author's note: thanks for the review! (and I know it's short . . . needed to have a somewhat creepy intro, lol) Anyways, here's the next chapter, the real first chapter. . .

CHAPTER ONE

Twirling her hair around her finger, lost in thought, she continued to write. A moment later, a smile spread across her face and she set the pen down. Stretching her hand, she reread her answer for the essay, pleased with how it had turned out. Since there was still time remaining, she glanced around the classroom. None of her other classmates were done yet. Of course, that was to be expected. After all, this was a Japanese school and this was English class.

Her blonde hair swished slightly, curtaining her face as she relaxed in her chair. Her eyes, a vivid blue, stared up at the ceiling. It was so different here than from back home. Thinking about her home in the United States, she glanced to her left and saw her friend set his pencil down too.

His mahogany hair had been cut recently in a new Japanese style. His hair was in his face in the front and sides and tapered down to blunt ends in the back at the nape of his neck. His melted chocolate eyes were on hers a moment later and he smiled at her. Smiling in return, her attention was caught by a disapproving look from the teacher.

She quickly turned her attention back to her completed test. She and Liam were exchange students from the United States and had been here for two months already. Thinking about this, she glanced slightly to her right and saw her Japanese host student. Her mouth was pursed into a grimace as she frantically scribbled, looking confused. Her red hair was up in her usual buns, her eyes intent on her work. "Uh oh," she thought, "Looks like Miaka's not doing too well..."

Her eyes drifted past Miaka to rest on one of her other classmates, the quiet guy that Liam was staying with. His name was Ryo, she knew, but she couldn't recall ever hearing his voice. As she was thinking this, his head suddenly came up and turned, his eyes meeting hers. A deep gray they were, intense on hers. She broke the gaze, lowering her head. "How weird," she thought, shaking her head slightly. She rested her chin on her fist and prepared to be bored.

After the test, she exited the room, feeling kinda sleepy from not having anything to do. A hand grabbed her arm and she jumped slightly. A male laugh from behind her made her turn and punch her friend in the shoulder. "Jeez Liam! Why did you have to go and do that!" she exclaimed. When his laughter continued, her eyes narrowed. "Just you wait! I'll get you back for that!"

"Ugh..." came a voice from behind him. "I bombed that one..." Miaka trudged out of the room with a crushed look on her face. "My mom is going to kill me!"

"Oh, Miaka... don't worry, I can tutor you if you need me to." The petite blonde girl smiled at her outgoing friend, speaking perfect Japanese.

"Thanks Rika, you're so nice! But my mom is still going to kill me," depressed, she continued on down the hallway and Rika followed her with Liam trailing.

Trying to think of a way to cheer her friend up, they started outside. Rika's sapphire eyes lit up as she spotted a familiar face that was sure to make Miaka happy. "Hey Miaka, look who it is."

Miaka muttered, "What?" Then she looked up and a grin split her face. "Taka!" She ran down the rest of the stairs and into his arms. Rika and Liam continued down more slowly.

"Hey man," Liam said with a wave.

"Good timing," Rika smiled, "Miaka was just beating herself up over an English test."

"Hi guys!" Taka grinned, shifting his arm so that it was over Miaka's shoulders, holding her to his side. "That's not so unusual."

"Hey!" Miaka interjected, poking him in the side. "That was mean!" She was smiling as she said it though.

"Well its true." He paused, playing with Miaka's hair. "So, how did you two do?"

"Oh, fine. No problem." She smiled at him and Miaka. They made such a cute couple. He was older than her, 18, and was attending the local university with Miaka's brother Keisuke and his friend Tetsuya.

"Of course she wouldn't have a problem! She's bilingual remember!" Miaka pouted. "Between you and Yui, I'm the idiot."

"No, you're not Miaka. That is me." Liam pointed at himself as he spoke. "My middle name is idiot."

"Oh, hi Ryo." Rika followed Taka's gaze to see Ryo watching them intently from the school steps.

"Oh well then, I guess we better be going." Liam flashed them all a grin and then started off with Ryo, who hadn't said a word.

"He's kinda weird, isn't he?" Rika asked in an undertone as the two walked away.

"Who? Ryo? Well he's never been that outgoing and he doesn't have many friends. It seems like Liam gets along with him though... now... how about we go get a bite to eat..." Miaka's stomach grumbled.

"Uh oh.." Taka laughed and the three started off.

As Liam and Ryo walked off, Liam turned to Ryo. "Hey, why don't you ever talk to them?"

"I guess I just don't feel comfortable doing so." Ryo's voice, low and deep drifted out of the skinny teen.

"Well, that's strange man, just go up and talk next time. I think Rika thinks you're some kind of freak or a mute." Liam's dark brown hair blew into his face due to the wind. "Anyways, I'm gonna hang out with her later at one of the cafes. Do you want to come?"

"Nah, I have work to do," Ryo stated, spacing his words out to not have them come out in a rush.

"Oh okay, but you know what they say about all work and no play..." Liam made puppy dog eyes at his friend.

"Next time, I promise," Ryo laughed. It wasn't hard to like Liam, he was quite likeable. He was the kind that drew people to him just by smiling. At times, Ryo wished he was like that too. Ever since he had been a small child he had been ostracized by the other kids for being different. Well, he had come a long way since then, but he still felt like an outsider, and for obvious reasons. As his friend started chattering on about what they should do over the weekend, Ryo followed him, nodding slightly. Having a friend felt nice.

The next day...

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us man?" Liam snagged his sunglasses and a hat to shield his eyes from the bright early summer sun.

"I'm sure. You go and have some fun." Ryo gave him a smile and then watched him as he left. Only then did he allow himself to relax. He moved to his bed and lay back on it. He felt horrible, he had only had a few hours of sleep. Then again, that was quite a bit considering he had had the dream again.

Ever since Liam and Rika had come, he had horrible nightmares. All of them were of Rika in some strange place. A woman wearing old-fashioned black and white armor with long blindingly white hair. There was something about her that spoke to Ryo, something about her that made him very uneasy. Other dreams were of Rika unconscious, or of her in pain. He could never quite figure out where she was though. As such, he had never really worried about it, until now. He had seen her, crystal clear in his dreams. She was opening some book and a strange black light enveloped her, then just as suddenly she disappeared.

He had an especially bad feeling about the last one. As such, he decided he'd find out some more information. Since Rika would be with her friends, she'd be fine. They hadn't been with her in the dream, vision... whatever...

Satisfied that Liam would be safely away by now, Ryo rose, put on some shoes, and headed out. First stop, the National Library.