I don't own MKR.

The Dragon in the Mirror

Chapter 1 – Wishes and Secrets

The small redhead sighed heavily as she watched a bird sit on a branch and sing. It was far more interesting than the lesson she had. Math. Like it'd do anything for her in real life.

"Ms. Shidou!"

The teacher snapped her back to reality, towering over the girl.

"Hai, sensei?"

"Can you please solve the question on the board? Since you know the subject so well, allowing yourself to day dream!"

Hikaru Shidou walked to the blackboard leisurely, eyeing the question. In the past year or so, the young girl grew several inches taller, putting her in average height with the rest of the girls her age, yet not the same height as her two best friends, as they too have grown some. No longer an utter tomboy, Hikaru even agreed to apply some make up, as long as it was all in limits. Other than that, she stayed the same sweet, carefree girl that was chosen to be Cepphiro's pillar.

Hikaru quickly began to write the answer, grinning to herself.

"There."

Sitting back down, the girl suppressed a smirk at the teacher's surprise.

"Go, good job, Shidou. Good job."

Well, when she had a good tutor like Fuu Houji, how could she flunk it?

The arrow hit the target cleanly, earning the blonde girl cheers from her classmates.

'If only I could do this in Cepphiro.'

Fuu thought bitterly. True, the land was saved. But the girls have yet found out whether or not they could go back.

'Are you still waiting for me, Ferio? Are you still there? …Do you still love me?'

She gently ran a finger on the earring that decorated her left ear. That was a constant reminder of her love… and her sorrow.

Fuu Houji sighed quietly, earning her worried looks from her friends. Being of good nature and skills, Fuu continued her steady pace in making friends, and earning good grades. True, she was even more depressed than the last time she had left Cepphiro… but the earring at her ear reminded her that out of sight didn't mean out of mind, and she wanted to have accomplished anything that would make Ferio be proud of her. Not that she could do such a thing, mind you. The prince's love to the tall, slim girl could not grow any deeper. And it was that love that stopped Fuu from agreeing to many suitors. Tall, thin, hair a bit below her shoulders, and glasses long since gone, Fuu was a beauty. Many were the boys who wanted to see her. Yet she turned them all down. All for her prince charming.

'I… I miss you… Umi-san is so lucky…'

But deep down inside, Fuu knew Umi's case was worse, as she left not one, but two loves. And the irony was, she wasn't sure either returned the feeling.

"That was a good match!"

"Hai, it was so much fun!"

"Umi-san, you were amazing!"

"Thank you, Chiharu-chan. You're improving, too."

The bluette said, smiling. Her friends, which at the recent months became her fan club, beamed at her approval with shiny eyes. They downright worshipped her. What was there not to adore! Beautiful long blue hair that was silky soft and smooth; deep blue eyes which many found enchanting, like those of a mermaid's; elegance unmatched by any model or princess; and she was filthy rich. The perfect girl.

Or the unperfect girl, as Ryuuzaki Umi described herself to herself inside her mind. The two she loved were so different from each other, she couldn't help but love them both; and so different from any boy trying to win her heart. It pained her so much to see them all leave, because she knew how it felt; she felt it too, twice. How on Earth did she manage to get good grades was beyond her, as her mind constantly wondered to other regions. To Cepphiro. How many times had she been in that land? Or was any of those times a dream? Or a nightmare…

"Well, you don't want to be late for your classes, do you?"

Umi said quietly. Nodding, the girls left the locker rooms, chattering happily. Once the door was shut, and she was sure they were gone, Umi clutched her chest, her face showing pain. Bangs were heard as she slammed her head against the cold metal of the locker door, hoping to drown the current pain with another. Tears streaming freely down her cheeks, she slumped to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest.

'Why must it hurt so much? Why… this constant pain in my chest… in my heart?'

"Umi?"

Looking up with red, puffy eyes, Umi smiled softly.

"Hello, Captain."

The older girl sat on the floor next to the bluette, looking concerned.

"Saw your fan club leave, but you were no where in sight. Are you all right? Why're you crying?"

The girl wiped Umi's tears, smiling warmly. Umi didn't know what to say. The truth? No one'd believe her. The whole truth, that is…

"I… miss my friends."

A blink.

"Why? Are they gone?"

"No…"

"Then what's wrong?"

"They're... out of the country."

This, her friend could understand.

"Ah, now I see. You poor thing, you miss them dearly, don't you?"

The tears began a new as the two girls hugged. Umi's hair was stroke comfortingly as her friend whispered soothing words.

"I'm sure you'll meet them again. Where there's a will, there's a way."

"…Thank you, Captain."

Pulling away, the older girl blushed and chuckled.

"Ah, now, don't give me that. You're captain now, and a darn good one."

"Even captains need captains, captain."

The girl was confused; but Umi was smiling again, and that was all that mattered.

"Well, you better head on home, it's raining. You don't wanna miss your ride."

"Hai. And thank again."

"Anytime."

Upon leaving the room, Umi's face darkened as she clutched her chest again. Breathing was getting harder and harder.

'Why must it hurt so much? …why?'

Passing through the showers, she decided to wash her face a bit. The water felt cool against her hot skin, yet instead of comfort, it brought more dread. Umi glanced up at the mirror before her, only to notice a face and eyes not her own… for a split second only, though, before the mirror, and all others in the room, shattered. Grabbing her bag, the girl ran out of the school, screaming.

A/N: sorry if anyone was offended by the length of paragraphs. This fic IS Umi-centered, so you can't really blame me, ne?