Chapter 1

Oh my God. Where am I…? And why can't I feel anything…? Didn't I just….die? I can remember it, the flames burning the house and the smell of my body burning….I don't want to remember anymore. I died. And this can't be heaven. Because I seriously doubt that heaven smells of disinfectant and chemicals. Unless God's a surgeon.

"Honey!"

I try to open my eyes but it feels like there clamped down or glued shut. I try to move my head a little but that also feels strangely heavy. My head is hurting.

"Don't try to move Kagami."

The voice is lower than the last one, a man. I think it's my Mum and Dad. Someone touches my eyes and they slowly, slowly open. For a second, everything is blurry. Then my vision clears and I can see things and people. I am in a hospital, dull white walls and a wooden chair. Mum is sat on my right side - well the right side of the bed - stroking my hand. I can't feel her gentle touch. Dad is sat on the other side, looking happy. He's grinning broadly.

I try to talk but my throat is dry and my attempts at speech come across as strange low pitched croaks. A man is in the room, a doctor. He has grey hair and a receding hair line. He's wearing square, brown glasses which make his dark brown eyes seem dull.

He hands me a pen and paper and nods, telling me to write what I think, if I have the strength. I quickly scribble down some words, but I can't feel the pen in my hand. I can't feel anything.

I'm DEAD!!!

Dad frowns as Mum wipes her eyes. Whatever has happened it's upsetting them. Nobody speaks for a few seconds. The doctor smiles at me and begins an explanation.

"Well Kagami, you have had a terrible accident. And yes, you were technically dead for a few hours."

A few hours? He makes it sound normal.

"But, thanks to new research, your alive. As you can see. But unfortunately, you've changed. To make you alive we've had to move your brain from your old damaged body to a new one."

What!? So what he's saying is that I'm….not me anymore. They've taken away my identity!

What do I look like???

I scribble down furiously. They've changed me. I'm starting to wonder how they even got the body in the first place…

My mother looks on the verge of tears. I didn't mean to upset her. I really didn't. The doctor hands me a small handheld mirror.

I can't recognise myself…That's not right. My hair is no longer lavender but more dark purple, more like a mix of my old hair and Mum's. My eyes are a few shades darker. They look dead. No twinkle of life or hope or anything. My eyebrows look like someone has quickly sketched them on before surgery. My face is also more rounded. I try to speak again but all that comes out is a few violent coughs. I slowly realize something. U won't have my old voice anymore.

When can I speak?

"A few days most probably. You're a strong girl Kagami. You'll soon be able to walk and talk and be yourself again.

But I won't be myself, not in this body…

Mum nearly begins to cry. Dad pets her gently, as if to say it's not your fault. Of course it's not her fault. It's mine for dieing. Somebody was cooking….I can't remember who. It started to go wrong. It began to burn. Just like my arms and legs and face and hair. This isn't me. I am not Kagami Hiiragi.

Mum and dad have left now. So has the doctor. Just me, and my body. My new body. I wonder who this person was. How will Tsukasa react when she see's me. It's not the same. Like i've been disconnected from my twin for the first time. Nobody will ask if we're twins anymore. What if she hates me now? I hope she's ok. And Konata. And Miyuki. Miyuki's clever, what is she questions the surgery or what's happened. And Konata might treat me like a Sci-fi character from one of her stupid games. This is all so new and worrying.

Kagami Hiiragi is dead. Techinacally. Her body is dead. My body is dead. It's just me and this girls body. Whoever she was. Whoever she is. Whoever I am.