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*days and days later, himeko is still visiting the Other Gaia, going into gardens, circuses, and other places. when she came back, she still saw that her real friends were still not here. she decided to go into her cabin and began looking around. in a mirror, she sees reflected the cabin...and her friends. all of them were unable to say something. himeko sees that luna is breathing on the glass and writes something on the mist before disappearing*

himeko: what? *something brushes against her leg* oh, it's you. what do you want?

*the cat leaves for the door*

himeko: i guess my Other friends took them away.

*she takes the key and goes through the door to the Other Gaia. once there, she sees a silhouette of a woman there*

woman: hime?

himeko: luna! *himeko runs toward the woman, but realizes too late that it's the Other luna*

Other luna: why oh why would you run away from me?

himeko: where are my friends?

Other luna: we're here, and we're ready to be the best friends you could ever ask for.

*the Other yukiko, who had been sitting in the kitchen, stood up*

Other yukiko: well, come into the kitchen. i'll go make us some midnight snacks, and maybe i'll make some hot cocoa. *she leaves*

himeko: *follows her* i don't need a snack. i'm not even hungry.

*they look at her*

himeko: neither of you scare me; i want my real friends back.

Other luna: *looks at her funny* what would i have done with your real friends? if they've left you, himeko, they were either tired of you or are bored.

himeko: they weren't bored of me. you stole them.

Other luna: oh, they are fine wherever they are. i'll prove it.

*the Other luna leads himeko to a room with a mirror in it. reflected is an image of her real friends, looking like they have returned from a vacation*

luna: oh, that was a wonderful vacation!

selene: yes, now we can do all of the wonderful things that himeko prevented us from doing.

yukiko: besides, i'm sure that her Other friends are able to be friendlier to her than we could ever be.

*the image fades away*

Other luna: see?

himeko: no, i don't see, and i don't believe it, either.

Other luna: but it is. please don't be difficult. *claps hands* bring me the key!

*a black rat comes and brings the Other luna the key. she takes it into her hands and locks the door*

himeko: why don't you have your own key?

Other yukiko: there's only one key...only one door.

Other luna: hush now. don't trouble her with such trivial facts. why don't you go outside and play?

*she goes outside and sits on the steps*

himeko: there's no way that they would do that to me.

???: well, of course not. she's tricking you.

*something brushes against her leg while its sneering voice carries on in the wind*

himeko: what do you want?

cat: i just wanted to see if you could recognize me. see? you were able to. no need for names.

himeko: well, what if i wanted to call you?

cat: *ponders this for a moment* i don't see why you would need to. might as well call up a storm

himeko: what about dinner?

cat: just a simple cry of 'dinner!' would do.

*both are silent for a brief moment*

himeko: why does she want me? why does she want me to stay here?

cat: maybe she wants something to love. something that's not her. maybe she wants something to eat, too. i don't know, it's hard to tell with creatures like her.

himeko: do you have any advice?

cat: *licks itself before speaking* challenge her. while there's no guarantee she'll play fair, her kind of thing love games and challenges. *rushes off but stops* just remember, you may think this is a dream come true...*turns toward her once more* but you're wrong. *the cat runs away*

himeko: a challenge...*himeko goes back into the starship and falls asleep in her Other cabin, pondering briefly on what the cat meant by a 'challenge'*