She didn't even see it coming, that car. One moment, Michiru was chasing her ball into the street, and the next she was staring down two thousand pounds of roaring steel and sound about to ram into her. Before she knew it, there was a brief flash of pain, a falling sensation, and everything went black. When Michiru, ten years old at the time, came to, she was floating lightly and staring down at….herself. Her body, with its overly long red pigtails and summer clothes now coated with blood and grime.

There was chaos everywhere, she now realized, sirens and noise and crying. Michiru turned when she heard the voice of her mother screaming out her name, and collapsing on top of her still body, her shoulders shaking with unsuppressed sobs. Michiru's siblings were there too, mirroring their mother's distraught.

She was dead, Michiru realized. That car had come rushing into her and she had felt it when the life was wiped from her body. Confused, Michiru watched the scene with dazed eyes. She tried calling her for her mother, and her brothers and sisters. They didn't hear anything, see anything. It was like she didn't exist anymore. Maybe she didn't exist. But weren't dead people supposed to go to heaven? Why was she still here, watching the heart wrenching scene of her family grieving?

Maybe, as a spirit, she could fly to heaven herself. Taking a deep breath, if that's what it could be called, Michiru willed herself to rise lightly into the air. She took one last look down. It's funny; she didn't feel scared or hysterical at all. Just a slight sadness and a sense of peace. What strange feelings for someone so young…

Michiru was floating above the clouds now. They were below her feet, causing a slight tickling sensation. She felt a sudden rush of exhilaration. The air was rushing around her, her long pigtails blowing slightly with the wind. Michiru stretched her arms. Weird. She was dead, she knew that, so why was she so peaceful and happy? It was a mystery, but Michiru felt it was better off unsolved. There was nothing she could do about it anyway.

A small tingling ran up the small girl's spine, and she had a sudden feeling that she wasn't alone. That was definitely odd? The sky isn't that crowded, is it? Michiru turned, and her eyes widened at what she saw.

Another girl was soaring gracefully through the sky on white, angelic wings. Her dark hair stretched to her ankles, and she was wearing the type of ceremonial kimono that Michiru had only ever seen at important festivals or weddings. What made the most impact, though, was the look of loneliness and sadness in the older looking girl's blue eyes.

The girl looked up and saw the smaller child staring at her. Both parties stayed still for a moment, until Michiru asked "Are you dead too?"

That small question somehow broke the tension, and the winged girl laughed a little.

"Yes…I am."

This sort of nonchalant answer threw Michiru off guard for a moment.

"Well," she started again. "Aren't you lonely?"

The winged girl looked surprised, and she smiled softly.

"Yes."

This seemed wrong to Michiru, and she wondered why someone so graceful and beautiful would have to be by themselves, all alone in the vast expanse of the sky. In a single moment, Michiru decided that she wasn't going to heaven after all.

Everyone needs a friend, right?

"I'm going to stay with you," she announced. "My name is Michiru. Who are you?"

The winged girl looked amazingly taken aback. "You're going to…stay with me? Can you?"

"That's what I said. I'll be your friend if you're lonely."

There was a pause, and Michiru saw a gleam of hope and happiness shine through the other girl's eyes.

"My name is Kanna. It's very nice to meet you, Michiru."