"I'm sorry my dear daughter… but she's gone… Mariko isn't coming back… I'm so sorry Tomoe."

"No…" Tomoe sniffled as she brought her knees to her chest, keeping hidden in the garden. She wanted to be left alone. She didn't even want Hanzoe around. She just wanted to be alone… to take everything in.

"She can't be gone… She promised she'd watch me blossom… become as pretty as she is… She promised…" She buried her face in kimono, sobbing. "She promised!"

"Who promised?"

Tomoe blinked looking up. Before her was a girl who looked about her age with short blond hair and brown eyes. She had a kimono on that had cloud and sun patterns on it. Tomoe had never seen this girl before in her life… and as far as she knew there wasn't anyone else that was supposed to be visiting the Tachibana home currently.

Tomoe backed away a little, getting in a defensive stance.

"Who are you? How did you get in?"

The girl shrugged.

"I walked in of course, and my name is Miranda."

Tomoe tilted her head a bit. "Miranda…?" But that's a foreign name…

"Yep, that's me. So tell me… who promised?"

Tomoe's face fell as she lowered her head. "My mother…"

Miranda frowned. "Ah…" She sat beside her. "My condolences…"

"It's… It's okay…" The girl sniffled a bit. "I… I miss her…"

Miranda stroked her back a little.

"Loss is hard…"

She nodded sighing shakily. "I want her back…. She promised she'd be there…"

"What's your name?"

"Tomoe… Tomoe Tachibana…"

"Strong name… it's nice to meet you Tomoe…" Miranda seemed to hum in thought. "Tell me… what's something that always makes you smile when you see it?"

Tomoe blinked. "C-Cherry blossoms… I like cherry blossoms…"

Miranda brought one of her sleeved hands forward, waving a it a bit and right before Tomoe's eyes, a flower appeared in Miranda's hand.

"Tada!" She said, handing it to Tomoe.

"Whoa…" Tomoe took it, looking at it. "How'd you do that? I've never seen a ninjutsu technique like that before!"

"Magic." Miranda giggled, putting the flower in Tomoe's hair, making another one appear. "See?"

"Yeah… That's really amazing!" Tomoe was wide eyed but she was smiling. "Make another, make another!"

Miranda obliged her, making another one.

"Tada!"

Tomoe giggled a bit, clapping. "Amazing! Like a magical girl!"

Miranda smiled. "Something like that I suppose."

Tomoe smiled. "Thank you… I feel a little better."

"Good…" Miranda looked her over. "Tell me Tomoe… If you could have powers… like a dream… what would you want to have?"

"I'd wanna be a real ninja! Like the others in my family… Like my father… I wanna be strong… I wanna be fast… I wanna do everything!"

Miranda giggled. "Such a big dreamer… I like that… and right now… you could have one of the most wonderful dreams in the world… If you let me help you."

Tomoe nodded quickly. "I'd like that… I… I'm tired of feeling sad…"

Miranda grinned. "Then I can help fix that."

She backed away from Tomoe, back flipping into the air, her appearance changing a little bit. Her ears became pointed, her eyes faded to amber and her kimono became a shirt with sleeves too long for Miranda, and light blue shorts with cloud patterns on them. She landed with grace, grinning.

"Things are not always what they seem Tomoe. Ever hear of Dream World Trolls?"

Tomoe shook her head eyes wide in wonder. "No… Never…"

"Well, you just met one. My actual name is Mirage." She gave a bow. "I'm what they call a Daydream Troll, a bringer of good dreams to all, especially those who are sad… Though sometimes dreams aren't enough. Sometimes you gotta be there in person."

"Wow… That's incredible." Tomoe smiled. "And it helped too...You made me smile… Thank you for that."

Mirage nodded. "Now how about we get you settled into a nice dream hm?" She grinned. "You can be whatever you want and you can go wherever you want."

"I'd like that a lot. Maybe… I could meet some other kids?" She asked hopefully. "I don't have many friends… I'd like to make some if I could…"

Mirage grinned. "You come to the right troll… Get comfy."

Tomoe lied down as Mirage sprinkled some kind of dust on her, causing her to fall asleep. Soon enough Tomoe found herself in an open field. It was beautiful. the grass was green, there were trees with flowers in full bloom. Mirage was right beside her, looking her over.

"Wow… Check that out."

Tomoe looked at herself, seeing was dressed in a warrior garb, decorated with flowers.

She squealed a little twirling a bit. "Wow! Just like I imagined… Sometimes I'd daydream and I'd look like this in them… This is amazing!"

Mirage giggled. "You get to be whatever you want here. And I'll be here to help you." Mirage gave a bow. "I shall be your personal traveling troll when you're here in Dream World."

Tomoe smiled bowing in return. "I appreciate that Mirage… Thanks."

"New kid?"

Both looked to see another girl coming up, an older boy, possibly a troll considering his appearance, floating beside her.

"You find a companion Mirage?" the boy asked.

"Yes I did Illuis! This is Tomoe! Our newest Dream Runner!"

The girl grinned. "Cool!"

Tomoe looked at the girl, seeing she was dressed in a well designed out that was simple, but perfect for easy movement. She had a tiger tail and ears to match.

The girl held a hand out to her.

"My name is Maria."

Tomoe took her hand. "Like Mirage said I'm Tomoe.. I like your ears, they're cute."

"Thanks!" Maria stood proud. "I take pride in them. I'm the mighty tigress of the Dream Maze!"

"Wow… Then I'll be the the best warrior of the Dream Maze!" Tomoe tried her best determined look. "Evil doers beware!"

"HECK YEAH!"

Mirage and Illuis looked to each other.

"I think these two are gonna get along juuuust fine."

"C'mon Tomoe let's go find some Nightmare Trolls and show 'em what's boss!"

"Okay!"

The two girls took off, the trolls chasing after them.

"ACK! NO MARIA! WAIT!"

"TOMOE!"

"I'll bite ya if you stop me Illuis!"

"I'm brave! It's against the path of honor to cower in fear!"

Mirage and Illuis groaned.

By the name of Night and Day what have we done?!