XXXX

If you scream until you're hoarse,

Even the new moon could fall

Even if the courage not to hesitate is but a faint light…

XXXX

Things only got weirder from there. When Karin exited her room, sure her Auntie had left, she scrounged around for breakfast.

She was right, her Auntie had left. But when she entered the dining room, there was a tray of breakfast goodies. Golden-brown pancakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries, crisp bacon, a separate bowl of strawberries (someone knew she liked strawberries!), and some sort of tea. All of it was fresh.

Also on the tray, was a note. It was written in her Auntie's graceful-yet-harsh writing.

Karin,

The new neighbor girl cooked us a meal. You obviously don't deserve it, the little pig you are, but I can't waste it by throwing it away, so might as well waste it some other way.

New neighbor? Karin didn't remember a house for sale…

Her focus on that mystery was short-lived—she looked back to the breakfast. She'd always wanted to eat a western breakfast, a nice change from onigiri.

Upon further inspection of the tray, there was cream and sugar, probably for the tea. Karin hesitantly picked up the steaming cup and took a small sip—some sort of English breakfast tea with its delicate flavor. She stirred in some cream and sugar, resulting in a sweet, creamy bliss.

She next went for her fork. The pancakes still radiated with warmth, inviting Karin to dig in. She carefully cut her food (as was taught by Auntie), and swam in creamy thoughts to the taste that she had never experienced. For once her food wasn't bland. And she knew people ate this all the time—they ate for pleasure while Karin just ate for survival.

The strawberries were fresh—perfectly ripe. Soft yet crisp, and the sweetness tickled Karin's taste buds delightfully. The bacon was a significantly different flavor, smoky and juicy, but that's not to say it wasn't amazing, either.

The whipped cream had to be her new favorite food (although nothing quite beats the taste of fresh strawberries). It was like eating a cloud! Or at least what Karin imagined eating a cloud would be like. Fluffy, heavenly, sweet…

She finished her breakfast, got dressed, gathered her things, and headed for school.

For Karin, food can alter her mood. Today, she walked off humming in delight.

XXXX

Class was the same as always. Don't tell me you were expecting her whole day to be great. She flipped through her drawing notebook during the lesson, keeping an eye on the clock (no repeats of yesterday, no siree). Everything was oddly in place.

Even though she was zoning out for the rest of class, she noticed when the break for lunch started. She gathered her things quickly, her current goal to get the heck outta here.

Unfortunately, she wasn't quick enough.

"Isn't that cute girls? Karin made a little friend!"

Karin looked from her peripheral vision. It was Cocoa Curls and her incredibly obnoxious posse of bakas.

"Awwww!" the posse chorused in unison.

What were they talking about? Karin laughed inwardly; they were teasing her about something of which she had no knowledge. She saw an opportunity.

"Karin has a little body guard! Someone to kiss her boo-boos when she falls!" Cocoa head sneered.

"Wh-what…" Karin had started to speak. No! She can't stutter! Not when she's found a perfect weak spot! "What are you talking about?" the look on Karin's face was genuine curiosity.

Cocoa did a double take. The evil grin disappeared from her face as she spoke, "Your friend?...the one that took your notebook from us?"

Karin was further confused. Her face was now completely bewildered. Her eyebrows raised in a way that questioned the mean girls' sanity.

Cocoa continued awkwardly, "Uh…d-don't play dumb!"

Karin started walking away. This was too much for Cocoa, who wasn't used to losing. Karin allowed a small smile when she heard Cocoa screech in frustration.

XXXX

Lunch break was over and class continued. More textbook passages (that Karin would have to read later), more notes (that Karin would have to take later), more lectures (that Karin would try to understand later).

Karin's notebook, practically her whole world, had been torn away from her then miraculously given back. And Karin, of course, drew more. This time, she thought of an angel. Her guardian angel, perhaps. Although beautiful, the angel didn't quite look like an angel. A sorceress maybe?

Karin had continued on to the next drawing when she was jerked from her thoughts. There was a knock at the door. After that, of course, the door opened and a girl Karin's age came in. She went straight to the teacher and showed her a note.

Whispers were exchanged. The only thing Karin could analyze of this girl was that she was gorgeous. Because during Karin's analysis, the teacher called Karin up.

"Himeka-san here has come to take you for an out of school activity," Karin's teacher informed.

Karin had no clue who Himeka-san was or just what this activity was. Karin didn't recall having a doctor's appointment or anything else today…

Karin hesitantly gathered her things, aware of the class's focus on her. She made her way up the row of desks to a smiling Himeka-san. She then followed Himeka out of the classroom.

They walked in silence. Awkward, but not quite uncomfortable. The girl Karin walked with had an unusually warm aura. An aura that told you you could trust someone.

"Um…I don't…" Karin started.

Himeka turned around, brilliant smile still in place.

"I'll explain when we get to the café."

XXXX

The journey to the café had been very quiet. The only thing Karin asked was clarification on Himeka's name.

"Himeka-san…that's your name, correct?"

Himeka merely hummed, sugar-sweet smile still fixed genuinely on her face, "Yup!"

They got a table outside and ordered a snack. Karin opened her mouth to speak, but Himeka beat her to it.

"I'm just gonna ask you a few questions, okay? Then I'll explain everything," Himeka promised.

Karin shifted uncomfortably in the cushioned seat. This kind of thing is normally really sketchy. You tell her what she wants to know and then—BAM!—she runs off with all of your personal information.

She was, as stated earlier, gorgeous. Long, straight, raven hair that would make the night sky envious. And you know how pretty skin looks when you're in the moonlight? Yeah, Himeka's skin had that special luminosity, no moon needed. Her eyes were a very warm brown; they were like flower fields, inviting you in to frolic among the blooms.

"Yeah, I know," Himeka sensed the mood, "You have every right to not trust me. But answer what you want, I guess."

Karin nodded. This girl's way too sweet to be sketchy…

"Great! So…" Himeka started, "Your name's Hanazono Karin, correct?"

Karin nodded meekly, "Yeah…" but Karin really wanted to know how she knew.

"'Kay. How's your family? Parents, siblings? Maybe even legal guardians?" Himeka continued.

"I uh…" Karin fidgeted. Was she really going to tell a complete stranger about her life? "Um…actually I live with my Auntie…my parents are…"

Himeka caught on, sensing the mood once again, and sensing her pain. "Ah. That's enough, I understand."

Karin felt a bit better, Himeka didn't seem to be prying for every tiny detail of her personal life, with that last comment she said.

Then the waitress came around with their food. They'd both ordered stylish fondant cakes and spiced tea.

They calmly started their snacks, Himeka looking up every so often and giggling. Himeka soon continued though.

"In your mother's will…or maybe even in your father's, what sort of objects were there?" Himeka asked.

This one stumped Karin. It was quite a while ago…she barely knew her father at that. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt in thought. She tried closing her eyes and focused with all her might.

"I…think there was…a—a bracelet! Some other jewelry too…mostly gold and silver, that old stuff that's really beautiful and intricate. I think there was an embroidered fan—"

"Wait!" Himkea exclaimed, "Back to the jewelry—what else was there?"

"Um…" Karin clenched her eyes shut and tapped her head rapidly, as if the answer were laid out right in front of her, with no way for words to reach it. "A necklace? Yeah, a necklace. With small silver roses…and also…a…" Karin looked to her hand, remembering instantly, "A ring!"

"That's it!" Himeka urged, "What did it look like?"

Karin picked up her fork and started poking at her fondant, "It—I'm sorry, my Auntie confiscated it all. I hardly caught a glimpse of it, but I think it was real simple. Just a simple bauble mounted on the banner. In the right light though, it was—" Karin paused abruptly to look for the right word, "It was iridescent."

Himeka's smile formed once again, "I thought so!" Then she seemed to be searching her pocket for something.

Now, Karin thought it was weird to ask someone about a deceased's will, not seeing why it would be important, but when Himeka took an object out of her pocket, Karin was beyond shocked.

A ring. Just a simple bauble mounted on the banner. In the right light however, it was iridescent.

"Like this?"

Karin stared, "Yeah…exactly…like that…"

"It's yours."

Karin didn't need to say anything. Her face read of confusing and unbelieving.

"Time to explain!" Himeka chirped.

XXXX

Nothing made sense right now.

Why does she have my ring? Karin thought, and how did she get it?

"First of all I'm going to come right out and say," Himeka started, "That I'm a witch."

Karin's mind became a train wreck of thoughts, one colliding with another, over and over. Karin straightened out her thoughts long enough to state, "Prove it."

Himeka giggled, then rummaged through her pocket again. She took out a neatly folded piece of paper.

"Here," she said, handing it to Karin, "This is the note I gave your teacher, excusing you from class."

Karin accepted the note and unfolded it. Expecting it to have potion recipes or long winded spells, naturally she was baffled by the fact there was nothing on the piece of paper.

It was blank.

Karin looked up at Himeka (who's still smiling), then back down at the paper.

"I…don't understand. It's blank…" Karin trailed off.

"That," Himeka said matter-of-factly, "Is because I charmed her. I didn't know what I would take you out of school for, so I left that up to the charm."

"I'm still not convinced," Karin said while looking, well, unconvinced.

"Oh dear. Hmmm…" Himeka tapped her chin, thinking, "May I see your bag?"

"Are you going to make it disappear or something?" Karin asked bluntly.

"No, but never mind, I just need you to get your illustration notebook out," Himeka replied.

Karin was struck speechless once again, seeing as she had never told Himeka of a notebook, much less an illustration notebook. She obeyed anyway, placing it in the middle of the table.

"Some girls took this from you yesterday, if I'm correct," Himeka said, "So, I took it back and returned it to you. You're probably also wondering about the glass. I cleaned that up while I was at it."

Karin's jaw dropped open. There's certainly no way someone could just come from out of the blue and make that up, having it also be true.

"Oh, and did you enjoy breakfast?" Himeka added, "I like to cook, and I thought you could use some fancy food."

Karin was still speechless as Himeka used the silence to finish her fondant.

"Sooo," Himeka said after she finished her snack, "You believe me now?"

"I guess," Karin said uncertainly, "I mean, there's no other explanation for that…no logical explanation, at least."

"Ah, but you see," Himeka chirped, "Magic isn't logical. It's built off beliefs. It's something you have to believe in. And you, Karin, believe in magic, now don't you?" Himeka even pointed to Karin's notebook for emphasis.

Karin let out a laugh, "You got me there!"

Once again, Karin got a serious look on her face. "But there's still one thing you haven't told me," She said, "What do you need me for?"

"Oh, yes! Of course! I nearly forgot," Himeka laughed, "As you probably already know, witches don't exist here."

"Well yes…" Karin agreed with the obvious.

"So then that means I came from a different world, I came here using my magic."

"Mmhmm."

"In the world I come from, there are four princes, ruling their own territories. The territory I live in, named Kujyou, has been cursed with darkness and eternal snow. Hand me your notebook."

Karin did as she was told and Himeka flipped through the pages. "I believe this drawing portrays it exactly," She said, pointing at Karin's drawing of the castle she'd drawn yesterday.

"That's really what it looks like?" Karin exclaimed.

"Yeah, actually, all of these drawings are of my world. They're quite beautiful," Himeka complimented, "Which leads me back to my main point. There is a way to reverse the curse. There are gifted individuals, called Goddesses. They have special powers. Goddesses are chosen by rings, which are magical tools used to find these talents. If a Goddess marries the prince, the land of Kujyou will be free of the curse."

Karin had a feeling she knew where Himeka was going with this. "Sooo…?" Karin asked, ready to hear the climax of Himeka's speech.

"Karin. This isn't just any ring," Himeka's face was serious, with just a small smile, "It's one of the special tools. It doesn't light up when caught in the right light. It lights up when it's near the special talent. You're a Goddess, Karin."

Karin was so glad she wasn't sipping tea, or else she would've done a spit-take. "What?"

"We need you, Karin. There's an academy to train girls into Goddesses, but you have such strong talent that you don't need to go there. The people of the land of Kujyou are losing hope. We can't wait any longer." Himeka reasoned, already trying to convince Karin before she even gave her answer.

Karin, first of all, wasn't sure she was ready to go to a totally different world. On the other hand, she wouldn't be leaving much behind. Although, she was certain she wasn't ready to marry. But…it was a prince.

Karin also knew that her fantasy world existed. She knew that this was her only chance, that she should dive in and indulge in it. She had a chance to be free. She didn't have to get beat to death by her Auntie, because Karin honestly thought that's how she would die. She wouldn't have to hear mean fangirls mask their insecurities through strings of nasty insults. She could start over. Be whoever she wanted to be.

"I…I have to think about it," Karin muttered.

XXXX

I fly and fly, but I can't find a way out

Someday, if that day comes for you

Remember, remember, I'm here

XXXX

Yay! I really like this story! I hope you do, too! The chapters in Himeka's world will be quite fun. At least I picture them as being fun.

I don't have much of a note…

I think this will be my longest fanfic as of present, because I have a bunch of stuff planned for this!

Thanks for reading!