Reflected Reality

Chapter 4
Four Years Later

~Len~

As time passed, much had changed. The city had expanded and several new buildings had been built. The people had changed as well, in their thoughts and actions. Despite all of this the forest stayed the same, only looking different when the seasons changed. The magic that had happened within the ancient trees was never forgotten by the now blonde-haired teenager.

The memory of the mirror and its contents had never escaped from Len's mind for four years. He had still visited the forest everyday in hope it would reappear. Even his father, who was never too concerned in his goings on, noticed his son's peculiar behaviour. Len hadn't made any new friends and was struggling in school. Somedays he hadn't showen up at all. When asked where he had been he didn't reply, knowing if he told anyone about the mirror they would think he is mad.

But yet, some days when he was left alone to think, he was quite sure he was mad. Had he imagined the mirror and the girl trapped within it? Were they all a part of his imagination all along? Days like these nearly drove him to taking his own life. The only thing keeping him from doing so was the haunting memory of her voice. He sung to himself, but it wasn't the same. He had to hear her again.

That fall, when the leaves were turning beautiful shades of red and orange and falling to the forest floor, Len made his way back to his usual haunt. The thick coating of leaves hindered his movement slightly as he made it to the clearing. Having no hope anything had happened, he sighed and ducked under the fern bushes.

He still had his head bent when he walked into the clearing. There was no point looking up so he focussed his attention on the colourful leaves that littered the ground. He liked the colours and they inspired him to sing a small tune to himself. He sat on the floor and continued to sing, closing his eyes. He changed from singing about the colour to a bittersweet melody about losing the one he loved. He sung until the words escaped him. The clearing was feeling different to him today, as if there was magic in the air.

He glanced around the small space, expecting to see something magically appear before his eyes. Nothing was happening, but he was still excited. He stood up and sung louder.

"Please send it,
This song.
Let me listen,
To your melody..."

His voice broke. It couldn't be true. He was sure he heard a reply. Was she... Singing too?

"Someday,
I believe it'll reach you.
That's why I'm still singing now..."

He heard it that time. A small female voice singing with him. He felt tears running down his cheeks. He couldn't believe it. After four long years without so much as a peep from the girl, he could hear her.

"I hear you!" he shouted with glee. "Keep singing, keep singing!"

"Forever...
I don't believe it.
Someday,
I hope the mirror breaks."

"Even endlessly,
I don't believe it.
Someday,
I hope the mirror breaks," came the distant reply. She was there and he could hear her. But if only he coud see her as well...

His tears stopped falling as he saw the mirror reappear before him again. 'It can't be... Can it?' The old green mirror stood on its wooden carved frame. Staring back at him with an equal look of disbelief was the blue-eyed female reflection. Tears had been trickling down her cheeks as well.

At the same time, they rushed to the mirror and hugged it. He was astounded beyond crying in happiness. He stared longingly at the girl. She had grown up as he probably had. Her figure was a lot more lady-like and her hair was longer. She was surveying him as well, a look of satisfaction on her face. Had she been waiting all this time for him as well?

Her lips moved and this time Len could read them. He blushed and smiled his first true smile in years. "I love you too."

~Rin~

As time passed, much had changed. The village had expanded and several new farms had been built. The people had changed as well, in their thoughts and actions. Despite all of this the forest stayed the same, only looking different when the seasons changed. The magic that had happened within the ancient trees was never forgotten by the now blonde-haired teenager.

The memory of the mirror and its contents had never escaped from Rin's mind for four years. She had still visited the forest everyday in hope it would reappear. Even her father, who was never too concerned in her goings on, noticed his daughter's peculiar behaviour. Rin hadn't made any new friends and was struggling in her studies. Somedays she had just left all of her chores behind. When asked where she had been she didn't reply, knowing if she told anyone about the mirror they would think she is mad.

But yet, some days when she was left alone to think, she was quite sure she was mad. Had she imagined the mirror and the boy trapped within it? Were they all a part of her imagination all along? Days like these nearly drove her to taking her own life. The only thing keeping her from doing so was the haunting memory of his voice. She sung to herself, but it wasn't the same. She had to hear him again.

That fall, when the leaves were turning beautiful shades of red and orange and falling to the forest floor, Rin made her way back to her usual haunt. The thick coating of leaves hindered her movement slightly as she made it to the clearing. Having no hope anything had happened, she sighed and ducked under the fern bushes.

She still had her head bent when she walked into the clearing. There was no point looking up so she focussed her attention on the colourful leaves that littered the ground. She liked the colours and they inspired her to sing a small tune to herself. She sat on the floor and continued to sing, closing her eyes. She changed from singing about the colour to a bittersweet melody about losing the one she loved. She sung until the words escaped her. The clearing was feeling different to her today, as if there was magic in the air.

She glanced around the small space, expecting to see something magically appear before her eyes. Nothing was happening, but she was still excited. She stood up and sung louder.

"Tsukaete,
Kono utakoe.
Kikasete,
Kimi no oto..."

Her voice faltered. It couldn't be true. She was sure she heard a reply. Was he... Singing too?

"Itsuka wa,
Todokuyoneto.
Ima mo koushite utatteimasu..."

She heard it that time. A strong male voice singing with her. She felt tears running down her cheeks. She couldn't believe it. After four long years without so much as a peep from the boy, she could hear him.

"I hear you!" she shouted with glee. "Keep singing, keep singing!"

"Eien...
Sinjite naikara.
Itsuka wa,
Kagami ga kowarete," she heard the begining of the song again. She had to reply to him.

"Eiento ga,
Shinjite naikara.
Itsuka wa,
Kagami ga kowarete."

He was there and he could hear her. But if only she coud see him as well...

Her tears stopped falling as she saw the mirror reappear before her again. 'It can't be... Can it?' The old green mirror stood on its wooden carved frame. Staring back at her with an equal look of disbelief was the blue-eyed male reflection. Tears had been trickling down his cheeks as well.

At the same time, they rushed to the mirror and hugged it. She was astounded beyond crying in happiness. She stared longingly at the boy. He had grown up as she probably had. His body was a lot more man-like and his hair was longer. He was surveying her as well, a look of satisfaction on his face. Had he been waiting all this time for her as well?

"I love you," she said simply, feeling she had to say something. He blushed and smiled. He mouthed his reply that Rin was sure she understood. It made her smile and giggling.