Chapter One: Eternally Beautiful

The summer sun was shining brightly through the luscious green trees. The summer had just begun so students were happy to finally be free from the long hard days of school. That feeling was no exception to True Cross Academy student Chiyo Bato. She had just finished her second year at True Cross and just like many of her friends she could t wait for summer vacation.

"Chiyo! What are you planning on doing for summer vacation? Going anywhere special with your family?" One of Chiyo's friends asked as she ran up to her.

"I actually signed up for a summer class. It's a class I was struggling a bit in and I hear next year it's only going to get even tougher. I want to be ready, plus I also got a summer job."

"What?!? You're just getting out of school only to be put right back into it plus a job. What were you thinking Chiyo? You could be out having fun now that it's summer, not stuck in a class room or working."

"Heh, heh, sorry about that. I'll let you know when I have a free day. All of us can get together and hang out." Chiyo apologized and nervously scratched the back of her head. Pull out the long ponytail she was wearing to let her long eggplant purple hair fall free.

As Chiyo and her group of friends continued with their chat about what plans were going to be during the summer brake Chiyo ended up running right into someone. Sending her shoulder bag flying and spilling everything that was inside all over the ground.

Quickly Chiyo ran after her beg, trying to gather up her things before the wind could have the chance to blow anything away. The one who Chiyo bumped into also started to pick up items that laid on the ground. When just about everything was picked up the items that laid on the ground. When just about everything was picked up Chiyo looked up to see a boy she recognized from her classes. His hair was bright blonde hair, on each side were four hairpins and he seemed to be a simple guy.

"I'm very sorry about that. Are you alright?" Chiyo finished placing the items she had gathered up into her bag and then held out her hand to take her things from her classmate she never talked to.

"No, it is I who am sorry. Bumping into someone with such beauty like yours. I am the one who is deeply sorry." The blonde flashed a smile at Chiyo, causing her to blush a deep pink. The blonde handed Chiyo her things and with a smile patted her on the head. "Guess we'll both try to do better. See you around, maybe." The blondes smile got even bigger before the two parted ways.

Chiyo stood there in a daze as her friends gathered around her. Even though Chiyo and the blonde were in the same class Chiyo didn't even know who the blonde even was.

"Who was that...?" Chiyo softly whispered.

"Chiyo, do you honestly not know who that is!?! That's Kinzo Shima. He's the fourth son of the Shima family and his father is the Chief of the True Cross Order's Kyoto Branch office. The Shima family is known for having some powerful Exorcists. Did you really have no idea who that was?"

"Ha, ha... sorry you guys. You know I don't pay much attention to guys in that way. I have more important things to worry about then boys." Chiyo playfully laughed as she looked down at her watch and saw the time. "Oh crap! Sorry guys but I must get going. I promised my Sobo (grandmother) I'd come home right away after school was over. I'll see you all around." Chiyo quickly took off towards home, passing Kinzo Shima as she went. She quickly turned around to thank him for his help.

"Kinzo, thanks for helping me pick up my things and sorry for bumping into you like that! Maybe I'll you around during the summer break!" A bright smile flashed across Chiyo's face and just like Kinzo did to her. And just like Chiyo's, Kinzo's face was suddenly flushed with a deep pink.

Kinzo was left in a daze just like Chiyo was. Chiyo's bright beautiful smile caused Kinzo to stop in his tracks. An Eternal Beauty, that's what he thought she was. He had seen many girls in his regular classes and his Crime School classes, but none of them had ever smiled at his as brightly as she did. He had seen Chiyo many times in his regular classes as well, but when it came to his Crime School classes she was nowhere to be seen, so really didn't notice how bright her smile really was.

Snapping back to reality Kinzo noticed something laying on the ground. The sun reflecting off its surface. A CD was laying on the ground with bold black writing on it that read, TO SOBO.

"This must belong to that girl. TO SOBO, huh? I wonder what's on it."

Chiyo made it home as quickly as she could. Chiyo's grandmother is very sick with dementia and has been for a while. Her memories of the people that love her were slowly fading away. The only way her grandmother can remember Chiyo is through music. Chiyo plays a little bit of guitar and her grandmother was the one who loved her playing the most. She kicked off her shoes right as she ran through the door and then ran up the stairs to her grandmother's room where her father was tending to his mother.

"How's so doing father?" Chiyo asked as she took a seat next to her grandmother's bedside.

"She has her moment. Mother's been sleeping for most of the day. How was your last day of school?" Chiyo's father, Akira, asked his daughter as he pulled his mother's blanket up to cover her more to keep her warm.

"You know, school is school. I did meet someone today though. He's from the Shima family."

"Shima family? Didn't know there was a Shima your age. There's so many of them."

"What do you mean by one my age? How many of them are there? Well now that I think about it, one of my friends did say he was the fourth son."

"Well, I believe the last time I talked to Yaozo, the head of the Shima family and the father to the Shima boy you met today, he has... five sons, I believe."

"What? I know I wouldn't want four brothers. I'm fine in being an only child."

Akira lightly laughed at his daughter's words. Chiyo was wasn't his first child. There was another member of their family, he had a son who ended up getting killed when Chiyo was small.

"By the way Chiyo, don't you start your new summer job today? Why did you come home instead of heading to work?"

"Oh! I told grandmother last night that id come home right after school and give her something she can list to while so goes to sleep. I have it in my bag."

Chiyo picked up her bag from the floor and placed it on her lap. She started off looking for it slowly but after a few minutes of looking but when she couldn't find it she spilled her things out onto the floor.

"It's not here! The CD I had made isn't here. A friend of mine helped me make it so I could give it to grandmother. It had a few of my songs on it that grandmother likes. I wonder what happened to it. My friend and I really worked really hard on it." A sad expression washed over her entire body. She really wanted to give her grandmother the CD she had made her.

"I'm sure you'll find it. Maybe one of your friends picked it up." Akira wrapped his arms around his daughter.

"Yeah, maybe..."

"It'll be alright. Now go and get ready for work. You can't be late on your first day."

"Alright, father..."

Chiyo was lucky enough to get a summer job for the first time. She'd be working as a Maid Café known as Sweet Dreams Café, which was only a few blocks away from her home. The small maid café was a popular place for male customers and young couples. Her uniform was that of a typical maid uniform. At first, she was a little uncomfortable with her new uniform, but after a while of working with some of the other girls Chiyo began to open up as a café maid.

"Thank you for all your hard work on your first day Chiyo. You've really helped us out."

"No, thank you for giving me this job. I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant at first when I saw the uniform but now I'm alright."

Chiyo had made a quick friend with a fellow employee, Meimei Hakura. She's also the one who was assigned to train Chiyo. As the two continued to talk the door to the café opened. To see hoe Chiyo's one day of training had been going, Meimei decided to let Chiyo take this one on her own.

"Chiyo, why don't you take this one. It might be your first day but you're a fast learner and I believe you can do it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Sooner or later you're going to be doing it on your own in the future. You can do it!"

Chiyo gave Meimei a happy smile before grabbing her pad of paper, pen and a few menus. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out onto the floor. When Chiyo looked towards the door and saw who it was that was standing at the entrance waiting to be seated, she couldn't help but suddenly stop. Kinzo Shima was really at her place of work.

"No way! No way! No way! No way! That can't be him! Why is he here of all people? Kinzo Shima!" Chiyo's heart started racing at a beat of what felt like a million miles per hour. She could feel her face getting red hot. She had to keep her cool. In here, Kinzo Shima was just another customer and at school he was just another classmate. Taking a deep breath Chiyo stepped onto the floor with a big smile on her face.

"Hello, and welcome to the Sweet Dreams Café! My name is Chiyo and I'll be taking care of you this evening. Please follow me to your table."

"Chiyo? Your name is Chiyo right, from True Cross? Is that really you? Man, you look different." Kinzu had a surprised look on his face when he was Chiyo in her Maid uniform.

"Yes, it's me, and I know. I can't believe I'm here as well, but I really need this job for the summer." Chiyo stopped at a table that was close to the window. "This will be your table. Can I start you off with something to drink while you look over the menu?"

"I'll take an Iced tea, but Chiyo, I need to talk to you. Mind if I hang around until you're done with work?"

"To me... Um, sure..." Chiyo quickly put Kinzo's order in and waited for Kinzo's Iced Tea. While waiting she could feel her heart beating out of her chest. Why did Kinzo Shima want to talk to a simple girl like her?