and much patience when she had her own things to do. I hope this is up to par, Ard; if not, I apologise in advance. ^_^; Good luck to all in the queue!