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Darkness… Everywhere… Am I clouded by the pocket in the Devil’s hands again? Minako stirred. My head is hot… Did I faint? What happened? My heart had been ablaze with rage, but… I can’t grasp my memory… She opened her eyes. What is this? This pale blue room… The computer in the corner… Shelves lined with books… Stacks of CDs… She turned slightly. Such comfortable sheets… Minako gasped and sat up. The world where everyone dressed strangely didn’t have CDs! So this… This is my world!

Minako jumped out of bed quickly and trembled on her feet. She caught her balance and ran to the living room. She put her hands to her heart as she picked up the telephone. All that anger and sadness was only a dream, thank goodness. The phone rang and rang, and then the line clicked.

“Hello?

Minako smiled, “Mrs. Smithson, hi! Can I please talk to Renee?”

“Minako?” the voice on the line replied.

Minako nodded, “Yes, it’s me.”

“Where is my daughter?”

“What?” Minako gasped.

“Isn’t she still with you?”

“Umm… No…” Minako gasped in shock once more, “She didn’t go home!?!”

“No…” Mrs. Smithson replied sadly.

“Don’t worry Mrs. Smithson! I’m going out to look for her right now!”

Minako hung up the phone hurriedly. Renee? Where was she? It wasn’t like her to stay out all night… But more than that…

“Minako!!!!”

Renee? Is that you?

“Minako!! Come home!!”

I thought so! It is Renee! Renee!!!

“Minako!!! Everyone’s worried!!!! Come home!!!”

I’m coming, Renee!!!

“Minako!!!”

There’s no mistake… That was Renee calling me. So… she helped me come back here… Minako raised her hand to her face. But… If Renee helped me come back here, then where did she go? Even I’m not important enough for Renee to keep from going home, or at least calling her mom… Something came up… Something important must have come up!

Minako ran to the door, “Renee! I’ll find you! I swear it!”

~*~

Minako ran down the darkened street, buildings looming above her. Renee… Is this how you felt when I disappeared? Minako put her hands to her heart. This immensely sad feeling… She lowered her head. Did you feel this too? When I was all alone in that world of darkness… My heart felt like it was going to burst… I was afraid I was suffering all alone… I was afraid of being lonely…

Tears began streaming down Minako’s cheeks.

I was… so afraid of being lonely….

Renee… Did you feel that too? That ripping pain in your chest? It’s heartbreaking… So, if I’m feeling this now, then you… Are you suffering too? Renee?

“Minako?”

Minako blinked and her tears stopped for a few moments. Renee? Renee? Was that you?

“Your body’s shaking just like you’re crying… Minako…”

Minako turned around, “Renee! I thought it was you!”

The two girls standing before Minako blinked. One with long blonde hair and one with short black hair, both wearing the same uniform as Minako.

The long haired blonde turned to the black haired girl, “Since when do I sound like Renee, Sarah?”

Sarah shrugged, “I had no idea you sounded like her, Meg.”

“Meg? Sarah?”

Meg took in a gasp, “Minako! You really were crying!”

Minako put her hand to her face, “It’s…”

Sarah put her hand on Minako’s shoulder, “Wait here! I’ll get you a soda from the bodega! Is cola okay?”

Minako nodded her head slowly. “Yeah…”

Sarah ran back the direction she and Meg had come from.

Minako turned her head slightly, “Where did you two come from?”

Meg pointed to a bus bench, “Let’s sit there, okay?”

Minako nodded and sat. “But…”

Meg smiled as she sat down, “We were just studying for the AP history midterm at the library.” She shook her head, “I was a bit surprised you and Renee skipped off to TRL even though the test is on Friday. The teacher said we all need to study hard to pass and be ready for the AP exam in a couple months, right?”

Minako lowered her head, “Come on, Meg… You know as well as I do that Renee doesn’t need to study…”

Meg smiled, “That may be true, but with a friend like you, you’d think she’d make sure to watch out for you better. Right?”

Tears started forming in Minako’s eyes again. Watch out for me better?

“Minako!!!!”

Renee? Is that you?

“Minako!! Come home!!”

I thought so! It is Renee! Renee!!!

“Minako!!! Everyone’s worried!!!! Come home!!!”

I’m coming, Renee!!!

“Minako!!!”

Renee… I want to find you… You were watching out for me so carefully when I was trapped in that world…. Every time I felt lonely or sad… you were calling out to me, weren’t you? A brief smile crossed Minako’s face. And when I really wanted to come back here… You called out to me so much that I could hear you…That loneliness I felt… It must have been heartbreaking…. I’m sorry… Renee… I promise… I promise I’ll find you, Renee… I absolutely promise… The tears started streaming down Minako’s face again.

“What’s this, Meg?”

Meg looked up, “What do you mean, Sarah? We were just talking about the history midterm…”

Sarah shook her head, “You know Minako’s no good at studying… That sort of thing upsets her…”

Minako let out a small laugh, “It’s fine… It’s nothing like that…” She looked up at them with her smile, which seemed a bit forced at that moment. “I know I’m at least a little stupid, but… I’d like to think I’ve grown up enough that I don’t cry over exams anymore…”

Meg patted Minako’s back, “That’s because Renee makes you study all the time these days, isn’t it?”

Minako’s fake smile faded a bit as her head dropped a little, “It’s true, we study, study, study… But I don’t get any better…” Minako shook her head lightly, “But that’s my fault… Not Renee’s… If I were any good at studying… I’d be as smart as she is now…”

Sarah smiled and held out the soda to Minako, “You can’t help it, we can’t all be as smart as Renee, you know? You’re trying, and that’s what’s important, right?” She smiled, “Here, your cola.”

Minako took it in her hand and smiled, “Thank you.”

Sarah smiled and sat down on the bench beside Minako, “Now… Why were you crying when we saw you on the street?”

Minako lowered her head, “Actually…. I was in trouble a while ago…”

Meg gasped, “In trouble? What happened?”

Minako shook her head, “No, I’m fine now…”

Sarah put her hand to her chest, “You really surprised me, Minako…”

Minako closed her eyes, “But… Renee helped me out back then… It meant a lot to me at such an important time, but…” She opened her eyes slowly, they were filled with sadness. “But now Renee’s gone missing…”

The other two girls stood quickly, “Missing?!?!”

Minako put her hands to her face, “And I can’t find her no matter how hard I look…. I’m worried it hurts for her to be all alone…” She lowered her head, “I’m so worried she’s sad while she’s alone…” Tears streamed down her face. Renee… Are you in pain? It has to hurt to be all alone… Renee…

Meg put her hand on Minako’s shoulder, “Renee is missing?!”

Minako nodded.

Sarah put her hand on Minako’s other shoulder, “For how long?!”

Minako shook her head, “I don’t know… I got home from TRL and I must have fallen asleep… I called her house and her mom said she hadn’t come home yet…”

Meg put her hand to her face, “That’s not like Renee….”

Sarah clenched her fist, “This is a problem! We have to find her!”

Minako nodded.

Meg turned to Sarah, “But we didn’t see her at the library…”

Sarah shook her head, “No…” She crossed her arms, “What if she went to a new library?”

Meg raised an eyebrow, “That’s really inconvenient…”

Sarah lowered her head, “Then… where else would she go?”

Meg shook her head, “I don’t know…”

Minako lowered her head. Renee… She gripped the edge of the bench’s seat. This is taking too long… I have to find her… She stood slowly. Renee… Don’t worry, I’ll keep my promise for sure…

Meg and Sarah turned back to Minako, “We’ll split up!!! We’ll find Renee no matter what!!!”

Minako’s eyes widened, “Really?”

Meg and Sarah smiled, “Of course! That’s why we’re friends, right?”

Minako smiled, “Yeah. Let’s go!”

The other two girls nodded.

Minako ran off in the direction she had been going. “Thanks you guys! I’ll see you soon!”

“Bye!”

~*~

Minako grabbed on to a telephone pole and breathed heavily. The darkness of the evening surrounded her as she tried to breathe. It was a cool night, and the stars shone brightly through the enormously tall buildings, but… Renee was nowhere to be found… Renee… Tears formed in her eyes. No matter where I look… I can’t find you… Could it be that…? Did you go to that other world too? Minako let a few tears slide down her cheeks as she let out a forceful laugh, “Renee… Where are you? You didn’t get drunk and go to some wild party, did you? You must have… That’s it! It’s not like you, but… I’m sure that’s it…” That’s better than you going to that other world...

“You know your friend is not like that…”

Minako whipped her head from side to side. The darkness was desolate…

“She took your place…”

“What do you mean?!?”

“Your anger and hatred forced your heart into a rage that allowed you to leave that world…”

“No! Renee helped me! Renee called me back!”

“It would be nice if leaving that world were so easy…”

“Wait… You… You know I was there?!” Minako stood up straight and put her hand on the pole. “Is Renee there now?!”

“A woman was needed in that world… You left… So your friend was stolen…”

“Why?”

“She too knows the secret of this world…”

“The demon world?”

“No… The real world…”

“And what is that?”

“It is a lie.”

Minako’s heart shook in sadness. Her memories came flooding back. His Majesty, Howie… The deep darkness with all the other girls… The priestess Pandora… Safaiananpou… The box… Nick… She clenched her eyes tightly as tears formed in the corners. Nick…

“I see… It is still painful…”

“Is…” Minako tried to speak through the tears that choked her, “Is… Renee in… that darkness…”

“No.”

Minako put her hands to her heart. Thank goodness… Renee was not a prisoner of the darkness. Then, she at least had a chance at staying safe. Then… Then I can save her…

“She… is nowhere near Safaiananpou.”

“What? What else is in that world besides Safaiananpou?”

“There are four countries… Safaiananpou, Rubiihoppou, Topazuseihou, and Emeradotouhou.”

“Then… She is in one of the other countries?”

“Yes.”

“Can I get her out?”

The voice stopped resonating in Minako’s head.

Minako clenched her fist, “Can I?”

“No…”

Minako gasped and shut her eyes tightly, choking on her tears.

“Her destiny will overtake her.”

“Destiny?”

“Her path… is very different from yours…”

“Can I go back? Can I go back to that world…?” She clenched her fist, “I want to go back!”

“Your heart… Is it really unbreakable?”

Minako turned her head slightly, “Of course not. But Renee… Renee means more to me than anyone!” She lowered her head, “After she worked so hard to bring me back… Even sacrificing herself… If I let her down, then what? What kind of person am I?” Tears streamed down Minako’s cheeks.

“You… want to go back?”

Minako nodded as her shoulders shook in sadness, “Yes… I want to go back.”

“Come to me… Come to me…”

A beautiful blonde woman with her hair up in intricate loops appeared before Minako wearing a long, flowing, blue, silk gown. She held her arms outstretched. Even though her eyes were closed, she beckoned Minako. “Come with me…”

Minako stepped toward her. The woman wrapped her arms around Minako. She was beautiful, very beautiful. Had the priestess Pandora lived before? Was this her true form? The two maidens were consumed in bright blue light, the sapphires sparkling in the moonlight.

~*~

The throne room loomed around Nick as he bowed before the king.

“She disappeared?…” the king seemed to growl, but his heart weighed heavily in his chest.

“I apologize,” Nick answered solemnly. He shut his eyes tightly, her words were still a knife through his chest.

"If you find it on your own, I commend your tenacity…"

How can I be so stupid? Did I really mean what I said? I sneered at her and laughed when she called me kind and His Majesty selfish and cold… Who else would ever say that? Who else would ever accept me so openly into that warm and kind light? Who else…

The king sat down on his throne once again and let out a sigh as he put his hand to his head, “It cannot be your fault, Nick. Perhaps she decided not to be Pandora any longer… Our situation is difficult… And she seemed to be lonely despite her smile…”

Nick took in a gulp of air. It can’t be my fault? It must be…

“Can’t you tell, Nick?! I’m falling in love with you!”

His hands shook. If only… If only…

A bright light filled the room. The eyes of everyone except Nick and the king grew wide as they stared at the gleaming blue light.

The king stared up at the light, “What is that?”

Nick turned slightly as his eyes grew wide and he gasped quietly. That… blue light…

The king stood up once more. “Guards! Raise your arms!”

The glow subsided and the beautiful blonde maiden appeared, holding Minako within her arms. The guards raised their spears toward them. The blonde maiden opened her eyes to reveal blue orbs like sapphires. The weapons dropped to the ground.

“What breed of demon is this!?” a soldier shouted.

The king stepped forward once more. “Who are you woman? Answer us!”

Nick’s voice shook violently, “Mi… na… ko…” Nick rose from his bow awkwardly and ran toward the blonde maiden and Minako.

The blonde maiden turned to Nick and raised her hand, blue light emanated from it. “Do not come near her, Demon. You only seek to destroy. I will destroy you first.”

“Let Minako go!” Nick clenched his fists.

The king’s hands twitched slightly, “Minako… She returned… She does want to be our priestess…” Tears welled in his eyes, “Maiden, did you rescue the Priestess or kidnap her?” He let his tears fall down his cheeks, “No, it does not matter. Return her to us.”

The maiden smiled, “I neither kidnapped nor rescued her, Your Majesty. I merely returned her to you from her own world.”

“She returned to her own world?” the king stumbled on the words.

Nick choked. So… she did go back… But, now she’s returned… Did she forgive me? “Mi… na -”

The maiden rose her hand toward Nick once more, “Speak her name and you will regret your existence.”

Nick chuckled, “That is laughable. My existence is meaningless. The demon hidden in the darkness is pitiable.” His eyes narrowed, “Though I don’t see why I should mention this…” He lowered his head. Because… Because everyone already knows that…

“Is your existence null?” the maiden smirked, “I know very well what your existence is and you betrayed it with your foolish words. Atone. Then you may hold her in your arms.”

“You would have me say something I don’t believe in?”

“You do not even understand what it means, do you?”

Nick chuckled, “Of course not. I was born alone, I will die alone. My heart is worthless.” Because I am weak… Because I have always been alone…

“You are a cardinal demon, or did you forget? You exist for this country and the girl who becomes Pandora. That is your true existence.”

Nick stifled laughter then smirked, “And that means that I must agree to something I don’t believe in? You’re amusing, to say the least.”

“Nick!” The king’s crystal voice pierced through the air.

Nick and the maiden turned to the king.

“We are curious, what else happened before you returned to us?”

Nick bowed, “It is of little importance, Your Majesty.”

“You will answer your king!”

Nick stammered for the words. What am I supposed to say? Whatever I answered would surely get me killed.

“He cannot answer you.” Nick and the king turned to the maiden, who still clutched Minako’s limp body. “He does not understand the situation himself.”

Nick clenched his fists, “What’s there not to understand!?”

“You said yourself, you were born alone. You have had no one. No demon… No human… The only emotions you understand are your own and they are weak and brittle, almost childlike from disuse…”

Nick growled, “What does that matter?!”

“It is the reason your heart fumbled in the darkness. Only a dog searching for a box? Your reasoning is pitiful and meaningless.” She shut her eyes for a moment, “You are correct, the demon hidden in the darkness is to be pitied… He cannot face his heart’s evolution. That is the true reason to pity him.”

“Evolution?” Nick scoffed, “You’re speaking nonsense!”

“That light in your heart…”

“It’s renewed hope in the belief that it will be returned to me! It’s my belief in my miracle!”

“You are incorrect…”

“I know my own heart!”

“Your hope was never missing, only misplaced… Yes, it returned with vigor, but… Would your hope cause you to smile at her kindness? Does your want of that miracle make you look at her any more than before?”

Nick stepped back, his hands shaking. “Shut up… Don’t say anymore…”

The maiden pulled her free hand back toward her. Like metal to a magnet, she drew Nick to her. She pulled him close enough that only he would hear her whisper. “Would it cause you to run toward her when I returned her here? That warmth in your heart is clearly love.”

Nick’s voice shook, “Love…”

“You would not know on your own, of course, your small heart cannot grasp the concept. But… You will return her declarations without spite. Not now… I will not force you to confess your heart to a crowd of people. But… You will confess it soon, or you will lose what is precious to you.”

Nick’s eyes grew downcast, “What is precious to me was already stolen. That’s… that’s why I want my miracle…”

“When we lose what is precious, our heart creates a void. It is only human, and demon, nature to fill that void with something, or someone, else that is precious to us.”

Nick’s heart did a somersault. To fill a void with something… No… Someone just as precious… Minako…

The maiden smiled.

Minako began to stir in her arms. Darkness… Everywhere, no, a pocket of light… Such warmth… and a beautiful glow in my soul… Minako opened her eyes slowly. The world was a blanket of white, for that brief moment, it was hazy and nothing more. Then the blue light off the walls sparkled down to her face. She smiled. “Howie?”

“Pandora!” The king stepped forward, almost departing from his elevated throne to the floor of the common people before him.

Minako smiled, “I’m so glad…”

“Do not step forward, Your Majesty,” the blonde maiden commanded, “There is a matter we must discuss first.”

The king stopped just before the first step. “Maiden, what is it you seek to tell us?”

The maiden let out a small laugh, “Surely, you would recognize me, Your Highness.”

“We are afraid not.”

“Then you were not instructed well as a prince.” The maiden was surrounded by a blue glow, “I am the oracle of Safaiananpou… Britney…”

Minako gasped, “The oracle of Safaiananpou?!”

Britney nodded, “Normally, if your Priestess decided to relinquish her duties, I would not return her, or, for that matter, have ever gone looking for her, even if she changed her mind. However… I felt my sister in Emeradotouhou stirring.”

The king blinked, “Stirring?”

“They may have found their Priestess…”

Minako put her hand to her mouth, “Can you picture the girl they took? Does she have short blonde hair with red barrettes?! Is she smart? Does she study too much?”

Britney turned her head, “I am… not certain… I cannot see the realm of Emeradotouhou… The future is clouded…”

Minako shut her eyes. Her destiny is different from mine… Renee… She clenched her fist. “Howie…”

The king blinked and looked at her, “Pandora?”

“I apologize, Howie… I must put the search for the cardinal demons on hold. There is something important I must do…”

Britney smiled slightly, “I see… The Priestess has set her mind down a narrow path…”

“Howie, give me a horse! I’m going to Emeradotouhou!”