Chapter 4

The sunrise was kissing the window of my room as Monday morning rolled around, "Starr you better get out of bed before I come up there!" Momma called from the bottom of the stairs and I never jumped from bed so fast, it's been a few weeks since Theodora became Shimmering Moon, and almost every night since we have fought off those Shadows.

We still don't know whose sending them. All I can say is I want to got to bed on time for once! Opening my bedroom door and seeing momma outside the door with a smile on her face, "Good to see you up birthday girl." Momma handed me a present as I squeal and run down the stairs and dad was making my favorite breakfast casserole.

He pulled it out of the oven turning to see me, "Good morin' baby girl." I squeal and give him time to put it all down so I can hug him. "Christian get down here and tell your sister happy birthday!" I turn to see momma coming down the stairs as Christian's door opens. "I'm coming! Geez, you guys' act like this is her last birthday with us." Momma puts her hands on her hips, "No, but this is her first birthday where your daddy doesn't have to call from over seas now get over here, we're taking a picture."

We crowd together and Goldie comes to join looking helplessly at our breakfast. "Alright now let's say grace and have some breakfast." Dad said while I take a large severing. "Well, princess show us what you think of your gift." I look at the bag after shoveling a hot bite into my mouth. I smile as Chris rolls his eyes, "So lady like how are you 15." I scowled at him and open the card first.

Inside was the same as always birthday card, cheesy card for a birthday and a nice crisp $20 bill inside. Putting the card down I open the bag and look inside, and find the cutest outfit ever. A yellow sweater and white short-overalls with a bee on the pocket, followed with a bee necklace and bee stalking. "Oh, my goodness how did you guys know I've been wanting these, and the newest bottie phone! With a new honey bee case, how did you know?" My parents smile, "We had a good spy on the inside." They turn their eyes to my brother. He smiled an all telling smile. "Alright finish up and go get ready for school. Your daddy and I will set this up for you." I kiss them both and go change my clothes.

I look in the mirror with a smile the Gold Crystal twinkles in the light, when Bee wakes up and rolls over to me, "I heard birthday cheers, congratulations Radiant you've completed your 15th orbit around your sun this is to be a celebrator day." I raise an eyebrow, "When I look like this, I am Starr not Radiant." Bee was quiet before speaking, "Starr you must come to terms with it sooner or later you are one and the same. For Radiant Sun to be born you had to have completed all the motions to unlock, the 'golden-heart' trait."

Turning back to the mirror, "Whatever; we should go down stairs my new phone is probably set up now, "I want to get to school and show Theo!" Grabbing Bee and stuffing them into my front pocket, I throw my backpack on, while pulling on my yellow white toed shoes. "Kids you better hurry!" Momma calls while I tie the last lace. Running down the stair I catch my new phone from momma and get in the car in time for daddy to walk out with Chris right behind.

In the school parking lot Theodora was already waiting she held a large yellow bag with streamers and everything. "Theo!" she turned as her brothers pop up out of nowhere and throw confetti on me, "Starr, χαρούμενα γενέθλια!" her brothers yell as Theo gives a shy smile, "Happy birthday Starr, the Zika family got you something we hope you'll like." I open the card and read birthday wishes from everyone in Theo's family with a $500 gift card to Row a very nice and top fashion clothing store for teens. Which, that is enough for two full outfits at Row's, that is with shoes, purse, jewelry, and underwear. "Oh, my goodness thank you so much!" I opened the bag and find the newest game system a Neuro-Switch, it is a system where you connect your mind, eyes and ears to a game but it has a three-hour online time limit for safety, before it kicks you off where your mind and body can reconnect.

Funny thing is you are free to get back on after 15minutes of rest. The games you play on this are MMO RPG's or one story-based game and it is the most popular one right now: The Midnight Knights; which is nicely tucked in the bag."

This will sit in my office until the end of the day." Dad said taking my present, "Now go to class." We giggle excited about the game and run inside the building. Inside we stop at our lockers while I watch people walk by. "Theo, do you think we could warmups at your place today? Bee is insisting that we work out more." Theo closing her locker nod, "Yeah Vee is bugging me about it too."

Taking my note books from my lockers I heard something off to the side. Stevie Winters or as he and the school calls him (Star Lord Sparkle-fire) Sparkle-fire is his gaming tag on Cord chatting app. While Star Lord is new, because he had become, "Come on guys join the Light Knights fan club! The two soldiers have been working around town to save us from the shadow murks that have been roaming the streets."

I guess that is what he calls us now after we called ourselves the Guardians of Light. Stevie caught a glimpse of Theodora and ran, "Beautiful goddess of the Moon you have won my heart yet again, I must ask are you willing to join my fan club for Radiant Sun and Shimmering Moon? They are Sun City's only heroes and they are magical girls!"

He continues to blab on, and nothing against him but Stevie is like a 2 compared to Theo who I rate as a 10. He had dusty blond hair, with brown eyes, he was a stick and still looked like a middle schooler. From what Theo has told me, he has been in love with her ever since they met in the 7th grade. Stevie's parents apparently own Double Star bank company. It's number one in the nation of best banks. He's kind of a geek in a way too, I mean we all are geeky in our own way but Stevie is another level, he's told us about his comic and manga room.

Stevie was a good friend though when he wasn't worrying over Theo, we giggle when someone runs into me, "Oh sorry," I turn to look at the girl, she was on the ground it looked like she was running, "Sorry, sorry, I am so sorry." I vaguely remember her I saw her at the freshman orientation. Theo grabs her books while I help her up.

Standing before me, dark eyes that could have hidden space in them, hair as dark of the night she looked at us then bowed, before running off. "Who was that?" I asked when Theo answered, "That is Ume Miyamoto she is the leading contender of our class to be Valedictorian." I look at her, "Miyamoto, that's not an English last name is she an exchange student?"

Theodora shook her head, "No, she is a third generation from Japan I heard a rumor that her grandparents on running away from the yakuza." I turn back to Ume, "Something about her draws me near, do you feel it too Theo?" Theo's eyes like a glare change to the powder blue, "Yes, something about her draws me near too, like her soul is calling to us."

We nod and before going after her, "Hey wait up, we want to talk to you!" Ume stops and turns, "Yes, you must want my parents' information to tell them that I wasn't paying attention." I stop her, "No but we would like to invite you out tomorrow, the plans tonight are off due to my parents taking me out for my birthday." Ume smiled softly, "Happy Birthday, um...what was your names again?" I smile back, I'm Starr Turnabout, and this is my friend Theodora Zika. I hope from now on we can become the best of friends."

**

I walk into our home and find my mother's shoes by the door. "Tadaima!" Mother comes out of the kitchen, "Ume, how was school?" I take the tea pot from the coffee table. "It is fine tomorrow; I am going out with a couple of classmates." She looks at me, "Oh, really? You've never gone out with classmates before. Have you made some friends?"

Mother was curt and honest; she knows me too well. "I'm not sure, but something inside draws me to them, almost like we know each other." She looks at my elementary school picture, "They must be something to draw you in to them." I put water in the pot, "I will say one had the personality of the sun. Her soul had a bright golden aura around her." Before mother could speak, father walks in with Ojīsan. That was when O'bāchan walks out of her room.

Mother sent me to my room but I couldn't help but listen. "What are you saying, Otōsan are you saying that the Yuzuki clan is after you?" I hear O'bāchan speak, "Kenji, Yuzuki clan is my family, I have long ago left the Yuzuki family to be with Saito, but I was an only child I'm sure they are looking for you or me, who is to be the next clan head."

Yuzuki clan? O'bāchan said she was once apart of a danger group of people to think that they were here to take her back. "Ume is going to need to stay somewhere safe." Mother said as father begins to cry, "My daughter's life is in danger, we'll have to confront them, or run." O'bāchan sighs, "I've ran long enough, I'd rather end it now."

My family is being threatened by the Yakuza! I've never been to Japan. I've always wanted to go, and meet the author of the first and most amazing magical girl series. But, going with the yakuza is dangerous, I would be labeled as a delinquent.

I would never survive, and I can hardly use normal conversational Japanese that isn't with simple English shortcuts. Mother must be finished, because she comes to my door, "Ume, is there anyone you can have dinner with tomorrow?" I blink before she lies about a big dinner party for work.

She hugs me, "It would be even better if you could stay the night at their place too." If she is this worried it must be life or death, "I'll see what I can arrange." My phone lights up with Starr's number, she did what every girl in shoujo manga did when trying to make friends with the main character. Mother watches as I text her back, "I'll ask her too." Is all I can muster.

**

Theodora looks at me, "Starr are you sure? Ume has never expressed a need or want to make companionship in her life. A sleepover out of the blue, and the fact you offered my house instead of ours." Giggling, "Well, even though we've been in our home for a while, it's still in the process of clearing out the boxes." We stop on the door step of Ume's house we took Theodora's limo. I press the doorbell, when an older woman opens the door. Her sharp eyes matched Ume's.

In fact, this is the first time I've ever seen a traditional Japanese robe before, it was called a kimono it was dark and had a simple flower pattern. "Welcome, you must be Ume's friends." Her accent was heavy, I could tell she studied hard to say it correctly. "Yes, we know we are early but we want to drop her belongings off at my house, before we head for the mall." Theo doesn't miss a beat. It wasn't long after that did a younger woman walk in, "O'bāchan, did I hear the door." The elderly woman returns to the living room where she sat with her husband. They were watching a Japanese historical drama. "I'm sorry, please don't mind them, they are Ume's grandparents. I'm Ayame Miyamoto, Ume's mother. Please, remove your shoes and have a seat."

Her mother walked us over to the living room. We didn't wait before Ume's grandfather motioned us to sit on the couch and watch his drama with him, "Ah, do you like samurai?" I look at the screen trying to follow along. "I heard a lot about them." He puffs out his chest, "I came from a long line of samurai, my family was close to Nobunaga."

Lost I look to Theo, "I see, so your family must have had quiet a lot of power, during the warring states period." Theodora's eyes shinned watching the screen. "Yes, would you like to see my katana?" Theo stood up in a hurry, "Yes, show me please!" Ume's grandmother smiled, as her grandfather calls out, "Musuko yo, watashi no ken o motte kite kudasai." In the reply back all we can hear is what we assume is to be Ume's father.

From what we heard, "Nani? Naze ima sore ga hitsuyōna nodesu ka?" I can't help but giggle, "You have such a beautiful family." I said looking at the Miyamoto family. The katana was brought out and revealed. They let Theo hold it still in its sheath. Ume finally walks out of the bathroom, she is all flustered, "Mother I can't find, Susu! I can't leave without telling her goodbye." Ume freezes, she couldn't hide her emotions now.

A bell has us all turning towards the front door, and their sitting on my shoes is a black cat. "Oh Susu!" Ume grabs her, "Sorry, I was nervous, I've never had friends before, and the thought of one night without Susu made me sad." I smile, "It's good, you should meet my family pet too, her name is Goldie. She is a Golden Retriever." Ume smile returns, "You can always bring Susu with you, she can stay in our kitty play room."

Theo saying that reminded me of when I toured her home, she told me her mother used to have the family shelter cats, and dogs until they were adopted. "We haven't had a cat in the house for years, mainly because daddy likes dogs." Ume turns to her parents, "Well Saito, do you think Susu could even handle a night away." Her father thought, when Ume looked at him with big round eyes, "Onegai papa, watashi mo tomatte ī?"

Laughing we didn't even have to speak Japanese for us to know she just asked him as if she was the cat if she could stay too. Sighing he nods, "Fine, fine, but you must bring Susu back tomorrow morning before the clock strikes noon." She nodded as she puts Susu down. "Let's me pack her things first."

**

It didn't take long for us to return to my home and even decided to take her to the mall after we dropped off Susu first. Ume sat happy while petting Susu in the kitty room. Nickolas, Constantine, and Augustinian did what they always did. Pester us about not eating enough or trying to pet the all-majestic Susu. Nickolas wiggled his finger at Susu, "Ορίστε γατούλα, γατούλα." Ume looks at me, "I never knew the Zika's were Greek." I nod, "Yes, and wait for when her dad comes home."

Ume's face drained, "What about her mother, I didn't even bring a gift for her mother and father!" I stop Ume before Theo hears, "Look Ume, in this house that parental unit is no longer here, she died in a tragic event. I believe Theo will tell you in due time about what happened to her mother." Theo returns with more food, Ume almost seemed disgusted about how much food was actually being eaten. "Does her family ever stop eating?" I laugh, "No her brothers could eat even a buffet out of business."

Theo smiled kindly, "Please feel free to eat and drink, my family would be devastated if you didn't eat." I grab a cookie of the plate. As Nickolas takes five, "You girls have fun, and you little kitty I will hold you before you go home!" I giggle as Ume can't help but laugh as the aloof Susu sits on a high perched on a shelf.

Nickolas leaves as we send most of the night getting to know Ume when Bee pokes out of my bag. Vee rolls in acting like a cat toy. My instincts were correct. Something about Ume was calling us, "So Ume, what are your parents doing tonight that you couldn't even stay home?" Ume's smile dropped her face lost all color, and tears fell, "I think we're in danger."