Okay, this chapter is focusing on Hikaru mainly. I don't own MKR.

Chapter 23

Hikaru opened her eyes to see a ceiling of crimson red. The walls were the same color as well. Across from her was a desk, a dresser and a bookshelf. Looking down, she noticed she was lying in a bed with rose covers and a couple of pillows.

"It's just like my room at the palace except there's no vanity. Where am I?" she wondered, staring around.

"Good, you woke up." a voice startled the girl as she jumped. Hikaru looked to see a familiar girl standing by the door, carrying a tray.

"Aiko! Am I still at the volcano?" Hikaru asked, beginning to get up.

Aiko nodded, putting the tray down on the desk. "Yes you are. Please eat."

Hikaru smiled. "Only if you join me."

Aiko laughed. "Fine."

The two girls sat down as they began to eat the breakfast Aiko made; pancakes, juice and eggs.

"This is really good." Hikaru swallowed a bite of eggs.

Aiko blushed. "It's not that good." She took a drink of her juice.

Swallowing her pancakes, Hikaru shook her head. "No this is delicious."

Aiko blushed redder as Hikaru giggled. "I'll stop." she said, drinking her juice.

"Thank you." Aiko smiled back as they ate in silence.

When it was all gone, Aiko got up to take it back, but Hikaru stopped her. "No, I'll do it." She grabbed the tray, but as she stood up, she realized she wasn't wearing her armor.

She was wearing a long, flowing rose gown. It was held up by two thin gold straps attached to a gold triangular breastplate decorated with carvings and inset with rubies. Her gown was belted at the waist by a rose-colored sash, the only accessory she wore aside from Lantis' pendant was a pair of drop ruby earrings. Her shoulder length red hair was tied in a high ponytail and tied at the end with a gold tassel.

"This is beautiful." Hikaru looked down at the dress.

Aiko smiled. "I'm glad you like it. It's yours." She began to take the tray back, but Hikaru stopped her again.

"Wait, I can't take this. It's too beautiful." Hikaru protested, letting her take the tray unconsciously.

Aiko shook her head as she walked out the room. "Don't worry. I have tons."

Hikaru watched as she walked out, then looked back down at the dress. "This is just so beautiful. I can't take it." She sat on the bed, unconsciously playing with the pendant. "But Aiko said it's mine."

Aiko came back in to see Hikaru staring into space, playing with the pendant. "Do you miss him?"

This surprised Hikaru. "Who?"

Aiko pointed to the pendant and Hikaru understood. "Oh." She smiled weakly. "Kind of. But I'll see him soon, I hope." She stood up again. "Um, where's my uniform?"

"I fixed it cuz it was a little ripped." She walked over to the closet and took out the uniform.

Hikaru gasped as she stared at her revamped uniform. "I love the fire trim on the end of the skirt!" she exclaimed, taking the uniform back.

"I'm glad." Aiko then became serious. "Well, you should go back."

Hikaru nodded. "Yes, my friends must be worried sick. How long was I out?"

"Just a night. But it's imperative you go now." Aiko began to push the girl.

"Why?"

"Cuz you don't have much time." Aiko said. "You might want to change first, though. Hurry." She walked out, leaving a very confused Hikaru.

"Time for what?" she wondered, but slowly changed. 5 minutes later, she came out with her uniform on & the dress on her arm.

Aiko produced a bag to put the dress in & a bag of food. "Here, it's the specialty of the fire realm."

Hikaru took it, smiling. "I wish I had something to give you for doing all this for me, but I don't have any money or candy."

Aiko shook her head. "Just go save Cephiro." She paused. "You probably don't want to walk all the way."

Hikaru remembered the hike she had took, not to mention she wasn't sure where she was. "Not really." she admitted.

Aiko smiled. "No prob." Using her magic, she created a ball of fire, which surrounded Hikaru's body and flew in the direction of Cephiro. It was very fast, and what took four hours to get there, it took ten minutes to get back to the village where she left everyone.

Okay, Umi next. Once again, same time, different places. Please RR