One moment she was floating freely in the world of death and the next she was slammed back into her body in a bolt of electricity. Pain became a part of her existence once more before unconsciousness blessedly covered all thought in a blanket of darkness. It was in that darkness where self-loathing festered unnoticed into fuel for nightmares. Her soul was bleeding, preventing resistance from the sorrow that would greet her upon the return to consciousness.

"Kaoru." Softly a voice called to her from beyond the pain. The words that followed were a jumble of rapidly spoken syllables.

With a groan she opened her eyes to be confronted by a displacing haziness. A shapeless mass sat before her, stroking her hand within its own. Softly it spoke to her taunting her with the voice of her mother.

Disgust mingled with self-hatred as she turned her head away stiffly from the voice and closed her eyes. Anguish filled her body with its blinding ache making her breath draw in as shallow gasps. Hopelessness remained her closest friend as her allowed the darkness to cover her.

In the self inflicted gloom it was easy to ignore the phantom that called to her. The hand that held her own became nothing more then a dim as the minutes ticked by like hours. Steadily the voice spoke to her never relenting in its quest for reaction. No matter how hard she tried to rid herself of the tormenting voice, it persisted to speak in its hushed fluidity. It was not long before she turned once more to confront the shadow that haunted her so cruelly.

She knew without truly seeing that liquid soft brown eyes stared into her own, expressing all the pain of a mother who had to watch the suffering of her child. Apology lay deep within the satiny orbs as fluid sorrow fell to their joined hands. Raw emotion melted her heart causing mimicking tears to fall upon soft cheeks.

The emotions of all that stood around her somehow washed away the loathing that tainted her heart. Almost entranced she stared blearily into her mother's eyes hoping to see the love that she could feel radiating so closely. Endlessly the rhythm of her mother's soft caress drifted across the top of her hand.

Softly her mother's voice intermingled with the voice of her father. The two voices became a calming duet as the conversation flowed between the both of them. She looked to the sound of his voice and smiled slightly as she saw his blotted form. Hesitation ruled him as he made his way closer to her, but soon he was close enough to clasp onto her other hand.

Trembling warmth transferred to her in that simple gestured radiating her heart with its brilliant light. It was a transfusion of light into her darkness. With open arms she welcomed the obliteration of the numbness. Euphoria ended in a shuddering of dread with the coming of a voice filled with doomed recognition.

Fear widened her unseeing eyes to saucer size despite the soothing murmurs of her mother. Fear was what caused the box next to her bed to beep erratically. It was that same fear that silenced that hated voice and caused urgentness to enter her parent's. Her breath came in panicked gasps as she fought to steady her fluttering heart. Tears filled her eyes at the primitive emotion.

In a moment a small army of men and women in green uniforms rushed into the room. They started to talk to her in soothing tones as well while attending to the beeping box. One of them turned to the bag that floated at her side and injected some sort if liquid into the liquid that remained. Almost instantly the effects took place, calming her and making her float slowly down into a dark and dreamless sleep.

As one they ran through the strange land in search of that single scent. A sense of panic filled their hearts as they fled towards the new day. Wordlessly they followed their senses that lead to their lady. The path of emotion led them to a sterile white building that held an aura of sickness and death.

In a burst of fear they came though the door to the horror of the white cascaded woman behind the front desk. They ignored the rapid sputtering of the local language as the cinematography of doors flew passed uncaring eyes. Exhilarated desperation flowed through the blood as the three stars shot through the silent halls of the hospital all the while avoiding excited shouts.

All thought lay towards the scent that called to them, beckoning them to come forth and save it from the foul stench that surrounded it. Three voices answered the call in harmony, sending a comforting embrace through the mind. All emotion went into that answer knowing that soon all would be as one once more.

The trail led them to a lonely room. The scent called to them intensely there, sending tears of joy to their eyes. Relief was evident in their posture. A collective sigh was sent forth just as they reached for the door.

Three hearts jumped as a booming voice came from behind them. Instantly they stopped and tensed for an upcoming battle. Steely arms wrapped around them as they struggled for release. Only when the door was opened did they cease their violence to see what lay beyond.

In a flurry of tears a short woman emerged from the darkness. She was pretty, her age undeterminable behind youthful features. Dark brown hair was swept into a bun softened by curling tendrils that framed her face. Warm brown eyes were rimmed by red, swollen by her out pouring of emotion.

Holding her lovingly was, to be assumed, her husband. He as well had the aura of youthfulness about him though it was diminished by his attire and serious demeanor. Short jet hair was combed back into a careful sleekness. Deep forest green eyes looked tenderly down at the weeping form that he embraced. Softly he spoke to her in an attempt to sooth the heartbreaking mood. Neither he nor his wife looked up to see the three that lay in witness to their progression. Only a singular pair of eyes acknowledged the leather clad soldiers.

Walking behind the couple strode a matured lady. Steely gray hair was cut to frame her elegantly aged face. Unemotionally she looked forward pausing only to set her all seeing eyes upon blinking violet, emerald, and sapphire. Fighter, Healer, and Maker followed her dignified secession only to turn their attention back to the door as it closed upon their goal.

With protest they were escorted back through the silent passageway, eyes set upon the slowly fading door. Fervently they prayed to what lay beyond that treasured gateway. Even as the grief of shattered hope rained down upon the sparking walkway, they gazed unblinkingly upon that single spot hoping to be answered still.

It was with that prayer that they left that place knowing that they would stop at nothing to have their beloved returned safely to their arms.

"Answer me, beloved. Speak with the voice of the heart and all shall listen to the sweetness of that voice." Softly three whispers as one cut through the fog of sleep. Her eyes focused unsteadily upon the darkened expanse of the ceiling. It was in that land between sleep and awareness where the voices continued to speak.

"It is with love that the Three Stars do shine upon you. Answer for we shall always follow. Lady of my heart, desperation gnaws at the souls of your Starlights." Tears stung her eyes then at the imploring. It made her wonder if madness diseased her brain and yet she wished that it would continue in such soothing tones.

"If pain burdens your delicateness may the energy of our voices heal what plagues you. Become whole so that we may be reunited. In that moment joy shall spread within our hearts and we shall keep you forever in our arms."

A soft gasp was freed as a warm glowing feeling enveloped her. Gently it lulled her fully into the enfold of sleep, comforting her strangely from the pain of her body. Lightly a smile drifted across her delicate features as she at last entered the realm of dreams.

For the first time nightmares dared not to assault her mind. At last, she was free to rest without fear lingering in the distance. It was in this peace where she remained until the sun of a new day chased the stars away. Slowly she opened her eyes to that brightness, smiling to herself in memory of the night before. Everything seemed a little brighter to her that day, her eyes clear. A smile even shadowed on her lips as a nurse entered her room to check on her.

Attentively she listened as the nurse cheerfully fluttered around her chattering animatedly as she worked. It was in this odd, one-sided conversation that she discovered that her name was Kaoru, perking up slightly when that name was mentioned. Mentally she made a note to try to understand the language if only to learn the words for 'thank you'.

Before the nurse had left, Kaoru made her understand with frantic hand gestures that nature was screaming at her, that she was hungry, and that she wanted help sitting up. When each of her needed was satisfied she would gesture her thanks with a grateful bow of her head. That seemed to please the nurse for she exited the room, gracing it with a big smile.

She was happily attempting to figure out how to use the sticks that the nurse gave her with her breakfast when another woman entered her room. Inquisitively she watched the woman as she left a basket among the others upon the table that lay beside her. Hundreds of white paper birds rested within the confines of the knitted vessels, their wings daintily folded for infinity against their white backs.

In the woman's distraction Kaoru had the opportunity to study her. She found a strange familiarity upon seeing the soft features. It was a warming of the heart that caused a small smile to appear on her lips. Curiosity still consumed her as she watched the woman arrange flowers next to the basket.

A brief startled look crossed the woman's face upon noticing that she had an active audience, however they quickly warmed to affection. Cocking her head slightly to the side Kaoru watched as the woman sat in the bed side chair.

The recognition became complete when the woman finally spoke. Kaoru's smile warmed to dazzling proportions when she finally met her mother with clear eyes. With that smile she continued on her cheerful attempt at mastering those sticks.

Upon seeing her ineptitude her mother took it upon herself to remedy the situation. Without complaint she helped her daughter by daintily feeding to her breakfast. If it had been any other situation Kaoru would have blushed with embarrassment upon the realization of her incompetence. However, she was grateful that her mother helped her without any light of judgement. And so began her day.

For the rest of the day mother and daughter spent the day basking in each other's company. Together they spent the hours amusing themselves with strange conversation that would drive the most accomplished linguist insane. Where there was a language barrier they broke through with awkward bouts of charades and drawings. No matter the form of communication, they managed to get their points across.

Their light demeanor sobered slightly when the doctor arrived to check on his patient, but that too lasted briefly at apparent good news. With a short flurry of commotion, Kaoru acquired the knowledge that she was to go home in the morning. Joy intermingled with an odd curiosity upon the learning. A sense of the unknown intermingled with the excitement of remaining at her mother's side.

For the remainder of the day, until a nurse arrived to signal the ending of visiting hours, the two gleefully planned for the next day when the scenery would change. That night Kaoru fell asleep thinking about the possible happiness that was yet to come.