The next morning I woke up early for the first day of seventh grade. I put on my new school uniform and put my signature "X" clip in my hair. I stared into the mirror, looking past my reflection.

Who was I? I wasn't the great big sister for Ami that everyone thought I was. Not the 'cool and spicy' sixth grader anymore, not since I'd graduated into middle school. And definitely not like any of my charas.

Each of my charas is my would-be self. Ran, the hyper, over-active, pink-loving chara; Miki, the artistic, shy, fashionable chara; Su, a loving, motherly chara; and Dia. Dia was a different story from all of my charas. She was kind, and could sense happiness and radiance from someone's heart.

I wasn't like them. Will I ever be? I thought unhappily.

Who was I? I asked myself again. Not Ran, not Miki, not Su, not even Dia. I didn't fit into these categories.

I blinked. How much time had passed? I glanced at my watch, and jumped to see that I only had 15 minutes. How could I space out for so long?

I grabbed my things and ran as fast as I could. I knew the way very well because I'd come to this school often to see my friend Kukai when I was in sixth grade.

"Amu-chan!" called Nagihiko, pushing his way through the crowd. It still startled me to see him, knowing that he'd secretly been my best friend Nadeshiko for two years.

All my secrets that I told her, the embarrassing things I blurted when we were alone, he knows. I thought bitterly. No, I didn't exactly blame Nagihiko for lying to us; it just hurt to think that I hadn't really known Nadeshiko as well as I thought.

Nagihiko ran over to me, dragging someone else behind him. It was my friend Rima, an adorable girl with a fantastic sense of humor, and a need to make people laugh.

I smiled at both of them, happy to see people I knew in a strange place.

"Come on guys. Let's see if we're in any of the same classes." We ran to the billboard and looked it over carefully.

"Rima, you and I have science together." Nagihiko said. He smiled sweetly at her and I swear I saw her blush. I was still searching the lists for names I knew, when I heard another voice call out my name.

"Amu-chan!" I turned around, and smiled at the boy coming towards me. "Hey, Tadase-kun." i said cheerfully. I turned back towards the billboard as Rama pointed out something. "Amu-chan, you have math with Tadase-kun." Rima gave me a knowing grin and I blushed. Tadase and I had been going out for a few months, but I had liked him longer than that.

As Tadase stood by me, he held my hand. I blushed even harder.

"Hey!" Nagihiko said suddenly. "Where are your charas, Amu-chan?"

"They went to go visit Yaya to see how she and Pepe were doing." I told them. "…but they should have been back by now." I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else.

"I'm sure they're fine, Amu-chan." Tadase said, squeezing my hand for reassurance. "They probably just got sidetracked by a butterfly or something."

I laughed. "Probably." But inside I couldn't help but worry about them.

The day passed quickly, and it was a lot less torturous than I'd imagined it to be. Except that Ran, Miki, Su, and Dia still hadn't returned. That had me really worried.

"Where could they be?" I yelled when my friends and I were walking home. "They definitely should have been back by now!"

Tadase put his hand on my shoulder. "It'll be ok, Amu-chan. We'll get everyone together to search for them."

I nodded, but inside I felt like screaming.

Ran. Miki. Su. Dia. WHERE ARE YOU? I silently shouted.

Meanwhile…

Four little faces looked up to the ceiling of the small cage they were being kept in.

"Amu-chan. Save us." They whispered.