Half Demon Swordsman
Chapter Two: The Silver Aura Of The Moon

Asagi

Noticing that Mrs. Baker was looking, I jumped back and feigned surprise. "Oh I'm sorry Mrs. Baker." I apologized guiltily (not). "It just exploded on me."

"That's okay dear." She said. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. But how would you like this topaz and sapphire pendant? For you, for today only, it's only ten dollars."

I whistled. "Can't pass that up." I said and fished out my wallet. "Okay, here."

I handed her a ten dollar bill. She gave me the necklace, which was Artemis and Apollo's symbols in Greek mythology. Apollo's symbol was topaz, while Artemis's was sapphire, although where they joined it was garnet.

"Would you like a bag for it?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No, that's okay." I answered. "I think I'll just put it on now."

After I rid it of whatever it is that sucks the energy out of you. I added in my mind.

I put it on as I left the store and felt my spiritual energy being drained, but, by calling on my demonic energy and letting it mix with the spiritual energy being drained, and that effectively halted the drain.

"I am a genius." I bragged to myself before dissolving into giggles.

"Why are you a genius?" One of my best friends and fellow half demon Moegi asked with a smirk from where she stood outside the store. "Is it because you managed to halt the draining of your spiritual energy?"

I beamed. "You guessed it. So you figured it out too huh?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I did. I bought this—" She held up her right wrist, which bore a bracelet made from emeralds. Moegi absolutely loved emeralds. "And it felt like my energy was being drained when I put it on."

"So then you managed to stop it like I did." I guessed, grinning. "Have you seen Shiori, Roku, Dai, Shion and Ai lately?"

Moegi half way shook her head. "I've seen Ai, just yesterday in fact, but I haven't seen the twins, or Shion or Shiori in a few weeks outside of class of course but that hardly counts."

Then our conversation was interrupted by Serena. "Oh, how can I tell Mom I flunked another test?" She moaned, seemingly have forgotten that I already told Mom about the test. She looked at her test again. "How can I show her this thing?"

She crumpled the test up and flung it backwards over her shoulder. I slapped my head as it hit a guy who had black hair and wore sunglasses.

"Hey, watch it, Meatball Head." He warned.

"Oh, sorry." Serena said, bowing in apology.

The guy raised an eyebrow as he looked at the test. "A thirty? Admirable." He said sarcastically. "Are you stupid, or just incredibly lazy?"

"I'd go with incredibly lazy . . . what's your name?" I asked.

"Darien." He supplied.

"Ah. Well Darien-san, I'd go with incredibly lazy." I told him, much to my older sister's chagrin. "Serena isn't stupid, and really could get better grades if she actually applied herself. Well, if she wanted to apply herself anyway."

She scowled at me as she snatched her test back from Darien. She ranted about the nerve of Darien to call her Meatball Head. I would have to remember that one.

Darien removed his sunglasses as Serena left, revealing dark blue eyes. "Something about that girl." He muttered.

I looked at him. "What about my older sister, Darien-san?" I questioned.

Darien looked surprised. "You heard that?"

I nodded as I took my hat off. "My hearing is more sensitive than most people's is."

"You're a half demon." He realized as I put the hat back on.

I raised my eyebrows, shocked. "How did you know about that?"

He winked, making me blush. "Let's just say I know."

I shook my head as he left. "What is it about that guy that makes me feel like I know him?" I wondered aloud. "But where would I know him from?"

Shoving those thoughts aside, I headed for home, where I found Serena being interrogated by Mom. Mom wanted to know exactly what Serena got on her test.

"Hey Asagi." Mom greeted. "How was your day?"

"Pretty good." I answered. "You were interrogating Serena?"

"Right." She said. "So, let me see the test. I know you failed, now let's see it."

Serena shot me a glare.

I shrugged. "She'd find out one way or another." I reminded.

Serena sighed and handed Mom the test.

"Thirty?" Mom growled. "You said you studied. Know what you need?"

She pushed Serena out the door. "To go back to the library to study!"

Later

"Hi Serena!" I greeted when she came home. She trudged up to her room without saying a word. I followed her upstairs to go ready my latest American fantasy novel, The Alchemyst. I had read probably at least two chapters, when the window opened and shut itself again. I looked over. "Huh? I could have sworn I had that thing shut and locked." And then I saw the black cat I rescued earlier. "Oh it's just you little kitty. What are you doing here?"

"Why Asagi, I came to see you of course." The cat answered, much to my surprise. I was so surprised I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Who else?"

I rubbed my eyes. "A talking cat? Did I fall asleep sometime while I was reading?"

The cat held a paw in front of her mouth and cleared her throat. "My name is Luna, and I have been searching for you for a very long time."

"Huh?"

"You are one of the Chosen Ones, and I have been sent here to guide you on the path to your ultimate destiny." Luna continued. "I wasn't sure if you really were one of the ones, but I've been following you since you saved me this morning, and now I'm absolutely sure. You are the one with the silver aura."

"Silver aura?" I repeated. "What does that mean?"

"Every person has an aura." Luna explained. "Sometimes, it's a solid color, sometimes, it's a lot of colors. However, a silver aura is one of the two rarest auras there are: silver, and gold. I sense that the golden aura-d one is near here."

"You probably mean my older sister Serena." I told her. "If I'm silver, she would definitely be gold."

"Regardless, your friend Molly is in big trouble." She informed me. She then proceeded to do a back flip, and a long sword appeared. It was shaped like a lowercase Q, had a silver blade, a golden hilt, and a diamond on the end that was only three quarters of the way formed. The curve of the hilt looked like it was made of wings, and there were two wings where the blade met the hilt.

"Take this, and shout Moon Prism Power." The cat instructed.

I blinked. "I'm still not sure I'm not hallucinating," I began. "But here goes something I guess. Moon Prism Power!"

Ribbons enveloped my body, forming a royal blue silk tunic, and a belt string as white as snow. My feet were bare, just the way I liked them. Resting over my eyes was a figure eight shaped mask, also white as freshly fallen snow. Strapped to my back was that same sword. My teal blue hair, as usual, was tied up into a high ponytail, with a white tie, and on my forehead was a golden tiara that had a red gem in the center.

I looked at myself. "Whoa, what happened?"

"You've transformed." Luna replied. "Into the Moonlight Warrior. One of the Seven Swordsman of the Moon."

I shrugged. "Not a bad title, though I ought to be called the half demon of the moon."

I stopped suddenly though, as I heard Molly's voice coming from somewhere, pleading for help.

"That's Molly!" I realized. "I've got to help her. Luna, do you know a way I can get back to the jewelry store quickly?"

"Jump on the roof, and run." Luna replied. "It really works, trust me." She added at my skeptical look.

I shrugged. "Well, okay." I climbed out my window, jumped on the roof and ran to the jewelry store.

"Soon your kind will cease to exist," A monster laughed as it/she/whatever strangled Molly. "Once Queen Beryl unleashes the Negaforce she will destroy you all."

"Let her go." I demanded.

"What's that?"

"I said, let her go." I repeated angrily.

"And who are you?" It sneered.

I smirked. "I am the half demon swordsman who defends the innocent. When darkness falls and evil preys upon my home, I will be there, poised to strike. I am the leader of the Seven Swordsman of the Moon, the Moonlight Warrior, and I'll destroy you, because that's a promise by the moon." I declared, thrusting my right arm out beside me.

"Moonlight Warrior?" The monster scoffed. "Never heard of you, and I'm sure I never will again. Arise my children, and serve the great power that is the Negaverse!"

Everyone who had their energy drained earlier rose up like zombies and lunged at me. I did my best to avoid them, but at the moment, that was all I could do.

"Luna, what do I do? I don't want to hurt them." I said, but in my haste to dodge, I fell and scraped my already injured left knee.

"Oh ow." I said with a wince. "Why is always the left knee?" I whined.

"Moonlight Warrior, what are you doing?" Luna reprimanded. "If you don't do something, the whole universe could be destroyed."

"Right, but, no pressure." I said sarcastically. They had me cornered against a pillar, and I couldn't hurt those people. They were completely innocent, and everything I'd ever read in comic books and what not told me that I couldn't hurt innocent people.

The monster reached out towards me, when suddenly, something slashed its hand. When it hit the ground I saw it was a rose of all things.

"A rose?" I wondered aloud.

"Now who might you be?" The monster demanded.

I looked up to see a man in a billowing cape, top hat and tuxedo. A figure eight mask similar to mine rested over his eyes.

"I am Tuxedo Mask." The man declared. "Moonlight Warrior, look into your heart, and find the solution to your problem. It is your destiny."

"My destiny huh?" I asked. "About two hours ago, I would have said you're nuts, but now I'm actually starting to believe you."

And then, not sure why, I put two fingers in my mouth and gave my famous earsplitting whistle, which seemed to be magnified by something.

Everyone covered their ears.

"Quickly Moonlight Warrior, throw your tiara, and then say 'moon tiara magic.'" Luna instructed. "And hurry."

"What good will that do Luna?" I demanded.

"Just do it!" She snapped.

I grumbled obscenities under my breath about cats who were too uptight for their own good, but none the less complied. "Moon Tiara Magic!"

My tiara hit the monster, and it began to turn to dust.

"I did that?" I asked, amazed.

"You haven't seen the last of me!" The monster declared.

I slapped my head. "Rule two of the badguy creed: when defeated, thou must always monologue to the goodguy about how they have not seen the last of thee." I grumbled, reciting a code I'd come up with when I was younger.

"You did well, Moonlight Warrior." Tuxedo Mask said with an amused smile. "Now Molly's mother and all the other women are free. Others will test you. Do not be afraid. I will fight with you. I promise, I'll remember this night, Moonlight Warrior. See you around."

I blushed as he swirled his cape and turned to leave.

"Are you alright Moonlight Warrior?" Luna asked, seeing me stare after him. "Speak to me. What are you looking at?"

I looked at her. "Nothing." I said with a smile. "I'm just fine. More than fine actually. Come on. Let's go home. That was one exhausting fight."

And so with those words, I leaped onto the roof and ran home across the roofs.