Written By: KC

Title: Green Horizons

Genre: realistic fiction, action, romance, drama

Rating: T (Teen)

Main Characters: Awakusu Ayame, Heiwajima Ryou, Orihara Senri, Yagiri Maisa


Dappled spots of light shone through the tinted windows of a small company jet, the sun having just broken the horizon on an unfamiliar skyline. Only thirteen hours ago, Ayame had said her final goodbyes to her friends in New York. She had lived in the 'Big Apple' since she was only three years old, raised alone by her mother. They had fled to America when a war broke out between the gangs in Ikebukuro, where her father remained. Of course, he'd come to New York in the jet to 'accompany' them on their trip. But while her parents were fluent in the Japanese language and culture, Ayame was less acquainted with it, worried her first days at a new school were going to be hell.

She grumbled as her mother nudged her gently awake.

"Ayame, dear, look! We've just landed!"

Ayame let out a groan of displeasure as she made a weak effort to open her eyes, only a thin strip of her vibrant blue irises scanning the sight of another new and bustling city. She lifted her hand and ran it back through her onyx colored bangs, sighing as she moved into a straighter seated position.

"That's just great, mom…" She replied, her voice void of any excitement, unlike that happy-go-lucky mother of hers.

Her eyes now open and adjusting to the light, she looked back across the aisle, wondering where her father was. But really, she never needed to ask. He was always working. At the moment, there was a 99.9% chance he was either in the lavatory changing into his trademark white suit or taking another one of the million phone calls he seemed to get every day. Ayame could care less for her father. He was someone she wouldn't miss if something unfortunate were to happen. He rarely spent time with his own daughter and seemed to think his job and the money he made was more important to them than he was.

Looking back at the seat in front of her, Ayame ignored the cheery voice of the overly attractive female flight attendant as she pulled out a blue mp3 player and a pair of matching silver and blue headphones. She slipped the headphones over her head and adjusted them on her ears before cranking the volume on her music. She closed her eyes and let the pounding beat of drums and hardcore guitar turn the world around her to silence.


Music was her escape from everything. Whether it was school trouble, a fight with her friends, an annoyance, or just the nagging of her parents, Ayame was almost never seen without a pair of headphones on her head and a trusty mp3 player nestled in the pockets of her clothes. And this was exactly how she was spending the current moment.

With her head in a book, she was lying face down on a new bed, in a new bedroom, in the district of Ikebukuro. According to her father, it was a famous commercial and entertainment district in the city, centered by Ikebukuro Station, Tokyo's second busiest train and subway station next to the one in Shinjuku. There were plenty of offices, shops, restaurants, and department stores within the city that Ayame would have access too. She guessed that's why her father chose this specific district as his home, and now theirs. The last thing those two would want was for their daughter to be completely miserable.

They were living in a penthouse much like the one they'd had in New York. It was simple, two stories, with a living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. Ayame's bedroom was on the second floor while her parents slept on the ground floor. The complex was quite a tower, and being on the top floors of the building, they were given an impressive view of the city from their windows. But at the moment, Ayame was focused on something much more important than the city skyline.

She opened up her black messenger bag which contained a white laptop and her other supplies for school. She pulled out her laptop and opened her internet browser. She typed in the address to a popular chatroom that had been started by the very residents of Ikebukuro. Ever since she'd heard they were moving there, she'd put a lot of dedication in to seeing who she could meet beforehand, especially so she could practice her Japanese for the start of school.

She logged in and clicked on her usual chatroom. Instantly, her icon popped up with bold letters behind it, reading,

*Yu-kun has logged on*

Ji-chan: Hey Yu-kun! Welcome to Ikebukuro!

Ji-chan: How was the flight?

Yu-kun: It was alright. Just boring.

Yu-kun: What's up?

Ji-chan: I'm getting ready for school. I have some stupid homework to finish. You?

Yu-kun: School? I wish I could say I was prepared. We go to the same school now, right?

Ji-chan: Raira Academy.

Yu-kun: That's it.

Ji-chan: Great. We should meet.

Yu-kun: You think so? When? Should we try lunch? :D

Ji-chan: Yeah! I know the perfect spot. Come to the roof around noon. I'll be there.

Yu-kun: Awesome!

Ji-chan: Aah, dammit!

Yu-kun: What? :/

Ji-chan: I have to go. Later.

*Ji-chan has logged out*

Yu-kun: Bye… :(

*Yu-kun has logged out*

Ayame shut her laptop and flopped down onto her back with a sigh, her blue eyes staring lazily at the ceiling. Every time Ji-chan left the chatroom, she got gloomy. She had grown fond of the girl, or at least she assumed Ji was female, over the past few months. They would sometimes talk for hours about their family, their interests, what kinds of fun things Ikebukuro had to offer, what New York was like… Even though they still hadn't met, Ayame felt as if they'd become inseparable friends. She hoped that by the end of lunchtime in the coming day she will have gained Ji as a true acquaintance.

With a final longing sigh, Ayame tilted her head backwards to watch the moon rise above the Ikebukuro skyline. With a smile, she shut off her light and slipped into bed. She closed her eyes and pulled the blankets up to her nose, finding pleasure in the soft warmth. As the natural procession of night darkened the room, she drifted into unconsciousness, her dreams happily laced with thoughts of the next day.