She's back. I can't believe she's back. What is she going to do now? What are we going to do? She's obviously playing one of her games right now, but why would she kill someone innocent? Because she's Moon, that's why. I still can't believe this. What are we going to do? 

Kai's mind was rushing through options and questions as he and Shintaro hurried through town. After a few minutes of staying with the girl, a man who claimed to be her father had shown up and taken her back home. He had thanked Shintaro and Kai over and over, until Shintaro had told him that they needed to get back home. Now they were almost blindly rushing through town.

Shintaro was going so fast that Kai was having to run. Shintaro wasn't even running, just speed-walking, but he was going too fast for Kai. His face was almost completely numb now, and he couldn't feel his hands, which he had stuffed in the coat's pockets. Shintaro didn't seem to care about the blood that was now dry on his coat, but Kai couldn't look at him without seeing it. 

Finally, the two made it back home. Shintaro didn't knock, just quickly swung open the door, slipped his jacket off, hung it up, and rushed into the living room. Kai followed him without taking his coat off. 

The lights were on again, and Falte was sitting at the table, his mouth on the rim of a coffee cup when he looked up. He had a book in the other hand, and looked ready to head out as soon as he finished the coffee. Linda was reading too, the book rested on her lap, but she looked up eagerly when Shintaro and Kai came in. Chase was in the kitchen, but popped his head out when he heard the door close. Abby was looking like she just woke up - she was rubbing her eyes and stretching. 

"What happened?" Linda and Falte asked at the same time, each putting their book aside. 

Kai was still trying to catch his breath and warm up, so he let Shintaro explain. While he did, he watched everyone for their reactions. Falte was listening with his mouth hanging open in shock, Linda was narrowing her eyes and frowning, Abby had her hand on her mouth, and Chase was shaking his head. 

"We're sure that it was Moon," Shintaro finished with a grim look at Falte, who was only told what Moon was like and who she was. 

"That woman that you were telling me about a long time ago?" Falte asked in a frightened voice. He cast a glance at his son, who had sat down next to Abby. "She's here?"

Shintaro and Kai nodded at the same time. Shintaro rubbed his forehead and sighed, while Kai put his hand on Abby's. She looked up at him with a terrified face. 

"What are we going to do?" she asked, her voice shaking. She squeezed Kai's hand tightly, scooting closer to him. "I don't want her to do what she did to us again. Especially you two." She pointed with her free hand at Kai and Shintaro. "You two have been through it already. You don't need to go through it again. What should we do?" 

Shintaro shook his head. "I don't know, Abby." He sighed again and glanced over at Kai, who was finally starting to warm up. He slipped the coat off, stood up, and hung it up. At the same time, Falte stood. 

"I have to get to work," he said solemnly. "We can discuss this when I get back, which will be around 5." He offered everyone a small smile before taking his coat. Kai caught his arm with a pleading look.

"Please be careful," he said to his father. I don't want to lose you too, his mind added. We've already lost Mom. Let's not lose you too. "If anything out of the ordinary happens, whether it's to you or anyone else, please contact Linda." 

"How do I -" Falte started. 

"You just think like your talking to me," Linda answered, "but in your head." She picked up her book and began reading it again, surprisingly calm. Kai felt a little jealous of how tranquil she was. 

"Oh," Falte said. "Okay, then. Don't worry, Kai. I'll be alright." He smiled at his son, then pulled him into a hug. "I'll be back soon." He opened the door and slipped out, leaving Kai alone in the foyer to hope. 

~

The day seemed to go by as slowly as it could. After Falte had left, since everyone was up, they had decided to eat breakfast. Sometime after that, the TV had been turned on and everyone had been enjoying that cute show from the other day. Soon, Abby and Kai had gotten lost in a conversation about good shows that they had watched when they were little. Chase and Shintaro had been in the kitchen, talking together and making lunch. Linda had been oblivious to it all, wrapped up in her book. Now, it was almost 3, and Kai felt rising anxiety in his chest. Two more hours, which seemed like forever to Kai. 

At about 3:30, someone pounded on the door loudly. Linda looked up from her book, Chase peeked out of the boys' room, Kai and Abby both jumped, and Shintaro walked forward to answer it with a skeptical look on his face. Why was someone banging on their door instead of just knocking? 

Kai stood up as soon as Shintaro turned the handle, ready to fight Moon off if she was the one standing there. Abby remained on the couch, but kept her eyes on the door as well. Linda looked back down at her book.

When the door opened completely, Kai moved up to Shintaro's side and relaxed. It was just Gabriel - but Kai tensed up again. Something was wrong. Gabriel was hunched over, his hands on his knees, sweaty and panting. He had dirt smudged on his shirt, pants, and hands. When he looked up, Kai saw that he had a forming bruise on his chin. 

"What's going on?" Abby asked from behind them. "Who is it?" 

"It's Gabriel," Kai said over his shoulder, stepping aside to let their friend come in. Linda looked up from her book at the mention of his name, and Abby stood up to let Gabriel sit down. He gave her a small, grateful smile and sat down, running his hand over his forehead.

"What happened?" Linda asked him firmly. "Why are you here and looking like that?"

"I'll get you some water," Abby offered, scurrying to the kitchen. 

Gabriel took a few deep breaths, then replied. "I don't know if you knew, but Moon's back. She's here." 

"We already knew that," Kai said a little impatiently. "Just tell us what happened!" 

Shintaro put a hand on Kai's shoulder, but he ignored him.

"She found my house," Gabriel panted. "She broke the window almost killed me."

Linda tensed, glancing up at Shintaro, who frowned.

"She was chasing me around town, trying to scare me, I bet," he continued. "Thankfully, no one else got involved. I didn't want her to hurt anyone else." 

"Are you alright?" Abby asked, returning with a glass of water. She handed it to him, and he nodded.

"I'm fine," he said, taking a gulp of the water. "But I don't know what she's going to do now that she knows where all of us live." 

Panic squeezed Kai's stomach again, and he glanced over at Abby. Does she know where Dad works? he thought fearfully. Please tell me she doesn't... 

"I'm glad you're okay," Linda said, "but seriously. What the heck is our plan here? We should come up with one before she decides that taunting us is boring."

Kai nodded frantically, taking Abby's hand once more. He felt comforted when he was at least touching her. 

Shintaro shook his head for what seemed like the millionth time that day. He put his hand on his face and walked into the boys' room, obviously needing some time alone. Kai watched him go, fear, panic, and sadness building up inside him.

I have to go check on Dad, Kai thought in a panic. He turned around, letting go of Abby's hand. She gasped and reached for him again when she saw that he was heading toward the door.

"Where are you going?" she said frantically. "It's not safe to go out there right now!" 

Linda stood up. "Kai, what do you think you're doing?"

Chase walked out of the boys' room, catching Kai's hand. "What are you doing? You can't go out there." 

Kai shook his head. "I have to, Chase. My dad... What if she knows where he is? What if she gets to him, too? I don't want..." He trailed off, pulling his arm away from Chase's grasp.

"No, Kai," Chase said firmly. "It's not safe. You have to wait for a while. She could still be out there. I don't want you to get hurt." He turned Kai around, looking him in the eye. "You can't go out there right now. I know you're concerned for your dad. I think we all are. But it's safer to stay here for a little bit. I don't know what I would do if she got to you." 

"So you're saying it would be worse if she got to me instead of my father?" Kai snapped at Chase. He stared defiantly into his best friend's eyes. 

"That's not what I'm saying at all!" Chase said back, shaking Kai slightly. "Why would I say that, Kai? Tell me why you think I would make that a reason."

Kai opened his mouth to give a good comeback, but nothing popped into his brain. He stared at Chase with his mouth open for a minute, then closed it and clenched his hands. "I'm going to check on my dad, Chase, whether you like it or not." 

Chase sighed, exasperated. "Kai, it's not safe! Get that through your thick skull! We will check on him when we know that Moon is gone."

"She'll never be gone, Chase!" Kai yelled back. "She's always going to be here, taunting us. Playing with us. She's not going to leave until she gets bored, and we have no idea when that will be! Let me go!" He jerked away from his friend, but Chase held him firmly.

"If you're not going to listen to me, I'll go with you," the older boy said through gritted teeth. Kai realized with a stab of anger and pity that he was hurting Chase. Every time Kai got angry, he could feel his Dark magic swelling. Since he was angry and Chase was holding him back, the older boy was obviously fighting off the Dark magic.

"Fine," Kai snapped, and Chase let go of him. Kai saw him relax and felt another stab. He turned around and opened the door without glancing back. He felt that if he did, he would get lost in anger and sadness, and right know he couldn't do that. Right now, he had to focus on getting to his father. He had to focus on protecting him, no matter what the cost.

~

ANOTHER CHAPTER!! Hope you all enjoy this!!!! Is Falte okay? What is Moon planning? EAHGAJKGHAKGHAJK!!

*evil smile* Be PREPARED, you guys. I don't know when I'll make it happen, but the saddest part of every story that I have will come. IT WILL. Be READY.

Thanks for reading!!

Peace!!~~