Crescent Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Lovelier Than Thou ❯ Rains Messenger ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Title: Lovelier Than Thou

Category: Crescent Moon

Rating: T to M

Warnings: Angst, lots of it.

Pairings: MOC,MM, Some other side pairings included.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but this story, the characters are taken from the Manga Crescent Moon by Haruko Ida.

Summary: After Volume 6. Mahiru and the Moonlight Bandits are continuing to search for the remaining Tear Drops of the moon. Their search isn't going as well as hoped and the Moon Palace decides to send in reinforcements. While Mahiru slowly fades away and the new girl begins to take her place a dark stranger takes interest in the withering girl. Why?

Chapter 1: Rains Messenger

Rain. The sky was pouring dark rain, leaving the horizon in a murky blur. The sky rumbled as thunder played in the clouds. Loud cracks were heard as lighting danced in its kingdom, courting the thunder. The streets were almost totally abandoned except for a few people who were running to catch a cab, the bus, or reach their car.

A young girl gazed outside into the storm from her warm refuge inside. She leaned against the mop as her eyes reflected the dance outside. Her mind was wrapped up in the fireworks outside as she began to slip. With a sudden jerk she opened her eyes wide and stood up straight preventing her fall.

The young girl turned away from the window and brushed back a lock of blond hair.(1) She tugged at her apron before lifting the mop again and pushing it against the floor. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her companions busy with work, not noticing the activity outside.

A smile graced her lips as she glanced at the boy at the counter, cleaning the glasses absent mindedly. She tucked away her secret smile and concentrated on her work. Not that it required much concentration but she wasn't about to be caught staring at Mitsuru even if it was common knowledge that they were smitten with each other.

The only sound, other than the singing outside, was the slosh of mops and water, the clinking of glasses, or the soft thud of chairs being lifted onto the tables. The storm outside was slowing down a bit in the frequency of lighting and it almost made the young maiden sad that the sound was slowly drifting away too. Somehow, the thought of a storm soothed her.

“Mahiru.”

The young girl glanced up as her name was called and turned her head. Her hazel eyes(2) found Nozomu standing behind her a smile on his face. He was rather handsome. Although he looked foreign he was Japanese. His looks weren't the only thing that separated him from the rest of the population. Her eyes flicked to the other occupants of the room. Mitsuru, the boy she had been secretly staring at, Misoka, the rather short man with glasses, and Akira, the playful energetic youth who was flipping the last chair onto the tables. Each of them wasn't human. They were of the lunar race.

“Yeah?” Mahiru finally responded.

“We're done cleaning, I don't think that spot needs any more mopping,” he said with a lopsided grin.

Mahiru glanced down and noticed with embarrassment that she had been mopping at the same spot for a few minutes now. A soft blush escaped onto her cheeks as she lifted the bucket and smiled lightly as Nozomu chuckled. She brought the bucket with her as she entered the back room where all the cleaning supplies were kept. Careful not to spill anything on herself she began to pour the dirty water down the drain.

“Daydreaming again?” a voice from the door asked.

Mahiru turned around to see Mitsuru standing at the doorway a smug look on his face. She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue as she put the bucket back down and into the corner. With care she placed the mop against the wall and walked towards the door.

“No, just lost in though,” she said with a smile and a tilt of her head.

Mitsuru shook his head and without warning wrapped Mahiru in a hug. Instead of shying away, Mahiru smiled and leaned into the embrace. It wasn't often that they had moments to themselves, with them being so busy with the bar and gathering the Tear Drops of the moon.

Both heard someone approach and reluctantly moved apart as Akira came around the corner.

“Found her?” Akira asked with a smile.

“No, I lost her in the maze of mess back here,” Mitsuru replied as he brushed past him leaving Mahiru standing alone with Akira.

With a shrug of her shoulders Mahiru followed him leaving Akira slightly confused and lost with a dirty rag in his hand.

Later in the day as the residents of the Moonshine were having a well deserved dinner , a wet Oboro stepped in. Katsura stood up, she was in her female form at the time, and took his jacket from him, leaving the room to hang it up to dry.

“What did they want?” Nozomu asked as Oboro seated himself and took a spoonful of soup.

“They're sending in a new recruit so to say,” he said after a pause.

“A new recruit?” Misoka repeated slightly puzzled.

“They're sending in someone to help us with the quest for Tear Drops,” Oboro clarified.

“So, when's he getting here?” Mitsuru asked lounging back in his chair.

“Not he Mitsuru, she. And she'll be arriving two days from now.”

“Where will she be sleeping?” Mahiru asked as she spooned up the last of her soup, smiling at Katsura who had just re-entered the room.

“I was hoping you wouldn't mind sharing you room Princess, until we get her one prepared that is,” Oboro said .

Mahiru nodded with enthusiasm,” It's not problem! I'll just need some help preparing my room for her.”

Oboro nodded as Mahiru stood up, eager to get prepared. She hadn't met anyone else of the lunar race since her visit to the Moon Palace and it had been a less than pleasant one. Admited she did find the mirror and they did manage to cross the bridge that separated them and the Dawn's Venus, who know tried to stay out of their way and not hinder them.

“I wonder what she's like,” Mahiru commented as she and Akira headed up the stairs.

“We're all wondering that,” Akira said with a smile as his ears popped out,” but I'm sure she'll be a great addition to our team!”

Mahiru nodded her agreement as they headed towards the back stairs that lead to the attic.

AUTHORS BLAH BLAH
(1, 2) Oh yeah, I looked at the cover and she looks different in all of them, well, two of them. But the most common one I saw was blond hair and blue eyes.

Mistress: So what do you think of the new and improved Dead Princess chapter 1? Any better? Longer? I changed the title too, it may change again if I find something more fitting. Reviews are appreciated although I probably don't deserve them.