"Ah!" Hikaru cried out, and woke up from her nightmare. From an oval window near her enormous bed, lightning brightened the strange, forested lands outside, where strange creatures and pixies lived. Hikaru Shidou curled up in her cream colored bedclothes, and shivered. The flashes of lightning also brightened the richly furnished bedroom, with its ornately carved bedstead, luxurious woven carpets, marble pillars and decorative gem-studded symbols. Being the Pillar of Cefiro did provide Hikaru with many luxuries. Hikaru's stirrings awakened the young man sleeping on the armchair next to her bed.
"Is anything the matter, Hikaru?" He asked her tenderly. He stretched out his hand to take hers, and his dark hair fell over his handsome features. They laughed softly together, her small hands engulfed in his. "Just a bad dream, Lantis. It's nothing." Hikaru answered.
"Want to tell me about it?" Lantis asked her gently, getting up to sit by her.
"I dreamed of snow. Snow falling over the Legendary Lake of Adelina. And Akane falling into it. I guess it might have something to do with winter coming." Hikaru told him. "Akane is the new friend you've been telling me about right?" Lantis asked, to which she nodded. "But you dreamt of snow, and it does not usually snow in Cefiro. The last time it snowed, was just after I left Cefiro…when Princess Emeraude confined herself in her watery prison."

On her way to school the next day, Hikaru thought hard of all she had heard from Clef and Lantis. Snow in Cefiro was considered an evil omen and her dream definitely meant Akane was in trouble. What trouble she didn't know, but from the talk in school, it probably had something to do with Tenshi and maybe the red-haired, pigtailed girl Tatewaki Kuno was always ranting about. All her classmates had commented on how similar they looked, but Hikaru hadn't had a chance to see this girl for herself. During swimming lesson, she would catch a glimpse of her near the guys' side of the pool, but she would usually have to help Akane get out of the pool before she could chase after that mysterious girl.

When Hikaru found Akane absent from class, her heart sank. "She's down with the flu, Miss Hinako." Ranma announced. Ukyou was also conspicuously absent. It was whispered that Ranma had told her something that had made her go on a training trip all of a sudden. Hikaru sank into her chair and sighed. It was going to be a long day with Fuu and Umi away and Akane sick. *Maybe I can visit Akane after school. * Hikaru mused. *And if Shampoo isn't going, I can even bring Akari along. * Hikaru smiled to herself as she brought out her books…and Tenshi Kori watched.

In Cefiro, lightning flashed ceaselessly, lighting up the dark sky. It looked as if it was going to rain very heavily. It was the night of the Demon Moon, when the moon seemed to have the pattern of a demonic face. Clef stood by the lofty French windows and looked at the moon thoughtfully. Demon Moon signified what the Magic Knights called "Halloween", the beginning of their winter. Besides, Lantis had told him of the sudden cold draughts he had experienced tonight while riding his magical steed. With Hikaru's dream of snow, it seemed as if the legendary battle might be near. He retired to his study and pushed a heavy oak shelf aside with his magical powers. Behind it was a door with no knob, keyhole or handle of any sort. Clef laid his hand on it and it glowed in a faint blue light before slowly swinging open. Clef muttered a spell under his breath and picked up his staff, which was now glowing with an eerie cold blue light, and disappeared into the dim passageway behind the door. Then the door slowly swung shut and locked itself with a click.

The air in the old passageway was musty and Clef's footsteps created swirls of dust as he made his way to the small room at the end of the passageway by the light of his staff. The blue light cast weird shadows on the stone walls around him, and even he, the Madoshi of Cefiro felt a tiny bit frightened. It had after all been a good five hundred years since he had ventured here. This was the traditional hiding place for the Madoshi, and also where the sacred Book of Prophecies was kept. His Sensei, the former Madoshi, had entrusted it to him at his deathbed. He had only been two hundred and fifteen at that time, the youngest Madoshi ever. Ever since placing it in its original place, he had never thought he would need to use it. Clef touched the worn leather bound book reverently. *One day, * he decided, *Lantis shall be the keeper of this book. And perhaps husband of the Pillar of Cefiro. * He smiled. Lantis was but twenty-one years old, but he had a very strong will, as Mokona himself had said. And as Pillar of Cefiro and one of the Magic Knights, Hikaru would be able live in Cefiro as long as it existed, and by use of magic would be able to live for as long as she wished, with Fuu and Umi.

"Maybe Hikaru should be given the title of 'Princess'." Clef said to himself as he opened the Book of Prophecies. Clef coughed a cloud of dust rose from the book. Clef lifted each yellowed page carefully so as not to spoil the pages. *Ah. There it is. * Clef thought as he finally found the record he wanted. His face grew grim as he read on. "It's worse than I thought." Clef muttered. And outside, the snow started to fall…

In the streets of Nerima, Japan, snow was also starting to fall. The cold winter winds blew the flakes of snow into the small, depilated abandoned house in the corner of town. A figure with a hood drawn over his features is seen huddled in a corner. The winds have been too strong for him to build a fire, but luckily, he has a thermos flask with him to provide hot water for his cup noodles. A girl with long brown hair is sitting contentedly next to him, hugging the thermos flask. "Are you sure you're warm enough, Ryouga-san? You can have the thermos flask instead." Ryouga shook his head - no. He might be freezing, but he would never let any girl suffer instead…well except for Ranma-chan that is. Yume smiled and snuggled up to Ryouga. Too shocked for words, Ryouga reddened, but did not try to move away. During the course of the journey back to Nerima, Yume had been very good company, and had also made Ryouga realize it seemed very cruel of him to break Akane and Ranma up, so he had abandoned the idea. However, he really missed them anyway, and since he no longer changed into P-chan, he guessed he could go back and visit them. Cautiously, Ryouga put his arm around Yume's shoulder and slept, a smile on his face.

"Hey Akane! Wait for me!" Ranma shouted as Akane ran down the street, her face red from anger and embarrassment.
"I didn't mean to do that! Hey!" Ranma said as he finally caught up with her. She glared at him. "You dare say you didn't mean barge into my bedroom last night?" She asked as they reached the school gates. "You hentai, don't you ever come near me again!"
"It was all that old pervert's fault okay! I was trying to protect you! And this is the thanks I get!" Ranma grumbled.
"Was it also his fault that you were in my bed?" Akane screamed at him as they reached class.
"What? Ranma was in Akane's bed?" The girls asked excitedly.
"Ranma, you little imp! What did you do huh?" Ranma's guy friends teased.
"Don't…don't get it wrong okay! It was all Happousai's fault!" Ranma tried to explain frantically. But it was of no use. By the first break, the whole school knew about it, and Ranma and Akane spent the rest of the day trying to undo the misunderstanding.

"All your fault." Ranma muttered on their way home. "You just _had_ to announce to the whole class that I was in your bed this morning, didn't you?"
"Well, if you weren't hentai enough to sneak into my room, this wouldn't have happened at all!" Akane retorted.
"Happousai went into your room, and I followed him into your room and chased him out! You ought to be thankful!" Ranma replied.
"And how come you were in my bed, my benefactor? " Akane inquired sarcastically.
"Because…because…um…I…" Ranma stammered, red-faced.
"Admit it, hentai." Akane said, and stamped off.
"I was worried he'd come back, so I stayed in your room!" Ranma blurted out. "And your room was kind of cold, so I…" Ranma stammered as he twirled his fingers.
Akane turned back to look at him and told him in a slightly softer tone, "I can take care of myself. Why didn't you just wake me up?"
Ranma's face turned an even brighter red. "I…you…you…um…I didn't want to disturb you…because…um…you looked so kawanii in your sleep." Ranma said softly.
"Ranma…"Akane said. They looked into each other's eyes, the red glow of the setting sun seeming to set their faces on fire. Then someone said from behind them, "What a loving couple. It's such a pity it won't be for long." They turned around and were shocked to see Tenshi standing behind them, hands on her hips. "Ah. You are surprised to see me. Don't be. There are more things to come that will shock the wits out of you." Tenshi said as she smiled coldly. She lifted her arms high above her head, and an icy blue aura formed slowly circling her. "Perhaps you don't remember me, Ranma. It doesn't matter. Now you shall pay for what you did to me in your past life!" She shouted.

"No, Tenshi! Stop!" A voice called from a distance. Tenshi froze upon hearing the voice. "What are you doing here! I thought I told you I would look for you after settling my business with Okami Kaji!" Tenshi said to pretty girl that had rushed to stop her. "Okami-san can no longer remember what happened!" Yume answered. "Why can't you just forget him?"
"Let's go, quick!" Ryouga said to the surprised Ranma and Akane as he dragged them away. And the three of them escaped into the night.

"Knock! Knock!"
"Come in!" Ryouga said and Yume popped in.
"Maybe you can start explaining this mess." Ranma said. All three of them were in Akane's room and puzzling over the weird behavior of Tenshi Kori.

"Tenshi is my elder sister. The both of us are over a hundred years old, and we are not of this world. We are now stuck here because of you, Okami-san." Yume told Ranma.
"Wait a minute…my name is Ranma Saotome, not 'Okami-san'. So what has this got to do with me?" Ranma asked, bewildered.
"Your past life was Okami Kaji, our Sensei. My sister was hopelessly in love with you, but you rejected her and chose to come here. She followed you, bringing me along, but did not have enough power to bring us back. Princess Emeraude had stripped you of your magical powers and that allowed you to live and die like that of a normal man, but we…" Yume hung her head. "Tenshi never got over it, and her love for you turned to hate. She has been waiting for you for almost a century."

Ryouga gulped. One hundred years old? The three of them remained silent, trying to digest what they had just heard. "You will have to be careful, Ranma-san. Tenshi is not one to be trifled with." Yume said softly as she rose. She looked one last time at Ryouga, then turned and bolted out of the room. "Yume…"Ryouga began, but she was already gone.